My apron article in The Quilter seems to have just been arriving on people’s doorsteps today. I have heard from a few people who have already read it. Most of the aprons featured are from the Lewis collection. I am so thankful that the magazine has such a terrific layout person, Rory, who makes any photos we send her look fantastic in their placement.
In fact, the magazine is celebrating its 20th year, with this current (March 2009) issue. Hats off to editor, Laurette Koserowski, who took over the ship’s helm upon the untimely death of Phyllis Barbieri in 1999. I had just come aboard as a writer at that time, and the magazine was called, Traditional Quilter, the leading teaching magazine. As a teacher, the subtitle attracted me to submit my first article, and now, these dozens of articles later, the magazine has evolved into the leading pattern magazine, and is now called The Quilter.
Whatever it could be called, or is titled, I have been thrilled to work with an editor who is one day apart in age from me, and who has become a very dear friend. There is a mutual respect and she is as intent on “getting it right,” as I am – the two of us are hopeless perfectionists, if the truth be known, and that is probably one reason we get along so well.
Yes, the aprons article is colorful and just downright fun! I hope you enjoy it. I had a difficult time choosing which aprons to feature, but tried to present a variety of styles and colors. As soon as my dear husband, photographer James Cummings, gets a chance to take a photo of me in a newly-acquired, (vintage?) bib apron in Redwork, we will post it. In the meantime, here is a photo of another nineteenth century apron with beautiful lace and Redwork flowers, (not featured in the magazine).
Aprons are wonderful to collect but, luckily, I had access to an extensive family collection. We are happy that readers are enjoying the column, “Pieces of the Past,” and we already are working on articles for the rest of the year. Have fun in 2009! If you don’t want to miss any of my articles, you might just want to subscribe to The Quilter.
Bye, bye, for now.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
