Book Review: Quilting, Frolicks, and Bees
March 17th, 2013 by Morna
Quiltings, Frolicks, and Bees: 100 Years of Signature Quilts
by Sue Reich
Schiffer Publishing; $29.95
Is there a quilter around who hasn’t added her name to a signature quilt? I know I’ve signed several over the years, and I created a basket quilt for my grandmother’s 90th birthday with blocks signed by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. What I like best about the process is that it involves non-quilters. Sue Reich takes a look at 100 years of signature quilts from the late 18th through early 19th centuries. Much of the text comes from actual newspaper articles documenting gatherings of quilters to quilt, or “frolick.” The book includes numerous photos of quilts with family, patriotic, community, charitable and religious themes. I enjoyed the newspaper accounts, e.g., the “clever scheme for raising money to pay for a scholarship for a heathen girl.” Of course, once completed, “the question arose as to the method of disposing of the coverlet.” In this case it went to the first to be married, with rumors of weddings and the announcement that “several members had set the fateful day.” A valuable addition to quilt scholarship.
Look for the book at your favorite quilt or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.
