September 15 – 20, 1999
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:
- More Canadian Quilt Resources — Follow-up suggestions for Canadian quilt history sources, continuing the thread from the prior digest.
- Hurricane Floyd Bears Down on the East Coast — Members along the Eastern Seaboard trade storm updates and well-wishes as Hurricane Floyd approaches, including a report from the Quilt Restoration Conference on its path.
- A Crazy Quilt Puzzle from eBay — A member asks for help interpreting an unusual crazy quilt listed on eBay, leading to a discussion of the WCTU’s founding date and youth temperance groups sometimes referenced in quilt embroidery. (see the article on Victorian crazy quilts)
- Redwork Collecting and the Quilt Restoration Conference — Members thank Nancy Kirk and fellow presenters for a well-received redwork history session, and reflect on Karen Alexander’s recent loss. (see the article on redwork and outline embroidery)
- Identifying Feed Sack Fabric — A member shares a feed sack print from her collection and asks whether others have seen the same pattern. (see the article on the feedsack story)
- North Carolina Flooding and Quilt Salvage — A New Bern, NC member describes flood damage from Hurricane Floyd and asks for advice on salvaging water-damaged textile heirlooms; other members offer help and resources.
- Remembering Doreen Speckmann — Members share warm, detailed memories of quilt teacher and author Doreen Speckmann following news of her death.
- The Dead Quilt Society Auction — Discussion of the Dead Quilt Society’s charity auction of restored antique quilts at the Restoration Conference.
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 07:03:02 PDT | From: “Ann-Louise Beaumont” <albeaumont@
This is just to add to Diane Shink’s (HI Diane)list of Canadian quilt books. “Ontario’s Heritage Quilts” by Marilyn I. Walker (1992) has beautiful photos. Ruth McKendry has written another book, “Classic Quilts” (1997). As far as Canadian quilters are concerned, there are various provincial documentation projects finished and ongoing. I’m in the process of getting plugged in again to the Canadian quilt world now that I’m in British Columbia, and have a question myself. Has the Canadian Quilt Study Group folded? I have been trying to re-establish contact with no luck. If the person with the question about Canadian quilts and quilters wants information on live quilters, there is the Canadian Quilters’ Association /L’Association canadienne de la courtepointe, also various provincial organizations, and lots of guilds. If there are more specific questions, perhaps I could help find the answers.
Best Wishes,
Ann-Louise Beaumont
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 07:21:31 PDT | From: “Ann-Louise Beaumont” <albeaumont@>
Hello again. It just occurred to me that ironically, it may be easier to find the out-of-print Canadian quilt history books in the States than in Canada. I know that the American Quilt Study Group’s collection that was combined with the University of Nebraska’s library contained both Ruth McKendry’s out-of-print bible and Conway’s book. Probably there are more. Joanna Evans wrote QHL on the process of requesting an interlibrary loan from this collection through your own public library. If anyone needs help with this process, please contact me.
Best Wishes again,
Ann-Louise Beaumont
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 19:20:38 EDT | From: AlineMcK@
Got so many responses to the book alert on welsh textiles, that when I saw this, I figured people would be interested. This is from the quilting newsgroup. I haven’t visited the site myself, so no endorsement.
*****
For an interesting article on the Welsh Carthen and the origins of the Welsh textile industry see our site Welshworld at
www.members.tripod.com/Welshworld
*****
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 20:17:23 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@>
I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. The eye of Hurricane Floyd was expected to pass us just 60 miles offshore, but when he went by, he was actually 150 miles off. Which means I barely had anything but some gusty wind and a bit of rain. When they were predicting 60 mph winds and 3-5″ of rain last night (for this afternoon), I know I am truly lucky. So why, after all the preparation and tension of the last couple of days do I feel like this was a bit anticlimactic?
Now we have to pray for the Carolinas. I also heard that there have been evacuations planned/started on Long Island. Is that true?
Thanks.
Alan
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 20:21:44 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@>
I saw a crazy quilt on eBay that had me confused a bit. The seller dated it c.1850 (I always take a dealer’s opinion with a grain of salt – my instincts are really good). This looked c 1890. Also, it had “YWCTU”, which I assumed meant Young Women’s Christian Temperance Union. Did such a branch exist? And when was the WCTU begun (couldn’t find it in my books, only references to it).
Thanks.
Alan
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 20:36:02 -0400 | From: “John Cawley” <cawley@>
On Sunday Denise (know on-line as QuiltDiva) and I went to the quilt show and sale at Sully Plantation in Chantilly, VA outside of Washington. Phyllis Twigg and others had told me about it. Well, words fail me. It was the largest collection of antique quilts I’ve ever seen in one place (there were other things too, all quilt related, but I focused on the antiques). The show is one day only, outside. The vendors are in tents, but the quilts spill out onto the grass, rail fences, clothes lines, etc. in a profusion you have to see to believe. The opportunity to see up close and personal (no white glove ladies or ropes between me and the fabric) every style and era of quilt in one place is not to be missed.
I was suffering from sensory overload and learning something everywhere I looked. To top it off, the weather was perfect. Denise and I are already making plans for next year. Plan #1 is bring more money. I have to say that I thought the prices were realistic and fair considering the area.
Cinda on the Eastern Shore where school is cancelled and the Governor has declared a state of emergency and DH John is worried about his sailboat all because of Floyd.
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 19:57:37 -0700 | From: Alan
The WCTU was founded in 1874. There was indeed a Youth Temperance Council branch of WCTU which was made up of High School and College students.
Looks like this dealer is off by a few years.
Joy jcneal@
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 10:18:08 +0000 | From: Merry May <cluesew@
Alan wrote:
>….The eye of
> Hurricane Floyd was expected to pass us just 60 miles offshore, but when he went by, he was actually 150 miles off. … When they were predicting 60 mph winds and 3-5″ of rain last night (for this afternoon), I know I am truly lucky. So why, after all the preparation and tension of the last couple of days do I feel like this was a bit anticlimactic?
Alan, don’t you know that a hurricane’s movement is similar to an 800-pound gorilla’s? as in….
Q: Where does an 800-pound gorilla go for lunch?
A: Anywhere he/she wants.
Keep counting your blessings that Floyd decided NOT to “drop by” your place this time! Meanwhile, we’re hoping he decides not to stop in southern NJ and linger!
Take care, and stay dry!
Merry 🙂
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 10:14:51 EDT | From: QuiltFixer@
Thanks Lynn Lancaster Gorges for that great informative post on what really happens at the Quilt Restoration Conference. If you are interested in Quilt and Textile History this the place to be for learning. Our QHL Conference and the QR Conference go hand in hand in providing all sorts of information, as well as a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow members. I feel so lucky to have been able to attend both this year. I also am honored and appreciative that Nancy invited me to be on the faculty at the Quilt Restoration Conference and to bring my wonderful Redwork Collection to display and talk about. Many people came up to me later and told me they really enjoyed learning about Redwork and that they were so surprised that there is much more to Redwork History than Penny Square Quilts. It was truly my pleasure to share that knowledge. Thanks also to Lynn for her complementary review in her post of the display and the program. For those of you who know about the Dead Quilt Society auction and it’s purpose, let me say it was really exciting to be high bidder on two quilts. One was a Crazy Quilt from the 1890, made in Central PA out of upholstery fabrics of that time. It has been lovingly restored by Newbie’s daughter (PastCrafts) as a 60 hour community service project and donated by Susanjoy. I am, in turn, donating it to an organization who makes quilts for terminally ill children and it will again be auctioned off for a very worth while cause.
Toni Baumgard
The Redwork Lady
QuiltFixer@
RedwordLdy@
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 12:46:46 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@
We just had a last-minute board meeting for Quiltfest, and the show is ON !!
The doors open tomorrow at Noon as planned. Only one vendor canceled, and that was as much due to one of their suppliers as the hurricane. This leaves something like 34 left. All the quilts are safe and sound and will be hung. It also appears that the Child Abuse Quilts just arrived today and will be displayed also.
As for Art Quilts, I have to explain one problem. Along with “other techniques”, “collaborative”, “challenge”, and “young quilt makers”, Art Quilts was not judged – the judge high tailed it out of here to be with her husband while Floyd went past her home in West Palm Beach. At this time, there is no one to judge these categories, also the idea was bantered about. So these categories will be hung as display only. To make up for this unavoidable snafu, this is what Quiltfest is going to do:
1) All quilts in these categories are eligible to be entered again next year at no additional cost. The quilt entered now must be the one entered next year.
2) The board plans to have two challenge displays next year, using this year’s challenge and the new one for 2000).
If you have a quilt here and have any questions, let Geraldine or myself know.
While I’m disappointed that my quilts weren’t judged, I’m just glad they’re okay – they hung out with the rest of them.
Alan boards and tape were being removed from windows this morning as I drove to the meeting. Been here 14 years and this is the first time I’ve seen my neighbors board their windows. It was wayyyyy to close!
Date: Thu, 16 Sep 1999 13:47:51 -0600 | From: “Cindy Brick” <Brickworks@>
Hello everyone. My deepest sympathies to Karen – made me remember my grandmothers (one a quilter, the other crocheted & sewed) & how right you are about not realizing the wealth of their knowledge until they are gone. . . On the exhibit question, the more you do yourself, the better. When I did my first local exhibit, I was a bit PO’d at first that the museum personnel that was promised me never materialized (including the carpenter who never quite finished the frames). I soon realized that this was a blessing – I did it my way. (This, of course, could be a problem if you are merely sending an exhibit & aren’t going to be there personally). Have your own signs, write your own press releases, write your own hand-outs, talk to the head volunteer yourself & let them know how many people, when, doing what, etc. I have also come to the conclusion that no exhibit goes without some kind of “hitch”. I always say “never again”, & then about a year later I find myself concocting some sort of project. . .
Now, to change subjects, my congrats to Celia Eddy! I just finished reading Issue 1 of the British Quilt Study Group publication on strippy quilts & Turkey red fabrics. Fantastic! Great detail on Turkey red production (now I want to know who was growing all that madder & where??) Not only was this a very informative book, but it got here so quickly!! I sent several book orders on the same day – most of the US orders have not arrived yet!
Ricki in PA, hoping everyone in the path of “Floyd” is safe & dry
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 11:21:07 -0500 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller@
I also want to thank Nancy Kirk, Brenda Reid and the rest of the people who did such a great job with the Quilt Restoration Conference in Omaha. I had a great time, and I’m still reeling from information overload, but I can handle it! A special thanks to those who attended the Dead Quilt Society’s session on cloning pieced quilts and participated so intently.
If you stayed at the DoubleTree, please check your bill soon. Several errors appeared on my bill, and not all of them were corrected when I informed them as I checked out.
Mary Waller, Vermillion, South Dakota
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 09:41:29 -0700 (PDT) | From: Elaine Baglo <elainb@>
I don’t post often but I know that some of you have been corresponding with my cousin, Brenda Mulvihill, who is also on this list. On Tuesday night, she had a terrible accident and ended up having surgery to remove a blood clot from her head. She’s still unconcious and until she wakes up, we have no way of knowing how much damage has been done. So, if you can, please say a prayer for her quick recovery.
TIA
Elaine elainb@
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 13:44:41 EDT | From: Kathi2174@
Hello All,
If anyone is in the Southern California area this weekend, please come to the Flying Geese Quilt Show. It’s at Irvine Valley College, Jeffery Rd. & Irvine Center Dr. 10-5 on Sat., 10 – 4 0n Sun. The Oklahoma City National Memorial Quilts with be one of two special exhibits.
The other is Ruby Work: The Series Quilts of Ruby Short McKim. This has been a long time in the planning. I’m out the door in 10 minutes to hang it. I’m pleased to be the curator and will be giving a tour/talk both days. The Repiecers of the Past and Ruby fans across the country have lent quilts.
There will be related ephemera.
Kathi Reyes in Calif.
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 20:14:49 EDT | From: Cml791@
Hi Jane and other feed sack people,
I’m trying to learn more about feed sacks since our QHL conference. Found one I have, is this unusual? It is Bemis, The words “Quilt Blox” with instructions to put it together. It has 4 blocks printed on it, first is picture of baby and cat in cradle, 2nd is man going hunting with gun, 3rd is 3 rabbits hopping around, 4th is baby dressed in rabbit fur snow suit pulling sled. The wording is “Bye-O-Baby Bunting, Daddy’s gone a Hunting, To get a little Rabbit Skin, To wrap my Baby Bunting in.”
I don’t think they could get away with printing this today, too cruel. Carolyn, heading for the San Antonio Quilt show tomorrow.
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 21:57:05 EDT | From: Palampore@
Hi, I am just writing to say that we did fine with the storm in our town of New Bern. Got a bunch of limbs down and a ton of rain. Unfortunately the towns west of us (Kinston, Greenville, Jacksonville (south of us), Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, etc.) got a lot more wind and rain. Several rivers are cresting and then adding 10-15 ft to that. Many roads are out and power is out in much of those areas. Some places they are not allowed to drink the water. I plan to get out the word to Quilt Guilds that I will help with any soaked quilts. But right now I can’t for the roads are closed and their phones are down. Say a prayer——-the rivers will not subside for at least a week or so. Saw a clip tonight of college students trying to salvage their belongings from an apt. complex with water up past the windows. On to better things———-I recently purchased a signature quilt that was made in probably the 1880’s. It has 32 signed blocks. The majority are from Odin, Ill. Does anyone have a connection to that town? Many stores in the town are mentioned. There are also names from Chicago, Springfield, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Louisville(KY), NewYork, Centralia, ILL. &
LaCross,Kan.
I plan to type these names into my genealogy search and see what comes up. Any other ideas? My husband says there is probably a city directory for Odin as well. Just another crazy chase………. Lynn Lancaster Gorges, Historic Textiles Studio, New Bern, NC
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 22:25:44 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
My husband pointed out a mistake in my post about his mother, Wini Alexander, that I want to get corrected NOW among all my fellow quilt researchers. He tells me that he asked his mother during his July visit about her work with the Seattle PI. She told him she worked on the staff, writing correspondence, answering mail, researching, but didn’t write the column. I was under the impression she had actually written the column. What can others in QHL tell me about Prudence Penny? Was it a syndicated column, or did each newspaper have their own local “Prudence”? If it was syndicated, who actually wrote it and where was “headquarters”?
On the exbihit question, in a former life I was a meeting planner for conferences ranging in size from 1200-3500 attendees with 80+ speakers. I can tell you from behind the scene experience, your best bet is to do as Ricki suggested: the more you assume responsibility for your booth and your needs, the “safer” you will be. Running conferences is a VERY detail, labor intensive business and it is so easy for details to fall through the cracks. Now that I have worked “behind the curtains” I never assume that things will go “okay” at a conference at which my husband or one of his editors speaks. I always check every detail myself, and I don’t even “work” in this profession anymore.
Karen Alexander
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 23:36:00 -0400 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett@
Thursday was the first day of the Ft. Washington, PA, quilt show. Unfortunately, Floyd decided to come – uninvited. Heavy rains in the morning deterred some quilters — but the show and vendors were set up, and an enjoyable time was had by all who ventured out.
Lovely quilts to see, interesting vendors — more antique dealers than in some previous years (something I consider a plus). However, fickle Floyd, who changed directions several times as he came up from Florida — fortunately sparing Alan in Florida — decided that he wasn’t going to stay on the New Jersey coast as planned, but instead came straight up the Delaware River, which is the wiggly boundary between PA and NJ. Philadelphia and Ft Washington were right in his path. It was wet getting into the building, but the exhibit quilts were very nice — a wonderful exhibit of unfinished antique scrap quilt tops was a pleasant treat for me.
John and Kris have a booth full of beautiful antique tops and quilts, new fabric, patterns, batting, and lots of history books. Sometime in the afternoon rumors began spreading that all the roads leading into the convention center were flooded, and that no one could get out.
This was definitely frustrating to many, but we were dry and warm, and people were enjoying a second (and third) look at the quilts and booths.
Even bus groups couldn’t leave.
Then….the lights went out at about 4:45.
Thus ended the enjoyment — begin frustration.
Rumors — how long will we be here — til midnight? til morning?
The center was in a difficult situation — they needed to evacuate the building, but couldn’t just send us out to sit in our cars, so they grouped everyone in the lobby and food areas and fed us.
They set up a free buffet about 6 and we ate by candlelight — wondering if we would be spending the night — a real possibility since morning forecasts said that Floyd would be producing rain until midnight. Fortunately, Floyd was in a hurry to move on, and by 7:30 the waters were low enough for the bus groups to leave (about 2 hours later than planned) and between then and about 9:30 people driving in cars left — and tried to find a way around all the flooded streets.
It was as we were leaving the center that we realized just how bad the rain had been, how deep the puddles in the road were, and how safe and secure we actually had been in the convention center.
Fortunately, today was bright, sunny and beautiful, and while the convention center got it’s electricity back, and the quilt show went on as planned today, many in the area still are flooded out of their homes, many more have no electricity, and the high water marks on the roads and buildings are the highest I can remember.
I was at the show, but my neighbor took pictures of the area near my house — French Creek higher than we have ever seen it, a lake in my front yard, and a river flowing down the cow’s pasture next door and across our road, with the water half way up the fence.
ris and John say hi to everyone, and if you go to the show over the weekend, stop and say hi to them in booth 419 — they love meeting members of the list.
Barb in soggy southeastern PA
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 09:20:34 EDT | From: JQuilt@
prudence penny was a “column name” like fannie farmer etc…. there wasn’t any real prudence penny..the publication(newpaper, magazine) just made the column more personal by adding a “name” to it..they were usually names using the same letter for first and last name jean
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 11:10:24 -0400 | From: denise nordberg <quiltdiva@
Hi! Can anyone tell me how to get – and what the price is – of the British Quilt Study Group publication about strippy quilts and turkey reds? This sounds like a MUST HAVE for my library. From Denise who just walked in the Scranton Race for the Cure….
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 16:33:50 EDT | From: AZquilter9@
Hi Mary and QHLers,
I would like to know more about the Dead Quilt Society. I’ve seen references to it several times, but if it was explained, I wasn’t paying attention (a distinct possibility). One of the quilts I have in progress is as close a copy as I can make of an antique quilt that has seen far better days. My daughter loved the antique quilt, but some of it’s fabrics were disintegrating. She and her husband will be the owners of the new “old” quilt once the quilting is completed.
It is an unusual pattern and took some detective work to find the name. Ladies Art Company calls it Lily, but after I found that name, I also found it called Des Moines Star. Since Mindy basically grew up (years 5 – 15) in Iowa, it seemed very fitting for her quilt to have this name. I thoroughly enjoyed hunting for just the right fabrics to give this quilt he old look.
Thanks for listening to my rambling and for information on the DQS.
Lois
Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 17:31:20 EDT | From: Palampore@
I want to change my initial message about the eastern NC flood. It is supposed to crest at 10-15 ft. over the maximum flood levels they have on record. ( I used the wrong term earlier.) This place reminds me of the Mississippi River when it flooded so badly in the summer of 1993. I was out there with my family attending a textile workshop and I had never seen such mass destruction.
Anyway…..it is a mess here. I am driving on dry streets and living in a dry house feeling very frustrated. Finally I realized that I need to be out there passing the word to libraries, extension agencies,TV stations, etc. telling people what to do with their QUILTS, baby clothes, wedding gowns, family pictures, etc. so I am busily putting together info. to get out to them. They probably have some of it but I hope I can help with even more. Have any of you had any experience with such a disaster and how to effectively handle heirlooms of any type? If so please email me privately. There are some absolutely wonderful resources on the internet. I think I hit them pretty hard this afternoon.
Didn’t find a single soul with the names I have on the signature quilt on the Odin sites. Will check the library next.
Keep dry……………Lynn Lancaster Gorges, New Bern, NC palampore@
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 09:56:47 -0700 | From: pastcrafts@
Lynn,
Thabks so much for posting your news. I’ve been quite worried about you and the phone circuits have not been up to get a phone call through! I will come down and help wash flood quilts any time – just let me know when.
Do you know if Judy Grow was headed home after the the conference – or did she and Alan go visit grand kids first? From the looks of the storm path, they might have been hit by Floyd if they went home to NJ.
Cheers, Newbie
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 23:35:45 +0400 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord@
I have just received a phone call; Friday, while on a trip to Ireland, Doreen Speckmann passed away. This is sad news for us in the quilting world; Doreen’s bright talent and wonderful, quirky sense of humor will be greatly missed.
Xenia
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 14:32:02 -0400 | From: Vivien Lee Sayre <vsayre@
Dear All,
I have just received a phone call from a sister appraiser asking me to pass on some tragic news to you. Doreen Speckmann has died suddenly of a heart attach. She was teaching in Europe when it happened. There are no other details available at the moment. Please keep Doreen and her family in your prayers.
Vivien
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 21:47:34 EDT | From: SadieRose@
I was shocked & saddened to read the posts about Doreen’s passing. As one of the millions of quilters who Doreen touched through her talent, wit and humor, in lectures, workshops, TV appearances and in print… I feel I have lost someone special…and yet I am glad to have so many ways to remember her.
The first time I met Doreen was in a workshop…”Stormy Sea Wallhanging”, I think in 1986. One of my favorite wallhangings, “Dancing Irises”, was the product of this class. Since we had such a good time with Doreen, we wanted to have her come back…which she did, both for our state guild & for my local quilt show. Doreen’s quilt “October 18” (tesselated Maple Leaves) appeared on the cover of Quilter’s Newsletter magazine, the Oct. 1988, #206 issue. When I asked her what the significance of Oct. 18 was, she told me that was her birthday.
I said, well, that’s my wedding anniversary, so I thought she should give me the quilt (there were 2 of us sharing the anniversary and only one of her)….she had a good laugh over that & told me to make my own quilt! She said she chose the colors because “that’s how Madison (WI) looks on Oct. 18th”. So, thanks to her urging, I have another wall quilt to remember her by.
I had a file for Doreen, from when she came for our local group. Who else would have made a quilt commemorating “Screaming Yellow Zonkers” or “Taco Salad”….and named them that? Or nicknamed a quilt after the “boxer shorts fabric” she used in it? Who else ever thought to name her templates (“Peaky” and “Spike”) or write a book about their escapades? (“Travels with Peaky and Spike”, due out from AQS Publications this October).
Doreen was featured in numerous issues in quilt magazines over the years, one of my favorites was Ladies Circle Patchwork Quilts, Nov. 1986 issue, which had an article by Doreen “The Origin of Peaky and Spike” and also a ‘fairy tale’ that Doreen wrote about the Sievers School of Fiber Arts on Washinton Island in Lake Michigan, where Doreen taught. 10 of Doreen’s early quilts were shown in “The Meeting Place” column in Quilter’s Newsletter, Sept. 1985. She was the “Feature Teacher” in the April 1990 Traditional Quilter magazine, with photos of more of her quilts.
Doreen was involved with the making of the Legacy Quilt for the play “Quilters” when it was produced in Madison. Her description of trying to put the binding on “the quilt that ate Madison” from her favorite chair, confined to the living room by the mammoth size of the quilt, had us laughing so hard we cried. But she was a caring and concerned teacher, too….she even sent me fabric from a shirt she had cut out “but wouldn’t ever get made”…because I was lusting after that print in a quilt she showed!!
That made her special in my eyes, and I will cherish it even more now!! And I sent her “cow” fabric back, of course 🙂
Hope my shared memories will spark some of your own, and if you didn’t have the chance to meet her, you will still have the opportunity to be touched by her unique gifts through the legacy she leaves behind.
Karan Flanscha ….Iowa
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 22:11:37 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
Karan,
Thank you for sharing your memories of Doreen Speckmann. After reading your post I regret I never had the opportunity to meet her. For those who knew her, posting your memories seems to me a wonderful way to honor her and to add to our “captured” history on such an important quilter’s life at the same time.
Lynn, thank you for keeping us up to date on the debacle in North Carolina. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help with your efforts in helping the quilters. I would be happy to make a contribution towards any conservation supplies, etc.
Karen Alexander
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 05:47:53 -0400 | From: “Diane McGuire” <dianemcg@>
Hi, QHL members,
Have you seen the October 1999 issue of Country Living? Make sure you read the article on page 74 “The Golden Thimble.” I wanted to e-mail the magazine to find out if the story is true, but couldn’t find an address. In any case, it is a wonderful story. I was crying by the end, but then I cried during the “cotton, the fabric of your life” commercials.
Diane in Massachusetts
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 07:09:39 EDT | From: Tubeywooby@
In a message dated 9/19/99 8:56:04 PM, QHL-Digest-request@ writes: << Hope my shared memories will spark some of your own >> yes, they did… Doreen spoke at our guild about Peaky and Spike and I enjoyed the whole process. I vowed to take one of her cruises one day, knowing it would be loads of fun. Hadn’t gotten to it yet. I guess it goes to show you- take an opportunity when it knocks.
May she be in quilters heaven with trillions of bolts and Berninas and no basting : )
Melissa of CrazyFolk
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 1999 03:37:26 -0300 | From: susan silva <woody@>
Greetings quilters!
Took a wonderful class yesterday with Kaye England and had a marvelous time. She is going to Seattle after Spokane and just wanted to say that if anyone has an opportunity to take one of her classes …DO IT. Learned an awesome technique from her plus how to use one of my rulers, and laughed alot in the process. Her new fabric line is marvelous and coupled with her “history” lessons made for a great time. I do have one other question to ask QHL’rs. I love to read your posts but I always wonder where people live. Would it be possible to just give your state or town? That way if I ever visit that area, you would be the person I’d email for the quilt scoop. Thanks
Susan Silva in Sunny Spokane
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:01:52 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
Hi all;
Do any of you have a good way to remove and save the feathers from an old feather tick. I would like to save both the ticking and the feathers but don’t want the feathers to go flying in all directions. Any suggestions will be appreciated,
Thanks,
Darwin
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:58:09 -0500 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller@>
Lois asked about the Dead Quilt Society. She’s making a copy of an unusual antique quilt that disintegrating for her daughter, who loves the quilt.
Lois, you certainly qualify for The Dead Quilt Society. I wasn’t present when DQS came together, but we’re clone quilts beyond restoration as a way of preserving the designs. We also declare quilts beyond restoration to be dead, use them as organ donors and resurrect ones that are restorable.
Marta Adair found a couple of quilts that despite their damage, ‘spoke’ to her. At the 1997 Quilt Restoration Conference in Omaha, there was a Rescue Squad Work Day to triage quilts, to discuss what might be done to save some and to salvage fabric from ‘donors’. Conference participants were encouraged to restore donated quilts to be auctioned to raise money for the Quilt Heritage Foundation scholarship fund. At that conference, Bets Ramsey showed a pieced 1840’s medallion feathered star quilt top with many deteriorating fabrics and a terminal case of bad geometry. This quilt was the first one cloned. I took measurements and sketches of the quilt, spent a bazillion hours discovering what the quiltmaker didn’t know about math and precision, learned a lot about Electric Quilt and finally got a two-dimensional design. Jennifer Perkins used my pattern to make her clone and find my mistakes. Jennifer’s quilt is now finished and is spectacular! The Dead Quilt Society is part of the Quilt Heritage Foundation, along with the Quilt Restoration Conference and the Crazy Quilt Society. Our plan is to have commercial patterns available by the end of 2000, with sales from the patterns going to the Foundation. Currently, there are two applique quilts and four pieced ones in the works. We need clones to be made for photographs for the commercial patterns. Marta has the pattern and fabric for the first applique quilt, the Kossuth Feather and is looking for people to a applique sections of the quilt. This clone will be used as a fund raiser.
Other clones will remain the property of the maker and the maker chooses the fabrics, techniques, etc. for her/his quilt. Some of the quilts are good candidates for making in minature or as smaller quilts. I’ve got measurements and diagrams for three pieced designs, which I’m working on getting to those who attended the DQS last week and who want to make clones. If you’re interested in making clones of the pieced quilts, contact me.
We’ve also talked about a traveling exhibit of the dead quilts and their clones, and establishing a membership and quarterly newsletter with patterns for the Dead Quilt Society, similar to the Crazy Quilt Society. You can see a very short movie from the DQS meeting in Omaha last week at www.quiltrestoration.com
Mary Waller, Vermillion, South Dakota
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 11:19:01 -0700 | From: Denise Clausen <nadyne@>
Patterns for an Oregon Quilt
The Latimer Quilt and Textile Center is pleased to announce the availability of Patterns for an Oregon Quilt, the first in a series of publications featuring pieced blocks and applique patterns. This 60 page book showcases 34 historic and original patterns that celebrate Oregon, its beauty and its challenge.
Professionally produced, this first publication features patterns collected and many designed by Eula M. Long, one of the founders of the Capitol Quilters in Salem. Eula collected patterns highlighting Oregon or the West, borrowing several from the popular Nancy Cabot newspaper columns of the 1930s. Eula’s original book was published in 1979. The Capitol Quilters chose this collection as their first project, creating a lovely quilt in shades of green. In recent years, the group agreed that the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center, with its emphasis on preserving and promoting textile arts, would make the ideal permanent home for their work of art. It is periodically on display in the Quilting Room
Subsequently, Eula donated Patterns for an Oregon Quilt, with copyright, to the Latimer Center, with permission to reprint in the future. The Latimer Center has now revised and reprinted the book and has copies available for $16.00 to its visitors. The Center is also wholesaling the books to retail quilt shops, museum gift shops and other retail outlets for $8.00. The book features a coil binding, allowing it to lay flat for convenience. All patterns have been tested for accuracy. All proceeds go to the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center., which is a non-profit organization and regional resource center for the textile arts with a climate controlled storage facility, research library and exhibit space.
If interested, please call Denise Clausen at 503-842-8622, Email latimertextile/oregoncoast.com, or visit at 2105 Wilson River Loop Road, Tillamook, OR, 97141.
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 15:42:49 EDT | From: Baglady111@
I realized a small error I made in my post yesterday about Doreen….her new book ‘Travels with Peaky and Spike‘ is being published by C & T Publishing, not AQS, as I wrote (I just have it on order from AQS and saw it in their catalog).
I got out her first book last night, (Pattern Play copyright 1993, C & T
Pub) and it was fun & sad at the same time, looking through the book at her quilts & reading Doreen’s words….she definitely had a unique way of “turning a phrase” and I could just hear her saying these things from classes & lectures. Just the introduction will have you chuckling…and yet, she had a wonderfully practical approach to quiltmaking, too!
If you didn’t have an opportunity to meet Doreen, her books are the next best thing.
Karan
Iowa
