Lately I've been leafing through my mother's collection of 60s and 70s craft books, and the patchwork projects that appeal to me most use lots of solid cottons. (Also, the ones I love the most seem to be often designed by Jean Ray Laury. More later...) The solids have since gone out of (quilting) fashion for the most part, and I have a hard time finding quilt shops around that carry a really huge palette of solid colours.
So, during Christmas I went to Michigan to visit my family, and made a side-trip to JoAnn Fabrics on Christmas Eve day. Umm... you know your fabric-buying excursion is going past the point of no return when you fill your cart with bolts for cutting not once, but TWICE...
Solids!! Glorious SOLIDS!! Drink in the spendour!! (And very inexpensive to boot!)
NOW I can explore the wonderful world and inspiring work of Jean Ray Laury, whose 1966 book called Applique Stitchery I just received in the mail after a rare eBay order. This book really speaks to me in a lot of ways, particularly her views on colour, design and craftsmanship, and the use, almost exclusively, of solids. I've been a fan for years, apparently, but never knew her name until recently.
Okay! I have to go wash and press and fold my new-found friends...
4 comments:
I love using "out-of-date" craft books for ideas. There is always an opportunity to put a fresh spin on older ideas. Can't wait to see what you come up with! (Can you post some of the images from the book?)
I've always liked Jean Ray Laury too! I found one of her very old and out of print books in a pile of discarded library books a few years ago, but it's not the same title as yours. Maybe we can swap?!! And I second the request for images.
You really are hard-core if you're fabric shopping on Christmas Eve! And what a treat - a new blog, by you, just in time for the hols. It really must be Christmas! :-)
that pile of solids is really beautiful.
i'll be joining the english paper-piecing class at the workroom next week, i'm excited!
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