May 10 – June 10, 2001
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:
- Tracing the Nine-Patch Pattern’s Roots — A member researching nine-patch history for a new quilt project asks the list for documented origins and gets pointed toward pattern-history references.
- Clearing Mold and Musty Odors from Antique Textiles — After a member’s fabric comes back from storage smelling of mildew, the list offers several tested odor- and mold-removal methods. (see the article on stain removal)
- A Symposium and a Study Center Worth the Trip — Members flag a Textile Museum symposium in Washington, D.C. and the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center’s magazine archive as resources worth visiting.
- Books on Political and Patriotic Quilts — A request for reading on patriotic and political quilt imagery draws several book recommendations from list members.
- Marketplace and Meetup Notes — Kris Driessen’s free quilt-book buy/sell pages, a Hawaii quilt show, and other regional gatherings get passed along for members planning trips.
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 16:19:04 -0400 | From: “Kris Driessen” <krisdriessen@>
>My husband (Kory Berrett) is a museum conservator in private practice. Three >years ago he informally tested the lightfastness of the proprietary >”indelible” >pens on the market, including Pigma, Sharpie, and Identapen. Only >Identapen as it >was then formulated proved lightfast under testing conditions. He ran >these tests >to assist me in finding an indelible felt-tip ink delivery system to use for >museum cataloging (on textile tapes and sandwiched between solvent-based >media). > >Just thought this might be of interest. > >Pat Keller
Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 08:04:40 EDT | From: JayBee388@
I am designing and making some 9-patch quilts. My intention is to write some history of the nine patch block and put it with my quilts for my family and friends to enjoy. I am also making a block of the month pkg for different nine patches to go with the history. I am having so much fun doing this , but I need more history to go in my booklet. Can anyone help me with this type of info. I have a few books and have checked the library, but need to know more about the first noted ninepatch . I would love to hear your stories about 9 patches in your lives as well and can I use this in my booklet. I have never done anything like this before and it is quite a challenge Thanks Joyce B
Date: Sun, 06 May 2001 12:03:47 +0000 | From: Bobbie Aug <qwltpro@>
Sandi, Thanks for the nice words. This will be our third year teaching at The Vermont Quilt Festival and a personal favorite! Quilt history abounds! Looking forward to seeing you there. Bobbie Aug Sandi or Mike Hardy wrote: > > I have received my confirmation for the Vermont Quilt Festival (June 29 > – July 1 this year) and I am pleased that I will be in the Sunday > morning class “Antique Quilt Commentary” with Bobbie Aug and Sharon > Newman. There is so much I can learn from these ladies that the class > should really be fun. > > The wonderful range of antiques to see at the show is always great and a > highlight of the show for me. And of course I try not to drool too much > over what the vendors have to sell. And the contest quilts are great > too. Anyone else planning to be at VQF? > > Sandi in Vermont
Date: Sun, 6 May 2001 20:59:28 -0400 | From: “John Cawley” <cawley@>
I know that I am luckier than one woman has a right to be, so don’t hate me if I tell you about the other fabric study group I belong to. Hazel Carter’s Fabric Dating Club meets every other month in Northern Virginia (suburbs of Washington, D.C.). Hazel chooses a topic for each meeting which focuses the study. This month it was “Quilts of the 1890s.” Not the most interesting subject was my thought. Boy, was I wrong! Maybe it was the phase of the moon, but the 20 or so people around the table were in great form; we saw fabulous quilts and learned a lot. The topic of the month is only a suggestion. People are free to bring anything of interest. We saw three quilts from the 1840s: a Bears Paw top which was appliqued, not pieced; none of us had ever seen anything like it. The blocks, in a variety of greens, browns even a chrome yellow, were sashed with a lovely delicate pink. a Flying Geese strippy with plain strips of a buff and blue floral print. The quilt contained many madder prints which made us think hard about the date. We compared the browns side by side with madders of the 1880s and found the early ones to be more red than orange. a chintz applique album signed and dated (various dates from the early 1840s) from Harrisburg, PA. Many of the blocks had faded totally to light brown while others retained the vivid original colors. The blocks were assembled and machine quilted at a later date with red sashing and borders. Closer to the topic period we saw three charm quilts from the late 1880s (to see one is a treat–three is heaven). I always love the conversational prints in quilts like these. My favorite today was a giant cockroach dueling with Pierrot. I swear, that’s what it was and it made the more usual dogs, horses etc. look pretty tame. We think this must have been a French fabric. Another of these quilts had Centennial fabric. The quirky things always appeal to me and I loved the “Z” quilt. Large blocks of indigo pieced Zs alternating with plain blocks of a shocking cheddar. The background of the Zs was pieced from shirtings which had marks indicating collar size, e.g. 16-1/2-34. Obviously they were literally shirtings. There was a neat Fly Foot with a backing made of 5 lb.. sugar sacks from two different companies one in New York the other in Philadelphia. The quilt is from northwestern PA. See the book Threads of Tradition to appreciate how different quilts from this area between Pittsburgh and Erie are from what we think of when we hear the words Pennsylvania quilt. We saw a scrap New York Beauty quilt top set so that the quarter circles formed the corners of a large square outlined by half-square triangles. The blocks had plain sashing with small Sunburst blocks at the intersections. Every one of those triangles had its points cut off and it didn’t make a bit of difference. That quilt is smashing! We saw some quilts that caused groans because they were so wild and idiosyncratic. It was agreed that several were best viewed from a distance. One member described them as “bagpipe” quilts. She said bagpipe music is best appreciated when heard from a mile away. I wish you could all be part of a group like this: learning with people who share our passion for quilts. Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Mon, 7 May 2001 16:45:27 EDT | From: Quiltstudio1752@
If you’re coming to New Jersey don’t miss a one time opportunity to see this collection of quilts. “Historic Quilt Days in Hunterdon: A Walking Tour in Flemington, NJ” will be held on Sat., May 19, 10-4, and Sun. May 20, 12-4. This exhibit of quilts made in the 19th and 20th centuries in Hunterdon County, NJ, will be presented in the historic settings of the 1829 Historic County Courthouse, the 1846 Doric House of the Hunterdon Cty. Historical Society and the 1756 Fleming Castle, home of the local chapter of the DAR. Curated by Veronica Mitchell, a member of the Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey, the exhibit is a follow-up of the Hunterdon County QuiltSearch, a regional study of over 300 quilts. Tour starts at the Historic Courthouse at the corner of Main & Court Sts. Donation $3.00. Veronica Mitchell in NJ
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 22:39:54 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <Judygrow@>
Did I catch your interest with the subject header? Sounds awful, doesn’t it? But these are the 3-4″ thick squishy long playing rods, exactly as long as my Tahoe’s back seat is wide. I went into K-mart tonight to get windshield washer fluid and wound up with 4 of those rods. I remember a conversation about using them to stuff the folds when storing a quilt. Does anyone know exactly what they are made of? How safe are they as is? I bought the yellow ones thinking that they probably had the least amount of harmful dye in them. Should they be covered with something that will isolate them from the quilt before they are cut and used? My gut feeling is that they should be, and that muslin won’t be enough of a barrier. Perhaps they should be wrapped in mylar, or tyvek, before a slipcase of muslin or jersey knit is slipped over them? What do the conservators say about using them? I wouldn’t use them for every quilt — I’d run out of storage space pretty quickly — but a couple of my earlier quilts need special handling and these would be so much easier to use than tissue paper. I did make my own jersey knit stuffed worms for one quilt and it was a lot of work, and took an awful lot of poly stuffing! Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 12:36:55 EDT | From: JQuilt@
my sewing machine suffers from manic-depression or to be politically correct bi-polar disorder…. yesterday it sewed fast, furious and best of all accurately….you could hear the little motor singing..Ain’t no Mountain High Enough… my seams were straight, no skipped stitches, no puckers..just pure euphoria well today….depression hit bigtime…the bobbin thread jammed…the needle broke…the fabric slid away from the presser foot… the bobbin thread ran out before the end of the very last seam…. the final step of suicidal behavior was when the machine light bulb died… i squirted some prozac 4 in 1 oil in every orifice that i could find on my machine…and within a few minutes…i could faintly hear the motor humming a medley of tunes from the Lion King….ending with The Circle of Life… i know that in reality inanimate objects don’t have mood swings… maybe it’s the surges/shocks from the electrical output socket…that does it…but my machine definitely has some really good days and some really bad ones…. i have made an appointment at the sewing machine psychologist/repair person…for a checkup and a renewal of the prozac oil prescription.. do you think that it could be me and not the machine?…nahhhh!!! it’s always the tool’s fault when a job gets messy right? til next time. jean laino, amherst mass.
Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 20:32:26 -0700 | From: chrisa@
Hey Jean, have you given it lithium, or better yet Depacote? My Viking use to act up like that, but not my Bernina. I use to think IT WAS ME when it was the Viking and I. What a relief it was when I switched machines, really! Anyway, Bi-polar is genetically passed down, so if you have a Viking, that could explain your mood swinging machine. A little oil, needle change, dusting, and slicking up the tray with silicone spray doesn’t hurt either. Another thought is it’s age- is it pre-menopausal maybe? Kim Wulfert Psychologist/Quilter
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 08:57:20 -0400 | From: Mary Beth Goodman <mgoodman@>
NYQuilts! quilt show is coming up quick and I wanted to let folks here know that we have some very interesting antique quilts for display this year. Two antique quilts in particular I’ll mention. One is a wool tied quilt that appears to be a rail fence design except that all the seam lines are covered with embroidery a la “crazy quilt.” The other is a NY State quilt that has eighty 4″ appliqued blocks. I am quite excited to have this quilt on display this year, since our teacher is Brenda Papadakis. The workmanship is quite good from what I remember and it is a multigenerational quilt started around 1850 and finished in 1905 by the granddaughter of the original block maker. (These are in addition to a judged show and other special displays. AND our own list mistress will be there as a vendor along with others) For complete information about NYQuilts! including how to get there: http://www.nyquilts.org Hope to see some of you there. — Mary Beth Goodman, Coordinator NYQuilts! Quilts, vendors, lectures, classes! May 19-20, 2001 Russell Sage College, Troy NY http://www.nyquilts.org/
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 14:33:56 EDT | From: KareQuilt@
Quilt Display Alert There is a quilt display that any of you traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway this summer might want to catch. A friend from Roanoke, VA, just emailed me about it. Haven’t seen it myself so don’t know how long it will be there. It may be a rotating exhibit or a permanent exhibit. The Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is open seven days a week from 9 until 5, except Sunday when it opens at 12 and closes at 5. The telephone number is 540-427-3871 and it at Milepost 115, Blue Ridge Parkway. The Parkway begins near Waynesboro, at the southern end of the Skyline Drive, and extends southwestward through Virginia and ends in the Great Smokey Mountains at Cherokee, North Carolina. There are mile markers, a concrete post with the mile painted on it, all along the way. The display includes blocks under glass with a photograph and a short bio of each quilter as well as some full-size quilts hanging. My friend sent me a couple email photos of the display cases but not the full-size quilts. I could try forwarding the email if anyone wants to contact me privately. Karen Alexander
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 20:43:05 -0700 | From: “M. Geiss-Mooney” <mgmooney@>
The subject line definitely caught my eye! I suspect that the tubes are made out of polyethylene/Ethafoam from their appearance but don’t know for a fact. As a textile/quilt conservator, I recommend that you first cover them with a layer of aluminium foil (freezer/heavy duty) to provide a vapor barrier that mylar or tyvek won’t provide and then with a layer of cotton muslin or cotton jersey knit. The “worms” are easily cut/trimmed with a serrated knife, btw. Meg Geiss-Mooney Textile/Quilt Conservator in northern California where Spring has finally sprung mgmooney@
Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 21:11:07 -0400 | From: “John Cawley” <cawley@>
Yesterday the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C. sponsored a symposium in conjunction with the exhibit of red and green applique quilts from the James Collection (Robert and Ardis James, heroes of all who love quilts, were there). The exhibit is called “Fanciful Flowers: Botany and the American Quilt.” It was organized by the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska (home of the James Collection). We saw 13 applique quilts in Lincoln at the AQSG Seminar last Oct. There are 24 different quilts in the D.C. exhibit so even if you were in Lincoln you don’t want to miss this. It would be churlish of me to complain about the few shortcomings of the symposium, but I wish there had been more emphasis on history and that it had not been scheduled on the day of the Embassy Tour which meant that the museum was jammed with people not terribly interested in quilts, most of whom wanted to use the bathroom (in very short supply at the Textile Museum). Now that I’ve got that out of my system… The high point of the day was a gallery talk by Carolyn Ducey from the University of Nebraska who curated the exhibit. There is a marvelous catalogue with color pictures of 54 quilts. It’s called “A Flowering of Quilts” edited by Patricia Cox Crews, ISBN 0-8032-1513-4. The quilts exhibited ranged from the highest style cut out chintz, to classic mid-19th century floral applique, to crazy/silk to quirky folk art. An example of the latter is a floral wreath embroidered with the makers name and the date 1890 with a border of appliqued animals (amazingly well done): turkey, giraffe, beaver, rat, moose, ostrich–probably 50 or more all the same size, all in red. I saw this quilt a few years ago at the Museum of Our American Heritage in Lexington, MA hanging with another quilt with an almost identical border (also part of the James Collection). At every quilt exhibit I attend, I play the game of “which would you choose if you could take one home.” My choice yesterday was the Mexican Rose: four stylized red roses on a brilliant yellow background with a graceful tulip and rose border, and all the flowers are stuffed! It has to be from Pennsylvania! They are very, very careful with attributions in this catalogue. Nothing is stated as fact unless they have documentation. I spent the longest time looking at a Signature Album, because I love quilts which have names inscribed and because it presented the problem that anybody who has made an album quilt has encountered, Some of your friends have much better skills than others and some of your friends have no skills at all. This quilt (p.44-47 in the book) has it all. Some of the blocks are just too funny; I can imagine the maker trying to figure out how to leave out the horrible turquoise and pink block made by Abigail Stokes and finally realizing there was no way. There are three blocks of the same really clumsy floral design. On the other hand, there’s a marvelous woven basket, a super cherry wreath, an intricate embroidery that seems to anticipate redwork. It’s just a great and really loveable quilt. Enough; I’ve had a hard day. We are moving to a new house with a wonderful garden which has been neglected and I’m trying to make some headway. Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 14:32:35 +0400 | From: “Maryjo Ordway” <jmordway@>
I’m a long-term lurker who saves and then at some point reads all these digests, but I always seem to have a question about once a year! I have an antique piece of fabric that was filthy; I soaked it in JOhnson’s baby shampoo (I live overseas and don’t have any Orvus)– I think most of the dirt is out, and MOST of the mold smell is too, but it’s still lingering — any suggestions? Add a little white vinegar to some cold water … or … (most of the fabric is red, but the red did not run) Any help would be appreciated — right now I’m just airing the dry fabric out in my sewing room. There isn’t enough hot sun yet for me to put it outside, but I could wait a month or two, if that is also a suggestion. I’m on the digest format, or you can answer me directly at home. Thanks, Maryjo Ordway
Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 09:41:41 -0400 | From: Newbie Richardson <pastcrafts@>
Mary Jo, You probably have some mold spores left in the weave. There are three solutions that might work; put the piece in the freezer for 48 hours, then vacuum the piece very well./ Place it in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet. The heat will kill the spores and the dryer sheet will help alleviate the odor./ If the piece is small enough, put it in your microvave oven (with a small cup of water for moisture) and microwave on high for 5 minutes. That will kill the spores, then vacuum. Studies have been done, microwaving is fine for textiles. Good luck, Newbie
Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 10:06:08 -0400 | From: “Kris Driessen” <krisdriessen@>
I received this note today – can anyone help them? Please respond directly to Mary Pokorney Donlean pokorney@ or pokorney@ Kris >Dear Sir/Madam: > I am a project manager of a quilting documentary that is running >nationally on PBS this December. The program called “Century of >Quilts: America in Cloth” is being produced here at Wisconsin >Public Television. > I am writing to you to see if you can assist us. We are looking for >photos of three quilters to use in our program. Even a family >member of these quilters would help us to contact them directly. > Do you have any idea where we might be able to find photos or >family members of the following quilters? > >Josephine Craig >Hannah Headlee >Mary Pemble Barton > > State historical societies have not been any help with these >quilters. So any help you could give us would be greatly >appreciated. Thank you for your attention.
Thank you, Mary Pokorney Donlean pokorney@ or pokorney@
Date: Tue, 15 May 2001 10:58:33 EDT | From: JQuilt@
if you go to http://www.textilemuseum.org/ you can find out more about this wonderful museum. jean
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 08:16:38 +0400 | From: “Maryjo Ordway” <jmordway@>
Thank you to everyone who sent suggestions about getting mold smell out of old fabrics to my home e-mail — baking soda, the sun, and even microwaving the fabric were some of the suggestions! I’m going on a short vacation, but can’t wait to try some of them when I get back. Maryjo
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 00:35:06 EDT | From: Cml791@
Is anybody out there that can tell me about the statewide guild in Colorado. I think I read where they would be meeting in Grand Junction this month and since I will be near there I would like to attend a meeting. Also, if they have workshops? Thanks, Carolyn Miller, North Texas Currently en route to Colorado
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 07:15:05 EDT | From: Xroadclown@
For all of you quilt historians, and for all of you “lurkers” I’d like to share something interesting with you.. I am a member of the Tompkins County Quilters Guild, located in Ithaca New York. As many of you are probably aware, Quilters’ Newsletter Magazine gives credit to our guild for helping to re-establish an interest in quilting back in 1976. Our guild was terribly honored by this recognition, and have decided to “CONTINUE THE TRADITION!!!” In honor of our “bicentennial” We are sponsoring a weekend quilting extravaganza from July 27-29! It’s just before Quilting-by-the-Lake, and easily located in Central New York. Thanks to the efforts of our wonderful volunteers, we now have a website that describes our show to a “T” please visit us either in person or at our web site: www.tcqg.org Just to tempt you a little, our own Genie Barnes will be lecturing and appraising, Caryl Bryer Fallert will be providing a lecture, there will be a fashion show by Nancy Bales and Pat Nelson… also in the community there will be a fantastic exhibit featuring African American and Native American Quilting, as well as a display of the bicentennial quilts from the original show!!! give us a peak! thanks so much, Melanie Towner
Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 21:02:06 -0800 | From: mopalka <mopalka@>
I don’t know if anyone is planning a trip to Hawaii, but Quilt Hawaii 2001 will be happening July3-8 on the beautiful island of Maui. A quilt conference in a tropical paradise with classes, quilt show, vendors, tours and more. If you want more information visit www.quiltventures.com What more could a quilter ask for? Sun, quilting and chocolate!! Susan
Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 06:44:34 -0700 | From: “Laurette Carroll” <Robert.J.Carroll@>
Hello, I belong to the Featherweight list and a member who lives in England has written a book of his adventures traveling the countryside, as a sewing machine repairman. The book is a wonderful collection of stories describing the local countryside and it’s history as well as heartwarming tales of his customers, many of whom were born in the early 1900’s and who have fascinating stories to tell. Go to the site and read some of his stories. You may also enjoy seeing part of his collection of over 350 sewing machines. See his description below. Hi I am a travelling sewing machine repair man that has traveled the South East corner of England for many years. I have written a book of true stories that I have come across and have happened to me over the years. If you would like a copy just visit my Website where all the details are and some sample stories for you to read. Some of the stories will make you laugh and some will touch your heart and they are all true. Alex <A HREF=”http://www.sussexsewingmachines.com/”> http://www.sussexsewingmachines.com/</A> email alexsussex@
Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 11:36:42 EDT | From: QuiltFixer@
Cindy and I are going to be doing programs in Camarilla and Simi Valley, California June 12th and 13. We will be hanging out at the beach in Ventura, Calif for a few days after. We would love to hear from any of our QHL friends that are in that area Maybe a beach bar-be-que? on Saturday? Toni B.
Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 13:12:13 -0300 | From: Barbara Robson <robsonbh@>
Hi QHL, Thought some of you might be interested in a quilt auction in Paris tomorrow, in case you happen to be there! The web site is http://www.collecties.com/homepage/ Click on the quilt picture and you will get the rest of the quilts that are up for auction. There are American, Canadian and English/Welsh quilts listed. Makes you wonder how they end up in Paris? I have no affiliation with the auction, just interested in where our quilts end up. Barbara Robson, Nova Scotia, Canada
Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 14:45:13 -0500 (EST) | From: Teri Klassen <teresak@>
Thankyou Barbara for mentioning the Paris quilt auction site (www.collecties.com). I am especially fascinated by the Log Cabin Star (lot 15) and the Balls pieced quilt (lot 13) patterns. and also am surprised to see a Double WEdding Ring attributed to ca. 1900. I think Clues in the Calico says they appeared not much earlier than 1920. Teri in Indiana, where we finally got a good soaking rain
Date: Mon, 21 May 2001 07:39:46 -0400 | From: “Glenn Hardy” <hardy@>
Hello, I’m a long-time old quilt lover who has recently been introduced to qhl. I just got back from Spring Quilt Market where I met Judy Roche. She and Corienne Kramer have just introduced a line of repro fabrics for Chanteclaire fabrics. The line is based on two quilts from Southeastern PA, one of which was at the show. The original fabrics are ca. 1825-1850. Judy said she actually sent a piece of the quilt to Korea so the printers could get an exact color match on the large floral focus fabric. The new fabric was sewn onto the old quilt and is virtually indistinguishable from the rest. I’m not advertising the fabric, just telling you so you can look for it and see what you think. I also saw some repro turkey red from another company that looked a browner red than my favorite turkey shade. It was a pleasure to see some repro fabric among all the chicken, bali, and ‘cute’ fabric. Julie
Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 10:14:10 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord@>
Denise asked: <does anyone know where and when the quilts show in Nashville is in july.> If you mean the AQS show, it will be July 31-August 2, 2002, at the Opryland Hotel Convention Center. Xenia, in Indiana
Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 21:13:01 -0700 | From: “Laurie Magee & Tom Blajeski” <woodman@>
I have won a trip to San Francisco for American Library Assn, June 15-19. I’m flying in from Wisconsin. What textile things should I not miss? I will be staying at the Grand Hyatt downtown. Since my employer is not paying for this I intend to take a little personal time to visit important things. Laurie ———-
Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 06:56:49 -0700 | From: Denise Clausen <nadyne@>
For further information, please see the Latimer Center’s web site at www.oregoncoast.com/LatimerTextile
Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 19:26:37 EDT | From: Bunjorda@
Hello all, If this announcement has already been posted, my apologies. But I thought it was of interest and importance to those interested in quilt history and worth the chance of duplication. Jinny Beyer and Zheng Zhang,USA, Inc (maker of handicrafts in China for resale in the USA) reached a settlement concerning the unauthorized reproduction of her Ray of Light quilt. The Ray of Light (copyright, 1979) was listed as one of the 20th century’s one hundred best quilts. The company agreed to cease production and sale of the pattern, recall any unsold products involved, donate the 3860 pieces in inventory to Habitat for Humanity, pay legal fees, and contribute $45,000 to quilt organizations whose purpose is quilt history and preservation. These organizations are: Alliance for the American Quilt, the New England Quilt Museum, the San Jose Quilt Museum, The American Quilt Study Group, The Quilter’s Hall of Fame, and the Virginia Quilt Museum. This is important both because of the example of a quilter confronting those who would ignore copyright issues and also because of the generosity of this qulter in donating the proceeds to help preserve quilt history. I applaud Jinny Beyer for her unselfishness and her contribution to quilting and quilt history. Just thought you all would like to know. Bunnie Jordan
Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 19:30:40 -0500 | From: Marilyn Woodin <woodin@>
Hurrah for Jinny Beyer and her courage and belief in preservation of the American quilts and donation of money to such worthy groups. Marilyn Woodin Kalona, Iowa
Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 22:13:03 -0400 | From: “Kalmia@” <kalmia@>
Laurie, From downtown SF you can catch the commuter train (Caltran?) to San Jose and walk to the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles. The train is fast, relatively inexpensive, and convenient, and downtown San Jose is lovely. Contact them ahead of time to check on hours and exhibits. Laurel Horton
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 11:09:24 -0400 | From: “anne” <datkoa@>
If I were lucky enough to be in the SF area I would visit Kasuri Dyeworks. This company imports the most wonderful Japanese textiles… The owners visit only a few of the larger quilt shows each year, so an opportunity to visit their shop would be a treat. One category of items they currently have are Katagami, the rice paper stencils used to print yukata and silk fabrics. These textile-related ephemera are museum-quality, wonderful for framing or even for using as quilting patterns. I bought a couple of these, but did it sight-unseen. I was very happy with the choice Debbie, the co-owner, made for me, but how much more fun to see them in person! The shop is in Berkeley, but easy to reach via BART. Their website shows fabrics, gives directions. http://www.kasuridyeworks.com/main/kddirs.html. There is also a quilt shop in Berkeley, New Pieces I think it is called, on Solano Street. AnneD
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2001 17:16:17 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
Does anyone know of a good quilt restorer in Idaho? Thanks, Darwin at ddbstuff@
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 22:44:43 EDT | From: MLEDevine@
Hi. My name is Marjorie Devine. I’m doing some research on women’s needleart as a means of self-expression. Speciffically, I am looking for leads on information linking quilts to political movements from the 19th century to the 20th. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for any suggestions. MLEDevine@ –
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 22:29:52 -0500 | From: “quilt97” <quilt97@>
This isn’t a historic topic, but if anyone has made placemats, would you please email me to say what lining you have found to work the best? Thanks! EKarenbeth in hot and humid south TX
Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 08:50:09 -0600 | From: Xenia Cord <xecord@>
There are several books featuring political and patriotic quilts and related textiles. See, for instance: Powell, G. Julie. The Fabric of Persuasion, Two Hundred Years of Political Quilts. An exhibit catalog for September 9-November 19, 2000. Chadds Ford, PA: Brandywine River Museum, 2000. Affleck, Diane L Fagan, and Paul Hudson. Celebration and Remembrance, Commemorative Textiles in America 1790-1990. North Andover, MA: Museum of American Textile History, 1990. Benson, Jane, and Nancy Olsen; ed. Jan Rindfleisch. The Power of Cloth, Political Quilts 1845-1986. Cupertino, CA: Board of Trustees of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District, 1987. Bishop, Robert, and Carter Houck. All Flags Flying, American patriotic Quilts as Expressions of Liberty. New York: E. P. Dutton, in association with the Museum of American Folk Art, 1986. Xenia, in Indiana (with a bookshelf handy to the computer!) –
Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 11:18:00 -1000 | From: Laurie Woodard <lwoodard@>
If you’re planning a trip to Hawai`i this month, you won’t want to miss the twenty-third annual Hawaiian quilt exhibit at Mission Houses Museum in Honolulu, featuring “Quilts From The Margo Morgan Collection.” Now in her eighties, Margo has been quilting for over fifty years. Beginning in 1949, it took her nearly seven years to complete her first quilt. She continued to applique Hawaiian quilt tops as her children grew because the tops were portable and she could stitch while waiting at music lessons, doctor’s offices, or under the ironwood trees on the north shore of `Oahu while her sons and their friends went surfing. The last child left the nest on the eve of America’s second great quilt revival, and she was free to pursue her passion for quilting. This interpretive exhibit explores Hawai`i’s quilting history as well Margo’s place as a quilting master in the ongoing Hawaiian quilt revival. Twenty-four quilts are on exhibit. For location, museum hours, etc., visit the museum web site at http://www.lava.net/~mhm/. Margo Morgan has gained both local and national recognition for her traditional Hawaiian appliqué quilts. Her work has been featured in museum collections and exhibits, in books and magazine articles, in national quilt shows and on public television. The local PBS TV station is running the 13-part “Hawaiian Quilting” series beginning June 16th at noon. Produced by Richard Tibbetts and Elaine Zinn in 1993, the series is a Hawaiian quilting “how-to” staring nationally known quilter and quilting teacher, Elizabeth A. Akana. The “how-to” segment is available for sale on video cassette, but the part you don’t want to miss from the TV series, and which isn’t on the tape, are the interviews with Hawaiian quilters. Each episode begins with an interview with a contemporary Hawaiian quilter. Margo is featured in episode five. If you can persuade your local PBS station to run the series, the interviews with the quilters are invaluable resource material. — Laurie Woodard Guest Curator for the Margo Morgan exhibit Hawaiian Quilt Research Project http://openstudio.hawaii.edu/hqrp/default.html
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2001 07:39:16 -0400 | From: “Phyllis Twigg” <ptwigg@>
For those of you who happen to be visiting the Washington, D.C. area over the July 4th time period, you may wish to note the quilt study program to be given by Nancy Gibson at the DAR Museum on July 5 at 10:30 a.m. The presentation is called “A Salute To American Textiles.” Their web site at www.dar.org/museum (click on “DAR Events Calendar”) offers the following information: “The DAR Museum has amassed a fabulous collection of 18th and 19th century flags, commemoratives, uniforms, quilts and other patriotic textiles. This hour and a half program is held once a year. The fee is $20 per person and reservations are required. A minimum of ten people are required to hold the program.” Space is limited and you can reserve your seat by calling (202)879-3240. Directions and additional information about the museum can be found on their web site. I have attended this event twice before and it is excellent. I hope to see you there. Phyllis Twigg
Date: Sat, 09 Jun 2001 09:15:06 -0400 | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
I maintain a free quilt-books-for-sale page and a quilt-books-wanted page. I just added a number of interesting quilt history books this morning – it might be worth a field trip. Kris
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001 07:41:13 -0700 (PDT) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
This is a press release I received – Cooperstown is not far from my house and I am considering going. Haven’t decided yet. But if anyone wants a cheap place to stay (free!), you are welcome to come for a visit. Kris (List Mom) TEXTILE HISTORY FORUM COOPERSTOWN, NY JULY 12-15, 2001 The Second Textile History Forum will take place July 12-15, 2001, at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY.The Forum, inaugurated in 2000, will again bring together textile historians, collectors, and enthusiasts from around the country for a lively exchange of ideas and information in the form of a scholarly open meeting. Patterned after the very popular Dublin Seminars on New England Culture, the Forum features juried papers by noted textile authorities and scholars, a works-in-progress session, and two roundtable discussions. The two days of Forum presentations, on July 13-14, are supplemented this year by pre- and post-conference workshops, tours, and other events. The Forum, co-sponsored by the New York State Historical Association (NYSHA) in Cooperstown, NY, is open to anyone interested in textile studies. A Coverlet and Quilt Discovery Day on Sunday, July 15, sponsored in part by the Farmer’s Museum and NYSHA, is open to the general public. This year’s speakers include Richard Candee, Boston University, who will discuss the English domination of the cotton hosiery industry; Celia Oliver,the Shelburne Museum, who will speak on the influence of the Gothic Revival on American needlework; Virginia Gunn, University of Akron, who will present a study of the Hartmans, a family of coverlet weavers from Ohio; and Alexandra Kowalski, the Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum, who will look at the influence of the 1925 Paris Exhibition on American textile design. In addition, Suzan Friedlander, independent curator, will consider the connections between two Star of Bethlehem quilts in the NYSHA collection; Jacqueline Atkins, New York University, will discuss the Japanese influence on late nineteenth-century American textiles; and Liz Cherry Jones, Monticello, will look at tow cloth and its historic use in eighteenth-century Virginia. Other presentations of special interest include a study by Camille Breeze, Museum Textile Services, on the signature quilts of Harvard, Massachusetts; a paper by Saundra Altman, Past Patterns, on the evolution of the corded petticoat as seen through patent records; a discussion by Rabbit Goody, Thistle Hill Weavers, on the hand-weaving of cotton shirting in North Stonington, Connecticut, in the nineteenth century; and research by Gayle Begnaud, weaver, on the Acadian blankets of Louisiana. The Forum will also feature a special computer work session, presented by Susan Greene, on the use of Filemaker database software and digital images for storing and sharing information. Two Roundtable discussions will focus on an administrator’s responsibilities in management of textile collections, presented and moderated by Michael Smith, American Museum of Textile History, and responsible reuse of historic textiles, presented and moderated by Wendy Christie, textile collector and dealer. Both topics are expected to draw out lively audience participation and commentary. A Works-in-Progress session will give researchers who have not yet completed formal papers an opportunity to share their work with participants. Last year’s works-in-progress session was a lively highlight for registrants as they asked questions, gave input, and met with presenters for further discussion of the topics. Other informal discussions will take place around “Show and Tell” tables and “What’s this Treasure?” a new feature that will allow participants to show items or post photos and descriptions of intriguing pieces they have seen in collections or private hands. On Thursday, July 12, Forum participants will have the opportunity to visit the costume shop of the renowned Glimmerglass Opera and the conservation studio of Susan Crozier Jones. There will also be behind-the-scenes tours of the New York State Historical Association’s collections of clothing, coverlets, quilts, and textile technology. Objects from the collections of both the Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmers’ Museum will be used to illustrate presenters’ talks during the Forum. A special half-day pre-conference workshop on “Identifying and Dating Historic Textiles” will be conducted by S. Rabbit Goody on Thursday, July 12th. The workshop will be held at the Thistle Hill Weaving Mill in Cherry Valley, 20 miles east of Cooperstown. On Sunday, July 15, there will be a meeting of the American Coverlet Society and a Coverlet and Quilt Discovery Day. Both events are open to the public and sponsored in part by the Farmers’ Museum and the New York State Historical Association. Registration for the four days is $225 and includes admittance to all Textile History Forum sessions, visiting privileges to the Fenimore Art Museum and the Farmers’ Museum, a copy of the Forum Proceedings (to be available at the time of the conference), and participation in the tours and visits scheduled for July 12th. A one-day registration for Friday, July 13, or Saturday, July 14, is available for $110. A $50 deposit is required to reserve a space for the Forum, and participation is limited. An additional fee is required for participation in the textile identification workshop. Full registration and housing information can be found on the web at www.rabbitgoody.com. Click on the Textile History Forum button on the home page. For further information, contact: Rabbit Goody, Textile History Forum, 101 Chestnut Ridge Rd. Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Tel/fax: 518-284-2729. Email: rabbitg@
