One of the pleasures of being associated with Planet Patchwork is that quilters just arrive at my door. Not literally (at least not most of the time), but in the form of books and letters and e-mails that appear bringing unexpected gifts of ideas and images that come from the world of quilting.

One such unexpected gift was the arrival in the mail a few weeks ago of the book "Quilting with Manhole Covers," by Shirley MacGregor. I don't know Shirley, but the envelope contained a modest cover letter asking us to take a look and perhaps review it. As you have seen, we did, in another part of this newsletter. At the same time, we thought it would be nice to get to know a quilter of such obvious accomplishments, unusual experiences, and creative imagination, so we e-mailed her for a profile.

Shirley says there are no quilters in her family, so she had to start the tradition herself. "I began quilting in the mid-1970s because it was a skill that I had always admired. There were no quilters in my family. When we migrated from California to Oregon in '75, it just seemed to fit."

Fit it did, and once Shirley began quilting she found herself quickly pushing limits -- her own and those of the craft. "My style has changed over the years from traditional, and is now very definitely contemporary," she says. "Although I appreciate traditional quilting, my eye is always on the horizon, and the limitless possibilities that exist."

About 15 years ago Shirley and her husband, who still make their home base in Oregon, began traveling extensively around the world. Shirley also took up teaching quilting, and further tested her limits (and those of her students) by setting up classes wherever they went. "I love teaching quilting because it is an excellent way to learn and to share something very special with others," she says. "It has allowed me to look at the same old things from so many points of view that they never become dull. I have taught American, Dutch, English, Japanese and Korean students, and am particularly fond of working outside of my own cultural frame of reference.

"When I began teaching in Japan it was quite challenging. I didn't speak the language, and had no real understanding of the culture. The two Japanese neighbors I recruited to get me off the ground thought I was nuts, but they graciously helped. Japanese (and Korean) quilt teachers use a very direct approach, wherein the students are shown an example of the teacher's work, and are expected to copy it -- originality is not an option. My students came to me with this expectation. Surprise, surprise! With a great deal of effort, I forced them think for themselves. Once they got the hang of it, wonderful things began to happen, and now they are very capable and enthusiastic quilters. Another peculiarity about teaching in Asia is that students tend to sign on for the long term. When I finished my first basic course, I declared the class over, but the students weren't prepared to leave. They were crushed. I soon learned that once Japanese students sign up, they are essentially yours for life!"

It was of course in Japan that Shirley came up with the idea for "Quilting With Manholes," and that was another cross-cultural adventure. Not only did she and her collaborators find themselves working through Japanese bureaucracies for permissions (as described in the book), but they had to unravel the mysteries of publishing as well.

"My husband and I tossed the book idea around for quite a while. The idea of introducing manhole designs to the quilting world seemed very ambitious. But the designs were just too good to leave in the street, so we decided to give it a try. Virtually all of the publishers to whom we sent draft copies of the book offered encouraging comments, but no one would take it on. Two suggested we self-publish. So, we sent off for a copy of Dan Poynter's book on the subject, and set to work. By this time we had moved to Korea, and thus began looking around Seoul for a graphics outfit and a printer. The graphics team we settled on was as green as we were, which added a bit of spice to the mix. Our printer -- who brought experience and clear thinking to the effort -- was, at various times, teacher, referee and analyst to all parties concerned."

If working out these details was something of a trial, getting quilters to undertake quilt versions of the manhole covers was relatively easy. "While we were still considering whether or not to do the book, I asked a few friends if they would like to give one of the designs a try. One of them mentioned that she had a friend in Virginia who might like to do one, and asked if she could send her one of the designs. Well, the friend thought it was great, and so did a number of HER friends, most of them members of the Cabin Branch Quilters in VA. There are now some 40 manhole quilts. They were recently on display at the Virginia Quilt Museum until the end of July, and will travel to a textile museum in Seoul this September. A few weeks ago, I had an opportunity to visit with the Cabin Branch Quilters, and was asked to share my experiences in Asia with them. I was also able to see all of the manhole cover quilts together for the first time; very inspiring."

Shirley says that computers have had a role in her computing life, but not particularly in quilt design. "I began working with computers in the sixties, when they had to be kept in cold rooms. Also, a good part of my college training is in computer science. I must admit, however, that I have not used the computer for any design work, or for teaching. Email has played a very significant role in my quilting activities in the past few years, as I have been engaged in a quilting 'challenge' involving friends in Japan, England and the US. Over a period of 6 years, we have set 14 quilts in motion, and have communicated via email with a great deal of pleasure and success. The challenge quilts will also go on exhibition in Seoul this September. Our computer (a Macintosh, to be sure) has been very important in producing the book."

While the book has taken up much of her energy in recent years, Shirley hasn't neglected her own work, and has won several prizes for her quilts. Her quilt "Treasures Underfoot," based on manhole cover designs, won a major prize at the Pacific International Quilt Festival, and recently took a third place at NQA's National Quilt Show. Shirley is active in a wide variety of quilting groups world wide. "I belong to a Japanese group that I helped to found, and a group in Seoul," she says. "I recently participated in the first quilt contest in Seoul, and received a bronze award. I belong to NQA, AQS, TAFTA, PNWQA and IQA."

A risk-taker in her quilting and in her life, Shirley MacGregor shows us all the rich rewards that can come to those who push limits. Through her quilts, her teaching, and her new book, she shares these rewards with the rest of us.

TVQ

Planet Patchwork