For centuries it has been known that the best way to ensure a tranquil bedroom is to have attractive bed-coverings and quilts and coverlets are one of the most time-honored methods for decorating a bedroom. Most bedrooms are decorated by women, and it is common to keep artwork, furniture, drapes, rugs and accessories basic in design and color. This way, in order to change the entire appearance of the décor a new quilt or coverlet can be added to the bed in a flash. This is an easy method of changing the mood, coloring, or seasonal appearance of a room with minimal effort and cost. Quilts can be handed down from one generation to the next, purchased at mass-merchandisers, hand-made by an individual or bought at specialty stores. While quilts are heavier in make as they are mulit-layered, other individuals may opt for coverlets; coverlets are made of a lighter material and are usually all one piece. It is not uncommon in warmer environments to use a coverlet during summer months to reduce heat and a quilt in the winter to reduce cold.
The webmaster and author at www.quiltsandcoverlets.net , Casey Woods, is also a contributor to many how-to quilt books, bedding buyer for mail-order specialty stores, and teaches a local interior design course in her community of Reno, Nevada. She was raised by her Grandmother, Cara, who taught her the centuries old craft of hand-sewing quilts to give as gifts. It was after her friend gave birth to her first child when she truly understood the impact a hand-made quilt can have on a family. She feels the effort devoted into the bedding imbue it with the love of the quilter and offer a feeling of serenity in bedding. However, a child of the desert heat, Casey understand that bedding needs to be flexible to adapt to changing seasons and design needs of the owner. Casey also wants to help others understand how to adapt their home environments with creative solutions not usually seen in store catalogs or marketing websites.
Casey opened the site to help other young people like herself understand the different options in bedding. She did not feel that her peers and contemporaries fully appreciated and embraced the options quilts and coverlets offer. Casey found most of her friends were purchasing pre-made comforters and duvets and department stores; as everyone was purchasing at the same place it resulted in a copy-cat like appearance from one bedroom to the next. Once she showed her friends her collections of quilts and coverlets they were excited at the functionality available, and Casey decided to start a website immediately to help her potential readers understand their options as well. On the site Casey explains the main difference between quilts, coverlet, quilt bed sets, hand-made quilts, baby quilts, and matelasse quilts. She also offers some information on where to buy and how to care for the bedding.
Now the site is up, Casey hopes to expand the information to show an online gallery of unique quilt ideas, quilt patterns, coverlets in use and baby-themed quilting. She also hopes to upload how-to videos and decorating tips. As advertisers become interested in her space, Casey hopes to work with vendors to secure discounts for her readers and embed the discounts in banner ads to be located on the site. A final upcoming feature is the “Quilt Off” planned for late 2010; readers are encouraged to submit photos of the most creative quilting pattern they have made and the winner will be determined by reader voting for a as-yet unannounced prize.
