I just love quilts.  This time of year there is nothing better than snuggling under a quilt, or three. and I love to decorate with quilts too.  There are few things quite as American and honest as a quilt.  They provide warmth and color to homes in many ways. Below is a bedroom board i have been working on for a client that uses colorful quilts.

{sources: light, dresser and quilts from pottery barn, horse from z galleries, lamps from Ballard, chandelier from from Restoration and bottom chest from wisteria, colorful frames from Kiwi Woodwerks}

Did you know there is a National Quilt Musuem, in fact many museums, both local historical societies and large art and history museums have amazing quilt collections and exhibits.  Quilting is truly an art form and is very appreciated in our country.  I love that. An amazing source for quilts is Laura Fisher quilts, NYC as well as your local quilting quilts and art shows.  But handmade, antique and art quilts can be very expensive and precious and you may not want to use them daily.  i use many of our family quilts a LOT and i often feel bad when they come out of the wash but also love using them in our home.  Of course a truly precious textile should be stored in acid free box and paper..either rolled or folds padded, out of sunlight and NOT in a cedar chest. A good source for these large boxes and materials is www.lightimpressions.com. 

If you are looking for a quilt to use on a bed as a spread it can be difficult to find one large enough unless you purchase a cheesy reproduction from a big box store or spend $$ on custom fabric choices and fabrication.  A good alternative is the new museum quilt collection at Pottery Barn.  The “historic preservation/museum studies/oral history” part of me wants to buck the mass production of these type of American artifacts on one hand but on the hand they are so reasonable and affordable and great for everyday use.

They have great colors, come in sizes we all need and are washable/durable. Please dont tell me where they are actually made but PB teamed up with the American Folk Art Museum in NYC and the Gee’s Bend Foundation in Alabama for this and they say they are hand quilted and based on historic patterns in the museums collection.  I admit that marketing works on me..makes me feel better about the mass production.

[Edited to add. . . Read this commentary on the colloboration of the Alabama Gee’s Bend Foundation with Pottery barn…interesting]

Do you have special quilts in your home?  Do you store or display them?? I would love to hear your quilt stories or memories.

Snuggle and stay warm.