March Blizzard Memories

Snow in March, like today's storm after two glorious days of springlike weather, brings to mind stories from childhood, when my grandfather reminisced about the Blizzard of 1888. A snowy day like today also is a good one to contemplate quilting projects or work on some already underway.

Also, for some reading about the catastrophic Blizzards of 1888, first in the West and then on the east coast:

City of Snow: The Great Blizzard of 1888 by Linda Oatman High.
In All Its Fury: A History of the Blizzard of January 12, 1888 by W. H. O'Gara.
Blizzard! The 1888 Whiteout by Jacqueline A. Ball.
Blizzard!: The Storm That Changed America by Jim Murphy

More recent blizzards & storms:
One to Remember: The Relentless Blizzard of March 1966 by Douglas Ramsey
Northeast Snowstorms by Louis W. Uccellini

Fiction:
Lost in the Blinded Blizzard (Hank the Cowdog) by John R. Erickson

Books on Quilt and Fabric Dating and Preservation

Often quilters write me and ask, "How do I identify this quilt pattern? Do you know how to date a quilt? How can I find out the age of this fabric?"

I've researched some books you may find useful:

Clues in the Calico: A Guide to Indentifying and Dating Antique Quilts by Barbara Brackman
Vintage Quilts: Identifying, Collecting, Dating, Preserving and Valuing by Bobbie Aug, Sharon Newman, and Gerald E. Roy
Fabric Dating Kit: A Pocket Guide to Identifying Quilts & Other Textiles by Color, Fabric & Style by Cindy Brick
Dating Fabrics: A Color Guide 1800-1960 by Eileen Trestain
Dating Fabrics 2: A Color Guide 1950-2000 by Eileen Jahnke Trestain
Making History: Quilts and Fabric from 1890-1970 by Barbara Brackman
Vintage Fabrics Identification & Value Guide by Judith Gridley, Joan Reed Kiplinger, Jessie Gridley McClure

The Quiltmaker's Gift and More

I'd read The Quiltmaker's Gift to children when I was subsitute teaching and mentioned it on my Quilting and Patchwork blog. A reader inquired where she might find fabric with the Quilter's Gift as a theme.

As I was researching her query (and I haven't found any fabric yet, but asked for other quilters' input), I discovered some books with quilt patterns that accompany the story book, called Quilts from the Quiltmaker's Gift and More Quilts from the Quiltmaker's Gift.

Another quilter read my post at Quilting and Patchwork today and said she checked out these quilt pattern books and discovered they are "must haves." She's going to get one as a gift for a friend, too.

Graveyard Quilts

The Uncommon Quilter by Jeanne Williamson, a book my daughter received for Christmas, contains some fascinating projects for adults and children. These little quilts employ a variety of techniques.

One I found of interest...and must try once the deep snow is melted here in New Hampshire...involves gravestone rubbings. I've written about it at Quilting and Patchwork in the post, Gravestone Rubbings for Fabric Art. As I explain here, you could experiment with many family history projects using some of Jeanne's techniques.

Check Out the Quilt Book Giveaway at Quilting and Patchwork

Giveaway

If you're a quilter or simply like giveaways, why not stop over at Quilting and Patchwork and participate in the Giveaway of a Mini Quilt Book.? It's in progress over there.

Perhaps you're not a quilter yourself, but know of someone who would enjoy this book by Patricia Mainardi.

A List of Fascinating Quilting/Fabric Art Books

Quilting/Fabric Art Books

If you're looking for quilting/fabric art books for your own use or to give to someone as a gift, you'd enjoy browsing through my list, Fascinating Quilting/Fabric Art Books, over at Quilting and Patchwork.

Some may be books you've already read, some you own and some that are completely new to open up a fascinating area of quilting and fabric art for you.

After looking at the list, what about sharing here your favorite quilting or fabric art books?