Now Zopf presents the quilts, their histories, and the stories she collected at senior and community centers around New Mexico. She surveys the blending of Hispano and Anglo-American fiber arts. Northern New Mexico was a wool and weaving culture, where women adapted and assimilated the piecing and quilting techniques brought by Anglo-American immigrants during territorial days. Working in isolation or in small families and communities, they made utilitarian quilts that were also works of folk art. The quilts documented here range from the old style quilts, characterized by vertical strips of random lengths and widths, to formal patterns such as Log Cabin and Wedding Ring, to experimental wall hangings. Using materials ranging from old serapes to used clothing, flour sacks, tobacco bags, and commercial fabrics, the women of New Mexico have used their frugality, ingenuity, and creativity to create an enduring legacy.
