Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I remember Joan Vibert's great primitives.........

When I took my first quilting lessons in 1985, I chose blues and browns for my beginning sampler blocks colors and I tended to stay with the dark colors.  I enjoyed learning the new world of traditional
quilt blocks and traditional is still a favorite.  My quilting tendencies stayed on the dark side and soon
muslin wasn't getting it for me..........there needed to be a bit darker muslin for my tastes and that is
when I stumble upon the designs of a lady named Joan Vibert.  Her work opened up the world of
primitive dolls and quilting to me with this book. And she tea dyed muslin for ageing!  Notice that familiar co/author's name, Linda Brannock.


I made tons of primitive dolls from this book with some still surviving.  And being like a
stitcher on the prairie, I mostly stitched these by hand, including the bodies!

See that itty bitty next to the thimble?  I would not make that one again ever!

From then on I collected almost every book Joan Vibert had her name on and I still have them.
She had a little prairie girl character named Sarah Jane and I followed her faithfully.
There used to be a great quilting magazine published back then called Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts.
I didn't dare throw away my copy that featured Joan's work and the work of her like minded primitive designers.  I made a prim flag doll quilt like she did, of course tea dyeing those wickedly white muslins
to get the old and worn look I loved of hers.

In those pre-internet days, I had always wondered why she stopped publishing her books and designs and never did know. Who knew how to find out?  But when her works stopped there seemed to be a couple names that continued the primitives I loved and
they are still designing today.  It wasn't long back then when a great book by these ladies was published, Snowbound, and even a first primitive fabric line only to be followed by many, many more lines.  Can you say Linda Brannock and Jan Patek?  How wonderful!

But when I look at my old prim books, it was Joan Vibert who first opened my eyes to crinkly, wrinkled, tea dyed fabrics and knot haired dolls of all sizes.  I don't know if she was the first or the first of many to begin the primitive era, but it doesn't matter.  I'm glad she/they did.  Thanks, Joan Vibert.........for me, it all started with you!

11 comments:

Robin said...

I enjoyed your post about Joan Vibert. I have never heard of her but quilt history facinates me as much as the actual quilting. It has been long enough since the 70's that it's nostalgic now instead of just an odd decade (with shag carpeting - that's back, green, gold, and orange decorating - that's back, traditional homemade ways of doing things - I hope that's coming back.)

Karen said...

I never heard of Joan Vibert but I am sure I would have liked her. I used to have a bunch of the Lady's Circle quilt magazines. Ages ago.

Karen said...

I looked on Amazon and Joan's books are available - used ones of course.

antique quilter said...

I just love that flag quilt you made and oh the flying geese is wonderful. The dolls just make me smile!
I will have to go see if I have that issue of LPC I have tried to collect those magazines over the years now.
maybe I ought to try harder to get the whole collection
they are wonderful.....
thanks for the post it was interesting learning about Joan Vibert I had never heard of that magazine.
kathie

Barb said...

what a fun post.
I have that first booklet and I've made some primitive dolls too - I did mine in black fabric and used snap sets for one of them.
It was before computer photos, I wish I could find phone of the ones I gave away -
So cute!

Mary @ Neat and Tidy said...

I loved Joan Vibert and her books; what a great post and such great memories! Thank you!

terry said...

I too have this booklet and made the prim dolls. Every once in a while I sit and go through "old books and magazines" and enjoy. It's fun to see how many of the quilt artists have grown.

Terry

MJinMichigan said...

I collected all of Joan's books and made some of the primitive dolls. I also met her at a quilt show when she was a vendor at the very beginning of her quilting career. I wonder if I still have the prim doll pin I bought from her at the show.

Anonymous said...

Just found your blog. Love it. My little Flying Geese doll quilt is crinkly and aged with tea just like the one in your photo. So nice to read about Joan, now I will treasure my book! It has earned a new place with the many tea stained dolls and the little quilt. Thank you. Judy

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