On the Horizon: A Feed Sack Book with UPPERCASE
Why yes, it HAS been four months since I posted...and while many things have happened in that span of time, probably the thing I've concentrated most of my energy on has been on a book about feed sacks. I'm working with Janine Vangool of
and as if you know her work, you won't be surprised to learn that this book is going to be an absolute stunner.
I've been reviewing page proofs over the past couple of weeks and cannot get over the variety and number of included images—vintage ads and newspaper clippings, images of items made from feed sacks, historic photos of feed sack-wearing folks and of artists designing logos, and of course, lots and lots of feed sack swatches, labels, and whole bags.
Janine and I met in Lincoln, Nebraska in August and spent two days photographing feed sacks belonging to collectors Gloria Hall and Paul Pugsley—quite literally thousands of sacks and feed sack-related items. We visited the
International Quilt Study Center
and met with curator Carolyn Ducey. We held an event at
and met and learned from some lovely folks. And we sat on the couch and wrote and rewrote, found imagery to accompany text, and worked on making the book something that was truly ours.
There have been a number of different feed sack books (one woman I talked to said "There are 17 books about feed sacks," to which I replied "I guess ours will be number 18!") and while I found many of them useful (indispensable, really) and lovely, this book will be different in style and content. I've interviewed a number of individuals with great and unusual feed sack stories, slipped in items both whimsical (chickens dressed in feed sacks) and serious (Belgians using feed sacks to subvert the WWII German occupation), and Janine went a little wild—more than a little, to be honest—in acquiring and sharing images that shed new light on the feed sack story.
So there you have it. I'm waiting now for final page proofs, and the book should be available in November, in time for the holidays. I can't wait to hold it in my hands, instead of just in my head. Long live print...
