Patterns, Colors, Textures and Design – Share the Beauty!

Patterns, colors, textures and design. Quilts have always captured one’s visual imagination, so it’s no surprise that quilters have flocked to Pinterest in a big way, swapping ideas and imagery for their next project or purchase.

“A Most Romantic Quilt…”

The Double Wedding Ring quilt pattern is shrouded in romance and its origin is a bit mysterious. Some consider this pattern among one of the oldest, while others insist that there was no historical mention of it until the 1920s, at least in the U.S. Regardless of the discussions on when and where the pattern originated, the beauty of the Double Wedding Ring quilts transcends.

San Jose, January 2013

Every now and then something falls into place perfectly. That’s what happened at our recent event at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles where Exec Producer Shelly Zegart spoke about the series. The Museum was running a special anniversary exhibit (Collecting Treasures: Celebrating 35 Years) which was the perfect backdrop to “Episode 4: […]

What’s Up for the New Year? Previewing the “State of the Art of Quilting” at Road2CA

With the inauguration now in the history books, the nation looks ahead to the President’s annual report on the State of the Union, scheduled this year for Tuesday, February 12. As we move into the new year, it seems a logical time to take a look at the “State of the Art of Quilting,” and what better […]

Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative to Cease Fundraising in December with Goal of $1 Million

Back in November, we did a post about three organizations that have used quilts to bring comfort and healing to those in need. The post was titled “Why DO Quilts Matter?” a Few More Reasons…” and one of the organizations featured was the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). AAQI founder and executive director, Ami Simms, gave a generous […]

This Weekend: WQM Exec Producer and Host Shelly Zegart Comes to San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles!

Happy New Year, everyone! If you are in–or anywhere near–the San Francisco Bay Area this coming weekend, here’s an opportunity you won’t want to miss… On Saturday, January 5, at 2 PM, Shelly Zegart, Exec Producer and host of the series Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics, and an expert at the forefront of quilt study for […]

Our Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday…and a “Save the Date” for January 5!

As the year winds down, we want to thank you so very much for your continuing support of Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics, and to wish you the very best for a joyous, safe, healthy, and peaceful holiday season–whatever the holiday you celebrate this month. We also want to alert you to a […]

Sisters in Cloth: The Modern Quilters and the Quilters of Gee’s Bend

Over the past few years, the Modern Quilt movement has taken the quilting world by storm, and many Modern Quilters reference the quilts of Gee’s Bend as a seminal influence on their work. To quote the Modern Quilt Guild blog: Some quilt designs even transcend time and reflect our current “modern” aesthetic. Immediately the quilts […]

Visions of Sugar Plums: Some Quilted “Eye Candy” for the Holidays

It’s December! We know it’s a busy time for everyone, so this week we invite you just to sit back and enjoy this “virtual quilt show” of quilts vintage and new that speak to the season in their colors, themes, or traditional pattern names. All of these beautiful quilts appear in the documentary Why Quilts Matter: History, […]

Why DO Quilts Matter? A Few More Reasons…

Earlier this month, we received a tweet from the owner of a quilt shop in Raleigh, NC. It read: “@WhyQuiltsMatter – so glad our shop @wishuponaquilt is sending quilts to the victims of #Sandy – that’s why quilts matter.” That Raleigh quilt shop is Wish Upon A Quilt, and–as a result of a call for quilts […]

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics in Quilters Newsletter – Dec’12/Jan’13

Why Quilts Matter: Sweeten the Holidays with Our Gift of Free Shipping

It’s hard to believe that it’s mid-November. The leaves are a memory (unless you’re still raking them!), the days are getting shorter, and the holiday season will soon be upon us. As the season of giving begins, we’d like to offer you a gift that will make the documentary Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & […]

“Quilt Nation” Descends on Houston for International Market/Festival

As this post is being written, one of, if not the biggest annual event on the “quilt radar” is winding down in Texas. For the past 10 days, tens of thousands of women and men from around the world—quilters, quilt lovers, quilt scholars, those in the business of quilting—have converged on the George R. Brown […]

Getting in on the Conversation

Greetings all – I’m Joan Major Ciolino and I’m pleased to introduce myself as the new Program Coordinator for Why Quilts Matter project. I live in the coastal community of Gloucester, Massachusetts, but have strong Midwest roots and still consider Nebraska home. I began sewing back in the seventh grade, mostly useful things for a […]

American Folk Art Museum and Boca Raton Museum of Art Join Forces for Timely Quilt Exhibit

You can’t go anyplace in the States these days without running into the subject of politics. With a presidential election a mere two weeks away, it’s the hot topic on everyone’s lips. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that less than 100 years ago, a major segment of the American populace was not extended the privilege of the ballot. It wasn’t […]