Mistress Hemlock's Threaded Tales

 Dearest Readers,   One had dared to hope that with new ownership, the American Quilter’s Society (AQS) might at last shake the dust from its antiquated ways and step boldly into the future. Yet, alas, that hope has been dashed upon the rocks of yet another scandal. The recent removal of two art quilts from the SAQA Global Exhibition Color in Context: Red proves that while the leadership may have changed, AQS’s deep-seated fear of controversy remains as stitched into its fabric as ever.   But let us not feign surprise, dear readers, for AQS has a long and storied tradition of clutching its pearls at the mere hint of artistic expression that strays beyond quaint barns and rolling hills. This is the very same organization that, in 2016, abruptly pulled Kathy Nida’s quilts from its Grand Rapids show after receiving complaints—without so much as a whisper to the artist herself. And let us not forget the infamous censorship of Amigos Muertos by Jonathan Shannon, a tribute to a...

Dearest Readers,   It seems a month’s absence is enough to set tongues wagging and needles trembling. Whispers of my untimely demise? Greatly exaggerated. Suspicions of my defection to the dull and drab corners of the quilting world? Laughable. Fear not, dear stitchers, for Mistress Hemlock has not been silenced, merely biding her time, gathering the most delectable of morsels to share. And now, like the first crisp cut of a rotary blade on fresh fabric, I return—sharper than ever.   While I have been away, the quilt world has been up to its usual mischief. Shows have come and gone, deals have been struck in hushed tones, and the ever-turning bobbin of controversy has spun its tangled web once more. But worry not, my darlings, for I have been watching. From the gilded halls of high-profile exhibitions to the whispered grievances of shop owners, no thread of scandal has escaped my notice.   Prepare yourselves, for what lies ahead is a veritable patchwork of intrigue: news ...