As we introduce the new STURBRIDGE
VILLAGE MINIATURES collection by Judie Rothermel and the Old
Sturbridge Village, we asked Judie to share some of her insights on this
popular category, which has become her hallmark.
She recollects, 'When I began collecting antique quilts and blocks in
the 1970's, I realized that those pieces I loved most were done with
smaller block sizes. At the time, everyone was making 12", 14"
and 16" blocks, and these were the readily available patterns at
the time. However, in our shoppe, where I did all of the teaching, I
kept thinking about the smaller blocks in my antique quilts, and began
drafting down the current patterns to 4" and 5" blocks. I
absolutely loved piecing the smaller blocks, and they just seemed more
appealing and magical to me."
Judie made her first miniature quilts in the early 1980's, deciding
at that time that she would make full size quilts with only the
miniature blocks! "Not just little wall hangings, but full
size quilts! From that point on, I never made a block
larger than 8" square, and even those were rare," she
remembers.
Judie's love for miniatures is continually reflected in her many
books, and in articles that feature her work. She notes that the
miniature category evolved as her forte, and she became known as the
creator of the "Miniature Movement", long before the Dear Jane
phenomenon began. Her work in miniatures also includes appliqué as well
as pieced quilts.
As a fabric designer for Marcus, Judie has always wanted to do a line
of miniature prints, and she's thrilled to share the fun of miniatures
with quilters through this wonderful collection. While they're designed
for smaller blocks, they work equally well in standard quilt blocks
& designs as well. Judie's expertise in this category led her to
vary the scale of the prints in the group, to include slightly larger
prints that are perfect for accents and fussy-cut details.
Quilt Like Judie: |
