December 3 – 8, 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:
- Was Seersucker Around During the Civil War? — A researcher confirms via a textile history reference that seersucker fabric predates the 1860s by centuries. (see the article on a Civil War quilt)
- A Difficult Question: How to Respond to a Friend’s Import Quilt — Continuing the import-quilt debate, members discuss the etiquette of telling (or not telling) a non-quilter friend that her treasured quilt is a modern import.
- Tips for Interviewing Family Members About Quilt History — Practical oral-history advice and a genealogy website link help a member plan taped interviews with an aging relative.
- What Belongs on a Quilt Documentation Label — Detailed guidance on writing a permanent maker/date/ownership label, plus an alternate labeling method using freezer paper and a light box.
- The Gazebo Quilt Company’s Haiti-Made Imports — A former insider shares the backstory of how the Gazebo chain’s quilts came to be produced in Haiti, alongside other high-end “import” quilt lines.
- Weighing In Again on Imported and Machine-Made Quilts — The import-quilt debate continues, touching on labor conditions overseas, buyers’ motivations, and whether reproduction quilts deserve the same respect as antiques.
- Unexpected Admiration for Quilting from TV Crews — Two quilters share stories of camera and production crew members expressing genuine awe at the skill involved in quiltmaking.
- A DIY Light Box from a Recycled Refrigerator Shelf — A frugal, quilter-friendly tip for building a light box out of salvaged appliance parts.
- Appraisal Questions: An Old Quilt with Water Damage and a Historic Frame — A member asks for help assessing a century-old quilt showing water damage, plus an even older quilting frame she was given. (see the article on quilt appraisers)
- The Camaraderie and Hidden Talents of QHL Members — Members reflect on the surprising range of careers and life experience represented on the list, and the friendships formed at the QHL conference.
Date: Fri, 03 Dec 1999 21:18:17 -0600 | From: Karen Bush <Birdsong@
> . AAAACHHHHh…I’ve seen that too Alan..NOT a red and green,(I’d still be
sobbing) but, ones they “call” cutters and make the teddy bears out of them. Now, I have NOTHING against that! I’ve done it myself, but, I’ve seen ones that just need a little TLC and they’d be great…NOT cut up…ugh…. I have to admit my own MOTHER owns a import, RIGHT there on her bed! BUT….she ‘asked’ me first, after she’d had it for about a month and Hidden it from me! hahaha….she wanted one just to ‘go with’ her bedroom, and it does. Looks nice, as long as she never tries to wash it, or expect to keep it around too long. She has several that I’ve made her and displays them proudly. She knows the difference, just saw this one and had the $35 that it would take to ‘finish’ that bedroom. Having said that….I SURE hope she doesn’t leave THAT one to me!!!
She did mention putting names on things around the house for ‘whenever’….I’ll make sure my BROTHER gets that one! hahaha..kb I saw the remnants of one a couple of days ago
> – c. 1870 red/green appliqui, machine stitched BTW, heavily quilted, and ROUND. Only thing I can figure is it was a table cloth recently. Sad.
> Alan
—
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 20:28:53 -0800 | From: “mfm” <treetop@
Dear Debi,
With regards to your question if seersucker was around during the Civil War? I dashed downstairs to check “Textiles in America” ((my next husband is going to be that guy on the cover)) by Florence Montgomery. And with no surprise, I found her reference on page 343. “An Indian striped fabric of mixed silk and cotton exported to England from the end of the seventeenth century. The name is a corruption of the Persian ‘sir-o-shakhor’ meaning `milk and water`…Three pairs of seersucker window curtains were owned by Wm Trent of NJ in 1726. The ripples are forned by eaving the the cotton warps in looser tension than the silk. Montgomery further references the article “Early Seersucker,” by Hazel E. Cummin,in the magazine ANTIQUES #38, 1940 pages 231-232. Sooooo, seersucker is early enough for the Civil War. Now if it was available, maybe someone else on the list will know that. Also, perhaps there was a better, cheeper or more readily available fabric for a Southern or Northern woman.
And that’s all I know,
Molly
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 01:25:51 -0500 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow@>
>I would like to gather accurate information about these textiles but don’t know the proper questions to ask after “Who made this? When did she make
it?
Ruth,
Go to your library and search for a book on oral history. Then get a tape recorder and microphone, and for half an hour a day sit with him while he talks. Make a list of the questions, and start with the obvious ones — Name, birthdate, name of parents, where and when they were born, etc. Then ask simple questions about his young life. Where did he go to school?
What kind of a school was it. You will find that he will anticipate your next question and will just start reminiscing and filling up your tapes. If he goes off on a tangent and strays off the topic, let him. You never know when what he wants to talk about will be much more interesting than your prepared question. Try not to comment on what he is talking about, but ask short questions to lead him into more depth on the topic of the moment. Make sure you take a photo of him at your first taping session. I’ve done 6 oral histories of the old folk in our rural community for our historic society. Getting the tape made is the easy part. The hard part is getting them transcribed. It will take more than 8 hours to transcribe a 45 minute tape — unless you are a court reporter. We’ve been trying to get grants to pay to have it done, but private folk can’t do that. Doing the histories is extrememly enjoyable. Even the subjects who seem reticent at first really warm to the project.
I’ve also got tapes from my mother, and my mother-in-law. They are really wonderful!
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 04:47:59 -0500 | From: Lynn and Debbie Cupp <lcupp@>
This is genealogy site, but many of the questions are valid. http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/oralhist.htm
Debbie Cupp
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 10:03:34 -0000 | From: “Sally Ward” <sward@>
‘Imports’ (for want of a better name), and how we see them, really are a puzzling question. Especially here in the UK where the ‘real thing’ is not available to us anyway.
Recently I visited the house of a lady who is an avid collector of ‘things’.
I was there to see her quilts, but first had to look at eggcups, dolls, books, buttons, shop fittings…and much more. When, finally, she opened her quilt chest she produced all sorts of wonders. She doesn’t know anything about quilts, just bought what she liked (or was cheap) over her years and years of attending flea markets, sales, car boots. I saw antique strippy quilts, hexagons, log cabin, wholecloths – some wonderful some not so great, but they all ‘spoke’ to this lady in some way or another. We looked through them all, and then she said ‘But I’ve saved the best till last…its upstairs on my bed’. And there it was….a cheap labour import, badly made, fabrics I recognised as ‘rip-offs’, but a design and colours which fitted perfectly in that room and with that lady’s style. My heart sank and I found it hard to muster the enthusiasm she was looking for, although I did my best <G>.
I didn’t know then, and still don’t, whether I should have explained about that quilt, tried to ‘educate’ her, probably spoiled her enjoyment of it and maybe even risked our friendship. She collects things which ‘speak’ to her, and that quilt did. Many of the others in her collection will have been made under possibly as arduous conditions, and some have been bought along the way by people who doubtless took advantage of the maker/.previous owner. So what criteria should we really use to judge a quilt? No doubt this is something like heresy on a list such as this. Please don’t excommunicate me <G>…I’m just thinking out loud.
Sally W
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 12:05:46 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Oh, and dont forget to make a documentation label for the back of the quilt as well as the coverlet. I have had too many clients over the years that “used to have a little piece of paper in the table by the sofa that told exactly who made it and when. But we lost it some time ago so I’m just guessing…”
And worse yet, the stories of two quilts get switched….bringing me what they thought was the prized family heirloom hidden during the civil war only turning out to be a 1920’s dwr! You can iron a piece of muslin on to freezer paper and use pigma pens. There has been discussion here in the past about running the fp and muslin through your printer. I do this quite often, particularly when I have lots of information to convey. Just be sure to really clean the ink cartridge after you are though.
The label should have the basic journalism information….WHAT (C1890’s Feathered Star Quilt – 98″x98″)WHO (made by Mary Elizabeth Smith Epperson) Born January 14, 1880- Wise County Texas, died at the age of 102 April 11, 1982…. WHEN (the circa date will suffice for this as well, unless you’ve got definative information…wonderful if it’s signed and dated or ….for her 16th birthday, wedding) which also answers the WHY…. currently owned by her gg grandaughter…..on this date December 4, 1999…. I have had clients that have given me a complete tracing of every person in the family that has owned the quilt and who the next recepient is to be. When I compile this information for a client, one that might not be a “real quilt lover” or when it is being readied to pass on to a younger family member I also include a short list of basic care instructions…..do not send to the cleaners, do not wash in the washing machine, do not dry in the dryer…for further cleaning and repairs contact….and I list my business phone. For security reasons also, listing the business for contact keeps the quilt owners information to a minimum. I also make sure that they know that most of the time these lables are not colorfast and add “Remove this label before cleaning. Reattach upon completion”.
Loosly whipstitch the label onto the back of your quilt. That way the information that you’ve worked so hard to get wont be lost or confused.
Hope this helps.
Laura
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 12:47:47 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Pepper, You are right about the place of origin for the gazebo quilts. MANY years ago we had a Gazebo store here in Dallas at Northpark Mall (the quilt store was located between Neimans and Lord & Taylor <G>) I was very new in the business back then and in my niavity asked where the quilts were made (thinking that they might be from Appalachia, Ohio Amish, Tennessee even?) and was told that they came from a cottage industry in Haiti and Jamica (this store manager thought that this was a very *good thing*)…..I also met some people in St. Kitts in the mid 80’s that were using the hand made batiks to make quilts to send to “the States” They loved being able to export them to New York!
Laura
At 08:52 AM 12/03/1999 -0500, pepper cory wrote:
>On the subject of Gazebo quilts-didn’t I hear someplace that these quilts, plus those from Judi Boisson (respected antiques dealer who branched out into better-made but still imported new quilts) were made in Haiti? Cheap ‘Far East’ indeed! How about ‘Made in the Caribbean and Still Not Paying Workers Very Much’ as a better label?
>Pepper Cory
Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 21:42:51 -0500 (EST) | From: JOCELYNM@
On 4-DEC-1999 09:45:16.6 sward said to JOCELYNM
> I didn’t know then, and still don’t, whether I should have explained about that quilt, tried to ‘educate’ her, probably spoiled her enjoyment of it and maybe even risked our friendship. She collects things which ‘speak’ to her, and that quilt did. Many of the others
Sally,
I think I would have mentioned to her that while the quilt perfectly set off her room and matched her design style, it was of modern creation, and that some of the other quilts were antiques, and thus had value to other folks, too. <G>
I admit, I would be very hissed off if someone criticized something I’d collected- but I can accept that some of the things I value are valuable to just about anyone, and some are valuable only to people who share my tastes.
For example, I’ve bought a fair number of quilt tops via the Internet, from Kris and from the eBay, that I’ve had delivered to my office. So my office mates have seen them, and commented on them. I’ve noticed that if I buy a 1930s or 1940s top, nearly everyone comments on how pretty it is. But the 19th century top? The comment it got was ‘And you LIKE this sort of thing?’ <BG> It’s an unusual design and color combination, and it took me several months to get my nerve up to actually order it from Kris. <G> Actually, I think it took me several months of studying 19th century quilts to develop my ‘eye’ for them. At any rate, I think there are a lot of people out there like my friends, who think of 1930s quilts as the quintessential quilt, and other eras are seen as less desireable- and it’s a fine thing to do to tell them, ‘To a quilt historian, that ugly red and green one is more valuable than the pink and blue one’. There are all sorts of uses for quilts, and they don’t have to be held to the same standards all the time. Sometimes, a modern color combo, that you don’t have to worry about protecting and preserving, might be exactly what you want!
Jocelyn
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 21:51:51 -0500 | From: “calico” <calico@>
Just an note about the new quilts—I have gone to one of the wholesalers in my area and they have carried them for years.—But did you know that alot of these are done in china by the people in prision????—they have no choice it’s either do them or else. And there is no pay. Plus they if they are in an factory are living and working in an room about the size of 20×20. The wholesaler has pictures of them doing this. And I’m glad that I can do my quilts on my own, and not have them forced on me. debi(stonehause)
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 22:30:07 -0400 | From: edwa@
May I add some trivia to this.
About 4-5 years ago, Sharon and Robert Lomonoco bout the Gazebo Chain. (at least it is my impression that they purchased the chain). They immediately closed some or all of the stores except the NYC store. Sharon had owned a quilt shop in Anniston Alabama for some years. Robert owned a woven tape company in Anniston. I met Sharon at quilt market one year and was on a 13 week quilting tv show she filmed for the local Cable Networks in Alabama. Yes, the quilts are made in a “quilt factory” in Hati. When they first bought the store, Sharon made regular trips to Hati working with the quilters to standardize and improve the quality of the quilts and other quilted items made there. US fabric was sent to the factory and she worked on designs for them. Other ornamental items are also made in Hati which are sold by The Gazebo – specifically the Gladys Bolt Fairy Tale ornaments. There is one crib quilt design that they keep always in stock because Marlo Thomas buys it for all her friends who are expecting. A quilt that I had some direct involvment with is the Victorian Crazy Patch that was in Neimen Marcus catalog about 3 yrs ago. This quilt was originally designed for a western clothing company in Dallas who wanted a way to use up their scraps from western wear. The fabric is satin, velvet, etc. I was surprised when i found out what Neimen’s was charging for the quilt (I believe about $1800) but I could be wrong. It was done in Hati because the cost in the US was far above what the clothing company wanted to pay. They wanted to pay about $60 for a double bed size quilt. I’m not sure how it ever got from a $60 cost to sell for $1800. Guess that’s business. I was told they sold several dozen of them thru Neimen’s catalog. The last time I saw Sharon, she was at the Quilter’s Heritage show in Lancaster PA. She was there to make some local contact for quilts to sell in the shop and did purchase some, which I later saw in the shop. However, I understand that the bulk of their quilts are made in Hati. The quality is certainly far superior to those made in the orient.
Speaking of quilts made in the orient. A local friend of mine has a wonderful applique quilt made in China. Probably dates from the 30’s or 40’s (definitely pre-war). Workmanship is very good. White background with blue applique.
Holice Turnbow
Designer, Teacher, Quilt Judge
http://www.quiltingstencils.com
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 23:02:38 -0500 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow@
Laura,
I almost do my labels as you do, but I don’t have to have mine removed before washing.
I print my label on paper in any one of a number of fonts that look like handwriting or hand printing, iron freezer paper to my label material, pin that to the printed paper, and use a Pigma pen to trace the lettering onto the muslin. I have a lightbox, which makes the tracing very easy. Then I wait a day or so, iron to set, and the lettering is forever permanent. Yes, it takes a bit longer, but I think it is worth it. I like the way it looks, too. People think I have a pretty nice handwriting, and who am I to disabuse them of their beliefs.
.Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 23:07:42 EST | From: Quilt97@
Hi Sally,
I think what you did, and didn’t do, was the kind thing, the nice thing. While I hate to see poorly crafted imports flood the American market; it angers me to see the lower portion of the label cut off–the part that says “made in . . .”
But . . . I bought a blue and white Log Cabin import (made in China) and use it on our bed. Bought it shortly after moving to this house, it fits our bedroom nicely. After 6 years, it has held up well through the washing, but is now beginning to show some tiny little holes . . . but most likely from the nails of our toy fox terrier who is allowed on the bed. I didn’t know any better at the time of purchase — one year before taking a beginning quilt class. Between the time of purchase and my learning a bit about quilts, my feelings would have been dreadfully hurt to be told I’d done
“such a terrible thing.”
Especially since I could not have afforded to buy
“the real thing.” And now I own a depression era (1930’s) quilt in good condition and don’t want to use it on the bed . . . oh well, I have finally begun collecting fabrics to make a bedquilt for husband and me — instead of for grandchildren, friends, etc., etc., etc.
You have my vote — I think you handled the situation well.
Elisabeth in south TX
<< I didn’t know then, and still don’t, whether I should have explained about that quilt, tried to ‘educate’ her, probably spoiled her enjoyment of it and maybe even risked our friendship. She collects things which ‘speak’ to her, and that quilt did. Many of the others in her collection will have been made under possibly as arduous conditions, and some have been bought along the way by people who doubtless took advantage of the maker/.previous owner. So what criteria should we really use to judge a quilt? No doubt this is something like heresy on a list such as this. Please don’t excommunicate me <G>…I’m just thinking out loud.>>
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 12:43:34 EST | From: JQuilt@
So often we hear and read so much about the commercialization of holidays…and it is true, that corporations do exploit and commercialize holidays…most people just celebrate them.
Many times, a birthday or holiday card has reminded some member of a family that someone still remembers/cares… many times a birthday or holiday phone call has started the process of re-uniteing family members that haven’t been in touch for years…
I really believe that holidays were started to bring “tribes” together..
and, in the coming together,the remembrance of what connections remain important…
I’m not saying that every card is magical…but I do know that in the relationships that I have continued to send cards of remembrance, even though the relationship has diminished, there is still the connection….and the relationships where I have ceased sending cards, have fallen by the wayside…
So often you’ll hear some adult child, of an estranged parent, say, “He/she never even sent me a birthday card.”
I know many senior citizens, that open and stand up all of the cards, he/she receives for a birthday or holiday, on top of a table or tv …and displays them like medals or trophies of people that remember and care. Please, set cynicism aside, and send a card or call someone you shared part of your life with, maybe long ago.
Happy Holidays to all jean laino amherst, mass
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 11:28:07 -0800 | From: “mfm” <treetop@
I was just checking the programing for Martha Stewart on TV. MS will be a guest at Rabbit Goody’s Thistle Hill Weavers studio on Wednesday, December 8th. Check your local listing. If you happen to miss the big event, after Wednesday morning, go to marthastewart.com ~ take the leads to “television” ~ click the calendar box for Dec 8th ~ scroll then click at Rabbit’s name. You’ll get the highlights and a picture. 20 happy hunting, molly
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 09:04:04 -0500 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@
Sally,
I also consider both of your examples as knife-edge. Grandma/great grandma both used the style where you folded the edges in, the stitched a running stitch along the edge, stitching two rows. I haven’t done it yet, but I’ve always liked the look.
Alan
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 00:05:10 EST | From: EllynLK@
Just a funny tale here….
I work in TV production in Los Angeles (teleprompter operator). As TV is very much a “hurry up and wait!” medium, I often take stuff to do at work…
and currently, that “stuff” means a baggie of cut fabrics to hand piece into blocks for a quilt for my mom. Over the past eight years, I have pieced, quilted or knitted on nearly every stage or theater in Hollywood and beyond!
I was working at NBC on Thursday on a (dopey) pilot… was busily stitching away. A fellow I had never met stopped to see what I was doing. He was gingerly reaching out to touch the fabrics, wanted to know how you made a quilt and so on.
A stocky camera guy walked by and stopped. “Oh, man, are you PIECING A QUILT?” he asked eagerly.
I was surprised– the right terminology and everything! I told him I was. The cameraman turned to the utility guy. “I’m tellin’ ya, this is an ART FORM. I have NOTHING BUT RESPECT for people who do this sort of thing!” He was rather– passionate. I asked him if he knew someone who quilts. “No,” he said. “I work on that show on HGTV, you know, the quilt one.
Man, to watch those women just go at it and put those things together– it’s amazing. Just amazing. I mean, it’s artistry. You gotta really know what you’re doing.”
I asked him just what struck him so strongly. He said it was the doing of it. “And I never paid any attention to stuff like that, quilts, fabric, you know. But after seeing what they do on that show, I have a whole different outlook. You gotta know that for a guy like me– ” I took this to mean he thought of himself as rather macho. “– to be impressed with quilts, well, that really MEANS something. It’s a lotta work and it’s art.” He gave the utility guy a sturdy nod and walked away.
I just got the biggest kick out of that!
(and for my own curiosity, I asked him how many episodes of “Simply Quilts” they do in a day–on most “strip” shows, those that run daily, several episodes are shot in a day– before we were cancelled at “Dream Maker,” we did two; today I was on “Leeza” and we do three– and he said they do five SQ in a day, takes about ten hours. It’s a long day.
But he loves the quilts!
Lauri Klobas
Pacific Palisades, California
P.S. Thanks to all who responded to my weaving question. There are a LOT of weavers on this list!
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 05:36:35 -0500 | From: “Diane McGuire” <dianemcg@
Hi, QHLers,
Just sharing my easy and cheap light box. In the true sprit of quilting I am always looking for ways to reuse things. When I my old refrigerator died, I saved some of the shelves for drying racks and the bottom frosted glass shelf for a light box. I pull my dining room table apart and instead of putting in the leaf I put the shelf across the opening and put a lamp underneath. I can tape a lined paper underneath and then tape the piece of fabric over that. It was plenty big enough for a friend to use for a quote from Shakespeare in the center of an 18″ wreath of flowers for a wall hanging. If you don’t have an old ‘frig, call your local appliance store, they probably would be glad to give an old shelf to you rather than the recycling center.
Happy quilting.
Diane in Southeastern Massachusetts where we are enjoying a very mild December so far.
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 06:23:38 -0500 | From: Debby Kratovil <kratovil@
As a serious quilter for 15 years and just am amateaur quilt historian, I must admit that I bought one of these Chinese bed quilts last week. Why? Because it was king sized (my bed size), was in the colors of my newly decorated bedroom (after 20 years), was applique and was on sale for $60. I had been working up the energy to make a mammoth bed quilt, applique, for this bed. My husband was with me and his question was, “Do you need it?” I said, “of course I don’t NEED it. I don’t buy/make quilts because I need them. I want it. I collect quilts. I love quilts. And I will love this quilt.”
I have mixed feelings about these quilts. I have well over 100 quilts in my home, all made by me, with the exception of a few 1930’s quilt tops rescued from a junk shop which I finished so I could enjoy them as they were intended. Sure, the quality is below that of what I could have done. But the quilt called out my name, I bought it, and this is America where the First Amendment still reigns: freedom of expression! We all are horrified about the labor conditions in countries like China, but I have a Chinese friend who now lives here in the DC area and he travels back and forth to China creating trade opportunities. He has told of how crafts such as these knock-off quilts create jobs for women who otherwise have no other source of income. We are horrified at the wages, but remember, those wages are not being spent here in America. They are buying things in China. I will not enter into any conversation about this political/economic/WTO-type word-wrangling. It doesn’t belong on this list. But suffice it to say, I really like this quilt and saw it as an alien wanting a home where it would be loved and appreciated. It certainly isn’t one of my natural born quilts, but it sure is welcome in my home! It comes from the hands of some woman somewhere, and just because those hands are Chinese, doesn’t make it unworthy. And I will tell anyone who admires it that it’s not an American quilt, but it’s a quilt by anyone’s standard. Have a happy day loving all your quilts! Debby
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 06:27:27 -0500 | From: PICKETTBW@ (
have some questions about quilts that maybe you can help me with. have a quilt that I am positive that is over 100 years old. I started quilting about 25 years ago. I left it on the frame, and now I see water damage on the ends on top.
I haven’t unrolled it because I’m not sure I want to see how it is is underneath.
Please email me if you can help me or know someone who can. Also, I have a quilting frame that is over 150 years old. A hundred year old woman gave it to me 30 years ago. I just want to know the value of this frame.
Thank you,
Bonnie
PICKETTBW@
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 14:30:56 EST | From: Bethquilt5@
I went to NYC last spring and went to the Gazebo store. The store is just a small boutique. The quilts were rather ordinary. I have their catalogue and let’s put it this way, they have a great photographer and graphic designer. It was easy for an experienced quilter to recognize the mass production qualities of these quilts. The quality of stitching and workmanship were indeed a cut about what the Asian imports are, but they are definitely the works of designers and not quilters. The fabrics were too safe, the variety of fabrics too shallow and the colors were overmatched. Don’t get me wrong, they were nice quilts, sold at a fair price (no $39.99 specials), but they miss the individual style and flair of a quilter’s quilt. Last summer I went to a small town on the Mississippi, (Stockholm, Wisconsin,
I think) and they had the most beautiful Amish made quilts I have yet seen. They were made for the marketplace, so they weren’t all traditional solid fabrics, but everything about these quilts were beautifully done. There were also a few that were made in Amish colors and styles. They’re prices were in the $600-$1200 range and I would recommend them to anyone who wants a great quilt and isn’t lucky enough to have a quilter in their family!
Beth Donaldson
Lansing, Michigan
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 16:09:14 -0500 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
I can confirm Laurie’s story. The folks at Simply Quilts bust their you-know-what’s when they’re filming. I’ve got nothing but admiration for Alex Anderson! I’ve seen her work a solid 14 hour day, and then stay another hour to tape voice-overs. She’s a pro who makes it look spontaneous when the whole show is highly scripted and planned.
It’s lovely that the TV crew guy recognized your work Laurie! Here’s another funny story—it happened while on an oversold flight going into Chicago when I had less than 30 minutes to catch the last connection back home. I sat next to a man who looked at my piecing, we talked, he said, “You’re the person who wrote that big purple book!” (that was the original Quilting Designs from the Amish-) “My wife loves that book!” I autographed a napkin for his wife and then understanding my predicament, he and his friends formed a flying wedge and put me in the center as we rushed off the airplane and into the terminal. They were NBC sports cameramen returning from filming a football game someplace! An unlikely but welcome reward for quilting fame! Macho guys do too love quilts and aren’t we grateful!
Pepper Cory
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 21:33:52 -0000 | From: “Jenni Dobson” <jenni@
– and I want just to add that I too have often used Pigma pens for labelling quilts. They don’t come with ‘fixing instructions’ but like Judy, I believed that if ‘cured’ and ironed they would be fast. So I just want to say that the label better include a note that the quilt must be washed in a ‘colour-safe’ product! I borrowed my grand-daughter’s quilt back for an exhibition and was dismayed at how the Pigma writing had faded – especially by comparison with the photo transfer next to it. I re-inked all the writing (it included three columns of names of quilters who’d contributed rabbit prints to the quilt!) & returned it with (I hope) a tactful word to my D-in-law please to use a colour-safe washing product instead of the regular stuff!
But since the photo transfer still looked like I remembered – perhaps that’s the answer? Make labels on your computer & have the photo transfered to fabric? Have done this on a couple of more recent items but as yet have conducted no ‘wear trials’.
Jenni D in chilly UK.
Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 19:13:17 -0500 | From: “Kris Driessen, Hickory Hill Quilts” <oldquilt@>
I am sure those of you that surf Ebay have seen this quilt top: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=214640477 but I bet you didn’t realize it was made by one of our members! Karen Bush is a very talented lady, she is the author of one of our more popular books, “Quilt as Desired.” Now I realize she is a wonderful applique artist as well. My mommy heart swells:-))
I wrote to Rabbit asking her about Martha Stewart and this is her answer: “Weds 9 am on CBS. When you see what else I am paired with the next day and the day before you’ll practically barf. Pass it on. Seriously I am almost embarrassed but they do a link to my web page. And after all that they called the carpet a rug”
VCR alert!
Kris
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 11:04:16 +0200 | From: Ady Hirsch <adamroni@
I’d like to thank Judy for the reference to “The Ultmate Quilt Book” – having seen her post, I ordered it from the UK and it’s great. More than 200 pages of great antique quilts, some wel known, others less so. The teaching part is pretty basic, but it’s a great addition to any library.
Thanks again, Judy
Ady in Israel
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 08:52:58 EST | From: CToczek@
I so enjoyed Lauri’s and Pepper’s stories of chance meetings with quilt lovers…and something else struck me…..have any of you stopped to wonder at the wealth of experience represented on this list? Yes, we’re all quilt lovers/historians/collectors and many of you are authors or experts with credentials, but I also refer to our “other” lives, like Lauri’s teleprompting in L.A.
Behind our quilting I guess we probably represent an interesting slice of society, wouldn’t you say?
Carla Toczek
West Point, NY
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 10:12:10 EST | From: QuiltFixer@
In a message dated 12/7/99 5:53:50 AM Pacific Standard Time, CToczek@ writes:
<< Yes, we’re all quilt lovers/historians/collectors and many of you are authors or experts with credentials, but I also refer to our “other” lives, like Lauri’s teleprompting in L.A.
Behind our quilting I guess we probably represent an interesting slice of society, wouldn’t you say?
One of the nicest benefit from attending the QHL Conference was meeting the people behind the screen names! Yes, we are a very varied group and some of the additional talents and backgrounds are fascinating and very rewarding. I, for one, cannot say enough nice things about all the knowledge and friendships I have gained from this list. It’s a very special part of my life. Thanks everyone!
Toni Baumgard
QuiltFixer@
The Redwork Lady redworkldy@
www.redworklady.com
Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 10:55:36 EST | From: Palampore@
Yesterday I visited my neighbor and his cousin from Conn. was there. He said that he understood that I was involved with quilts. He said that his daughter is also. He said that she works for a large company who has quilts made in China. She is their quilt designer. I held my tongue and didn’t say that she does a very controversial thing and that a Quilt History List is questioning her business daily. There was no point. This a proud father who sees his daughter designing lovely quilts.
I guess this will make me see the quilts in a different light also for I now know that they also help support my neighbor’s distance cousin here in the US. It made me question some of my personal opinions. I guess my major beef is not with the US department stores who sell them for what they are–Made in Where Ever. It is with the people who try to pass them off as quilts made by grandmama on the farm in rural US. I don’t want to be flamed for this statement, so please just take it for food for thought and nothing more——Think of the lovely antique quilts we all treasure and love. Were the textiles in them always produced in the best of circumstances? I doubt they were. Think of the conditions of the mills in Lowell and other places. How about brown lung disease? Watch the movie “Norma Rae”. We have cleaned up things here a great deal but in the process manufacturers have run away from our country in order to offer consumers a “good deal” and to keep their fat pockets full. None of us can get real pious about this until we buy only products made in the US. Life continues to be a sociological wonder………..and a mystery to never be solved.
Now I am off to put together a slide show on the care and preservation of textiles. That’s much more fun than talking about import quilts.
Lynn Lancaster Gorges
Textile Conservator
New Bern, NC
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 1999 22:32:29 PST | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@>
You made some good comments. You know, I am reminded of how, in our own country, people decried the fact that women and children worked in the textile mills at the turn of the century. Still, they were being paid for work they had previously done for free on the farms, and laboring perhaps just as long, but in a different manner than before. And perhaps someday, these people may take the skills they have learned and become expert quilters, working in their own style and earning money for it. We cannot know now about this, but I do expect that quilting, even without much or any pay, is so much better than breaking rocks. Anne Copeland
Date: Wed, 08 Dec 1999 09:48:38 -0500 | From: “Ann N. Richardson” <pastcrafts@>
I think that we are making a mistake to equate the imported reproduction quilts with the real, home made 19th and early 20th century quilts that we all love, (despite the uneven nature of their quality.)
The imports share only the name “quilt”, due to the same basic construction techniques. They are in fact “consumer products”. There is absolutely nothing shameful or embarrassing in purchasing a household consumer product. The QHLer with the fox terrier who sleeps with her, me and my 3 cats who nest on my bed, and anyone with kids who get sick on the bed covers, all benefit from these imports that have visual appeal.
In the furniture business, there have been reproduction Chippendale style chairs ever since the original was first produced. They are not really reproductions but rather “continuations”. Good design is good design and is always being recycled. Isn’t that what makes some of the Amish quilts so difficult to date? The variable is in the quality and techniques used to make the object. I have seen exquisite Chippendale style chairs that were made in Wales the 1870’s. They were “continuations” not “reproductions”. The cabinet maker was 4th generation and was known large and wide for the work he did in that style. There was no intent to dupe the public. But they almost fooled an American dealer until instinct told him that there was something not quite “right” about them. We actually see it most in the US with Shaker style furniture.
People who know, can tell the difference. The construction techniques and materials differ from period to period even if the design remains constant.
So, too with textiles. There are many different qualities of consumer goods to choose from. Do unscrupulous, or just plain ignorant, dealers pass these off as “old”, of course. I can’t begin to count the number of c.1890’s Colonial Revial Chippendale chairs that I have seen in antique shops that were being passed off as 18th c. Do people get taken? Certainly, until they bring it to me, or anyone else with some knowledge, to be appraised!
Our jobs as historians is to reach out, spread the word, teach our fellow consumers the difference between the imports and reproductions and the “real” thing. I have no qualms engaging a dealer in a chat about an object that is mis identified. 90% of the time they are grateful for the knowledge. Lets face it, textiles are a very narrow specialty!
Lynn is right, of course. The working conditions in the mid-19th c. textile factories were not good, neither were the conditons of the lace makers and embroideresses in Scotland and Ireland, yet we do not apply the same standard of rightousness to their textiles, laces, & christening clothes that we seem to to those quilts currently produced in third world countries.
There will always be “shisters” and “dupes”. Lets just make it our mission to educate the dupes and unmask the shisters when ever possible! Lets face the mass appeal that creates the market for these low quality imports is the same force that gets Pepper recognised in the airport, gets Rabbit on Martha Stuart, and brings me loads of goodies to evaluate out of hiding in peoples’ attics! It is a double edged sword! Hope you’ve all done your Christmas shopping, HA!
Cheers,
Newbie Richardson, material cultures historian
Alexandria, Va.
Date: Wed, 08 Dec 1999 20:43:37 -0500 (EST) | From: JOCELYNM@
On 6-DEC-1999 16:18:16.9 pepcory said to JOCELYNM
>football game someplace! An unlikely but welcome reward for quilting fame! Macho guys do too love quilts and aren’t we grateful! Pepper Cory
Pepper,
Reminds me of a story I read in one of the state quilt documentation books.
The interview was with a cowboy, who was talking about how he admired his wife’s quilting, and how he even ‘helped out’ from time to time. He made it sound like he drafted patterns for her, a time-honored contribution of quilters’ menfolk. Then SHE was interviewed, and she told of how, during the long winters when he was cooped up indoors, he’d watched her…then shyly asked to try…and now he was piecing quilts himself. She concluded with, ‘But let someone drive up to the ranch, and he drops it like it was red-hot!’ <G>
Jocelyn
