Robin Vizzone - Robin Vizzones Peculiar Primitives—A Collection of Eclectic Projects: Hand-Dyed Wool & Embroidery - Quilts, Dolls, Pillows & More

PUBLISHER: Amy Marson CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Gailen Runge EDITORS: Monica Gyulai and Lynn Koolish TECHNICAL EDITORS: Deanna Csomo McCool and Debbie Rodgers COVER/BOOK DESIGNER: April Mostek PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Tim Manibusan PRODUCTION EDITOR: Jennifer Warren ILLUSTRATOR: Aliza Shalit PHOTO ASSISTANTS: Carly Jean Marin and Mai Yong Vang STYLE PHOTOGRAPHY by Lucy Glover and INSTRUCTIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY by Diane Pedersen of C&T Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted Published by Kansas City Star Quilts, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 This book is dedicated to the two women in my life who not only influenced my ability to sew but also have been amazing examples of strong, creative women. IN MEMORY OF MY GRANDMOTHER, EVA B. MCADAMS. She was the true matriarch of our family and a creative needleworker. My grandmother was a world-renowned Native American beadwork artist, and her legacy of handwork continues.

She taught me to sew when I was very young, and I think of her every time I thread and knot a needle. She also taught me to be proud of who I am, of my heritage, and of where I come from. Im so very proud to be her granddaughter, and I miss her every day. FOR MY MOTHER, JUNE, A QUILTER EXTRAORDINAIRE! Thank you for patiently teaching me to quilt. Im grateful for your loving support and guidance, and Im truly blessed to call myself your daughter. I appreciate every stitch that you sew for me in testing my patterns and making samples.

Though our tastes and styles of stitch work are very different, you have allowed me to embrace my style of quilting and have been my biggest fan. Because of you I understand that its okay to color outside of the lines! My humble gratitude is due to so many. For support and help when I much needed it, and for patient understanding, I am grateful to the following: MY HUSBAND, NICK, the force that made this book possiblethank you for encouraging me to have the faith in myself that you see in me. Without your constant love, guidance, and help, I would not be on this path at all. You are my world and I love you. MY DAUGHTERS, JESSICA AND NICOLE thank you for being wonderful and thoughtful young women.

No matter what has come our way, you have laughed and cried with me, loved and encouraged me. Your creative hearts bring me such joy, and no mama could ever be prouder than I am of the amazing women that you have become. MY MOTHER, JUNE you led me into the world of quilting, and I will be forever grateful. Your love and support have been a guiding light for me. Every minute that we get to spend together is precious to me. Thank you for always helping me when I need it and for nurturing my creative heart.

Im so lucky that youre my mama! THE CREW AT C&T PUBLISHING thank you, Roxane, for attending my School House and for being persistent as you convinced me to write this book. Your coaxing and delightful encouragement were much needed and appreciated. Thank you to everyone who worked on this project with me and for me. Im so very grateful for this opportunity and will never be able to express my thanks enough. A special thank-you to my editor, Monica. Your help, your time, and your guidance with this book have been invaluable and are deeply appreciated.

MY FELLOW QUILTERS AND HANDWORKERS thank you for understanding my designs. There are those of you with whom my work resonates, and Im humbled by your support. I want especially to thank the shop owners and magazine editors who see fit to offer my designs. Their simple dedication to quilting is amazing. Im grateful that there are quilters amongst us with the courage to open a shop or publish a magazine and devote themselves wholeheartedly to it. Without your support of my designs and patterns, this book would not be possible.

With deepest gratitude, Robin Breaking the Rules The words hand sewn often conjure up thoughts of precisionof hours spent learning to make perfect embroidery and quilting stitches. Imagine, instead, handwork that is the opposite. What if there were a type of embroidery that celebrated the imperfections of your stitches? And a type of quilting that didnt require you to cut and sew perfectly? WELCOME TO MY WORLD OF PRIMITIVES, WHERE THE IMPERFECT IS ON PURPOSE. Primitives are intentionally flawed to tell a short story about why they exist. They have humble and homespun roots that represent the rural past of early American times. Rather than just being aesthetically pleasing, true Primitives tell a story.

While many people see only the flaws when looking at a Primitive creation, those who look longer discover more. MOST PRIMITIVES HAVE A DISTRESSED, DIRTY, OR GRUNGY LOOK. Primitive artists strive to create dolls and projects that appear to be stained by time and look as though they may have been pulled from Grandmas attic. Staining techniques and recipes are oftentimes a closely guarded secret, distinguishing one artist from another. Many quilt designers consider themselves to be working within the genre of Primitive style even though the work they create varies widely. While primitive is defined as having imperfect, childlike, and nave simplicity, the meaning of this definition to each designer is unique.

For me it is my own personal environment, filled with an eclectic collection of handmade things that I madly love. PRIMITIVE ART IS NOT SOMETHING THAT LOOKS FORCED, REPEATED, OR NECESSARILY MADE FOR OTHERS but rather a creating and collecting of vintage-inspired handmade items. Many years ago I first stepped into the world of Primitives as a dollmaker. Dyeing, staining, and aging dolls with sandpapers and dark, murky mixes involved much trial and error. Applying Primitive techniques and principles to quiltmaking posed quite a challenge for me. I had to learn to LET GO OF THE QUEST FOR PERFECTLY MATCHED SEAMS and implicitly straight bindings.

I discovered that creating quilts that are imperfect opens up wonderful possibilities. Ultimately I learned to play in a world where quilt sizes are approximate and every quilt top includes an intentional mistake. I flip a striped fabric or reverse a piece of wool appliqu. At times these small imperfections are not glaringly visible, but I know that they are there, and I find them gratifying. THIS BOOK PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU MY PURPOSEFULLY IMPERFECT WORLD OF PRIMITIVE-STYLE NEEDLEWORK. Use the designs in this book as guides and discover your own unique Primitive style.

Create something that defies perfection, and be proud of it. I challenge you to make a crooked quilt, sew a messy stitch, and play in a grungy, timeworn world. Things that are made from the heart will never be wrong. primitive\'pri-me-tiv\adj1 : of or belonging to very early times primitivenb (1) : a self-taught artist(2) : an artist whose work is marked by directness and navet Source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary Words about Wool When I first began appliquing, it was in the traditional sense of needle-turn appliqu. My mother, June, a Baltimore Albumquilt enthusiast, taught me how to do it. And while I still love this form of needlework, the first time that I appliqud with felted wool was life changing; Ive never looked back.

The velvety-soft texture and amazing variegated colors of hand-dyed wool had me at hello. With its versatile and forgiving nature, hand-dyed wool lends itself beautifully to hand-drawn designs and never, ever disappoints. The finished look of quality hand-dyed wool has no equal. There is no right or wrong side to felted hand-dyed wool. Wool that is properly felted can be cut into any shape with no need to turn the raw edge, and it is buttery soft to stitch through. Hand-dyed wool is priceybut also worth every penny.