At a recent quilt guild meeting I noticed quite a few quilt-themed vanity plates in the parking lot, you've seen them: "QUILTER" or "IMAQLTR", whatever you can fit on the plate that's not already spoken for through the state license tag bureau. I also noticed license plate frames that were quilt themed and bumper stickers proclaiming, and warning, that the driver brakes for quilt shops. This practice made me wonder why we do this, and provided fuel for today's topic question:"Do you identify yourself as a quilter through the use of your vehicle, or by any other means, to the public?"
I remember the popularity of the quilted Bomber jacket. We all had them in our guild in the mid-nineties and wore them proudly. It was our way of showing the world that we were quilters, we were proud of it, and we sewed more than bed coverings! I loved my bomber jacket, maybe a little too much. (It succumbed to a horrible laundry accident at my own hands, but that's another post for another day). Do you wear quilted clothing or quilter's jewelry or advertise your love of the art on your car? I didn't think that I did, for the most part, although I do have a few quilty pins and a pair of earrings that resemble an Ohio star block. I have a gold thimble pendant that I wear; and, oh yeah... T-shirts with quilt motifs and slogans, and then, there's that fleece jacket that I bought at APQS with their logo on it. Yep, IMAQLTR, sometimes it's just plain hard to hide it!
...and sew, let's talk...
Life is Good!
Life is Good!
25 comments:
I had one of those quilted sweatshirts that I really liked, but it has ling since bit the dust. I never replaced it & besides one jacket (You can see a bit of it on my photo.) that is not so patchworky, I don't have any exterior markings. That apparently is just not me. I also have not adorned any of Jacob's clothing - thought I thought that I would (I might still - give me time, lots & lots of time)...
I really don't think that I do. Most of my friends know that I sew and quilt. Of course I do wear clothing that I make and sometimes that has a quilted influence. I don't think that someone who doesn't quilt would even notice the "touches".
Yep. Got the vanity plate. I'm "aquiltn". It's fun to be riding down the road and get flagged down by other quilters on the highway. I used to think vanity plates were stupid but I like the clever ones plus the additional funds go to the DOTs Enhancement Program which plants all the wildflowers along the highways.
Other than that, I wear my thimble around my neck sometimes and I have a few other baubles that I periodically wear that proclaim "quilter" to those that are paying attention.
don't you have quilter socks?
Well I do own some quilter theme jewelry but actually don't wear it often. The front of my car bears a license plate that reads, "I'd rather be quilting" and I do own a couple of old, wearing-out T-shirts with quilty things on the front. That's about it for me. I once had a vanity plate that read "DOCSMRS"; later my car was keyed and I wondered if it was coincidence or intentional and I let the plate lapse and now have the basic state plate.
I don't have anything -- and now that I typed that I remember the t-shirt I bought in Juno Alaska with the quilt blocks on it!!
My husband always tells people "my wife's a quilter" He tells everybody that - LOL Drives me a little crazy sometimes!!
Quilt show pins that I wear to guild meetings, one jacket from a sweatshirt and 3 or 4 sewing/quilting related t-shirts that I wear when gardening. Nothing on the vehicles -- I am very nondescript. Incognito, if you will. Maybe I am a subversive quilter *smile*.
I have block pins that I occasionally wear. I have a couple show t-shirts that I don't wear - they'll become pillow covers sometime in the future. Although I do like those quilted jackets, I never made one. The kit I bought is still in pieces!
The pins from guilds and shows are attached to a small wall hanging of "quilter sayings".
liz
I have a plate frame that says
"Quilters are piecemakers".
So far I have never had any comments about it even from my guild members.
Once you step into my house there is no doubt about what I do. My quilting has taken over every room but the familyroom, kitchen and the bathroom. I have my sewing machine in the livingroom right under the picture window. I so enjoy working there. I do not know how I ever enjoyed sewing back in my tiny 8X8 third bedroom. It is now a fabric prep room.
I have a license plate frame that proclaims "I'd Rather Be QUILTING" (which helps me distinguish MY car from the identical model driven by a man who works upstairs in our office building) ~ and I have quilts hanging in my office (which the attorneys love).... yup ~ I let folks know!
When I was heavy into Dog Showing I was heavy into letting it flow thru every expression of my life. As I learned to let go of that aspect of Karen for reasons out of my control, I found it so painful to let those expressions and definitions leave me. It really hurt. More than the loss of the activity. It was as if those things were saying "IT'S FINAL NOW, KAREN."
Tough Lesson. I don't do that anymore. That aspect of letting go was really, really hard.
Don't have nay of this stuff. I don't feel the need, I'd rather put my energies into my creativity I suppose. (I guess the lack of availability this side of the pond might have somehting to do with it too :o) )
I still have a quilted sweatshirt I wear in the winter! The more I wash it, the more comfy it gets, but I'm noticing the binding around the ends of the sleeves is getting raggy.
I also have a QLTVLLE license plate and license plate frame that says "Born to Quilt, Forced to Work"
And then there are the tell tale signs that cling to my personage even if I didn't want anything to proclaim I'm a quilter....threads, bits of fabric...triangles and a thimble in my pocket, batting fuzz in my hair..need I say more?
About the only thing I wear that identifies me as a sewing person are the threads that adorn my clothes when I go out! I always forget to check!
Sweatshirts, t-shirts, show themed totes, and one pair of quilt designed earrings...that is probably about enough :>)! Most that know me, do realize that I am a quilter! I am actually guilty of thinking I would like something on my license plate to identify me as a quilter...but have not given in yet! Have a great evening!
You bet I wear lots of quilted things: sweatshirts, jackets, blouses, quilted handbags, and I just posted a picture of a morning garment I call a "pop on" on my blog, grammilousgarden. Love to design and make unique clothing.
Nope, don't wear anything quilty or have any pins, license plates, etc. I only identify myself as a quilter when I talk incessantly about quilting or pick thread from my clothes! I would like to have my great grandmother's thimble made into a necklace, though, like you have. That is a really special piece.
I have a T-shirt from Big Horn Quilts that I wear. I also have a T-shirt that says "Real Women Quilt" and one that says "Sew Many Quilts, Sew Little Time" on it. The best one of all is a shirt I bought my husband that says "Quilter's Hero" on it. He's a good sport and wears it very proudly.
Oh the quilter clothes, and the denim jumpers!!!! My daughter got me a "I'd Rather Be Quilting" license frame a couple years ago, and I do love that and wear it proudly on my car!!!
I hope to live next to a Quilt Barn someday! Everyone that pulls into the drive will know a quilter lives there for sure.
I must be boring - I won't even buy a t-shirt that has a name brand/logo showing (exception is my jogging hat which has a small Nike logo). No bumper stickers. Nothing loud and flashy... guess I just like to try to blend in with the masses. Cheers! Evelyn
My tote bag usually says "QUILTER!" very loud and very clear in one way or another. Though, I sometimes wonder if it doesn't shout "TACKY" to the uninitiated. ;O)
And really, let's face it, who would want to hide that we are addicted to quilting! Anyone that knows us already knows it. I sometimes feel like I should have that bumper sticker you see for kids, you know the one, "Ask me about my latest quilt?" LOL
I don't have a lot of quilting wear. I do however have a tendency to be wearing bits of thread all over me. My dh tells me if I have any on me before we go out. I also keep a couple of scraps at work just to remind me of what I am missing.
What an interesting question, and such great answers! I don't have anything that shows the world I am a quilter. I enjoy talking to people I don't know, telling them I'm a quilter, and watching their reaction. It is always one of delight, surprise, and (sometimes) envy. Who doesn't love a quilter?
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