Tuesday 7 September 2010

Bonnie Leman Tribute


Bonnie Leman 1991, courtesy LCPQ #74


It is with great sadness I heard of the death of Bonnie Leman. Although she did not know of me, I thought of Bonnie as a close patchwork friend, a friend who was much more talented than I could ever be, but who, unstintingly, passed on her knowledge and gave me great encouragement, via her magazines. 

Way back in the early seventies, when I started to do patchwork, there was very little information about it in Scotland. I had taught myself how to do hexagons, using the paper method, but when my sister sent me over a copy of Quilters' Newsletter, I was off. I loved the American way of sewing seam to seam, without having to tack in papers, and I immediately sent off for a subscription, so that I could learn all the techniques. The magazine was wonderful. It told me of all the beautiful materials which were available, notions I had never heard of and gave me wonderful ideas for quilts and projects. I was in seventh heaven.

Because of Mrs Leman, I went on to take the City & Guilds exams in Advanced Embroidery (at that time there was no C & G Patchwork!), started the first patchwork group in Scotland (the Sew and Sews in Glasgow), was a founder member of the Quilters' Guild and went out to California and sat the NQA Teacher Certification exams - all because of Bonnie Leman. The two most wonderful things to result from all this  - I got a mini quilt published in the magazine, and I participated in a block competition, also in the magazine, and won! I cannot tell you how I felt, when these events occurred!

Patchwork and Quilting would not be what it is today, without Bonnie. We all owe her a HUGE debt of gratitude. May she rest in peace. Thank you.
With sincere condolences,
Rosemary Dempster

2 comments:

  1. thank you Rosemary for your wonderful words about Bonnie. I feel exactly like you. QNM and her monthly column was an important part of my beginnings in the early 80s - sending hugs from Germany Brigitte

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  2. Hi -How funny to come across your blog & post! I sometimes like to click on "next blog" to see who pops up -it was you! I saw the picture of Bonnie, and thought.... I know her! I too loved her column in QNM. It was the first thing I read. Have not subscribed for a couple of years though. I am having fun looking around at your creations. :)

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