Piecing Fabrics - Mending Lives: The History, Philosophy and Ingenuity of Quilters

by Cleo Lampos

Every quilt tells a story. Within its stiches are the dreams, the challenges, the tears and the joy of the quilter. Binding the fabric is the history of the circumstances that propelled many woman-hours of creation. Cleo Lampos seeks to understand the stories of these textile masterpieces. She looks beyond the initial stunning design to investigate the imagination of the quilter, the cultural issues surrounding the creation, and the innovations needed to complete the project. Join Cleo Lampos as she discusses the Art of Gaman, Irish Patchwork, Quilts for the Thin Blue Line, Amish quilters, the women from Gee’s Bend. Discover the historical and philosophical underpinnings that inspire other movements in stitchery. Enrich your journey into the hearts, minds and souls of quilters by reading the accounts of everyday women who discover how life-giving their quilting can be. Every quilt tells a story. They are an essential building block of the culture that is making them. Be inspired by the women who work with fabrics and the stories they tell.

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2018

About the author

I was born in Colorado, but raised on farms in Iowa and Wisconsin. My father died when I was three years old, leaving my mother with my five year old sister and seventeen year old brother. Within a year, my brother joined the Navy, and a few years later, my mother remarried. When I went to Fort Atkinson High School in Wisconsin, it was my eighth school.( New students in my classrooms always got special attention from me.)

After graduating from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a major in elementary education and a minor in library science, I taught in a Chicago suburb for two years. There I met and married Vernon Lampos and taught one more year before settling down to raise three children. When my son entered first grade, I attended St. Xavier College in Chicago, earning a Masters Degree in Learning Disabilities while working in the LD/BD Clinic as a diagnostician. Returning to the work force after ten years, I experienced all the classic "new teacher" mistakes. Reading my book, Teaching Diamonds in the Tough, you will realize the challenges that I faced while teaching 20 years in the district described as "an urban school in a suburban setting."

My husband and I have always belonged to a local church and been active in its programs. I have taught Vacation Bible School, written the preschool curriculum for an urban church, told missionary stories for Children's Church, co-authored plays, and spoken at homeschooling and women's meetings. Presently, Vernon and I garden for Share the Harvest, help with Pantry Kitchen, conduct Kids Konnex, and volunteer at Bibles for Missions Thrift Store. I collaborate with the Worship Planners in our church. Our ten grandchildren keep us busy.

As a writer, I have had numerous magazine articles published in Lookout, Teachers in Focus, Evangelizing Today's Child and others. In 2011, I received the Honorary Genesis Award for Young Adult for Year of the Locust, an historical fiction story of a boy on the orphan train. I have written curriculum for Urban Ministries/Chicago, contributed to Writing So Heaven Will Be Different, and published a family friendly book on Alzheimer's Disease, Grandpa's Remembering Book. I have been a member of a writer's group for twenty years, and also attend the group at our local library.

Reviews

[Bella Doerres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piecing Fabrics – Mending Lives by Cleo Lampos

Having long been a sewer and quilter I try to find and read books by quilters and sewers. This particular book was new to me as is the author Cleo Lampos. It is rare I find a book that once I have started reading it I can’t stop. I dedicated an entire day to read through the treasured words and masterfully shared glimpses of lives within. Lampos has written a book that every lover of quilts and sewing should read. She shares the reasons behind the quilt, the meaning of the art as well as many insights into the styles that have found their way into American history and the heart of every quilter. At the end of each chapter is a treasure trove of internet links where you can feast your eyes on the quilts she is writing about. Starting with women of the Irish potato famine to the hard working women of the depression she shares insights she learned from fellow quilters over the years. As a quilter and sewer I can attest that blanket I create is more than a quilt blanket and that blouse is more than a garment. This is the first time I have read anything that shares the feelings behind the creation of these things, the passion and the love that goes into the process. It isn’t just an a blanket made of fabric in interesting patterns it is the heart and soul of the women that holds the needle and works the threads in and out of the quilt and the passion behind it. Her writing expresses and shows the heart of the creation and all that goes into that creation from the life we live, the times we share and the ones that we loose along the way. Passion, that is what this book showed me, the passion of so many different quilters over so many years and how we are all sewn together by the needle and thread we use.

Reviewed by J Bella Doerres

[Robyn Gaye-Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piecing Fabrics-Mending Lives: The History, Philosophy and Ingenuity Of Quilters
By Cleo Lampos
As Cleo says in the first pages, this is not a picture book, it is stories from the ladies who made quilts, make them still and pass down their techniques to daughters and nieces, showing how to turn scraps of a favourite dress, coat, shirt, curtain or beloved fabric into a memory that will last for generations, keeping family members warm and enthralled by stories passed down, telling where each square or shape had originally come from. It became a living history.
Personally I love the brightly coloured quilt display exhibited each year at our Showgrounds. I think of the many hours spent in companionship as pieces of fabric are hand sewn into squares or shapes such as hexagons before being added to a larger piece of fabric. Then a quilt would be created that would be loved and cuddled under for warmth.
At the beginning of most chapters is a picture of a quilt and I loved the patchwork cat on the Volunteering chapter. I found much wisdom in the book and hope many others have a chance to enjoy it as well. I was given a copy of this book but the review is my own.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given its book by the author and was asked gor an honest review. The basic concept of the book is wonderful. How quilts tell our story. Each is different even if two quilters use the same pat tern because we each stitch our story in t o it. Being a quilter and a nurse, I fully undertake wrapping one's self in the warmth and comfort a hand made quilt. I've seen the comfort, both physical and emotional that they can provide. I loved the stories that e related and how she wove the crops aspect of quilting into everyday happening, as well as painful, hurtful, and emotional evets. My isue with the book was not the story itself, but the lack of editing and formatting. Those things iist red me and kept me from totally enjoying whst was otherwise a grest read.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, be aware this is not an instruction book for quilt making and there are very few photos. It is rather a look at the ways quilting has brought joy and a sense of peace to people throughout the centuries. As a quilter, I enjoyed seeing the positive effect quilting made in the lives of those in unpleasant circumstances. With a bit more editing, this one could be 5*. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

For any woman who has been part of the inspirational camaraderie of a sewing circle - whether your craft is quilting, embroidery, needlepoint or knitting, you will relate to these series of stories. The author presents histories, insights, love and laughter from various women who share how crafting with other women has helped sustain, advise, support, heal and inspire them. Enjoyable read for anyone who has participated in needle arts.

[Kresti Lyddon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice history of quilting

I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review. This was a nice, simple overview of how quilts have developed and been used as utility, messenger, reward/recognition, comfort, and art. As a quilter, myself, I enjoyed reading the history of my craft.

[Pat Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful Read

I absolutely loved this book. It was so meaningful and inspirational to hear the stories of how quilts have been used to share compassion and love through the centuries.

[Steven Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely Read!

This is just such a sweet delightful book with many enjoyable stories and spreading the messages and stories hidden within and those in plain sight. Highly recommended read for a trip on a plane, or a vacation read or even before you go to bed.