Monica Moses wrote a beautiful review of Unconventional & Unexpected in a recent edition of American Craft. I'm touched at how she has connected to the book. Read below for the full review:
“There is something of a consensus, says Roderick Kiracofe in the introduction to this lively book, that the end of traditional quiltmaking happened in the 1940s and that ‘no good quilts were made after that.’ Unconventional & Unexpected is an eye-popping counterargument to that belief. The book features about 150 examples of eccentric and previously undocumented quilts from the author’s collection, most dating from 1950 on. These are not precious quilts; most were made from ordinary scarps and meant to be used every day. And the vast majority are anonymous; Kiracofe, author of the classic American Quilt (2004), happened upon them in his searches across the country. Kiracofe’s charming introduction is not the only context provided in the book. Essays by Elissa Auther, Ulysses Grant Dietz, Denyse Schmidt, and Natalie Chanin, among others, add warmth and insight, as if sharing wisdom around the sewing circle. Wholly appropriate to its subject matter, Unconventional & Unexpected exudes a refreshing authenticity, character, and humility.”