November 3 – 6, 1998
These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.
Primary topics of this QHL Digest:
- Kirk Collection at Houston Festival — Kirk Collection reports on their Houston Quilt Festival experience, including strong interest in vintage feedsack fabric and a new charm square offering.
- Viking Ships, Rick Rack, and Dating Quilts — Members discuss whether Viking ship motifs help date quilts, the deep history of rick rack trim, and how decorative elements spread across cultures. (see the article on dating quilts)
- American Silk Production Before the Civil War — Continued thread on 19th-century efforts to establish a domestic silk industry, including sericulture experiments and Southern silk plantations. (see the article on a Civil War quilt)
- Colonial History Embroidery Patterns — Xenia Cord and Shirley McElderry identify syndicated Ruby McKim Colonial History patterns used in redwork and embroidered quilts. (see the article on early American quilts)
- Quilt Detective Novels — Joanna Evans mentions Judy Elsley’s paper on quilt detective fiction presented at an AQSG conference.
- Polka Dot Fabric for Restoration — Laura Hobby Syler describes the difficulty of sourcing period-appropriate polka dot fabric for quilt restoration work. (see the article on quilt restoration)
- Sharon Harleman Tandy’s Thesis Defense — Sharon successfully defends her master’s thesis on quilt history topics, earning congratulations from the list.
- The Feedsack Club on Simply Quilts — Jane of The Feedsack Club announces a Simply Quilts TV appearance and Toni Baumgardner’s guild lecture program on feedsack quilts. (see the article on the feedsack story)
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 06:30:52 -0600 | From: “Lisa Erlandson” <erland [at] cooke [dot] net>
Good morning,
I’m trying to help out a fellow instructor at the local college who is giving a program in a few days
Does anyone know what the pattern “Day’s End” looks like?? Couldn’t find it in Brackman or Malone – I’m still looking – it sounds familiar, but I don’t know where I would have seen it.
Thanks in advance,
Lisa
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 09:46:45 +0000 | From: “Pat McAnally” <patmc [at] mailserver [dot] netcarrier [dot] com>
Apparently there was a concerted effort in the nineteenth century to start a domestic silk production industry. I lived in central Pennsylvania for a number of years and while researching our house found mention of the attempt in the local county historical records (Selinsgrove, Snyder County) They planted lots of mulberries for the silkworms but the climate was unfavorable.
There is also a nice discussion of silk making in the book that details the New Jersey Quilt Project.
Pat, now in Bucks County
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 10:34:25 -0500 | From: “Dee Stark” <dee [at] nf2g [dot] com>
>By the way, I’m looking to buy a Singer treadle machine.Does anyone
have
>any words of caution? My DH was puzzled when I told him that I want a treadle machine.
I love my Singer Treadle! It has attatchments to do all sorts of fancy things that my 1995 Kenmore doesn’t even do 😉 Not that I’ve figured out how to use them all, LOL -)
I’d look for a sewing machine dealer or repair place that knows how to work on them *first*. Because inevitably whatever machine you find will need an overhaul. Look for a machine that doesn’t have alot of surface rust. Most people are looking for good cabinets, instead of good machines, so sometimes you can find great machines in beat up cabinets -)
Around here treadles are still popular, and they are snapped up by the large Mennonite population that realizes these machines are still great work-horses. I was fortunate to get one from a family friend, and it is very similar to the one I learned to sew on when I was a child.
There is a web site that has lots of info http://www.nwlink.com/~captdick/index.html#Information dee dee [at] nf2g [dot] com
Victorian Handcrafts http://www.nf2g.com/vh
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 09:15:08 -0000 | From: “ROBERT J CARROLL” <robert.j.carroll [at] gte [dot] net>
Cinda, re Marie Webster Quilts
I purchased 2 applique quilts a few years ago which were well documented by the quiltmakers daughter, who dated them 1912. I was skeptical of the early date, but I recognized them as Marie Webster designs and I reread the new Webster book.
Her Ladies Home Journal articles began in 1910 with patterns available shortly after. I recognized my quilts’ designs in the articles dated 1911 and 1912. My quilts are not made of the pastel prints and colors of the 30’s, but of deeper richer colors. They are are heavily quilted with fine stitching. Because I don’t see evidence that they were made in the 20’s or 30’s I have accepted the 1912 date as probable. I’ve since read in research papers and other articles that there was an early quilting revival starting about 1910 and building up thru the 1930’s, with many applique quilts made during this early period from new patterns. Laurette
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 15:18:48 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co [at] mail [dot] airmail [dot] net>
Beth,
Did you ever find any polka dot fabric? Last year I needed some for a restoration job and ended up going to Lunn fabrics….they silkscreen all their stuff. It’s not cheap by any stretch, but it did the trick for my purposes. Lisa did a review of their web site for the November VQTS newsletter…their URL is <www.lunnfabrics.com>
check ’em out
Laura
At 0326 PM 10/31/98 EST, you wrote
>I Need your help for Jane! Many of you have responded with help with
photos,
>now I need another favor- my diamonds are all cut out, and I have been
pretty
>successful reproducing those that I can see in the pictures. Now, having
been
>so successful, I cannot get myself to use the “almost” sashing fabric I have- but, do you think I can find polka dots anywhere? Not! I’ve traveled
between
>Maine and Philadelphis this week, and no luck. Does anyone know of a shop which has white with black polka dots? I think Judy Rothermel might have
done
>it a few years back, but I’ll take any brand, of course. My work colleague and I have not yet met up after work, as I have been on the road for two weeks- so, no new news on the “8 more” quilts. Also, I missed out on a book I didn’t know of (at a local antiques gallery), French Textiles, by Mary Schoeser, who did English and American Textiles. This place doesn’t take credit cards, and when I got there today with the checkbook, it was gone- dang.
> Hm, rereading, I guess it hasn’t been all that great of a quilting week…..
> Beth in Maine qltldy10 [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 20:03:25 EST | From: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Just got through reading Alan Kelchner article with Nancy Roberts in the latest copy of Traditional Quilter. A very well done article answering a question about Redwork Blocks (my favorite subject these days). Don’t miss it. Great going Alan. Toni B
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 15:15:47 -0500 | From: “John and Cinda Cawley” <cawley [at] epix [dot] net>
Yesterday I went to the Montgomery County Historical Society in Norristown just north of Philadelphia. To those of you muttering “Doesn’t that woman ever stay home?” the answer is not if I can help it. Anyway, The State Museum of PA owns a very fine quilt (see p. 42 of Saved for the People of PA) pieced of Sunflower blocks made c. 1850 by Emma Ritner whose father Joseph was governor of PA from 1839 to 1843. The museum also owns a signed quilt (in very sad condition) made in 1854 of Album blocks. Most of the names on this quilt are members of the Shunk family of Upper Providence Township in Montgomery Co. What interested me is the fact that Francis R. Shunk, governor of PA from 1845 to 1848 (he resigned because he was dying of consumption) was born in Upper Providence Twp, Montgomery Co. I was hoping to prove that the museum had two quilts with gubenatorial connections. I discovered that the Shunks on the quilt were not the Governor and his family but cousins descended from the Governor’s grandfather and namesake. These Shunks were farmers and laborers. With one exception all the signers lived in Montgomery Co. The outlander lived just over the line in Bucks Co. I think that I have figured out which of the signers made the quilt and why. The earliest date on the quilt is “Dec. 23, 1816,” the birthday of Abr’m B. Shunk whose wife Susanna seems from another inscription to have solicited the blocks. Other dates, most very specific month day and year, range from 1842 to 1854. At this point I have no idea of the significance of any of them. Until yesterday all I had was the list of names and inscriptions with no clue as to the relationships between the signers. =20
I also found the kind of story that makes me love history because it is so much more improbable than fiction. One of the signers James Shunk was murdered in 1854 and his body thrown into Brower’s Lock on the Schuykill River. Three boatmen were arrested for the crime. In 1858 his brother Zephania (until yesterday I thought this was a woman’s name) whose name along with his wife and little daughter is on the quilt , keeper of the same Brower’s Lock, became entangled in a rope, draggged into the lock and drowned.=20
The quilt in question, tho badly worn, is lovely. The 30 12 inch Album blocks are made of scrap fabrics (lots of PA Dutch cheddar yellow, some soft pinks, brown and blue) with sashes and borders of Prussian blue with white paisleys.
Local historical societies are treasure troves of information. This one had printed and bound copies of the 1850 cenus for the county, an index of the local newspapers (by name) from 1799, transcripts of church records for births, mariages and deaths. Eureka! Hope this makes some sense to you; I’m just looking at my notes and typing what seems interesting to me.
Cinda in Scranton
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC “-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN”> Yesterday=20 I went to the Montgomery County Historical Society in Norristown just = north of=20 Philadelphia. To those of you muttering “Doesn’t that woman = ever stay=20 home?” the answer is not if I can help it. Anyway, The State = Museum=20 of PA owns a very fine quilt (see p. 42 of Saved for the People of = PA)=20 pieced of Sunflower blocks made c. 1850 by Emma Ritner whose father = Joseph was=20 governor of PA from 1839 to 1843. The museum also owns a signed = quilt (in=20 very sad condition) made in 1854 of Album blocks. Most of the = names on=20 this quilt are members of the Shunk family of Upper Providence Township = in=20 Montgomery Co. What interested me is the fact that Francis R. = Shunk,=20 governor of PA from 1845 to 1848 (he resigned because he was dying of=20 consumption) was born in Upper Providence Twp, Montgomery Co. I = was hoping=20 to prove that the museum had two quilts with gubenatorial=20 connections. I=20 discovered that the Shunks on the quilt were not the Governor and his = family but=20 cousins descended from the Governor’s grandfather and namesake. = These=20 Shunks were farmers and laborers. With one exception all the = signers lived=20 in Montgomery Co. The outlander lived just over the line in Bucks=20 Co. I think that I have figured out which of the signers = made the=20 quilt and why. The earliest date on the quilt is “Dec. 23,=20 1816,” the birthday of Abr’m B. Shunk whose wife Susanna = seems from=20 another inscription to have solicited the blocks. Other dates, = most very=20 specific month day and year, range from 1842 to 1854. At this point I = have no=20 idea of the significance of any of them. Until yesterday all I had = was the=20 list of names and inscriptions with no clue as to the relationships = between the=20 signers. I=20 also found the kind of story that makes me love history because it is so = much=20 more improbable than fiction. One of the signers James Shunk was = murdered=20 in 1854 and his body thrown into Brower’s Lock on the Schuykill River. = Three=20 boatmen were arrested for the crime. In 1858 his brother Zephania = (until=20 yesterday I thought this was a woman’s name) whose name along with his = wife and=20 little daughter is on the quilt , keeper of the same Brower’s Lock, = became=20 entangled in a rope, draggged into the lock and drowned. The quilt=20 in question, tho badly worn, is lovely. The 30 12 inch Album = blocks=20 are made of scrap fabrics (lots of PA Dutch cheddar yellow, some soft = pinks,=20 brown and blue) with sashes and borders of Prussian blue with white=20 paisleys. Local=20 historical societies are treasure troves of information. This one = had=20 printed and bound copies of the 1850 cenus for the county, an index of = the local=20 newspapers (by name) from 1799, transcripts of church records for = births,=20 mariages and deaths. Eureka! Hope this makes some = sense to=20 you; I’m just looking at my notes and typing what seems interesting to=20 me.
Cinda in=20 Scranton
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 19:52:04 -0500 | From: Anthony Jones <ajones2 [at] tampabay [dot] rr [dot] com>
We still count folds around here, especially when someone wants to know if there are 6 yds left on the bolt. Suprising how accurate it is with large amounts. You do tend to overestimate though.
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 21:48:59 +0400 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord [at] netusa1 [dot] net>
Hi, Laurette – you might check your Webster design quilts to see if any faint guide marks indicating kit origin are present on the fabrics. Marie Webster’s Practical Patchwork Company sold her designs in paper patterns, as stamped kits ready for assembly, as applique tops already basted (appliqued), and as finished quilts, all from the same kit format. Blue guidelines on the quilt top or on the edges of the applique could mean a kit finished in Marion (Indiana) by Webster’s group of quiltmakers, or a kit made up by the purchaser. Either is somewhat rare.
Otherwise, you need to know that Webster’s designs were sold for a number of years (into the 1930s,) both by Webster herself and among distributers such as Marshall Field in Chicago, Mary McIlwain’s Quilt Shop in Walworth, Wisconsin, and as mail order through Needlecraft/Home Arts magazine from Augusta, Maine (without Webster’s name attached). Although the patterns first appeared as finished quilts in LHJ articles from: 1910 through the teens, the persistence of their popularity means that quilts in those patterns could have been made over a 25 year period or longer. See granddaughter Rosalind Webster Perry’s reissue of Marie’s book, Quilts, Their Story and How to Make Them, and RWP’s companion book, A Joy Forever, with many of the original patterns reproduced.
Xenia, back home in Indiana after a week at Houston
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 21:45:01 -0500 | From: Anthony Jones <ajones2 [at] tampabay [dot] rr [dot] com>
It’s may be hard to date the quilt based on the presence of a Viking ship. The Viking presence in North American history has been documented since at least the late 18th century. Even if you want to call it a myth, quiltmakers of the time would have been familiar with the “myth” and would have included it in their quilts, as they did so many other myths. Longfellow and Wittier both wrote epic poems inspired by pre-Columbian norse ruins discovered in New England. Viking presence was further documented in the early 1900s when the Vineland Map became well known. The map, a detailed drawing of the North American coast, was part of a medieval diary dating from 1400s. (they called the continent Vineland because of all the grapes.) Whether this is considered a myth or not, largely depends on where you went to school. In my high school (the closest to a date you’ll get from: me is that it was back when cars were dangerous and sex was safe) we were taught about Lief Ericson exploring and mapping the continent (around 1000 A.D. I seem to remember) and the repeat excursions made from: bases in Greenland.
It is really the influence and hard fought battles of Italian immigrants in early part of this century that made the Columbus myth the predominate story it is today. When in reality, Columbus’ 1492 voyage did not make it to the American continent, but ended in the Carribean Islands.
I’m sure this is far more than you wanted to know. :>)
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 22:03:51 +0400 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord [at] netusa1 [dot] net>
Hi, Arlene – the designs on your American History quilt were a series designed and published by Ruby Short McKim of Indenpendence, Missouri, and were printed as a series in a number of syndicated newspapers, in publications my McKim herself, and in children’s magazines. McKim also designed the tremendously popular “Grandmother’s Garden” series of flowers with picket fence border used by many newspapers as the basis for quilt contests to attract women subscribers, and the equally popular “Flowers of the States” series used in the same way. She also did a “Farm Life” series of designs, depicting parents and 2 children engaged in a number of chores and activities on the farm (also outline embroidery), and the Quaddy Quiltie series of animals from Thornton Burgess stories, and a circus animals series as well, I believe. In the American History series are several historical events that seem obscure to us today, but the arrival of the Vikings in the 800s AD should not be one of those. The “one penny” block may refer to an episode when Barbary pirates in Tripoli attacked and imprisoned American saliors, and a ransom was demanded. The cry from Washington was “Millions for defense, but not a penny for tribute!” I believe the Marines were sent in to correct the situation. It has been literally years since I read American History, and I am very vague on this!
Xenia, in Indiana
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 06:48:11 +0000 | From: Shirley McElderry <tigersoup [at] lisco [dot] net>
The Colonial History embroidery quilt patterns were indeed syndicated; by McKim Studios; and was one of at least 25 “series” patterns that were published. As far as information is now known, the series was published in the “Seattle Post Intelligencer” in 1926, and in the “Omaha World-Herald” in 1927.
Shirley Mc from Iowa
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 07:51:21 EST | From: Kittencat3 [at] aol [dot] com
T
Archaeological digs in Newfoundland have found Viking settlements from around the 11th century – Leif Eriksson’s voyages did take place. Not sure when this was known in immigrant communities, but probably around the turn of the century.
Lisa Evans
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 08:26:37 EST | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
Please tune in to SIMPLY QUILTS on the 10th..next Mon and enjoy THE FEEDSACK CLUB in action..Jane
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 08:27:55 EST | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
sorry..SIMPLY QUILTS and HE FEEDSACK CLUB will be on the 10th..but that is a TUES..and I listed it as Mon..TUES..9:30AM..Jane
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 08:44:21 -0500 | From: Marilouise Hagenberg <mhagenbe [at] smc [dot] cc [dot] mi [dot] us>
In response to the question on the silk industry, there was a push before the Civil War to start a silk industry. It was more successful down South where the weather was kinder to the mulberry trees and silk worms. However, the production of silk is time consuming. Greenfield Village in Detroit has a silk making shed demonstrating how the silk thread was taken off the cocoons. After standing watching this for fifteen minutes, I was surprised there was any silk cloth made at all!.. The thread often broken and had to be reset. The house was rather warm because of the steam heat used to soften the cocoons. These living history presentation are so vital. Until one sees the labor required to produce something prior to industrialization, one can’t fully comprehend value of a yard of cloth to the common person in panorama of history.
—
Marilouise, usually a lurker
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 18:36:34 | From: Ricki Maietta <rmaietta [at] csrlink [dot] net>
Alan remarked on counting the layers of fabric on the bolt:
>I was dumbfounded when the girl/lady/woman started counting the layers!
Yes, in one of my past incarnations I worked in a department store. During inventory time, that is how we estimated the fabric department stock – by counting the times the fabric went around the bolt. Hadn’t thought of that for about 18 years!
BTW, nice to see something by Alan in Traditional Quiltworks! Way ta go!!
Ricki in PA
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 07:56:34 -0800 (PST) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen [at] yahoo [dot] com>
Lynn, et al.
I only have some of the Uncoverings in stock, but I understand AQSG has their own website now. A quick search revealed the fact that that AQSG also stands for Alpha Quadrant Sim Group (AQSG) Academy Starship. Hmmm….
I think you would have better luck reaching the American Quilt Study Group at http://catsis.weber.edu/aqsg/
Kris, who firmly believes “There’s no place like home.”
—Palampore [at] aol [dot] com wrote:
> Hi, I wrote last week about a quilt I just recently saw which was made entirely of silks from Old Mill Cigarettes (VA) and all of the silks
had
> pictures of women on them. The lady who owns it is curious about
it’s date
> and to know who the women are. She and her friends think they were
silent
> movie stars. Anyone out there have any info.? (No one responded
last week.) I
> need Ms. Cozart’s article from AQSG but our guild got rid of all of
their
> UNCOVERINGS because they took up too much room. (no comment) Kris
doesn’t
> have that issue for sale. Is it still in print? Many thanks for any help you might provide this lady. Thanks, Lynn
in New
> Bern,NC
_________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!?
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Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 11:24:16 -0500 (EST) | From: “Joanna E. Evans” <jevans [at] bluemarble [dot] net>
Lisa,
After listening to Judy Elsley’s delightful paper on quilt detective novels at the AQSG conference in West Virginia last month, I was inspired to take the bibliography she included with her paper in Uncoverings to the local bookstore and pick up some fun reading. One of the mysteries that I picked up was The Body in the Basement by Katherine Hall Page. I just finished reading it yesterday. In it a body is discovered wrapped in a red and white quilt.
“Dark red patches in a spiral pattern stood out sharply against the white muslin background, which, as she bent down, she realized was not completely white. There was a second spiral, the material white, with the tiniest of red dots. Dots like pin pricks.” p.171
“…two pinwheel shapes, the tiny dotted fabric alternating with the red.”
p.196
The amateur detective goes through her quilt books and finally finds the pattern and identifies it as End of Day. (p. 197)
Page acknowledges Barbara Brackman’s Clues in the Calico in the front of the book. And if you look in Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, you will find #1287 End of the Day. Perhaps this is the pattern you are seeking. What was the context?
Joanna Evans
Bloomington, IN
>Date: Tue, 3 Nov 1998 06:30:52 -0600
>From: “Lisa Erlandson” <erland [at] cooke [dot] net> To: “QHL” <QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com>
>Subject: QHL: looking for a pattern
>Message-ID: <000701be0725$cce1ff60$a160aacf@lisaerla>
>Good morning,
>I’m trying to help out a fellow instructor at the local college who is giving a program in a few days:
>Does anyone know what the pattern “Day’s End” looks like?? Couldn’t find it in Brackman or Malone – I’m still looking – it sounds familiar, but I don’t know where I would have seen it.
>Thanks in advance,
>Lisa
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 12:57:58 EST | From: KirkColl [at] aol [dot] com
Just got back from Quilt Festival in Houston. It was great to see lots of friends and customers.
Attendance seemed a little down this year, especially on the weekend, but those who came were certainly enthusiastic and the show was great. Sara Dillow loaned some of her antique quilts for a special exhibit that made your heart sing.
The contemporary quilts ran the gamut — some were great, some had that “quilt show look.”
Kris Driessen volunteered to come and help if I would fly her down and house and feed her. I’m sure she didn’t know what she was getting into and how very tired she would be by the time I took her to the airport Sunday afternoon. But let me tell you, your “List Mom” Kris is a real asset in a booth — of course she’s done it just a few time before <VBG>! Ask her to tell you about the royal satin piece she got.
Someone asked about polka dots in one of the posts I was reading to catch up. We have actual 19th century dots — one is 1/8th inch and another 1/2 inch, black on white, and a repro brown dot on white 1/4 inch dot. Let me know if any of these help.
Starting next week, we’re putting up a new or vintage fabric each day on a new page called “Today’s Special”. The first day it is up it will be 25% off for that day only. Then it will be added to the general inventory at regular price. We’ll put up the new item around 4 to 5 p.m. central time each day so you have that night and the next day to check.
Nancy Kirk
The Kirk Collection
www.kirkcollection.com
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 11:14:12 -0700 | From: “norrgard” <norrgard [at] frii [dot] com>
Dear QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
My e-mail address is norrgard [at] frii [dot] com
I want you to know that I have enjoyed reading the QHL digest, but I am unable to keep up with it and contribute to it, so I would like you to remove my name from the list at this time.
Thank you and hope to participate when I have more time!!!
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 13:54:17 EST | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
does anyone with a scanner have a picture of the WEATHERVANE they could put on line???? Jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB..
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1998 13:48:45 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co [at] mail [dot] airmail [dot] net>
Well, just so you guys know….years ago at Quilt Market ’79 in SFA… I to: ok a class on small business mgmt, especially for quilt shops (back when TQC was a retail location) and the guy there told us that there were 4 perfectable acceptable methods for doing invenotry of yardage….one, rip it all off the bolts and measure it (ugh!) weigh it on the bolts (also ugh, and not very accurate) but the most preferred method was to count the folds on the bolt 2 folds @1 yd….now, this was on the old 1″ thick bolt boards…now they make them 1/2 ” so there might be less there than you estimate when you count folds…also, you never know just how much they have wadded up at the beginning…..Oh and #4….stand at the front door and guestimate!!! Inventory took about 10 minutes! (If my accountant would have let me do it that way!)
Laura
At 06:36 PM 11/3/98, you wrote:
>Alan remarked on counting the layers of fabric on the bolt:
>>I was dumbfounded when the girl/lady/woman started counting the layers!
>Yes, in one of my past incarnations I worked in a department store. During inventory time, that is how we estimated the fabric department stock – by counting the times the fabric went around the bolt. Hadn’t thought of that for about 18 years!
>BTW, nice to see something by Alan in Traditional Quiltworks! Way ta go!!
>Ricki in PA
98322
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1998 13:42:39 -0700 | From: Sven Olsson <sven [at] pnc [dot] com [dot] au>
My friend here in Australia owns a quilt fabric shop, and this is how she measures for stocktake.
It is very close to accurate. It also comes in handy if you are looking through the bargain fabrics for quilt backs o}
Lorraine in Oz
Anthony Jones wrote
> We still count folds around here, especially when someone wants to know if there are 6 yds left on the bolt. Suprising how accurate it is with large amounts. You do tend to overestimate though.
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 00:45:56 -0500 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow [at] blast [dot] net>
“Quilt History List” <QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com> Subject: QHL Inventory, skipping, barn, & batik
Message-ID: <000e01be087f$9003f5c0$70e8c6cf@judy-grow> We just finished two days of inventory, Sunday and Monday, and I wish ours was as easy as counting how many times the fabric wraps around the bolt, as is done in fabric and quilting stores. There is just no way to guestimate over 50,000 feet of over 700 different picture frame mouldings, all stored in 6″ x 6″ x 12 foot cubby holes — and no way of telling how long the length is until it is pulled out of the cubby. Also between 2 to 24 sheets each of over 500 different colors of mat board. The only thing we can count by guestimating is glass on hand. We count how many lights make one inch and go from there when we count how much of the different sizes and kinds of glass we have.
There is no way to do this and be open for business, so I always close the store for 2 days to do it. It also gives us a chance to do some really deep cleaning, and to bond with the staff as we all grumble about which of our muscles is aching more, and who is the most tired. Thank goodness we only have to do this physical inventory once a year! It sure is named correctly. Now I have to sit at the computer and plug in all those numbers. This, too, is totally non quilt related, but I had to share the fact that I actually saw a little girl skipping today! She must have been about 11 years old. I was in my car, stopped and ready to make a right turn. She was across the street coming from my right, all alone, skipping merrily along. She got to the corner, turned right, and kept on skipping, home I guess. I was entranced and didn’t move the car until she was out of sight. I can’t remember the last time I saw a child skipping. For those of you who remember the barn into studio conversion we started in April —
It is entirely closed up and finished outside , except for the installation of two antique lightening rods, and by the end of the week the staircase to: the second floor will be in, with the closet and powder room under it. Then the electrician will come to install the lights and the heat. Tomorrow we are going to look at a wood stove to install for “back-up”. We certainly have enough wood to fuel it. We’ve been having fires in the living room almost every night this week already. We had hoped to be done by Thanksgiving, but it looks like we will just make it by Christmas. One of my employees, Ruchi, just came back from a week in Bali, and brought back batik pieces for everyone. Lucky for her she got back just in time for inventory. I got a wonderful indigo tablecloth in a medallion pattern with a border, and self knotted fringe, ( which I wore as a shawl today when I got chilled after long hours at the computer, and got blue thumbs from pulling it tightly around me) and DS got a yellow and black sarong — which he promptly gave to his girlfriend. Ruchi is going back again in February (her husband goes on business) and promises to bring back even more. She is the lady who brought me 40 different 1 yard pieces of Indian silk when she went home to India last spring.
Ruchi remembered seeing photos of the studio-in-progress, and the moment she saw the houses on Bali she thought of the studio. It seems the houses in Bali are also 2 stories tall with some sort of clerestory at the peak, and a roofed veranda running around all 4 sides of the first floor. We also made it into the weekly newspaper, taking the entire front page. Well, it was a story about Adam, our young restoration contractor, but there were 6 photos of the barn at different stages of completion. To: day Adam showed us photos he had taken of himself on Halloween. He was wearing a cat suit of irridescent lime green lycra, with white gloved hands with elongated fingers, and a very spooky complete headcovering of white, enlarged at the sides. The only opening in the headdress was for his eyes, which you couldn’t see because there were the dark lenses of sunglasses sewn into the openings. He made the costume himself — with the encouragement (and help) of his mother! Grown women ran in fear from him at the country dance hall where he partied! And of course, he won first prize. Wow, this has been a long post. I also want to say that it is good to have all of you who went to Houston back with us homebodies. We all missed you.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow [at] blast [dot] net
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 12:05:45 EST | From: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
I was just given a child’s collar with rick rack on it and Redwork embroidery. The collar is obviously vintage, and the rick rack looks different from what I remember from 40s and 50s. Does any one know how far back in time rick rack was available? Toni B.
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 12:27:39 -0500 | From: “Kelchner, Alan” <Alan.Kelchner [at] stdreg [dot] com>
Message-ID <79A9006C94BED111AA3900A0C9AB119C01F5764D@OH_DAYTN_XCH03.stdreg.com> Well, I really was reluctant to brag, but fortunately a couple of you beat me to the punch! Thanks for the good words.
I am a contributor, with Nancy Roberts, for issue 59’s “Ask the Expert” column in *Traditional Quiltworks*, about – of all things – redwork! This is my first time in a magazine, so I’m excited.
Alan who is really interested in knowing when one of our own publishes something – I just can’t read every magazine on the chance I might see an article by someone I know ……
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1998 08:43:58 PST | From: “Kim Heger” <kheger [at] hotmail [dot] com>
Hello everyone! I’m new to the list, and found the discussion of the quilts from kits rather interesting. I recently purchased a beautiful 1930’s Ocean Waves quilt top done in yellow and white. Upon examining it more closely, I discovered there were a few stamped measurements on the edges of some pieces. 3/4″ appears on two pieces, one on the edge of the quilt and the other on a piece towards the center. I wondered at the time if that was a clue that it had been purchased as a kit and then assembled. Does anybody have any info on those types of markings?
Thanks!
Kim in (flooded at the moment) Kansas
______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 15:16:48 EST | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
I am so excited to tell you all about a new program that YOUR guild will want present..TONI BAUMGARD of Roseville, CA who offers a lecture and class on REDWORK..Toni has been a collector for years and has been involved with quilt repair for a long time also..Toni was my hostess when I spoke to her guild in Ca.
I had a chance to see first hand the dynamite items she has..to hear about the history of Redwork and was truly impressed..(and people wonder why I like to stay with a fellow quilter rather than a motel)..
To: ni offers you Redwork, History Revisited and what a treat this is…there is a trunk show of many vintage Redwork quilts and beautiful vintage linens… A slide show with close ups of those marvelous PENNY SQUARES, PILLOW SHAMS, SPLASHES, and other vintage Redwork
And there availability of a class also..YUMMY!!!
All of this rolled into an extremely talented lady..best you book her as soon as possible before all her dates are filled..
To: ni is a member of the Quilt Restoration Society, American Quilters Society, Embroidery Guild of America, American Quilt Study Group, Quilt History List, Pajaro Valley Quilt Association, and a volunteer/member of San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles..quite an impressive resume..her knowledge alone is marvelous..
Jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB
TO: NIE BAUMGARD
916-773-9352
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
5033 Frontier Lane
Roseville, CA 95747
Jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1998 21:05:24 -0700 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman [at] micron [dot] net>
To: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
CC: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
Subject: QHL How far back rickrack?
Message-ID: <36427584.66E9 [at] micron [dot] net> To: ni and all, Piecework had a great article on rickrack in the May/June ’94 issue. Toni, if you don’t have access to it, I’ll copy it to you.
Shaorn.
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1998 23:52:23 -0700 | From: Eileen Trestain <ejtrestain [at] earthlink [dot] net>
Just a quickie…
As most of you know, I have been traveling, not keeping up with QHL at all. I finally got in to clear up the subscriptions problems last night, hopefully they are all fixed. Our home page is at http://www.hickoryhillquilts.com/qhl.htm which has subscription and unsubscription information, as well as directions for getting the digest. But they don’t seem to work!
Grumble, grumble….
When I get a moment, I am going to set up web pages with all the information going back to 94, and including a topic search. I would like to set up a separate domain, but www.QHL.com belongs to the Quarter Horse people (go figure) and www.QuiltHeritage.com belongs to the Quilt Heritage Foundation. Any suggestions?
Last but not least, if any member does something wonderful – like Alan and Nancy’s article, or Debbie Roberts curator-ship of a Mountain Mist exhibit, PLEASE brag about it. I love basking in reflected glory. Kris – PS – What is the Quilt Digest? A magazine?
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 12:30:04 -0800 (PST) | From: Jackie Joy <jjoy [at] med [dot] unr [dot] edu>
Congratulations! Will you publish your thesis? Or put it on the Web?
Jackie Joy jjoy [at] med [dot] unr [dot] edu
On Thu, 5 Nov 1998, Sharon Harleman Tandy wrote
> I defended my masters degree for my graduate committee . . . Subject was “Solomon’s Choice The Divided Quilt.”
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 1998 08:10:12 -0500 | From: teresa [at] execpc [dot] com
My Grandmother had a Singer Sewing Machine Co. Trade Card, from, I believe, the 1920’s with a picture of a dress with rick rack on it.
Teresa in WI
Teresa [at] execpc [dot] com
WANTED Galilean. 33 years of age. Born in a stable. Olive skin. Wears sandals. Has a beard. Hippie-style hair. Usually acompanied by sinners, vagrants, malcontents and 12 undesirables. If you find him, follow him.
—–Original Message—–
From: Steve and Jean Loken <sandjloken [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net> To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com <QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com>
Date: Friday, November 06, 1998 1247 PM
Subject: QHL rick rack
>Toni B. et al,
>I was amazed to see rick rack on a Norwegian peasant dress dated 19th century in a local museum show, so I guess it goes back quite a bit. I did ask about that, and was told it was commercially available then. Jean in MN
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 1998 21:11:44 -0700 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman [at] micron [dot] net>
Hi all,
Well, today was the day. Speaking of tooting your own horn, today I defended my masters degree for my graduate committee and assembled friends, family (and one enemy!)
Subject: was “Solomon’s Choice The Divided Quilt.” Deep gratitude to all who suffered (and gratified!) my requests for stories, documentation, and photos of such. I believe it went well; graduation is Dec. 17, diploma is late January, tomorrow is sleep! Thanks again, and keep those stories coming, Sharon.
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 10:16:37 EST | From: Palampore [at] aol [dot] com
YOU!!!!!!
I was told that the article is “When the Smoke Cleared” in the 1987 issue of The Quilt Digest not AQSG. Now I will get out and look for that. Apparently it is out of print.
I plan to sit down and record all of the names of the women on it. If I remember correctly they were all black and white photos shot of the head and shoulders. Each was autographed by the person. I do remember a few duplicates. I will publish my findings when I get it all done. And to think it was found in a chicken coop!!!
Our town is hosting a CW conference this weekend so I must now run over to our shop/museum to set up a display of CW period quilts and clothing. This is all mingled in with 2 children in soccer tournaments in different towns, a baby shower for a niece, Boy Scout trip for child #3, a choir performance, and a battleground tour by my husband. We should all be frazzled by Sun. night. Thanks for being such a helpful group of folks. I am really enjoying reading QHL even more now that I have faces from the AQSG Conference. In COLD but sunny NC, Lynn Lancaster Gorges, New Bern, NC
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 17:46:07 +0000 | From: Steve and Jean Loken <sandjloken [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net>
I was amazed to see rick rack on a Norwegian peasant dress dated 19th century in a local museum show, so I guess it goes back quite a bit. I did ask about that, and was told it was commercially available then.
Jean in MN
Date: Fri, 06 Nov 1998 15:46:52 -0500 | From: Swede <kittyboxers [at] toledolink [dot] com>
Someone asked me if I’d ever heard of a book about Jewish quilting. I know I have, yet when I looked thru all my catalogs, I couldn’t find anything! Does anyone know the book I’m thinking of?
Annastina
