February 21 - 25, 2005 - QuiltHistory

Oral History & Documentation, Quilt Block History, Restoration & Conservation

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:

Pricing Restoration Work by the Hour — Continued debate over how to fairly charge clients for quilt and textile restoration labor. (see the article on quilt restoration)
Removing Blue Marking Dots from a Kit Quilt — A member asks how to safely remove blue transfer-marking dots without erasing evidence of the quilt’s kit origin.
Carpenters’ Wheel Block Names — A member seeks alternate historical names for the Carpenters’ Wheel block, with answers pulled from BlockBase.
Declining Prices at the Copake Textile Auction — Dealers discuss a downturn in antique quilt and linen sale prices and reserves going unmet.
Underground Railroad Quilt Myth Coverage Continues — Further discussion of the myth appearing in a children’s book and a magazine feature on students studying quilt codes. (see the article on Underground Railroad quilts)

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:13:23 -0800 (PST) | From: Judy White <whitey06029@>

I should have made myself more clear. I do charge by the hour for restoration work. However, I’m not a fast quilter and to charge someone by the hour to quilt a quilt would not be exactly fair. I also give the client a written estimate before I ever begin. I like your idea Sharon of charging for the square inch. Thanks for the suggestions.

Judy W.

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 21:19:54 -0500 | From: Jan Drechsler <quiltdoc@>

Tom,

You have all the correct questions. You probably already know the answer from your questions. Why make a three generation quilt of fabric that may already be in the beginning stages of dye rot?

>I cannot afford to not put in everything I have in red, blue and >yellow lol)

Can you really afford to ask your mom and grandmother to make you something that may not be stabile from the beginning?

> When these older fabrics look like this, are they going to tend to be >problematic in the wash? My big fear if this is a dye issue is whether or not it was something that eroded over time and might come out in the wash and ruin the quilt.

There are those folks who always pre-wash fabric in hot water to determine if a dye is colorfast. I am one who teaches and practices pre-wash before cutting…especially with reds!

Your choice,

Jan — Jan Drechsler NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: quiltdoc@

Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 22:10:20 EST | From: Elpaninaro@

Good evening all,

My thanks to you who have sent replies both here and in private email.

This last comment raises a good point- as a beginner why chance it with a piece this important? So I will leave it out of this quilt.

That said, all the other advice and tips are greatly appreciated! If I use this particular fabric in the future, and as I deal with all my vintage fabrics, your suggestions and teaching will be invaluable.

Thanks again to all!

Take care,

Tom.

Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 22:33:30 -0700 | From: Cindy Brick <brickworks@>

Hi all, Ooh, that coverlet book sounds WONDERFUL! I am headed there next…

I missed out on initial question about restoration rates…but I generally use set prices. Binding is $75-125, depending on quilt’s size. For shredded or missing patches, I lay the piece out and put a coin on each shredded/missing spot…count them up at the end and multiply by $10. That price does not include vintage/antique fabric, which I use if at all possible. I will use highest-quality-possible modern silk or wool (sometimes polished cotton) on the backs of Crazy quilts because generally if you can find extant yardage, it is either incredibly high-priced…or is weighted, and that’s the reason why it wasn’t used in the first place. Cotton quilts are easier because you can generally find print scraps, solids, polished sateens (esp 20th century). And feedsacks are all about us — a big help. I do use restoration-quality fusible (my favorite: Fine Fuse) on occasion. Sometimes it is the only thing to stabilize shreds and tatters, not only on crazy silks, but in feedsack quilts where the needle-stitching holes have started to deteriorate. After I saw the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center people use it to stabilize tapestries (and it worked better than stitching, which sometimes destroys the area further), then I felt ok about it. (This is NOT a “heat n’ bond” type product, and I use the very barest minimum possible.) I do use crepoline, bridal illusion and net to help protect shredded silk areas, like Marilyn. But on occasion, I’ve also seen those treatments just become a nice little bag to catch all the bits and scraps of the silk as it continued to deteriorate. It all depends on how badly that patch is deteriorated. Sometimes you just bite the bullet and re-applique vintage/antique fabric over the spot…and pray that the next patch doesn’t shatter while you’re repairing its neighbor! So…sometimes this. Sometimes that. Whatever works!

Cindy

BRICKWORKS www.cindybrick.com

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 10:31:46 -0500 | From: Neva Hart <nevahart@>

Does anyone know of a method to remove the blue quilt-on-these dots for a quilt kit cross stitched top, c. 1980, by Bucilla? Thanks for ANY help! NEVA HART AQS Certified Quilt Appraiser in Virginia www.quiltappraisers.org

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 11:27:11 -0500 | From: Pam Weeks Worthen <pamworthen@>

Hi all,

It turns out that we have an extra room at the Super 8 in Metropolis, about 5 minutes from Paducah. Lori East is the contact person on this, and since her ‘puter is down, has given me permission to list her phone number for your convenience should you need the room.

I stayed there last year with Sue Reich and Lori. It is clean, new, and has a pool and hot tub. Breakfast is included in the price

Here is Lori’s contact number: 954-575-3783

REMEMBER–do not reply to me, call Lori. Thanks!

Pam Weeks Worthen

Date: Wed, 23 | From: Mrandmrsquilter@

Does anyone know other names for the “Carpenters’ Wheel” block? If so, please e-mail it (them) to: mrandmrsquilter@ Thanks, Ed Chamness Miami Valley (Ohio) Quilters Guild

From: SadieRose@

Here is a list of other names from BlockBase software (Barbara Brackman’s “Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Block Patterns on CD). There is info in the program on where it was published, with the name given.

Double Star Double Star Bed Quilt Lone Star of Paradise Star of Bethlehem Star Quilt Block Star Within A Star Sunflower The Knickerbocker Star Twinkling Stars Carpenter’s Star

From: Xenia Cord <xenia@>

If you can bring yourself to leave the blue dots alone, they are evidence of the quilt’s kit origin. Besides which, they are the very devil to remove once they have been in the fabric that long <g>!

Xenia

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 19:59:44 EST | From: ARabara15@

Hello all, Having attended the Copake Textile Auction this past Sat. I can truly say that I believe that the value of antique vintage quilts are on the downslide. I would estimate that more than 1/3 of the quilts that went up either did not meet their rerserves(which were not unrealistic a year ago) or the auctioneer passed because of a lack of bidding. It appeared that the buyers were drugged. Bidding was slow and bidders were hesitant. I feel that they sensed the lack of furious bidding and were testing the auctioneer to see how low he would bring the starting bid down to. I congratulated Mike Fallon(auctioneer) on how hard he had worked to try to get bidders to stop sitting on their hands.Folks wouldn’t go an additional $10-$25 to meet the reserves.(I’ve rarely heard an auctioneer tell a bidder that if they went $25 higher they could have it) Linen sales were dismal. I think the vintage linen craze is over.The problem with this is that many of us who love quilts and value the time and craftspersonship that goes into the creation of a quilt have spent more money on our treasures within the past few years that they could resell at today.I’m not sure exactly what this is indicative of. I have a sense that the glut of quilts sold on eBay in the past 5 years has contributed somewhat to this.Most people who love quilts have hit their saturation point. Be that as it may, those of us who have developed a wonderful collection of period textiles will need to hold onto our treasures for a better day.To us their value is real. The joy they bring us is immeasurable is dollars and cents. Happy Collecting!

Donald Brokate The Crazy Quilt Collector Period Quilts and Linens Trenton, NJ

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:12:41 -0500 | From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>

Don — the same trend that is happening in quilts happened in the doll world in the late 1980s, and ebay has further contributed to their lower prices. However, it is not all a bad thing when prices begin to stabliize; the market will only bear so much and only the truly rare or desirable will continue to maintain value. I’ve heard more persons say that auctions in the past year have been especially bummers for the most part with items going for unheard low prices. In the case of quilts, the trend could be temporary unless the Copake bidding is similar in future auctions.

ARabara15@ wrote:

>Hello all, Having attended the Copake Textile Auction this past Sat. I can >truly say that I believe that the value of antique vintage quilts are on the >downslide. I would estimate that more than 1/3 of the quilts that went up either >did not meet their rerserves(which were not unrealistic a year ago) or the >auctioneer passed because of a lack of bidding. It appeared that the buyers were >drugged. Bidding was slow and bidders were hesitant. I feel that they sensed >the lack of furious bidding and were testing the auctioneer to see how low he >would bring the starting bid down to. > >

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:39:21 -0500 | From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>

Well said, Donald! Keep in mind too that there is just not a glut of quilts on eBay but of many other items as well, and what was once difficult to find is now easy to locate on eBay. And the prices on eBay seem to lead the way for prices elsewhere . . . many people now ask what something might sell for on eBay before they buy it. eBay has become the new price guide for antiques and collectibles dealers and collectors!

At 07:59 PM 2/23/2005, you wrote: >Hello all, Having attended the Copake Textile Auction this past Sat. I can >truly say that I believe that the value of antique vintage quilts are on the >downslide. The problem >with this is that many of us who love quilts and value the time and >craftspersonship that goes into the creation of a quilt have spent more >money on our >treasures within the past few years that they could resell at today.I’m >not sure >exactly what this is indicative of. I have a sense that the glut of quilts >sold on eBay in the past 5 years has contributed somewhat to this.Most >people who >love quilts have hit their saturation point. >Be that as it may, those of us who have developed a wonderful collection of >period textiles will need to hold onto our treasures for a better day.To us >their value is real. The joy they bring us is immeasurable is dollars and >cents. >Happy Collecting! > >Donald Brokate >The Crazy Quilt Collector >Period Quilts and Linens >Trenton, NJ

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 20:50:52 EST | From: ARabara15@

It’s truly a shame, I still do some shows and many dealers have”Packed it up” because they just are not doing the business that they used to. What is sad is that many of these folks are retired and this was their only source of additional income. Donald

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 17:54:42 -0800 (PST) | From: Dana Balsamo <danabalsamo@>

Hi Donald, I agree, the audience was very sleepy, but I think if you want your bidders to get excited…you have to let them get into that ‘frenzy’. To start quilts at $800 and just pass if it doesn’t get the opening bid (which I assume was the reserve), was boring to me. Yes, I understand the auctioneer didn’t want to waste time, but I would never start bidding on a quilt at $800 even if I would have paid that much in the end. Bidders have the habit of waiting for that low start, many won’t even make the first bid on an item. Bidders have their own style. I love the fun of bidding. Maybe I’ll go that extra $100 if I have been bidding on it for a bit. If he had let them participate more with some lower opening bids, I think more bidders would have been involved, and not been as sleepy. Since this was my first time attending, I don’t have previous years to compare it to, but there didn’t seem to be a lot of people attending, either…I think he needs to market more. I am just looking at this from the point of view of a buyer, I did not consign anything. I completely understand Mike protecting his consignor’s interests and following reserves, you totally have to in today’s market. eBay has destroyed the market and buyer’s mentality not just with quilts, but with all antiques and collectibles. It’s made it so easy to find the the unusual, that it’s no longer unusual. You tell a person you sell online, and they automatically respond ‘oh, you sell on eBay’. No…there are other places to sell. And I can’t tell you how many times I have people question my prices, telling me they can get it cheaper on ebay. I never bought a quilt I didn’t love…so if it doesn’t resell, I do not consider it a problem. It will stay in my collection and be loved. As far as linens, only the finest and most unusual sell for me unless I am practically giving it away…so I have to buy low, or not buy at all. And I know a lot of dealers who have to do that. The market will have its highs and its lows…no one will ever know completely why…economy? trends? natural disasters? presidential elections? As sellers, we have to do just what you said. My best, Dana Material Pleasures http://www.material-pleasures.com http://www.tias.com/stores/materialpleasures

ARabara15@ wrote: Hello all, Having attended the Copake Textile Auction this past Sat. I can truly say that I believe that the value of antique vintage quilts are on the downslide. I would estimate that more than 1/3 of the quilts that went up either did not meet their rerserves(which were not unrealistic a year ago) or the auctioneer passed because of a lack of bidding. It appeared that the buyers were drugged. Bidding was slow and bidders were hesitant. I feel that they sensed the lack of furious bidding and were testing the auctioneer to see how low he would bring the starting bid down to. I congratulated Mike Fallon(auctioneer) on how hard he had worked to try to get bidders to stop sitting on their hands.Folks wouldn’t go an additional $10-$25 to meet the reserves.(I’ve rarely heard an auctioneer tell a bidder that if they went $25 higher they could have it) Linen sales were dismal. I think the vintage linen craze is over.The problem with this is that many of us who love quilts and value the time and craftspersonship that goes into the creation of a quilt have spent more money on our treasures within the past few years that they could resell at today.I’m not sure exactly what this is indicative of. I have a sense that the glut of quilts sold on eBay in the past 5 years has contributed somewhat to this.Most people who love quilts have hit their saturation point. Be that as it may, those of us who have developed a wonderful collection of period textiles will need to hold onto our treasures for a better day.To us their value is real. The joy they bring us is immeasurable is dollars and cents. Happy Collecting!

Donald Brokate The Crazy Quilt Collector Period Quilts and Linens Trenton, NJ

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 21:17:25 -0500 | From: Sharon in NC <patchworksecrets2@>

I don’t understand this high starting price either. Here in NC auctioneers often announce there is a reserve price and if the item doesn’t reach it the seller has the option of refusal. After saying that I have seen them start an item at $5 and end with it well over $1000. You can’t expect people to bid a retail price as the first bid at an auction. They go there intentionally to get a “deal” but once the bidding frenzy hits or they see the item they covet is wanted by others they often bid well past the retail value. As an example I recently saw a dehydrator that was new in box go for $60 at an estate sale. The lady had just bought it in the last 6 months from Wal-marts and it still had the $25 price tag and receipt with it. There is no reasoning for some when the bidding starts..lol

Sharon in NC

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 21:24:38 -0500 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett421@>

Go to the letter “U” at this website. Yay, PA State Museum!! We are being heard — slowly. http://www.statemuseumpa.org/quilts05new/pages/kids.htm

Barb in “the snow is coming” southeastern PA

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 21:39:21 -0500 | From: Lucinda Cawley <lrcawley@>

The Eastern Shore is that part of Delaware (south of the C&D Canal), Maryland and Virginia which form the Delmarva Peninsula between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic. Until the Bay Bridge was built near Annapolis and the Bay Bridge Tunnel at the southern end it was a world apart. Despite the influx of retirees and vacationers, in some ways it still is. Forgive the geography lesson, but there are a lot of people who have no idea where we are. I decided that the best way to see lots of Eastern Shore Quilts is to start our very own study group. The first meeting of the Eastern Shore Quilt Study Group was held today in St. Michaels. Twenty-five quilt lovers joined us and think this is going to be a success. The theme was “Eastern Shore quilts or your favorite quilt.” I started with my 1st quarter 19th century Framed Center quilt from Somerset County (right on the border between MD and VA). It’s huge (115″ square) and a veritable catalogue of early 19th century fabrics. Next came a collection of sampler blocks set in rows with plain indigo squares but not assembled as a top. A circa 1900 quilt from Talbot Co.,MD was tired and worn, but the stash of fabric that was found with it was fabulous especially a large piece of red printed with black bearing two labels: a picture of an elegant lady in evening dress (1870?) and the guarantee from T. H. Green and Sons “Turkey Red Oil Color guaranteed to withstand severest washing expose and even the action of bleaching material without deterioration.” How’s that for a warranty? There was also a charming washdress of purple check (1900?). We saw a 1930s Feathered Star with very fine quilting found in Missouri. It was surprising to see the elegant Stars pieced in typical Depression Era prints. There were Log Cabins with several different sets and interesting foundations from around 1890 and a silk and velvet Log Cabin “parlor quilt” made near Philadelphia around the same time and a particularly lovely wool challis LC from the 1860s. The 1930s were represented by a heavily quilted Dresden Plate with the applique done in a black running stitch, a couple of kit quilts (Rose, Poppy), a Carolina Lily baby quilt with orange and pink flowers. Particularly interesting was a crib quilt from Canada appliqued with various motifs: a little girl, a Christmas tree, a wreath, a flower basket. One lady brought a set of 20 blocks that her niece in Upstate NY wanted her to finish into a quilt. What the niece thought were 1940s blocks were actually mid-19th century (a Whig Rose variation combining piecing and applique). We told the aunt to do nothing with the blocks and to tell her niece to cherish them as they are. My appeal for Eastern shore quilts did not go unheeded. We saw three glorious red and green appliques including a very idiosyncratic Prince’s Feather and a classic Crossed Laurel Leaves with a swag and bow border from Dorchester Co., MD. I like to refer to Dorchester as “the back of beyond,” but they were cranking out some great quilts at the height of the Baltimore Album craze. There were two tops that were orange, orange, orange, a color that the Maryland Album (the book from the MD documentation) says was used a lot on the ES but hardly anywhere else. Somebody remarked that when you see an orange quilt it’s usually in good shape because they never went with anybody’s decorating scheme. There was a redwork coverlet with motifs from US history. The maker embroidered the numbers which led us to wonder whether she had given a list of the subjects to a child to use as a key. The prize for “most unusual” came from an auction in Delaware. The quilt looks like a piece of minimalist art. A huge circle with a hole in the center (like a millstone) framed by borders pieced of odd curved shapes has a back made of large squares of every conceivable mid-20th century fabric including what appears to be knitted socks. Even more amazing was the quilting. The motifs look like what we see on Welsh quilts: intricate swirls and spirals. The batt is very heavy so the stitches are large, but very even and the overall effect of the quilting in stunning. None of us had ever seen anything like it. There was more, but I’m tired. We’ve decided to meet quarterly, to move the location for each meeting and to choose a theme to give some structure. I’ll let you know the details of the next meeting when we have a plan. All are welcome. Cinda on the Eastern Shore (you all know where that is)

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 22:28:39 EST | From: Elpaninaro@

Good point on the starting bid issue. I have not been to many quilt auctions, but for collectibles in general this is important. Get buyers in at a lower price and they are now “part” of the action- more likely to go the distance.

Generally speaking, I would be curious to hear if anyone has comments on auction and dealer trends for more vs. less common patterns. In other words, is the market for the very rare and unusual coming down at the same levels as the more frequently seen patterns?

At Quilt Festival this past November, I paid dearly for two incredible pieces- one a very unique applique piece like I have never seen (as soon as I get it out of layaway I will be posting a photo to pester you guys to find out what it is lol) and the other an 1860s Texas piece that was an Irish chain variation in muslin and a dark blue print with bright orange flowers. I have never in my life seen quilts like these- certainly not on eBay, nor anywhere else for that matter.

Yet from eBay I have purchased some stunning quilts in more common patterns like the Drunkard’s Path or Dresden Plate. These same quilts would easily have sold for twice the price at Festival and I have seen similar pieces with much higher reserves at auction. I have seen enough pieces of these two types to safely feel I paid about half on eBay what I would have elsewhere.

Point being, I have a theory that eBay is doing to quilts what it has done to many other hobbies. Steiff is a good example. The market for modern and 1960s-1970s vintage Steiff has crashed thanks to eBay. But the rarer older pieces are as expensive as ever- rarely seen on eBay and still fetching very high prices at more traditional auction venues or from dealers.

Just my two cents- not meaning to brag about my recent acquisitions by the way. I just wanted to make the point that I as a buyer will gladly pay the price for the truly unique, but at non-eBay events I am definitely far more price sensitive about even well-executed examples of the more frequently seen designs except in the very rare case where something just really takes me by storm.

Take care,

Tom.

Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 23:35:44 -0500 | From: J. G. Row <JudyGrow@>

A number of posts have carried the subject line above, and I’ll bet many of you have no idea what that subject had to do with what became a riff on the Copake Auction.

I had sent the following e-mail to the mailing list of the Studio Quilt Study Group. We had done a field trip to the museum in its very brief heydayso the dispersal of the collectiohn is of great interest. I have further annotated the original e-mail……………

A number of the quilts from the now defunct Pa. Quilt and Textile Museum in Lititz Pa went on the auction block a couple of days ago at Skinner Auction in Boston.

#283 the Appliqued Cotton Civil War Era Quilt made by Margaret Hazzard in 1864 was estimated at $30,000-$40,000 and actually sold for $82,250.00, more than double the top estimate..

Don’t forget that there is a buyer’s premium: a fee paid by the buyer of any object at auction in addition to his or her final bid. At Skinner for final bids up to and including $80,000, there is a 17 1/2% premium. If the bidding had stopped at $80,000 the winning bidder would have paid $94,000. For final bids over $80,000, there is a 10% premium. So in fact the winning bidder paid less ($90,475.00) by bidding up to $82,250.00. Amazing!

From the final winning price the seller has to pay his premium to the auction house. I don’t know what Skinner’s is, but it could be as high as 20%, which in this case would be $16,450. So on the sale of this one quilt Skinner Auctions Inc. could have made about $25,000.

#284 the Appliqued Cotton Baltimore Album quilt with Birds,(red swags with green bows border) estimated between $20,000 – $30,000 failed to meet reserve and did not sell.

#285 the Appliqued Cotton Baltimore Album Heart-In-Hand Quilt c. 1850 (green swags with red flowers border) estimated $20,000 – $30,000 sold for $22,325.00, at the lower end of the estimate.

#287 the Pieced Cotton Hexagon Medallion Quilt (with incredible quilting) estimated at $10,000 – $12,000 failed to meet reserve and did not sell.

#288, the Stenciled and Stamp decorated Woven Cotton Bedspread, estimated between $4000 – $6000 did not meet reserve and did not sell.

See the catalog pages at http://www.skinnerinc.com/content/pastauctions.asp?fam2 Click on pages 70 – 77

Prices realized for the entire auction can be found elsewhere on the web site.

Judy, aka the Ringoes Kid judygrow@

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 08:21:54 -0800 (PST) | From: Sandra Millett <smillett@>

Good morning, All,

I have discovered a wonderful fabric available at JoAnn SuperStore: Egyptian 100% Cotton (solid colors only). It is tightly woven and because of the long fibers, has a high sheen. I’m using this fabric in a new book and want to give the manufacturer credit. Does anyone know who the manufacturer is? Or perhaps a way to do a specific search on the Internet.

Sandra Millett

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 11:33:01 -0500 | From: Joan Kiplinger <jkip@>

Sandra — ask the store manager or call Joanne headquarters. Store is usually very good at giving out information. Both China and Japan have been manufacturing some excellent cottons and blends. From what I understand Joanne’s orders directly through an agent for most of its stock.

Sandra Millett wrote:

>Good morning, All, > >I have discovered a wonderful fabric available at JoAnn SuperStore: Egyptian 100% Cotton (solid colors only). It is tightly woven and because of the long fibers, has a high sheen. I’m using this fabric in a new book and want to give the manufacturer credit. Does anyone know who the manufacturer is? Or perhaps a way to do a specific search on the Internet. > > > >

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 12:46:27 -0500 | From: Laurie Magee

I am in the process of doing selection for my children’s room collection and lo and behold another title. It is called “The Patchwork Path: A quilt Map to Freedom” by Bettye Stroud. Candlewick 2005. The review talks about following secret signs sewn into quilt patterns. I haven’t seen the book. how about someone writing an article for School Library Journal about this myth? Laurie from Wisconsin

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 20:36:32 +0000 | From: <jocelynm@>

Earlier this month, someone emailed me with an invitation to join this grou p on Yahoogroups. I replied to an email today, and Yahoo tells me there is no such group! I’v e checked my email for the past few days, and sure enough, I haven’t gotten a message from this group lately. I went to YahooGroups and there is no su ch group listed, although I obviously was once joined to the group because I got email from the list! Can the person who originally emailed me let me know what’s going on?

Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 15:56:48 -0800 | From: Christine Thresh <christine@>

Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, April 2005, page 71, has a picture of a second-grade class quilt project that was “…the highlight of the Black History Month assembly at Woodland Hills Elementary school in Cleveland.”

Christine Thresh http://www.@

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 06:24:39 -0600 | From: Pat Kyser <patkyser@>

I heard a review of this children’s book on NPR this week, but missed the author since I was driving at the time. It sounded like a lovely book and I suspect will perpetrate the myth very nicely. I also was amazed to hear the reviewer say that quilting originated in Africa. I have tried to find reference to the review on the NPR website, to no avail. Did anyone else hear it? I’ve emailed my local station inquiring, but have had no reply. Pat Kyser, Huntsville, AL

On Feb 24, 2005, at 11:00 PM, Quilt History List digest wrote:

> Subject: children’s Underground Railroad title > From: “Laurie Magee” <woodmanvbe.com> > Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 12:46:27 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 3 > > I am in the process of doing selection for my children’s room > collection and lo and behold another title. It is called “The > Patchwork Path: A quilt Map to Freedom” by Bettye Stroud. Candlewick > 2005. The review talks about following secret signs sewn into quilt > patterns. I haven’t seen the book. how about someone writing an > article for School Library Journal about this myth? Laurie from > Wisconsin

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 07:37:10 -0500 | From: Karen Evans

Quilting started in *ASIA* as far as anyone knows – there isn’t a single piece of quilting with a definite African origin that dates before the 18th century. There is an Egyptian statue that might, MIGHT show trapunto, but it’s hardly definite.

*argh*

Karen Evans

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 08:40:18 -0600 | From: Karan Flanscha <SadieRose@>

Barbara Brackman is starting an e-mail newsletter on quilt/fabric history… I have her permission to share this with interested quilters… feel free to share it with other quilt history fans!!

The Quilt Detective: Clues in the Needlework

A Digital Newsletter from Barbara Brackman

In 1989, I wrote Clues in the Calico: A Guide to Identifying and Dating Quilts. Evelyn P. Metzger was kind enough to publish it under her EPM Publishing Company imprint, a rather risky business at a time when quilt history did not sell many copies. Evelyn later retired and sold her business to Howell Press. The book is now out of print and needs to be revised, so I have been planning an extensive rewrite based on print and digital information.

The first step is the new print book from C&T, America’s Printed Fabrics 1770-1890, which is an expansion of Chapter 4 “Clues in Color and Dyes.” I plan over the next few years to do another print book extending America’s Printed Fabrics from 1890 to 1950. New color printing and scanning techniques make this the perfect time to publish accurate color pictures of antique fabrics.

The second step is a digital rewrite of Chapter 6 “Clues in Techniques” in the form of a weekly e-mailed newsletter called The Quilt Detective: Clues in the Needlework. Each week subscribers will receive a short summary of a needlework technique important to quilt dating and identification. As in the original book, information will be based on my database of date-inscribed quilts, observations of undated quilts and a summary of related literature from sources such as the American Quilt Study Group’s publications and other reliable quilt and needlework history.

Subscribers can store the information digitally or print it out to make a notebook of dating clues. The weekly newsletter will contain about 400 words ( a digestible amount of history) and will generally include a photographic attach-ment plus information about where to find related articles and quilts pictured on the web.

The weekly newsletter will begin about March 1st and continue through 2005. The first months issues will be free to any interested subscribers and after that I will charge a subscription fee of about $1 per week or $36 for the rest of the year. If you would prefer a print version mailed with a stamp on it you may subscribe in that fashion (see subscription instructions below)

The topics will be (roughly) the following:

March Quilting April Piecing May Applique June Embroidery July Foundation Piecing August Tying & Comforters September Inscriptions October Novelty Techniques November To Be Announced December Binding & Edges

Subscribing digitally E-mail me (bbrackman@) indicating that you would like to receive the sample copies free in March and I will add you to the sample subscription list. If you like, you may also mail me via snail mail a check for $36 now and I will add you to the paid subscriber list. Mail the check (payable to Barbara Brackman) to me at my mailing address. I can’t do charge cards so we’ll have to rely on checks.

Barbara Brackman PMB #C-237 3115 W 6th St. Lawrence, KS 66049

Subscribing to a printed copy I am hoping everyone will want to get this digitally since it is so efficient, inexpensive and easy for me to send. BUT IF YOU MUST have a printed copy, I will accommodate you. I will, however, charge you more. The printed copies will be mailed once a month and will cost twice as much, so please send a check for $72 for the nine-month subscription. Mail the check to me (payable to Barbara Brackman) at my mailing address. Do indicate on your check or in a note that you want the once-a-month printed newsletter.

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 08:00:11 -0800 | From: Christine Thresh <christine@>

I ran across this press release about a quilt show in Southport, CT scheduled for March 4 and 5, 2005:

— “Jon P. Bloch” <blochj1@> wrote:

A QUILT EXHIBIT FABRICS AND FABRICATIONS SOUTHPORT, CONNECTICUT A Quilt Exhibit Fabrics and Fabrications will be held to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut, and Emerge, Inc., Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5, 2005, at the Southport Congregational Church, 524 Pequot Avenue, Southport, CT.

This third annual event will feature an impressive display of 150 unique, hand-made quilts and the stories behind them. It will also offer luncheons, lectures, demonstrations, a boutique, and a raffle.

All are invited to attend. General admission is $5.00 at the door. Hours of the exhibit are 10 A.M. 4:30 P.M. on Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5, 2005, for more information and reservations please call (203) 255-3001.

Special highlights of this year’s Quilt Exhibit include:

QUITS BY CECILY ZEREGA.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD CODES

A lecture by Cecily Zerega, B.F.A., R.I.S.D., who has studied the use of quilts as codes for travelers along the Underground Railroad. Quilt codes were complex messages used by both abolitionists and slaves. For instance, a quilt hung over a fence with the pattern Log Cabin on it would appear to be simply airing out, but for travelers along the Underground Railroad, it held quite a different message. For example, a Log Cabin quilt block with a yellow center meant, look for the light in the window of the safe house. A black center was code for there is a safe cellar or cave for you to hide in. A red center in the quilt block meant, stay away, this is no longer a safe place to stop. These and other quilt codes enabled people to help slaves find their way to freedom along the Underground Railroad. This is a lecture that will fascinate and educate quilters and non-quilters alike.

A quilt made by Cecily Zerega contains many of the codes used by those traveling the Underground Railroad

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 08:26:31 -0800 (PST) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>

Karen et al,

I agree that the idea of stitching two pieces of fabric together with something in in the middle and calling it quilting may have originated in Asia, but aren’t quilts as we think of them (pieced, applique) an American invention?

I expect to hear from the BQHL people on this:-))

Kris

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 12:36:12 -0500 | From: munsey@

Joselyn and others who may have wondered:

I am not the person behind that Yahoo group. However, it seems as if Yahoo never really had that fully functioning as I never could reach it through the Yahoo home page. About the February 19 or 10 the group was closed by someone/something other than the group originator. No further information has come to me about why or how, but I understand there is no intention to reconstitute it at present.

Sandra, where I just finished shoveling about 12 inches of Cape Cod snow. SKI CAPE COD!

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 12:34:42 -0500 | From: munsey@

This message about UGRR books is particularly for those living in New York State, but anyone else who wants to read something well researched about the topic will also find it worthwhile.

Last week DH and I attended a presentation at Cape Cod Community College as part of the diversity program, which holds many interesting lectures, arts, and community events throughout the year. The speaker was Tom Calarco, a professional writer and researcher in Schenectady. The presentation focused on “Henry “Box” Brown and his remarkable escape to freedom”. I came away with eight pages of notes – and not a mention of quilts and quilt codes! (Hurray for that.) Mr. Calarco’s interest came about while he was working as a journalist. His editor gave him an assignment – Black History Month, I suppose – to write about the UGRR in upstate NY. This has evolved into considerable personal interest on Mr. Calarco’s part that, in turn, has resulted in a lot of research, two books, and three lectures on the subject of the UGRR.

After the program I had an opportunity to introduce myself as a quilter interested in quilt history. Mr. Calarco perceptibly stiffened – until I told him how I felt about the lack of documentation on the quilt code and HIPV. He has found nothing in his NY research to suggest a quilt code existed. Even though neither of his books mentions quilts <G>, I purchased them both, skimming the larger one and reading the smaller one immediately.

The larger work is “The Underground Railroad in the Adirondack Region”. published by McFarland & Co. It is filled with pictures, maps, reproductions of newspaper ads, names of homes, people, and statistics involved with the UGRR throughout the region and considerable detail. There is a comprehensive list of “Works Cited”, including many primary sources, plus a very extensive index! It is $45 and sells on Amazon.com or from the author.

The second book is entitled “The Underground Railroad Conductor: A Guide for Eastern New York”. Published by Travels thru History (Mr. Calarco’s own imprint), its audience is for those who like shunpike travel and for teachers. It is a companion book to his larger work, providing actual location maps of known UGRR houses as well as legendary ones about which the legends seem to be plausible. It is filled with photos of the locations, many names of antislavery activists of whom many were Quakers and Congregational ministers. This book is 16.00 plus $5.00 S+H from Travels thru History, POB 3201, Schenectady, NY 12303.

Mr. Calarco’s website is www.travelsthruhistory.com . I have to add the usual disclaimer – I have absolutely no connection to Tom Calarco or his business.

Although the books and his lecture dealt with NY State, I have gleaned considerable information of interest relating to the UGRR in western New England. His research and sources are a model for us. My current quilt research interest is centered on the mid-19th century. I am finding much in his books about pre-Civil War society – even if there isn’t any mention of the word “quilt”.

Also of note at the lecture was a copy of “Mass Network News”, the newsletter of the Massachusetts Underground Railroad Network, that contained an article by Mr. Calarco which reviews old and new UGRR books. August 6, 2005 is the 200th birthday of William Gloyd Garrison. There will be several events in Boston commemorating that event, including “Gathering 2005” of the New England Underground Railroad. I didn’t find a web address, but the contact is J. Beaubian, c/o New Bedford Historical Society, Nathan, POB 40084, New Bedford, MA 02744.

Apologies for the length. It just seemed to me that really good news needs sharing. Sandra at Cape Cod

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 18:21:35 +0000 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>

but aren’t quilts as we think of them (pieced, > applique) an American invention? > > I expect to hear from the BQHL people on this:-))

<ROFL> Kris. I think the response goes

*Argh*. Pass me the poisoned chalice, would you?<GG>

The American quilt tradition, and its place in the American culture and psyche, is indeed unparallelled in the rest of the world. America’s cultural melting pot took quilting and piecing tradition from all the immigrant nationalities and ‘ran with it’ to create something extraordinary and place it at centre of hearth and home. I find I am constantly surprised by just how much of a cultural icon the Quilt is in the US. But…..we can find examples of most of the things we can do with fabric (even the very newest and modern techniques) way way back in time, and in most corners of the world. It would be a brave woman indeed who tried to prove when anyone ‘invented’ anything, anywhere…

Sally W

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 10:41:36 -0800 (PST) | From: Kris Driessen <krisdriessen@>

My ears picked up when I saw the reference to Schenectady in the Sandra’s posting. I live in Schenectady County, quite near Quaker Street (that’s a town name) which was quite active in the UGRR in our area. In fact, if you go to the roof of my house and hang tightly to the edge and lean WAY over, you can just make out the top of a house said to have been a UGRR stop.

I went to the www.travelsthruhistory.com website and saw that Tom Calarco is due to give a talk at the UGRR workshop (http://www.ugrworkshop.com/) tomorrow. Anyone else from our area intersted in going?

Kris

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 14:10:18 -0500 | From: Candace Perry <candace@>

Pook and pook, Downingtown, PA sent me this notice today — quilts are lots 450 to 499, nothing terribly fab, but worth a peek! Candace Perry

We have just updated our website ( www.pookandpook.com ) to include the

March 11 and 12 Illustrated Catalogue Auction. From our home page

click on “Upcoming Auctions” and take a moment to browse or search the catalogue!

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 14:57:21 -0500 | From: sewsewsarah@

I am a Jo-Ann’s employee. I called my manager and she checked the bolt. There is no manufacturer listed on the bolt or the selvage. However, it does say that it is made in Taiwan, if that helps any.

Sarah in WV

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChristianWomenWhoQuilt

Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 17:57:56 -0500 | From: Karen Evans

Uh, no. Pieced quilts go back to the early 18th century in England (where what we think of as patchwork seems to have originated), with a reference to a pieced quilt in a 12th century French poem. America seems to be the source of most patchwork *patterns*, but the technique itself did not originate in America, and seems to have come over with the British colonists.

As for applique…applique as a technique goes back at least 2,500 years. And again, the earliest appliqued quilts I’m aware of are 18th century English broderie perse.

Karen Evans —– Original Message —– From: “Kris Driessen”

From: Lucinda Cawley <lrcawley@>

Checkout this website. click on “The Collection” to see some of the quilts that my friends Lorraine and Denise and I documented for The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Oddly the site makes no reference to the book we wrote about the collection. It’s not even included in the bibliography. That’s #1.

#2 is for all those who enjoyed our recent discussion of prepositions as much as I did. In the “Talk of the Town” section of this week’s New Yorker (p. 34) there is a lovely tribute to Miss Gould who for many years was the magazine’s Grammarian.

Cinda on the Eastern Shore

From: JLHfw@

http://www.skinnerinc.com/content/pastauctions.asp?fam2

I found these quilts on page 29 of the online catalog. Janet in Fort Worth

From: J. G. Row

Yes, they’ve changed the set-up. Previously the page numbers were from the actual printed catalog.

Judy, aka the Ringoes Kid judygrow@