Comments on: DIAMONDS + BARS: THE ART OF THE AMISH PEOPLE http://alabamachanin.com/journal/2012/01/diamonds-and-bars-the-art-of-the-amish-people/ Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:26:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: velma http://alabamachanin.com/journal/2012/01/diamonds-and-bars-the-art-of-the-amish-people/#comment-37634 velma Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:17:27 +0000 http://alabamachanin.com/journal/?p=12033#comment-37634 what laura writes is true. here in new york’s north country amish women are quilting with the cheapest of plain, solid, dark fabrics of cotton/poly, which need less ironing (when you iron all family textiles with real irons heated on the cook stove it’s huge thing) and making many ridiculously garish quilts for income. the amish society is harsh for women, and quilting is not a romanticized thing. i can’t imagine an amish woman believing her work could begin to rival the hand of god. i think your story, which is echoed in white people’s stories about navajo weavers, is someone’s fabrication. on the other hand, my children were always invited to play under the quilt frame in my amish friend’s house, while i was invited to stitch with the gathered visiting women, who, incidentally, spoke together in german translating for me.

]]> By: Jonn http://alabamachanin.com/journal/2012/01/diamonds-and-bars-the-art-of-the-amish-people/#comment-37281 Jonn Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:40:11 +0000 http://alabamachanin.com/journal/?p=12033#comment-37281 Beautiful post Natalie – thank you – love the Amish quilts and the quilts of Gee’s Bend just a tiny bit more – the inspiration is appreciated; a smile in my day

]]> By: Laura M http://alabamachanin.com/journal/2012/01/diamonds-and-bars-the-art-of-the-amish-people/#comment-37269 Laura M Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:14:25 +0000 http://alabamachanin.com/journal/?p=12033#comment-37269 I live in the heart of Amish country here in central PA. I deeply appreciate the beauty and creativity of Amish women, but please – let’s not romanticize them. Amish women are creating beauty within the narrow confines of a deeply patriarchal culture. I find that balance of pain and beauty tremendously inspiring. There’s so much to admire about the Amish – dedication to religious practice, simple living in tune with the land, and truly interdependent on family and community. But it all comes with a price.

]]> By: Michelle Shopped http://alabamachanin.com/journal/2012/01/diamonds-and-bars-the-art-of-the-amish-people/#comment-37236 Michelle Shopped Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:49:58 +0000 http://alabamachanin.com/journal/?p=12033#comment-37236 What is bizarre about coming upon this post is I was just thinking of y’all this morning (June, I still have to reply to you — I apologize for my tardiness!)…and thinking of Denyse Schmidt, the quilter and her studio in Bridgeport, CT
http://dsquilts.com
…another gritty place and thinking…hmmm…now there’s another possibility for Alabama…

Will be in touch this week…
Patricia

]]> By: Susan http://alabamachanin.com/journal/2012/01/diamonds-and-bars-the-art-of-the-amish-people/#comment-37235 Susan Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:48:18 +0000 http://alabamachanin.com/journal/?p=12033#comment-37235 I have a book that I inherited from my mother called The Amish Quilt by Grannick (http://www.amazon.com/Eve-Wheatcroft-Granick/e/B001KCQ0WO/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1326113132&sr=1-1). It is also a lovely book with many photographs and lots of scholarly text.

I have always wanted an Amish quilt. I love their simplicity and use of color. I have to say one of my favorite is a split bars quilt of royal blue and black.

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