Last year, what seems like forever and ever ago, I was asked if I wanted to take part in a book with Martingale Publications. It was a quilt book containing 20 Modern quilts and featuring 18 popular bloggers. I was completely surprised and honoured to be asked, mainly because of 2 reasons. Firstly popular bloggers. That made me blush and feel incredibly humbled. There are a gazillion people out there I would class as more popular than me, and to be even considered a popular blogger still makes me pinch myself. Secondly, it was to be a book on modern quilts and I don't see myself as a modern quilter. You can see my quilt on the cover (eep!!!) - it's the dresden plate on the right hand side of the pic. It's about as far removed from what I call 'modern' as you can get, and I wanted it to be. I get a bit screwy faced when there's talk of the 2 sides of quilting, the modern and the traditional quilters, because I want to play with everyone. I feel I can learn from everyone and that each side of the fence brings their own skills and their own set of fabulousness. I don't really get why we can't all play together, why sometimes either side has a problem with the other. Being inclusive is something I teach my kids and it's something I have always lived my life by.
When I was at school I had friends from all of the cliques, I didn't think there was anything out of the ordinary about that until my leaver's ball and I got an award for being the chameleon and changing my 'image' weekly. It wasn't a complimentary award, it was considered a bad thing. I didn't take it as bad, I still don't. I was proud of being the one person that felt able to flit between all of the groups in the common room and didn't feel the desperate need to belong to one particular group.
So, here's my quilt - the little odd one out, stubbornly shouting that what ever you make is good enough for both sides of the fence. A traditional dresden plate quilt, in modern fabrics but sitting proudly on the cover of a modern quilt book. I had it quilted by Tia Curtis, and there's a bigger version that I made for my bed that I will get some pictures of so you can check out the quilting properly. It's pretty damn cool.
54 comments:
Ooh, exciting!
So agree with your post. It's liberating to find inspiration anywhere. Sometimes you find a niche that just fits, but don't be pigeon-holed!
You awesome chameleon, you.
Congratulations Katy, that is so cool!!
Congratulations, that's awesome. Can't wait to see that book. And I am all with you, sitting right there on that fence next to you. quite comfortably, I might add. :)
that looks great, well done! I have just gone to add it to my Amazon wishlist and for some reason on the .co.uk site the price is listed as £1,152.03. I think I'll wait a little while before ordering it!!
See, what did I say the other week about you being all "fame and fortune", you're a blogging superstar! I think the confusion/split over modern and traditional is a little silly, I think if you like what you do, then that's the most important thing, and we LOVE what you do!! Good Luck with the book, I'll add it to my ever growing Christmas List, hope Father Christmas has deep pockets this year. : ).
Katy you are quilt blogging royalty. Get over it. Also, you are a chameleon as you are able to integrate with old people like me.
Woo hoo katy looks like a must have book !
You are Quilty Royalty indeed! And Chameleons are good not bad things!
Yay!! Congratulations! and totally agree on your attitude to trad/modern :)
Congratulsations Katy from one Chameleon to another!
Congratulations ! That certainly is something to be proud of.
Yay! I knew the dresden must be yours as soon as I saw it - I love that you made a un-modern modern quilt and I agree that quilting is quilting and we should all do what we love, in whatever style we love. A lot of us, like you, sit on the modern / traditional fence. I think its a good place.
Well said! Oh and my one and only tattoo? A chameleon of course ;-)
First of all - OMG! Congratulations! That is wonderful. I'd be proud as punch too! I'm planning a Dresden quilt at the moment too - perhaps I should wait until the book comes out as yours looks pretty spiffy!
Secondly - it's as if your blog post is based on the conversation I had with a friend at lunch today, about this needless (IMHO) differentiation between different styles of quilting. I don't see art quilters turning their noses up at traditional quilters in my guild or vice versa, so why is there this business between trad and modern? I have long wondered whether there is an element of ageism in this need to divide.(And what is modern anyway? I dunno - sometimes I think is it a huge crock designed to make us buy more RK Kona or something.)
And don't get me started on cliques.
Were you there at lunch? Because I didn't see you and you certainly didn't say hello if you saw me ;)
Again - mahoosive congrats. Can't wait to see the whole thing and who is else is included!
You totally needed to be in that book!
Absolutely! Great writing, and looks like a fun book. However, also found that Aamazon UK lists it at over £1150!! Is it really that good?!?
Fricking awesome-congratulations! And what is it with people having to fit into a group and have a label?
wow how exciting and I love how you embrace modern and traditional which is something I strive for too! love the quilt!
Confreakingratulations kiddo!!:) Hmmmmm....yep....your star is rising as it should! Like I said...you sooooo remind me of my son (tall, slim, short dark hair, tattoos and Buddy Holly glasses) who is a very all inclusive young man too!
Good for you....I mean we are all buying fabric, cutting it up and sewing it back together right?:)
Woohoo, congrats :o) Although I think you and Lynne are the popularistist Brit bloggers out there, and pretty damn high up there overall :oD
Quilt looks fab anyway, whatever kind it is...
Here, here! That's the best post I've read about the whole modern vs. traditional debate! Both have their merits. (Although, I'll take the modern fabric any day.). :)
I LOVE dresden plates but have yet to try any!!
It's a beautiful quilt Katy - just like you!
Huge congratulations :)
It looks like a great book! I agree we can all learn from all types of quilters, the more the merrier!
Congrats, yay!
congratulations--I'll look forward to this book at Christmastime! Perhaps there's a Vomit Quilts book in the future for you?
awww! congratulations! It's a gorgeous quilt "modern" or "not modern". I agree with you that the distinction is often more than a little arbitrary.
Congratulations our Katy! I for one am not surprised that you were asked to participate, and .. I'm really glad that you have mentioned the traditional/modern divide. I've often got the impression that it seems as if 'if you're not in, well then you're just invisible'. Every quilt contains a bit of the person that made it and surely that makes it beautiful! Look forward to more of your inspiring and encouraging posts.
congrats my friend! xo
Congrats! Your quilt is wonderful! I cannot wait to get my hands on this book.
Soooo well deserved! You're going to have to get used to being popular -- and I think it's the distinctiveness and individuality of your style that makes your work so inspiring and appealing. So there!
Congrats! I'm still so freakin' excited about this book. I know I need it.
<3 <3
Congratulations!
Well done Katy, and I totally agree with everything you just said.
Hear hear on the modern/not modern debate! I love traditional patterns in 'modern' fabrics...oh and new patterns in old fabrics...doh ive trodden right on that divide!
Congratulations and well said!!!
Fab news for you. Huge congrats. Dresdens are my favourite design along with hexagons.
I am so excited for you! When I saw this book on amazon two days ago, I knew I wanted it. When I saw that you were a contributor, I was like, "YES!!!" Yay for the modern traditionalists! I can't wait to get it :)
I love your philosophy on quilting and life in general...if I didn't know better I would swear my son wrote this article. He says almost the same things about being inclusive to all groups.
forgot to say congrats on the publication
CONGRATULATIONS!
; ))
Looks like a great bundle of quilts. Love your design as well as your philosophy on the whole traditional vs modern debate.
Bloomin marvellous! You deserve to be there with the best of them!, now show us your dresdens :). congratulations, another one for my collection :) x
Congratulations!! It is totally possible to put a modern spin on something traditional. Some patterns are just waiting for that modern twist =D
Congratulations!!!! I can understand why you were chosen! You are an awesome quilter and an uplifting and funny blogger. Way to go!!!
It doesn't surprise me one bit that you were selected. You are a fabulous quilter. And your quilt on the cover proves your talent and versatility. Congrats!!!! Revel in it.
So groovy. I love your take on the whole community of quilters. I am open to the awesome that comes my way no matter what kind of name people try and sort it with. You and your quilt rock my socks off. Dresden is lovely ... I haven't gone for that challenge yet.
Katy, you're just lovely! I loved reading about your ethos for friendship and mixing, which is really evident and speaks for itself in how you are anyway, but it's lovely and inspiring to see your thoughts written down. Your stand-out quilt is adorable too. So delighted for you and can't wait to see the bigger one.
Do you think that is why we are tatted? I too fit in with many crowds! I played sports had a few sporty friends. I was in music had music friends. I had friends in many different cliques that I could NOT bring together because they just didn't get each other. I am just that pivot person!LOL I cant wait to check out the book btw!
Congratulations on your latest publication, looks like a great book. Can't be doing with these divides either, just want to learn all I can and make nice quilts for my family! They have no idea whether they are modern or not :)
Well done - great post!
Congratulations Katy ! Your comments about quilts and quilting say it like it is. I like traditional quilts, and modern pieces. It's all evolving, where we can look back and forwards as we make our own interpretations.
Will look out for your book!
Congratulations, Katy!! That's excellent news!
I was exactly the same way in school. You could find me in any group. And I see my oldest heading down that path too. And what a loverly quilt. I have Dresden's on the brain...
Well done! And way to represent both sides of the fence. I'm in total agreement with you btw - why is there even a fence to begin with? If anyone can shred that fence to pieces, it's you my dear.
Off to order templates. Quite excited for your class is the very near future.
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