A Woman's World?

Sometimes we refer explicitly or incidentally to the genre of quilters and quilting as a woman's world. That is not necessarily the case. Celebrating Father's Day this weekend causes me to think about the men who have touched the quilting world with great positive influence. There are male designers of quilting fabrics and designs. There are especially good sewers and quilters who are male. One of the funny things is that men even design floral fabrics and patterns while most of us refrain from using flowers in quilts for men. Go figure. Men are quite often Master Gardeners who love flowers as much as women. There is, you know, a male designer of fabrics who is now popular in the quilting world who felt there is not enough "masculine" fabric available so he has designed a line with men in mind. (See the fabric from Parson Gray at Heirlooms & Comforts.)

When I think of Father's Day and quilting I instantly think of my dear father. He was quite an example of a man who knew his responsibility to his family and community and who loved beautiful nature and art. He was, in his youth, a physical worker who was strong of body and mind. The timeline of his life put him in a place when formal education was difficult for a farm boy in this part of the country. However, he sought learning and knowledge and made all efforts to see his offspring educated. In the process and in his compromised health the last 22 years of his life he began to appreciate the process and art of quilting. He precisely marked and cut the pieces for Mom to sew into quilts. He never intended to use a needle and thread and made jokes about wearing a skirt if ever he began to use them. He did, however, have a great deal of input into the choices of fabrics for many of the quilts and the patterns for those quilts. We in the family especially appreciate those quilts that we know he participated in making. One winter when it was cold in Florida and he couldn't get out to walk on the beach he cut out eight quilts in six weeks time. Mom couldn't keep up with the sewing that winter.

All quilters need "appreciate-ers" and quite often those are the men in our lives. Mom used to say she had never seen a man who didn't love a quilt. Thank you, guys, for being inspiration and appreciators of our art and craft and for your contributions to our processes. Happy Father's Day.

Sara

H&C Feature of the Week: Pattern & Fabrics
This week at Heirlooms & Comforts we will feature a free pattern available from Timeless Treasures Fabrics that will help you get ready for the winter holidays -
Tonga Poinsettia. Print the pattern out at home. Bring it in and we will help you select beautiful batiks to construct this design at 20% off regular price. You can get a jump on preparations for celebration or for gift giving. The newly arrived styles will be great in this pattern.

 


Diamonds are Best Friend
Was it Marilyn who sang it? Diamonds are a girl's best friend, especially Designer Diamond sewing and embroidery machines. Right now we have a pristine DD just traded in for a DDD-Designer Diamond DeLuxe. Bobby has had another "moment" and this machine is priced very reasonably! It will not remain on the Previously Owned list for very long. If you don't have a Diamond, you'd better check on this one.