June 25 – July 2, 2000
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:
- Historical Accuracy and Cultural Representation — A wide-ranging, sometimes pointed exchange over how enslaved and African-American quiltmakers’ contributions are documented and represented in quilt scholarship, sparked by a comment attributed to artist Faith Ringgold.
- Tobacco Premiums and Cigarette Flannels — Members trace the history of tobacco-company premium flannels and silks used as advertising inserts, and debate whether eBay listings make a reliable pricing guide.
- Copyright and Vintage Quilt Designs — News that a designer is being sued over a redwork pattern sketched from an antique quilt prompts a discussion of how copyright law applies to reproducing historic quilt designs.
- Quilt Documentation and Recordkeeping — Members compare book recommendations, including Beyond the Myths, the Uncoverings series, and Red & White, and discuss the SNAP/ACCESS cataloging software used by a museum textile collection.
- Quilt Shows, Exhibitions, and Documentaries — Reports and listings cover an Australian/New Zealand historic-quilt exhibition, a Roland Freeman photography show, regional quilt-show calendars, and a running list of quilt documentaries.
- Practical Quilt Care — Advice threads cover removing rust stains and safely washing a fragile 1940s hand-quilted applique quilt.
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 09:10:16 EDT | From: CToczek@
Any reviews on the AQSG book called Quiltmaking in America, Beyond the Myths? Edited by Laurel Horton and includes articles and research from the first 10 years of the AGSG journals. It’s listing for $35.00, both at Hickory Hill (Kris) and Amazon. For those of us who haven’t collected all the individual journals, does this book present a “best of the best” approach? How were the articles selected for this edition? Thanks for any input, Carla Toczek West Point, NY
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 09:16:44 -0400 | From: “Kris Driessen, Hickory Hill Quilts” <oldquilt@>
Given our recent discussion on foreign quilts, I thought y’all might find this bit of spam I received this morning amusing. I am tempted to write him back and ask him if he has a website. Kris >Delivered-To: oldquilt@ >Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 10:58:59 +0500 >From: Javed Ansari <jansari@> >Dear Sir, > >We are the Producers & Exporters of Hand Crafted Quilts based in >Pakistan. We have been Catering our Hand Crafted Quilts to Australia, UK >and USA Markets for the past 12 Years. >If your organization is involved in Hand Crafted Quilts or Want to >Explore the opportunity of Business please contact us for further >business details. >Please feel free to contact us for any queries or inquiries. > >Looking forward to your response. Thanks. > >Best Regards, > >Javed Ansari >Director >TechStyle Materials / Craftex >
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 10:47:07 EDT | From: Demsing@
Sorry every one for sending this out to the entire list, but it seems I’ve got the wrong e mail for Shelly Zegart and don’t know how else to get this to her. Just delete unless you are interested in the quilt video in which case, read on. Shelly, Just wanted to thank you for pointing me in the right direction. As per your suggestion, I contacted Appalshop and, indeed, they do have the video of QUILT ING WOMEN, which I have ordered. I discovered they also carry several videos of early American dance and Appalachian folk dances and, as I am the head of a college dance dept. in Phx. AZ, I will be ordering those for our library. I have been trying for some time to find films covering that area. Serendipity! Thanks again for your generous assistance. Lenna DeMarco Chandler, AZ
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 12:51:16 -0400 | From: Lesters <jeanntom@>
I have found most of those impossible to remove even practicing with really gone pieces and using some pretty strong methods. The rust spots are really pretty easily spotted (no pun intended) and removed with commercial rust removal products, but I would never use that unless the quilt was in good enough shape for a full immersion bath. I pulled out an old (7 year) project and found a totally unknown stain of one of the blocks. It looked just like the old “age” spots. I found nothing that would totally remove it. I can only assume that it was colorless when it got on there and just oxidized with age. Age being relative, of course. Jean
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 16:05:20 -0400 | From: “John Cawley” <cawley@>
Hi Cynthia, Before I bought the complete Uncoverings I was constantly borrowing this book from a friend. You should think of it as being one of those “BEST OF…” publications. It also has some color which Uncoverings does not. The articles are generally very good and of interest to a wide audience unlike some of the Uncoverings papers which are of interest to no one but the author. I’d reccommend it even if you think you might someday buy the whole series which my firend whom I used to borrow from finally did. Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 16:43:20 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
In the most recent issue of the magazine “The World & I : The Magazine For Lifelong Learners,” pages 106-113, is coverage of the quilt show “Lancaster County Quilting Traditions” curated by Patricia Herr that is hanging at the Heritage Center in Lancaster, PA. Only 4 quilts are shown in color and part of a 5th, but there is a liberal amount of copy to the article. This is an unusual magazine in that each issue runs over 300 pages, and is broken down into 7 major categories in each issue: Current Issues; The Arts; Life; Natural Science; Culture; Book World; and Currents in Modern Thought. They have a great website at http://www.worldandi.com. However, I don’t think the July 2000 issue (which contains the quilt article) is available yet on-line. You can subscribe on-line or for the paper edition. If you subscribe to the paper edition, you automatically get to access all back issues on line as well. I rarely get through one issue before the next one arrives, so they sit on the shelf as reference books! All Sections of it are equally fascinating in each issue. I have no affiliation with this magazine, but have subscribed for years because of the wide coverage of topics and the interesting and color-filled arts and cultural articles, not to mention bookworld, etc. <g> If you have never browsed through one, treat yourself sometime. You can browse on the website to some degree without being a subscriber. It is well worth a looksee. Karen A.
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 16:28:47 -0700 | From: Anne Scott <nzquilter@>
Greetings from New Zealand! I have recently returned home from a visit to the annual Sydney Quilt festival. This year, one of the associated exhibitions was a simply wonderful collection of historic Australian quilts. Curated by well-known Australian collector Dr Annette Gero, the quilts were beautifully displayed in two historic locations owned by The National Trust of Australia. Recently renovated, Old Government House in Paramatta, up the river from Sydney, housed the beautiful crazy quilts, log cabins, some very old chintz and medallion quilts and of course hexagon patterned quilts. They were set amongst the historic furnishings of this important 19th century dwelling. The more “domestic” pieces, including “waggas”, some kangaroo skin rugs, an interesting log cabin quilt made from army uniforms and utility quilts with wonderful provenances were in the less grand but equally interesting Experiment Farm cottage a few miles down the road. While most of you are too far flung to view this exhibition (open until 22 August 2000) a stunning and well-researched catalogue has been written by Annette Gero and published in conjunction with the exhibiton. Unfortunately the printing ran behind schedule and copies were like hens teeth for the first few weeks of the exhibition however I understand more will be available shortly. Bibliographic details are: Historic Australian Quilts by Annette Gero, produced by The Beagle Press for the National Trust of Australia, 96 pages, 41 different quilts in full colour (wonderful details as well), 9.5 inches x 11 inches. Anne Scott New Zealand Quilter magazine www.nzquilter.com
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 01:25:38 EDT | From: LeahZieber@
Speaking of quilts in movies, I recently rented the new Legend of Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp (sp). In several of the scenes Mr. Crane (or is it Krane??) (aka Johnny Depp) is pictured in a bed beneath a quilt. I was wondering your thoughts as to whether the quilt looks accurate for the time period – the movie is set in the very late 1700’s (I think they said 1797). Curious to your thoughts on the matter as I am trying to better my skills at recognizing older quilts (pre 1850 stuff). My honest recommendation is to fast forward to the point of the quilt, check out the quilt, then turn off the movie – it was very gory! Unless of course you like the blood and guts stuff, then it is a somewhat decent movie with a better than boring mystery. Best, Leah Zieber
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 15:00:46 -0500 | From: “Teresa Ellis” <tquilts@>
Kris, I think he does have a web site. One of the other appraisers pointed out this guy to the rest of us, and I looked at his stuff. If it is the same merchandise, they are copying a lot of the old crazy quilts, and it can look very convincing, at least on the computer screen. Caveat emptor! Terri Ellis, AQS appraiser. ———- >From: “Kris Driessen, Hickory Hill Quilts” <oldquilt@> >To: QHL@ >Subject: QHL: Fwd: Producers & Exporters of Hand Crfated Quilts >Date: Sun, Jun 25, 2000, 8:16 AM > > Given our recent discussion on foreign quilts, I thought y’all might find > this bit of spam I received this morning amusing. I am tempted to write > him back and ask him if he has a website. > > Kris > >>Delivered-To: oldquilt@ >>Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 10:58:59 +0500 >>From: Javed Ansari <jansari@> > >>Dear Sir, >> >>We are the Producers & Exporters of Hand Crafted Quilts based in >>Pakistan. We have been Catering our Hand Crafted Quilts to Australia, UK >>and USA Markets for the past 12 Years. >>If your organization is involved in Hand Crafted Quilts or Want to >>Explore the opportunity of Business please contact us for further >>business details. >>Please feel free to contact us for any queries or inquiries. >> >>Looking forward to your response. Thanks. >> >>Best Regards, >> >>Javed Ansari >>Director >>TechStyle Materials / Craftex >> >
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 08:19:42 EDT | From: JQuilt@
i think that we should know before subscribing….that this is a conservative christian magazine… jean
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 11:49:03 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Hi folks, I’m working with a couple of groups that are in the planning stages of their quilt shows and want to know what if any other shows are held in March, April and September. I know the Dallas & Tyler TX shows are always in March and Paducah is in April, but does anyone have specific dates, or any others that are held in those months? Does anyone know of the AQSG date this year? Many thanks! Laura
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 13:53:49 EDT | From: ZegrtQuilt@
Recently, there have been many postings about the difficulty of getting access to published and unpublished documentation and information about quilts, quilt making, and quilt makers.Many discussions have taken place around database preferences. The Alliance for American Quilts has recognized the need for easily accessible data, and has been working for the last four to five years to create The Quilt Index. The Alliance, in partnership with H-Net: The Humanities and Social Sciences On-Line at Michigan State University, has developed a consortium of institutions to create The Index, which will be an on-line resource for information and images of interest to quilt makers, scholars, students, teachers, and the general public. Utilizing the power of the Internet, The Quilt Index will provide unprecedented access to unpublished documentation on American quilts and quilt making, including quilt information and images of quilts documented by state quilt projects and held in public and private collections, bibliographies, and finding aids to quilt-related materials. In addition to H-Net, Quilt Index partners include the Michigan State University Museum, the Illinois State Museum, the University of Louisville Archives and Records Center, the Tennessee State Library, the Library of Congress American Folklife Center, The Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc., and Quilts of Tennessee. Securing the funding for a project of this scope is, of course, a challenge. We have been working for the last three years to secure an initial grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and succeeded in getting a small planning grant, enabling Michigan State University to respond to remaining NEH concerns and questions about the project and resubmit for significant funding in 2001. As the Index develops we will keep all of you posted on its progress, and we certainly would be interested in the meantime in any ideas you might have as to how to enhance its utility and value. Shelly Zegart, co-founder of The Alliance for American Quilts
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 18:31:00 -0400 | From: Kathy <DeSchuit@>
Another fairly large quilt show is usually held the first weekend in April. Quilters Heritage in Lancaster, PA. Next year it is two weeks earlier than usual due to some miscommunication between Barber Diversified and the facilities. Laura Hobby Syler wrote: > Hi folks, > I’m working with a couple of groups that are in the planning stages of > their quilt shows and want to know what if any other shows are held in > March, April and September. > I know the Dallas & Tyler TX shows are always in March and Paducah is in > April, but does anyone have specific dates, or any others that are held in > those months? Does anyone know of the AQSG date this year? > Many thanks! > Laura
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 21:01:22 -0500 | From: “Karen S. Bush” <Birdsong@>
and,, it’s an embarrassing question! I have a lovely old applique quilt…about l940’ish….white background and Beautiful hand quilting, now…I need to wash it. It’s just dingy, a fold stain on the back, otherwise, it’s not stained, etc. Can I : wash in gentle cycle what soap, if any and…sorry, I’ve been on this list for YEARS, and I’m asking this question…can’t believe it…sighhhhhh..kb http://www./karenbushquilts/index.html
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 22:45:03 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrow@>
Earlier this year I posted about the Everyday Life in America series, and how it really gave me a feeling for what life was like in the different periods in American history — life for the everyday people. Then a customer at the frame shop recommended that I try some time-travel fiction , and I started with the Diana Gabaldon “Outlander” series. These are four 1000 page novels (huge!) set in the mid 18th century in Scotland, then moving to late 18th century America. There wasn’t anything there for a quilt historian, but I whipped through all 4 novels in record time — less than 2 months! There was a lot of period detail, a ripping good love story, and lots of adventure. Our hero is tall and strong but apt to get himself into a whole lot of trouble (of course) , our heroine courageous and intelligent and able to make everthing OK in the end. Now I have moved on to “Time and Again”, a time-travel novel written in 1970 by Jack Finney (ISBN 0-684-80105) $12.00 in paperback. There is a sequel, too, but my husband has grabbed that and will be reading them in reverse order. I’m into page 85 and our hero is preparing himself to travel back to NYC in 1882. So far there have been some interesting comments on looking at antique clothing in museums (the Smithsonian in particular) and how the decaying, fading fabrics of the clothing on the dumies really won’t give you a sense of what it felt like to inhabit that clothing — to be inside of it. Before the time-travel the hero’s teacher says, “The trouble with everything that comes down from the distant past is that it’s old. A relic. It may tell us something of what the past was like, yet it generally contradicts any feeling that it could possibly have been used by someone really alive.” And the hero says, “…I stood turning a woman’s shoe in my hands, studying the brittle gray-black leather crisscrossed with cracks. The toe and a band around the top were oddly discolored, the mother-of-pearl buttons chipped; it was no longer a shoe but a curiosity.” And so these people were making reproductions of the old items, which were supposed to give the students, the would-be time-travellers, a more intimate feeling for the past. Of a new reproduction shoe, the teacher says, “But that’s a shoe a living person could own. We had to create it, though.” The hero says, “I nodded; it wasn’t hard to see a young girl sitting on the edge of her bed pulling this on, buttoning it, then admiring it as she revolved her foot on her ankle to make the new leather catch the light.” Am I wrong, or does this guy have it exactly backwards? It is the fading original artifacts that give us a more intimate look into ancient lives. If I know the kind of bed that might have been in a prosperous farmer’s house in central New Jersey in 1870, my house, my bed, then it is very easy for me to see Mrs. Prall pulling up a quilt that she had made and tucking it in under the pillows. It may be quite worn by now, and it may not be one that ever made it to the 20th century, but other period quilts that have are the ones that draw me to William Prall’s wife, to help me to know her. Certainly not the one I could make in imitation next week if I cared to. Anyway, skimming the book beyond where I am now, I see it will be valuable for period details of New York in the early 1880’s. I’d love to hear your views on this. Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 22:58:18 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
At 09:01 PM 06/26/2000 -0500, Karen S. Bush wrote: >and,, it’s an embarrassing question! I have a lovely old applique >quilt…about l940’ish….white background and Beautiful hand quilting, >now…I need to wash it. It’s just dingy, a fold stain on the back, >otherwise, it’s not stained, etc. > Can I : >wash in gentle cycle You do mean in the bathtub, right???<G> >what soap, if any A while back we had discussions on Orvis Paste and how it swells the fibers to allow the dirt to be flushed through. .in other words…rinse forever <G>plus that fact that the textile conservator at the Ford Center in Omaha told everyone that we are not using nearly enough of the stuff. You can use one scoop of BIZ per bathtub full of water……a non chlorine bleach type powder that without the little blue color crystals and fragrance is the same as Vintage Soak………sodiumparb…something or other. All I know is that it works while soaking. But you will still need to go through 2-4 bathtubs full of rinse water. >and…sorry, I’ve been on this list for YEARS, and I’m asking this >question…can’t believe it…sighhhhhh..kb >http://www./karenbushquilts/index.html That’s ok….we all have those senior moments at least once a day! Even when we are not seniors yet. You’ve just pricked your finger too many times and forgotten it all! Laura
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 07:44:27 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
I received this message from another QHL member who thought we’d had enough of the AA quiltmaking discussion for a while. However, after re-reading the quote from the book I thought I’d better pass it on to the group. >I’m working through a new shipment of children’s books. Here’s one >called_Talking to Faith Ringgold_ by Faith Ringgold, Linda Freeman, and Nancy >Roucher. On page 13 is says: > >”In African art, utilitarian objects were made beautiful. So the slave >women incorporated traditional African designs on these coverlets and >created in America what we today call the quilt. This would mean that >quilt-making is like jazz: both were begun by African-Americans. In >the >case of jazz, by African-American men, and in the case of quilts, by >African-American women. They constitute two original contributions made >by >Americans to the world.” > >I am *not* a quilt history expert–is this true? Or is it a “black >center >of a log cabin quilt=underground railroad” story? > >Vicki Betts >Texas Rifles and LSFS >vbetts@ I wrote back and told her that all one had to do was look in any of the state quilt project books, the DAR or Smithsonian museums to realize that slaves/blacks did not create quilting in America….I thought Faith was a smarter cookie than to let this get in print!!! Just hope the Boy Scout magazine doesn’t pick this one up! Laura
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 16:20:46 -0500 | From: “Karen S. Bush” <Birdsong@>
I don’t know if everyone is aware of this site, mainly on K.C. star patterns, thought I’d pass it on to you just in case 🙂 kb http://www.pickledish.com/ http://www./karenbushquilts/index.html
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 19:31:09 -0400 | From: “Deborah R. Grayson” <deborahg@>
The tone of this e-mail message makes it clear why it is important to know the history of ALL quilters from all cultures. When one is partially educated their ignorance is often readily obvious. I for one never get enough of talking about quilt history period — regardless of who the makers are. Perhaps a more interesting topic for discussion would be the context of Ringgold’s statement and what led her to draw such conclusions. Also, how does looking at the collections at the Smithsonian or the DAR prove that Ringgold’s statement is wholly inacurate??? Deborah R. Grayson
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 16:17:56 -1000 | From: Laurie Woodard <lwoodard@>
An article on the quilt exhibit is currently online at the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper web site, http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2000/Jun/26/islandlife1.html. You also can find it by seaching on “Houghtailing.” — Laurie Woodard Hawaiian Quilt Research Project http://openstudio.hawaii.edu/hqrp/default.html
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 22:46:19 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@>
Judy, I read those books – devoured them, actually. What struck me most was the shock of one of the modern characters that someone in the 1880’s would have worn a red (I believe velvet) dress. Perhaps you are confusing a sense of connection with the past, with making the past come alive? Old things *are* relics of a time past. They indicate what life was like. But to recreate something anew gives you the real feeling of what using the item was like. Alan
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 11:25:27 -0400 | From: Mary Worrall <worrall@>
As the product of a graduate program in American art history, an employee in a museum textile collection, and a quiltmaker/teacher, I am well aware of the problems in making too many leaps in scholarship and some of the more controversial subjects in recent discussions of quilt history. While the phrasing on the bookjacket of Faith Ringgold’s book may be overstated, there has been intriguing art historical publication put forth on the African diaspora of quiltmaking and West African textiles. If one is to look past overly generalized statements and is just interested in the study of original contributions of African American quiltmakers, these studies may be of further interest. If anyone does have an interest in looking at research into the relationships between West African textiles and quiltmaking along with jazz, you may find the works of the pioneering art historian Robert Farris Thompson an intriguing place to start. Among his discussions are the uses of words such as “improvisation” and its relationship to both African American quilts and jazz. There are also others who have researched similar subjects from an art historical bent. I first became aware of the subject through the research of a colleague of mine in grad school a few years ago. The nature of scholarship is to generate discussion, and I thought that there may be some list participants interested in looking into some of the background behind where the book’s leaps may have come from. Mary Worrall East Lansing, Michigan
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 17:11:24 EDT | From: MQUILT56@
Greetings All, How much different is the statement that Faith Ringgold made in her book from the statement that was made: “all one had to do was look in any of the state quilt project books, the DAR or Smithsonian museums to realize that slaves/blacks did not create quilting in America….” I have read quilt books by “quilt/art historians” and other books by authors who have gotten a stamp of approval from “quilt/art historians. In many cases, much of what has been documented is a scholars research combined with his or her interpretation on the subject. I have learned that in many of the state quilt project books, the quilts documented are those that were found, submitted, etc.. There are many quilts that were never documented because they weren’t found. Many people never knew that there was even a call for quilts. Also, some quilts may have been created by African Americans, but because they were not signed by them or signed at all, we’ll never know their true origin. I have also learned that just because a museum says something “is”, I’m still forced to check other resources, then re-check until I feel that I have arrived at a provable truth. This is probably because I know how museum ethnographers have become masters at creating images of what they want the public to know and see. Myrah
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 17:43:30 EDT | From: JQuilt@
the dark side of a competitive culture…is that it fosters winning so strongly( usually at any price)…so that, in the unrelenting pressured pursuit to be first, top, winner, famous..we end up lying, cheating, deceiving…doing, saying things we would never do in a cooperative society.. but with competition comes exclusivity, and so now we are on a track to make sure that the person from my house, town, city, county, state, country, tribe, race is the recognized winner of recognition in anything from finding a cure for something important, to an obscurity of inventing quilting…. i think it’s wonderful that we find the dates and the makers of quilts and write books and papers about them.(i love reading all of them) but truthfully it doesn’t make them any more beautiful or valuable to me…i just love looking (touching if permitted) at them, and sometimes even trying to reproduce one of those beauties… i delete the posts, that have any reference to the UGRR and any other historical myth(betsy ross etc.) and go on to read and enjoy all of the posts about restoration, preservation, reproduction, books ,shops shows and sites…..that’s really why i joined this list….. jean
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 00 19:13:52 -0600 | From: woodford <haq@>
Hello, Washing quilts is tough. It’s even tougher in a bathtub. I don’t have the back for it. I wash dirty quilts in the washing machine by just doing a lot of dial moving. I soak them in the machine and then use the water removal section of the drain cycle (no spinning). For the last rinse, I do use the spin cycle unless the quilt is very fragile. And, for that brown stuff. Check by soaking a corner of the quilt in cold water. If a solvent front occurs where the water has stopped soaking the quilt, you should use a cold water soak before going on to stain removal and Biz washing. My mother told me this about those white sheer curtains people used to put on windows, dumbbells. Yes, more than several rinsings are needed. In my house, this method means going up and down the stairs a lot, but it’s a lot easier than hanging over a bathtub. Try it, it works. Barbara
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 22:41:55 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
Here is a quilter from Austria’s websites with quite a few links to European guilds. Also a grad student at University of Virginia’s website who has done quilt research. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG97/quilt/opening.html Karen Alexander
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 21:17:56 -0700 | From: Denise Clausen <nadyne@>
Hi Judy The Latimer Quilt and Textile Center uses SNAP, a museum specific program that runs on ACCESS, to catalogue our textile collections. All of our quilts are catalogued in this way, some books, and we’ve started on the rest of the textile collection, quilt blocks are next, magazines and periodicals just make me dizzy. A limited budget makes this a slow process. This will be an interesting thread. Denise Clausen Director LQTC Judy White wrote: > Hi everybody. Karen Alexander and I have been having a conversation > about databases and the kinds of information that goes into various > databases. This all started with the question about the “Quilter’s > Journal” and she said she thought of creating an index for the > “Quilter’s Journal.” So that led to a discussion of databases and > cataloging personal collections of patterns, quilts, etc. How many of > you have your own personal collections of quilts or whatever on a > database? What kind of databases are in use out there? What kind of > information do you use to catalog your collections? I personally use > Access and have all my vintage pattern collections on database as well > as my personal quilt collection. My hope is put all my old books on > db. This can be a never-ending project. Karen said this would be a > good question for the list, so let’s hear from some of you about how you > keep your collections. > > Judy White – Ct
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 01:11:15 -0500 | From: Jon Miskowski <jmiskows@>
I’ve been compiling a list of quilt documentaries — at least what I can find –and will post here but posting now to alert you to “Egg the arts show” seen on many PBS stations includes a program that includes the quilts of Hystercine Rankin. You can learn more about the program at: http://www.thirteen.org/egg/egg.html I found the site difficult to navigate but you will find the quilting info in the area called “The Series” and from there to “What is the Ideal Woman?” and from there a link to “Quilts” The Egg site is a bit annoying to find anything but just about anything you find there is interesting so it is fun to explore.
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 18:25:53 EDT | From: MQUILT56@
<< I really try hard not to minimize what may be important to others just because it is not important to me and/or a part of my cultural experience. The attempt to characterize a search for historical accuracy as “competitive culture” is an attempt to make an educational exercise into a negative experience. One of the strengths of this society is that it is a “patchwork quilt” of many cultures . It would behoove us to recognize and affirm the contributions that all of the “patches” have made. Myrah
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 09:13:20 -0400 | From: Merry May <Inspectr@>
I was contacted a few days ago by a lady who has a box of old tobacco flannels; not assembled into a quilt or anything, just the rectangles. She sent them to me to have me look at them and tell her what I thought they were worth (with the intention of selling them to me). Inside the box, she included a brief letter indicating the amount she’d like to get for the lot. Two of them are fairly large (US flags with 48 stars on each), measuring 8 1/2″ x 10 1/2″. The other 34 are all 8 1/2″ x 5 1/4″. They’ve been stored in this cardboard box; the only ones that have been folded are the two large ones. All are in excellent condition. My question is: does anyone have any idea what the “going rate” might be for these right now (either by the piece, or as a lot)? (Any dealers, collectors, etc?) Please reply to the list so we can all learn a little something together! Thanks for your help. Take care, and thanks again. Merry 🙂 …in southern NJ, who spent the afternoon Monday viewing (and touring!) the tall ships in Philadelphia. Wow! — Merry May (a.k.a. Inspector Cluesew)
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 10:03:29 EDT | From: QuiltFixer@
In a message dated 6/28/00 5:02:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time, haq@ writes: << My mother told me this about those white sheer curtains people used to put on windows, dumbbells. >> Barbara, loved this comment! It was my job to put those sheer white curtains, dripping with starch, on stretchers that had very sharp nails all around to hold the curtains. This was in the back yard, where if you goofed, you dropped the curtain down onto the ground and got it dirty. I thought the whole idea was dumb too! I think I was about 10 at the time and had to get up on a stool to reach. Anyone else remember those “good old days”? 🙂 Toni B QuiltFixer@
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 07:27:45 -0700 | From: “Julia D. Zgliniec” <rzglini1@>
Dear Merry and QHL, A really quick way to get an idea of the current range of prices is to do a search on ebay. Type “tobacco flannel” into the Search field and you will get about 18-20 current offerings and an idea of what the price range is ( about $2) for the small ones. Click on “completed auctions” and you get 25+ more that have ended. You can see exactly what sold and what did not. Remember this is a limited view of the market but it is certainly a valuable tool for gathering information. Regards, Julia Zgliniec, Appraiser certified by AQS, Poway, CA
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 22:24:07 +0100 | From: “Sally Ward” <sward@>
I was interested in the post about cigarette flannels. Does anyone know anything about machine embroidered silk flowers? I saw some yesterday which a friend has just bought. They’re quite small (about one inch by two?) This is her description to another list: <At an antique and collectors fair yesterday, I found a small packet of embroidered flowers. Each is in a cardboard folder with the name of the plant , its symbolic meaning , a little (usually very twee ) verse , myths attached to it and how to cultivate it .. a positive mine of information . The flowers are stitched like Cash’s cards and are really beautiful . They are Kensitas Flowers and I presume were in packets of cigarettes like the cards you see in old albums . Apparently there was a series of 60 and you could send away for an album for them to J. Wix and Sons Ltd, Kensitas House, London. Does any body know when these were made ? Was there just a series of flowers , or were other things embroidered ? I think I have seen similar things included in crazy patchwork quilts in illustrations of American quilts >
If anyone can tell us, I’m sure this list can….. Sally Ward in UK
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 15:48:23 -1000 | From: Laurie Woodard <lwoodard@>
Deborah Harding’s “Red & White, American Redwork Quilts & Patterns” is out and it’s absolutely wonderful! I received my copy a week ago Friday while in the middle of a computer semi-crash. I was almost glad the computer was non compus mentus because now I was free to sit down and spend some uninterrupted time with this two-volume set. I’ve only just gotten everything back in working order on my time-saving device, so I’ve had lots of time to enjoy my new book. If you’re a quilt historian, this book is a must. If you’re primarily a quilter, you’ll love both the pattern book and the history contained in photos and captions. (That’s where my reading always starts, anyway). The photography is wonderful. The full quilts are clearly detailed and there are many, many closeups of quilt squares which usually are paired with the printed pattern source. I suspect that even the patterns in the history book could be blown up and used. The pictures are good enough that you also could easily sketch the designs. Amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/ ) is offering the boxed two-volume set for $27.96 (30% off list price); haven’t checked other sites. That’s MY personal feeling about the book. Below is part of the book description taken off the Amazon web site: Red & White: American Redwork Quilts and Patterns is the most comprehensive look at redwork available. Redwork, a type of needlework popular during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, is once again the hottest trend in the quilting world. In this two-volume, heavily-illustrated work, best-selling author Deborah Harding traces pattern sources and design inspirations for antique quilts with original catalog offers and period advertisements to help collectors identify, date, and document their own quilts. Blocks on twenty antique quilts are analyzed in detail. In the accompanying pattern book, 100 actual-size patterns and detailed instructions enable readers to create their own redwork quilts and linens. “Red & White… is a testimonial to the prodigious research conducted by author Deborah Harding. This excellent book’s publication, occurring during a time of ever-increasing fascination with the old time needleart redwork, will be welcomed by many, including quiltmakers, quilt historians, quilt collectors, textile experts, appraisers, antique dealers, art historians, and designers.” –Cuesta Benberry “Red & White… is the first book to explore redwork quilts in a systematic manner. This book is a must for anyone specifically interested in American quilt history and more generally in American textile history and culture.” –Lee Kogan, Museum of American Folk Art, New York “As one who loves embroidery, I have discovered that Deborah Harding’s Red & White is a treasure! Each of the 100 actual-size patterns is its own little piece of Americana-and all it takes to recreate them is one basic stitch.” –Julie Nixon Eisenhower Book Description Red & White: American Redwork Quilts and Patterns is the most comprehensive look at redwork available. Redwork, a type of needlework popular during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, is once again the hottest trend in the quilting world. In this two-volume, heavily-illustrated work, best-selling author Deborah Harding traces pattern sources and design inspirations for antique quilts with original catalog offers and period advertisements to help collectors identify, date, and document their own quilts. Blocks on twenty antique quilts are analyzed in detail. In the accompanying pattern book, 100 actual-size patterns and detailed instructions enable readers to create their own redwork quilts and linens. “Red & White… is a testimonial to the prodigious research conducted by author Deborah Harding. This excellent book’s publication, occurring during a time of ever-increasing fascination with the old time needleart redwork, will be welcomed by many, including quiltmakers, quilt historians, quilt collectors, textile experts, appraisers, antique dealers, art historians, and designers.” –Cuesta Benberry “Red & White… is the first book to explore redwork quilts in a systematic manner. This book is a must for anyone specifically interested in American quilt history and more generally in American textile history and culture.” –Lee Kogan, Museum of American Folk Art, New York “As one who loves embroidery, I have discovered that Deborah Harding’s Red & White is a treasure! Each of the 100 actual-size patterns is its own little piece of Americana-and all it takes to recreate them is one basic stitch.” –Julie Nixon Eisenhower — Laurie Woodard Hawaiian Quilt Research Project
Date: [date unknown] | From: CBENBERRY@
For those living in or near to Buffalo, N.Y. I would urge you to attend the exhibition “A Communion of the Spirits” by Roland Freeman at the Museum of Science, Buffalo, 1020 Humboldt Parkway, June 24-September 23, 2000. Even if you have already seen this exhibition at one of the other venues on its travel schedule, the show has not remained static. Taking a tack from his notable international-themed symposium “Common Threads” held last year at the Smithsonian and his recent research, Freeman has added another dimension to “A Communion of the Spirits.” Incorporated now also are selected works from the international community, regions that were a part of the African Diaspora of black Africans who were brought to all of the Americas- North, Central, and South. From African Canadians, from the Caribbean area, especially Trinidad, Tobago, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, and from the Maroons of Suriname, South America, Freeman presents an ever-widening picture of African Americans’ contributions to quilts, quilting and patchwork, past and present. These new additions enhance to a great degree what was already an excellent and unique exhibition -“A Communion of the Spirits.” Cuesta Benberry
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2000 09:16:58 -0400 | From: Edwaquilt@ (by way of List Mom <qrs@>)
Need help. An acquaintance of mine who digitizes designs for embroidery machines is being sued for allegedly copyright infringement (big bucks too) for a design that she sketched from a vintage redwork quilt in 1994. I assume the one suing claims the design is original etc etc etc. I have a copy of the sketch and the designs that were digitized. She is trying to locate some source that could date the pattern. Anyone out there that I can send a copy to for your opinion. These folks need help big time. I will get the “Red & White” book but am looking for all sources for help Holice
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2000 14:05:34 +0400 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord@>
Hi, Holice and QHlers – on the matter of copyright, let’s look at this situation: Woman A goes to the Ladies Art Co. store in St. Louis in 1926 and buys a set of stamped blocks for embroidery. Her friend, Woman B, sees the work, likes it, and buys an identical set of blocks. Both women make quilts from the blocks. both women give the quilts away, and later die. The recipients of the quilts die or downsize or whatever, selling their quilts. Eager Entrepreneur Y buys one of these redwork quilts at a garage sale in Florida, in 1998. She traces off the designs, prints them in a book, and copyrights the book. Eager Entrepreneur Z buys one of these redwork quilts at an antique mall in Iowa, in 1998. She traces off the designs, digitizes them, and makes embroidery cards for some computerized machine. Now – who owns the copyright to those designs? I don’t think we can ever claim exclusive ownership of any design that was sold commercially at some point, because the chances are too great that the design was worked many times, and is to be found in a lot of quilts. And what of the company that first marketed the design? Bucilla, for instance, has maintained copyright on lots of its designs, even though they are no longer produced. Ladies Art Co. still existed in some form in the 1970s, so it has been less than 50 years since they (potentially) gave up making these designs. Your friend needs to hie herself to a good attorney, if she hasn’t already. Xenia
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000 15:11:10 EDT | From: @aol.com
The one thing I’d add to Xenia’s analysis is that the lawyer should be a lawyer specializing in intellectual property law. The average general practitioner isn’t going to know squat about copyright law, and even if s/he bones up to take the case, s/he won’t stand a chance against a specialist. A lot depends on how old the quilt is. If it’s a *really* old redwork, there’s a chance the designs may be in the public domain. Also, if the designs have turned up in more than one source, the digitizer can make the argument that the copyright holder failed to defend the copyright. Finally, which company is suing? If it’s a small company, that’s one thing. A big one will be much less likely to settle on advantageous terms. Definitely get a good lawyer. Good luck! Karen Evans
Date: Sat, 1 Jul 2000 21:26:11 -0400 | From: “Gloria Infinger” <gloria@>
It is my understanding that The American Tobacco Company put the silks as tokens in the packages to attract ladies to smoke. There is another company–I think in Europe–that did something like this, also. There were flags, famous people, animals, colleges, & several more things put on the silks. I believe they are from the 20s. Most of the above information, I learned from e-Bay; there have been several items in the past 2 years that incorporate them into the design. The ones with the little cards are neat; some can be larger. I know little about the flannel ones, but again I have seen them with flags. Hope this is useful information. Gloria Infinger South Carolina gloria@
Date: Sat, 01 Jul 2000 22:11:10 -0500 | From: Becky Sunderman <sewcarve@>
My understanding is that the flannel or felt flags were premiums, much like those offered on cereal boxes today, that you sent away for (pardon the bad sentence structure). The cigar companies that offered them did so around the turn of the century, when competition was at its highest, due to mergers of the companies, etc. I’ve seen quilts made entirely of the cigar flannels, and crazy quilts with both the flannels and the cigarette silks incorporated into them, which would corroborate the timeline.
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2000 10:06:06 EDT | From: CBENBERRY@
There’s good news and bad news in the changes in the message I sent yesterday about Roland Freeman’s exhibition “A Communion of the Spirits” in Buffalo, NY. The bad news is visitors to the exhibit won’t have as long to see the show because it will close September 3rd instead of September 23rd. The good news is there are four quilts from Havana, Cuba that were late in arriving because they were held up in customs, but are now installed in the Buffalo exhibition. Without doubt, Cuban quilts exhibited in the U.S.A. are a rarity. Cuesta Benberry
Date: Sun, 02 Jul 2000 10:14:23 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@>
Oh wow. Don’t use eBay as a pricing guide! eBay is an auction, and by nature of an auction, the price paid is influenced by three things: 1) The item for sale (quality, rarity, etc.). 2) The buyers available to the seller, and how badly they want the item. 3) How much money the buyer has to spend (large or small) This isn’t retail selling, where you put a price on it and sell it. Here, you offer an item and hope interest is high. If you get people who don’t know squat about the subject, or no one is interested, the seller won’t get much (therefore the “reserve” price to protect investments). Why else can I buy great quilts at fantastic prices here at local auctions? Also, you have to be aware of reproductions (which are being offered for cigarette silks, dunno about cigar flannels). I purchased a silk for $6 on eBay for a friend, and I just don’t know whether it’s real or not (these aren’t my forte). Not that it matters, cause she’ll be happy either way, but $6 makes me suspicious. And if you’re learning about something, go to the library and read about your area of interest. You are as likely to find someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about as those who do while on eBay. Yes, look at the items you’re interested in to become accustomed to them (I look constantly, but in three years have only bought 3 quilts on eBay). But remember that what’s on the screen may be a poor representation of reality. The best thing is to make friends who know about your interest, and haunt those places you are likely to find that item at. Places where you can get up close and touch and examine. Make friends with dealers, auctioneers, etc. Get a reputation (like I have). Things will start coming to you, as you will see more (one auctioneer always lets me know when he has a quilt). But if you learn from an antiques dealer, find one who specializes in your interest. General dealers are nice, but the more you have to know, the harder it is to know everything! I have this one friend, a collector who has taught me more about furniture and porcelain. Marvelous thing, because I understand styles and age much better, and can recognize the earmarks of a likely good purchase. And once you’re knowledgeable, that knowledge will rub off on others. My sister, who has to have everything new-out-of-the-box, hung a depression-era quilt on her wall, unrestored! Go figure. My mother offered to pay to have it restored for her (not that I’d have charged them), but dear sis insisted that the quilt *earned* it’s imperfections! Alan
