Comments on: A 1940 Quilt Kit

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:46:11 +0000

Linsey,
Glad you visited and made the comment. Actually when I was writing this, the painting flashed in my mind, and then I wondered what had become of the painting. The theme continues as well as the meaning. There is a lot of importance in honoring and holding on to these pieces.

By: Linsey

Linsey — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:03:40 +0000

I smiled when I saw this post and the familiar image of that quilt. Remember the painting Wesley did for Gavin inspired by this piece? Clearly, it made an indelible impression on all of us. I love the history of it and the meaning it has continued to carry for each of us.

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:27:01 +0000

DebraAnn, I wish our grandmothers could realize the tribute they are receiving. It was well earned. I am not a big fan of kits, but then I finally resented following a dress pattern too, so I guess I don’t like being told I have to do something. That is probably leftover from childhood!

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:23:13 +0000

Karen, I am not familiar with this website. I will have to check and see what you found that is similar.

By: DebraAnn

DebraAnn — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:27:30 +0000

This is beautiful and a great tribute to your grandmother. I love kits even now, they are just stitchery for the fun of it!

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 23:24:14 +0000

I love the fairy tale fabric on the back. I just looked at equilter.com to see what they had in the way of something similar, and the fabric they have looks the same. I think I’m going to order some!

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:33:51 +0000

Jude, I find it interesting that your grandmother used the kit as a tool for learning. She “invented” a way to utilize the medium in a way that became her own form of expression. I think you are right. It was more common to use these kits. The author of the book I referenced compared it to those paint-by-numbers artwork. I argue that the quilt kits demanded a bit more skill and challenge.

By: jude

jude — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:31:36 +0000

great quilt. yes, i know my grandmother made many kit quilts, i think it was just a common thing of the times. although she made more than one from the same templates and varied the fabric and then added some other details so in a way the kit was like the teacher and she learned to do her own thing over time.

By: mendofleur

mendofleur — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:05:54 +0000

Pat,
What a great story! Now I know why you have such wonderful art on your blog. It is in your blood. How fortunate you are to have this in your genes. I think it is so appropriate that you hung the two together.

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:48:28 +0000

I had a similar experience from my family. I had grown up with a painting in my Grandmother’s house that I had assumed was a painting of my uncle. My Grandmother had moved to Los Angeles after this time so I could not check my childhood memory.
I had assumed that all the art in my Grandmother’s house was original because there were so many artists in the family.
Anyway, I walked in to art class in high school and said to my friend what is that print doing there? That “print” was to same print that was in my Grandmother’s house. The print was a copy of Van Gogh’s “Man in a Yellow Hat”. It was a little time bending when it happened and I use it as a pivotal story to remind myself that life is truly plastic.
I now have a print of the “The Man in a Yellow Hat” below a pastel of my Uncle. It seems so appropriate to me.
And no, I did not know of the quilt kits. You are educating all of us. Thanks,