Those Quilt Booklets...

 Yesterday I wrote about the thin quilt pattern booklets that were sold in the 1960s and 1970s.  Remember the ad?

In comparison to previous decades, the booklets reveal the lack of innovative quilt patterns created during this time.  Most of the patterns are remakes of antique quilts or patterns published in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.

Some of them are interesting because they resemble more of a quilt you might buy at J. C. Penney than a homemade creation:

Above :"The Scotch Quilt"

Below:  "The Tailored Quilt for the He-Man Who Likes His Comfort"  Both are from 15 Quilts for Today's Living.

One exception was Jean Ray Laury.  While an art student, she began to work in the quilting medium.  In 1956, she produced a really unique quilt called "Tom's Quilt" and dedicated to her 4 year old son, Tom.  What made this quilt exceptional for the time was that she created a truly personal piece that reflected her own world and that of her son's.  Personal quilts of this nature are common now but that was not the norm in the 1950s.  You can see Tom's Quilt here and read about Jean Ray Laury's wonderful contributions to quilting here and here.

Jean was inducted into the Quilters Hall of Fame in 1982.  I have loved her work for a long time.  She was a strong supporter of the sunbonnet quilt pattern at the same time the pattern was being maligned by other quilters.  She wrote and illustrated a number of humorous books about quilters and used Sunbonnet Sue as the representation of what we all experience as quilters.

Most of all, I love her color and the joyfulness in her quilts.  I hope you check out her work.  Jean passed in 2011 but her quilts live on as a tribute to her wonderful spirit!

Today, I am baking cookies as I write this--which seems very weird considering it is almost mid-May.  It was 38 degrees when I woke up (I don't bake it warm weather).  It's been a fairly cool week here in eastern Pennsylvania but not as bad as our friend Diann who had snow in Colorado last week!

Let us know what is going on in your world by participating in Flower Friday!  Email me your flowers and plant images and I'll share them on the blog tomorrow morning:  allentownquilter@gmail.com

Have a safe and happy day!