July 15 - 19, 2005 - QuiltHistory

Quilt History Resources, Regional Quilt 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:

Wet-Washing Antique Quilts, Continued — Further discussion of washing methods, hard water, age spots, and drying, plus a book recommendation on whole-cloth Provence quilts. (see the article on cleaning antique quilts)
History of Quilt Judging — A member asks when and how formal quilt judging and competitions began.
Regional Quilt Museums and Guilds — Members share notes on the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum, a Wisconsin quilt documentation project, and guild activities. (see the article on quilt museums)
Digest Delivery and Attachment Troubles — A technical side-thread about oversized attachments causing digest delivery problems for some subscribers.

Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2005 13:06:54 -0400 | From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>

Just wanted to quickly comment on this note from Sally…this occured in Pittsburgh, and the fellow was “enjoying” a continous loop of Steelers’ highlights. We do LOVE our sports teams in PA… Candace Perry

—–Original Message—– From: Sally Ward Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 4:23 AM To: Quilt History List Subject: [qhl] Post mortem viewing

Jccullencrew@ wrote: > In that movie there was a book of photographs of dead people, posed as they > would have been in life. In the movie, they say this was common in many > years ago.

It must only be about a week since my newspaper picked up a report of a deceased gentleman (one of your countrymen) whose ‘viewing’ was arranged thus:

He was seated on his favourite reclining chair, with a glass of beer by his side, paper on his lap, and TV remote in his hand. In front of him a television was playing a continuous loop of his favourite baseball team. Relatives said ‘the undertakers did a fantastic job, it was just like he was at home’.

I kid you not.

Sally W

From: Laura Fisher <

Re whole cloth quilts, look at Katherine Berenson’s book on the quilts of Provence, and various books on English and Welsh quilts. I don’t think anyone has yet covered the subject vis-a-vis American quilts. Lynne Bassett is researching the quilting patterns on linsey-woolseys; consult her articles/lecture notes.

Re pinpricking, not on quilts but on paper, can anyone refer me to information about pinprick pictures? I have two in my tiny collection at home–fabulous floral bouquets that are three dimensional, all densely pierced from behind to produce a raised effect on the paper surface. A pretty remarkable artform that I would love to learn more about.

thanks

Laura Fisher

From: Laura Fisher

Oy, now this apartment dwelling New Yorker has not only space envy but LAWN ENVY. I’m sitting in my shop alone at the end of a restless week, awaiting anyone, and taking the time to read the helpful instructions you all have shared on QHL My mind is wandering to an image of quilts laid out to dry on the grass in Central Park, down the block from my apartment. Now that would be a sight…..Laura

From: Kathie Holland

Laura, make sure you let us know if you ever do this 🙂 it would be an amazing sight! Kathie in NJ —–

From: “Molly”

Does anyone out there know about the history of quilt judging? When did people begin to have quilts judged? I would be very interested in learning more about this. Thanks. MW

From: “Newbie Richardson”

Hard water is a separate issue. Usually folks already know about the problems of hard water because of the difficulties it presents in everyday life: shampooing hair, cleaning bathroom fixtures, regular laundry, etc. I know that in the rual areas I have lived in – or consulted to – folks have already had a filter put on the tap – or they regularly used Calgon as an additive. Adding Calogon water softener is perfectly fine, it does no harm to the textile. All it does is cause the extra minerals to bind with it and “float around” harmlessly – Don’t you love the technical terms here? Bst Newbie

From: “Newbie Richardson”

Candace, et all, The “age spots” are caused by any number of sustances, as well as the natural oxidation of cellulosic fibers when exposed to the air. These substances, depending on their chemical composition ( icing from a wedding cake, champagne from the reception, blood, food stains, automibile exhaust, cat pee, baby ‘liquids’ etc, etc.), change over time and become even more acidic as they age. So it will depend on the original composition of the substance that created the stain. A gentle wet cleaning with water, Orvus, and maybe sodium perborate as a non invasive bleaching agent should do no harm. The stains will lighten. I tell all my workshop participants that we do not judge an 80 year old woman based on her wrinkles and crows feet, we know that these are the inevitable result of natural aging. However, if this same lady has not washed and is in filthy clothes – then we avoid her. The same with textiles: if they are clean and well presented, then no one condemns them for a few spots borne of age. Years ago, in 1950’s Paris, my parents had a cook (my father had a very official job that required a lot of entertaining) who used to say: “It is all in the presentation, Madame!” Best Newbie

—–Original Message—– From: Candace Perry Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 11:29 AM To: Quilt History List Subject: [qhl] Cleaning/conservation question…

One of my volunteers was asking how one can the acid stains that cause holes in white linens/cottons (specifically). I think there’s no hope, but I said I would throw it out to this list…maybe someone’s asked recently, and I apologize! She is looking to clean her personal collection — which does include some museum quality things — she and her husband are extraordinary poker-arounders, as I call them, and they find really great, overlooked stuff. They are currently on a homemade linen/cotton stocking kick. Candace Perry Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center

From: Kay Triplett

Lori,

I posted an old whole cloth quilt on the eboard a few weeks ago. My favorite book which includes mostly whole cloth quilts is “Quilts of Provence, The Art and Craft of French Quiltmaking” by Kathryn Berenson. I have quite a few in my collection, but it is nearly impossible to take a good picture where you can appreciate the quilting designs. Many of the older French quilts don’t have batting, (only cording) so you can hold them up to the light and see the designs, but that doesn’t give you the same impression as looking at the quilt itself.

Kay Triplett

From: Laura Hobby Syler

I’m on a BIG BIG cleaning binge,which for me is a major deal…Before I get too cold hearted and toss them…..I have a rather substantial collection of older quilt magazines not necessarily complete sequences, QNM starting in 1976 April, I think, is the first one I have. Quite a few Quilt World, Quilt and who knows what all else. If there is anyone in the Dallas / Richardson/ Plano area that would like to come take them off my hands…….Please email me privately. I would like for someone to just come pick them up. I really don’t have time to ship them out (plus I keep finding more in the oddest places <G>) Please contact me privately if you are interested in adding to your stash or quilting magazines. (needless to say the fabric is staying – as of now!)

Laura Hobby Syler texas_quilt.co@

From: “Karen Evans”

There is a simply amazing crazy quilt in a small antiques store called Curiosities. It’s on Cottage Street in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and belongs to the owner (it was made by his mother’s great-aunt).

The crazy is actually an unbacked parlor throw of silk on muslin (I’ve seen the back – one piece of the muslin appears to have been a feed sack!), 16 blocks with embroidery, pen and ink drawings, paintings, and the occasional bit of applique. It’s all silk, in bright fresh colors, with two shattered pieces but otherwise very few signs of deterioration.

It is simply one of the finest crazies I’ve ever seen. The paintings include animals, insects, a vase, a woman sitting on a bench, and so on. The fabrics appear to be primarily dress silks, many in blues and purples, with a couple of brocades and a cigar silk ribbon of a young woman. ALL the pieces are embellished with fly stitch, blanket stitch, and the occasional bit of what looks like very densely woven blanket/buttonhole stitching. One or two of the blocks have some basting stitches still in place, which leads me to believe that it was never finished (confirmed by the lack of backing, or any evidence that there *was* a back).

The colors are very bright and clean, with the embroidery threads on the front being just about as bright as the knots/strings on the back – clearly this wasn’t used or displayed very much. The outside edges have been sewn to black cotton, which is turn stitched firmly but not tightly onto a wooden frame. Employees and visitors have firm instructions not to touch the piece with their bare hands. I saw no stains either on the front or the back.

The clerk told me that the owner is arranging to have an appraiser (allegedly someone “from Kentucky” who appears on Antiques Roadshow – anyone know who this might be?) examine the piece this fall. It is NOT for sale, but anyone who wishes may look at it for as long as they please.

This is DEFINTELY worth seeing – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a crazy like this before. This is a splendid find, and I hope the owner has the sense to have it properly photographed and mounted for display at a museum or historical society that can properly conserve it.

Karen Evans Easthampton, MA ——=

From: Viv

Hey Laura, How about donating them to the New England Quilt Museum. They resell them so they can earn a little money for the library. Viv

From: “Laura Syler”

If I dont get a local taker I just may do that. The Dallas Guild doesn’t want them (go figure) —– Original Message —–

From: Barb Garrett

While I greatly appreciate (and enjoy) all the quilt benefits of living in southeastern PA, I was very pleased last week to visit a wonderful quilt venue in Iowa. The Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum was grand. Their current exhibit is midwest Amish crib quilts from a private collection, and they are just as interesting to study as our Lancaster Amish quilts — more varied designs and a different color palatte — graphically gorgeous in a different way than the Lancaster Amish ones. Displayed with the crib quilts was a marvelous collection of old store spool cabinets — beautiful.

In the same complex is the Mennonite archives museum — were there are several additional quilts, plus clothing and a great deal of family memorabilia — a very interesting part of the visit. The website for the entire village is — http://www.kalonaiowa.org/village/

It was great fun to meet and visit with fellow QHL member Marilyn Woodin, curator of the Kalona Quilt Museum — she has done a wonderful job with the Quilt Museum. She tells me that she likes to change the exhibit every 3 to 4 months, and in August she will be mounting a redwork exhibit. I think she might also be including some red and white pieced quilts and some redwork done in blue, or yellow, or black, or pink, or green. She didn’t give me details, but it will be a great exhibit, I’m sure, so if you are “in the area”, I recommend stopping by. The town even offers a golf course just outside town — where Bill spent his time while I had a quilt adventure. What more could I ask for — only 3 hours from our conference (a short detour on the way home), and something to keep my driver happy while I emersed myself in quilts. The local motel — The Pull-r Inn — is great also (refers to the old fashioned tractor pulls that the owner used to participate in) and the local restaurant reminded me of home — good PA German cooking, only I guess this would be Iowa German cooking.

The Midwest Amish Crib Quilts exhibit has a catalog, that unfortunately wasn’t back from the printer yet, so hopefully Marilyn will post to the list details about it when it becomes available.

Barb in southeastern PA

From: “Susan Wildemuth”

I have to second what Barb wrote about the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum in Kalona, Iowa.

We at the Iowa-Illinois Quilt Study Group are lucky to be an educational auxiliary of this wonderful museum. IIQSG meets in April and August at the museum and we would love to have you join us — we have show and share in the morning, a tour of the museum, lunch, and then a theme-based study in the afternoon. Our next meeting is August 6, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. with the doors of the museum opening at 9:00 a.m. for sign-in. The theme for our August afternoon study is Redwork.

Sue in Illinois

From: “J. G. Row”

Members of the QHL have really come through! You are the best! Absolutely! Many of you have thanked me for being the conduit of the QHL’s donation to the Stephen Reich Memorial Fund. It is my great honor to be able to do this to show our friendship for Sue Reich, and to let her know that although there can be no real consolation for having lost her son, she can take some comfort knowing that now many people who would never have known him or anything about him will remember his bravery and patriotism and have honored his memory.

When I asked for a few contributions to help me pay for a wreath for Stephen Reich’s funeral service given in the name of the QHL, I had no idea that so many of you would want to participate in honoring our friend Sue Reich’s brave son. My small project soon turned “global” and has morphed into our donation to the Stephen Reich Memorial Fund, which the family has established. Money coming into this fund will be distributed to the Steep Rock Association – Major Reich spent many happy hours hiking on the association’s preserves – and also to the Family Welfare Fund: 160th Regiment Nightstalkers Association.

My personal feeling is to direct 70% of our donation to the Family Welfare Fund of the Nightstalkers, and 30% to the Steep Rock Association, a nature preserve. If anyone disagrees with this distribution, get in touch with me personally — don’t take it to the list — and I will withdraw your amount from the total and direct your donation to where you want.

With today’s mail counted, 76 of you have contributed a total of $930.00!! I know because tonight I stamped all the checks “For Deposit Only.” Contributions have come from 29 states, Canada and the UK. I must say, I have been intrigued by the notecard styles you chose (or didn’t choose) and by the designs on your checks. Only one or two of you use quilty checks. If I had been asked to put money on how many of you use checks with quilt designs my number would have been much higher, and I would have lost big time.

If any of you have thought about donating and then forgot, there is still time. I will accept your donations to be given to the Fund in the name of the Quilt History List (with a list of all who contributed accompanying our check) until Thursday, July 28th. E-mail to me for my mailing address.

If you would prefer donating on your own, you may write a check to:

The Stephen Reich Memorial Fund

First National Bank of Litchfield

Po Box 391

Washington Depot CT 06794

If you have any questions about the fund, contact Debbie Swift at the bank:

860-868-7386

Judy in Ringoes, NJ soon to be Judy in Raritan, NJ judygrow@

From: “J. G. Row” <

We will be meeting this coming Tuesday, July 19th. Our mission is to see the glorious quilts of the Gloucester County Historical Society collection, and there is room for just a couple more participants. I’ve seen one or two quilts from the collection, brought to a different study group meeting, and I know we will be treated to some early Quaker quilts, and more.

Please RSVP ASAP if you will be coming – by tomorrow, Sunday the 17th. Make your plans quickly!!!

One of our hostesses, the incomparable Judy Thompson, promises to bring her spectacular basket quilt that won just about every first prize possible at the Vermont Quilt Festival. I’ve heard that the judges awarded her quilt 99 points out of a possible 100. If old quilts won’t get you to come to the meeting, perhaps a glorious contemporary quilt will. Polka dot enthusiasts won’t be disappointed!

SQSG meeting; Tues. 7/19 Place: Kemble Memorial Methodist Church 19 S. Broad St. Woodbury, NJ Time: 10:00 am We will be viewing many of the quilts from the Gloucester County Historical Society collection. Their facility will not accommodate a large group so we will be meeting at Kemble Church, a few blocks down Broad St. We have been promised samplers by some of the quilters and photographs of them as well. We are trying to arrange a showing of some spectacular quilts from local private collections. The society does not allow photographs. Private collections may be photographed. Please bring your white gloves.

Suggested donation to GCHS $10.00 Lunch by Cooper Express $5.00 Gratuity for church custodian $1.00

Hosted by Nancy Stewart(nstewart504@) and Judy Thompson (jilt26@)

Please RSVP ASAP Directions:

Kemble Memorial Methodist Church 19 S. Broad St. Woodbury, NJ Judy T’s Cell phone 609 617-9856

From the North: Rte. I-295 S to Exit 21 (Paulsboro/Woodbury). Right at the light end of exit (Wendy’s will be across the road). Right onto #534/Delaware St. (Geisler’s Liquor Store on the right). Delaware St. continue for aprox. 1.4 miles to Russell Alley (no street sign); landmarks on the right are Woodbury Public Library, then Friendship Fire Co. Right into alley along side of the fire house. Parking behind the church. or Park on street in front of church (busy street, limited parking). Continue to traffic light at Broad St. (Rte. 45) and make a right turn. The front of the church is about 100 yds. on the right.

From the South: Rte. I-295 N to Exit 21 (Paulsboro/Woodbury). Landmark is large West Deptford water tower. Right at the end of the ramp onto #534/Delaware St. Continue as per above directions.

Watch for balloons and SQSG sign at fire house alley.

Judy Thompson and Nancy Stewart

Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@

From: Paulette Bergman

Hello! Just one more author/title to add to the list:

Horton, Marjorie, Welsh Quilting Pattern & Design Handbook, 1999.

This is primarily pattern/design with only a tiny bit on history. I believe that Marjorie lives in the Portland, Oregon, area.

As ever, in stitches, Paulette Paulette J. Bergman

From: “Molly”

Hi Laura,

I am interested in any magazines that has quilt judging info in them. I understand that Pat Morris (now deceased) did a series many years ago. If you have these I would very much like to at least have those articles… Could you let me know… I will let you know my address, etc… Thanks… Molly

From: “Linda Heminway”

Just wanted to make a comment to you all after Judy mentioned that she was surprised at how many of us didn’t have quilting designs on our checks. My current supplier of checks does not offer a quilting design, otherwise I’d have them! I look carefully each time I order new checks to see if they have come up with something. By the way, Judy, I think your ideas for dispersement of the funds in honor of Sue’s wonderful son are marvelous and I so proud of this group that we have all shown such support. I don’t know Sue, personally, but to you, Sue, I feel as if you are a “sister” that I have, given your interests, and that the loss of your son has hit me very hard in that I am one of those who have stepped forward to be NH coordinator for the Home of the Brave quilt project. I wish there was even more than I, and those in this group, could do to show how much we really do care and want to help you during this time. If there are things I can do, or our group can do, I know we all share this, so do let us know. Getting back to why I started writing this, I was wondering after reading Judy’s remarks exactly what you all have in your respective lives that you use to remind you of quilting. It would be very interesting to read what you all have surrounding you in your day to day lives. My vanity license plate for my car here in NH is -QUILT- though! I try to surround myself with quilting patterns wherever I can. In our last house my bathroom floor linoleum was selected specifically as it formed an Ohio Star block design. I was so excited to have found it and that my own husband actually liked it enough to agree with us having it! I even saw a “quilted” corn bread recipe that I am dying to try now. You make the cornbread and then make a “pattern” on the top of it using triangle and square shaped pieces of peppers and laying them in a pattern over top of the bread before it’s baked – it’s kind of cute! I have actually gone as far as to thinking of using some of my Jane Stickle quilt blocks that I have from an exchange on making kind of like a wallpaper border and using them end to end with a small “sashing” as a lovely reminder of my favorite things in life (other than all the usual things like God, family, pets, etc). I am such a visual person and quilting is such a part of my life that surrounding myself in whatever reminders I can find of my “love” is very important. By the way, I was actually going to write a book an call it “quilted wall borders” and come up with a way to make wall borders of quilt blocks and affix them to walls using two sided tape so that they could easily be removed if one wanted to clean or move and/or use them for quilts. I just got lazy and abandoned the project and never followed through. What other ways are you all (aside from quilts themselves, which we ALL have I am sure) are you all finding to bring your love of quilting “out there” into public view? I’d love to know. Linda Heminway Plaistow NH

> I am humbled by the goodness in the hearts of all of you who have taken time to remember my son with your beautiful memorial wreath and your donations to the “Night Stalkers Family Fund” and the Steep Rock Preservation. He was passionate and totally dedicated to both of these entities. Our collective family is somewhere between exquisitely sad and numb. Our hearts truly know the meaning of the word “anguish.” The absolute worst thing in life has happened to us. At least now, we are living day-to-day and not hour-to-hour. This seems like an endless deployment. I wake up each morning and ask Stephen for help to get through the day. I am certain that he is somehow responsible for providing me with any strength I can muster. To add insult to injury, his wife’s family traveled back to Panama City to find their childhood beach home con-demned due to a massive amount of beach erosion from the last hurricane. Ugh! Life does go for us with a very steep learning curve; but we have grandchildren to cheer us, and pets who give that unconditional love. There are quilt history projects that were promised and planned, that must proceed. Gardens to be weeded. Mortgage payments due. That last thing my son would want is for us to become paralyzed. Thanks again to all of you who been there in so many ways. I always will be eternally grateful. sue reich

From: “Maribeth Schmit”

Laura and others, I am on the board of the Wisconsin Quilt History Project and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Textiles. We are a non profit 501c(3) organization and were formed in 1988. We published the book, “Wisconsin Quilts: Stories in the Stitches” in 2001. One of the other hats I wear is librarian for the research library at the interim museum. We accept donations of books, magazines, pamphlets, photos, etc. Anything having to do with textile arts we would gladly accept. We would also be able to give you a receipt for tax purposes. Please consider this worthwhile organization for care of your textile related treasures. See our website at: http://www.wiquiltmuseum.com/ Please E-mail me privately for further information or questions at: materialgirlwi.@

Maribeth Schmit in historic Cedarburg, WI

From: “Mary Voss” <

I have had great success washing antique quilts in the washing machine – not using the agitator but just soaking the quilt in the tub, swooshing it around with my hands, letting it soak, and spinning the water out. Rinse several times by re-filling, soaking and spinning it. I then stretch out the quilt on a sheet on my living room carpet. I have used various soaps with no ill effect. Most of my quilts have a white background and much of the yellow stains were removed. I must say that none of these quilts have any historical significance which would make a big difference in how they are treated, they are just wonderful old quilts that came across my path and begged me to buy them, so I could appreciate the wonderful workmanship that was put into them. – Mary Voss – Holland MI

From: “Jean Carlton”

Hi all I’ve had two digests this past week that come to me with the message that there were too many nested files to scan for viruses….anyone else had this? All others come as usual – I haven’t opened these as getting a virus is NOT worth it….anyone else? j

From: “J. G. Row”

Jean,

I get single messages, not digest and a couple have come through lately with attachments — which I haven’t opened. I still have Barb Garret’s last post about the Kalona Quilt Museum and it came with an attachment — very strange.

Judy, aka the Ringoes Kid judygrow@

From: Kris Driessen <

I think the attachments are just verifications – some E-mail clients attach those routinely so you can trust the sender. The list is set up to block those.

I think another problem might be that people are including too much stuff from the previous post in their reply. When I read the digest, I read the same message over and over after people include it in their reply. A couple of sentances would work just as well.

AND… people need to send in plain text, not HTML. Those on digest get pretty sick of reading all the and other HTML markups. That might be part of the problem as well.

Kris

From: Andrea, near Dayton

Linda, I have the usual quilters “stuff”…quilts hanging all over my house (my DH tells people we live in a padded house!), quilty checks, and I always have a small quilt hanging on my front door. It changes according to the season or my mood (g).

Fun topic, thanks for asking the question.

Andrea, near Dayton

From: Laura Robins-Morris

>Judy in Ringoes, NJ >soon to be >Judy in Raritan, NJ

Is there a Raritan Kid?? We’ll miss the alter ego 🙂

Laura in Seattle

From: Jessica M. Vaughn <vaughn8047@>

What other ways are you all (aside from quilts themselves, which we ALL have I am sure) are you all finding to bring your love of quilting “out there” into public view?

Other than having quilts all over the house and on every bed, I have quilted wall paper, quilted notecards, quilt calendars in every room. I’d love to find the tiles to do a quilted floor, that sounds wonderful. I would also like to find quilted checks so if anyone has a source for them, other than your bank, please let me know.

Jessica M. Vaughn Aurora, CO vaughn8047@

Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.

From: Karen Portwood

Hello all,

I am hoping someone on the list might be able to give some suggestions. A friend of mine is leaving next week for a trip to Sicily. She wanted me to ask the list if anyone knows of places there to see needlework (not necessarily just quilts). She is thinking museums, shops, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please email me off list. Thank you.

Karen

Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 12:02:44 -0500 | From: “Marcia Kaylakie” <marciark@>

I suspect she’ll always be The Ringoes Kid, no matter where she lives, don’t you? Marcia

From: Becky Gockel <

No, please don’t email off list. I am going to Italy in October, so I would love to see the responses.

Thank you, Becky

Karen Portwood <acornqlts@> wrote: Hello all,

Karen

Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:08:29 -0400 | From: “Teddy Pruett” <aprayzer@>

When I began appraising quilts many years ago, I often told my husband that I was going to write down the wild stories I heard and keep note of the hysterically funny or downright bizarre things/stories that came across my table. I was well intentioned, but I fear I did not keep my promise, and a good boks’ worth of great stories have left my feeble brain. One story has not escaped me, however, and it has to do with washing.

I was doing my measurements, notes, etc., on this particular quilt and asking the client about the origin/provenance, etc. She said, “Well, I don’t really know a lot – I bought it at an auction in _____ (somewhere in the midwest.) It was stored in a 55 gallon drum in a warehouse by a river – the river flooded, and the barrel took on water, and this quilt was in it. It was completely brown when I bought it, so I took it home and threw it in the bathtub with Stanley Degreaser and left it for a week or so.” I remember that I nearly went into shock!!!! Before me, on the table, lay a magnificent early indigo and white feathered star – a remarkable beauty. I am certain that I would have told her never, ever to attempt to wash it!

On the other hand, many are the times that someone has said “I was going to bring a quilt for you to appraise, but I didn’t want you to see it dirty, so I washed it and completely ruined it.” So sad.

DISCLAIMER: I do not and am not endorsing the use of Stanley – or any other product here – just relating a tale. The stuff may have been ancient – I think my Mom still has a bottle she purchased in 1954 just before we moved to Okinawa. Teddy P

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Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 17:44:40 -0500 | From: “Andi” <andi0613@>

I’m working with the Wilson Memorial Library director here in Keota, Iowa, studying an 1890 Redwork album fundraising quilt. We are certain of the date because one newspaper article dated August 1, 1890 mentions that the quilt has been begun, and another in December 1890 refers to the funds raised (and the center block is embroidered with “1890”). Merchants from Keota and nearby Harper purchased individual blocks for $3; individuals had their names embroidered for 10 cents (according to a newspaper account of Keota’s centennial celebration). The artist for the commercial blocks was A.H. Richardson, a 13-year-old young man from Harper who became editor of the Keota Eagle (newspaper) when he was 17. Tremendous history, lots of area names, etc.

My question: the Turkey Red thread in 41 of the 42 blocks is surely colorfast. But what about the brown and black threads used in one central block that is a memorial to people who died? See some of the blocks at http://www.iowa-history.com/quiltindex.html . Does anyone have expertise with embroidery threads other than Turkey Red from the 1890 period? With what would brown and black threads have been dyed at that time? Can these two colors be safely, i.e., non-bleeding, treated with sodium percarbonate? Or some other cleaning agent? The quilt has significant yellowing and mildew spots all over. In fact, Pat Cummings asked to use a photo of a block of the Keota Quilt to show discoloration (not sure of the term you used, Pat) in her new book on quilt care. Oh yes – top and back are linen with a cotton flannel (very thin) batt. (Thanks to AQS appraiser Chris Moline for her help with this information.)

I am not in favor of cleaning the quilt, but perhaps I am too cautious; we need to halt the mildew somehow. I know about using a wet q-tip to test for colorfastness on fabrics, but I have to say that the thought of making a mistake with as much as a q-tip is daunting on such thin lines as this embroidery. The library now has acid free boxes and tissue paper for storage but no humidity control in the air conditioned basement where this (and two other quilts) live as property of the library, so the mildew question is big. In the months this quilt has lived in my house, it has noticeably stopped “growing” mildew – but keeping it with me is not a permanent option (drat).

For those who track Redwork, a similar quilt is in the IQSC collection from Beatrice, Nebraska.

Thanks in advance –

Andi in Keota, Iowa

Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:37:50 -0700 | From: “Amerine, Anne” <anne.amerine@>

I copied the picture from The Quilt Detective that covered hand quilting and use it as wall paper on my computer at home. No quilt checks, but I had a quilt checkbook cover for years. Anne Amerine

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:11:51 -0400 | From: Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@>

Andi:

My book, Straight Talk about Quilt Care, describes the Keota quilt as having “mold/mildew”. Mold and mildew have the same causal agent, and can produce a variety of colors on cloth. More is explained in the book.

Pat www.quiltersmuse.com

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 13:10:58 EDT | From: JKusnitz@

For all of you who want quilty checks, check out _www.checksinthemail.com_ (http://www.checksinthemail.com) click on the hobbies link and you’ll see some.

My license plate says QUILTNOW. (QUILTMOM was already taken) My husband frequently travels with my car on photo trips and was once asked if he is a quilter.

Helene Kusnitz on Long Island where it really is hazy, hot and humid.

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 13:08:01 -0600 | From: Ann-Louise Beaumont <albeaumont@>

Jane Crutchfield in Massachusetts asked me to pass along this request for information on the whereabouts of half of the Elizabeth Saville Lewis collection. If this request has been previously posted, please forgive the duplication. Jane received an email from Irene Zenev, Exhibits Curator at the Benton County Historical Museum in Philomath, OR 97370, www.bentoncountymuseum.org with the following request: ” I work at the Benton County Historical Museum in Philomath, Oregon. We are trying to find about 20 quilts that belonged to Eliazbeth Saville Lewis that she dispersed to a museum in the East in 1956. Mrs. Lewis was a quilt collector and historian, and bestowed half her collection to Oregon State University’s former Horner Museum and the other half to a museum unknown to us. I am contacting any organization who may know the whereabouts of this quilt collection. It dates from the Revolutionary war to the Civil War, and is quite important 2006 is the 50th anniversary of her gift to the Horner Collection, and if we can find them, we’d like to virtually reunite the quilts on the web to celebrate Mrs. Lewis’ gift to the public.”

A second email to Jane contains this: ” We do have a description and black and white photos of some of the quilts that we’re looking for. Most of Mrs. Lewis’ collection ( her nickname was Bessie, she was married to a judge and lived in the Washington, DC area) dated from the late 18th century to the mid 19th century. There are a couple of bridal quilts, a Triple Irish Chain, an album quilt, but I’m not sure of the exact number or patterns of all the quilts. We’re also trying to find the donor, Mrs. Lewis’ daughter, Susan Lewis Cockrell, but am not having much luck.”

I hope this rings a bell with someone out there. Please contact Irene Zenev with any information that you may have. Again, apologies if this has been posted before and I missed it. Best Wishes, Ann-Louise Beaumont, in Greeley, CO

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 13:12:31 -0600 | From: Ann-Louise Beaumont <albeaumont@>

Thank you all for your information on trivets, often in fruit shapes, that you posted. Since the bag of red and green fabric circles also had some prints with a white background, I’m assuming that it was intended to be a watermelon trivet. Believe me, I would never have guessed that! Best Wishes, Ann-Louise Beaumont in Greeley, CO

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 14:17:36 -0500 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>

Watermelon motifs (and watermelons themselves!) were hot items, esp in South. Marjorie Kinnen Rawlings, author of “The Yearling” and the Cross Creek books lists in her “Cross Creek Cookery” a recipe for a cake her Ky. Mother made to resemble watermelon. Roaches had nibbled edges, but one could make sense of it anyway. A time-intensive recipe. A cousin had a kiddy watermelon swim suit. And to this day, hollowed out melons remain a hot item at buffets and garden parties—containers for fruit salad. Were there watermelon quilts?

Gail

> trivets, often in fruit shapes, > that you posted. Since the bag of red and green fabric circles also had > some prints with a white background, I’m assuming that it was intended > to be a watermelon trivet.

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:45:35 -0400 | From: Karen Evans

The local branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism held a medieval history/fighting demo at the Hubbard Memorial Library in Ludlow, Massachusetts, this evening. I brought along a quilted tunic and my current project, a backstitched pouch, as part of the needlework exhibit.

As it turned out, I was one of the people interviewed by a reporter for the local weekly! The reporter asked intelligent questions about the origins of quilting, how it was used in medieval Europe, and what techniques were used. He even took my picture as I worked on my pouch!

The article should come out in the next week or two (more likely two weeks from now, since this week will probably be devoted to the Harry Potter release party at the library last week). I’ll definitely post the text to the list.

It was definitely fun, even if the hideously sticky and hot weather is driving me nuts….

Karen Evans