Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!

It's a fantastic book for anyone who has in interest in quilting, it's past, present and future. Fantastic book, RECOMMENDED.

This book is a true inspiration. Amazing background information and stories on the participants in this historical part of American quilting culture with lovely photos of these beautiful and unique quilts. The shipping all the way to Australia was prompt, with the book arriving in perfect condition.

I've been quilting for over thirty years and own dozens of quilt books and think this is the best compilation of quilts I've ever had the pleasure to see.

Really like this book, it has some great stories and history of quilt making. Would love to visit the area.

Book full of beautiful designs by women with an innate sense of color and design. It shows that design is part of the human spirit.

Good condition, but smelled like smoke.

Wonderful book,

Jean sutton. Discovering the history of quilts made in us is a wonderful exciting lesson. Our nation has so many cultures it is refreshing to see the quilts of of descendants from Africa, and the effort preserved by those slaves who kept their art alive . We are fortunate to see and admire this legacy.

This is a beautiful book about amazing artists!

This book illustrates the link between the incredibly beautiful quilts produced by five generations of African American women in the South to the architecture they saw around them and to their own artistic vision. Their personal stories, contained in chapters toward the end of the book, are very moving and inspirational.

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!

This a lovely book full of big glossy photos. I love it. Unfortunately, I wonder if it was rough handled in postage as the front and back bottom corner was slightly squashed.

This book is one of my favorite treasures, The artist in this book are the finest anywhere. This book is a real treasure, Im proud to share it with friends

Showcase for exquisite quilts

She loved it

The art of quilting taken to the highest degree in the best tradition of passing down the passion from one generation to the next.

I like this book because it is full of information about the construction of the quilts and alot of trivia about the makers of the quilts. Very beautiful pictures! A great book for learning.

If you liked the Gee's Bend Quilt exhibit, then you have to have this book as well as the one before it

This is a visually beautiful book with many gorgeous photos of the quilts, the women who sewed them and the community in which they were created. The book also shows the inspirations for many of the quilt designs, whether conscious or unconscious, found in the construction of clapboard walls, views through tiny windows and decorations laid haphazardly along a shelf. Inspirational and treasured.

Having visited Gee's Bend in LA (lower Alabama) last winter this book certainly helped fill in the blanks and questions about the area, history, culture and quilts...none compare to the honesty and artistry of these women. There is a reason they have become so internationally famous. These works truly hang the lives and souls of their creators 'out on the line' for all to love.

The stories of the women of Gee's Bend, as told by themselves, touch ones heart and should remind us of a time when one used what you had and met the challenge of creating such things of beauty as their quilts. They definitely thought "outside the box" and broke all the rules of quilting to produce some splendid pieces of art. Primative? yes, but their artistic eye as shown in their work, places their work on a level with the great artists of the world. Great photos of the ladies and wonderful color pictures of the quilts. I would recommend the book for artists as well as quilters.

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!

I am really enjoying reading and looking at the pictures of the quilts in this book. I have met several of the ladies and decendants of the Gee' Bend Quilters and find their stories so interesting. The quilts definitely do define the quilters, their strengths and weaknesses, their ups and downs. I recomend this book to anyone who holds quilts near and dear to their hearts.

Beautiful book. I like the soft-cover version better in terms of printing and paper quality.

This book is gorgeous!!! It includes large photographs of tons of quilts, in a size that allows you to see the smallest details, such as topstitching. It also includes inspirational photos of details of the town. However, it's not your typical coffe table book, because it has probably equal parts very informative text and visuals. Since it's not small enough to carry with me on the train, it's been hard separating myself from this book-- it is beautiful!

Everything was perfect. Just as expected-- came early.

This book shows the Gees Bend quilts in all their gorgeous and unself-conscious art, as well as telling the story of these women, descended from slaves in an isolated community, who created this amazing abstract art. A wonderful book, with many color photos of the quilts.

Interesting and inspiring! I loved the stories of the quilters - real people who were extraordinary and humble.

Wonderful book full of pictures and inspiration, and the story of the Gees Bend Quilts.

This book is great, and the pictures are wonderful. I'm studying for an upcoming exhibition and I am very satisfied.

Très beau livre destiné à ceux qui n'osent pas se lancer dans l'art du quilt pensant qu'ils ne sauront pas faire. Des oeuvres très spontanées faites avec les moyens du bord.

Lovely book!

As a quilter who aspires to improvisational design, these works fascinate & challenge me. They express that human drive & need for artful living even in the midst of great lack. Perhaps even more so then than while living with material abundance.

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.

This is the museum catalog for the Gee's Bend Quilts exhibit that toured the country perhaps five years ago. I had the pleasure of seeing the exhibit in Boston at the MFA and it is not to be missed if it tours again. This book enhances the trip with a lot more narrative about the history of quilting, the quilters (including many parts in their own words), the materials they used, inspirations and more. The story of these women (often many generations of one family) is inspiring. None of this is to diminish the artistic quality of the quilts themselves. Highly recommended.

I had the pleasure of meeting the women of Gees Bend! This is a wonderful book and if you are interested in history you will love it. The stories told by the women of Gees Bend are heart breaking, heart warming, historical and informative. I not only met these women but took a full day workshop, attended the talks they gave for a week and listened to their stories and felt their pain! They are wonderful and have an outlook on life I wish everyone could share. This is a must have for the quilt history buff and anyone interested in quilt art!

These quilts remind me of my grandmother who was from South Carolina. She instilled my desire to use pieces of fabric like these talented women used in Gee's Bend and all over the south and USA. This is an awesome beautiful book and will be my prize coffee table book to show my family and friends. As a beginning quilter I pray that I will be able to use some of these ideas and patterns to produce a quilt worthy of these talented womens skills.

This book is a must for anyone interested in improvisational quilting from the late 1800's to today. The women interviewed tell their own histories and how quilting was such a large part of their lives along with church and family and work. These are the most beautiful quilts i've ever had the honor to see.

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm. I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together. Lovely experience!

I own a lot of quilting books (a lot!!!) and this is in my top 2 books every quilter should own (the other is collaborative quilting). I find myself looking in this book again and again for inspiration and history.

Fabulous book. If you like quilting without rules, this is a fascinating book. In this story, quilting was originally a practical way of using old fabrics to make blankets for everyday warmth and survival. Nothing was wasted by these pioneers of recycling. Yet, when you look at the historical examples displayed in colour, you see not only the rawness of the works but also the incredible beauty of them. A 'must have' book.

Beautiful book! A compelling story! Being from Alabama, this book hits home! Also a story of a generation that overcame obstacles and 'made do' with what they had. True Artist!