by Sandra | September 7th, 2010
Quilting has lost arguably the most important person in quilting of the twentieth century. Bonnie Leman. For those of you who are fairly new to this hobby, she was the founder of the original Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine (QNM). This was her magazine started out of her home and the most influential media in resurrecting quilting from a dying art form.
I was in my early twenties when I first saw this magazine sitting on my mom’s cutting table in her sewing room. Sewing wasn’t even on my radar. I wasn’t married and living the single life in a big city working in the investment banking industry.
On a visit home to my parents for the holidays, I saw just the cover of one of mom’s QNM magazines off to the side of the cutting table and it instantly caught my eye. I didn’t experience any life changing epiphany, but a seed was planted–deeply. I remember thinking to myself that I had no idea quilts could be so artistic. This was the time when masterpiece quilts were the feature, not fast, easy and mechanical and the “art” quilt didn’t really exist. These were traditional quilts that went beyond average and were jaw dropping beautiful. These traditional quilts were ART.
That “seed” was always there just under the surface waiting to sprout. My mother had taught me to sew well and I had already won ribbons for my garment sewing skills back in my early teens. So the idea of sewing for fun and being able to be artistic with it? intriguing. A few years later I asked my mom about this “quilting” stuff. How hard was it? I pointed to this block that was, well, expert level piecing and she said I needed to start with something basic and build my skills. This was before the rotary cutter and I quickly lost interest in cutting out all of those pieces with scissors. But the seed still was growing.
Eventually, when I was starting my family, I tried again and now I had the rotary cutter available. It was a laughable first quilt, but I fell in love with the possibilities and with the help of my mom’s QNM collection I was inspired to keep at it.
Today, the corporate quilting attitude is to make it as simple as possible and NEVER try anything more difficult or develop any skills. Thanks to Bonnie Leman’s QNM, I feel so fortunate to have been not only inspired but challenged to develop my skills and always move forward by the articles, quilts and (real expert) quilters featured in her magazine.
Bonnie Leman’s influence was enormous on my generation of quilters and others before me. I can say with all honesty, without her influence, I would not be making the quilts I make today. I wouldn’t be quilting. The cover of her magazine was enough to plant a seed that germinated for years until it bloomed into award winning quilts of my own making.
Eventually, Bonnie retired and sold QNM to Primedia, who to their credit, were fairly good at keeping the magazine true to Bonnie’s vision with her daughter Mary Leman Austin at the helm as editor. When Primedia sold the magazine to another corporation, Mary left and the magazine had little resemblance to the original. I can say with all confidence, that had I seen the magazine as it is today, I never would have taken up quilting or even thought twice about the cover. No seed would be planted.
With an industry heavily focused on a younger generation, it is sad to me that what inspired our (relatively older) generations is gone forever. For those of us lucky enough to remember QNM under Bonnie Leman’s direction, we are so LUCKY. I will always thank her for the joy her vision and devotion has brought to my life. What a fantastic legacy she leaves behind.
Thank you Bonnie and thank you Leman family for sharing her with us, she will truly be missed.
Sandra, thank you for the wonderful memories. She will be sadly missed.
You put it so well. I remember when I first started quilting how I would cut the covers off of Quilter’sNewsletter just because I was so in awe of the beauty of those quilts. It was the first quilting magazine I got and gave it up when it “changed”.
Those inspirations gave me the courage to try new things and to remind myself that I too could create beauty. Thanks for reminding us to appreciate those have inspired and encouraged all of us.
Sandra,
To quote Kathleen, you put it so well.
I had just finished a beginners class and struggling to keep ahead of the class I was teaching when I discovered QNM in 1985….. one of the best things which could have happened to a new quilt teacher. I still use the skills I learned from QNM, before rotary cutters, and still try to pass them on to those who have started with quick projects.
Judy B
My sentiments exactly. I first encountered QNM in the late seventies and my eyes were opened to what quilts could be! Bonnie and her late husband George created a publication that fostered the best in quilting. Until recently, QNM had remained my favorite of all the quilting publications. My devotion to QNM and my interest in quilting had everything to do with Bonnie Leman. Thank you, Bonnie. Adieu.
What a lovely eulogy. I also appreciated that magazine as long as the Lemans were running it. I have saved al my copies and cherish them.
What a lovely tribute. I too remember QNM and how it inspired me. I have a scrapbook of pictures I have cut out from old issues.
Thanks for letting us know
Erin
Thank you for letting us know about Bonnie. The quilting world has lost a great lady. I still have the 70′s QNL issues which were so inspirational at that time. This is the first year that I haven’t renewed my subscription as it is not the same publication.
My thoughts exactly! I, too, was inspired many years ago by a cover, one of Nancy Pearson’s appliqued beauties, and cannot equate that revelation of what could be done with needle and thread to what is being offered today in the mainstream quilting industry. Thanks to Bonnie and her family, and God bless them.
I continue to feel the loss of Bonnie Leman… Leaves me heavy-hearted. To me, this is the end of an era.
I agree Frances,
I feel as though I have lost a dear quilting mentor. I am in total agreement that it signals the end of an era.