Meet Bev Olson

I spent a few hours with my new quilt friend Bev Olson, touring her studio and poking into her wonderful collections.

Bev showing her heirloom and vintage linens

Her latest creation is a wood applique and embellished tree of life. She made the 'pennies' and embroidered them.

And then she embroidered and embellished the tree with animals and other details.

Bev is also an amazing crazy quilter. That is, she is not a crazy quilter (although that can be argued), but she is an amazing crazy quilt artist!

Bev uses all kinds of found objects, like this piece of shell

Bev's studio is the showcase for her many collectibles.

 

Knowing I love vintage linens she shared her family heirlooms featuring lots of embroidery and hand tatting.

 These cats are so cute!

 The smaller hens are egg warmers.

 I loved this 1950s handkerchief. I know I had Disney themed hankies as a girl.

Upstairs were more treasures. Including a quilt made with vintage heirloom blocks.

Bev had a set of three suitcases very like the set I received as a high school graduation gift!

 Then she opened the chest her father had made from apple crates.

 K-rations from WWII and lots of war mementos were inside.

Including flags that had been draped over family caskets. One had embroidered stars, the other appliqued stars.

There were Sweetheart pillowcases.

And a wonderful WWI souvenir silk handkerchief featuring President Wilson and vignettes with President Washington, General Lafayette, and the Statue of Liberty from 1919.

I'll end with another of Bev's sweet wool applique quilts featuring amazing vintage buttons.

I'll write another post about Bev's family photos including a set from the end of WWI.

Jane Sassaman's Amazing Art

Jane Sassaman addressing the GLHQ

This month I visited the Great Lakes Heritage Quilters guild to see Jane Sassaman. I have admired her work for many years.

Jane Sassaman Moth and Moons

Jane described her journey as an artist from 1960s psychedelic and pop art influences to Gloria Vanderbilt's use of quilts, to William Morris and the Pre-Raphealites, to Nancy Crow's innovative art. Along the way, she included folk art, Marimekko, and the mid-century revival of the needle arts in embellishing counter culture 'hippie' clothing.

Sassaman was influenced by GloriaVanderbilt's quilted decor
which appeared in Vogue magazine in 1970

A William Morris wallpaper design
You can see the influence on Sassaman's work

Forgotten Garden by Sassaman
shows her thematic use of thorns

Here is my Finnish exchange student sister wearing a Marimekko print in 1970, an oversized poppy.

She talked about the themes she uses in her art, including 'dangerious' insects, the Day of the Dead, skeletons and skulls.

A spider appears at the bottom of Sassaman's quilt Life Totem

Sassman designed a fabric line for Free Spirit. Quilters don't have to applique the milleflores borders Jane loves, they can use the fabric!

Sassaman designs for Free Spirit

Simplified, small sized patterns based on Jane's art were available for purchase along with packs of fabric.

Jane Sassaman's patterns include Summer, right,
a simplified version of her award winning quilt Willow.

 I bought a daffodil design and a fabric pack with pussy willows. The prices were very reasonable.

Jane Sassaman easy applique pattern

Sassaman fabrics from Free Spirit

There was a nice turn out.

Jane is leading several workshops this weekend including one on Broderie Perse using printed fabric to create quilts like the one below--

and a class teaching how to observe plants and visually 'dissect' them to create original designs like Jane's Jack-in-the-Pulpit below--

The Free Spirit fabric line can also be used in pieced quilts as seen in the examples following:

Jane Sassman quilt using her Free Spirit fabric line

Jane Sassman quilt using her Free Spirit Line

 She is a true artist and a wonderful inspiration!

The guild has a free table and I found this wonderful book!

I have completed the top of the pattern I bought.

 The central motif is fused then finished with machine satin stitching.

The fabric kit was generous so there is enough for backing and binding.