Columbia Willamette Quilt Study Group


Basic Information
Mission: To study quilts, quilt history and related material culture in an
informal and friendly environment.

Objectives:
To have opportunities to view vintage and antique quilts, as well as
fabrics.
To share knowledge and resources through discussion and internet venues.
To provide educational programs at each meetings.
To promote quilts and textiles as an expression of material culture.
To provide fellowship among quilters.

Background
Mary Bywater Cross formed the Columbia Willamette Quilt Study Group in 1982
as a venue for individuals in Oregon and SW Washington to gather together to
study quilts. Her establishment of the regional coordinator program for the
American Quilt Study Group prompted her to organize a more localized group
in this area of the Northwest. Since then, the group has had many meetings,
sharing knowledge and resources through an informal and friendly atmosphere.
In 2008, Mary granted Martha Spark "A Passing of the Needle and Thread", to
continue quilt studies and facilitate meetings in this region.

Meetings occur four times a year in different parts of the state. Membership
is open to anyone with an interest in quilts and quilt history. To find out
about upcoming meetings, please contact Martha Spark, facilitator, at :
mspark@frii.com . Or visit the web site of the Oregon Quilt Project,
www.oregonquiltproject.org,  and click on Columbia Willamette Quilt Study
Group.  Click here for our mission statement.

First meeting of 2010
 ""On March 6, 2010, 37 members and friends of the Columbia-Willamette Quilt Study Group met for a day-long session at the Benton County Historical Museum, Philomath, OR to view the Cockrell collection of quilts, with an introduction by Dr. Elizabeth Hoffman. Dr. Hoffman was one of the original team members who first documented this collection while it was housed at the Horner Museum on the campus of Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. The goal was to present each quilt for viewing and discussion regarding design, construction, fabrics, etc. Quilts were laid out on 2 tables in the museum's collections storage facility and the group was divided between the 2 tables for easy viewing. This collection of quilts spans the 19th century and has some outstanding examples of American quilt making designs, including Rose Wreath, Feathered Star, Star of Bethlehem and Carolina Lily.

Lunch was served to the group in the museum's auditorium. Afterwards, Mary Bywater Cross gave a slide lecture on her visit with Susan Cockrell in Washington, DC in 1984. Even though Mrs. Cockrell was quite elderly at the
time, she still enjoyed sharing her quilts and stories with her guests.

""""We finished with an afternoon session back in the collections storage facility. More great quilts came out, including an 1847 dated signature Laurel quilt, a pristine Whig or Democratic Rose, an eye-popping Pomegranate quilt with densely quilted, eight-petaled flowers interspersed between appliquéd pomegranate motifs, and a Compass design with vivid Prussian blue ombre fabric that was probably French in origin. One of the more unique quilts in the collection is an appliquéd Eagle medallion, surrounded by
appliquéd stars and a wide border of pieced fabrics with Broiderie Perse motifs. An ink inscribed note on the back includes a date of 1818.

Detailed notes were drawn up by scribes during the day, and were later complied and emailed to all in attendance, along with a photo survey of the quilts viewed. Anyone can view this quilt collection online at the museum's website, http://www.bentoncountymuseum.org/horner/historicquilts.cfm , and click on each quilt for additional details.

Martha Spark
Facilitator, CWQSG, 2010