I am always stymied to give a coherent answer when someone I don’t know asks me what I “do.” Like most professionals in the quilt industry, I wear many hats. The other day, I handed someone my business card that says, “Quilter’s Muse Publications” and provides contact information. She looked at the card, mystified, and said, “Oh, so you make quilts?” The answer was, “Yes, and so much more.”
This career had humble beginnings. I made my first quilt, one that I didn’t like much, under the guidance of a more experienced quilt shop owner. It was the “vision” of someone else, and one that was simply a practice quilt, as I look back. Much more was in store. Along the way, I acquired an addiction for buying every quilt book I ran across, many of which I have no use for now. They were for beginners. I soon realized that the same basic how-to information is contained in most magazines and books, a constant rehash, and sometimes an account that does not yield practical advice that one only learns by doing.
This block design reminds me of “Spring.”
I’ve made more quilts than I can remember, on most days. I’ve lost count of them. Quite a few have been donation quilts or ones sent to other countries. I’ve been asked by many groups to give talks and I have traveled all over New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont to do so. I’ve been asked to serve as a quilt judge, something I really enjoy. I’ve prepared 70 articles for publication in one magazine, as well as other articles for magazines, newsletters, and newspapers. I gathered information for a large, unpublished report on old quilts, and have written a number of books on Redwork and Its History, Quilt Care, and Ellen E. Webster, quilt historian and her work. This blog has about 1100 entries, and my website is packed with very informative articles, recipes, and songs.
In addition, I do make quilts, though not to sell, and not for show. I make quilts to illustrate my writings, and to give to friends and family. So, you see, it gets a bit complicated when someone asks, “What do you do?” On some days, I am researching and writing. On other days, I am trying to expand the market for my products. On still other days, I am enjoying the company of the radio, or silence, while I carefully appliqué, quilt, or work on designing a new quilt. Often, I am looking up pattern names for old designs, or answering the many e-mails I receive each month.
I wish I had a more descriptive phrase that explained briefly ALL that I do. For now, I guess that the term “quilt professional” will have to suffice. Quilting and quilt friends, quilt stores, museums, and antique shops, and opportunities to teach about quilts, are my life. If anyone thinks that quilters or quilting is boring, they will have to think again. The history of quilts is the history of men and women who have quilted in the past, and there are many approaches one can take when studying the subject.
I really enjoy being a quilter! To that end, I wrote a song two years ago called “I Am a Quilter,” in honor of National Quilter’s Day which is celebrated on the third Saturday of March, annually, since 1992. Of all the occupations I have ever had, this “hobby” of quilting makes my heart sing.
Happy National Quilter’s Day!
Patricia Cummings, quilt professional
Quilter’s Muse Publications
