Eagle Motifs in America Decade Art Quilt Series 1770s to the Present Book Release Annoucement

Eagle Motifs in America:
Decade Art Quilt Series 1770s to the Present.

Susan E. Wildemuth

Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Soft cover, 80 pages, 8 ½” x 11,”

ISBN: 978-0-7643-4527-2.

February/March 2014 release date.

Utilizing art quilts and artists from the twenty-first century, this book is a visual study of the evolution of the eagle pattern from the 1770s to the present as seen through the eyes of modern quilt artists.  There are only three actual antique or vintage quilts in this book, but it does contain history, five historical essays about defining moments in American History, and each eagle art quilt tells a “slice of life” story about his or her decade.

This book is a culmination of a dream and a way for me to honor my dad, Walter Carlin Parks, Jr., who served bravely for his country in the United States Navy during World War II.  It is also a way to honor every American who answered the call to service when their country needed them and each quilt artist who created a piece for this book. 

I had lots of help to make this project happen.  Please give the following artists who contributed quilts, essays, or photographs to this project a round of applause; without them this book would not have happened.  I am so proud of each and every one of them! 

Go to their blogs and web sites and check out their work. 

Adams, Kate 
http://www.kateadamsfineminiaturequilts.com/

Alexander, Karen

http://karenquilt.blogspot.com/

http://enchantedquiltersoflopezisland.blogspot.com/

http://thequiltershalloffame.blogspot.com/

Anning, Christine

Bates, Ramona, M.D.

http://rlbatesmd.blogspot.com/

Beld, Don

http://www.schifferbooks.com/civil-war-quilts-4631.html

Bonesteel, Georgia

http://www.georgiabonesteel.com/

http://blog.georgiabonesteel.com/

Carlson, Linda

http://www.lindacarlsonquilts.com/

Chunn, Connie

http://ladiesartcompany.com/

Day, Chrys

Errea, Grace

http://www.amazingquiltsbygrace.com/about/

http://www.ctpub.com/contributorinfo.cfm?ContribID=550

Fell, Deborah

http://deborahfell.com/

Fellner, Leigh

http://hartcottagequilts.com/

Finley, Bobbi

http://bobbifinleytilequilts.blogspot.com/

Garrett, Barb

http://www.quilthistory.com/teachers/garrett.htm

Hallenbeck, Mary Louise

Ingram, Gaye

Malec, Sharon

http://www.malec-designs.com/

McCalley, Melanie Weis Bishop

http://bestdaysphoto.com/

Miller, Susan Price

Myers, Jennifer

http://artquiltsbyjen.com/

Pruett, Teddy

http://www.teddypruett.com/page/page/2249363.htm

Rake, Deborah

Ramsey, Bets

 http://www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/treasures/main.php?id=5-16-D

Ratcliffe, Kathie

http://www.ninepatchstudio.com/

Ross, Betty

Ruetz, Lisa

http://quilltr.blogspot.com/

http://material-witness.blogspot.com/

http://gloriousapplique.blogspot.com/

Starley, Sandra

http://starleyquilts.blogspot.com/

http://utahquiltappraiser.blogspot.com/

http://the12by12project.blogspot.com/

Thompson, Terry Clothier

VanDenBerg-Nestle, Greta

http://splintersenthreads.blogspot.com/

Vukits, Barabara

http://www.etsy.com/shop/silversnow13

Wildemuth, Susan

http://www.illinoisquilthistory.com/

http://sew-eyeoftheneedlequilthistory.blogspot.com/

http://eaglequiltsandneedleart.blogspot.com/

Wulfert, Kimberly, Ph.D.

http://www.antiquequiltdatingguides.com/

http://www.antiquequiltdating.com/

http://quiltersspirit.blogspot.com/

Official Press Release

      Representations of historical eagle motifs from 1770s to today from across the United States are presented by contemporary quilters.  In engaging text and 117 crisp color photos, it tells the story of the American bald eagle, symbol of the United States, through 28 quilted wall hangings that capture the spirit and times of each decade from the Revolutionary War to the first decade of the twenty-first century.  The American bald eagle is by far the most common and prevailing patriotic icon found in American culture, and like furniture makers, wood carvers, and potters, quilt makers quickly appropriated it.  Among the quilted eagle motifs displayed and discussed here are the new nation’s symbol of 1770 to 1779, Civil War eagles, a Pearl Harbor eagle motif, a commemoration of the Kennedy assassination, and a September 11, 2001 commemoration.  This book is unique in its exploration of the great bird’s use in quilts.  Available February/March 2014.

Purchase your copy at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, powells.com, Baker and Taylor, at a bookstore near you, or Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310 (http://www.schifferbooks.com/).

First Eagle Quilt

Quilts, summer spreads, and needle arts with Eagle motifs are my passion.  I got my first four block eagle on the diagonal eagle quilt from an antique dealer in Chicago, Illinois in the 1990s.  She said the lady that used to own that quilt didn’t want the quilt in her home anymore as she felt the eagles looked too menacing.  I thought the quilt was lovely and so I bought it.  Here it is:

 Quilt Construction: Hand quilted and hand appliqué. This quilt contains a circle “target-like” center made with strips of different colors and four large squares divided by red strips. There are four large eagles – one in each square.  This eagle layout is sometimes referred to as four block: eagle on the diagonal. The border is constructed of three strips with 9 patch squares in each corner. Binding was added separately in a coordinating color. The grid is machine sewn. The piecing of the seams and corners were done by machine as well. The quilting features feather circles and is approximately 7 spi. Size: 74” x 77.”  Parks-Wildemuth Collection.

Around that same time, I had an epiphany that it was better for me storage-wise and brain-wise to narrow my focus to studying, researching, and collecting eagle quilts (along with Illinois quilt history – my other passion).  My idea was it was better for me to be able to study “side by side” one type of quilt pattern from the 1770s to the present and to learn and share what I could about eagle quilts (and Illinois Quilt History).

I created a web site Illinois Quilt History: Quilt History From the Midwest www.illinoisquilthistory.com/ back in 2008 to share my interest in Illinois Quilt History.  I created this blog Eagle Motifs in American Quilts, Summer Spreads, and Assorted Needlearts in 2014 to share my interest in eagle motifs in quilts and assorted textiles.

You have questions, insights, or want to share a photo of one of the eagle quilts in your collection -- I hope you will drop me a note here at this blog. If you would prefer to contact me privately, my email address can be found on my Illinois Quilt History web site.