Darlene's Crazy Quilts

In posts this last year, I've shown you quite a few quilts made by Darlene Reid.
I love everything she makes.
I was pretty excited when I heard she would be providing the trunk show for our September Nimble Thimbles meeting.
Darlene has many quilting talents, but making Crazy Quilts is one of her specialties.
She has taught classes in the art for years, and shared with us her very prolific collection of Crazy Quilts she has personally designed.

Darlene's love of Crazy Quilts began many years ago when she viewed this design while visiting a distant relative. One block was made by her grandmother. From detailed photographs, she replicated each section.

Photograph's of Darlene's ancestors create a memory quilt that has been treasured by the family for generations.

Darlene left the needle beside the word "Mother" to give the feeling of closeness within the family.

Crazy Quilts were the first Art Quilts.
Japanese designs were very popular in Victorian Times.

Silks were the most common fabric used in traditional Crazy Quilts.
Many of the silk Crazy Quilts have now disintegrated.
The silk traders were paid by the pound for their wares, and would often dip the silk in mineral salt to make them heavier.
Years later we see the results of their greed through fabrics that have fallen apart with age.

Darlene has "worked out side the box" in the creation of many of her own Crazy Quilts.
This is an example of a Modern Crazy Quilt with an Ethnic flair.
Inspiration came from a picture in a magazine, from which Darlene designed her own pattern.

Complete with buttons and trims that add to the African theme.

Darlene even brought several Crazy Quilt vests.

Such a treat to see so many different ideas in making Crazy Quilts.
Tomorrow I will show you more from Darlene's collection.