Surviving the Winter: The Evolution of Quiltmaking in New Mexico (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Surviving the Winter stands as New Mexico's contribution to the growing shelf of state quilt project books." (The Journal of Arizona History )

Product Description

Dorothy Zopf was not planning to start a new career when she and her husband moved to a village in northern New Mexico. But with the completion of their hand-made adobe house and her children and grandchildren far away, she welcomed the opportunity to join a group of quilters at La Iglesia de la Santisima Trinidad in Arroyo Seco. Sharing lunches, scraps of material, and stories led Zopf to begin collecting pictures of quilts from small towns across the state. Gradually she developed a questionnaire for documenting patterns and techniques and compiled a photo log of the quilts.

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 126 pages
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826322433
• ISBN-13: 978-0826322432
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,814,842 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delight in words and pictures., March 16, 2001

By	David A. Santogrossi "David S." (Lafayette, IN USA) - See all my reviews

Beneath each handmade quilt is a warm human being, and a fascinating story. Dorothy Zopf uncovers this material in her fascinating pastiche of oral histories. She pinpoints how what's available and what's needed combine with natural artistry to create lasting and functional treasures. The common thread that weaves this patchwork together is a texture of a place, of a time, and of a group of women who come alive in Zopf's deft hands. The stories and photos she has pieced together are not to be missed.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars addendum to prior review, January 23, 2002

By	David A. Santogrossi "David S." (Lafayette, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This book just won a 2000-2001 Southwest Book Award.