March 15 – 17, 2004
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:
- Pillow Shams vs. Beard Covers — A long thread untangles the terminology and history of pillow shams, pillowcases, and beard/chin guards used to protect bedding and quilts.
- Historic Dye Mordants — Members discuss old-time mordanting methods, including burying goods in a dung heap and using urine, referencing Jim Liles’ dye research. (see the article on natural dyes)
- FVF Seminar 2004 Report — A member shares an overdue recap of the Formalist Vintage Fabric Seminar held March 5-7 in Bird in Hand, PA.
- Aussie Quilts on Simply Quilts — A request for publicity contacts for Australian quilt magazines turns up editor details and pointers to Australian Patchwork and Quilting, Down Under Quilts, and Quilter’s Companion.
- Quilt Index and Museum Tips — Members trade notes on the Quilt Index resource and recommend the Schwenkfelder Museum in Pennsburg, PA. (see the article on quilt museums)
Date: Mon, | From: Midnitelaptop@
you know i had second thoughts about these items being called pillow shams… pillow cases have an open end for easy removal for laundering.. i think pillow shams either laid on top of the pillow on encased the pillow entirely with and opening in the back… jeanL
From: “Sally Ward” <sallytatters@>
>In the old process they would sometimes bury the goods in a dung heap > for a few weeks!
At a lecture I attended about old printing methods, one participant described her visit to an historic printworks in the UK which was on the verge of closure. Whilst being taken round the site they were shown the cattle sheds and pasture and told the herd had only just been sold. The requirement for good quality dung was such that the mills had always kept their own source of supply, and that was all the lucky herd had to do to earn their daily bread.
Sally W
From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)”
I never really thought about the difference between “sham” and “pillowcase” but realize I use sham to refer to a decorative cover, as Sharon says, something you would remove before using the pillow. Some shams lay on top of the pillows (like most redwork ones) and others have an opening to slip the pillow inside. Pennsylvania pieced and appliqued shams were decorative, not utilitarian. I often call them shams but also refer to them as pillowcases. On the other hand, I always refer to a plain homespun pillow cover as a “case,” never a “sham.” From what I can tell, this is generally how most people around here in Lancaster County use the terms. As a former English teacher, I strongly support the rules of “common usage,” not what the dictionaries or grammar books say<GR>!
From: The Lesters <jeanlester@>
Someone mentioned using urine for a mordant and then someone mentioned Jim Liles and his book. One of his stories was that he did keep and age urine for his dyeing projects. He lost a lawnmower, when his son couldn’t tell the difference in the aged urine and the gasoline, before mowing.
Jean
Date: Mon, | From: “Velia Lauerman” <velialive@>
some sham pieces used to protect the quilt sometimes were called beard cover. can’t excatly know the term but have seen several in museums. the piece is used on top of the pillows in cases which are decorated with either redwork, embroidery, other needlework or even pieced table runner size.actually looks like a table runner of today. Velia
From: Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@>
Hello Velia:
The only time I’ve ever seen a “beard cover” or “whisker cover” was on an antique charm quilt composed of hexagons. The white piece of fabric, decorated with pulled thread work, was actually sewn onto the top edge of the quilt and also tacked on the lower edge. Of course, this would have been removed periodically for cleaning, I would suppose, so it was loosely tacked, at any rate.
Interesting that you’ve found a sham that serves the same purpose of protecting the top edge of the quilt.
Pat
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 08:35:38 -0800 (PST) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>
We saw a quilt with a beard guard this past Saturday. You can see a picture of it at http://www.quilthistory.com/study/CRQSG.htm
Kris, busy on the chocolate scavenger hunt right now. For more info, see http://www.quiltersbee.com/chocolate.htm
— Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@> wrote: > Hello Velia: > > The
From: “Susan Wildemuth” <ksandbcw@>
If you want to see a sample of a beard cover go to Iowa-Illinois Quilt Study Group QHL site and click on the pink quilt.
Here is the link:
http://www.quilthistory.com/study/IAIL.htm
Click on February 7 meeting Go to Stripy Embroidered Pink (click to enlarge)
Sue in Illinois
Date: Mon, 15 | From: Margareta.Faust@
Oh, was I glad to see my observation confirmed!I noticed the same thing while watching ‘The Old Maid’ some time ago – absolutely a 1930s-40s quilt – the polka dots gave it away, if I remember right. And here’s another example: Pat Garret and Billy the Kid- set in the early 1900s, the quilt in the house where Billy spends the last night before getting killed is made of greeny-yellowy-brown rectangles, more in tone with Peckinpah’s overall use of sepia for the movie than based on historical accuracy, I think.
Margareta
From: “Steve & Jean Loken” <sandjloken@>
Sharon and all, I own a small patchwork pillow sham made by my grandmother probably in the 30s. It’s made of lavender piques and other lavender dress and apron fabrics. According to my mother (her daughter-in-law) it was made as a baby buggy (carriage out east) sham (as in futon sham or down comforter sham) for her first grandchildren. She never lived in PA, always in NYC, but also had southern NJ (Millville) roots. It’s at my home, and I’m not, so I can’t post a photo, and only vaguely remember it’s pattern, possibly a square in a square, 6 blocks in all, not much bigger than a bed pillow. The only other quilt I know from her is a GFG in shirtings. She made her living as a seamstress after being widowed young with 4 children in the 20s. And concerning pillow sham definitions: if you buy one today in a linen shop, it doesn’t lie on the pillow, but the pillow is inserted into it, usually with an envelope type tuck in the back. Jean in MN (and quiilter and retired librarian)
From: “Lucinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
I’m afraid that this overdue report on the FVF Seminar 2004 (March 5-7 in Bird in Hand, PA) will be a bit sketchy. I was rather distracted. In a word, it was wonderful. We started on Friday afternoon (following a stop at Sauder’s to take advantage of their sale. Sauder’s is a Mennonite fabric shop in northern Lancaster Co.) at the PA Quilt and Textile Museum. Judy Kelius has added some great quilts since I was there in November. One quilt is a four-block composed of 4 huge trees with birds and giant flowers dated 1856. There was spirited discussion about whether the odd winged creatures were moths or butterflies. The border of this quilt is eagles with shields alternating with large leaves and enormous three branched roses. Note the many synonyms for big; everything about this quilt is big–especially its impact. The quilting features hearts, houses, tools–a variety of odd designs. A second quilt, just the run-of-the-mill eagle quilt (VBG) had four eagles smoking cigars (that weird wand-like object with the red tip) on an orange background. Another orange masterpiece is an Oak Leaf and Reel on orange (the appliques are ox blood and green) with a border of birds. I just love the Pennsylvania Germans. After the FVF banquet we played a quilters’ version of To Tell the Truth. A panel of three presented differing stories about a quilt and the audience had to figure out which story was true. It was fun and proved that many FVF members are very good at instant fiction. Friday night’s show and tell included an incredible Trip Around the World in 1840s fabric. Who knew the pattern was used so early! We saw an Baltimore-type album quilt from the same period but made of fabrics which were somehow less “fine” than what we typically see in such quilts. It has a wonderful border of a large vine with feathers at the corners. These fabulous quilts are still coming out of the woodwork I’m sure that if I go to enough house sales, antique shops and auctions I’ll find one of my very own someday. Maybe somebody will put images online. As I have often told you I do words not pictures. I started things off on Saturday discussing my research on quilts inscribed in fraktur. Judi Gunter gave a wonderful presentation on her amazing collection of doll quilts from 1840 to 1950. I remember a delightful, early framed center quilt made of tiny pieces with 15 borders, a simple One Patch with a back made of a William Henry Harrison toile (1840), a faux crazy and a crazy alphabet dated Nov. 30, 1906. The last morning session was Fran’s “Conservation, A Practical Approach.” Fran’s most important piece of advice flowed from her training as a nurse, “First do no harm.” Lots of great tips and she got me started on putting a conservation back on the redwork top for the Odyssey Show. We found so many treasures during the lunch break that somebody suggested that the antique dealers of Lancaster Co. should underwrite the next FVF Seminar. I bought Amish pillowcases and a bolster cover (I think of a bolster as a long pillow, like the currently popular body pillows, and a bolster cover as whatever goes over or encloses that object) with names, decorations and dates (1896 & 1898) in exquisite cross stitch and a wonderful (huge) circa 1850 Chimney Sweep quilt pieced in a variety of gorgeous fabrics (fondue blue, chrome orange), great green setting blocks and a chintz border (probably from Lancaster City). On Saturday afternoon we went “Antiquing with John and Peggy Armstrong.” John who always comes to FVF with the most amazing finds was dressed in full auction-going mode, a vest with many pockets to accommodate flashlight, magnet, magnifying glass, marker, etc. We all got a copy of “The Rules.” I can’t wait for the next Eastern Shore auction! Most of us went for dinner in the home of an Amish couple. I’ve done this before, but this time the experience (and, amazingly the food) was wonderful. Everything was done by the young couple and their five children (ages 3 to 12).. The highlight was when the entire family sang church songs a cappella in harmony. On Sunday Suzanne Cawley showed us what was in “Granny’s Scrap Bag,” non-quilt items made from sewing scraps, including some things that were presented as a challenge for us to identify. Bear in mind that Suzanne (my identical twin separated at birth) is one of the funniest people you will ever meet and you’ll have some idea of what a great time we had. Barb Garrett’s “Fabulous World of Feedsacks” taught us just about everything there is to know on that fascinating subject. I learned a lot. The final event was the Plenary Session moderated by Mary Perini which gave us an opportunity to share ideas and opinions on a variety of topics. One question came up repeatedly during informal conversations. What are you going to do with your collection? We are all “of a certain age” and this is a subject of some interest. The only consensus seemed to be that we should all have a knowledgeable friend on-call (in case one should be hit by a bus) to make sure the family knows what’s important. I think this would be a great discussion for the next plenary session. Anyone on QHL would have felt right at home at the FVF Seminar. Lots of the regulars were there. Suzanne Cawley and I were thrilled to be reunited with Jill and Meredith (actually we are quadruplets separated at birth). We were really pleased that Hazel Carter and Bunnie Jordan of the Fabric Dating Club joined us. The space is already booked for the second weekend in March 2006. Cinda on the Eastern Shore
From: “jocelynm@”
> have seen them with stars, yo yo’s, daisy patterns, and I cannot even > remember other designs I have seen right now, but I know I have seen more
Anne, Double-knit yo-yos? Now that’s scary. <g>
From: “jocelynm@”
On March 13, 2004, Sally Ward wrote:
> I’m bemused. I can understand that washing in vinegar will remove soap > traces, but how (chemically speaking) does rinsing in vinegar set a colour?
Sally, Both vinegar and salt work to set (some)dyes by changing the chemical compo sition of the dye from a state that is readily water-soluable to a state th at isn’t. The vinegar makes it more acid, the salt makes it more…well, salty. <G> It depends upon the dye as to whether making it more acid will mak e it set better. Of course, we all know that clothes dryers will greatly enhance the setting power of any stain-dye that sneaks past us. <g> And wool doesn’t shrink wh en it gets WET, or otherwise you’d see pastures full of wadded-up, distorte d sheep- it takes water, heat and agitation. Fortunately, sheep tend to be raised in cooler climates, so the odds of a sheep being caught in the rain on a 104-degree day, and then deciding to lie down and roll around are pret ty low. <G>
From: “jocelynm@”
Last night I was frantically cleaning house (because someone who I THOUGHT I was inviting to go to lunch with me when she came through town on her vacation, accepted an invitation to stay TONIGHT <G>), I discovered an old che ck, made out to Hickory Hill Quilts for $62 something.
I don’t know why it never occurred to me to keep track of how much I paid for quilts, but I didn’t, and now I have no idea what this was. <G>
OTOH, I suspect that I decided not to keep track just to avoid the temptation to add it all up and thoroughly depress myself. <G>
From: “jocelynm@”
Any acid will even urine. (This is readily available in most households a nd > > Some dyes need more alkaline to set them. In this case a little ammonia will work.
Darwin, Isn’t ammonia a key ingredient of urine? Wouldn’t urine be alkaline rather than acidic, then?
From: “jocelynm@”
Sharon, At least around here, a pillow sham is a cover that usually matches the out ermost bed covering (quilt, comforter, bedspread) that is used during the d ay to make the bed look nice. A pillowcase is a cover that is made out of s heeting material, often to match the sheets, and is used to protect the bare pillow from the user’s face and hair (or vice versa <g>). When I was a child, I was taught that ‘nice people’ never slept on a bedspr ead or pillowsham- you always stripped the bed back and slept on the sheets even if it were just a nap. <G> On my bed, the pillows in pillowcases that are actually used at night hide behind the pillows in shams that are just used for show, during the day; at night, the pillows in the shams and the ‘bedspread’ (best quilt) are tosse d on the cedar chest, to reveal the quilt that’s actually being used for wa rmth, the sheets, and the pillows in their cases. 🙂
From: “jocelynm@”
On March 14, 2004, J. G. Row wrote:
> Some English teacher ought to teach the writer of the following about how to > define a word…………. > > 1. case, pillowcase, slip, pillow slip — (bed linen consisting of a cover > for a pillow; “the burglar carried his loot in a pillowcase”)
How about: ‘I carried my cats from the burning house in pillowcases’? <g>
From: “J. G. Row”
So many people have cancelled for tomorrow, March 16th, because of predicted bad weather (snow and ice pellets here) that I am going to cancel our meeting tomorrow and postpone it until next Tuesday, March 23rd, the 4th Tuesday of this month, and only for this meeting.
Again, please let me know if you will be able to attend.
Today is such gorgeous weather, and tomorrow calls for snow and ice pellets! March is so unpredictible. Thirty-three years ago I drove to the hospital in a raging snowstorm on March 31st to have my first child who wound up an April Fool baby!
I hope to ssee you next week.
Judy “the Ringo Kid” in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
From: “Velia Lauerman”
Just for Show ? brings to mind of a story my mother, wonderful quilter for more than 75 years, told about visiting her cousin. Questioned the cousin about her special quilts and dinnerware ! Waiting to show and use them for special company. Did Mom go back to visit? When giving a quilt to anyone and the person would say I’ll save it for special company, she would seriously say if you don’t use it I can give it to someone who will. Every quilt is a showpiece and should be treated special. Velia
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 17:40:43 -0600 | From: “Karen Erlandson” <quilter@>
Oh my goodness, I have seen tons of beard guards or chin guards (the men in my family didn’t do beards, I guess) – I have seen these in lots of southern (Texas) quilts, but also in a number of midwestern quilts, Ohio in particular. Most of these were from the 1920-40 period. Karen
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 13:41:18 +1100 | From: Annette Gero <A.Gero@>
Hello, I just go this message from Pat Kyser, who is on this list , about the Australian quilts being on Simply quilts last week. Did anyone happen to tape this show???? I am in Australia and we cant get the show here. I would love a copy of the tape..Pleaze anyone
Annette Gero in Sydney Australia.
Pat gave me permission to post this…… Annette
>Imagine my delight when I sat down to watch Simply Quilts this >morning and there was YOUR smiling face! It was such a treat for me! >And I loved seeing your exhibit of Antique Australain quilts at the >Houston quilt show. > >I loved that in your interview you were wearing the red and white >Aussie quilt T-shirt made for Quilts 88 ,your bicentenary. I still >have mine, but between shrinking in the wash and me gaining weight, >it no longer fits. > > I was interested, too, in the second part of the program when Jan >Mullen was talking about the proliferation of quilt guilds, etc. in >Australia. I remember how new it was to so many women when I taught >at Mt.Buffalo (Australia) in 1985. Of course there WERE women >involved, but that seminar was the first big kick off for so many >women. > >Nice to touch base even electronically ! >love, >Pat Kyser
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 23:39:02 -0600 | From: “Wanda” <fattyoldkid@>
Alex has a website that I’ll bet you can get a copy from. it….she was just in town (where I live) and is the MOST wonderful person..she is so willing to help…I think her website is www.alexanderson.com go to her message board and I’ll bet someone has it…if not, she looks at it often and will probably jump in to help…she is on tour right now for her new bernina 153 machine….good luck with your quest. Wanda
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 06:51:52 -0600 | From: patkyser <patkyser@>
> Re: Annette Gero’s request Hello, I just got this message from Pat Kyser, who is on this list , about the Australian quilts being on Simply quilts last week. Did anyone happen to tape this show???? I am in Australia and we cant get the show here. I would love a copy of the tape..Pleaze anyone Annette Gero in Sydney Australia.
The Simply Quilts episode that Annette is seeking is QLT 936 which aired on March 5, 2004. HGTV does not sell copies of their programs, so she’s looking for someone who taped it and will send her a copy. Probably best would be to copy it to a CD since our video system is not the same as theirs, but I’m sure she’ll take it any way she can get it. Pat Kyser
<excerpt>Re: Annette Gero’s request
</excerpt><color><param>2D69,237D,FFFF</param>Hello, I just got this message from Pat Kyser, who is on this list ,
about the Australian quilts being on Simply quilts last week. Did
anyone happen to tape this show???? I am in Australia and we cant get
the show here. I would love a copy of the tape..Pleaze anyone
Annette Gero in Sydney Australia.
</color>
The Simply Quilts episode that Annette is seeking is QLT 936 which aired on March 5, 2004. HGTV does not sell copies of their programs, so she’s looking for someone who taped it and will send her a copy. Probably best would be to copy it to a CD since our video system is not the same as theirs, but I’m sure she’ll take it any way she can get it.
Pat Kyser
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 11:51:01 -0600 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>
Some years ago my guild in MO presented a reproduction quilt to a Civil War Battlefield Museum in AR because a husband of a member came to request it. He was sick of being scolded by visitors when doing volunteer docent work because the quilt on the rope & feather tick big bed in the restored Inn featured a 1930s-1940s checked gingham quilt! I had fun designing, planning & choosing fabrics – in a time when the 1830s to 1860s Repros were not yet on the market!!!
The guild made it & quilted it. We got lots of publicity. But, guess what, they won’t use the quilt on the bed because it’s “too special”! How ridiculous. It was supposed to be a user! It was designed to look like the family residing in the Inn had brought it with them from Virginia to Kansas to Arkansas in the 1840s-1850s! We wanted it to be touched and used and faded and worn…well, maybe not tattered and torn…but to look as though it was part of the history – a REAL QUILT! I did put a big label on the back explaining the story! I really enjoyed the research and the extensive traveling to find appropriate fabrics for a scrappy Hour Glass look.
I still prefer that period of fabrics! cb from MO OZ
yes, quote is from Velveteen Rabbit! I used to present a program on Real Quilts that had been used & loved, so my collection is not exceptionally fine!!! But, yes, my quilts do need to find a good home.
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 15:25:39 -0500 | From: “Lucinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>
Re. the restored quilt at the CRQS meeting: the couble dogtooth border looks like Maryland to me. Ditto for the applique motifs in the blocks. I love Sharon’s pieced pillowcases (but can’t afford them). Quilts inscribed in fraktur letters are a Lehigh Co., PA phenomenon during the 3rd quarter of the 19th century.. I know of one made in Lynn Township where the pillowcases came from in 1852. Cinda on the Eastern Shore
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 18:09:14 EST | From: AmyOKorn@
The Midwest Fabric Dating Study Group went a little “crazy” on Saturday, March 6 as we immersed ourselves in Crazy Quilts in Bloomington, Indiana. Si xteen members and three guests congregated at the Monroe County Public Library wit h several of the group arriving a day earlier for the 13th Annual Indiana Heritage Quilt Show, also in Bloomington. We began at 11:00 a.m. with a slid e presentation by Dixie Webb of Tennessee on “Japonisme – The Influence of Jap an on Western European Art” and by extension the influence on quiltmaking. We vie wed a variety of oriental images (screens, pen and ink scrolls, and paintings) a s well as works by several Western artists (Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Van Gogh) that present the Japanese aesthetic of asymmetry, two dimensional perspective, and emphasis on pattern and line.
Joanna Evans, who is researching a crazy quilt made by her great-aunt, Sara Frances Cory (Mrs. William S. Mayor), presented a brief overview of crazy quilt documentation, including viewpoints from Ruth Finley, Penny McMorris, Virginia Gunn, and Cindy Brick. After a brief lunch break and dessert that included a crazy quilt carrot cake, we donned white gloves and began to look at the quilts. First was the quilt made by Joanna’s great aunt, which had won a first place ribbon in the World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893, held to= commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. N ext, one of our guests, Trudy Schmidt, wowed us with her ever-growing collection of crazy quilts, many of them purchased on e-bay. She is devoted to their care and maintenance and is learning conservation techniques to slow the silk deterioration as much as possible. Most of her acquisitions are in excellent= condition and they provided an array of painted, embroidered and fancy-stitc hed surfaces. Of special note was a quilt with embroidered turtles, which she re cently learned is a Japanese symbol of good luck. Another of her quilts that sparke d comment contained what we called “wooly worms” – eight small caterpillar-lik e lumps with stripes of red, purple yellow and blue – set in pairs on the quilt’s surface. Also unusual was the wool batting, the wide variety of intr icate embroidery stitches containing metallic thread and the quilting through all layers. Another of her quilts had an intricately embroidered letter “J” and a date of 1889, but no known history. One of the quilts (1930s) was made of pi eced diamonds assembled in strips with a Nile green backing and several fabrics with polka dots. Still another quilt had no painting or embellishment, but w as made of many dressmaker silks in different colorways. In addition to many full-size quilts, Trudy also showed us several smaller pieces – one of which she rescued after finding it stapled to a dealer’s ironing board!
One of the most notable quilts of the day was a dated 1883 crazy in extremely fine condition with an “ice cream cone” border. Made in New Jersey, the quil t had a large “R” embroidered in the center for the Rambaut family (of Georgia= ) and images of lilies, wheat and Kate Greenaway figures. Another fine example= was made in Montgomery County, Indiana (1880-1900) by a world traveling quilter who included a variety of embroidered images of wildlife and plants.= This particular quilt was also interesting because of the backing made of a silk flag with 38 appliquéd stars. One of the most recent quilts was made in 1976 by= Guy E. Hughes (a female) and purchased in Paducah, Kentucky. The quilt was made for the maker’s husband and contains many complex images of birds, as well a s some of his silk neckties. Another extremely fine quilt had an intricate basket of flowers in the center of a 6-pointed star and had been made for a political figure in the owner’s family in West Virginia. This quilt had a wi de blue velvet border and a braided binding. Another quilt was dated “Merry Christma s 1893” and contained 36 blocks, one which featured a large image of a rooster , the symbol of the Democratic Party before the donkey. Interspersed among the= finery were several utility crazies, one of large wool pieces made after the= turn of the century with a plaid backing and tied with pink yarn visible onl y on the back. Another was an all cotton quilt made about 1910 in the crazy-patch= style and paper pieced by machine. Most of the quilts were “contained” crazi es (made in a recognizable block format), although at least 2 of the quilts wer e more randomly pieced.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 15 in Cincinnati, Ohio where= we will meet with Linda Pumphrey for an in-depth study of batting at the Mountain Mist facility. In July, we will travel to Marion, Indiana to The Qu ilters’ Hall of Fame Celebration 2004 to take part in the Grand Opening of the Marie= Webster house (July 17).
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 00:58:17 -0600 | From: “Wanda” <fattyoldkid@>
Pat, I guess I didn’t make myself clear…I was suggesting go to her =3D site and going to the message board…I’ll bet someone there (one of the =3D regulars on the message board) has a copy of what ya’ll are looking =3D for…just my thought/suggestion. Wanda
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 07:53:18 -0600 | From: Laura Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
I too have seen lots of beard guards….slept under many at my Grandmothers in Temple, TX and at my great aunt’s farm near by . My grandmother told me they were mainly to keep the oils from everyone’s faces and hands from ruining the quilts.We have a lot of American Indian heritage in my mothers side of the family, so beards were not particularly a big issue. But oily skin…oh, yeah! Ours were usually just muslin strips sewn to the front and back like a 6-8″ wide binding. No coordinating fabric….just hidden under the pillows when the bed was made.
BTW…we’ve been talking about setting dyes….does anyone have a good cleaning tip to get the old “oil stains” out of pillow cases? I have about 20 from my Grandmother, some embroidered but most plain, that I’d like to try and clean…and none of my “traditional” methods have worked.
Laura Hobby Syler Richardson, Tx
Karen Erlandson wrote:
> Oh my goodness, I have seen tons of beard guards or chin guards
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 11:06:36 -0500 | From: “Velia Lauerman” <velialive@>
Dear Laura, Just this morning on Martha Stewart her guest had many household cleaning tips. You can see her web site for further info on removing oils such as lipstick. Good program. So many non quilters are concerned about washing their pieces when as we have already hashed over we tend to protect and protect our heirlooms with sheets and additional guards. What has happened to Airing the quilts instead of washing the residue into the fabric instead of really cleaning out oils.Velia
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 11:41:13 -0500 | From: macdowel@
Dear list subscribers:
The Quilt Index (www.quiltindex.org) project directors are seeking your assistance in evaluating the current and potential value and
usability of the Index. Please keep in mind that The Index is just in its Pilot Phase and that the plan for the next Phase is to complete inputting data from the initial four pilot sites and to add data from 18 new sites. Future phases would include adding data from other sites, expanding the galleries, developing additional educational tools, and providing the capacity for quilt owners and makers to register their quilts on line.
Your input will be invaluable to us as we continue developing the
Index design and related educational tools as well as developing grant proposals to support its continued growth.
Could you take a few moments and answer the following questions:
CURRENT USE 1. Have you used the Index in teaching? If yes, for what class(es)? 2. Have you used it in your own research? If yes, what kind of study(ies)? 3. What aspects of the Index do you find most valuable?
FUTURE USE 1. For what kind of uses do you anticipate the Index will be valuable for you? 2. What suggestions do you have for the Index design, educational tools, etc.?
OTHER COMMENTS? Anything else regarding The Index you would like to recommend or comment on?
Thanks so very much for your input!
— Justine Richardson (MATRIX, MSU) and Marsha MacDowell (MSU Museum), The Quilt Index project
From: Teri Klassen <teresak@>
For those who have not been there, I want to recommend the Schwenkfelder Museum in Pennsburg, Penn. I went there for the first time while visiting my mother in Philadelphia over spring break. It has wonderful samplers from the 1700s and early 1800s, and also a few really nice pieces of Pennsylvania German painted furniture, especially chests with painted names and dates as early as 1732, which is about the time the Schwenkfelders came to this country from Silesia I believe, an area on the Polish-German border. It has not a lot of quilts, but some special ones including red-and-green applique and a ca. 1930s stars-and-stripes design. But it is a small museum exhibit and these items are not always on display. check with our list member Candace before you go. the exhibit there now is of crocheted quilt-size wallhangings with Bible scenes and verses, designed and executed by an elderly man whose name I can’t remember. Great folk art for sure.
From: Annette Gero
Thanks everyone,
I have found a nice person on this list (what would we do without QHL) who can get me a copy of Aussie Quilts on Simply Quilts Thankssssss
Annette In Australia
From: “Ann-Louise Beaumont”
The Stone House Museum in Belchertown, MA, is having an exhibit on April 3rd, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I can assure you that the Stone House has some wonderful early quilts and is definitely well worth the visit. Admission is $5.00. If anyone has questions, you can contact Jane Crutchfield at ahc60@, or Caren Harrington at the Stone House Museum at (413) 323-6573. Best Wishes, Ann-Louise Beaumont in Greeley, CO
Date: Thu, 18 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>
2 comments re Airing. Personal, not advice!!!
1. I used to Air mine until my dear husband removed all of the clothes lines so he could ride a lawn mower over the yard! I was “somewhat irritated”! : ))) I was told by others that a dryer, without heat, could do this job adequately now days. You don’t wash. You just circulate! What do you think? I prefer the Fresh Air!
2. An Airing of the Quilts is a traditional quilt guild activity in my area. Someone hosts a daylong party. They put up lines between trees or offer lots of fences (which are covered with sheets) and we hang/drape quilts. Soon it is a fantastic display. Everyone wanders around and we all end up sitting in lawn chairs and just gaping at these old family quilts or new family quilts! Of course, we eat too. It is our testimony to the “old ways”! No quilt hanging in an enclosed exhibit seems to draw you into its beauty as much as these, gently floating in the sunny breeze of a mid-May Day, seem to do.
Only once in 16 years has my guild been forced to retreat into a house on an Airing of the Quilts Day. This year the Hostess has insisted that we all wear aprons and look like “little old ladies” because she’s holding the Airing on the site of an ancient family log cabin way out in the Ozark woods! We’ll need a good map! cb opps! yes, I do live in a log house, but this is someone else with a REAL log cabin.
Date: Thu, 18 Mar | From: “Velia Lauerman” <velialive@>
Dear Charlotte, How dreamy…we can’t enjoy our quilts enough. I too live in a little little log home built in 1947 on 2 acres. This Sept 24 & 25 our group “Friends of the Wilson Barn ” in Livonia, Mi. will have our 1st quilt show. We are doing a few things differently such as Airing the Quilts and less vendors. Yes, even a few tumbles in the cool air dryer is healthy for our heirlooms. I just keep close watch while allowing them to take a little tumble.Thanks for the wonderful words. Velia
Date: Thu, | From: “Julie Silber” <quiltcomplex@>
Hi, I found this so amusing:
Check out the texts on eBay #3711003970 (my listing begun on 3/12)… Then go to eBay 3712180421 listed yesterday. Not only will you find a hilarious mis-dating in the latest one, but (portions) of the overblown text was lifted directly from me. (Does that make mine “overblown”???) Couldn’t he have at least waited until my auction ended? FUN!
Julie Silber
From: “Wanda”
Subject: Re: Aussie Quilts on Simply Quilts From: “Wanda”
Pat, I guess I didn’t make myself clear…I was suggesting go to her =3D site and going to the message board…I’ll bet someone there (one of the =3D regulars on the message board) has a copy of what ya’ll are looking =3D for…just my thought/suggestion. Wanda
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 17:04:25 -0600 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>
> Could you take a few moments and answer the following questions: > > CURRENT USE > 1. Have you used the Index in teaching? If yes, for what class(es)?
Literature classes—-I used these graphic arts to illustrate use of genre, creativity within a genre; “voice”—the individual attitude one takes to a subject; and (okay, laugh!, but it worked) Aristotle’s discussion of reality as a compsosite of matter and idea (as opposed to Plato”s Idealism)
> 2. Have you used it in your own research? If yes, what kind of > study(ies)?
I’ve searched for pattern similaries, for specific pattern (Whig’s Defeat), colorways > 3. What aspects of the Index do you find most valuable? Hard to say. Just to be able to pull up that many quilts in related groups is a boon. ARE there various aspects?! > > FUTURE USE > 1. For what kind of uses do you anticipate the Index will be valuable > for you?
see above #2 > 2. What suggestions do you have for the Index design, educational > tools, etc.? > > OTHER COMMENTS? > Anything else regarding The Index you would like to recommend or > comment on? > This Index is a joy. I just itch for additions. > > Thanks so very much for your input! > > — Justine Richardson (MATRIX, MSU) and Marsha MacDowell (MSU Museum), > The Quilt Index project > > > — >
Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2004 | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>
Yes, even a few tumbles in the cool air dryer is healthy for our heirlooms.
Hello- You may want to reconsider this concept. Abrasion is very subversive and is a cumulative type of textile damage (think of your jeans- they are fine then it seems overnight they get holes.) When you tumble quilts in the dryer, even on cool, the abrasion is considerable. If you have no other choice, I suppose this would be OK, and only do it once a year. But for a quilt treasure from the 1800s, I would think long and hard about this. Airing outside is great- as long as there are no birdies overhead who might leave droppings! I’ve dried quilts outside on sheets on the grass, but I also placed a sheet over them just in case the birdies are around. (This is a bigger concern when trees like mountain ash are in their berry stage.) Judy Schwender
