Marion Coleman - New Website!

Check out San Fran sistah quilter, Marion Coleman's new website at www.MarionColeman.com. She has completed an artist residency at the de Young Museum. She teaches art quilting, and created the quilt on the right. Marion is a former president of the African American Quilt Guild of Oakland. Her website features four different quilt galleries: Narrative, Portraits, Out of Africa, and Public Art. Congratulations, Marion!

One Room KY School - Quilt Show

If you happen to be near Fredonia, KY, visit the grand opening of the Wilson-Blair One Room School and see the special Antique and African-American Quilt Show beginning Monday, April 23, and running through Sunday, April 29, 2007. The school educated students in grades 1 - 8 from from 1926 until 1948. The school is named in memory of two former school caretakers, Jesse Blair and James “Sug” Wilson. (Photo is of Angelia Blair and her grandmother, Virginia Blair, wife of caretaker Jesse Blair.)

The History Channel gave a grant to restore the school through its Save Our History program, which is still open for 2007 grant applications! The school received a $10,000 grant and involved local students in the restoration process.

For more information about the Wilson-Black One Room School and quilt show, contact Fredonia Heritage Committee member Linda Bennett at (270) 963-1255 or Tammie Sanders at (270) 963-0409. (Source: The Times-Leader)

Crocheting - Easy Granny Square Swimsuit

Most sistah quilters I know are involved in multiple crafts .... doll making, knitting, or crocheting. Remember making granny squares? There's an interesting blog, Granny-Along, devoted to the squares. Following various links, I came across this granny square swimsuit. I love it! You can download the instructions, I don't know the language, one blogger says its Turkish. I probably wouldn't make the suit (ok, wouldn't WEAR it), but maybe modified as a summer tank top? What do you think?

Cadillac Chronicles - Bill Gaskins photos

........... ......Let me introduce you to art professor and photographer Bill Gaskins - who has steadfastly supported my adventures in researching Black Threads and Martha Ann Ricks' life story. Only my parents and Cuesta Benberry were greater cheerleaders. You may be familar with his book, Good And Bad Hair: Photographs by Bill Gaskins.

Well, Bill's latest project, The Cadillac Chronicles, explores portrait photography through the subject of Black men and Cadillac cars. Bill was recently quoted:

“The objective of my project is to challenge, humanize, disrupt and at times, affirm many of the stereotypes commonly associated with black men and the Cadillac, and to explore some 21st century questions I have about photography and the portrait. A centerpiece of this project is for me to engage the city in a conversation about my work, my life as an artist, and to share the lessons I learn through The Cadillac Chronicles with the people of Newark.”

Raise your hand... how many of us know an African American man who LOVES his Caddie?

If you're in the Newark, NJ area, hear Bill talk about the Cadillac Chronicles and share portraits of Newark’s Brick City GM Crew and the Nostalgic Automobile Society of Montclair members on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at Rutgers University at 4pm. RSVP here. Congrats, Bill!

Young Readers at Risk - Kid's Lit & Quilts

While we're on the topic of kid's literature and quilts.... I was recently on Barbara Brackman's updated website and saw this Hot Topics link to Indiana librarian Deborah Foley's 7-page essay, "Young Readers at Risk: Quilt Patterns and the Underground Railroad."

Juicy bit of discussion in February on quilts and children's books on Read Rodger's blog.

Horn Book Magazine - Quilt cover

I was on Roger Sutton's blog this morning. He's the editor-in-chief of Horn Book Magazine, a publication about children and young adult books. I'd love it if one day the publication would review Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria (smile). In the meantime, I am delighted to see Jaqueline Woodson's Show Way featured on the cover of the March/April issue. I'm looking forward to adding this issue to my collection of African American quilting ephemeral items .

It's not often that African American quilts or quilters are featured on the cover of quilt or other topical magazines. Do you have any note worthy magazine covers to share?

Roland Freeman at 10th Anniversary celebration

Congratulations on the 10th Anniversary of Sisters in Stitches Joined by the Cloth! Join them for their 10thAnniversary Quilt Show, "A Decade of Designs, Celebrating Our Culture," April 27 and 28, 2007 10 a.m. to 6 p.m at the St. John's Episcopal Church, 322 S. Franklin Street, Holbrook, MA.

This exhibit features African American quilters from the Boston Metropolitan area displaying 75 quilts. Admissions is $5.

GUEST SPEAKER: ROLAND FREEMAN (photo) - Saturday, April 28, 2 p.m. Roland Freeman is a photographer and author of Something to Keep YouWarm: The Roland Freeman Collection of Black AmericanQuilts from the Mississippi Heartland, and A Communionof the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers,and Their Stories. Admissions to the lecture is $10.

For more info contact: Susi Ryan at http://us.f572.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=isusquilts%40yahoo.com.

Tell Mama Now: Jazz, Quilts, Fashion in NY

Women of Color Quilters Network, Inc., NY Chapter presents "Tell Mama Now: A Fusion of Jazz, Quilts and Fashion." Storytelling for children; African and Lindyhop dancing for adults; quilting; Jazz, Fashion and Hair Show. Special guest speaker is Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi.

The Opening Reception with Quilt Exhibition is on Thursday, April 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St., Brooklyn Heights. The quilts are by the members of Women of Color Quilters Network, New York Chapter along with a few of my sister friends who include: Bisa Butler, Cindy Cephas, Sandy Benjamin Hannibal, Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi, Dindga McCannon, Sherry Shine, and Penny Sisto.

Program will run Friday, Apr. 13 and Saturday, Apr. 14, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Brooklyn Marriott, 333 Adams St., Downtown Brooklyn. For further information call 718 756-1922 or 718 756-7600.

Artist considers ... in case of death

I read several blogs - some for quilting, some for children's literature. One of my favorites is Don Tate II's blog - he's an illustrator of several kid's lit books as well as illustrator for fabrics (at right) and scrapbook pages. Don recently posted a note about an artist who passed away and Don wondered if he - an illustrator with many deals in progress - passed away if he was prepared.

As a quilter, have you .....

1. made a list of your quilts .... name, year, measurements, who owns, insurance value


2. made a list of where your quilts are on display so your family can get them back?


3. taken photographs of (all) your quilts


4. let your family know where your artist resume or bio is located


5. completed a will that includes any instructions for your quilts... and your FABRICS?

What other items should we as quilters consider?

New Book - Soulful Art of African American Quilts

Coming by Summer - Kansas City quilter, Sonie Ruffin, has written The Soulful Art of African American Quilts: Nineteen Bold, Improvisational Projects. This book includes 11 original quilt patterns and stories inspired by quilts from Scott Heffley's collection. The quilts include names such as Praise the Lord, Triangle Strip Doll Quilt, Black Eyed Susan, and Schoolhouse. The book also includes 7 of Sonie's own quilt designs including AIDS Quilt, Jumping the Broom, Stars over Africa, and Brown Silk Happiness and of Sonie's own Tote Bag. (Paperback, 128 pages ISBN: 978-1-933466-33-0)

The book is published by Kansas City Star Quilts and can be pre-ordered via www.PickleDish.com. You can also download a five page book sample here of the book. Congratulations Sonie!

New - Bold Improvisation: Searching for AA Quilts

Coming by summer - Bold Improvisation: Searching for African American Quilts - The Heffley Collection by quilt collector Scott Heffley. The book showcases more than 50 African American-made quilts. (hardback, 128 pages, ISBN: 978-1-933466-25-5)

Click here for a four-page book sample. The book is available from Kansas City Star Quilts via www.PickleDish.com.

San Fran Quilt Guild - Eli Leon

Eli Leon will speak Tuesday evening, April 17, 2007, to the San Francisco Quilt Guild.

Black Angel in Fabric

eQuilter.com is having a sale on this lovely 24" x 44" panel 'Classical Glass' fabric from Michael Miller featuring both a black and white angel. Happy Sewing!

Easter Eggs - any quited ones?

A recent Washington Post article highlighted several states' contribution to the White House Visitor Center's annual Easter Egg display. Click here to see your state's decorated egg.

Next year I'll have to make a decorated Easter egg with African fabric! I'd love to learn more about other African American artists who have decorated Easter eggs. Do send links!

Ellen Harmon - Delaware Quilter

Earlier this week the Cape Gazette newspaper profiled Delaware sistah quilter, Ellen Harmon. Her quilts are in the Delaware Folk Art collection. Go Ellen!

UK Stitches In Time Quilt

A quilt containing 60 blocks illustrating historical British figures and scenes about the 1807 Abolition Act to abolish slave trade on British ships was unveiled at London City Hall yesterday, April 5, 2007. The In Stitches project, sponsored by The African Families Foundation (TAFF) and a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, brought together African, African-Caribbean, and British quilting women in England - from cities such as Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, London, and Manchester.

Nana Ama Amamoo, Director of The African Families Foundation is quoted in an article that “The creation of a quilt is a uniquely feminine way of recording events. The project enables us to remember the past and seek for reconciliation through working together in the present.”

The quilt will be displayed:

April 5 - 30: City Hall, London and Greenwich Maritime Museum

May 1 - 30: British Empire and Commonwealth Museum and Feminist Archive, Bristol

June 1 - 30: Central Library, Liverpool

July 1 - 30: Soho House, Birmingham

August 16 - 19: NEC, Birmingham for the international Quilt Festival

September 1 - 30: Central Library, Manchester

October 1 - 30: City Hall, London

Sewing Roots of our Heritage show

If you are in or around Florence, SC - do check out The Sewing Roots of Our Heritage: African American Quilters and Fiber Artists at the Florence Museum (March 13 - April 30, 2007).

This exhibit, sponsored by the Lynda English Studio Gallery, features the works of Shelia Bligen, Dr. Edward Bostick, Arianne King Comer, Catherine Lamkin, Winifred Sanders, Joann E. Thompson, and Cookie Washington. On April 21, Dr. Marlene O'Bryant Seabrook will be speaking at the museum. I'd love to see this exhibit - the postcard with the six quilt images are fantastic. Check out the exhibit!