Patricia Lynne Grace Cummings

Voyages in Learning
Patricia Lynne Grace Cummings was born and brought up in New Hampshire. She earned a baccalaureate degree in Spanish, cum laude, from the University of New Hampshire in 1973. As part of her undergraduate work, Pat studied at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain (1972-73), studying the History of Spanish Art and Spanish Architecture, and German. She earned a certificate of sobresaliente (A+) for her academic work.

While only 32 college credits were needed to complete requirements for a major in Spanish, Pat earned 48 credits. Her minor course of study was Education and after graduation, she held a teaching credential in NH and California. At the University of New Hampshire, her work included courses in the History of Latin America, as well as a graduate level course about the History of Spain, taken as an undergraduate. She pursued graduate courses in Education.

On the night that she was inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, the national collegiate society to honor Spanish scholars, Pat had the privilege of meeting Jorge Luis Borges, a famous writer from Argentina who flew in from that country for the special occasion.

Quilter and Quilt Historian
The focus of Pat's scholarship for more than 25 years has been the area of quilt history and women's history studies. In 2001, Patricia completed a distance learning course, "History of Quilts" at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, the first course of its kind ever offered worldwide. Pat enjoys research and discovering facts and connections that were not previously known.

With education, ideas take wings. photo by James Cummings

Long History of Involvement with Writing
Patricia has always enjoyed the written word. She served as Copy Editor of her high school newspaper at Manchester Memorial High School. During one of her summer jobs while in college, she taught swimming at a summer camp and led a group of children in producing a camp newsletter.

Versatile Writer
Patricia writes short stories, poetry, non-fiction, journalistic articles, scholarly articles and books. She delights in humor and stories that provide insight into the human condition. She loves to provide instructive words, whether they are step-by-step directions for quilting or other helpful information. Usually, history is at the center of most of what she shares in published articles.

Teacher, Lecturer, and Writer
Pat has taught quilting classes for quilt guilds and for Community Education. Today, she presents lectures and digital slide presentations for museum groups and historical societies, and continues to write for publication.

Patricia has written three books about Redwork (Outline Stitch Embroidery), a Victorian NeedleArt. Her other books include one about quilt care, display and conservation, and two biographies.

Embroiderers' Guild of America
In the year 2000, she was certified as a "master craftsman in quilting" by the Embroiderers' Guild of America, after 9 years of working toward the goal. She was on the Board of the Northern New England Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of American, serving as Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, Outreach Chairman, and Publicity Chairman. She was the leader of a number of group correspondence courses and provided chapter-wide lectures for the group.

American Quilt Study Group Member
Patricia is a long time member of the American Quilt Study Group and served as one of its first Regional Coordinators when that program began in the early 1990s.

Prolific Writer
Since 1999, Patricia's articles have appeared regularly in a quilt history column she developed for The Quilter magazine called "Pieces of the Past." Her work has been featured in many other print venues, including publications in Canada and Japan. To see a list of articles she has written, refer to the web page:

Publications by Patricia Cummings

view of the cover of Pat's latest book

She has written 8 books, six of which she currently offers as "e-books" on CD-ROM discs. Her current book, Sweetheart and Mother Pillows 1917-1945, is published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 2011).

Networking
Patricia enjoys networking and she shares information daily online, whether it is on her Facebook business or personal page, in "tweets" or on her various blogs. James Cummings, her husband and business partner, takes all of the photos needed for the magazine articles and books she writes and is an integral part of the work produced.

Family
Patricia has one married son and two grandchildren and is pleased that they are all happy and healthy and leading productive lives.

Quilter's Muse Publications SITE MAP

e-mail: pat@quiltersmuse.com