Hoopla ... for creative quilters

Read Froncie's article " Reliving History Through Quilting" on the History of Quilting website.

Read Froncie's interview for Antique Quilt Dating.com website

Biography: Froncie Quinn

In 1982, my husband and I lived in a small apartment outside of New York City. Having recently moved there from my home-state of Ohio, I found myself far removed from the quilt shops that abounded in Ohio. My local store was Judie and Bob Rothermel's, The Schoolhouse Quilt Shop, and I missed them and the store terribly.

My husband, who has always been my guiding light and most avid supporter, suggested that I use my teaching skills to form my own classes for the various Continuing Education classes in the area. This would provide me the opportunity to keep up my own handpiecing skills and have a network of friends in my new community. Because my space was so limited, I began piecing samples for my classes in miniature. I formulated pattern booklets for each student to have, and included wonderful metal templates that I bought from Roy Daniel in Maine. I had discovered his tin template business at the Schoolhouse, as Judie used them for her classes.

My classes went well and just as they were becoming quite popular, we decided that a move outside the New York City area was needed. We had a baby now, and wanted a house and more outside space. After much research, we chose to move to Vermont. I was ecstatic! Certainly, now, I would be near many quilt shops! To my dismay, I discovered that only a few dotted the area. Now with two babies, and a small mail order business for my miniature patterns in place, I was thrilled when Mr. Daniel offered me his template business. I had also discovered by then the Shelburne Museum, which gave me exposure to antique quilts that I had never had before.

After several years of living in the area and working at my small business, I approached the Shelburne Museum about patterning their antique quilts so the general public could make reproductions of their wonderful collection. They were enthusiastic about the idea and the rest, as they say, is history. It has taken me several years (between raising children and a dog) to establish this new niche of my business. I was also offered the opportunity to work with RJR Fashion Fabrics who produced fabric lines from the Shelburne Museum and C & T Publishing who asked me to write the patterns for Enduring Grace Quilts from the Shelburne Museum Collection. This project has led to working with Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts patterning their quilt collection and also to my latest series patterning antique Vermont quilts.

I presently have 14 museum reproduction patterns, with many more to come, and am no longer involved with the metal templates. I sell both wholesale and retail. The immediate future finds me working in conjunction with Red Rooster Fabrics and Richard L. Cleveland, former chairman of the Vermont Quilt Festival. What does the future entail? I love handpiecing, antique quilts and miniatures. I will continue with my handpiecing classes with an extra emphasis on museum quilts. I am licensed by the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA Vermont Quilt Festival, Essex Jct., VT, and Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum, Lancaster, PA to continue drafting patterns of their beautiful quilts with the goal of miniaturizing some of the designs. Another highlight has been an invitation to tape a segment on HGTV's Quilts with Alex Anderson. Watch for show # 922!

My objective with these patterns is to write them with an attention to detail. I want to be the eyes of the people who may never have the opportunity to view them. I want them to know a history of the quilt, what the original construction was, how many stitches to the inch the quilter used, the quilting design, and even what condition the quilt is in now. I want to entice the modern day quilter whether he/she is compelled to make the quilt, and lastly I want to perpetuate an interest in the old construction methods and an appreciation of the roots of the modern day methods. When conducive, my patterns include The Historical Method of construction and The Modern Method of construction, so the reproduction can be pieced by both the hand and machine piecer. Many people have told me that since they can never afford an antique quilt, this is the next best thing!

I have been very fortunate. My husband, Mike, and two girls are the love of my life. They are supportive, encouraging, and thrilled for me as each opportunity arises. I have become acquainted with the wonderful people at the Shelburne Museum, C& T Publishing, RJR, Old Sturbridge Village, ed Rooster Fabrics, the Vermont Quilt Festival, and the staff of Simply Quilts, not to mention all the quilters who continue to inspire me with kind letters and phone calls. I have also been on the ground floor of a wonderful project that transcends all quilters - the reproduction of patterns and fabrics of antique quilts from beautiful museums that may otherwise have remained unnoticed to the average quilter. It's almost worth the fact that I don't have time to quilt myself anymore!

Read Froncie's article *" Reliving History Through Quilting"* on the History of Quilting website. Read Froncie's interview for Antique Quilt Dating.com website Biography: Froncie Quinn In 1982, my husband and I lived in a small apartment outside of New York City. Having recently moved there from my home-state of Ohio, I found myself far removed from the quilt shops that abounded in Ohio. My local store was Judie and Bob Rothermel's, The Schoolhouse Quilt Shop, and I missed them and the store terribly. My husband, who has always been my guiding light and most avid supporter, suggested that I use my teaching skills to form my own classes for the various Continuing Education classes in the area. This would provide me the opportunity to keep up my own handpiecing skills and have a network of friends in my new community. Because my space was so limited, I began piecing samples for my classes in miniature. I formulated pattern booklets for each student to have, and included wonderful metal templates that I bought from Roy Daniel in Maine. I had discovered his tin template business at the Schoolhouse, as Judie used them for her classes. My classes went well and just as they were becoming quite popular, we decided that a move outside the New York City area was needed. We had a baby now, and wanted a house and more outside space. After much research, we chose to move to Vermont. I was ecstatic! Certainly, now, I would be near many quilt shops! To my dismay, I discovered that only a few dotted the area. Now with two babies, and a small mail order business for my miniature patterns in place, I was thrilled when Mr. Daniel offered me his template business. I had also discovered by then the Shelburne Museum, which gave me exposure to antique quilts that I had never had before. After several years of living in the area and working at my small business, I approached the Shelburne Museum about patterning their antique quilts so the general public could make reproductions of their wonderful collection. They were enthusiastic about the idea and the rest, as they say, is history. It has taken me several years (between raising children and a dog) to establish this new niche of my business. I was also offered the opportunity to work with RJR Fashion Fabrics who produced fabric lines from the Shelburne Museum and C & T Publishing who asked me to write the patterns for Enduring Grace Quilts from the Shelburne Museum Collection. This project has led to working with Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts patterning their quilt collection and also to my latest series patterning antique Vermont quilts. I presently have 14 museum reproduction patterns, with many more to come, and am no longer involved with the metal templates. I sell both wholesale and retail. The immediate future finds me working in conjunction with Red Rooster Fabrics and Richard L. Cleveland, former chairman of the Vermont Quilt Festival. What does the future entail? I love handpiecing, antique quilts and miniatures. I will continue with my handpiecing classes with an extra emphasis on museum quilts. I am licensed by the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA Vermont Quilt Festival, Essex Jct., VT, and Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum, Lancaster, PA to continue drafting patterns of their beautiful quilts with the goal of miniaturizing some of the designs. Another highlight has been an invitation to tape a segment on HGTV's Quilts with Alex Anderson. Watch for show # 922! My objective with these patterns is to write them with an attention to detail. I want to be the eyes of the people who may never have the opportunity to view them. I want them to know a history of the quilt, what the original construction was, how many stitches to the inch the quilter used, the quilting design, and even what condition the quilt is in now. I want to entice the modern day quilter whether he/she is compelled to make the quilt, and lastly I want to perpetuate an interest in the old construction methods and an appreciation of the roots of the modern day methods. When conducive, my patterns include The Historical Method of construction and The Modern Method of construction, so the reproduction can be pieced by both the hand and machine piecer. Many people have told me that since they can never afford an antique quilt, this is the next best thing! I have been very fortunate. My husband, Mike, and two girls are the love of my life. They are supportive, encouraging, and thrilled for me as each opportunity arises. I have become acquainted with the wonderful people at the Shelburne Museum, C& T Publishing, RJR, Old Sturbridge Village, ed Rooster Fabrics, the Vermont Quilt Festival, and the staff of Simply Quilts, not to mention all the quilters who continue to inspire me with kind letters and phone calls. I have also been on the ground floor of a wonderful project that transcends all quilters - the reproduction of patterns and fabrics of antique quilts from beautiful museums that may otherwise have remained unnoticed to the average quilter. It's almost worth the fact that I don't have time to quilt myself anymore!
Museum Licensed Pattern Writer, Quilt Miniaturist, Lecturer, and Workshop Instructor Educational Background Graduate of Bexley High School (Bexley [Cols.] Ohio, 1968 Bachelor of Arts in Education, Heidelberg College (Tiffin, Ohio, 1972) Master of Arts in Guidance in Counseling, U. of Akron (Akron, Ohio, 1980) Quilting Educational Background Classes, workshops and seminars continually taken Judie Rothermel, Virginia Robertson, Tina Gravatt, Judith Reilly, Jinny Beyer, among teachers to date Teaching Experience Have taught classes since 1981 experience includes continuing education classes at Bronxville High School, Mt. St. Vincent College, Manhattan College (New York) classes at Cols. Museum of Art (Ohio), Yankee Pride, Quiltsmith, Quilter's Courtyard (Vermont) presentations to and workshops with guilds and schools, locally and out of state Accomplishments Own HOOPLA, a small business specializing in original quilt patterns Have developed a portfolio of classes ranging from miniatures to museum reproductions, which can accommodate all skill levels. Licensed pattern writer for the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vermont Pattern designer for Enduring Grace, Quilts from the Shelburne Museum Collection Licensed pattern writer for Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge Massachusetts Member of a juried guild, The Vermont Hand Crafters, Inc. Have won ribbons in New York and Vermont quilt shows A published review of HOOPLA's miniature Poinsettia pattern appears in Issue #4 of " Miniature Quilts Magazine" Issue #10 of " Miniature Quilts Magazine" published " Small Quilts Mean Business," an article about HOOPLA's miniature designs Just Spoolin' Around pattern published in Issue #20 of " Miniature Quilts Magazine" Exploding Stars pattern published in Issue #22 of " Miniature Quilts Magazine" " Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilts," Issue #122 published " Discovering an Heirloom," a feature article about HOOPLA's reproduction museum patterns from the Shelburne Museum " Quilting is Hot!" published a feature article, " Quilts Admired from Yesterday, Made Today, Treasured Tomorrow," in Volume 1, Issue 2 The Appliqué Society published a review of the Calico Garden pattern in Volume 4, Number 3 Invited to tape a segment on HGTV's Quilts with Alex Anderson. Watch for show # 922 Fabric line review in " Designers' Quarters" magazine, Volume 1, Issue 4. " Les Nouvelles du Patchwork" published a feature article, " Entretien avec Froncie Hoffhine Quinn" , No. 83, Dec. 2004.