Famous Quilters

Quilting in the United States may have started out to be considered as a necessity and progressed to a pastime over the years, but it has now become noticed as the art form it has always been. As we’ve moved to industrialization and mass production, creating a quilt to get a family through those long winters without heat is just not needed any longer. In one sense, this is sad, but in another, although the necessity no longer exists, the tradition has by no means become a thing of the past.
Many people have a grandmother or great aunt who quilted and may even have some of her handmade quilts that have been passed down through the generations. If you are lucky, they were well taken care of and can still be used today. If not, there is always the possibility of restoration, as quilting has become extremely popular again. For those who enjoy quilts, but do not have the desire to make their own, there are many extremely famous people out there who will do it for you…for a price.
Esterita Austin
One of the most famous quilters in the world today is an artist by the name of Esterita Austin. Her quilts are definitely not the same thing you would pull out of your Granny’s closet or attic. There is nothing typical about her quilts. She quilts in a way that creates an intricate and detailed picture that encompasses the entire quilt. No individual squares for Esterita Austin! She also utilizes paint on many of her quilts to enhance the look of the picture she has created. While this is not completely unheard of in the quilting world, it was considered fairly rare until recently.
Elizabeth Barton
Elizabeth Barton is another quilt artist who has made a name for herself and the quilts she creates so beautifully. She has a slightly different technique than most quilters. When making her quilts, she builds up her quilt with her fabric, dying sections of it as she goes in order to create the scene. Once this is done, she cuts the entire scene into sections and quilts it all together. This sounds like a fairly complicated process, but it definitely works for her. She makes many quilts that go together as a series.
Phil Beaver
And if you thought quilts were only made by women, you’d be quite surprised. There are several men who are incredibly talented at quilting they just might put Granny to shame! Phil Beaver is definitely one of those men. His beautiful scenery quilts will take a person’s breath away. He is definitely one of the most famous quilters in the world and has won many awards and honors for his work. He can even be found on TV giving step-by-step instructions on quilting. Phil Beaver is another quilting artist who uses paint in his creations, and has invented a few new fabric painting techniques.
While quilting has been around since ancient times, quilting has only been considered a form of art in the last half of this century. Everyone has always been proud of the quilts on Granny and Great Aunt Helen’s beds, but they are not quite in the same category as the ones made by the artists mentioned above. No one would dare sleep under one of those!