Gwen Marston died this month, on April 18.
She fit the "March to your own drummer" philosophy perfectly. Although she was a fine quilter, traditionally-speaking, she also became a big advocate for designing as you go: pick up some strips, hack out a few scrappy shapes...then just stitch! Her lopsided houses and Log Cabin blocks were a special inspiration to many quilters too focused on 'being perfect:' me included.
'Liberated quiltmaking,' she called it.
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| Some of her eccentric Log Cabin blocks, as shown in: |
She lived on Beaver Island in Michigan -- a small Great Lakes island out in the middle of nowhere. But her yearly retreats were famous. I'd always hoped to go there -- always 'next year.'
She had a decades-long partnership with Joe Cunningham, who now has his own fame...and rarely mentions Gwen. (To his credit, he did post recently on his Facebook page: "When I met Gwen Marston my life was transformed. We had many adventures together. I am deeply saddened to hear of her passing.") But she was well-known within her own right as a writer, teacher and designer. A fast-moving cancer took her away far too quickly.
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| Gwen and Joe's book, American Beauties: Rose & Tulip Quilts, was one of my favorites. One of the best references for researching floral-themed antique quilts. |
You can see Gwen in action via this blogpost from Kristin Shields Art, including many photos and a review of her 'Abstract Quilts in Solids' class. She had a reputation as a brilliant teacher.
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| From Kristin Shields' blogpost, via Pinterest |
I had always hoped to meet her. Take a class from her. Never did.
She will be missed.
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| From therootconnection.blogspot.com, via Pinterest |
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