Tuesday, September 14, 2010

1.6 Million African American Quilters: Survey, Sites, and a Half-Dozen Art Quilt Blocks

I'm excited to announce a new book - all about you! 1.6 Million African American Quilters is a handy, eye-opening booklet about today's Black quiltmakers:

- You'll find the latest quilt industry figures from the Quilting in America Survey, including the number of Black quilters nationally.

- The most comprehensive resource of websites, blogs, and YouTube videos featuring African American quilters and guilds - more than 270!

I was amazed by the variety and passion for quilting that you see online! There are 35 guilds listed. You'll find links to Sistah quilters in the US, the UK, Tanzania, Nigeria, and more! Can you name 10 African American male quilters? Find their websites in the booklet! Also included are selected textile artists, dollmakers, fabric designers, and quilters from the African diaspora.

- Six afro-centrically designed art quilt blocks by Washington, D.C. artist Francine Haskins, who is also a member of the Black Artists of DC organization. I hope you'll enjoy these blocks as quilt or redwork embroidery patterns. I'm happy to post your completed blocks here on the Black Threads blog! By the way, Francine also illustrated the book cover! Didn't you just want to pull up a chair and sew!?

- Bibliographic references, many annotated, for selected books, articles, exhibit catalogs, dissertations, papers, and films about Black quilters. I've also included the wonderful self-published books by guilds and quilters. And... in a new category... this booklet includes references to several Sistah quilters who have donated materials (papers, exhibit catalogs, photos, quilt patterns) about their quilt-making to different museums nationally. How cool and inspirational is that!?

1.6 Million African American Quilters is all about documenting and encouraging networking. I hope you enjoy it. I hope your personal copy becomes dog-eared and filled with scribbled notes indicating which sites you've visited, new quilter friends you've met. I hope the booklet's spine becomes bent from having photocopied the art quilt blocks. I hope you see yourself in the pages. It is truly an honor to declare - there are 1.6 Million African American Quilters today!

Black Threads Press, 62 pages, $9.95 - Available on Amazon.com. Enjoy!

11 comments:

Gwen Magee (Gwendolyn) said...

This is a wonderful resource. Thank you Kyra for your dedication.

yetunde said...

the check is in the mail.

Sarah said...

Congrats on the new book. It looks great!

Dee J. said...

Kyra, i just discovered your blog. My heart is beating excitedly because of all the wonderful things there are to explore here. Your book looks really interesting and quite comprehensive. something we've needed. I've been searching for other AA quilters online off and on for the past couple of years or so. It's been hit and miss. Your book will be a valuable resource. I intend to order a copy ASAP. thanks again for doing the work for the rest of us.

Carol said...

Thanks a Million for all of the info. Congrats on the book. Looking forward to my next trip to the book store. Thanks also for the link to Faith's blog. I've tried to catch her when she is in San Diego, but haven't been successful.

Kyra said...

Thank you Gwen, Yetunde, Sarah, Dee, and Carol!

Big Mama said...

Kyra, What a unique read!! Such a resource this will be. Short, sweet, chockfull of goodies. It is rewarding to see that AA quuilters are a genre to be reckined with. I
will certainly spread the word.

Proud Mom

yetunde said...

love the book, i am still checking out all the great sites and books that you listed. keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Received my book in the mail today and quit excited to see all the websites that will keep me up at night. Thanks loads for the info.
Lauretta

Lauretta Odoms Russell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lauren Cross's Art Blog said...

Congratulations Kyra!