Quilter's Muse Virtual Museum
Copyright 2002-2008
Quilter's Muse Publications
by Cindy Brick
Foreword by Nancy Kirk, Crazy Quilt Society Founder
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A BOOK REVIEW
by Patricia Cummings
From its front cover to the last page, Cindy Brick's latest book titled simply Crazy Quilts is a masterpiece of sumptuous and elegant photos of crazy quilts, both antique and contemporary, and is a true celebration of all that we might call "Victoriana." The comprehensive book draws on Victorian age ephemera from magazines to help illustrate a former time that we can only dream about, when fans were a means of coquettish communication; a time when women buried too many children due to childhood illnesses for which we now have cures or preventive medicine; and a time when "Grand Army of the Republic" reunion silk ribbons were "saved" by sewing them onto the surface of a crazy quilt.
The book is a page turner, and yet, I dawdled and lingered over each page, not wanting the book to end. The artistically rich work of Judith Baker Montano adds flavor and visual proof that to crazy quilters, there can never be enough embellishment. Judith brings so much to each piece that she makes: an eye for color, drawing skills, and an ability to "put it all together." Also represented is the work of bead artist, Nancy Eha. I am happy to say that I saw her orange color quilt, in person, when I took a class with her, way back when, and that beaded miniature crazy quilt has translated well into a print format.
Essential decorative stitches are diagrammed, and Cindy has prepared a step by step guide for three different ways to piece a crazy quilt block. Toward the end of the book, the author provides reprints of some Victorian designs and I was happy to see a few of children that I had not previously viewed.
My Personal Questions and Thoughts
Not surprising, with my eagle eye, I spotted a few "issues." First, the word for the product for stabilizing damaged areas on crazy quilts is "crepeline" not "crepoline," mentioned only as a aid to those who might want to order the product.
The color "Turkey Red" does not seem to have been invented by the "Turks" at all. Authors of two different books, Gösta Sandberg, and Patsy Orlofsky, have both mentioned that the color originated in "India"/ or "eastern India in 1829," respectively. An alternative name is "India Red."
Cindy reports seeing frequent use of cheater cloth used to back "turn of the century quilts." How often has she seen examples, and where? Additionally, what did the cloth (she has seen) look like? There is one example in the book. Having a particular interest in "imitation patchwork," I would have liked more details and/or photos.
The author's observations about the connections of Crazy Quilts to other quilts, like Tile Quilts, are interesting. It's true that nothing, not even needlework or quilting, happen in a vacuum, so I doubt that she will get any arguments there.
A date on a Redwork quilt of 1885 was taken as proof positive that Redwork and Crazy Quilting existed simultaneously. A further discussion is warranted, as well as further study by all of us, on this topic. I ask the question: Do we know what the date signified for the quiltmaker? Perhaps the quilt was made in 1890 for a child born in 1885 and so, that year is listed as a commemorative date? That's just one possible case scenario. As in Crazy Quilts, often many dates appear on the same quilt and could be linked to any number of possible events.
It is best not to assume anything in quilt history, until the information is backed up with the facts. The name of R.R. Mains is listed on that same quilt. The last name, which looks more like "Moore" to me, even under magnification, might or might not be helpful in tracking more information.
Her blow by blow recounting of what other early quilt historians have said about crazy quilts served to put all of that information in one place. Yet their thoughts are often considered to have been off-base, by some modern quilt historians. All in all, the cumulative information presents one side of the coin, which is interesting especially to those new to quilt history.
A Book Worth Adding to Your Library
Gathering all of the information contained in this volume was clearly an achievement for all involved. The information adds much to what was presented in the still "to-die-for" book on this same subject of crazy quilts, written earlier by Penny McMorris. Unfortunately, that book is out of print, but lucky for me, I have a copy!
Even if you are the type who doesn't read books with words, or even if you speak a foreign language only, the photos and illustrations are well worth the price of this book, Crazy Quilts. I can guarantee that you will return to it, again and again, for inspiration. Many thanks to Cindy Brick for the quality and quantity of information she shares about a subject she loves, the Victorian Age and its textiles.
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To read an additional file and to see some cheater cloth in a photo Cindy sent to me, please visit my blog: http://quiltersmuse.com/blog/ Under the category of Quilt History, you will find an entry titled, "Particular Cheater Cloth Print: A Perennial Favorite."
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See many more articles about Crazy Quilts on this website:
Also, see an antique Crazy Quilt in the May 2008 issue of The Quilter magazine, as described on the Home Page of this site.
Copyright 2008. Patricia Cummings, Quilter's Muse Publications, Concord, NH. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reprint without my written permission. pat@quiltersmuse.com
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