July 4 – July 6, 1997
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:
- A New Member’s Antique-Quilt Find — A first-time poster shares her favorite site for buying antique quilts, and DAR Museum program follow-up plans take shape.
- Does the Spin Cycle Hurt Antique Quilts? — The washing-machine debate continues, with members weighing in on whether centrifugal force can damage fragile old fabric.
- Fair Wages and Imported Quilts — A discussion over pay for overseas quiltmakers turns into a broader comparison with historic American feedsack-era piecework.
- The Feedsack Club Makes the News — The Feedsack Club’s founder shares a newspaper feature on the club and helps members track down specific feedsack prints. (see the article on the feedsack story)
- What Quilters Charge — Members compare regional rates for hand-quilting and finishing other people’s unfinished quilt tops.
Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 19:50:56 -0400 | From: Ricki Maietta <rmaietta [at] csrlink [dot] net>
Barbara Black recently mentioned the great McCall’s coat pattern for the
imported quilts. Thought I should mention 2 things. First of all, a friend
of mine has used that pattern & says it runs REALLY BIG!! Also, the pattern
says to wash the quilt before making the jacket so that you can repair where
it falls apart before it is a garment. Well, she did that. The first time
she laundered the jacket – it fell apart!! She had a heck of a time trying
to sew the pieces of the quilt back together so that her jacket was intact!
Those things are just not well made & the fabric is lousey! Beware, even
for this. . .
Ricki
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 1997 22:12:07 -0400 (EDT) | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
In a message dated 97-07-03 21:14:24 EDT, you write:
<< Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com >>
Jane, I think at the VT Quilt site, that there is a section that describes
classes, times, teachers, etc.
Elisabeth
Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 21:32:57 -0500 | From: LAURA SYLER <texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net>
Phyllis Twigg wrote:
>
> Today I attended a great talk on patriotic quilts and related items at the
> DAR Museum in Washington, D.C.given by Nancy Tuckerhorn. About 15 of us
> sat around a table wearing white gloves and cautiously handling rarely seen
> early quilts from their collection. Thomas Jefferson’s slipppers and Dolley
> Madison’s blue stone earrings were first “patriotic” items on the agenda.
> Of great historical note on holding his slippers: his feet were a lot
> smaller than I thought.
> The DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Museum is a private museum
> open to the public.If you willl be traveling to Washington check out the
> possibility of attending a scheduled presentation. Next door at the
> American Red Cross building on the second floor is a Red Cross Quilt signed
> by many famous people including Orville Wright, Lillian Gish, and peers in
> an effort to raise money for the ARC.
> The DAR Museum is located at 1776 D Street, N.W. (202) 879 -3241. Ask to
> be put on their mailing list for quilting events. On display now are
> Baltimore Album quilts made by current members of the Baltimore Applique
> Society.
> Phyllis
My how things do change. Many years ago, ?1980? Jenny Beyer did a
workshop at the Smithsonian and part of the weekend was a tour of the
Smithsonians quilt collection and the DAR. Smith. was very tight
security and we surely felt honored to be allowed in the textile room.
When we went to the DAR,we were ushered into a room with folding chairs
casually scattered about. The then curator of the museum (I apologize, I
do not remember her name) spoke briefly to us about the history of the
organization and how they got their quilts and then one of the staff
rolled in what looked like a bellmans luggage cart with quilts folded on
the bottom and some draped over the top rail. She began to pull them off
( like unmaking a bed <ouch>) shaking them out and laying them on the
floor, over the chairs, even tossing one to a woman seated in the second
row. We all gasped!! No one had white gloves, but they got a very fast
education as to how quilters revere antique quilts, particularly those
with lots of documentation and history attached. I must say that I think
that it was the one event in my life that helped turn my direction in
quilting from a shop owner to a historian.
Ah, but we were all young and stupid once.
BTW, even then it was a WONDERFUL collection.
Laura
texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net
Date: Thu, 03 Jul 1997 21:59:43 -0500 | From: LAURA SYLER <texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net>
KirkColl [at] aol [dot] com wrote:
>
> Just for fun, there is an exhibit of some of my personal collection of
> patriotic quilts that Quilters Corner asked to put up for a special July 4th
> celebration. She certainly made me feel a lot more important than I ever
> considered myself to be!<grin>
>
> If you want a little July 4th excursion without leaving your monitor you can
> check http://www.qcx.com/gallery/kirk/main.htm.
>
> Happy 4th!
>
> Nancy Kirk
Nancy: What a wonderful birthday present!!!Have a happy one. See ya in
Sept.
Laura
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 01:11:26 -0400 | From: quiltmag [at] mindspring [dot] com (Jean Ann Eitel)
I loved your quilt collection. thanks for sharing the web site. My favorite
was the first one with the big flag.
Jean Ann Eitel, Editor
QUILT Magazines
http://www.quiltmag.com
#quilttalk internet IRC channel – #quilttalk activities home page…
http://www.quilttalk.com
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 07:04:40 -0400 (EDT) | From: ROM1026 [at] aol [dot] com
Hi all. Just in case anyone was interested I am sending this info
I have answered some of the requests for the teddy bear list however my
conputer is having a bad week and it lost some of my mail. Here is the infor
mation needed to sign up for the teddy bear list.
writeto:
Majordomo [at] bga [dot] com
Subject: Does not matter
Subscribe teddy-bear-digest
Also there are cool web sites and more info on Debbie Keslings web site
www.cybearspace.com
Enjoy and if any one wants more info please e-mail me again.
Thanks
Pat in cloudy NJ
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 07:44:23 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
In response to Phyllis’s post about her great visit to the DAR
gathering..brought to mind that some of our readers on this forum had been
there to see antique quilts..I forget if it is a case of contacting them to
set a date to do so or if they HAVE SET dates for anyone interested in
attending..and how many will they accommodate?? I’m sure new members would
be interested in this opportunity as well..AND, I would be interested in
getting together with others to form a group..can someone help with this
info? jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB
www2.netcom.com/~leelman/feedsack.html
www.his.com/~queenb/feedsack.html
Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 23:18:14 -0700 | From: nomad1 [at] ibm [dot] net
Dear QHLers in the USA,
Happy Indepence Day! Wishing you all a fab day of celebration.
Many thanks re the feedback on waterproof ink too. When the weather
stays clear awhile, I plan to try washing a corner of the Sunday school
quilt.
I did not get any response to my search of locating history connected to
the quilt, using the names written thereon. If anyone living in
Saratoga,New York has suggestions as to how to go about it, I really
would appreciate it. Perhaps I could write to local papers in Saratoga,
NY. So would appreciate names & addresses of papers perhaps? Then I can
write & put an advertisement with the names perhaps. Unfortunately I
cannot send SSA envelopes from Australia!
Hiranya :>)
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 08:26:56 -0500 | From: “Dale Ellison” <caveman [at] fastlane [dot] net>
Hello all,
I am fairly new to QHL and this is my first time to post here. I was
browsing various web sites this morning and loved seeing Nancy Kirk’s red,
white, and blue quilts and flags. Then it occured to me that I should share
my favorite web site. It is Log Cabin antiques and has dozens of pictures
of fabulous antique quilts for sale. I have bought a couple quilts from
Mary Ann and they have been in great condition at great prices. At least I
thought so. Mary Ann attends lots of quilt shows here in Texas and I always
look for her booth. She will be at the Houston Quilt Festival in October
and I look forward to seeing her quilts there. The quilts are always an
inspiration for future quilts I would like to make.
Here’s the web site http://www.flash.net/~logcabin/
Enjoy and happy quilting, Arlene in Texas
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 10:26:01 -0400 (EDT) | From: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Alan says:
<< From my understanding of science,
the centrifugal force shoul hold the quilt still during spinning. >>
I have washed alot of quilts using the spin cycle with good results. I hold
my breath each time!!!! Sometimes I just know that the quilt must be washed
in the bathtub and taken out in a sheet sling. Hope I never, never have a
bad experience with the spin method. Anyone else have a bad experience like
was described?
Toni Baumgard
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Happy 4th of July everyone! 🙂
Date: Fri, 4 Jul 97 17:23:50 UT | From: “Brian Stewart” <JBCStewart [at] msn [dot] com>
Dear Arlene: Thank you for sharing that great web site. I know that many of
us get inspiration from the older quilts. I have many that I have seen that I
would like to make, and now we have the wonderful selection of reproduction
fabrics to use that we didn’t have several years ago. Sincerely, Jeannette in
Colorado
———-
From: Dale Ellison
Sent: Friday, July 04, 1997 7:26 AM
To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
Subject: QHL: Favorite web site
Hello all,
I am fairly new to QHL and this is my first time to post here. I was
browsing various web sites this morning and loved seeing Nancy Kirk’s red,
white, and blue quilts and flags. Then it occured to me that I should share
my favorite web site. It is Log Cabin antiques and has dozens of pictures
of fabulous antique quilts for sale. I have bought a couple quilts from
Mary Ann and they have been in great condition at great prices. At least I
thought so. Mary Ann attends lots of quilt shows here in Texas and I always
look for her booth. She will be at the Houston Quilt Festival in October
and I look forward to seeing her quilts there. The quilts are always an
inspiration for future quilts I would like to make.
Here’s the web site http://www.flash.net/~logcabin/
Enjoy and happy quilting, Arlene in Texas
Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 21:05:03 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
> For sure I agree, that there is & should be resistence to those who
> imply that a poorly made, cheaper quilt is just as good as a well-made
> quilt, and a bargain because it’s so much cheaper, is wrong. It is not
> the foreigness(? for I feel all quilters are family) that makes a poor
Hiranya,
No indeed, but in my experience, unethical merchants who want to fleece
the naive by selling inferior quality quilts as ‘bargains’, generally use
foreign-made quilts to do so, probably because they can’t get American
quilters to make them at similarly cheap prices.
> It is the snobbery & dishonesty regarding $ foreign$ quilts, I hate
>the most! Over here there are some stupidos that are upset that American
> Quilts are being sold!! Sheesh!! So I told them,” well find me Aussie
> quilts then!!!” Their response is to look open mouthed like goldfish!
And here within the States, there are people who are upset about quilts
from the East being sold in the West! <G> I understand the idea, that
they’re a part of cultural heritage, and it’s a shame to lose them. But by
far and away, I’d rather have an antique quilt cherished in Australia than
used to mop up grease dripping in a garage in its native Ohio.
And when it comes to people buying modern quilts just to have a nice
bedcovering, I couldn’t care less. I figure if Americans want to export
modern quilts to Australia, that’s no worse than Americans purchasing
Aborigine carvings to take home! If there’s no historical value to the
object itself, and it was just made for sale, I think it’s a wonderful idea
that people of other nations appreciate the artwork of another culture.
Jocelyn
Date: Fri, 04 Jul 1997 22:23:03 -0500 | From: LAURA SYLER <texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net>
Brian Stewart wrote:
>
> Dear Arlene: Thank you for sharing that great web site. I know that many of
> us get inspiration from the older quilts. I have many that I have seen that I
> would like to make, and now we have the wonderful selection of reproduction
> fabrics to use that we didn’t have several years ago. Sincerely, Jeannette in
> Colorado
>
> ———-
> From: Dale Ellison
> Sent: Friday, July 04, 1997 7:26 AM
> To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
> Subject: QHL: Favorite web site
>
> Hello all,
> I am fairly new to QHL and this is my first time to post here. I was
> browsing various web sites this morning and loved seeing Nancy Kirk’s red,
> white, and blue quilts and flags. Then it occured to me that I should share
> my favorite web site. It is Log Cabin antiques and has dozens of pictures
> of fabulous antique quilts for sale. I have bought a couple quilts from
> Mary Ann and they have been in great condition at great prices. At least I
> thought so. Mary Ann attends lots of quilt shows here in Texas and I always
> look for her booth. She will be at the Houston Quilt Festival in October
> and I look forward to seeing her quilts there. The quilts are always an
> inspiration for future quilts I would like to make.
> Here’s the web site http://www.flash.net/~logcabin/
>
> Enjoy and happy quilting, Arlene in Texas
I must also add my .02 worth on Mary Anne Walters webb site. However,
since she lives just up the road a piece, and we have some of her
wonderful quilts at Country Calicos, I get to see lots of them first
hand. They are all excellent quality ( one of CC’s owners just bought 4
’30’s this week) and very reasonably priced. She does have an update
notice on her page so she can notify you of new quilts added to the list
if you so desire.
Laura – In Richardson,Tx where we just saw 3 fireworks shows at
once…Spectacular!!
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 12:38:47 -0400 (EDT) | From: JQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
What fun!!!
I saw an old tape of a Georgia Bonesteel show from 1995, and guess what?????
There were Jane Clark Stapel and Ellie Ryan on the show…Talking about what
else?? Feedsacks, of course…
Jane and Ellie were wearing vests made out of feed sack fabric…
and brought lots of samples of feedsack bags..Their knowledge of feedsack
fabric history was fascinating..
It’s always fun to see the people, who write to the list.
Kris, have you ever been on one of the quilting shows on TV?
Anyone else?
Jean Laino
jquilt [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 12:45:09 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
For all FEEDSACK CLUB MEMBERS or other collectors..I am searching for two
prints in feedsack..one being green, white,and navy plaid..and the 2nd
one..p;ink, reddish purple, lime green, and white..this one is a print..if
you have it (them) or would need a zerox of them please let me know..JANE
<baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 16:29:09 -0700 | From: “Kris Driessen, Hickory Hill Quilts” <oldquilt [at] albany [dot] net>
With Ellens permission, I am forwarding this note to the list. I would
guess that the backing is a homespun sheet and the embroidery is actually
the inventory number. Which makes it older than 1900! Does anyone have any
better guesses?
Kris
>
>
>Date: Fri, 4 Jul 1997 15:28:41 -0400
>From: Lotsascrap [at] AOL [dot] COM
>Subject: Re: old quilt
>
>hi all,
>a friend of my daughters has purchased a quilt at auction that is very
>interesting. aside from “the clues in the calico,” are there any other books
>she should look for to try to identify the era of this quilt. if i ventured
>a guess, i’d say pre-1900, but there is one fabric that i am not sure about.
> it is all hand pieced and hand quilted, with a hand applied, very narrow
>binding.
>the backing is a rougher weave of cotton (or maybe linen) with a muslin
>color, and has some markings which are embroidered in blue: there is an “S”
>– a large, open diamond — a roman numeral II — and a roman numeral III.
> they are arranged with the S on top (or on bottom), the diamond shape
>opposite, and the III on the right, and the II on the left (again if the S is
>on top). i thought maybe it was some religious symbol.
>if any of you know or can think of what this could all be, i would appreciate
>hearing from you direct.
>thanks so much.
>ellen b.
>lotsascrap [at] aol [dot] com
>in warm, sunny cambridge massachusetts where there is a delightful breeze!
>
>
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 07:42:21 +0800 | From: Kath Balfour <balfourk [at] echidna [dot] id [dot] au>
C’mon, isn’t the real issue that of the slave labour of women and children
in the handicraft industries in so-called developing countries?
Here in Australia and in many western countries, traditional handicrafts
from developing countries may escape import tariffs under certain
circumstances (such as, if the technique or product is indigenous to the
country of origin, the materials do not originate from a third country, and
no power tools are used in manufacture).
So it can be an attractive proposition for an invester to import
needlecrafts (even supplying the raw materials) made for a pittance by the
very poorest of the poor, women and kids. If you’re paying $39.95 for a
king-size quilt, how much is the woman and her five kids who made it
getting? A dollar?
Apart from exposing the notorious Nike shoe factories, etc, the
Anti-Slavery Society and other activists recently focused worldwide
attention on the slave labour of children making hand-tied carpets in India
and Pakistan. This resulted in identifying carpets with the Rug Mark, so
the consumer can identify carpets made by people who are properly paid,
working under safe and fair conditions.
Maybe we should start up a Quilt Mark campaign!
Meanwhile, why not support international aid projects which assist women?
Community Aid Abroad is one organisation which funds self-determination
projects for women in India, gives them small setting-up grants and loans
at reasonable interest, and also assists by retailing their handicrafts
through CAA shops. When you buy a product made through a CAA funded
project, you know the workers are not being exploited.
Any thoughts?
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 19:59:33 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
if you are in the Pittsburgh, Pa area and get the TRIBUNE REVIEW..check out
the article on THE FEEDSACK CLUB in the Sunday edition..Jane
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 20:59:49 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
In response to the Chinese/Indian quilts..i can remember when the issue had
been the patterns our SMITHSONIAN had sent off to China..all of the letters
had been negative about it..there was ONLY ONE in Quilter’s Newsletter that
defended..It was a well known quilter but can’t recall exactly
who..anyway..basically she said..if it wasn’t for those cheap (not her word)
quilts..there would be many many people who would never own a quilt in their
lifetime..they would not be able to apy %300.00 or higher..at least this
way..they have a chance to own one also..even if it does fall apart on
several washings..and she went on to say..how many people own an original
piece of furniture made by the maker..is your Shaker table an original? if
your Tiffany from the master? We live with reproductions of the
original..and as I say..this is not verbatim..It is the gist of what she was
saying..and she made sense.. and now..
How much do quilters who quilt for noted quilters make per hour??? Quilters
like NANCY CROW, FONS & PORTER and others who have their designs quilted by
someone else… I guess the main question is..how much should a quilter get
an hour? Jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 21:48:01 -0400 | From: “Phyllis Twigg” <ptwigg [at] radix [dot] net>
Some people expressed interest in attending (perhaps together) a future
quilt program at the DAR Museum in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, August 7th
from 10:30 a.m. until noon, “The Art of Applique” will include a private
viewing of approximately 25 applique quilts from the permanent collection
as well as coverage of the quilt exhibition, “The Art of Applique: Quilts
from the Baltimore Applique Society”. There is a $ 15.00 fee and
reservations are usually necessary. (If the 10:30 a.m. program fills,
sometimes an additional program is run at 1:30. p.m.) I will not be able
to make it that day. However, it would be a good opportunity for some
QHLers to meet one another if you live within traveling distance to
Washington. The number to call for reservations or more information is
(202) 879-3241. The address is 1776 D Street NW, Washington, D.C.
20006-5392.
Phyllis
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 22:30:35 -0400 (EDT) | From: Qltldy10 [at] aol [dot] com
>
You know, the mandarin orange segments I got today were canned in PR of
China, they were cheaper than Florida fresh today. To my way of thinking,
the world is getting too small to think of things as theirs and ours- isn’t
there a cheaper version of everything? Of course, selling the “cheaper” as a
“better” is always the ideal in the corporate world. Cheap quilts let me do
things I wouldn’t otherwise be able to- I cut up three and covered the RV
seats, made a jacket and matching bag, and put them on the kids beds and told
them to jump away… Mind you, in all of this conversation I think we are
all essentially agreeing- people should be paid fairly for a days work…,
quilts made in production are not the same as made passionatly… there will
always be corporate “greed”… Beth in Maine
Date: Sat, 05 Jul 1997 21:08:43 -0700 | From: David Raynesford <drdavid [at] cyberg8t [dot] com>
Thanks Nancy for sharing your great birthday quilts! Hope you had a
wonderful day.
Judy Raynesford
—
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 07:41:26 -0500 (CDT) | From: Lisa Erlandson <erland [at] cooke [dot] net>
I’ve been reading with interest the East v. West labor comments and Jane – I
agree with you. I think a valid question is What do quilters in this
country get paid. I have been trying to do some research on this very
subject. My theory is that quilters don’t get paid very much in relation to
other women’s jobs at all!! Once again – if anyone who hasn’t already
responded has any info about quilting prices (or other quilt-related labor:
piecing, etc) please e-mail me privately with the info. My partner in
crime, Laura, and I would love to have as much info as possible and will
definitly let you all know when we get enough info to make a thorough study
and report on!!
Love the list, love hearing all your opinions!!
Lisa in a surprisingly rainy North Texas
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 06:33:13 -0700 | From: “Miklos B. Lukacs” <mlukacs [at] dns1 [dot] webbernet [dot] net> (by way
of Quilting Heritage
RE the recent conversations about quilts made from afar, all of the
thoughtful comments did get me to thinking. I have a friend who makes
her living selling antiques used in households. No furniture or large
items. She sells linens and dishes, mostly. No feedsacks. The demand
for Fiesta ware is extremely high. Do any of you fellow older folk
remember Fiesta ware. It was included as a bonus in oatmeal, one piece
at a time. It was given at some gas stations if you filled your tank or
bought a certain dollar amount.
Feedsacks were considered to be the mark of a real hick. The townies
laughed at the people wearing anything made of the printed material. It
was very noticeable.
The point made by Jane about people who would never be able to own a
quilt if not for the cheap ones was a good point.(Jane was quoting)
People do have a point about paying a just wage. I guess it is back to
the point of “buyer beware”. Just my two cents worth that I can’t get a
penny for. Have a great day. Connie L.
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 09:27:08 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
Well, Lisa,,the reason i ask is this..i also use to quilt for people..people
who inherited a top from “aunt Suzie, who never finished it” or a top bought
at auction/garge sale, or someone to enjoyed piecing/applique but HATED
quilting..NOW ..I know all the more I made and there was no middle man..I
also did a few quilts for a lady who had numerous piecers/appliquers,
quilters..and she farmed everything out for HER quilt business..so I know
what I made with a middle man and I know what I made WITHOUT!! We are’nt
talking a K income here, friends..sooooo what are top profesional, well
known quilters/teachers/lecturers paying???? What would YOU be willing to
pay for hand quilting? If you could find that little old lady in the mts of
KY..charging $15.00 to 25.00 a quilt..would you pay it..or say, “no,no..I
want to pay you $400.00 because that is what it is worth?” Jane
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 10:20:15 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
In reply to Connie..yes, in some cases it was a stigma to wear feedsacks when
the ‘town’ gilrs had store bought clothes..bought from ‘SEARS ROEBUCK”..and
in actuallity, THOSE SNOBS would have been made fun of if they were living
near a ‘better’ area and those girls clothes come from SACHS 5TH AVE..today,
they are talking about going back to uniforms because some children can’;t
afford the label clothing, tennis shoes that are over $100.00..they too are
made fun of..kids are cruel. I can remember when kids made fun of home made
clothes..TODAY..it is desired as CREATIVE to make your own..everything is
relative..
those little girls not only had a feedsack dress, they had little matching
panties, little matching scarves for around their neck or to cover the
head..and then their dollies had matching outfits..STORE BOUGHT CLOTHES did
not come with those matching items.
Jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB
www2.netcom.com/~leelman/feedsack.html
www.his.com/~queenb/feedsack.html
I
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 11:37:07 -0400 (EDT) | From: Bert3M [at] aol [dot] com
I’ll be in Washington visiting in October, the 17th-19th. Would like to join
a tour of the DAR quilts and textiles if anyone else is interested at that
time.
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 12:32:45 -0500 | From: LAURA SYLER <texas_quilt.co [at] airmail [dot] net>
A friend just telephoned me to say she had just seen the “NEW” Northern
Quilters commerical. I havn’t seen it yet, but she said that they kept
the same premis, but NOW they do have SEWING NEEDLES AND THREAD instead
of knitting needles.
Little did they know that we are such a force to be recogned
with!!!<VBG>
Laura
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 13:00:43 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 5-JUL-1997 21:01:14.1 Baglady111 said to JOCELYNM
>apy %300.00 or higher..at least this way..they have a chance to own
>one also..even if it does fall apart on several washings..and she went
>on to say..how many people own an original piece of furniture made by
>the maker..is your Shaker table an original? if your Tiffany from the
>master? We live with reproductions of the original..and as I
>say..this is not verbatim..It is the gist of what she was saying..and
>she made sense.. and now.. How much do quilters who quilt for noted
>quilters make per hour??? Quilters like NANCY CROW, FONS & PORTER and
>others who have their designs quilted by someone else… I guess the
>main question is..how much should a quilter get an hour? Jane of THE
>FEEDSACK CLUB
Jane,
How about an amount equal to the profit made by the people who sell it?
I worked retail for awhile, and our mark-up was 100%. My boss doubled
the price she paid for everything. This gave her much less of a profit than
you might guess, because of course some things sold on the 50% off sales,
and other things NEVER sold.
But I’ll bet the women and children making those quilts don’t get
anything remotely close to the profits made by the people who sell them.
Look at the Nike factories in Viet Nam…..where Nike is paying the
women about 60% of what it costs to live in a city, and justifying it
because that’s a living wage in the rural areas. But of course, their
factories are only in urban areas! The shoes that sell here for $70 and up,
were made by women who work TWO MONTHS.
I can’t agree with that expert you quoted. The ends don’t justify the
means. If you can’t afford something, that’s sad…but it’s sadder yet to
exploit other people to make you an affordable copy.
Also, one might as well say, if one can’t afford the Mona Lisa, one
might as well have Dogs Playing Poker or Elvis on Blue Velvet. <G> No quilt
expert ought to be implying that having a poorly designed and cheaply made
quilt is an acceptable substitute for a prize-winner. It may very well be
better to have NO art than bad art.
As for the famous quilters…..while I’m sure they don’t pay WELL, I’ll
bet they pay more than the $1.60 per day (and not an 8-hour day) the Nike
workers get…. (and I’m using Nike because I figure the quilters aren’t
getting significantly more).
Jocelyn
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 11:21:45 -0700 | From: Nancy Cameron Armstrong <narmstr [at] ibm [dot] net>
Dear QHLers,
Shortly after joining QHL, I was delighted to see a posting from Joan
Stevens from St. Louis, MO offering Cotton Queen Quilt Batt Glazene
Covered wrappers from The Dominion Wadding Co. Ltd. of Montreal. Quickly
… wrote and said, “yes, please.” We now have 2 original wrappers with
patterns number 8 (Star Bright) and number 30 (Virginia Reel) of
patterns that were offered at a “Special Price of Twenty Cents.” Of
note! Both patterns have as the final comments in the “Quilting
Suggestion” sections references to SIGNING AND DATING! Number 30: “For
that old-time touch, the maker should sign the quilt with her name and
the date of making; this can be done in the quilting, or in simple
outline stitch in white or colored thread; sign in one corner of the
quilt.” Number 8: “It is always a satisfaction to make a record of your
achievement by signing the quilt with your name and the date, stitched
in outline in a suitable open space.”
Some time ago, Irma Glanville (a member of the Canadian Quilt Study
Group) donated photocopies of 8 other wrappers. (Numbers 2, 3, 4, 7, 9,
10, 11, and 12.) Naturally, had to check out the list of pattern titles
in Brackman’s pieced and appliqu�d encyclopedias. One more project?
Several of the patterns were not listed in either publication. Were they
perhaps “well known patterns” only presented with different names e.g.
CANADIAN ROSE, ROSES ARE RED, THE DEW DROP, BED OF PEONIES, CABIN IN THE
COTTON, SAIL HO! etc.? Or, were they different patterns? Or did Brackman
somehow not list them? So much to know, so little time.
Merikay Waldvogel wrote to me about the Dominion wrappers we received
and the connection of Dominion, Stearns & Foster, and Mountain Mist
patterns. If you have not already, I believe you would enjoy reading
Merikay’s AQSG UNCOVERINGS 1995 paper “The Origin of Mountain Mist
Patterns.” After a brief perusal of the wrappers and Merikay’s paper, I
confirmed that the patterns we have are all Mountain Mist patterns as
are all the patterns used by Dominion Wadding Co. So, that answers one
of the questions; it is true that not all of the Mountain Mist patterns
are listed in Brackman’s encyclopedias. A second question answered: the
Canadian Rose is simply a name change, for it is Brackman number 11.25
Ohio Rose and a 1930 Mt. Mist Cotton Queen Series pattern (MM I.D. 20).
The dates for the patterns we have are between 1930 and 1939; however,
as the wrappers are undated only further research would let us know
exactly when Dominion first issued the wrappers with these patterns. I
would also like to recommend another “good read” MOUNTAIN MIST BLUE BOOK
OF QUILTS.
Merikay reminded us that Linda Pumphrey, Sales Manager, Consumer
Products of The Stearns Technical Textiles Co. is quite interested in
the company history. Merikay (and NCA!) ” think Dominion Wadding Co.
would make a neat Canadian quilt research project � the tie-in with Mt
Mist, the name changes, the dates, etc.” Has the tiny bit of information
I have offered intrigued you? I certainly want to know more! Is there a
Canadian member who would like to take the project up? Or …? This
would be a great paper for the CQSG Seminar in 1998 at the University of
British Columbia, in Vancouver.
Please … continue to think of the CQSG Research Library as a possible
repository for books and ephemeral materials, such as these wonderful
and precious “wadding” wrappers. We are especially keen to build our
Canadian collection. And once again … thanks to Joan Stevens!
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 15:56:16 -0400 (EDT) | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
Hi Jane,
Read your ltr about the feedsack article in Sunday edition of Tribune Review.
I know that many newspapers are online, so decided to see if your article
could be found — and it can!
Go to <A HREF=””>http://tribune-review.com/</A> and do a word search for
“feedsack” which will bring up two choices. Or go to <A HREF=””>http://pinn
aclemall.com/cgi-bin/AT-PMsearch.exe</A>
Isn’t it great that even those of us not in the Pittsburgh area can read
this!
Elisabeth
Date: Sun, 06 Jul 1997 12:42:56 -0800 | From: Opalka <mopalka [at] alaska [dot] net>
Lisa, I have no idea what quilters here in Alaska get, I’m sorry. I do
remember my grandmother saying that she got a quarter a spool for her
quilting in the 1920’s. She lived in Kansas and later Oklahoma. Susan
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 18:52:10 -0400 (EDT) | From: Baglady111 [at] aol [dot] com
ELISABETH gave me the web address of the newspaper that has the article on
THE FEEDSACK CLUB..For those interested..
http://tribune-review.com/
then scroll down to word search and type in feedsack
click on 83% feedsack fans favor vintage linens..
we feel Cindy did a great job on the subject..and hopefully will bring us new
members and spread our interest more..Jane of THE FEEDSACK CLUB..
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 1997 20:49:49 -0400 (EDT) | From: JZgliniec [at] aol [dot] com
Thank you ! for sending the URL for the “trib” article on feedsacks. The
wonders of technology make it possible to access this information even from
CA.
Regards,
Julia Zgliniec
