November 4 – 15, 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:
- Shaker Quilts and Textiles — Members research whether the Shakers made quilts at all, citing historical interpreters and reference books that suggest Shaker communities focused on spinning and weaving rather than quilting.
- ‘Swamp Angel’ Block Name Origins — A discussion traces the possible Civil War-era origin of the pieced star block name “Swamp Angel,” including a theory linking it to a famous Union siege cannon.
- Feedsack Fabric History — Members discuss when feedsack manufacturers began using printed/figured fabrics versus solid colors, citing reference books on textile bags. (see the article on the feedsack story)
- Antique Quilt and Textile Magazines — A roundup of recommended magazines and newsletters for antique quilt research, including Blanket Statements, Uncoverings, and international titles.
- Quilt Design and Craftsmanship Debate — A wide-ranging thread on what separates skilled quiltmaking from poor design choices, from fabric scale balance to overall composition.
- AOL 6.0 List Posting Problems — A member warns that upgrading to AOL 6.0 is causing list-posting issues and asks others to hold off until AOL resolves it.
Date: Sat, 04 Nov 2000 13:54:25 -0500 | From: LinK
I just put Halloween away and as I began to decorate for Thanksgiving, I was reminded of the wonderful paper pieced turkey I made a couple years ago. This easy paper piece pattern is free on my Web site http://www.@/Heartland/Lake/2812/ I use my turkey as a large coaster, but would make a nice wall hanging. My sister made a table runner using three turkey sections and it’s really neat. Happy Thanksgiving, Linda
Date: Sat, 4 Nov 2000 21:49:20 -0500 | From: “Gloria Infinger” <gloria@>
Dear All: At one point, I was a member of the ToleArt Digest–perhaps other members of QHL were also participants. Enjoyment of many wonderful pieces of information was disrupted when members began to past “judgement” upon each other’s comments & opinions, I dropped the digest. Let us not lose contributors for similar reasons. Perhaps, as we try to relate problems in the shortest possible number of words, we lose information that if shared may have made the situation clearer to members of the digest–like now. I’m attempting to express my concern that we not let the content stray to far away from all of the wonderful information provided by so many quilters. I have gained so much valuable information from each of you; far more than I have contributed. I, too, am a buyer from many on-line sites. Think about how limited our selections would be without these sites, or how small our “view” of the world might be. Thanks for listening, Gloria in SC gloria@
Date: Sun, 05 Nov 2000 21:34:57 -0600 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller@>
I asked the historical interpreters about quiltmaking by the Shakers at Pleasant Hill? Pleasant Tree? near Lexington, Kentucky. They said the Shakers did spinning and weaving but not quiltmaking. Mary Waller, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 23:48:23 EST | From: Onyxdolls2@
I am a newcomer to this list and have found it to very helpful, especially information pertaining to exhibits showing African American and Native American quilts. Thanks. Carolyn Mills Allen
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 06:55:17 EST | From: KANSIER1@
I just found a great French Internet site on applique. It has a section on the history of Toile de Jouy fabrics. (www.quiltcreations.com) A few other sites that are great for applique history are: www.baltimoreapplique.com, www.theappliquesociety.org, www.ellysienkiewicz.com, and members.tripod.com/~jbuechel. Can you tell I’m loving applique these days? Keeping the Traditions, Kathy in Ozark
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 08:29:28 -0500 | From: “pepper cory” <
Hello QHL members- Once I had the privelege of teaching at Pleasant Hill Shaker Village in Kentucky for two weeks. During that time I asked to see any and all quilts associated with the Shakers. These are seldom displayed since the quilts are tattered and the village curtors (rightly) cannot directly attribute them to Shakers. Two are pastel cotton sateen Drunkard’s Path quilts of 1920’s vintage and the third was a hexagon mosaic quilt with wool challis c. 1870. The quilts were found on the grounds when the Shaker properties were bought from private owners in the 1930’s. There’s nothing to distinguish quilts Shakers might have made from any other regional quilts of the same period. Since the majority of Shakers were voluntary adherents of the faith, they brought with them their family bedding. There is a quilter in Kentucky (sorry, I can’t recall her name-) who has taken Shaker spirit drawings, mostly those from the Hancock community, and translated them into primitive looking applique quilts but these are her individual works and not those of Shakers. I have seen one old black and white photograph of a Shaker sister sitting at a quilt frame quilting. It’s from the Hancock community and the quilt looks to be a dark and white variation of Birds in Flight. All I know about Shaker quilts you all now know! Pepper Cory
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 10:17:23 -0500 | From: Newbie Richardson <pastcrafts@>
On the surface, the black out fabric seems like a great idea, but I am concerned about the off gasing of the chemicals. Also, if I remember correctly, it is a mess when it gets wet. However, using it on windows is’nt a bad idea, although it seems to me that UV filtering plexiglass positioned over the offending window frame would keep the view while preserving the fabric. I think that there have been some recent price reductions in this arena. The RESTORATION & RENOVATION conference is in DC in January. It might be worth a trip to see the vendors. The line up of lectures is facinating – (all about building issues though). www.restorationandrenovation.com Newbie Richardson
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 11:09:57 -0500 | From: Pat & Jim <
A very good source of information about Shaker quilts is a book entitled Shaker Textile Arts by Beverly Gordon, published by the University Press of New England with the Cooperation of the Merrimack Valley Textile Museum and Shaker Community, Inc., Hanover, NH and London, England, c. 1980, ISBN 0-87451-158-5. The Shakers did indeed make quilts. There are not many extant examples, however, because, as was the case with many of their textiles, quilts were sold to the public at large and rarely used within the Shaker communities themselves. As the Gordon book indicates, there was nothing particularly “Shaker” about the quilts except for the “fine workmanship”. The Watervliet, NY community has a record book indicating that in 1846, The Children’s Order of this group pieced 9 quilts and quilted 13. The Gordon book also contains a photo of a crazy quilt produced at Hancock Village in 1910 and further states that single color linsey-woolsey quilts were likely to be found in Shaker Villages. At one time, I asked a tour guide at the Canterbury Shaker Community if the Shakers made quilts and the answer was “yes” and that they responded to requests from the community to provide all kinds of textiles as that provided the mainstay of their income from the beginning of the 19th century on. I am not an expert in this and only know what I have read or been told, but I am coming out of “lurkdom” on the list, to provide this small amount of knowledge, in hopes that it will spur someone on to more research in this area. Pat Cummings jimpat@
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 11:36:20 -0500 | From: Lesters <
I recently went to visit Shaker Town, in Kentucky, and asked about quilts. The Shakers were a very worldly group and probably would have made quilts, if it had been commercially worthwhile. The group in Kentucky (outside of Lexington) specialized in marketing seeds. They had a lot of firsts, in the seed business. Most of the other things they did were for the benefit of the group, as a whole. It was a very interesting tour! Jean
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 10:04:22 -0800 | From: Audrey Waite <awquiltr@>
Need some input from all you clever people that have wonderful areas in which to sew. We are adding on to our house and part of the addition will be a 10×12′ addition to my sewing area. I can’t make up my mind about where to put the design wall. Some quilt friends were over and said I don’t want it far from the sewing machine. I thought the farther away the better to see the finished effect. Also in a tizzy about lighting. Should I go with track lighting or fluorescent with full-spectrum bulbs? Would appreciate any advice from those that have been there. Audrey Waite in rainy, cold Sedona, AZ (locals that have lived here for upteen years have never seen so many overcast days in a row! BUT it’s a desert and we’re happy for any moisture we can get!) http://www.quiltcamp.com
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 12:17:11 -0600 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <
Next spring Harris Publishing will be redesigning the “Country Decorating”
magazine. It will be called “Antique Quilts”. You can get information about it at http://www.quiltmag.com
Right now it’s planned for 2 times a year. Editor, Jean Ann Eitel (editor of QUILT Magazine also) may not have all the information on the web site just yet. I believe that the first issue will be out in April??? I know my deadlines were yesterday
Laura Hobby Syler
Contributing Editor
Harris Publishing (in addition to all the other stuff!!)
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 14:20:43 EST | From: Tubeywooby@
Just back from Festival, where our CrazyFolk booth enjoyed success with our hand-dyed wool and kits. I did buy a quilt top, about 1890, I’m not sure what pattern. IT is a square with a half triangle of muslin, and the other half triangle is scrap triangles alternated with muslin triangles. It is a friendship quilt, with the names penned onto pieces of paper basted into place onto each square. One block is actually signed Laura Blare, Dudley, Ohio, and I believe she made the quilt. I showed it to Xenia in her Legacy booth, and she and I enjoyed looking it over. She made an observation I’d like to ask her to elaborate on here. There is one block of cheddar gold that pops out. And because of the era (1890s) and the location of the maker, she believes this cheddar gold block may have been this woman’s manner of “voting” in the presidential election of 1996 (for McKinley, from Ohio). There was a gold issue of some sort, I need to research it further … and of course women were not allowed to vote yet then. Xenia recommended I check out the census for 1900 for these names in that area. A good project for the future. BTW, I got this treasure for $70- it does have a couple of mouse holes in it, but generally is in great shape. Double pink border… Melissa Young of CrazyFolk Kingwood, Texas P.S. Check out the October issue of American Patchwork and Quilting- the Risky Roost cat project is ours : )
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 16:54:01 -0600 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller@>
Can anyone tell me the origin of ‘Swamp Angel’ as the name for this pieced star block? It’s Brackman #1632b. Mary Waller Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 21:16:06 -0600 | From: Jocelyn <Jocelynm@>
> I can cite is this: For me to carry DMC floss in my store (and I > do), the > wholesalers charge me 27 cents per skein. Walmart sells DMC floss to the > consumer for 20 cents per skein. > So why would any store buy from a wholesaler, if they could go to Wal-Mart and buy the floss for 7 cents a skein cheaper? I’m not trying to be a smartaxe…I just don’t understand why a wholesaler would try to sell a product at 7 cents more than Walmart retail….
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 17:26:50 -0500 | From: “Jan Drechsler” <quiltdoc@>
Judy’s glowing report of the West Virginia book makes me wonder why AQS carries so few quilt history books and no state documentation books? Given my limited budget and wanting to stretch every dollar I would be happy to purchase six good quilt history books for the great member discount. And I like to also pay one shipping fee. Is there anyone on the list associated with AQS who can explain the policy or rationale for their book selections? Or not associated with AQS but understands the situation. Would a blast of requests to AQS for more history books be effective? What are your thoughts on this? Thanks, Jan — Jan Drechsler in Vermont Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher http://ourworld.@/homepages/bobmills/jan.html
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 22:42:07 EST | From: SadieRose@
I remembered the term “Swamp Angel” as being Civil War related, so I tried “www.askJeeves.com” and following is excerpts from the information given. I am guessing that the quilt pattern took its name from this. “On August 21, Sellmer and his men took charge of the work, which was now referred to as the “Swamp Angel,” a name given the battery by a member of the 31-0 Rhode Island Artillery. The next evening, Sellmer supervised the unloading of shells, powder cartridges, primers, and other needed implements. While Sellmer readied his gun, engineer Captain Nathaniel Edwards took compass readings on St. Michael’s church steeple in downtown Charleston for night firing. Whenever Gillmore was ready, the Swamp Angel was prepared to fire into Charleston. The Swamp Angel Fires into Charleston On August 21, in the midst of the firing on Fort Sumter, Gilhnore received word that the marsh battery, located seventy-nine hundred yards from Charleston, was completed and ready to fire. While the soldiers from the Ilth Maine, who made up the gun crew for the marsh battery’s 8-inch Pasrott, completed their final preparations, Gillmore sent a message by way of Wagner to Charleston, demanding that General Beauregard immediately evacuate Morris Island and Fort Sumter or Charleston would be fired upon. The note reached Confederate headquarters at 10:45 P.M. Beauregard was not present and since the message was unsigned, it was returned for verification. At 1:30 A.M., August 22, Lieutenant Charles Sellmer, aiming his gun by the compass reading taken on St. Michael’s steeple, fired the first round into the city. Before dawn, the Swamp Angel would send sixteen shells into Charleston, with ten containing either Short’s or Parrott’s “Greek Fire.” The resulting flames were clearly seen, and some sharp eared soldiers heard the bells and whistles of Charleston’s firemen. The Impact of the Swamp Angel The Swamp Angel was not replaced during the Morris Island operations, though later a siege gun was located in the Marsh Battery, which was eventually replaced with two mortars. (Similar to these others on Morris Island.) Gillmore later explained that he expected no battlefield victory from the shelling, but felt that valuable artillery techniques were learned. The Swamp Angel accomplished a number of things. It was the first known firing of an artillery piece using a compass reading, and the distance covered by the Swamp Angel’s shells was farther than any previous military bombardment. Gillmore also gained the dubious distinction of being one of the first generals to bombard a civilian center in the hope of achieving a military end. As happened in later years, the shelling of Charleston fueled the defender’s hatred for their enemies and provided them an even greater determination. Many civilians had already left the city before the campaign had begun and those that remained merely moved from the city’s lower regions to areas out of range of the Federal guns. The city’s manufacturing and industrial work continued, and all maritime activity was shifted up river. In some ways, the Swamp Angel reflected Gillnore’s frustration. Though he took satisfaction in shelling the birthplace of the war, Gillnore realized that it was an empty attempt to hurt an enemy who was proving far more resourceful than he had expected. After the Civil War the remains of the Swamp Angel were transported to Trenton New Jersey, where they were put on display as part of a Civil War Monument which still stands today and had been recently restored. See the Trenton Roundtable Swamp Angel Page for Details.”
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 22:42:40 -0500 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrow@>
>On the surface, the black out fabric seems like a great idea, but I am >concerned about the off gasing of the chemicals. Also, if I remember >correctly, it is a mess when it gets wet. However, using it on windows >is’nt a bad idea, although it seems to me that UV filtering plexiglass >positioned over the offending window frame would keep the view while >preserving the fabric. >Newbie Richardson And that’s the idea my dear husband came up with too! My Victorian windows are 2 over 2, and I am sure I’ve got lots of narrow and long scraps of uv plexi at the frame shop, enough to cut pieces 12 x 32 and then hold them in by pushing small finishing nails or glazing points into the muntins — right over the glass. And the extra insulation couldn’t hurt either! Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 09:27:57 EST | From: RBCochran@
In a message dated 11/6/2000 10:29:19 PM Eastern Standard Time, quiltdoc@ writes: << Judy’s glowing report of the West Virginia book makes me wonder why AQS carries so few quilt history books and no state documentation books? >> AQS was the publisher of the New Jersey quilt book, however it is now out of stock but still available online through Amazon or B&N (somewhat of a plug, I’m afraid, as I’m one of the co-authors) although it is not at a discounted price. AQS was able to keep that title, along with many others, available for eight years, which is pretty remarkable, I think, in this day of fast remainders. I understand that AQS is developing a Heritage Series of books, one of which will be our book on Florence Peto. As this list has discussed before, there is very little call for straight quilt history books. It’s the patterns that sell. I think it’s understandable that publishers want their books to sell, although that makes it hard for those of us who want more history. –Rachel in NJ
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 11:47:24 -0500 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
Boy, I should have picked up on that Swamp Angel pattern! As a kid I lived in Charleston SC and that’s where I became enamoured of history. My dad was in his last years at the Air Force base while at the same time he served as the interim minister for St. Michael’s (the same church used as the Swamp Angel’s reference point-) in downtown Charleston! Small world. Cheers from the Carolina coast, Pepper Cory
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2000 13:21:07 -0500 | From: “Grandma’s Attic” <GrandmasAttic@>
Hi Jocelyn, It’s a really good question and I appreciate you asking it. The brief answer to your question is that there is a huge contingent of people out there who are so anti-Walmart they are willing to purchase product for more if it supports the independent shop owner. And while it might not make much sense to carry a product if you have a Wal-mart anywhere near you, some retailers choose to carry a particular product as a convenience to their own customers, or because they are offering it as an add-on or loss leader. Sometimes the product is carried because it is part of a kit or in some other way is needed to provide their customer base a complete item. In my particular case, we carry DMC floss and sell it for more than Walmart because we offer a lot of redwork patterns and kits, as well as other embroidery items. Sending a customer who has just purchased everything they need to make a set of pillowcases to Walmart to get the floss wouldn’t make any business sense. When they are standing in your store ready to stitch away you can sell them the pillowcases, needle, thread, hoop, floss and everything else. Then they are happy because they have everything they need and we are happy because we’ve just sold them a complete kit. Our consumers know that we KNOW our product and can offer them advice, suggestions, recommendations, solutions, etc. and can give them added value because we had everything they needed in one convenient spot and saved them the trouble of looking elsewhere. Not everyone is motivated to purchase solely by price alone. We as consumers all want a good value for our money. As retailers we would like the opportunity to be competitive. With Walmart out there this isn’t always possible. It’s the same problem with chain stores who offer fabric as very low prices…lower than what independents can purchase it for wholesale. We have to find other ways to provide customers with a satisfying shopping experience. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you are interested in any other information. Thanks for your interest! Rachel Greco
Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2000 12:43:27 -0800 | From: Audrey Waite <awquiltr@>
Thanks so much to everyone that e-mailed me with suggestions on placing the design wall and lighting in my additional work/sewing space. It’s so helpful to have other’s opinions. Audrey Waite in sunny Sedona, AZ
Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2000 15:12:37 -0600 | From: [from unknown, VQTS newsletter forwarded by unknown poster]
Oh yeah……
The Vintage Quilt & Textile Society does a quarterly newsletter packed with information on antique quilts, vintage fabrics, collecting, storing, etc.
Information on joining is listed below.
********************************************************
We invite you to become a member of the Vintage Quilt and Textile Society. A study group organization devoted to the sharing of research and knowledge of antique quilts, textiles and related subjects. You need not be “an expert” to join VQTS!!! With our 5th Friday Study Sessions and mini-conferences, ” Quilt College” held in the Dallas, Texas area we learn and share on the subject of things relating to the sewing room. Our quarterly newsletter is mailed worldwide & enables all members to participate by contributing articles and book reviews pertaining to the selected topics of the month. Membership dues are $24.00 anually US membership, International membership $30.00 US funds only **For more information, contact
or write to:
VQTS 2401 Blue Cypress
Richardson, TX 75082 for a complimentary copy of the newsletter and membership application. Ask about bringing VQTS Quilt College and Study Sessions to your area! ********************************************************
At 08:32 AM 11/30/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>Are there any magazines on antique/vintage quilts? Which quilt magazines do >you subscribe to? I am more interested in learning about historical quilts >and techniques than in how-to directions and patterns.
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 05:29:56 -0400 | From: Debby Kratovil <
Just a short word on this issue of history books. I have found myself buying more of these historical books in the past 2-3 years than in previous years. While I love the history, it sure does help when I can also be given the tools to recreate my own version of the quilts that are included in the books. I have Barbara Brackman’s Civil War book and even paid full price for it (near $30) because she included lovely reproduction quilts done by Terry Clothier Thompson. I bought the Carrie Hall book to see her original blocks in color and to have the patterns redone. But I was disappointed in the book because there was almost no history included! I was shocked to have just one or two pages at the beginning of the book take a nod at the history of this marvelous collection, etc. One of my favorite books is a British book on their museum’s collection of American Quilts and patterns are included for each quilt. Since it was noted that the quilt history books don’t sell so well because folks want patterns, then take a hint and include the patterns! I’m a pattern designer and redrafter and even though I can recreate anything I see (so I can print accurate templates, paper piecing patterns, etc from my computer), I still like to have the information included in a quilt book when I see pictures of quilts. Well, this waxed too long for it to be a “short word.” Happy quilting to all, Debby Debby Kratovil Paper Piecing Patterns & More! http://www.kaper.org/queenb kratovil@
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2000 10:37:43 -0600 | From: bettina havig <bettinaqc@>
I don’t keep close tabs and the AQS book list but I can tell you that MAQS, the musuem in Paducah, and completely separate from AQS stocks as many history related books as possible, in fact many that you will not find in many other places. They will do mail order and give a ten percent discount to MAQS Museum members. (If you are not a member please consider membership) You might want to look there instead of AQS. AQS finds that the general public is not as interested in history as we all wish they might be. You can order by phone, 270.442.8856; by fax, 270.442-5448 or check their web site, www.quiltmuseum.org You may use a credit card and you will have the book in about three to five days depending on distance. Bettina Havig
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 00 13:32:42 -0600 | From: woodford <haq@>
Hello, I was just at an Antique Show where the customers were more interested in selling than in buying—
a revolting development. But there were two people who had material that maybe you movers and doers out there could use. I have no use for it and no interest in any transaction whatsoever. One lady claims to have a trunkful (enough for nine auilts) of depression era fabrics, with the receipts on which are printed dates of 1936 through 1939. Another had a trunkful of “old” tops that her mother and grandmother had made and not quilted. Thank goodness for trunks. Both of these people live in the northeast section of Illinois. If you are interested, please email me privately and I will give you the phone numbers. Cheers, Barbara Woodford Historic American Quilts www.historic-american.com
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 11:12:13 -0800 (PST) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
If you have upgraded to 6.0, please refrain from posting to any lists until AOL fixes the bug that forces you to post in HTML. I know onelist will not post your message – I believe planetpatchwork blocks messages too. Cuenet will allow it, but you will find yourself unsubscribed. For now, wait until they fix it. By the way, do all AOL’ers know the trick of deselecting “compressed images” for better image quality when you are surfing? It really does make a difference. Kris List Mom
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 17:19:26 -0500 (EST) | From: Teri Klassen <teresak@>
Hi, is anyone familiar with quilts being made in Louisiana in 1825-50? or is there a museum or historical society in Louisiana with antebellum quilts, or is there a Louisiana state quilt book? also, have any pre-Civil War Log Cabin quilts turned up in the United States or in England? Teri in Indiana
Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2000 20:05:46 -0600 | From: Jocelyn <Jocelynm@>
> > The brief answer to your question is that there is a huge contingent of > people out there who are so anti-Walmart they are willing to purchase > product for more if it supports the independent shop owner. Rachel, Apparently my question wasn’t all that clear! <G> So I’ll try again. If your wholesaler charges you 27 cents a skein to buy DMC wholesale (which of course you have to sell at higher than that), and you can buy the same product at WalMart for 20 cents, why would YOU buy from the wholesaler? Why wouldn’t you just go to Wal-Mart when you need to restock? You could then sell your floss 7 cents cheaper, OR make 7 cents profit on it. I realize that there’s expenses associated with sending employees to Wal-Mart, but it seems to me that either you could either send them during slack times in the shop, or have them pick up a few hundred skeins while they’re in Wal-Mart doing their regular shopping. I totally understand the desire to buy all the necessary items at one time, so I don’t wonder that your customers are willing to pay more to do it. What I’m wondering is- why doesn’t the wholesaler go out of business, if Wal-Mart is undercutting him?
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 08:24:01 -0600 | From: “Karen S Bush” <
Hi all! Sorry I’ve been so quiet lately. I’ve been pretty busy in the sewing room and WAY behind on my emails and digest-reading. Sorry to post to the list, but, I was getting concerned about Sally Ward. I’ve emailed and it bounced. With the floods over there, I was worried. Have we heard from Sally lately??? kb www.karenbushquilts.com Member of TAS-The Applique Society http://www.thequiltauction.com/index.cfm
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 15:11:49 -0000 | From: “Sally Ward” <
Just to let you know that my little bit of Yorkshire is not yet inundated, as the river in our village runs through a very deep cut – although we are only a few miles from York, where friends have water up to but not yet in the front door and some local roads have been closed with the weight of water off the fields. The torrential rain and closed main roads did stop me getting to the second day of a workshop at the Bowes Museum with those glorious quilts last week, but I hope to be back there this weekend for my third look at them (and its still not enough <G>). Those of you who visited the Bowes this summer did well, the trains are now so disrupted that many are having to give it a miss. Sally W in Yorkshire, UK
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 07:43:02 +0100 | From: “Bozena Wojtaszek” <
Hello, I’m not a historian but some months ago I found interesting informations about Shaker’s quiltmaking in “Silk Quilts” by Hanne Vibeke de Koning – Stapel. They’d produced their own silk (different in design) too. In this book you can find some pictures of their quilts and a little bit of the history. Greetings, Bozena Wojtaszek
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 19:47:43 -0500 | From: “Grandma’s Attic” <GrandmasAttic@>
The question was asked, why would you buy from the wholesaler when you could just go to Walmart when you need to restock is w-a-a-a-y more complex than anyone wants to discuss here on the QHL list. Briefly, an independent shop COULD go to Walmart and purchase product for less. But what do they say to their own customers who are shopping there when they or their employees are recognized with goods in hand? Do they say, “we’re buying it for less but we expect you to pay more?” And if they need hundreds of any one particular item they are not going to find it in that kind of bulk–therefore, purchasing a little here, a little there takes employee time, etc, etc. Further, the independent retailer is now supporting the large chain and perpetuating the difficulties and the system. Wholesalers depend on the independent to pay more to make up the difference in their own bottom line. They sell to the chain at a discount because they’re getting the volume. They depend on selling it to the independent at the highest percentage of mark-up to make up the difference in what it is costing them. The independent is where the GRAVY is for the wholesaler. Obviously someone, somewhere has to pay these costs and this is how the wholesaling system is working at the present time. For a much larger/longer discussion of how this entire system works, see various articles by Jeff Gutcheon in the Fabric Shop Network Newsletter concerning factoring, wholesaling, and competition between independents and chains published this past year. If you need to contact them, the web address is www.fabshopnet.com. Suffice it to say, I didn’t intend to stir up a can of worms with my comments. I was (and am) just saying that price should not the only consideration when valuing goods or services. The original post on shipping and handling suggested to me that the writer believed all shipping and handling charges (in general) were unjustified. Later, we discovered that there were additional charges but the shop in question GAVE the merchandise (and the shipping and handling) away for free. (A considerable expense to the shop owner but yet another cost of doing business.) Things are never as completely black and white as they first appear; however, I still contend that shipping and handling charges are what they are because they help keep the independent mail order places in business. Personally, my hat is off to Julie at Liberty Quilts for taking the high road and providing the merchandise for free even though she personally had to pay her suppliers for it. Julie incurred not only the expense of the merchandise but the phone calls, the shipping and handling, computer time, and the time/effort involved in ensuring that her customer was satisfied. She deserves the credit on this one. But now we’ve beat this subject to death so perhaps we should get back to quilt history. Rachel Greco
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 22:51:35 -0500 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrow@>
this came across on the QuiltersBee List…………… >Mark your calendars. >The Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore Maryland is having quilt show >- entitiled The Baltimore Album Quilt Tradition. June 16 – Sep 9 2001 >There will be more than forty Maryland quilts in the broderie perse and >Baltimore Album styles. >This is a rare event to see these quilts. I doubt that they will be shown >again for at least 10 years, maybe more. I’ll bet Cinda knows about this! Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 13:33:51 -0500 | From: “John Cawley” <cawley@>
Karen Alexander gave me a whole list of words that I couldn’t use to describe the quilt exhibits at the Renwick Gallery, words like: beautiful, amazing, inspiring, glorious. She said these were all givens. She’s right, of course, but I do need some adjectives to tell you about the two exhibits which are running until Jan. 19, 2001. The Renwick is part of Smithsonian and focuses on contemporary American crafts. It’s just down Pennsylvania Ave. from the White House and just up 17th St. from the DAR. They do a great job of displaying quilts (the legendary Calico and Chintz exhibit was at the Renwick). The Amish quilts are from the collection of Faith and Stephen Brown. Most are Midwestern quilts but there enough examples from Lancaster County to offer a nice compare and contrast. The dates range from 1880 to 1940. There is a catalogue published by the University of Michigan Museum of Art (the first venue for the exhibit). It’s available from the Renwick gift shop for about $20. Phone # 202-357-2700. The exhibit of African-American quilts by contemporary artists is simply breathtaking. It defies all stereotypes. I truly am at a loss for words to describe these quilts and that doesn’t happen often. Looking back on the day I see great flashes of color, technical skill and amazing creativity. Cinda on the Eastern Shore where the weather is perfect for the Waterfowl Festival which brings 20,00 visitors to our little town with a population of 9,000.
Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2000 07:49:14 -0500 | From: “fawn” <fawn@>
The following leads me to speculate that the HIPV quilts of the Williams family might have been made in recollection of the Underground Railroad. The “Slave Chain” block cited by Serena Williams in not included in HIPV. Fawn20 Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 9:18 AM
Fawn, The following from todays’ Bluefield Daily T: http://www.bdtonline.com/online.htm BLUEFIELD — “The monkey wrench turns the wagon wheel north to Canada,” Serena Strother Wilson said, interpreting the panels of a quilt. A crowd of about 75 people at the Hebert Gallery, Harris-Jefferson Student Center on the Bluefield State College campus, was held spellbound as Wilson unlocked secret messages contained in quilt panels that led runaway slaves to freedom. Wilson, 66, of Columbus, Ohio, comes from a family of quilters from Edgefield, S.C. She learned the code from her grandmother and her Aunt Ozella, who worked as a “quilt lady” in the market of Charleston, S.C. Wilson talked about how “during slavery time,” quilt patterns gave silent directions to escaping slaves heading to freedom in Canada. “As she worked, Aunt Ozella would tell our family story,” Wilson said. “Grandmother said: ‘Never tell anybody,’ but we had to sit there and say the quilt code over and over. My grandmother and mother saved everything. Now, they would be called a recycler. “Aunt Ozello McDaniel was the family historian,” Wilson said. “She said these quilts and songs helped the slaves get to Canada.” Wilson has talked about the “McDaniel Secret Quilt Code” on the Oprah Winfrey Show and other national broadcasts. Through the course of her presentation, Wilson, a graduate of both BSC and West Virginia State, would explain the significance of the various panels. Little ties in a quilt served as calendars and flying geese on a quilt pointed a safe direction to freedom. “The slaves couldn’t read and they weren’t allowed to talk to each other in their native languages,” Wilson said. “They weren’t even allowed to play drums.” Wilson painted a dark portrait of life in bondage. Because of a “B” tattooed on the left shoulder of one of her ancestors, Wilson believes her ancestors came from the Benin area of Africa, and like many slaves who were brought to Sullivan Island before being auctioned. Many people who arrived in North America and remained on the Sea Islands off the South Carolina/Georgia coast are called Gullah. Their language, also Gullah, is a combination of English and several African dialects. “Continue up bear paw trail,” Wilson said, reading her way through the quilts that circumvented the Hebert Gallery. “This western part of Virginia didn’t want to fight a war to keep slavery. The people here helped runaway slaves on their way to freedom. I’ve been told that bears have tender feet, so they pick a good part through the mountains. Slaves would follow those paths.” Wilson displayed various artifacts and told aside stories as she continued translating the quilts. Her husband, Col. Howard Wilson, (U.S.A.F. Ret.) and Dr. Juanita Loundmon-Clay, BSC vice president of Student Affairs, assisted her in holding up various quilts. She said slaves referred to the Ohio River as “the River Jordan,” and translated a “slave ring” panel as meaning: “No more slave chains around your feet.” The quilts that will remain on display at BSC through Nov. 11, (including a Sunday exhibition on Nov. 5, from 1-4 p.m.) before going to Concord College where Wilson will make presentations at the Concord College Center Ballroom on Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. and Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. Along with the quilts, Wilson narrated a slide presentation that transported the audience from Sullivan Island, to the grave of Denmark Vesey, who led a slave revolt, to homes that his runaway slaves on the route of the Underground Railway. “This is really an American story,” she said at the conclusion of her presentation. “What happened during slavery time is over. I don’t feel any guilt or shame. OK, it’s gone.” She encouraged the audience to preserve their family’s personal history. “My grandmother … she was teaching us.” Adopting her Aunt Ozella’s accent, she translated the last panel on the quilt her husband held. “Thank God. You be free,” she said. “You be in Canada, child.” The audience demonstrated their appreciation with a strong round of applause.
Neil Glass Greenville, WV20
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 08:19:58 -0600 | From: Shirley McElderry <tigersoup@>
For all of us quilt history buffs, there is a feast for the eyes on eBay: a Marion Cheever Whiteside Story Book quilt; and it is one that I had never seen before. It is a Bible quilt; and the colors are wonderful! The number is 496388569. Shirley Mc from IA
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 17:12:12 -0600 | From: “caveman” <caveman@>
Hi All, I have a problem with mildew. I have a large amount of fabric pieces (mostly half yard cuts) that I had pulled from my stash to use on a quilt I have been working on for over a year. In early October, I was out of town when our water heater broke and flooded the hallway. My husband was home and replaced the water heater and assured me that no water had entered my sewing room. I checked the carpet in the room when I got home and it seemed that it was all dry. I never checked the stacks of fabric. Now (a month and a half later) I began looking at these fabric stacks and they are damp and smelly. The bottom pieces have black spots and the whole stacks are dank smelling. Even the dry fabric. I have washed all these fabrics (they are all 10 years old or newer) in Tide and Downey to get rid of the odor. It has helped but the smell is still there. The black spots will have to be cut out and I don’t expect to get rid of those. But I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for the smell? All of my double pink fabric and my cheddar color fabric is ruined if I can’t get it fresh smelling again! Thanks in advance for your advice. Arlene in Texas20
Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 20:09:37 EST | From: @aol.com
I’ve had very good success with white vinegar added to the wash water. It seems to neutralize the mildew smell. Good luck! Karen Evans
—
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 19:37:48 -0800 | From: Audrey Waite <
I’m looking at some empty space between the ceiling and the roof (the framing is up but not the dry-wall) and wondering if that would be a good place to store antique quilts on carpet rolls? I have only been thinking and have not voiced this idea to DH or the carpenter so don’t know if ductwork, etc. might interfer. It would be an area over the garage and could be included in the heating/cooling without too much effort I would think. I hate to see any space go unused. Ha! I have had several QHL subscribers e-mail me asking what you all suggested for the design wall and lighting in my new sewing area addition. If you don’t mind discussing this topic, I think everyone could benefit from your suggestions as there were some clever ideas and useful hints. Audrey Waite Sedona, AZ
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 16:13:21 +1100 | From: Fran Williams <fran.williams@>
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u94884&a9910283 Have finally got myself sorted out and the piccies of my Antique quilt collection is up on photopoint. I’ve been collecting since 1985 and only buy ones that are Australian or have been here for some time.
hugz,
Fran Fran Williams The Quilt Patch 116 St John Street Launceston 7250 Tasmania
“A day without fabric is like a day without sunshine”.
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 09:01:38 -0500 | From: maria@ (Maria Elkins)
Hey, Audrey, I have plenty of storage for your antique quilts here at my house! <VBG> Actually, I would be leery about putting your quilts in an attic due to the variations in temperature and humidity. How about storing something else up there, like your Christmas decorations and DH’s stuff, and keep your precious quilts in the same climate that you like to live in. As for a design wall, I recently got two 4 ft x 8 ft x 1-1/2” thick sheets of pink, foam insulation from Lowe’s. It is sort of like Styrofoam, but finer textured. It is light weight and easily moved. I covered it with cotton batting, so the fabric pieces stick without pinning, but I can use pins if I want to put the whole quilt up. My portable “design wall” currently dominates our living room which is right next to my sewing room — oops, I think it used to be a dining room but we haven’t eaten a family meal there for so long that I forget — , but I promise store it away in the basement as soon as it is not being used (Yeh, right!). But YOU could easily secure it to a wall so it is always there ready to go. Maria Lost Quilt Come Home Page maria@ http://www.lostquilt.com/
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2000 08:17:55 -0800 | From: “Julia D. Zgliniec” <rzglini1@>
Dear Fran, Thank you for the photo treat. Is there one which typifies the “wagga” I have read about? Julia
