#neqm

Next time you (or someone you know) is in Lowell, MA (outside of Boston), be sure to stop into the New England Quilt Museum to see their latest exhibit but also to try on some of the vintage Japanese kimono jackets (haori) for sale in the gift shop.  They usually have kimono fabric packets in stock as well.  Enjoy!

http://www.quiltr.com/?p=15564

Mom and I, Snow and Snow

Due to my Las Vegas thriftventure in early July, I wasn't able to help install the NEQM's most recent exhibition, Cheddar! But I did help create the exhibition labels.

The exhibition is centered around "cheddar", the yellow/orange chromium dye used in late 19th Century Pennsylvania quilts. Anyone, quilter or non-quilter, can appreciate the vibrancy of these quilts.

I was able to attend a lecture on the chemical process of the dye, as well as some of the social & cultural aspects of its use. This kind of exposure to textile history gets me geared up and excited for grad school and my new career. I'm excited to see how things line up for me this way. And if it keeps going this way, my new future is looking bright. Bright as cheddar.

Stencils, templates, and related ephemera...

...to make quilts like these.

These quilts incorporate shirting and other re-purposed clothing textiles. My hope is to be able to identify and date textile patterns used in quilts.

(cigar ribbon pillow cover)

In an effort to make connections in my new career path, I decided to make use of my non-thrifting time and volunteer for a museum. I went online and found the New England Quilt Museum. I've known of its existence in downtown Lowell for as long as I remember, but I had never visited. Some of my friends couldn't make the connection as to why I would be volunteering for a quilt museum. But working with the NEQM will allow me the opportunity to learn about the antique and vintage textiles used to make some of the quilts. Additionally, contemporary quilting as a fine art medium is less familiar to me than other mediums, so I'm very excited to learn more about contemporary quilt art and artitsts.

My first visit to NEQM:

Enthralled visitor at Masters II

— NE Quilt Museum (@NEQuiltMuseum) March 6, 2013

The culmination of my experience at NEQM thus far is the new exhibition SILK!, a collection of antique & modern quilts where silk is used, either as an accent or as the principle fabric.

Here I am assessing the condition of an important Federal-era quilt:

Unpacking the quilts for SILK!

— NE Quilt Museum (@NEQuiltMuseum) April 10, 2013

After 3 days of installation work, I was very excited about "my first exhibition opening." I invited Mira to the exhibition opening, and was inspired by the theme as well as the following quilts in particular:

Baby quilt made from silk tobacco premiums

Sampling The Silk Road

A vintage (1940s) "pinwheel" pattern

Mennonite pinwheel pattern

Mosaic pattern

Mira really responded to the log cabin quilts. When you think about the meticulousness and precision of cutting, arranging, and sewing these strips of fabric, the result is nothing short of decorative masterpieces.

The Luminarium Dance Company prepared intimate dance pieces in response to some of the quilts in the show, and a special performance for the exhibition opening.