Barbara Randle - Barbara Randles More Crazy Quilting with Attitude

Barbara Randles

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CRAZY QUILTING

with attitude

2005 by Barbara Randle
Published by

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Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2004097732

ISBN: 0-87349-975-1
eISBN 13: 978-1-4402-2077-7

Edited by Susan Sliwicki
Designed by Kara Grundman
Printed in China

Dedication

This book is dedicated to:

My many sewing friends who have fallen in love with this wonderful old art called crazy quilting;

My wonderful friend, Nancy Zieman, who has guided me almost from the beginning of my journey;

My husband, Ed Randle, who always encourages me to continue; and

Mrs. Violet Hopping, who has inspired me all of my life, and who continues to do so.

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to the many people who came together with me to make this book happen. Thanks to my friends, Pat Numnum, Yukie McLean, Sandra Morgan and Patty Vann, who have counseled and encouraged me through the process of preparing this book; my friends and relatives, Becky Jones, Linda Sims, Boo Bailey, Linda Medley, Teresa Real, Morgan Freeman, Kelly Vandiver and Linda Burns, who allowed us to photograph crazy quilt art in their homes; and my friends, Gale Roth, Pat George, Rhonda Hughes, Laura Thompson, Stacy Soeten, Pete Partin, Betty Bussey, Sharon Graham and Clark Underbakke and his 2003 second-grade class, for the contribution of their work and time.

Thanks to my friends at KP Books: Julie Stephani, who has offered valuable advice; my editor, Susan Sliwicki, who always was there when I called; and Bill Hahn, publicity, for all of his help.

Thanks to the many students who attend my classes and continue to inspire me. Thanks to my family for their patience and input. Last but not least, I wish to thank Sylvia Martin. Not only is she a fabulous photographer, shes a friend and so much fun to be with.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Colorful threads, projects and fabrics fill the ample workspace at the B. Randle Designs studio.

For years, after going from one creative outlet (could be called disaster) to another, I finally discovered crazy quilting. It was love at first sight it felt like a favorite pair of house slippers after a long day of standing on concrete! It fits just right and finally fills that hole in my creative soul.

Ive never been able to fully express it, because I couldnt identify what it was, but from very early in my life there were so many questions. Growing up, I remember the wonderful food that my mother prepared. She made the most delicious meals, and there was always a homemade cake. But the cakes were always pound cakes. (No complaints, you understand, just questions.) The wonderful aroma of pound cake cooking in the oven always brings back memories of home.

I never said it, but I always wondered why you would make a cake and not put icing on it.

Even the way people dressed I always wondered why you would wear black or white when you could wear pink.

And why would someone ever paint a room gray or tan when they could paint it yellow or turquoise?

And why wouldnt you always wear makeup with blush, eye shadow and mascara? And if eye shadow has glitter in it, why wouldnt you rather wear that?

And if you were going to have a new pair or shoes, why would you choose black when the same shoe came in pink, orange or green or all three?

And why doesnt everybody drive a convertible?

And if you could listen to music, why would there ever be silence And if you could tap dance, why wouldnt you?

And why would you wear plain jewelry when you could wear sparkly rhinestones?

Well never know why people do what they do, but, for me, I choose to embellish.

Since I found it only five years ago, my life has changed. And when I say changed, I mean really changed. I had accepted that sewing was a humdrum activity that I did for one of two reasons. I sewed to accomplish something that was one of lifes necessities, like hemming pants, sewing on buttons or mending; or I sewed to save money, i.e., drapes, dust ruffles, slipcovers, pillow shams, etc. I had not experienced the world of art sewing. Sewing was not something I did to fulfill a creative need. I did not know who Nancy Zieman or Martha Pullen were. I never had seen Threads magazine. I never had heard of couching, sew and flip, reverse bobbin work or the concept of sewing on a foundation fabric. My sewing world consisted of making piping, cutting out circular tablecloths, covering cushions, making throw pillows and (ugh) hemming pants! Oh, and since I knew how to sew, people were always asking me to do little things, like Take these pants in a little bit, or Just shorten this knit shirt an inch. Is there any wonder I was bored with sewing?