How long has it been? Never mind...
If you're in the Toronto area before March 21st, you MUST see the "Kaleidescope" exhibition of antique quilts at the Textile Museum of Canada! I saw it (experienced it, soaked it up like a sponge) a couple weeks ago, and I must tell you: You will swoon. Seriously.
Victorian-era crazy quilts, mind-boggling English paper pieced masterpieces with thousands and thousands of patches, classic appliqued quilts- all lovely, all stunning. The quilts are grouped together by type, and there are really interesting and informative placards throughout. I liked the fact that laminated sheets with the details about each quilt were provided in each section. You can grab one and walk around with it. Nice!
In a section called "Variations" were a number of examples of the classic Log Cabin design. Americans associate it with American pioneer culture and call it Log Cabin, while Canadians also lay claim as originators, calling it Canadian Loghouse, etc... What I found particularly fascinating was, according the information presented with the quilts, there was a mention of the Log Cabin design in a publication from 1897, which suggested it might be more properly called "Egyptian" or "Mummy" since this lattice-like pattern is evident in linen mummy wrappings.
Friends, I give you the cover of the November 2009 issue of National Geographic... Pet mummies!!
And more inside...
See there? How cool is that?!
I can't decide which is more fascinating- that this Log Cabin-like design existed all those thousands of years ago in pet mummy wrappings (which I never knew about until my issue arrived in the mail) or the fact that someone in North America in 1897 knew enough about mummy wrappings to draw the comparison! It's not like they could have watched a mummy documentary on the Discovery Channel! How did that little tidbit of Egyptology find its way across the ocean way back then?
Okay! Back to the present! By the way, there is an exciting event to go with this very special exhibition hosted by the workroom. Karyn has arranged for a private tour of the show, along with an exclusive peek into the Textile Museum's stored collection of quilts! I know!! Check out either the Textile Museum of Canada's website of the workroom site (click on classes). The tour is January 31st, a Sunday.
Go and see it!
3 comments:
wow, that is an incredible piece of quilt history. pet mummies! thanks for sharing! perhaps i can run away from home for a day to see that exhibition.
i can't wait to see the show... mummies and quilts, who knew?!
I had no idea about mummies and quilts! Fascinating!
Sounds like a fun tour!
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