Another Great One is Gone: Ruth McDowell

 This quilter, teacher, writer and major influence in the world of quilting died on June 23, 2024. 

 

I heard of her first through her "Dancing Princesses" quilt -- from the old folktale about the girls who danced their shoes to shreds every night. A huge piece which put Ruth's name out there nationally.

But what really influenced me was her work in everyday subjects -- landscapes, animals...and especially growing things: trees,  herbs and flowers. She had a very basic approach to a sort-of paper foundation piecing that copied these in realistic fashion. I was used to seeing them in applique, not this almost-stained glass look! She mixed prints, textures and batiks with hand-dyeds and solids -- another huge influence for this scrap-loving quilter.

P.S. She did machine applique, too -- beautifully. 

The Barn (2015)

If you're thinking, 'Gee, this reminds me of Nancy Halpern's work...you're right. They definitely influenced each other. (More on Nancy here.)

Summer Visitors (2013)

Sugar Maples on Wilson Hill (2017)

Ladders (2017)...yes, this is a pieced quilt!

Hobblebush - 2014**

Blossoming Moosewood - piecing and applique **

Hill Town Farm -- a good example of Ruth's approach.**

Sumac 4 (2016)**

**These are available for sale! An excellent opportunity to own this talented artist's work. 

Ruth made almost 600 quilts -- I wish I could show them all to you.

Here's Ruth's website -- and some of her work. 

Her induction in 2014 into the Quilters Hall of Fame will tell you more, too. She stopped teaching more than a decade ago, and retired from making quilts by 2020. But her books, work and methods endured.

Here's her obituary:

A pioneer and visionary in the contemporary art quilt movement and lifelong appreciator of the natural world, died on June 23, 2024, following a brief illness. Ruth was raised in Winchester, MA and graduated from MIT in 1967. She began her art quilting career in 1972. Until her retirement in 2017, Ruth forged the unique path of being a full-time professional quilt artist. Her quilts were exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries, museums and shows and are represented in museum, private and corporate art collections worldwide. Ruth's very active career included teaching quilt design and piecing workshops, and lecturing about her work throughout the world. 

She was the author of ten books on the subjects of quilt design; her personal piecing method; and two career retrospectives. In 2007, Ruth relocated from Winchester to the woods of Colrain, Massachusetts. In 2021, she moved to Minnesota to be closer to her daughter, Leah and grandchildren, but her heart remained in western MA. 

She was preceded in death by her beloved Bernese mountain dog, Sepia; and survived by daughters, Emily McDowell (Daniel Pasley) of Portland, OR and Leah Lofgren (Joseph) of Edina, MN; and grandchildren, Pippi and Henry Lofgren. A public Celebration of Ruth's Life will be held in late October in the Boston area, followed by a family Ceremony in Colrain, MA.

Thank you for sharing yourself and your amazing work with us, Ruth.