August 29 - September 2, 2005

Oral History & Documentation, 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:

Freezing Textiles to Deter Moths — Members debate the safety and effectiveness of freezing wool garments and quilts to kill moth larvae.
A Mourning Quilt Top on eBay — A museum-quality, unpublished mourning quilt top on eBay sparks discussion, though the message describing it is missing a header in the source and stays unattributed. (see the article on Victorian mourning customs)
Hurricane Katrina Reaches the List — As Katrina makes landfall, QHL members share concern for the Gulf Coast, discuss flood insurance, and begin organizing quilts for evacuees.
Cotton in Pennsylvania German Life Exhibit — A reminder about the closing Schwenkfelder Library exhibit on cotton textiles in Pennsylvania German communities.

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 17:04:45 -0400 | From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>

Cinda THANKS for the plug! FYI — we’ve extended the Cotton exhibit until Sept 18 so there is one extra weekend… And also, don’t miss the Threads of Faith Exhibition at the Mennonite Heritage Center, Harleysville, PA. It has received some RAVE reviews. www.mhep.org And it looks like they’ve extended the show thru Oct. 16. It’s a good day trip — our two places — and I can gladly supply names of restaurants and lodging in the area. (and a few other great sites to see! I am the Berks/Montgomery County PA cheerleader!) Candace Perry

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 17:29:45 -0500 | From: “Susan Wildemuth” <ksandbcwgeneseo.net>

My mother-in-law just gave me what I believe is a wool Edwardian dress. Should I put it in the freezer, take it out – and then put it in the freezer again like some do with quilts. Are moths going to be an issue if I give it the freezer treatment? Should I store this dress away from my quilts? If you asked me the condition right now, I would say the piece is good to very good. Any suggestions?

Thanks– Sue in Illinois

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 18:37:28 EDT | From: HKnight453@

If you fear moths, use the freezer, but be sure to air and dry the dress properly afterwards. It works on modern clothes; I saved several sweaters this way. Heather

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 17:35:40 -0700 | From: Julie Silber <quiltcomplex@>

Hi, I am looking for an appraiser of antique quilts near Cleveland, say 100 miles. I have had a request to appraise a quilt for someone in that area, but she feels too protective of it (read: afraid to lose it in transit) to send the quilt to me in California. And this one, a very early quilt (1826), will require a viewing to get it right. The appraiser should have knowledge of the “current” retail market — the woman wants to sell the quilt, not to insure it.

You can e-mail me privately at quiltcomplex@.

Thanks, Julie Silber

–Boundary_(ID_7auPaEv19vnA4gYDTiuDtw)–

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:09:12 -0400 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>

In conjunction with the exhibit of Passing On the Comfort, our own Barb Garett designed doll or crib quilts based on some of the quilts in this “cache.” The patterns for these accompany the show, I think. Barb? Am I right?

Judy, now moved to Flemington NJ!! It took three days to go the 11 miles from Ringoes. First day, one 18-wheeler and 5 men Second day, the same. Third day, 3 men and half a truck load. And now to deal with the boxes……………. We found the food the men packed from the fridge — 2 days later, in the basement. And that’s all that went wrong. Can you believe that?! judygrow@

Eventually she meets and comes to know > as a friend the caretaker of these quilts, a remarkable Dutch woman, wife > of > a Mennonite minister, who worked with the Resistence in WWII. The quilts > were sent from the MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) to Holland as soon as > aid could get to that country after liberation by the Allies.

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 14:26:52 EDT | From: Midnitelaptop@

if you go to

_http://www.schwenkfelder.com/Museum_OnlineExhibits.htm_ (http://www.schwenkfelder.com/Museum_OnlineExhibits.htm) and then enter you can see some wonderful examples of their collections jeanL

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:20:36 EDT | From: Midnitelaptop@

you can see some of these wonderful treasures at _http://www.schwenkfelder.com/cotton/_ (http://www.schwenkfelder.com/cotton/) than click on the menu items on the left hand side of the page. jeanL

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 09:40:17 -0400 | From: Patricia L Cummings <quiltersmuse@>

Good morning!

Thank you, Christine Thresh, for the newspaper link which reads, in part:

“The code is based on a book written in 1995 that details a South Carolina quiltmaker’s recollection of how slaves used hidden messages found in quilt patterns to map their way out of slavery. Many historians and slave scholars have dismissed the book as folklore and said slaves never used such a code”.

One has to wonder what book is being referred to inasmuch as neither the name of the book nor both of its collaborators are mentioned. Could it be…ah, wait a minute…./Hidden in Plain View/, published in 1999? Who cares about the facts? It’s all the same, right? Wrong!

After having been contacted by a number of individuals and groups over the summer, in regards to my previously published thoughts on quilt blocks and the Underground Railroad, I have set up a new file under “Historical Articles” on my website. The direct link is:

http://www.quiltersmuse.com/underground_railroad_and_quilt_blocks.htm

Best,

Pat Cummings

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 20:51:09 -0500 | From: “Kay Sorensen” <kaysorensenwi.@>

I’ve made a lot of progress and as I straighten bookcases I keep finding more books I’ll send to new good homes. I’ve been thrilled with the wonderful new homes my books have gone to – I think I’ll have to take a nice long trip and visit them!!!!!!!!!

The final list – LIST 3 includes Quilt Engagement Calendars, more Japanese books, some vintage books by Aunt Martha, etc, Art/Quilt and Quilt Art magazines, books on the business of art – applicable to quilt artists, and other assorted books that I wasn’t going to part with.

And there are a lot of bargains for $1 each.

If you are interested please ask for List 3.

If you want List 1 or List 2 with the books available on those lists I can send those too.

Hope you find just the book you’ve been looking for.

PLEASE reply to: kaysorensenwi.@ – not to the list!

Quiltingly, Kay

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 18:37:44 -0500 | From: “kim baird” <kbaird@>

Why don’t you start by vacuuming it? Look carefully for any evidence of moths.

The freezing process is not as simple as you make it sound–I assume you know that. And it can take weeks.

Kim

– blank email to leave-qhl-1650237Y@

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 21:30:32 -0500 (Central Daylight Time) | From: “Shannon Funcke” <huklbry@>

Good Evening All ~ Just wanted to let you know that the Heart of the Lincoln Highway Quilt S how went off without a hitch this weekend. We had 306 exhibits including 80 vintage quilts. Barb Eckoff from Cumming, Iowa was our featured speaker and gave a wonderful talk on our “gallery quilts” ~ 10 of which had been preselected from our entries. A “Virtual Quilt Show” CD is now available for orders and will include photos of all of the quilts in our show along with overall show pictures, photos of our local Museum’s quilt collection and possibly some photos of Barb doing her presentation. If you are interested in a copy, they are $12.50 prepaid (postage include d) to: Treasured Threads Designs 2057 “O” Avenue Jefferson, Iowa 50129 I will take payment via PayPal also at huklbry@

Thanks so much! We had a wonderful weekend recognizing the nature of quilting, exploring quilt history and celebrating the social function tha t quilting played in the past and continues to play in our communities toda y. Shannon
—
At risk of upsetting someone who is planning to bid on this, I want to share this with a group who appreciates seeing a museum-quality find that is unpublished (and unfortunately undocumented) – http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7345227067. I hope it goes to a good home, someone who will really appreciate it!

Personally, I think it is stunning but know it will go much higher than I can afford to pay right now! So second best thing . . . I will save the photos to my computer to admire from time to time!

PS I don’t know the seller but they have excellent feedback.

From: “Karen Evans”

Am I dreaming, or does the center panel appear to be on much newer/whiter fabric than the rest of the quilt? Also, the imagery looks much closer to the 1820s than the late 1800s, which doesn’t quite go with the “kept in a trunk for 100 years” description.

However, it certainly has the right look for a pre-Civil War mourning quilt….

Karen Evans —–

From: Lynn Lancaster Gorges

This is an article I wrote when Hurricane Floyd hit NC so viciously. I hope that you will pass this information to any people you know in LA, MS, AL, GA. It is just basic information. Unfortunately many times in the craziness of cleaning out flooded homes people throw out many things that could have been salvaged. I can’t find Bryce Reveley and Jessica Hack’s email addresses this morning. If anyone has the email for them please forward. (Thank you!!) They have a textile restoration/conservation business in NewOrleans by the name of Gentle Arts. _http://textilepreservation.com/flood.htm_ (http://textilepreservation.com/flood.htm) (This can be found at _www.textilepreservation.com_ (http://www.textilepreservation.com) ) My heart is with all of the people who suffered damage. What a difficult time. Lynn Lancaster Gorges Textile Conservator Historic Textiles Studio New Bern, NC _palampore@_

From: Barb

Hi Judy –

Glad to hear you had a successful move — I’m sure it was quite a project!!

Yes, I did design some doll/crib quilt/wall hanging patterns for the Passing On The Comfort exhibit. Last summer when I got a sneak preview of the 18 quilts (I do volunteer work with quilts with MCC) I immediately saw “doll quilt potential”. As has been mentioned, the quilts are showing the results of their age and life’s work — helping refugees. I wanted to design something that people could make to remember the quilts and their story — not to reproduce them. I made 6 small quilts and they chose 4 for publication and inclusion in the traveling exhibit. In addition to the patterns and book, there are also a coloring book designed by an 11 year old boy and notecards for sale. If the exhibit comes to a venue near you, I do recommend visiting.

http://www.mcc.org/quilts/

Barb in southeastern PA

From: Margareta

Hi Anita, Can you tell us the shipping for overseas? Is a $5 Global priority envelope enough? I’m sending this question through the list, as I assume more people would be asking. Thanks, Margareta in Europe

From: Litwinow@

> Dear QHL, > I spent most of yesterday watching the weather channel. I do hope all the > quilt sisters are safe. In the 1993 flood here in the Midwest, quilters > around > the nation helped to replace lost stashes. Is this a way we could help? > Cathy Litwinow > > > —

Cathy and QHLers,

All of us in the dry part of Louisiana have folks from South Louisiana in our homes or are helping out with shelters right now. What might not be clear from news reports is that homes in bedroom neighborhoods like Gretna and, indeed, most of St. Bernard Parish are almost completely under water. I checked out at Wal-Mart just now in front of a man who had purchased all the AA batteries on the store’s shelves and was headed to New Orleans with volunteer rescue group. Employers are excusing people from work who will join organized relief efforts in the south. The push is to get people off roofs and out of houses in areas that are under water already or are gradually being affected by rising waters from Lake Ponchatrain, as the Lake’s dam begins to weaken and break, dumping water into the city and suburbs.

Mississippians are also deeply affected and not just those on coast, which is a nightmare. Power in Jackson and nearby towns is out, thus compromising that state’s ability to help coastal residents.

Until you’ve lived in our heat without electricity, you cannot know what the word “irritable” means, but I think everyone is stunned into civility by the massiveness of this devastation and the knowledge of what lies ahead. Electricity and sewer service in much of N.O. Will be out at least a month, no matter how many people help.

I placed copies of the sheet Lynn G. provided at our local shelters. My sister has placed them in Baton Rouge area shelters, where she is working. Both of us noted many quilts had been brought with those who were in shelters, some of them Depression beauties.

My guess is that a lot of quilts made their way north last weekend because everyone in N.O. Area expected the worst.

Our Gulf States Guild members can inquire about quilt/textile needs.

One thing everyone can do to help lessen the effect of things like this storm is to urge their congresspeople to support legislation put forward by the Congressional delegations of coastal states, legislation that will help restore barrier islands and wetlands. For a variety of reasons, both are being compromised or destroyed. There will be those who accuse you of being a tree hugger, but remind them that as Gulf barrier islands and wetlands decline, the toll of storms that can race inland unimpeded start the price spiral that begins with the rise in oil and gas prices. And you might tell your insurance companies that you resent having to pay higher prices because they continue to insure the homes of people who choose to build new construction in flood plain areas and areas which have proven vulnerable to storm destruction. We pay twice–in our insurance premiums and in taxes for subsidizing such insurance. The wetlands issue affects everyone, not just us in coastal states.

Along with others from LA, MS, and AL, I appreciate your interest, Cathey.

Gail

From: “Jan Drechsler” <quiltdoc@>

Congratulations, Candace Perry and your co-workers for a terrific website. I especially enjoyed the complete text that went with the photos. Well done, and thanks Jean, for bringing the site to our attention.

Hope all our southern qhlers have come through the hurricane in good shape. I have been thinking of you.

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

Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher

From: Margareta

Thanks Pat, I enjoyed (re-)reading your thoughts on this subject, especially your ideas as to why this myth has become so wide-spread and appealing. I have mentioned the HIPV-story to researchers into Cultural Studies on this side of the Atlantic, who find the whole phenomenon fascinating!

The very idea of putting codes into textiles has parallels in other cultures – I’m thinking first and foremost of the 1001 Tales of the Arabian Nights, where – if I remember rightly – a prisoner manages to convey a message to the outside world via a rug he has expertly knotted. When you analyze myths, you often find they have a ‘universal’ core! (That of course, weakens the credibility of the particular myth…)

Margareta in Europe

From: “Candace Perry”

Had to share this because it was important to me from a museum standpoint…the seller said the quilt top was purchased in Harleysville (which is Montgomery Co., PA) in the 1950s. This sort of confuses the issue for me… Candace Perry Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center

—–Original Message—– From: Karen Evans

However, it certainly has the right look for a pre-Civil War mourning quilt….

Karen Evans —–

From: “Margaret Geiss-Mooney”

Dear QHLers – Anyone else notice that the appliqu=E9 doesn’t “bridge over” the seaming of the ground fabric but is caught in the seam allowances, leaving me to believe that the appliqu=E9 was done on the blocks first then the blocks were seamed? Is this typical construction for the time? Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Professional Associate, AIC in beautiful Sonoma County, California mgmooney@

Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 12:20:24 -0700 | From: “Margaret Geiss-Mooney” <mgmooney@>

Hi again, QHLers – Following is a link to one of the NPS Conserve-O-Gram series (it’s a PDF) on the procedure to follow (along with the whys and wherefores) if you want to freeze wool-containing artifacts:

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/03-06.pdf

Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Professional Associate, AIC in beautiful Sonoma County, California mgmooney@

Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 13:16:59 -0700 (PDT) | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>

Hello all, Thank you ten times over to Margaret for publishing this link. Please note on page 2 of the Conserve-O-Gram, top right column: “Ensure that the freezer does not have a frost-free feature. A frost-free freezer allows the internal temperature to rise periodically to remove any accumulated ice crystals. This cyclic heating will also allow the objects to warm up, destroying the effectiveness of the freezing process. However, a frost-free unit can be used in an emergency.”

If you haven’t started a conservation file, begin with this printout!

Judy Schwender

Margaret Geiss-Mooney <mgmooney@> wrote: Hi again, QHLers – Following is a link to one of the NPS Conserve-O-Gram series (it’s a PDF) on the procedure to follow (along with the whys and wherefores) if you want to freeze wool-containing artifacts:

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/03-06.pdf

Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Professional Associate, AIC in beautiful Sonoma County, California mgmooney@

Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 16:24:45 -0400 | From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>

At 03:12 PM 8/30/2005, you wrote: >Dear QHLers – Anyone else notice that the appliqu=E9 doesn’t “bridge over”= the >seaming of the ground fabric but is caught in the seam allowances, leaving >me to believe that the appliqu=E9 was done on the blocks first then the blocks >were seamed? Is this typical construction for the time? >Regards, >Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney >Textile/Costume Conservator >Professional Associate, AIC >in beautiful Sonoma County, California >mgmooney@

Yes, that is typical for the time . . . I often see antique quilts and tops where part of the applique is caught in the seam allowances! It is much easier to applique smaller pieces then join them together. What you are describing is a result of poor planning, not the method.

In response to Karen’s comment, the background fabric looks the same to me throughout, but the center block is so common whereas the weeping tree blocks are so unusual that it makes you wonder.

In response to Candace’s comment, where do you see Harleysville mentioned? Am I missing something? Or did you write to them? I think it belongs in a museum . . . especially yours, since then I can come and see it <GR>! –=====================_1298390==.ALT–

Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 16:45:39 -0400 | From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>

Judy, I wrote to them…whenever I see anything that suggests it’s nearby, I write. here is the precise reply: This was purchased originally in Harleysville, sometime in the late 1950s. I have no other information. Regards, Then I wrote back to him to ask if the owner of the estate in BERKS bought it in Harleysville, which to me is the most important thing…he hasn’t replied and I hope he does. It is really important and I hate to think this is Mennonite or Schwenkfelder and is gonna get away…but I can’t bid if I don’t have the info. Judy…do you think it’s indicative of the area? Candace

From: Judy Schwender

Wow, 3 posts in 1 day – a new record for me! While you are printing items for your Conservation File, do print out the Table of Contents for the Conserve-O-Gram series, available at:

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/cons_toc.html

A huge reference resource on the care of all sorts of things including books, film, furniture and disaster recovery as well. All this information paid for by your tax dollars!

>>Hello all, Thank you ten times over to Margaret for publishing this link. If you haven’t started a conservation file, begin with this printout!

Judy Schwender

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/03-06.pdf>>

Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Professional Associate, AIC in beautiful Sonoma County, California mgmooney@

Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 16:16:25 -0500 | From: “Susan Wildemuth” <ksandbcwgeneseo.net>

Wow Margaret– Step by Step — just how I like it.- thanks a million! What a gem!

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed the list and e-mailed me privately about the wool dress.

I appreciate it.

Sue in Illinois

From: “Christine Thresh”

I must protest!

Gail Ingram said, “And you might tell your insurance companies that you resent having to pay higher prices because they continue to insure the homes of people who choose to build new construction in flood plain areas and areas which have proven vulnerable to storm destruction. We pay twice–in our insurance premiums and in taxes for subsidizing such insurance.”

Well, I live in a flood plain area. I pay $800+ a year for FLOOD insurance. Flood damage and destruction is NOT covered by regular homeowner’s insurance. I pay $650+ for homeowner’s insurance (for fire, accidental damage, vandals, etc.) Because I live in California earthquake insurance is not available in my homowner’s policy. No one is paying for my FLOOD coverage except me. Regular policies are not subsidizing flood insurance. I am happy to pay taxes for relief of suffering when people are hurt by natural disasters.

New homes built in flood plains are built to withstand flooding (usually by elevating and reinforcing them).

Christine Thresh on Bethel Island in the California Delta (the island flooded in 1927)

From: aol.com

Christine is correct. Flood insurance must be purchased separately. I believe only one insurer (backed by the government) writes the policies.

Karen Evans

(former secretary in an insurance agency)

Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2005 19:28:22 -0500 | From: “Doug and Sarah Hough” <dougandsarah1@>

I live in the Florida Panhandle but have been spared the major wrath of hurricanes. However, in quoting our quilting sisters in the southern part of Florida that was so devastated last year “Don’t send us “stuff”. We have no place to put it, no way to store it.” I am not sure what to send but I sure know what not to send. They didn’t want fabric, old sewing machines, etc.

Sarah

Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 00:33:34 -0500 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>

Christine, here we are at odds again<g>. If I erred, I apologize. Yet, in Louisiana, many many homes cannot be insured privately for flooding because they are built in major flood plains that consistently sustain damage from storm-caused floods. I know homeowners who have gvt-subsidized flood insurance for homes on Grand Isle, LA, and who have twice replaced their homes with this insurance. These are second homes. There IS no construction technique that can be assured to withstand hurricane winds on this island. Or if there is, it is prohibitively expensive and no one I know is required to take it.

It is not a matter of taxpayers kicking in to pay to help those who are caught in situation they could not avoid. But if one knows from experience his home will be damaged by flood, that seems different to me. In our region, it is a case of taxpayers kicking in to pay to help those who do not have to build where they build—and the homes they build are expensive, often second homes, and have repeatedly had to be replaced or virtually replaced. I do not think that is a wise public expenditure. It is not something I wish to support.

In LA and MS, we have many historic neighborhoods built near or now on coastlines in the 19th and early 20th century, when barrier islands, wetlands, and beaches that extended much further out into the sea than they do now protected them. These homes have been spared destruction for a century or more, but now they too have taken hits. The situation of these owners seems different from that of the person who knows the current environmental conditions and dangers and still chooses to build and rebuild because of the availability of subsidized insurance. Generally these are not low-income homeowners in our state.

In any case, each to his own, and I will check my facts with my friends, but because we’ve discussed it before, I feel certain of what I say.

Had Katrina hit New Orleans in an earlier time when wetlands still were strong, barrier islands still were in place, and our coast was further out, we would almost surely be looking at a different situation from the horrific situation that we now see. Every mile of wetlands reduces storm surges by 1-2 feet, minimum. Barrier islands are even more effective.

Indeed, Mayor Naquin of N.O. made this very point tonight in an invterview. Federal help in rebuilding and sustaining wetlands has long been a cause of N.O.

Right now, however, it is important to focus on the extraordinary situation that exists in New Orleans. Help will be needed there for a long time. This year. If anyone wishes to contribute to aid storm victms, please know that donations made through Catholic Charities assure that nearly every cent of the donation makes it to someone in need. South Louisiana is a Catholic region, and the Church is an organizing agent there. Anyone wishing to make a donation might wish to consider that avenue as well as the Red Cross.

I’ve been so touched by friends’ solicitude for our situation.

And I did not mean to start a firestorm.

Gail

Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 | From: Edwaquilt@

I must have been living under a rock or something these past few years. I heard a term recently I didn’t know. I saw the Gee’s Bend exhibit recently and while I hadn’t much interest in seeing this exhibit I was in awe walking from gallery to gallery and reading the descriptions and seeing what can be done with almost nothing, However, there is one word that I didn’t know – “Housetop” quilts. Is this a regional expression? Does it refer to the log cabin type. The statement by one of the quilters that “she lost her creativity” when she started making more structured quilts was especially interesting.

Holice

Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 11:29:30 -0400 | From: “Candace Perry” <candace@>

Another response from the seller of the mourning quilt…unfortuantely not enough to convince me to buy…(sorry about the caps!)but an interesting tale nonetheless… Woe is me…Candace Perry

HI….THE QUILT TOP CAME TO US VIA MY AUNT WHO WAS AN ANTIQUES DEALER AND LIVED IN READING SHE PASSED AWAY IN 1961. HER LAST NAME WAS LUND. SHE HAD PURCHASED THIS TOP ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS LISTED ON THE AUCTION AS WELL AS A WEDDING QUILT WE SOLD THREE YEARS AGO, A SMALL CAT HOOKED RUG WE ALSO SOLD AND A LARGE LION HOOKED RUG THAT IS NOT FOR SALE. IT WAS ALWAYS KEPT, JUST AS SHE PURCHASED IT SOMETIME IN THE 1950s, IN THE SAME BOX AT A BARN AUCTION THAT WAS HELD EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT IN HARLEYSVILLE. SHE KEPT IT INTACT BECAUSE SHE USED TO USE IT AS AN ILLUSTRATION AS TO WHAT YOU COULD BUY AT AUCTION WHEN NO ONE WAS PAYING ATTENTION. SHE PAID ONE DOLLAR FOR THE ENTIRE LOT. IT WAS WILLED TO ME. I RECALL GOING WITH HER A FEW TIMES TO THIS AUCTION, BUT DON’T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS CALLED. REGARDS, JAY

Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 11:11:17 -0700 (PDT) | From: karenquilt@

We have been watching the news about New Orleans and the Gulf Coast with great sadness. Having lived and worked in New Orleans for 7 years (82-89) and been back every year since ’89 to help run the same conference for the same company, we have many friends there. However, we haven’t been able to reach anyone!! The devastation we are seeing on the news is unbelievable. There is no way to get all that water out quickly. Living there is like living in a big soup bowl when it rains. Now that the levees have been breached in at least 3 places, the water is flooding Kenner and Metairie (where we used to live less than a mile south of Lake Pontchatrain) and now downtown again, too, since one of the levees there gave way in two places earlier yesterday.

They are now saying no one will be doing business in the city for at least 12-16 weeks!! We were supposed to be back for our annual business conference on Oct 30. Not going to happen. All of our friends will be out of work and weeks from now thousands of citizens will come back to mildew and scum infested houses!!! You just can’t wrap your mind around such a disaster.

No one ever said life would come with any guarantees!! But to bring the business of a city this size to a halt for months?!!!! It is probably belt tightening time for many Americans, not just the Gulf Coast, as the ripple effect of the economic consequences of this disaster began to manifest themselves! And since 60% of the grain grown in the USA is shipped to the rest of the world through the Port of New Orleans, the rest of the world is liable to start to suffering soon too!!! BUT, Americans will rally and help the disaster survivors as they do every time, and one day New Orleans will rise from her floodwaters again! Karen Alexander

Date: Thu, 01 Sep 2005 09:47:07 -0400 | From: Judy Knorr <jknorr@>

Holice, I went to see the Gee’s Bend display when it was at the Whitney two years ago. I also saw the TV special about the history of the area and the quilts. (I think my reaction was similar to yours!). Anyway, the term “Housetop” was a local name for their version of what we call “Log Cabin”. Apparently the term developed among those quilters but did not spread to other areas.

Judy Knorr

Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 16:11:27 -0500 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>

Dear QHL Friends,

I appreciate the many inquiries, asking if I were all right in wake of Katrina. I live in North Louisiana hill country, barely 60 miles from Arkansas border. We were on the dry side of the storm.

Driving home from school just now, I listened to NPR interview with the President re New Orleans. The question essentially was “Why didn’t the federal government do more sooner?” I have heard that same question asked of the Red Cross. The Louisiana National Guard response has also been criticized by national presses.

I hope it will not offend anyone if I note what is felt by most Louisianians and every New Orleanian I’ve encountered in this awful week (and I’ve met a few because I help at local refugee center). Most of us here are ashamed and appalled at the lack of focused,intelligent, strong leadership from the Governor’s office and the office of the Mayor of New Orleans. This absence of leadership has created a nightmare both in the city and throughout the state and spilling into Texas. I realize that had the Twin Towers existed in a major ghetto area, the response to 9/11 would likely have been more problematic, and I know the many other circumstances that set the disaster in NYC apart from the current problem in New Orleans. Yet, I also know that had we had the leadership both at state and city level which New York had, all of us would be looking at different pictures on our television screens right now.

One detail might suggest a lot about the choas at the top in city and state government: Texas’ governor telephoned the Louisiana governor to offer the Astrodome and other Texas facilities on Wednesday. It appears in the conversation he had implied politely a plan that was eventually used to get people out of New Orleans. Apparently it had occurred to no one in Louisiana state gvt to inquire about these possibilities, even though Texas had made general offers of help with the message to ‘let us know what you need from us.’

Everyone who knows the city of New Orleans knew a strong National Guard and police presence would be required immediately following the general evacuation of the city and then again after the hurricane’s passage. Most think the Guard should have been inside the city. Some think a nearby staging ground would have been sufficient. They were in their homes instead.

And when the Guard entered the city, they were made responsible to the N.O. Police chief, not the Guard commandant. Nothing was done to correct that and so they were not permitted to do what they are trained to do: maintain order. The decision not to secure the city immediately has been disastrous. The thugs that have been permitted to flourish in housing projects and certain other zones took over the city, precluding most rescue efforts. It was a short-sighted decision to use the guard to rescue individuals. More people would have been saved had they been used to secure order immediately, before anarchy broke out.

Yesterday, the entire LA Wildlife and Fisheries fleet of flat-bottom boats and a large contingent of Texas’ similar boats were lined up for miles waiting to help in rescue effort. Yet the situation was so bad that not a single boat was permitted to enter the city. A vessel loaded with water and supplies for those standing on I-10 overpass and Superdome could not get near enough to unload badly needed supplies. The Red Cross was in a similar situation.dd

The same story is repeated many times. It was only when the federal government, in effect, determined to take control of the situation there that any coherent plan emerged.

While the federal government can be faulted for not acting to restore wetlands and barrier islands and not to rebuild the levees to meet requirements of a cat 5 storm, the primary fault for the shameful scene in New Orleans mainly lies elsewhere.

All of us are grateful for the nation’s concern for New Orleans. And we’re grateful to Texas.

I post this to list because a number of members have asked about what the state looked like from inside.

Gail

Date: Fri, 02 Sep 2005 22:49:56 +0100 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>

Sorry, can someone please remind me of the website with information on sending quilts for the refugees? I can’t seem to bring up current messages in the archives.

Sally W

Date: Fri, 2 Sep 2005 18:26:00 -0400 | From: “Karen Evans” <charter.net>

I’m glad you’re all right, Gail, and out of the danger zone…and your comments about the lack of leadership are spot-on. I’m donating to my denominational service committee (the Unitarian Universalists), which has an excellent record of getting money and supplies where they are needed; a lot of scams are springing up to exploit this catastrophe, and we should all be on watch.

God save New Orleans, preferably in the form of food, clothing, bedding, toilets, and showers….

Karen Evans