Possible Liberated Quiltmaking Re-print

Tonya emailed me that AQS is considering re-printing Gwen Marston’s Liberated Quiltmaking book. I love this book, in fact I love all things Gwen. Last year marked a highlight in my life when I was able to take 2 classes from her. She is as wonderful in person as she comes across in her books. My love affair with all things Gwen started early in my quilting life. I came across her articles in Lady Patchwork Circle magazine and I loved how she was interpreting her life into her quilts. Her little folk art quilts were amazing to me. Gwen and Joe Cunningham’s Rose and Tulip Quilts book will forever be my favorite quilt book. My copy is ragged with loose pages hanging from it and I still read through it at least once a month. In the early to mid 90’s I heard she was having a one woman show in Flint Michigan. Flint is a 5 hour drive I did the drive there and back and the show in one day. The attached pictures are ones I took of Gwen’s quilts in the show. I still carry them around with me 15 years later. This show was the first time that I had seen any of her liberated quilts. I was in awe. I associated Gwen with fun little folk art quilts and masterpiece appliqué quilts and here was something totally different. She taught us all that you didn’t have to stay in that one little mold you have created for yourself with quilting, she was like the Madonna of quilting forever re-inventing herself and coming up with new and fun ideas. If you don’t have a copy of her Liberated book, believe me it is well worth getting yourself one. Tonya is collecting a list of those interested. Please visit her blog and leave a comment if you think you would like a copy. Hopefully AQS will follow through and get this re-printed. I was checking Amazon recently to see if she had anything new coming out and I was surprised at the number of her books that you can buy used for a low price. Check it out. A great way to get to know Gwen and her work.