Quilting is often a considered a traditional craft, but a new generation of modern quilters are bringing a decidedly contemporary flair to the art.
Milwaukee's Lee Heinrich and Chicago's Faith Jones are very modern women who, along with many others like them around the world, have taken a craft that was born out of necessity and turned it into one that is both utilitarian (you can use their quilts on your bed or sofa) and artistic.
They are called "Modern Quilters" and they borrow and interpret classic quilt patterns as well as inventing their own. And the traditional "quilting bee" of generations past still exists - it's just now gone online. From Pinterest to Skype, women around the world are connecting and quilting together.
Heinrich and Jones, along with co-author Katie Clark Blakesley, recently published a book on modern quilting called Vintage Quilt Revival: 22 Modern Designs from Classic Blocks, published by Interweave/F+W Media.
A couple of weeks ago, they were part of a day long workshop on Modern Quilting at Cedarburg's Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, where an exhibition called "Modern Perspectives" runs through April 6th.
