March 24 - 25, 2006 - QuiltHistory

Fabric Identification, Quilt Block History, Quilt History Resources, Regional Quilt History

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:

Underground Railroad Quilt Websites — Members compare websites and news releases that repeat the quilt code story and note the new wave of searches for related patterns. (see the article on Underground Railroad quilts)
Bears Paw and “Over the Mountain” — A tongue in cheek thread on why bears cross mountains grows into stories of real bears, Native American legends, and kudzu recipes.
Imported Quilts and Seller Tricks on eBay — Members watch hidden bidders, quilts labeled antique that were sold new, and sellers whose descriptions look off.
Identifying a Ralli Quilt from India — A returning member shares a photo, and others suggest a Ralli quilt from India or H’mong needlework.
The Missing Quilt of John Sauls — A member finds a possible match for the missing quilt on a Quilt Search site, and photos are sent to lostquilt.com.
Maria Hanks Quilt and Double Pineapple — Members hunt for photos of the Maria Hanks quilt and look up the Double Pineapple pattern in reference books.

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 05:22:52 -0700 | From: gingham@

Julie, From a quick search: Brackman 2992 The Double Pineapple -Rural New Yorker 11/21/31

Okay, so do I win the quilt???? Does it need a good home?

Sandra in Utah

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 09:16:50 -0600 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>

Hi… I’ll bet others will tell you this too, but I just had to look it up. The marvelous quilt with a 9 patch center is probably what was called the Double Pineapple in the Rural New Yorker 11/21/31. #2992. Fewer feathers or triangles, however. But it also has the curved outer edges of the triangle rows that makes it look more like the Pineapple Cactus, KC Star 1932. #2996. So why not a variation or combo deal? They both were available as inspiration in the same period of time.

These blocks are in Brackman #2992 and #2996 and in Malone #4529 and #4488. Between the two patterns I think the maker came up with a fantastic quilt. So enjoy the Sweetness of a 9 Patch Pineapple. Thanks for sharing it with us! charlotte ——=_NextPart_000_0003_01C64F23.AEFE7840–

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 08:48:34 -0700 | From: “Judy Anne” <anne_j@>

I just read the webpage. Now I understand why I have so many people searching my site for wedding ring, bear’s paw and other patterns listed in this article. I had assumed that people might think the Underground Railroad pattern and the log cabin were UGRR patterns but I see it goes far beyond those two.

I just got an email from a mother trying to help her child find the “info about the ethnic or cultural history of the pattern”. Now I understand what that was about? <sigh>

I guess I need to get ‘that book’ from the library and find out what patterns they included. I assume that is where the info on the web page came from.

Judy Anne

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 10:55:51 EST | From: Palampore@

This is the news release for the show of the collection that was the subject of the other site I sent. Louise Benner, a good friend of mine, is only referencing the Stitched from the Soul book. I feel that is what I will find at the exhibit when I get to see it. You may type in a search on Yahoo for — NC Museum of History quilt exhibit — and get several hits. This is the musuem news release about the exhibit —– _http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/wgo/press_07212005a.html_ (http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/wgo/press_07212005a.html)

I will try to find out who authored the other piece. Take care, Lynn Lancaster Gorges New Bern, NC

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 09:21:33 -0700 | From: “Judy Anne” <anne_j@>

I just searched ‘underground railroad quilts’ on Google and was appalled. A year ago quilt historian articles dominated the top few results. Now we are rapidly losing ground. The major way a page gets ranked in Google is because a lot of other sites have linked to it. It seems a lot more people are linking to pages that support the myth.

Judy Anne

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 08:54:04 -0800 (PST) | From: Ark Quilts <quiltarkmv@>

Hello! It is snizzling outside here in NW Ohio. I just happened to notice that one of the sellers on eBay who had several listings for the Smithsonian Bride’s Album Quilt and described it as “antique” and “100% genuine antique” has no listings on eBay. They are a seller who usually has several pages of items listed for sale. The seller was “goodies_from_grandma”…anybody know how to check on the status of this seller in eBay? Just curious. Connie Ark

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 09:10:55 -0800 (PST) | From: Barbara Burnham <barbaraburnham@>

You can do an Advanced Search “From specific sellers (enter sellers’ user IDs)” and type in the seller’s ID. It works for other sellers, but not for goodies_from_grandma. Perhaps they got booted or changed their ID (or both).

Ark Quilts <quiltarkmv@> wrote: Hello! It is snizzling outside here in NW Ohio. I just happened to notice that one of the sellers on eBay who had several listings for the Smithsonian Bride’s Album Quilt and described it as “antique” and “100% genuine antique” has no listings on eBay. They are a seller who usually has several pages of items listed for sale. The seller was “goodies_from_grandma”…anybody know how to check on the status of this seller in eBay? Just curious. Connie Ark

Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2006 13:13:49 -0500 | From: Linda Hunter <hunterlj@>

Re the Columbian Exposition For anyone interested in this part of history, you may wish to read the novel Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. It is a novel based on much research into this exposition. It includes the life of a serial killer believed to have been working at the time of the exposition. It also includes much detailed information about the building of the Columbian Exposition and includes all the principal architects and their ideas. Very interesting reading, although it takes a while to get into the book. Just thought I’d add this, even though it does not discuss quilts.

— Linda Hunter AQS Quilt Appraiser, Instructor and Lecturer linda@ www.hunters-stars.com

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 10:56:21 -0500 | From: “Merry May” <twotonsofbuttons@>

Hello! I was once a member of this list, but was “lost” due to email glitches and such. I’m very happy to be back! This time I hope to stick around for awhile.

I have posted a couple of photos of an Unusual Applique Quilt on the eBoard under the “General” category. Has anyone seen this kind of quilt before? Any idea how old it might be?

Thanks very much for your help. Take care. Merry 🙂 — Merry May Schoolhouse Enterprises – Home of Merry Mayhem’s Mystery Quilts, and Other Fun Stuff!

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 12:34:56 EST | From: Feedsackfanatic@

I did a search and this is what Ebay says: goodies_from_grandma” is not a registered eBay user. If they change their name, there’s usually a little figure beside the new name. They may have been booted from Ebay, since I would think people would have been complaining about this quilt appearing a number of times.

Paula in GA

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 09:52:54 -0800 (PST) | From: Ark Quilts <quiltarkmv@>

Just cruising through eBay at lunch today and compared some quilt listings under the “antiques” and the “collectibles” categories. The following items were found & they appear to be new quilts & probably imports that are listed under the “antiques” category. Personally, I think they would be more suitably listed under the “collectibles” category. Some of these sellers have repeatedly sold imports under the “antiques” category. I wondered what some of you thought of these items as well : #7401083804 Nautical theme quilt $7.95 jhchili41 seller #7400277697 Vintage lots of hearts album style applique $32 cl80033 seller #7401606183 Pink lace-handmade quilt throw/baby quilts $28 gogly seller #7399120757 RARE Antique XL Quilt Hand-Stitched Star Pattern MINT! $1,500.00 goonies*never*say*die seller This seller is new as of 3-14-06—-style is similar to seller called goodies_from_grandma that was selling the Smithsonian Bride’s Quilt as an antique. Is it appropriate for eBay members to email these people and tell them that new items don’t belong under “antiques” and if they don’t know the date it was made it should be stated that they don’t know & to place it under “collectibles”?

After doing some research for some students this week, the articles about online auction fraud–the largest area of fraud reported to the FTC–have been very revealing. The most notable press on eBay is about frauds that take place there, not very positive PR.

Any comments or opinions? C. Ark , NW Ohio on a cold day

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 12:57:57 -0500 | From: “J. G. Row” <JudyGrow@>

Merry, I believe this is a Ralli quilt from India. There is a Schiffer book by Patricia Ormsby Stoddard called, “Ralli Quilts: Traditional Textiles from Pakistan and India.” published 2003. Very worthwhile owning the book, and I wouldn’t mind owning the quilt as well. You can find them on E-bay.

Judy, now in Flemington NJ aka The Ringoes Kid judygrow@

>I have posted a couple of photos of an Unusual Applique Quilt on the eBoard >under the “General” category. Has anyone seen this kind of quilt before? >Any idea how old it might be?

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 09:58:08 -0800 (PST) | From: Laura Fisher <laurafisherquilts@>

I emailed photos to lostquilt.com and they should be posted soon. I am having trouble with eboard still, so for images of the missing Abide With Me quilt, kindly check out that site. Thanks . Laura Fisher

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:02:28 -0800

This is just to share a bit of news, particularly with those who live near Kalamazoo, Michigan –

The 41st annual Kalamazoo International Medieval Studies Congress will take place over the weekend of May 4-7, 2006. In connection with the DISTAFF textiles track, I will be presenting a paper on the quilts of Henry VIII, with particular attention to a green silk quilt that might have dated from the time of his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon. My presentation will take place on May 6, 2006, at 1:30 p.m.

So if any QHLers are planning to attend the conference, or are in the Kalamazoo area, stop by on Saturday and say hello. I’ll be uploading a copy of the paper sometime in May to the Medieval Quilting Yahoo group archives, and will be happy to share my findings privately.

I’m excited, also terrified…and I wanted to thank the QHLers for teaching me and encouraging me over the last decade. Without the background I’ve picked up here, I never would have been able to do this.

Karen Evans

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:26:52 -0800 (PST) | From: Private Private <trail_junky@>

Laura,

Your posting is there, but no pictures.

Annette in CA

— Laura Fisher <laurafisherquilts@> wrote:

> I emailed photos to lostquilt.com and they should be > posted soon.

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:36:44 -0800 (PST) | From: Joni Branscome <dechintabooks@>

There was a goodies-from-grandma listed who didn’t have anything listed for sale at the moment, but the seller had a 99.3% rating, which is not horrendous, but it’s not good either. I think they had 26 negatives. I would personally not buy anything from this seller, but she might be wonderful for all I know. On the other hand, I have bought things from sellers with bad feedback before and everything came in just fine.

I personally have 5 negative feedbacks on Ebay from total idiots, so who knows?

Anyway, that’s my 2 cents, The Ebay Queen, Joni

Barbara Burnham <barbaraburnham@> wrote: You can do an Advanced Search “From specific sellers (enter sellers’ user IDs)” and type in the seller’s ID. It works for other sellers, but not for goodies_from_grandma. Perhaps they got booted or changed their ID (or both).

Ark Quilts wrote: Hello! It is snizzling outside here in NW Ohio. I just happened to notice that one of the sellers on eBay who had several listings for the Smithsonian Bride’s Album Quilt and described it as “antique” and “100% genuine antique” has no listings on eBay. They are a seller who usually has several pages of items listed for sale. The seller was “goodies_from_grandma”…anybody know how to check on the status of this seller in eBay? Just curious. Connie Ark

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:49:37 EST | From: Feedsackfanatic@

This is the last quilt that she sold:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=63628&item=7394122215

They’ve come down in price. Maybe people are beginning to see the light.

Paula in GA

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 09:16:51 +1100 | From: “Janet O’Dell” <janet@>

Pat Cummings wrote:>>> Has anyone heard of the Maria Hanks quilt made in 1857 in Illinois? I am told that it has basket motifs. Where might one see a photo of this quilt? <<<

Pat, I have a very poor quality photocopy of a reproduction of the quilt and I have seen the repro top in progress at a quilt summer school here in Australia for the last two years. The design features baskets and berries and is just lovely. An Australian designer ran a workshop at the 2006 summer school to make a Maria Hanks repro. If you wish I will give you her details privately.

HTH Janet O’Dell Melbourne, Australia

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:47:24 -0600 | From: “Stephanie Hanson”

Hi All,

Please forgive me if this link has been already been sent out, but Laura, is this John’s quilt? http://www.centerforthequilt.org/qsos/findall.php?by=quilter&key=Sauls,%20John .

I do hope we can find it. It is a wonderful quilt.

Stephanie In North Texas where I hope I get home and find that my rose buds didn’t freeze last night.

Subject: Missing Quilt Alert From: Laura Fisher <laurafisherquilts@> Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:31:31 -0800 (PST) X-Message-Number: 6

Sad to report that I quilt I borrowed from a collector/dealer to include in the Nashville Heart of Country “Forget Me Not” exhibit I organized in memory of Libby Kramer, has not been returned to me. I hate to think that it has been stolen from the show, but I fear that is the only conclusion; everything else got returned. I have photos and close-ups which I will try to put on eBoard.

The quilt is a Victorian motto quilt, filled with sentimental and religious phrases. It is set out with an eight point star format in the center, with crazy quilt type embroidery everywhere, and wonderfully executed words: Abide with Me, Hope, Charity, Love , etc.

The interesting thing about it is the background silks have almost completly disintegrated, but the embroidery lettering and stitchery remained intact and bold, mostly in deep red thread. So to someone who doesn’t know, it looks like that work had been done on an invory cotton background, but there had beeen silk everywwhere originally. I displayed it despite the condition because the words lettering and format were so good.

I hope you can help find it. The owner (and I) are distraught–he planned to be buried with it, truly, that’s how much he loves it.

Do you all think someone might try to offer it on eBay?. I review eBay every once in a while, not regularly, so if someone spots it–please let me know so I can retrieve it. A colleague once got back a quilt she had bought at auction, but which was stolen from the auction room and then put on eBay, so vigilance can pay off.

Thanks for your help.

Laura Fisher

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 23:32:34 +0000 | From: jocelynm@

>Talk about legends and myths (and big, big, words!!) this takes the cake (or >the quilt). I’m sorry, it doesn’t fit with my history education. Sorry!

Mitzi, I was amused by the justification of Bear’s Paw: that bears are adept at finding the best path. Funny, I always thought bears were big enough to MAKE any darned path they wanted….

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:47:35 -0800 (PST) | From: Pat Cummings <pat@>

I’m no wildlife biologist but I believe that a bear would only go “over the mountain” if another bear of the female variety were on the other side.

Like most animals, bear live near sources of food and water and that usually means NOT in the deep, heavily wooded areas, but on the edges of farms and fields. One food item in their diet is berries, which need sunlight not found in thick, vegetative habitats of heavily forested mountain areas. Bears also like fish…and tend to live near rivers and streams. Tell me if I’m guessing wrong on this habitat issue.

I personally think that someone took the children’s song, “The Bear Went Over the Mountain,(to see what he could see)” a little too seriously. (very big grin).

Pat Cummings

> I was amused by the justification of Bear’s Paw: > that bears are adept at finding the best path. > Funny, I always thought bears were big enough to > MAKE any darned path they wanted….

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:23:29 -0600 | From: “Andi” <andi0613@>

Thanks to everyone who has enlightened me on the dual names of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair/Columbian Exposition of 1983-94. As someone said just today, ‘guess I wasn’t around then.’ Ha!

Andi in Keota, Iowa

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 20:33:51 -0500 | From: “Sharon in NC” <patchworksecrets2@>

Just something to think about.. but everytime I see hidden bidders I always wonder if the seller has shill accounts and are running up their own auctions. ESPECIALLY when the seller seems to keep repeatedly posting the same item for auction when it has already been won several times previously. If I recall correctly when I looked at this particular sellers feedback I could not find any that referenced a quilt. Of course that doesn’t mean a lot but it gives everyone a heads up that if you win an auction, and are happy with the merchandise, it doesn’t hurt to mention exactly what the item was in the feedback so others can compare. Same goes for broken or misrepresented items.

Sharon in NC

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 20:40:41 -0500 | From: “Sharon in NC” <patchworksecrets2@>

Look at their horrendous feedback. I wouldn’t buy from them in a million years.. http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=goodies-from-grandma&Dirn=Received+by Sharon in NC

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 21:24:41 EST | From: JLHfw@

This book is an interesting read. It goes into extensive detail regarding the planning of the exhibition, the architectural and landscape planning, how the job force and economy were involved and sadly the story of the serial killer. All in all a worthwhile read by the same author who chronicalled the story of the 1900 hurricane that devistated Galveston. Janet in Fort Worth

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:44:15 -0800 (PST) | From: Pat Cummings <pat@>

Well, I stand corrected. My dear husband tells me that Black Bears do live in the woods. They eat nuts. He named all of the nuts they consume – chestnuts, acorns, hickory nuts, butternuts, etc. The fishing bears, like Kodiak Bears, live in places like Alaska.

When I told him what I’d written, he said, “Hmmm….and you said this…publicly?” Ha, ha, ha. I should not venture an opinion on anything not related to quilts!

Okay, so I was wrong. Black Bears, a species that lives in the eastern U.S. and in the area of Appalachia, eat nuts and berries. By the way, only Polar Bears track humans with the idea of eating them!

Now, getting back to bears going over the mountain…my question is this…Why do they do this?

The impression ones gets is that there are beaten and well-known bear trails going over the Appalachian Mts. Why would they have established this migratory route, and why would they not simply walk through the woods- different parts of the woods?

I know, this question is rhetorical. It is about as ludicrous as the reasoning as to why the Bear’s Paw block would be included in the secret quilt code.

I hope I can sleep now, having embarrassed myself “publicly.” Before I say anything at all, I should just ask Jim about any given subject. He is a wealth of knowledge. I can’t mention anything but what he has all kinds of information to share.

Now, if I could just get the bear out of my head…the one that went over the mountain.

Bear Hugs to All,

Pat

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 01:11:16 -0800 | From: “Alan”

Pat, bears do live in the woods. They’re all over the place where my folks live, and it’s mostly woods. And they go over the mountain to get to the other side. There may be better foodstuff, or a really hot she-bear. Same basic reasons we go over the mountain.

Alan

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 08:55:14 EST | From: JLHfw@

Dear Pat, Bear hugs to you too. Did you know that the bear is sacred to the Native Americans of the Four Corners area? Their lore includes the story of their Ancient Ones migrating southward through the mountains and dying of thirst as there was no water to be found. One day they saw a bear and a wise one said they should follow the bear as it surely would lead them to water. Indeed the bear led them to water and they were saved, Thus the bear has been revered ever since. Hugs, Janet in Fort Worth and wishing to be at my home in Santa Fe

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:59:19 -0800 (PST) | From: Joni Branscome <dechintabooks@>

I was, in the past, a seller on Ebay and on occasion, people would email me to give me additional info on an item. One in particular was a Kachina doll that I had purchased from a guy at work who was from Arizona. He told me it was a Hopi Kachina doll and I had no reason to doubt him. I listed it as that and some dude who was apparently an expert wrote to me, telling me all about myself and how dare I list a Navajo item as a Hopi item and went on to tell me all about my fraud and what a REAL Hopi item consisted of, etc.

Needless to say, I was very upset at his tone, BUT I was glad to have the information so I could change the listing. I did more research and found that he was right. Since that was not my area of expertise, I listed it the way it had been sold to me with the information I had.

There have been items I have seen on Ebay that I knew were either not what the seller said they were, but mainly that they didn’t know what it was and didn’t have valuable information that could help them sell the item better. I have emailed them telling them what their item was and they are usually happy to get the information. This doesn’t happen often, of course, because I’m not much of an expert about anything in particular, but, for example, there was a listing for an Eegee doll with orange hair that the seller said she didn’t know anything about or if the clothing was the clothing it came in. I was able to email her back telling her that the doll’s name was Georgette, that she was from 1971 and she had a twin brother named Georgie and that that was her original shoes, but the dress was not her original dress and that her hair was braided originally. I only knew this because I had one when I was a little girl and she was my favorite doll in the world, was my BABY, and I had done some research about her. I LOVED that doll.

Anyway, didn’t mean to ramble on. Just really wanted to say that most sellers on Ebay welcome input if it’s done nicely and if you write and say, “I noticed your auction and happen to know a bit about these quilts and this is what the quilt really is, not what you have listed. I’m sure you didn’t mean to mislead anyone and didn’t have this information, so I thought I would just write and let you know so that you can list it correctly and perhaps get more money for the item.”

Just about anything is okay if it’s said nicely…except “You’re putting on a little weight, aren’t you?” The only way to say THAT nicely is to not say it at all. But I digress…

Ark Quilts <quiltarkmv@> wrote: Just cruising through eBay at lunch today and compared some quilt listings under the “antiques” and the “collectibles” categories. The following items were found & they appear to be new quilts & probably imports that are listed under the “antiques” category. Personally, I think they would be more suitably listed under the “collectibles” category. Some of these sellers have repeatedly sold imports under the “antiques” category. I wondered what some of you thought of these items as well : #7401083804 Nautical theme quilt $7.95 jhchili41 seller #7400277697 Vintage lots of hearts album style applique $32 cl80033 seller #7401606183 Pink lace-handmade quilt throw/baby quilts $28 gogly seller #7399120757 RARE Antique XL Quilt Hand-Stitched Star Pattern MINT! $1,500.00 goonies*never*say*die seller This seller is new as of 3-14-06—-style is similar to seller called goodies_from_grandma that was selling the Smithsonian Bride’s Quilt as an antique. Is it appropriate for eBay members to email these people and tell them that new items don’t belong under “antiques” and if they don’t know the date it was made it should be stated that they don’t know & to place it under “collectibles”?

Any comments or opinions? C. Ark , NW Ohio on a cold day

Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 19:25:30 -0600 | From: “Connie Chunn” <conniesminis@>

Hi everyone, This is the first time I’ve replied to any discussions from our chat group.

Regarding the question by Laura Fisher on the Kaleidoscope pattern. Ladies Art Company’s block #386 is called ‘Kaleidoscopic Patch’, but it doesn’t look like what I think of as a Kaleidoscope block.

Subject: kaleidoscope pattern quilts From: Laura Fisher <laurafisherquilts@> Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 09:01:30 -0800 (PST) X-Message-Number: 4

I have had an inquiry about the history of the Kaleidoscope pattern from a writer covering the forthcoming exhibition at the Shleburne. When did the Kaleidoscope pattern first appear? Was it published by Ladies Art or any other company. Were there more than one version published? All my books are still in boexes awaiting shevling in my library” room in my new shop, sp……….thought asking all you knowledgeable researchers would be quicker!! thanks for the help. Laura Fisher

The second answer I think I found is regarding the Gallery shot of the ‘DWR Variation Needs a Better Name’ quilt. Check out eBay auction #8269928129. I think one of the patterns being sold looks exactly like your DWR variation. It’s Laura Wheeler’s ‘Prudence Star’, pattern #1641(?).

Thanks for the informative discussions!

Connie Chunn Webster Groves, MO

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 09:49:08 EST | From: Mitzioakes@

Bears take any darn path they want here in Vermont!!! And no one questions them either! Happy Saturday – Mitzi

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 09:57:24 EST | From: Mitzioakes@

ok – knowledge from my son who is a lifelong hunter in Vermont. Bears do not migrate so as to speak – they den up in the winter and sleep – coming out in early Spring to once again eat all summer – they may move around some looking for a mate, but as far as migrating (as we know) they do not do that. They also will eat more than nuts and berries, they like apples and they love any kind of bread (a friend we have feeds at least 20 bears all summer, they all have names and she goes thru a couple hundred dozen rolls and loaves of bread a week (this is illegal but I won’t tell!). As far as attacking people, a bear will only attack if its cub(s) are threatened or if they are being kept from a source of food (oh they do love birdseed too so feeders should not be kept up if you are in a bear habitat. Just a little info from my son who would rather live hunting and fishing 24 hours a day than having to work for a living. Mitz

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 10:02:22 EST | From: Mitzioakes@

As I have been told, the kaleidoscope display of quilts for this summer at the Shelburne Museum (VT) is not exactly what one thinks of when that word is used. It can also be a series of colors or events that keep changing. I will know more when I see the display in its entirety – I volunteer at the Museum all summer as a demo-er of quilts.! Mitzi from VT

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 09:34:58 -0600 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>

Re comments on Bears going over the mountain: years ago we backpacked almost every weekend in the NY Adirondacks, with our kids. Once we took a trip as just a couple since it involved a very difficult climb off the established trail. We left our 2 heavy packs needed for a weeklong trip in a 3 sided shelter which they provided for hikers. We climbed to top of nearby mountain. We stayed overnight on the trail as we returned without sleeping bags or pots & pans. A rough trip just to please my husband whose goal was to have the Bull Go Over Every Mountain in NY. (LOL… you do know my last name?) So the next day when we reached the shelter our backpacks had been stolen… by a bear! We trailed it and eventually found one pack and the sleeping bag that was on it. But we never recovered the other pack or bag. We figured out that the bear did NOT go over the mountain as we’d done that and not seen it!!! It did not eat berries or nuts. It ate our oatmeal and dried jerky. Also, it was a lady bear since it took the pack that contained my birth control pills!

So, later, when a Bear’s Paw quilt made by my great grandma in 1870 showed up in my mother’s cedar chest (Do not comment on that!), we were very pleased! We did meet up with other bears while canoeing in NY & Canada too. But we never left our packs from then on. We did once climb on top of a shelter to avoid one bear and we had a bear at our tent doorway once so we beat tin plates together and it left. We never saw or followed a bear’s trail. 1960s! Not 1860s.

By the way, have you ever seen the Drunken Bear Paw block? Or heard of it? I only heard about it, but I think I’ve got it figured out. I would really like any info if you know about it. Thanks. C Bull

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 08:04:50 -0800 (PST) | From: Pat Cummings <pat@>

Thanks for the great stories about bears. I had been unaware of the Native American legend in the Four Corners area (where my sister lives). Thanks, Janet.

I remembering sitting in on a fellow teacher’s French class one period when I was conducting classes in Spanish for the day at a Jr. High School. She gave the students the word for “bear,” and told them that it literally meant “pig in the woods.” That is a long time ago, and I don’t remember the word. I took it to mean that bears would eat just about anything, and from Mitz’ description, that seems to be true.

Charlotte’s tale of stolen backpacks is amazing. The things we do for love!

I have never heard of the Drunken Bear Block. Sounds delightful. Please keep us in the loop if you find out anything.

Of course, the inclusion of the Bear’s Paw block is a very appealing and charming part of the story of the quilt code, especially for children. It is a moot point to say that it is unlikely that bears would wear a specific path that other bears would follow, don’t you think? I mean, it has already been established that there were established paths on either side of the mountain which fugitive slaves frequented, so why go over a more rocky, dangerous, and unknown route?

The bear image could spawn all kinds of new ideas for quilts. There is no cuter sight than a mama bear with her cubs, as I saw last year, crossing the road, right in front of my car. As a child, I adored the “Pierre Bear” story. The book is torn and tattered and falling apart, but I still have it, fifty years later.

Have a great day!

Pat

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Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 10:11:43 -0600 | From: “Steve & Jean Loken” <sandjloken@>

Merry and all, From the detail shot it appears to be H’mong work, though very creative. The snail motif, triangle border, and the embroidered dots are very typical, thought the number of colors used and the snowflake design are atypical. It may be a student who studied H’mong style and took off from there, or a very Americanized H’mong woman. Jean in MN where we have many H’mong quilters, and who just received a H’mong story quilt as a birthday gift from a thoughtful daughter who teaches ESL to H’mong

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 12:43:23 EST | From: BEVPEV@

I just did an eBay search for goodies_from_grandma and found it with no problem. You must be careful not to include the ” in your search. Go to eBay, click on Advanced Search in the upper right hand corner, then click on Items by Seller on the left side of the page. Ender goodies_from_grandma and this dealer comes up. They have an About Me page and 3492 feedbacks, only 27 of which are negative. Previous id — mikewisouski from Dec 19 02 to May 25 04 and two others dating back to Oct 2000. If you go to the feedback by clicking on the number beside the dealer’s name, most of the auctions have been private. An eBay seller will be booted, not for negative feedback, but for failing to fulfill the contract.

Beve in Snowy Lake Tahoe

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 14:54:37 EST | From: NittysDad@

Hi Folks,

I am interested in and doing research on the applique coverlet’s made by Sarah Furman Warner Williams in the early 1800s. Her works are on exhibition at the MET, Winterthur and Henry Ford Museum’s. Any suggestions for publications, genealogy, historical information, etc., on the these works and their creator would be gratefully appreciated.

Thank you Alan Nittysdad@

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 09:09:04 -0800 (PST) | From: Private Private <trail_junky@>

I live on the edge of the El Dorado National forest, and have BLM land on the other side of me. We are up in the mountains, in a heavily forested region. We do have bears up here. Bears generally stay as far away from humans as possible. Once a bear has started entering human populated areas, he is considered a rogue bear, and a danger, since it is normally not their character. as for making their own path, they pretty much do, but they follow the path of least resistance as do most animate objects.

Annette in CA

— Pat Cummings <pat@> wrote:

> water and that usually means NOT in the deep, > heavily > wooded areas, but on the edges of farms and fields.

Date: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 09:28:13 -0800 (PST) | From: Private Private <trail_junky@>

Bears are members of the porcine family which includes pigs.

— Pat Cummings <pat@> wrote:

She gave > the > students the word for “bear,” and told them that it > literally meant “pig in the woods.