Sunday, September 23, 2012

worlds collide!

It feels a little awkward, bringing my work life and my stitching together, but here it goes....

As some of you know, I am an academic -- a folklorist (I was fortunate enough to do my graduate work at the Folklore Institute, Indiana University) and, for the past 12 years, an English professor.

For the past 3 years I also have been obsessed with quilting. That obsession started with the modern quilts I stumbled across online, so totally different from the kinds of quilts to which I had been exposed before, and so inspiring.

Quite a while before I started this blog, I began to get a sense of how supportive and encouraging the online modern quilting community could be, and this happened largely through flickr. First I lurked, then I got an account, then I started commenting on photos and entering discussions, then I started building a contact list, then I found the Fresh Modern Quilts group, then I discovered the world of VQBs...and here I am, a bit more experienced and with more quilty ideas than I could possibly stitch up  -- even if I were independently wealthy and child-free!

For those of you who have also tapped into flickr as a resource for creative inspiration and social networking with other quilters, it may come as a surprise to learn that those scholars who study quilting and quilters really aren't aware of the depth and breadth of this phenomenon.

That's what I'm seeking to remedy, and --

I NEED YOUR HELP!  




My "read" on how modern quilters use flickr is only part of the story, and I would love to include the work and words of others.  I have invited discussion on flickr (please follow the link if you have a moment!), where I have also linked a project description/participation consent info letter which I ask that you read to get a better sense of what I'm up to in this project I'm calling "Stitched Together: Flickr and Social Networking Among Modern Quilters."

I would love to hear from you -- on flickr, in blog comments, by e-mail or flickr mail...whether you have a general comment to make or a story to tell. Please just take a look at the project description and then let it flow....

Thanks and happy stitching.


4 comments:

Annabella said...

Thanks Jennifer for your email and I shall take a look at this later when I can find a spare moment.

Annabella said...

Thanks Jennifer for your email and I shall take a look at this later when I can find a spare moment.

Annabella said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Prof. S (the enchanted bobbin) said...

I want to thank those of you who have already joined the discussion on flickr (link in my post) and others who have contacted me privately! I truly appreciate these contributions, and welcome MORE!! Please do chime in.