Over the last 35+ years, it has been my privilege to meet and get to know some of the quillers who were responsible for the resurgence of quilling here in the United States in the 1970’s. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Betty Christy (author of Quilling Paper Art for Everyone published in 1974), Marlene Bartels (owner of Quill It), and I still stay in touch with Malinda Johnston (founder of Lake City Crafts). Recently, I have been visiting (over the phone) with Gini Antoine. Now in her 80”s, Gini “discovered” quilling in the 1960’s. At the time she was giving painting lessons and very active in the world of arts and crafts traveling around the country teaching and demonstrating at the national hobby industry shows.She visited a friend who showed her a piece of antique quilling. She was fascinated and like so many of us, she got hooked. She formed a company which she called Priceless Pastimes and starting selling kits and strips and adding color to her work. She published two books Heirloom Treasures Quilling Book I which includes patterns for a wreath, Christmas tree, a Spanish fan, "crystal" snowflake, cross and a peacock among others. Heirloom Treasures Quilling Book II includes designs for wheat, mushrooms, an Owl, snowflakes, cross and some very pretty borders.
She was the quiller who Betty Christy to quill and is credited with naming the different shapes. In her book Quilling Paper Art for Everyone Betty Christy said “More than ten years ago, Gini Antoine of Independence, Missouri, pioneered a delicate lacy form of paper filigree. She began the custom of naming the various coils when she first researched and introduced what she called a “lost art.”
I have had several delightful conversations with Gini and learned that she still had some of the books she had written. These are vintage books published in 1970 and 1972. My two favorite designs are a lacy Victorian Christmas tree, and a rather intricate Valentine border design. There are also several pretty snowflake designs. For those of you who are collectors of “all things quilling” I have put them up on the web site.
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3 comments:
wow that is awesome, love hearing about the history of quilling and the people who wrote books on it, thanks for sharing!!!!
Paula
Very interesting stories, Pat. Thank you for sharing this history about Gini and Betty.
Hi Pat, your post was so interesting, I have a couple of those books, and have often wondered about the people who wrote those books.
Best wishes
Rosie Graham.
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