tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69967713262138002002024-03-12T16:32:03.408-07:00Harwood Steiger Book ProjectThe Harwood Steiger Book Project blog is a stream of consciousness about the development of a book on Steiger's silk screened textiles. This blog represents the process of documenting the hundreds of silk screen designs produced by Steiger and his wife, Sophie, over a 40 year period in Tubac, Arizona, where they had a studio and helped to make the community of Tubac a place where Art Meets History. This is only a small part of what I have learned about the man and his work.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-33251790100584545792014-01-26T18:35:00.000-08:002014-01-28T13:07:29.782-08:00Being Blown AwayMy "I'm a Harwood Steiger Addict" presentation in Tubac, AZ, yesterday went better than I could ever have expected. About three dozen people showed up to hear about my collecting experience and to see my photos and fabrics. Many present were Tubac residents and had been living there while the studio and shop were open. They shared with me their own impressions and I gathered even more information about the Steigers. One lovely little lady in particular, Jesse Alegria, actually worked for the Steigers for over 30 years. She was so sweet and so kind. I could not believe it when she gifted me with about 12 pieces of Steiger fabrics including tea towels,a placemat, tablecloth, a dress panel and yardage. She told me that in the closing days of the studio, Wanda Halbwachs (Sophie's sister) who ran the shop following Harwood's death, told her to take all she wanted or could use. So, she has a lot of fabric at home and invited me to visit her and photograph whatever I needed for the book. One fabric she gave me, Plaza, was new to me. She explained all the various ways Harwood would use the basic screen, adding different background patterns and colors. What an amazing and wonderful gift! To me these are gems more precious than diamonds.<br />
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<b>Plaza</b></div>
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In addition to meeting and talking with the local folk, I had a chance to talk with the Manager of Museum Collections for the Arizona Historical Society, Laraine Daly Jones. Ms. Jones heard the lament in my voice about not having any kind of Harwood Steiger exhibit in the state. She suggested that we work together to develop a traveling exhibit. Would that not be wonderful? A real valid justification for my obsessive/compulsive acquisitions of Steiger fabrics. I would love to share my collection with anyone who might be interested and a traveling exhibit just fits the bill. I am truly and sincerely blown away!<br />
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<br />Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-59824258228847200682013-12-08T16:44:00.000-08:002013-12-08T16:44:17.029-08:00Mining the Internet for New Steiger Gems<br />
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I'm a lot like you. I troll the internet looking for ever more Harwood Steiger gems and I've come up with a few you might enjoy. Etsy, the site for hand crafted items, has revealed some very charming creations utilizing Harwood Steiger fabrics. One, which I found particularly appealing is this little girl's dress made using <em>Mesquite and Palo Verde</em>. It is soooo sweet. If there was a special little girl in my life I would definitely spring for it. Unfortunately, I have absolutely no excuse to buy it. But, you might!<br />
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For those older girls who might really like a special Victorian style dress, there's this one. It's made with what I know to be dress panels. It's amazing how inventive and creative some people are. It looks to be well made and the addition of wide black lace is lovely. Too bad I'm no longer that tiny size. I'd wear it!<br />
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Visit Etsy.com and search Harwood Steiger to see these gems (and maybe even buy them!).Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-72808506940341835332013-11-15T09:12:00.002-08:002013-11-15T09:12:23.886-08:00CogitatingDuring the last 24 hours I have been seriously cogitating over the development of my Harwood Steiger quilt. I definitely will use <em>Arizona Sketchbook</em>. But, I want to show case the sketches, and not compete with them, thereby diminishing their appearance in the quilt. I also want to be faithful to the period, so, traditional quilt patterns and antique patterns are out. I think I've come up with an approach that will work in a Mid Century Modern way. I remembered that I have some unprinted fabric from the Steiger stash tucked away. These are pieces that Joan had saved to line garments that she made. They are the original, same fabric Harwood would use to print on, but remain void of any design today. It is so hard to even think about cutting this fabric. If I fail, there is no way to replace it. So, I'll think about it some more. And, some more. And, some more.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-59827570123482876602013-11-14T09:59:00.002-08:002013-11-14T10:08:20.030-08:00Cleaning Up the Fabric WarehouseIt's been a solid 8 months of steady quilting. This year's Summer of Sibling Quilts, produced a quilt for each of my sisters (3) and brother. Just finished one for my niece, too---not to mention a special quilt for my dear old friend, Susan. So, things in the fabric warehouse were a true mess. Instead of putting fabrics away after auditioning them, I just stacked them up. Instead of filing away patterns and books, I just tossed them in the corner. It wasn't laziness---just eager to get to the project. I am now faced with a major task of setting things in order.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i02EuBmZak4/UoUQrYZJFiI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/SVS20pdgZ6o/s1600/Cyns+Collection+II+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i02EuBmZak4/UoUQrYZJFiI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/SVS20pdgZ6o/s320/Cyns+Collection+II+013.JPG" width="320" /></a>I started with my Harwood Steiger fabrics, first. I took each of them out of the designated Harwood Steiger cabinet and began a careful examination of their condition. Then, I carefully refolded them and replaced them where they belong. My husband calls this, "Petting my fabric." He's right, you know. I love my Steiger fabrics. They are so very, very beautiful. After all this time, it still amazes me to see the vibrancy of the colors. Sixty years later, the inks look as though they were just applied yesterday. Since Steiger mixed his own colors, they are unusual for the period. The base fabrics were good quality, so they are still fresh. The designs are so different and varied. I am often asked which is my favorite. It's like asking a mother, who is your favorite child. I have no favorite. They are all precious to me. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXUXB9dj3ug/UoURZhzrr_I/AAAAAAAAAfY/aQK-W1SFSlA/s1600/Cyns+Collection+II+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OXUXB9dj3ug/UoURZhzrr_I/AAAAAAAAAfY/aQK-W1SFSlA/s320/Cyns+Collection+II+012.JPG" width="320" /></a>I think that 2014, will be the year in which I finally make my Harwood Steiger quilt. I plan to use <em>Arizona Sketchbook</em> for this effort. It kind of cries out asking to be made into a quilt. The little "sketches" depict Arizona lives, monuments and activities. I just have to figure out how to best use them without getting lost in the quilt design. A challenge to be sure.<br />
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Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-69102089634713296062013-11-12T12:24:00.000-08:002013-11-12T12:24:04.238-08:00Still Acquiring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some new and recent acquisitions worth seeing.</div>
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<strong>Spanish Iron</strong><br />
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<strong>Idyll</strong> in an interesting color</div>
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<strong>Canyon</strong></div>
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<strong>Canyon</strong> Detail</div>
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<strong>Africana</strong></div>
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Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-55080776522236196352013-11-12T11:39:00.002-08:002013-11-12T11:39:57.472-08:00Showing and Telling<span style="color: black;">Recently, I was asked to put together a presentation on Harwood Steiger by a group celebrating historic modern design known as <em>Modern Tucson</em>. I worked for about a month pulling together known facts and photos. I titled it, "I AM A HARWOOD STEIGER ADDICT" and structured it loosely on an AA meeting. It went pretty well. People laughed in all the right spots and I got lots of applause when it was over. Enthusiastic folks came dressed in their Steiger garments and others brought their treasured examples to share. It made me so happy to meet other people who share an appreciation of Harwood Steiger's work and his genius designs. When my husband and I got into the car, he looked me straight in the eyes and said, "You're a rock star----a real celebrity!" Well, I wouldn't go that far, but I did feel pretty good about it.</span><br />
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The next day, we drove to Tubac and visited my friend, Nancy Valentine. She is a tireless promoter of all things Tubac and suggested that the presentation be given again at the<em> Presidio</em> where locals are gearing up for events of cultural interest. Winter is, of course, the high tourist season here and lots of snow birds travel through. I got on the schedule for a January date and will be presenting in the very town where Harwood Steiger had his studio and shop. Now, that is truly thrilling.<br />
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Yesterday, I was contacted by Alison at<em> Modern Phoenix</em>, who had heard of my Tucson success and she invited me to present in April during their week long celebration. I couldn't believe it! Well, yes, I can. There are so many Harwood Steiger collectors and enthusiasts spread around. I am honored to help bring the work of this wonderful artist to light. Incredibly, last night I was contacted by yet another Mid Century Modern Design enthusiast, Mashall Shore, who invited me to present again in November 2014, for <em>Wear Arizona.</em> When I told my husband about it, he laughed and suggested that I find an agent. He's so funny.<br />
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I am truly thrilled to be able to share my knowledge and love of Harwood Steiger with others. It makes me feel like I am giving more life to his amazing career and keeping alive his genius. If you find yourself in Tubac or Phoenix, please plan to attend. I'll do my very best for you.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-34524325612246035922013-10-07T12:12:00.001-07:002013-10-07T12:12:45.672-07:00Mourning the Loss of a FriendSadly, yesterday I learned that my supporter, contributor and friend, Joan Tesch passed away. Joan was the niece of Harwood and Sophie Steiger, and the steward of the last cache of Harwood Steiger fabrics. I am heartbroken to learn that she passed away without having had the opportunity to say goodbye. I planned several trips to visit her last Spring, but she put me off saying that she just didn't feel up to it. In retrospect, I should have simply driven down to see her. But, I respected her wishes and stayed away. I'll miss you Joan. You were an inspiration to me and a good friend. You will not be forgotten.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-37413836546144318942013-10-02T13:37:00.001-07:002013-10-02T13:37:35.395-07:00Honoring Harwood SteigerOn Saturday, October 5, 2013, I will be giving a presentation to an open audience of the Tucson Historic Foundation Society entitled, "I'm a Harwood Steiger Addict". It is a tremendous honor to be included in this three day program on modernism. The presentation is open to the public and free. It will run for about an hour and contain 100 photographs of Steiger fabrics, as well as, a slide show of 500 additional photos during the question and answer period. For more information, please visit: <a href="http://www.tucsonmod.com/">www.tucsonmod.com</a>. My presentation begins at 2 PM. If you are in the area, I hope you will join me in celebrating this amazing and prolific artist.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-21249979680957394232012-10-26T10:14:00.003-07:002012-10-26T11:05:04.026-07:00Returning to BloggingIt's been such a long time since I developed a post for the blog! So sorry. I fell victim to "frozen shoulder" this summer and it is only in the last few weeks that I've fully regained the use of my left arm. Enough of that. Just sorry if I you thought I'd disappeared.<br />
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A few months ago, Demion Clinco put together a Tucson PBS segment on Harwood Steiger. I introduced him to Joan, the Steiger niece, and he visited her, taking away personal impressions, information and examples of Steiger's brilliant talent. I'm hoping Demion will share with me the segment so that we can post it here. We'll see.<br />
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There is growing interest in collecting Steiger fabrics. Now, if you go to Ebay, you'll find that the prices have more than doubled over a few years ago. Some sellers, I fear, don't really understand the items and place way over the top prices on them. One of the things that got me collecting in the first place was the affordability of these practical pieces of art. Now, I have to be very selective in purchasing, and only buy new designs of which I don't own any example. Even then, I get kind of particular. My husband says that I have single handedly driven up the prices. I laugh at that, of course. There are hundreds of folks who collect these Arizona icons and thousands more with interest. My blogs stats tell me that we've had 3,500 visitors. A small number by commercial standards, but impressive for a single topic blog. Keep coming back. I promise more great new photos.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-44187235241691429842012-06-26T19:09:00.001-07:002012-06-26T19:12:14.640-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Quilting is what I normally do. So, when I saw these two quilts listed on Ebay, I had to capture them for posterity. It appears that they were both made by the same person using similar fabrics to complement the Steiger designs. One uses a section of the border print, <strong><em>Six Quails</em></strong>. Incidentally, I just made a two piece dress out of a deep teal and black <strong><em>Six Quails</em></strong>. But, it's already packed for the trip to Oregon tomorrow. I'll post it when I get back. The other quilt is made with a dress panel. It's an interesting use for these Steiger pieces. If you are interested in acquiring either of these, log on to Ebay and search for Harwood Steiger. You will find the two quilts and a scant few other examples. Just thought you'd like to see these interesting uses of Steiger prints.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-43919085924699711282012-06-12T17:53:00.000-07:002012-06-12T18:56:23.407-07:00TROLLING FOR TREASURESDuring the last few months, I have collected a number of images that fall into the miscellaneous Harwood Steiger category. Some of these images come from my daily diligent searches on Ebay. Others, I just happened across. These items are not something I would necessarily be interested in owning, but they are worthy of documentation. Unfortunately, the information is limited and ownership unknown. So, I'll just let the images speak for themselves. <br />
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First, here's a great square dance ensemble that made my eyes pop out. Can you imagine how much fabric went into making this? Ironically, it is made in the fabric called, <em><strong>Square Dance</strong></em>. It's a beauty. It was offered on Ebay, but didn't sell. So, the owner either still has it, or sold it off-line.<br />
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This is called, <em><strong>Spices</strong></em>. no doubt, Sophie Steiger, a wonderful cook and gifted herbalist, had something to do with the creation of this design. It is the only example of <em><strong>Spices</strong></em> I've ever seen and it sold on Ebay. It was a rather small piece of fabric as I recall.<br />
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This amazing beauty is a table cloth, the likes of which I've never seen and don't know anything about. It is so breathtakingly beautiful! I love the color, composition and subject matter. It is very unlike any Steiger table cloth I've found and were it not for the signature in the corner, I'd be hard pressed to identify it as a Harwood Steiger work. It, also was offered on Ebay and sold for a fortune.</div>
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I love this example of <strong><em>Out West</em></strong>. The color is fabulous. It was also offered on Ebay and sold for more than I could ever afford. If I recall correctly, it was a four yard piece.</div>
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I just thought you might enjoy seeing these wonderful examples. It is my custom to use my own items on the blog. But, every once in a while, something absolutely wonderful comes to light and merits inclusion.</div>
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</div>Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-50883562153537496612012-06-11T20:34:00.000-07:002012-06-12T18:49:05.597-07:00TAKING ON NEW TASKS<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven Cities of Cibola</td></tr>
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The extreme Arizona Summer heat has arrived in full force. Whew! It compels me to seek refuge indoors with sedentary tasks that have gone ignored in recent months. Among them is this blog. (I didn't mean to ignore it for so long.) Another happy activity is sewing. I took the time, and found the courage to cut, and make another Harwood Steiger dress, using <em>Seven Cities of Cibola</em> in an electric lime green with dark blue printing. Joan, Harwood's niece, had made a gift of this fabric last year when I exclaimed about the color. I love it! After seeing my dress, Joan told me that somewhere she has a man's Western style shirt also piped in dark blue that she made long ago. She's going to send it to me when she finds it so that my husband and I can offer a striking picture in our matching clothes! I always clip the Steiger labels from the selvage and sew them into the garment. Should someone inherit my collection, I want them to know exactly which treasure it is. <br />
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Luckily, again, someone reading this blog has contacted me and offered Harwood Steiger treasures found in her mother's stash. They were designs which were totally new to me. Both are abstracts and not obviously traditional Steigers. But, <em>Caravan</em> and <em>Scheherazade</em> are clearly in Steiger's distinctive abstract style. <em>Scheherazade</em> is lively, fanciful and fun. Executed in hot pink and medium brown ink on ivory colored fabric, it has lots of spirals, lattice designs, and tent shapes. It calls to mind tents billowing on desert sands. I think Sophie Steiger exactly captured the mood of this fabric in naming it. The piece is generously sized, so I think I'll just set it aside for a while and wait for inspiration.<br />
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<em>Caravan</em> is a very complex design. It flows from tightly detailed areas to open areas, punctuated with floating elements. It is very, very interesting and contains many varied design elements such as balloons, shields, faces, webs, plants and a whole lot more. <em>Caravan</em> is printed in hot pink and black inks on a medium pink background. It is truly unique among Steiger designs and hard to categorize, other than to say it is an abstraction and highly stylized. Again, this a generously sized piece of fabric, so I have lots of options when considering how best to use it. People who know me will attest that pink is not a color I often select. But, there is nothing <em>girly-girly</em> about these Harwood Steiger fabrics. And, I must add that I am thrilled to have them in my collection. <br />
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These two new Harwood Steiger designed fabrics underscore an important fact: <u>There is no way of ever knowing how many Harwood Steiger designs exist</u>. If only someone had kept records over the years! <strong><em> If you have any Steiger fabric treasures, please, please send me pictures. You just may be hoarding one I've never seen! Contact me here and we'll take it from there.</em></strong><br />
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Hope your Summer days are filled with images of our beautiful Sonoran Desert courtesy of Harwood Steiger fabrics.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-78821959049190827842012-03-08T18:34:00.000-08:002012-03-08T18:34:55.062-08:00BEING FOUNDIt's interesting that new items surface from the great sea of collectors out there. I've been contacted twice this week by people who wandered to this blog because they happened to find Steiger treasures. One lady had over two yards of<em> Mesquite and Palo Verde </em>along with some other choice designs. I was fortunate that she was willing to sell to me items not in my collection. Another person has a great little tote bag and some scraps for sale. She needed help in identifying them for sale on Ebay. Another great item on Ebay is a two piece dress (skirt and bolero top) made out of <em>Saguaro</em>. It's really lovely, and would be a fabulous buy if not for the stain on the skirt. But, if you wanted to take it apart and use the fabric in a different way, it would be a really good buy. <br />
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Steiger fabrics have really become a lot more expensive since I started collecting a few years ago. My husband says that it's all my fault because I've bought so many and have, therefore, driven up the price. I think it's because many more people are becoming aware of the great designs Steiger produced. And, of course, baby boomers, like myself, are nostalgic about the designs of the 1950's and '60's. I know that I have a great fondness for mid century modern design in all things. Perhaps that's why Harwood Steiger's Sonoran Desert designs speak to me so compellingly. He marries that great mid century panache with desert subjects near and dear to my heart.<br />
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Lesser known and harder to recognize are Harwood Steiger's abstract designs. They are plentiful and diverse. Very mid century modern, indeed. Very atomic. Very loose and fun. Don't overlook these when collecting. Steiger created a series of abstract designs named after Santa Cruz valley towns. Many design elements from Native American and Mexican cultures are incorporated into the abstracts. Most are printed in at least two colors of ink and often more. That means for every color, the fabric was hand inked, dried and then inked again. Amazing when you consider that the stencils were usually around 18 inches wide and required exacting registration. The Steiger's were true artists and precision crafts people. <br />
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What is truly amazing is that the Steiger's never went commercial by selling through other retailers. All of the examples that continue to surface from around the world, all were acquired in Tubac at the Harwood Steiger studio. Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-148212163445785362012-02-28T13:15:00.002-08:002012-06-12T18:49:29.021-07:00WELCOMING SPRINGWhile new snow is falling on much of the country, Spring has already arrived in the Sonoran Desert. Last week we were experiencing temperatures exceeding 80°. I will confess that we are now in the 60's, but only for a few days. The ground has warmed up enough to encourage new growth of both wanted and unwanted plants. I spent three hours on Sunday ridding the front yard of the most common city weeds. While I worked I was reminded that Harwood Steiger found beauty in all things that grow here. In fact, some of his most beautiful creations are representations of the wild weeds that grow everywhere. Steiger loved the weeds so much that he created several different fabrics with weed designs. They are all called <em>Weeds</em>, but are distinctly different. The one I used to make a dress shows different weeds in brick like block outlines. Another shows just single leaves of various weeds. And, the third shows the full plant, but spread out in the field of design. I find them all lovely. In addition, Steiger created many stunning designs depicting inconspicuous wildflowers and roadside blooms. Perhaps due to Sophie Steiger's influence, we are gifted with accurate representations of what grows profusely in the Sonoran Desert.<br />
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It is not easy to identify all of the flowers shown in the various designs. So many of them are stylized, but still accurately rendered . Because most appear in only one color, I personally, cannot identify many of them. But others are obvious. Beyond the cactus flowers one can easily find penstemon, roses, foxglove, and many other Sonoran specific blooms. Even the noxious Tumbleweed has found its place in Steiger's design portfolio. In fact, one of my favorite garments is the two-piece dress I made from <em>Tumbleweeds</em>.<br />
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Other signs of Spring's arrival are the many birds which enliven the days. Several pairs of hummingbirds are vying for dominance at the feeder I placed among the contorted branches of the Mesquite tree. At least one hummer appears every 7 minutes. But often, two show up at the same time and an aerial battle begins. No harm comes to either bird, but clearly the victor eats first while the other bird perches in the Mesquite. One of my favorite Steiger fabrics is the exquisitely rendered <em>Mesquite</em> which almost looks Japanese in its esthetic. I have only seen it once, and it was in black and white. The lady who owns it, told me that her mother made fabric shutters for the family room out of it. It must've been a stunning room.<br />
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I am grateful that Harwood Steiger had such a distinguished perspective and the remarkable ability to provide us with an eye to the beauty of the things that grow in the Sonoran Desert. Thank you, Harwood and Sophie, for helping me find and appreciate the beauty of the mundane growing all around me.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-90987060331112489732012-01-09T18:49:00.000-08:002012-01-09T19:08:06.926-08:00BIRDING A LA HARWOOD STEIGERA roadrunner has recently moved into our neighborhood. Most often seen in undisturbed, natural habitats, I was a little surprised to see him racing around suburbia. I first saw him running atop our block wall fence in the back yard. Now, I see him most often across the street or darting between houses. Today, he took advantage of the pleasant sunshine and hunted in our front yard. That gave me a wonderful opportunity to observe him up close from the window. I was awed by the remarkable markings on this bird---so vivid and distinctive. No wonder Harwood Steiger used them so liberally in his designs! <br />
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There is no doubt that roadrunners capture our attention and imaginations. They are large, move distinctively and have such unique plumage. And, after all, we grew up watching the roadrunner outwit the coyote. Roadrunners must have made a powerful impression on Harwood Steiger. These birds appear in dozens and dozens of his fabulous designs, either singly, or grouped in a scene, or showcased among the cacti. <br />
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The first Steiger example I purchased was a table cloth and it was the comical roadrunners that captured my affections. Since then, I have collected quite a few of the birds in a variety of depictions. Steiger presented the birds in realistic renderings and abstractly, too. The birds appear portraited, shown hunting and running, nesting and resting. And, in each representation, one can clearly see that this is no other bird, except a roadrunner. The long tails and head crowns are unmistakably roadrunner. If they were not so humorous, one might call them regal. Be sure to scroll down at see them in <em>At Play, Square Dance</em>, etc.<br />
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The Aztec style roadrunner appears in several different examples. The one shown here has two facing birds and the pairs are set wide apart in the fabric run. Sparingly used in this instance, the birds appear with great effect on a heavy, nubby cotton that is much like linen. Printed in one color only, Steiger produced them in black, deep red, blue, forest green and brown. The same bird is incorporated into what I call my Aztec tablecloth. Not precisely the same, the birds are woven into a visual jig saw puzzle of Aztec motifs. So ingeniously done, I did not recognize them at first. Scroll down to see the Aztec dress panel, the Aztec border print and the table cloth.<br />
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By far, my favorite roadrunners are the simply rendered ones that are so busy being desert dwellers that they make me smile. I love the way these two in <em>Paisano</em> seem to be figuring out how to split that little lizard, or more likely, who's going to have it for an appetizer. I wonder how much time Harwood Steiger spent bird watching. He captured their behavior so perfectly. For example, in <em>Running Birds</em>, the border print, the roadrunner's legs are completely outstretched, capturing the idea of just how fast these birds run. They are fast, very fast. <br />
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I also greatly admire the way Steiger presents the birds in an almost stately manner, as in the cholla dress panel. They are highly detailed and shown in their full splendor. Depicted in their natural element, these birds are right at home, and to me, look like a courting pair. <br />
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Harwood Steiger had a real gift for capturing the nature of these wonderful Sonoran desert birds. I am grateful that he took such a fancy to our avian friends and shows them in wonderful variety.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-85510907195084920812011-09-16T19:38:00.000-07:002011-09-17T08:45:21.491-07:00CREATING SMILES ABOUT DESERT LIFEOne of the things I love most about Harwood Steiger's desert designs is the humor he assigns to the critters who live here. Most often when folks think of desert critters, they imagine the scary ones. You know the ones I mean: Gila monsters, rattlesnakes and scorpions. They are venomous, sometimes lethal. and enjoy the greatest notariety among non-desert dwellers. To be sure, they are here, but not in the invasive, dangerous manner that most people fear. The desert predators pretty much stay as far away as we'd like them to stay. Interestingly, Steiger never included anything that should be feared in his designs. More often, desert people encounter interesting and benign creatures like lizards, birds and insects. These are the critters that are far more common and obviously they amused Harwood. That's why so many of them are portrayed in his designs in such humorous ways. <br />
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There is no doubt that Harwood loved those crazy roadrunners. He used them over and over as the central element in many textile designs. One need only look at the highly collected and classic Steiger designs like<em> Square Dance, Running Birds, More Quail, At Play, Desert Clowns</em> and of course, the untitled dress panels and table cloths. Roadrunners appear dancing, running, hunting, playing and just plain posing. Look at the dignity assigned to his Aztec<em> Roadrunners</em>. The beauty of these birds is often portrayed in detail in designs like<em> Paisano</em> and the magnificent <em>Cholla and Roadrunner</em> dress panel. But, one of my favorites shows them hunting lizards in <em>Running Birds</em>. A juvenile bird is eagerly chasing a small lizard. So cute. Not to be outdone, Steiger's quails join in the fun, as well. These distinctive birds are often seen in families busy doing what quails do. Although, usually a plant eater, quail can be seen chasing a lizard or bug, too. <br />
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Have you seen <em>Owls</em>? Usually portrayed as very dignified birds, Steiger's owls are almost cartoonish as they perch on tree branches. <br />
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I love the ants marching along in <em>Bow Knots</em>. They are interspersed with the beautifully tied bows and flowers. Keeping the ants company are a variety of butterflies. We have many varieties of butterflies in Arizona and they are plentiful no matter where you go. Speaking of butterflies, a gargantuan sized group are presented in <em>Mariposa</em> in a striking example of Steiger's gift. Not to be overlooked,<em> Idyll</em> portrays butterflies flitting across the tops of flowers and a ribboned border. They look to be performing an aerial ballet. This border print is absolutely stunning.<br />
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It's hard to compare Harwood Steiger's textiles to those produced today. Now, silk screens are laser cut from a two dimensional design. Harwood Steiger's approach is radically different. He free-hand cut the designs straight from his head, seldom producing a sketch in advance. The stencils were cut from a plastic film by hand. So, he could interject a fun comment as the mood struck him. Can you see Harwood Steiger sitting at his table cutting away to create complex, beautiful compositions and then adding just a little bit of whimsy, like a baby roadrunner chasing a tiny lizard in the border of a tablecloth? I can. I also know that he must have smiled at the little joke. What a wonderful man Harwood Steiger was. He created beautiful things and forty years later, he's still making us smile. How good is that?Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-16215241295631797792011-09-02T20:19:00.000-07:002011-09-02T20:19:18.732-07:00Adding Steiger Inventory for Sale<em>Finally</em>, I am able to announce that outstanding examples of Harwood Steiger fabrics are now on sale at my web store, Quilted Indigo. Today, I started loading some of Joan's fabrics to my web store inventory and have them for sale now. This won't be an auction, where the low bidder wins. Joan and I are looking for good homes and appreciative future owners, no matter how long it takes. The fabrics will sell for roughly $20 per yard and are sold by the cut, not by the yard. Designs using more than one color will be slightly more. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase authentic Harwood Steiger textiles in generous yardages. Check the bottom of this page to preview the offerings and be sure to visit <a href="http://quiltedindigo.com/">quiltedindigo.com</a>. <strong>You have no idea how hard it is for me to let you buy these!</strong> Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-66939412868216941462011-08-28T12:53:00.000-07:002011-08-28T12:53:39.829-07:00Laundering HistoryWhew! Only yesterday I finished laundering Joan's cache of Steiger fabrics. The task took a full week. It was a labor of love, to be sure. But, a labor nonetheless. Joan's house experienced a flood some years ago and since the fabrics were packed right away and not cleaned, many bore the water marks and thirty years of Arizona dust. To rescue the fabrics and restore them to perfect beauty was a very big job.<br />
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It started with a preliminary visual inspection. Each piece was examined and any problems were noted. The next step was pre-treating any stains. I searched the Internet for the best approach to each kind of stain. Then came the soaking. All three bathtubs in my house were full for a week with soaking Harwood Steiger fabrics. The hallways were lined with plastic tubs of soaking fabrics as well. I'm so glad I saved all those five gallon paint tubs and kitty litter tubs. Depending on the severity of the problem, fabrics soaked at least 24 hours and in some cases 48. Freshly squeezed lemon juice with a kosher salt rub were used on white fabrics with great success. It's amazing how well that works. Then came the washing. Thankfully, my washer has a stain cycle (over 80 minutes long) and its ability was fully put to the test. At the end of the first wash, I held my breath as I pulled the fabric from the washer and looked closely to see the results. My face broke into a full smile as yard after yard of stain free fabric was pulled from the washer. I ran to my husband and said,<em> "Look. Look. No more stains. I can't believe how perfect this is!"</em> With his customary lack of interest in any domestic chore he responded, <em>"That's just fine."</em> Fine?!!! It's a bona fide miracle! I am ecstatic to report that every single fabric, save two, are totally and beautifully restored to their original condition. I feel as though the textiles were washed in the Fountain of Youth: fresh, clean, bright, restored. I am thrilled. No, I didn't iron them. These were wash and wear fabrics, which need not ever experience an iron. And, besides, I just don't like ironing. So, shoot me.<br />
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This task was a lot of hard work. There were some pretty sizable lengths of fabric. <em> Rhododendron</em> is nearly a full bolt of fabric, measuring close to 18 yards. Try picking up 18 yards of fabric that is soaking wet. Others, like <em>Seafoam</em>, were over 10 yards long. Heavy, heavy to handle. <em>Woodland</em> is made from a cotton blend in a linen like weave. It's even heavier. Every night last week I went to bed exhausted, but oh so pleased with the results of my labors. Each of the fabrics was examined in detail again to confirm their condition. This morning I developed a spread sheet to send to Joan so that she is fully aware of the inventory and its condition. Now, I'm ready to start selling these treasures at <a href="http://quiltedindigo.com/">quiltedindigo.com</a>. Joan's intention is that the fabrics end up with people who will cherish them and appreciate them for what they are: <strong><em>art by the yard.</em></strong> She didn't want them to end up in a yard sale or thrift store. I couldn't agree with her more. These Harwood Steiger creations are treasures and that is how I have treated them in getting them ready for collectors. Many have not been seen in decades and I hope to provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire genuine Harwood Steiger textiles, directly from the artist's niece to you.<br />
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Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-57431195021836211832011-08-24T09:10:00.000-07:002011-08-24T20:31:43.200-07:00Documenting New DesignsThe thrill of discovering and examining new designs was fully realized yesterday when I continued to document the Harwood Steiger textiles from Joan's cache. Some of these designs are from the early days in Tubac. It's not a rule, but a guide to say that if signed, "<em>Steiger Fabrics</em>", it's an early piece. Later the signature was changed to, "<em>Harwood Steiger</em>". It is true that some early designs continued in production until the studio closed, due to their enormous popularity. However, Harwood Steiger never rested on his laurels. He instead continued designing and producing screens throughout the studio's history. According to Joan, in the last years of his life, he relied more heavily on previously produced screens. But, new designs continued to emerge until his death in 1980.<br />
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I think it would be fair to say that the cactus and desert bird designs are the most easily recognizable Harwood Steiger designs and still enjoy enthusiastic purchase by collectors today. I find, however, that the abstract and floral designs to be most intriguing. No doubt, Sophie, Harwood's herbalist and gardening wife, greatly influenced the accurately rendered flowers and plants. And, there are many---both desert and tropical. But, Harwood Steiger was a genuine mid century modern artist and produced many, many abstract designs, now referred to as "atomic age" fabrics. After all, Harwood was an Eames contemporary and designed in his own distinctive geometric style. Steiger produced s series of abstract designs named for the many small towns that dot southern Arizona: Tubac, Arrivaca, Suaharita, etc. They are fabulous and are rendered in three to four colors each. Look for these, as a collector, for they are often overlooked and go unattributed due to the stark difference from the realistic desert depictions. <br />
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Joan told me a funny story. A friend of hers whose house was next to the Tubac golf course, made a pair of golfing pants for her husband out of the primary colored version of <em>Apogee. </em>This particular version of the design looks like a brightly colored stacked stone wall. Joan says that her friend did this so that she could spot her husband on the course and know how long it would be until he got home. Well, looking at the example, you can certainly see how this would be true. In fact, I'll bet he could be spotted from a satellite in space!<br />
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I must to get back to photographing the fabrics. I need my daily fix of Steiger and the thrill of examining the new designs is overwhelming. There is a lot to do to ready them for sale. I hope you will enjoy these. Don't forget to check <u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://quiltedindigo.com/">quiltedindigo.com</a></span></u> soon if you see something you'd like to own.<br />
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Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-59946451540063224182011-08-22T21:27:00.000-07:002011-08-22T21:45:11.688-07:00Expanding My Knowledge BaseAfter a full year of study and documentation of Harwood Steiger textile designs, I thought I had a pretty good idea of just how many existed. There is no definitive number of designs produced over the forty year history. The records from the studio were lost and likely never existed to provide us with that kind of detailed information. Harwood Steiger was not concerned with posterity. He just loved creating and producing. According to those who knew him, he was a bit of a workaholic and for fun and relaxation, he just worked more. We are the beneficiaries of his focused efforts and last weekend, I learned that I have so much more to learn.<br />
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Accompanied by my husband and dog, we hit the road to Tubac Friday morning. My intention was to work at Joan's house in the afternoon and still have time on Saturday to rummage through her boxes of packed away treasures. Joan had a flood in her house a few years ago and all of her possessions were packed away by the flood clean up crew without accurately labeling the boxes. So, I knew it was going to be a challenging and exhausting experience. I was up for it, but Joan was not. She wasn't feeling well on Friday, so we postponed our work session until Saturday afternoon when she might feel better. <br />
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The delay was well worth the wait. Joan led me to a back bedroom that was floor to ceiling with boxes. Some were labeled, but most were not. Right away, my Steiger sniffing nose led me straight to a barrel that had bolts of fabric in it. Yes, that's right bolts! Most were partial bolts with only a few yards on them, but some looked to have very large quantities of Harwood Steiger silk screened prints. There were even bolts of unprinted fabric that Joan used as lining for the garments she made. You couldn't get a better color match than that. I pulled out the prints and stacked them against the wall in the living room. <br />
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Returning to the bed room, I started peeking in each box, systematically moving it to the other side of the room when I discovered its contents. On about the 12th box, I hit the jackpot. The box was jam packed with 2-3 yard cuts of different fabrics! Without looking further, I pulled the box out and carried it into the kitchen where Joan was working on a jig saw puzzle. "Oh, good. I knew there were some boxes of Steiger fabrics in there. I'm glad you found one." <br />
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One by one I pulled out the fabrics so that Joan and I could see them. Most of the fabrics are in mint, pristine condition. They are so crisp after 30 to 40 years with absolutely no loss of color. Amazing. As Joan looked through them, she pulled out a few to hold onto. I can certainly understand that. There were some pretty special pieces in there. As Joan sorted them, I saw several designs that were totally new to me. The box also contained some designs I'd seen pictures of, but not seen in person. There were also color variations of designs familiar to me, but not in those color schemes. All in all, this was a genuine treasure trove. I didn't take the time to examine them right then. I didn't want to keep Joan from resting. She still wasn't feeling too well. And, besides, I had limited room in the car to bring things back to Phoenix. I should have left the husband and dog at home. Taking my leave, I promised to measure and inventory the fabric for Joan before putting them up for sale.<br />
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Time was limited today as I caught up with neglected chores. So, I only had time enough to photograph a few. These are designs which are new to me and I would guess, pretty rare. They are, in a word, exquisite. I can't wait to examine them in detail and enhance my appreciation of Harwood Steiger design.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-28738474206123315402011-08-13T19:37:00.000-07:002011-08-13T21:47:49.822-07:00Recreating the Aztec MystiqueBefore moving to Tubac in 1958, Harwood and Sophie Steiger spent several years in Sonora, Mexico, where they operated a textile silk screening studio. It was smaller, but similar to the eventual Tubac studio. The Steigers' long habit of spending winters in warmer climates than upstate New York, brought them to Mexico, after a few years in Florida. I believe it was while in Mexico, that the actual silk screening began in earnest.<br />
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In 1956, Mr. William Morrow (Owner of the national chain of the Morrow's Nut Houses) and his wife were traveling in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico, where they happened onto the Steiger studio. Mr. Morrow was a wealthy supporter of the arts who had a vision to create an artist community from the tiny village of Tubac. He had purchased a sizable tract of land there and had designed a central plaza plan where he envisioned a community of working artists. Mr. Morrow offered the Steigers a lot on which to build their studio and in 1958, Harwood and Sophie moved their struggling silk screening studio to Arizona. <br />
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The Steiger move coincided with the relocation of other artists recruited for the community by the Morrows. And, thus, the village of Tubac became a center for well known artists from across the country, but, mainly from New York. <br />
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Perhaps it was the time spent in Mexico that caused Harwood Steiger to hone his skills interpreting Aztec motifs for use in his textile designs. To be sure, over the years, Steiger produced a wide variety of designs that clearly have their roots in ancient Aztec culture. Some of the designs apparently come straight from temples and other surviving ancient structures. Others are Aztec interpretations of common Steiger Southwest subjects, like roadrunners. They are all collectively, distinctive, dramatic and just plain wonderful.<br />
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Harwood Steiger produced a range of textiles to offer to his collectors. They included table linens, light weight yardage for apparel, dress panels, and heavier weight drapery type fabric. These different types of fabric were the blank canvas for his Aztec inspired renderings. Perhaps my favorite is the roadrunner interpretation which appears in many different compositions. I recently acquired a horizontal central design which appears to be intended as a wall hanging exclusively. I see no other use for it as it is wide and shallow. I have seen only one other which is owned by Laura Hull. In the past few days I've closely examined it and find a number of different birds in it including an owl. I think it is simply fabulous. But, what else would a Harwood Steiger addict say? <br />
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I must mention to you that after many months, I finally completed the negotiations with the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, MA, to purchase a collection of Steiger textiles. While in Tubac, I met a wonderful woman who offered to me a collection of early Steiger textiles which included beautiful table linens, dress panels and other yardage. In the group were a number of small fat quarter sized pieces. I bought those, but couldn't afford the whole collection. So, I offered it to the Museum and they were happy to get them. If you are in Massachusetts, please do stop at the Museum. They not only have Harwood Steiger textiles, but also a display which includes a portion of his large silk screening table. I am very happy to have saved these treasures for posterity and put them in the hands of true professional textile stewards.<br />
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More big news is that I have a trip planned to Tubac next week<strong><em> to pick up the remaining inventory from the Steiger studio</em></strong>. Joan, Harwood and Sophie's niece, has asked me to help her dispose of them. I'll be selling them at <u><a href="http://quiltedindigo.com/">quiltedindigo.com</a></u> starting in a few weeks. Joan says she may have some garments hidden away in the boxes, too. This may be more than my poor little addicted heart can handle. But, I'll have to try for Joan's sake!Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-2461003096931725812011-05-19T21:55:00.000-07:002011-05-19T21:55:41.179-07:00Getting Back on TrackIt's been a busy 30 days and a very distracting, but fun time. My husband and I hosted a group of 6 teen aged girls from Switzerland for a week. We are not accustomed to teenagers and, needless to say, having wall to wall girls and all their accouterments was quite an experience. They kept us busy. But, they were respectful, appreciative and eager to lend a hand. I didn't know that girls still came with those qualities. It's taken me two weeks or so to recover and to get the house back into some semblance of order. But, I'm almost there.<br />
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Even while Swiss Misses were here, the project moved forward, albeit slowly. My friend, Ruth, bought two pieces of Steiger fabric and had them shipped here to be photographed. One turned out to be a very early Steiger design called, <em>Sand Dollars</em>. Very unusual to have a Steiger design with an under the sea theme. Quite a change from the desert, cactus, and roadrunners most folks are accustomed to when thinking Harwood Steiger. This particular fabric is beautiful turquoise with black ink. Joan, Steiger's niece, tells me that it comes from the early days when Harwood and Sophie lived in Florida. It's really (as my daughter would say) adorable. Love the crab! This is one of a group of distinctly different designs that present sea and shore related, or tropical subjects. One of them, <em>Sea Foam</em>, is quite elegant. My example is drop dead gorgeous in deep red. It's abstract, yet very graceful. It does look like foam flowing at water's edge. Another, <em>Hawaii,</em> is a floral design incorporating all sorts of lush tropical foliage like plumeria, ginger and orchids along with a beautiful bird. Again, the example I have is in that lovely deep red with black printing. I'm sure there are more designs out there that would fall into this group of unusual Harwood Steiger designs. I hope to run across them someday as more and more designs continue to surface. I am still amazed that after nearly a year of documenting these fantastic designs, that new, or previously unknown to me, designs continue to turn up.<br />
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One of my addiction enablers, Jenny, a vintage clothing and fabric finder extraordinaire, recently called me with the news of a new vintage item. She unearthed at an estate sale a wonderful apron cover up in a design called <em>Plaza</em>. Of course, (you guessed it) had to have it. The design falls into what I call an architectural group. I have found several that depict dwellings, iron scroll work and other architectural elements. Very interesting, and unique. <br />
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I received a phone call from Joan, Steiger's niece, today with a request for help. She has decided that it is time to divest herself of all the Steiger fabrics she's been saving for the past 50 years. She doesn't want them to end up in a yard sale or a thrift shop. So, she has asked me to help her inventory what she has and help her sell it. I am truly honored by her request and also feel the weight of the task to be undertaken. Can you imagine asking an addict to inventory and dispose of the addictive substance?!!!! My heart is racing just thinking about it. I'll have to give some thought to the best way to produce good results for Joan. More than likely, I'll offer them in my e-commerce store, Quilted Indigo. That way I can keep selling costs down and offer good value to buyers. Look for announcements in June. Will keep you posted on that one. Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-52386126032491650122011-04-21T09:44:00.000-07:002011-04-22T22:30:33.204-07:00Making New FriendsI had the great honor and distinct pleasure of meeting a wonderful woman this week. Her name is Carolyn O'Bagy Davis and she is the author of <em>Hopi Summer</em>, chosen this year by ONEBOOKAZ as its winning selection. Carolyn is also the author of 10 other books including <em>Hopi Quilt</em>, a must read for any quilter interested in historic expressions by Native American women. Carolyn is a quilter and quilt historian. It must be said that she is also charming, interesting and a great supporter of all things quilting. She came to me courtesy of Anna Mary Childs, one of the people who offered up a collection of Steiger textiles to be photographed in Tubac. Anna Mary told her of my book project and Carolyn contacted me to arrange a brief visit She's in the middle of a promotional tour for her new book and she stopped in on her way home to Tucson. <br />
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After being gleefully and lovingly mauled by my dog, Tina, Carolyn and I shared some iced tea. I gave her the 4 minute history of how I became a Harwood Steiger addict and how I progressed from totally uninformed to hopelessly addicted. It didn't take long to getting around to viewing my collection of Steiger textiles. As I unfurled example after example, we discussed the history, technology and personal background of Harwood and Sophie Steiger. Carolyn was full of questions and very good advice. She asked all the right questions and suggested all kinds of new avenues to explore in developing the book and in finding the right publisher. It pleased me to no end that she kept oooooing and ahhhing as one Steiger design after another was revealed. I love nothing more than to share my beautiful textiles with someone who truly appreciates them, and Carolyn honestly did. <br />
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Carolyn is well connected in the Arizona quilting world. She told me of her involvement in the Arizona Quilt Project and reminded me that our Centennial celebration is next year. She suggested that I prepare a presentation on Harwood Steiger textiles for historic, quilt and art audiences. Good idea, and I do have a presentation in development for Marshall Shore's <em>Vanishing Phoenix</em> talks. Her visit was all too brief and we didn't even get through viewing the entirety of the collection. But, in that short time, she inspired me in a number of ways: book development, presentation, and a Harwood Steiger quilt.<br />
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I have always intended on making <em>Arizona Sketchbook</em> into a quilt. But, now there is a level of urgency about it. Because I only do hand quilting, it takes quite a while to produce a quilt. Usually, only one quilt per year. So, if I want to have a quilt ready for the centennial, I need to get started now. Responding to the urgency, yesterday I photocopied the fabrics I plan on using, and began to experiment with possible block lay outs. Two guiding thoughts influenced my experiments. First, it had to be a simple block. I want the Steiger sketches to not get lost in the block design. Second, I had to outline each sketch in brown because the boxes on the fabric weren't any where near predictable. I chose fabrics in colors that Steiger used. They are mostly solids or read as solids. I played around with my little strips of paper for hours and came up with some interesting possibilities. I welcome your opinion about which best showcases the Harwood Steiger sketches. Maybe you have a block that would work even better. Let me know. Please send me some comments.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-65008958986710306242011-04-15T19:05:00.000-07:002011-04-18T16:01:27.658-07:00Finding the Courage to CutEvery time a new Steiger textile arrives, my husband asks, <em>What are you going to use that for</em>? He doesn't grasp the concept of a collection for a collection's sake. Usually, I'll pet the fabric for a while and then carefully fold it printed side in and place it in my special glass fronted cabinet. The fabric respository is in a darkened room so that sunlight will not fade it, but the collection is easily glimpsed as I work in and around the room. It's very comforting to me to see them all so neatly folded and stacked. And, just knowing the Steiger fabrics are safe is enough for me. <br />
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I do have plans for one of the Steiger designs. It's called <em>Arizona Sketchbook</em> and looks like an assortment of post cards depicting all kinds of interesting things in Arizona: recreation, towns, wildlife, etc. I plan to make a quilt out of it in a log cabin <em>Courthouse Steps</em> configuration. The fabric is brown ink printed on an ivory background and I've already acquired the complementary fabrics in brown, gold, purple and red. And, just as soon as I finish my Shweshwe Maple Leaf quilt (about half finished hand quilting it) and the Japanese geisha and bamboo applique top for my friend, Marie (probably the first and last applique quilt I'll ever do), I'll start on <em>Arizona Sketchbook</em>. But, for the rest of the Steiger fabrics I have no plans. At least, I didn't have any plans until recently. <br />
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In truth, I've been very reluctant to cut up my Steiger treasures. I know, I know. They were made to be used. My fear is that once I commit to a projecct, that fabric will be gone and I may never see it again on the open market. The fabrics are becoming scarcer and scarcer and more and more expensive. But, when I visited Joan (Steiger's niece), she gave me a skirt already cut out in <em>Tumbleweeds</em>. It's beautiful--- rust background with navy blue ink. What Joan gave me was a lined wrap around skirt, typical of the 1960's. It sat in my collection cupboard for a couple of weeks before I took it out to assess what I could do with it. I ended up reducing the length and turning it into a gathered skirt. I had enough left over to make a rounded yoke for a corresponding blouse in navy. I suppose it really is a two piece dress. It turned out well. <br />
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In years past, I used to make nearly all of my clothes. My first ambition in life was to be a fashion designer and I tested all kinds of fabrics in all kinds of garments from formal dresses to suits. i developed considerable skills, but never translated that into a profession or business. As real life took over, I had less and less time to sew, and like so many, gave into the convenience of ready-made clothing. My success with Joan's already cut out skirt gave me the courage to move forward with other garments made in Steiger fabrics. Over the last year, I've found some really lovely garments made by others, on-line and during my survey documentation in Tubac. People like me lucked into a Steiger fabric and put their sewing skills to use. So, I decided to do the same, <strong>finally</strong>, according to my husband.<br />
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My first effort was a fabric given to me by Joan. It's called <em>Weeds</em> and is an overall design of black ink on a beautiful rich turquoise blue. If the truth be known, I generally wear shorts and t-shirts most of the time. But, a nice loose fitting dress is a welcomed addition to the Arizona wardrobe. So, I selected a vintage dress pattern with a square yoke that I found at a thrift shop. It only took a couple of days to make start to finsih and turned out great. <br />
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Encouraged by these two successes, I next tackled a border print (non Steiger). This dress is a little more form fitting and I had to create my own pattern. But, I love the way the <em>Yeis</em> look and it very similar to a Steiger fabric called<em> Yeis</em>. This example however, is a multi colored print on natural colored cotton is nothing less than striking. I've been saving this one for a long time and I took many deep breaths before cutting. I really like it and will now risk using an actual Steiger fabric on another dresss.<br />
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The most recent dress is made from one of those beautiful dress panels. The Steigers panels are two yards of fabric with the silk screened design printed on the width instead of the length of the fabric. And, the Steigers were right. It takes two yards to make a simple shift. This casual dress is just perfect for the climate: loose and roomy. I have several of these panels in different colors, fabrics and designs. This particular design was one of the most popular of the Steiger dress panels with prominent saguaro cactus, roadrunners and other desert plants. I see a lot of this design. They usually are less expensive to buy than overall designs because of limitations of a central pattern. So, be on the look out for this kind of bargain.<br />
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So now, thanks to Joan, I have the beginnings of a whole new wardrobe for the summer. I'll probably next tackle a jacket and skirt for business occasions. I have a large piece of <em>Papago</em>, thanks to a generous gift from Robert Black, vintage clothier extraordinaire. But, that's enough new clothes for me for a while. I hope you enjoy them and some of the other great garments that have turned up. I'll add a couple more examples from my collection soon. I just have to photograph them.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6996771326213800200.post-31896666117580939882011-03-27T21:42:00.000-07:002011-03-28T14:41:17.995-07:00Exploring the Details of DesignDuring last week, I was able to photograph all of the wonderful fabrics given to me by Joan, Harwood and Sophie's niece. I focused on capturing details of some of the different designs. There are so many. One fabric may contain nearly a hundred design elements, each linked and placed harmoniously with its neighbors. A great example is <em>Seven Cities of Cibola</em>. I think this was one of Joan's favorites. When she was pulling out the treasured Steiger examples from her black chest, the striking lime green base color of the fabric overwhelmed me, and I had to exclaim, <em>What a fantastic sixties color!</em> And, it is. Beyond the color of the fabric, one immediately begins to note the complex design of the silk screening. Joan told me that this was a particularly difficult design to print. I believe her.<br />
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The printing process was not particularly difficult in and of itself. The fabrics would be rolled out on a very long table and then the screen would be placed, inked and moved to its next location, skipping space in a leap frog fashion so that the inks would not smudge until they dried. Then, Harwood would come back and fill in the empty spaces, leap frogging again until the entire bolt was printed. The problem comes in with strictly maintaining registration. The <em>Seven Cities of Cibola</em> design, complex and intricate, was difficult to maintain registration exactly. Steiger, being a perfectionist, would not sell the fabric that was not perfect. But, also being a thrifty person, could not afford to discard the fabric. An ingenious solution was created. On these imperfect printing runs, Harwood would overprint another complimentary design, hiding the imperfections of the first print. I had seen some overprint fabrics, but had wrongly assumed that these were an effort to introduce variations following Harwood's death. Joan just laughed when I told her this. <em>No, Uncle Harwood and Aunt Sophie just couldn't afford to waste any fabric. It was the most expensive part of the studio process</em>. <br />
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It wasn't until Joan gave me this beautiful green example of <em>Seven Cities of Cibola</em> that I was able to examine it closely. In reviewing the photos, I just shake my head in wonder and appreciation of its divine dimension and energy. Undoubtedly, Harwood Steiger was a collector of native symbols and a creator of interpretations of the things seen and found in the desert. He was clearly a keen observer of desert life including all plants and many animals (the most whimsical ones, surely). All these he gathered into his designs. <br />
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The stencils were all hand cut. Harwood would work out the designs while summering in New York. One of Joan's earliest jobs as a young child while visiting Uncle Harwood and Aunt Sohpie in Red Neck, was sweeping up all the little pieces cut from the stencils. <em>That was such a hard job! All those damned little pieces</em>, Joan complained nearly sixty years later. It really must have been a hard job, indeed. Joan is still frustrated by the task. <br />
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In looking at the fabric design, I'm unable to determine where one stencil ended and another one begins. Such is the talent of this persnickitty printer. Joan tells me that the stencils were only about 18 inches long. This amazing attention to minute details is what makes Steiger such an exceptional artist and separates him from other silk screeners of his era. Where most silk screeners of the mid century worked in big, bold graphical designs, Harwood Steiger's work was highly detailed, almost delicate in comparison. <br />
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My husband often chuckles when he finds me<em> petting my fabric</em>. Almost daily (and usually when he's not at home) I take out a piece from my Harwood Steiger collection and just look at it. I find something new in each piece every time. Sometimes I'll hang it on my quilt design wall so I can study it in its entirety. Also, I can examine design elements easily and study how they all fit and work together to create a lovely, and may I say fascinating, fabric. I guess I have become mesmerized by my addiction. I hope I'll never find a 12 step program to cure me of it.Harwood Steiger Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07345835777756556421noreply@blogger.com0