May 25 - June 3, 2006 - QuiltHistory

Fabric Identification, 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:

“Pure Blood Applied” Heart Quilt — Members puzzle over an eBay quilt stitched with the words PURE, BLOOD APPLIED and LOYALTY TO GOD, weighing hymn wording, religious meaning and possible ties to hate groups.
Quilt References in Old Letters and Houses — A question about the Paston letters turns up quilt mentions in the Lisle letters and a trip report on the early bed furnishings at Levens Hall in England.
Alamance Yellow — A question about the deep yellow in North Carolina appliqué draws memories of the color name and its possible link to the local soil.
Quilting in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island — A traveler asks how old and how distinct Canadian quilt traditions are, and members share books, bibliographies and local knowledge.
How Many Quilters Before 1980? — After a New York Times reporter asks for pre-1980 numbers to compare with today’s roughly 21 million quilters, historians debate whether such counts are possible.
Seminole Patchwork Quilts — A dealer asks for leads on genuine Seminole patchwork quilts made before 1960, as opposed to clothing and small tourist items.

From: gingham@

Just came across an unusual quilt being offered by Mark French on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageNameADME:B:FSEL:US:1&Item7412678031

Item 7412678031

It is a red white and blue heart quilt with 20 heart blocks set 4×5. The block ground is blue and the hearts are red with white centers. Embroidered in each white center is the word PURE in red stitching, BLOOD APPLIED is in the red heart in white stitching and then LOYALTY TO GOD is in the blue ground also in white. The back is a red, white and blue polka dot print. Does anyone know the origin of this design or sentiment?

Thanks. BTW, thank you to everyone who responded to my question about the Aviary print.

Sandra Starley

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 07:42:02 -0500 | From: Gail Ingram <gingram@>

I had not thought of the Paston Letters in quiltmaking context, but the letters themselves are also very readable and have been printed in numerous inexpensive editions, Margaret P. no longer collecting royalties.

And reading only the Prologue to “The Canterbury Tales,” one finds lots of textile information. Chaucer used textiles and clothing to characterize most of his pilgrims. Several years ago, I painted my study-sitting room a color I called Wyf of Bath red. It isn’t really her color, but it pleases me to think of that very modern woman’s presence with her scarlet “hosen.” Anyone can muddle through Middle English, but the Prologue is also “translated” into modern English. Go for the real, though. If the CT was required of you in high school by a teacher who did not love them, forget that experience and go it on your own. They are terrific characterizations, and together, they give a wonderful picture of the times.

From Louisiana, where we continue to do stupid political things, Gail Ingram

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 5:47:18 -0700 | From: Karen Evans

I’m not sure about the Paston letters, but there are some quilt references in the Lisle letters. There’s a long series of letters between Lady Lisle and the family factor in London about why the French quilts she ordered haven’t arrived, and how much longer will it take?

I was highly amused….

Karen Evans

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 13:19:41 -0400 | From: “Pepper Cory” <pepcory@>

Took a look at that quilt–we may be seeing a KKK-sentiments quilt. The Klan was strong in the MidWest 1920s-40s. I went on a Klan site to see if I recognize the phrase but honestly, it made me sick and I soon clicked off. Interesting but not my cup ‘o tea! Pepper

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 12:37:06 -0500 | From: “Merry Endres” <merryme@>

I did not see the link for the original quilt- what was it?

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 11:13:44 -0700 | From: Karen Evans

I didn’t see the link either, but the whole “pure blood” thing might be the KKK, a eugenics movement quilt, or something similar.

Karen Evans

From: gloria fuller

I wonder if this was in some support of a white supremist group -KKK perhaps? gloria in Arkansas

“gingham@” <gingham@> wrote: Just came across an unusual quilt being offered by Mark French on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageNameADME:B:FSEL:US:1&Item7412678031

Item 7412678031

Thanks. BTW, thank you to everyone who responded to my question about the Aviary print.

Sandra Starley

From: Judy Kelius

I did a quick search on Google and found several references to the phrase “blood applied.” I suspect the maker was symbolically portraying a sermon or hymn or other religious passage that struck a chord with her. For example, look at the wording in this hymn by John Wesley:

“How can a sinner know His sins on earth forgiven? How can my gracious Saviour show My name inscribed in Heaven?

“We who in Christ believe That He for us hath died, We all His unknown peace receive, And feel His BLOOD APPLIED.

“His love, surpassing far The love of all beneath, We find within our HEARTS, and dare The pointless darts of death.

“Stronger than death and hell The mystic power we prove; And conquerors of the world, we dwell In Heaven, who dwell in love.”

I also found a digital copy of Amanda Smith’s (“the colored Evangelist”) autobiography, and this passage:

At Ocean Grove a lady took me aside and said, “Now, Amanda Smith, I want to ask you honestly; I know you cannot beAD.”

“What now?” thought I.

“I know you cannot be white, but if you could be, would you not rather be white than black?”

“No, no,” I said, “as the Lord lives, I would rather be black and fully saved than to be white and not saved; I was bad enough, black as I am, and I would have been ten times worse if I had been white.” How she roared laughing. She was all right, but I think she just wanted to test me a little bit. Yes, thank God, I am satisfied with my color. I am glad I had no choice in it, for if I had, I am sure I would not have been satisfied; for when I was a young girl I was passionately fond of pea-green, and if choice had been left to me I would have chosen to be green, and I am sure God’s color is the best and most substantial. It’s the blood that makes whiteness. Hallelujah!

“The BLOOD APPLIED, I’m justified, I’m saved without, within, The blood of Jesus cleanseth me From every trace of sin.”

CHORUSAD”There is power in Jesus’ blood, There is power in Jesus’ blood, There is power in Jesus’ blood To wash me white as snow.”

“Many years my longing HEART Had sighed, had longed to know The virtue of the Saviour’s blood, That washes white as snow.”

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 20:30:27 EDT | From: Palampore@

Are there any photos available of the textiles you mentioned at Levens Hall? Where is that located? Sounds like it was a wonderful trip. In 7 years when I have my children all out of school I will be on these trips. Thanks for the write up. I was drooling. Lynn Lancaster Gorges New Bern, NC

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 21:40:50 -0400 | From: joan kiplinger <jkip@>

At various times there has been discussion about newspaper or other paper backing on quilt pieces which as I recall were mainly as an aid when appliqueing or crazy quilt piecing. Approximately when did this practice begin?? and can paper be left on or should it be removed??

Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 09:49:18 +0100 | From: Sally Ward <sallytatters@>

Browsing the Flickr photo site this morning I came upon this, about a 2003 documentary film about the Chinese and their quilts http://www.flickr.com/photos/documentaries/151937763/in/set-725483/ Anybody ever heard of this doco? Seen it?

(And does the premise that this film maker ‘discovered’ sound familiar? <G>)

Sally Ward

Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 05:12:08 EDT | From: KathrynHerrmann@

Many applique quilts in the Alamance County area of North Carolina use a deep, bright yellow background color often referred to as Alamance Yellow. Nancy Stafford Spoon Shoffner is one known quilt maker who lived in Alamance County in the mid to late 1800’s who used this color in her quilts.

Is anyone on list familiar with this color and can you suggest a modern equivalent?

Kathryn Sterling Herrmann Hendersonville, NC

Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 08:29:06 -0700 | From: Julia Zgliniec <rzglini1@>

Good Morning Lynn and All, Levens Hall is located a little south of Kendal in the Lake District on the river Kent. It is an Elizabethan House built around a 13th century Pele Tower and Great Hall. It has been in the same family for 700 years and the current owners live there – in a wing not open to the public. It also has a wonderful topiary garden, maintained just as it was designed in the late 17th century.

There were many textiles in the home but the docent did not discuss them. Of course we trouped first to the bedrooms after the introduction in the Great Hall. The bedrooms are still used frequently by guests of the family. The Redman room was visited first and contains an unfinished tapestry from the 17th century which I found most interesting – but the thing that struck me most was the presence of dual controls for the electric blankets hanging from each side of a magnificent early 19th century Portuguese four-poster bed. The room is also furnished with 18th century items made by a famous cabinet maker. I was struck by the thought that this really is a living breathing place rather than a museum. The dressing room attached to this bedroom contains a smaller bed with the Patchwork Quilt. The quilt is on it’s bed and surrounded by matching bed hangings – which were constructed in the same whip stitched manner although I remember some areas of the curtains containing squares in the border instead of the octagons, elongated hexagons, and cruciforms of the quilt. The fabrics are block printed chintz imported from India . The quilt is covered with a sheer tulle which is folded over the edge. It is quilted with red thread I believe, not seen in the well known photos. Photographs were not allowed inside the home. I most enjoyed seeing the quilt in it’s context. It is speculated that the design may have come from the pattern on the plasterwork ceiling of the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace which the family at that time would have known well.

You may visit Levens Hall on the web: http://www.levenshall.co.uk/

Regards, Julia Zgliniec

> >

Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 18:20:55 +0100 (BST) | From: CELIA EDDY <celia.eddy@>

A detail of the Levens Hall bed furnishings is shown in a whole-page illustration in my book, Quilted Planet. Apart from the amazingly complex English piecing, making the most of small fragments of printed chintz, a valuable commodity in the early 18thC, the quilting is also superb – cross-hatching over the entire surface in tiny stitches in red linen thread.

Levens Hall is in Cumbria nowadays, but used to be in Westmorland, before County boundaries were changed and some counties, like Westmorland, even disappeared altogether.

Celia Eddy

Date: Fri, 26 May 2006 13:40:51 -0500 | From: “Susan Wildemuth” <ksandbcw@>

Would anyone with copies of old Leewards or LeeWard Mills or Dexter Thread Mills Needle art Catalogs (Elgin, Illinois) please contact me off list?

Thanks– Sue in Illinois

Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 21:41:12 -0400 | From: Paul and Nancy Hahn <phahn@>

Is anyone familiar with a connection between WPA workers and the textile designs of the late 1930’s into the 1940s? It doesn’t seem too much of a stretch that artists of the times could be employed as designers of the era’s fabrics under the WPA. Just curious if this was the case.

Nancy Hahn, Bowie, Maryland

From: “Andi”

I posed the question about Alamance yellow to my 75-year old mother, who grew up west of Asheville, NC and has lived in Winston-Salem for the last 50 years. Alamance County is near enough to both places for our family to have friends there. She’s a word-lover and collects trivia like dyers collect lint, so I thought she might know this term. She didn’t, but she Googled the term and sent me an extensive reply. To summarize, a particular sandy loam type of soil found only in NC, SC and VA, from yellow to yellow brown to brownish yellow was first identified in 1901 in Alamance County, NC. Whether the color in the quilt(s) Kathy mentioned is the same, who knows, but it makes sense to me that something as common as the soil people farmed and gardened with of a distinctive yellow color would, as so many other aspects of nature, influence their language enough to coin the term “Alamance yellow” to distinguish one shade from another. Pepper, did you already have this term in your yellow vocabulary?

And in Keota, Iowa

Date: Sun, 28 May 2006 06:35:06 -0400 | From: “Louise” <ltiemann@>

Hello, I am looking for articles in some early QNM issues – numbers 44-48 for quilt patterns by Jane Alan. Please contact me if you can help me out. Thanks, Louise

Date: Sun, 28 May 2006 08:59:41 -0400 | From: “Pepper Cory” <pepcory@>

Hi Andi-Yes, I was familiar with Alamance yellow, as it’s mentioned in the NC state quilt search book. The shade is a strong and rather acid yellow which contrasts beautifully with green, pink, and red. But I think that shade of yellow was the result of a synthetic dye, rather than a found-in-nature substance. It occurs after the Civil War (late 1870s) and until into the 20th century. It may have been dyed in dye mills in Alamance County NC (no print mills in NC) or just popular for home dyers. No one can exactly say. Looking at a list of NC mills is difficult in that the Davison’s book is incomplete and all we can surmise is that if the mill had boilers, it was likely able to dye goods. The area around Alamance County was home to immigrants from England, Quakers, and Moravians who’d originally travelled down the old wagon road from PA in the 1820s (the first cotton mill in NC was built by Moravians) and later Germans. I’ve always felt that old NC and PA Dutch quilts had a color sensibility in common and the Moravians may be the link. More than you wanted to know- Pepper —– Original Message

From: “Pepper Cory”

Hi friends, Am looking for the name and email of a lady that I met at the AQSG meeting in Dallas 3-4 (?) years ago. She worked for a paper company and had been instrumental in getting Northern to change their silly quilted toilet paper ads. In addition she is a quilt scholar herself. Does anyone know who I’m talking about? Would appreciate a contact-please notify off-list. Thanks, Pepper Cory pepcory@

Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 | From: Mendofleur@

Hello Everyone,

I am not sure if this information has been shared, but the de Young Museum in San Francisco is exhibiting the quilts of Gee’s Bend from 15 July – 26 Nov. 2006. If anyone is on the West Coast at that time or in the Bay Area it will be a great opportunity to see these quilts!

Phyllis de Vries

Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 14:30:24 -0700 | From: Karen Alexander <karenquilt@>

A reporter from the New York Times is asking me whether we quilt historians can quantify how many quilters there were in the U.S. before 1980. She wants something to compare to the recent numbers that the survey that QNM and Quilt, Inc jointly sponsor every three years, which reveals current numbers of quilters at about 21 million. Can anyone help me with pre-1980 numbers?

Karen Alexander President The Quilters Hall of Fame

Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 19:42:36 -0500 | From: “Kathy Moore” <kathymoore@>

The following challenge was sent to me in my capacity as the Symposium Coordinator at the International Quilt Study Center. I have noticed that some of you are at least as interested in human rights issues as you are in quilt history so I thought some of you might be interested in it.

If not, please pardon the intrusion and skip over it.

Noisy quilts wanted

When is a quilt not a quilt?? “When it is noisy!” says Associate Professor Joyce Stalker at the University of Waikato. “Although we often think of quilts in terms of comfort and warmth, in reality they have many roles. Often they are used to celebrate, commemorate or heal. But what we want to see are noisy ‘quilts’-ones that speak out against family violence and violence against women.”

This project is a joint initiative of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and the School of Education, University of Waikato. It was created in response to statistics which reveal that family violence and violence against women thrive in Aotearoa New Zealand. Together, they cost millions of dollars and create fear, intimidation, emotional and financial deprivation.

You don’t have to be a quilter to create these ‘quilts.’ Unlike many traditional quilts, the size, dimensions, techniques and materials are only judged in terms of their ability to enhance the impact of the statement, and extend the notion of ‘quilt.’

This international challenge is part of The New Zealand Quilt Symposium January 19-24, 2007, Manawatu, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Two quilts will be selected for awards of $500 each. Entry deadline for CDs/Photos is 1 November 2006, Post to: Exhibitions, Quilt Symposium Manawatu 2007 P O Box 225, Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand.

FOR DETAILS OF THE CHALLENGE, CONTACT: Associate Professor Joyce Stalker Phone: 64-07-856-2889 x8257 Fax: 64-07-856-838-4555 Email: stalker@

Dr. Jill Chrisp, Human Rights Commission Phone: 64-09-309-0874 Fax: 64-09-377-3593 Email: jill@

A better world is possible. If not now, when? If not us, who??

Dr. Joyce Stalker Policy, Cultural and Social Studies in Education School of Education University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand Aotearoa FAX: 0064-7-838-4555 e-mail: stalker@ phone: 0064-7-856-2889 x8257 or 4660(secretary) home page: http://www.waikato.ac.nz/

Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 19:49:45 -0500 | From: “Kathy Moore” <kathymoore@>

With regard to the recent discussion about the status and availability of AQSG reference and research materials at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln libraries I would like to alert you all to the upcoming issue of the AQSG’s Blanket Statements in which there will be an article co-authored by Dr. Patricia Cox Crews and UNL librarian, Mary Ellen Ducey. They have attempted to address the confusion and outline the process so you all can access the information you’ve been wanting.

I hope you all will be on the lookout for it and that we all get the answers and reassurances we’ve been looking for.

If, after publication, there are still questions to be answered, please forward them to me or to one of the authors.

Best wishes, Kathy Moore Lincoln, NE

Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 16:50:02 -0700 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>

I was in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for 3 weeks in early May. I saw many many “Quilts” signs throughout Nova Scotia, but we never stopped and I was left wondering what they were selling. Old, or new? What patterns?

We found only one shop with quilts for sale (most tourist shops were still closed for winter, the season doesn’t start until June) and they had a couple dozen new pieced quilts in various patterns and colors. (They weren’t Asian imports, I’m relieved to say after all that we see on ebay.) On Prince Edward Island, we never saw any signs for quilts at all.

So I’m left wondering. How old is the tradition? Recent perhaps and how did it start? Why NS and not PEI? Is there a particular style that is most popular, or a tradtional style? So many questions.

Any Canadians on the list with answers??

One other interesting quilt-related item. In Dartmouth (near Halifax) we visited an African-Canadian Heritage museum. There were some ladies toting bags of stuff into a conference room and I learned that they were quilters who meet there every week. I asked what projects they were working on and several were working on their own Underground Railroad quilt. (I didn’t say anything or ask details.) They also pointed to a very colorful quilt on the wall which had some of the blocks identified in HIPV, but also many blocks that are not. The quilt was wonderful, in an interesting setting, with bright African-theme fabrics, but had no identifying sign or label at all. So I never learned exactly what information was being given out relating to quilts or what might be the museum’s official opinion on the matter.

Laura

Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:29:28 -0700 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>

(Excuse me if this is a repeat – I think the first was lost in the cyberspace. Why do some messages just disappear?)

I can’t remember if this book is still out of print or was re-published. But if anyone wants a copy, contact the museum shop at the Indiana State Museum. http://www.in.gov/ism/ (On the home page, select Visitor Info, then Museum Gift Shop.) http://www.in.gov/ism/VisitorInfo/MuseumGiftShop/index.aspx

I was there last Thursday and saw about 4 or 5 soft cover copies (one is in poor shape and a bit warped) and 5 or 6 hard cover copies. Laura

Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:20:35 -0700 | From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>

I was in China in 1996. In some of the small markets I saw quilts that were not pieced but mostly whole cloth, solid colors and sometimes prints, made of shiny fabrics (probably polyester but I didn’t look closely), usually edged in ruffles, in bright (nearly garrish) pastel colors (not primary colors nor strong jewel tones), with very puffy batts, not closely quilted. That was the only type I ever saw, and never saw any of the ones made for the US market. There is only the one picture in Sally’s link. It would be interesting to see more examples from the documentary to see what their traditional or favorite style is. Laura

>>Browsing the Flickr photo site this morning I cam upon this, about a >>2003 documentary film about the Chinese and their quilts >>http://www.flickr.com/photos/documentaries/151937763/in/set-725483/ >>Anybody ever heard of this doco? Seen it? >Sally Ward

Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 19:14:51 +0000 (UTC) | From: “Julie Silber” <quiltcomplex@>

HI All,

Julie Silber here.

I am looking for information on authentic Seminole patchwork QUILTS made prior to 1960. I understand that the Seminole Indians did quite a bit of their distinctive patchwork for clothing and perhaps small items made for tourists, like purses, cases fort eyeglasses, etc.

In my many years of collecting, buying & selling, I have seen only one OLD Seminole quilt that I can remember. Now I have another, and I’m searching for information about other pre-1960 quilts made by the Seminole themselves. I would also appreciate leads to any sources on the subject.

Any information or leads would be great.

Thanks, Julie Silber (new e-mail address as of 4-22-06: quiltcomplex@)

Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 15:20:03 -0700 (PDT) | From: Laura Fisher <laurafisherquilts@>

my 2 cents-at end of day–I think it is not plausible to even guesstimate how many quilters there were then versus now. Now has to include quilters here and elsewhere in the world, influenced by publicity surrounding American quiltmaking, touring exhibitions, books, etc. Then, don’t forget bed quilts were made here, and also in England, France, Scandinavia, Holland. Now, there’s a quilting group in (practically) every country, including Japan, Singapore, many African nations, and who know where else. What kind of numerical comparison is writer seeking to make? Is the point of the article to demonstrate an increase in quiltmaking? There may be a better way to express that concept. American Folk Art Museum used to refer to attendance figures–quilt shows always brought out the greatest number of visitors to the museum.

Laura Fisher

Date: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 20:54:10 EDT | From: Mitzioakes@

The Shelburne Museum has always seen an increase in attendance when there was a special display of quilts (i.e. Art of the Needle that was held over because of its attendance). Got another great one this year – check it out… Mitzi from VT

Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2006 11:18:42 +0200 | From: adi hirsh <adamroni@>

So I’m left wondering. How old is the tradition? Recent perhaps and” how did it start? Why NS and not PEI? Is there a particular style that “is most popular, or a tradtional style? So many questions.

Although quilting arrived at Canada later than other parts of North America, the country does have a solid quilting tradition, with quilts dating back to the late 18th century. Here are a few books describing and documenting the Canadian quilting tradition:

Conroy, Mary, 300 years of Canada’s Quilts (Totonro, 1976) McKendry, Ruth, Quilts and Other Bed Coverings in the Canadian Tradition, Ontario, 1985 McKendry, Ruth,Classic Quilts, Ontario, 1997 Robson, Scott & MacDonald, Sharon, Old Nova Scotian Quilts (Nova Scotia, 1995) Walker, Marilyn I, Ontarios’ Heritage Quilts (Toronto, 1992)

The last book on the list contains a stunning applique pictorial medallion, dated 1827 , with cutout figures describing (probably) the life of the maker before her arrival in Canada, and others with domestoc scenes from her Canadian life. The central panel is a birds and tree Broderie Perse applique using the birds motif that was reproduced a while ago by Harriet Hargrave in the “Birds and Basics” P&B line.) As far as I know, Canadian quilters were also instrumental in the Red Cross quilts sent to Britain during WWII Hope this helps, Ady in Israel

Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:49:02 -0500 | From: “Virginia Berger” <cifba@>

> Subject: Nova Scotia quilts >From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@>

I’m not Canadian but I do have a book in my collection titled “Nova Scotia Patchwork Patterns” by Carter Houck, published by Dover in 1981. This is essentially a pattern book not a history book and the patterns don’t seem to be unusual. In the introduction, Ms. Houck talks about the Nova Scotia Museum in Halifax having a collection of quilts. She also states that the NS quilts tend to be simpler, more utilitarian, often suitable for piecing from wools and other heavy fabrics, rarely bordered.

Virginia Berger

Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2006 14:02:26 +0000 | From: albeaumont@

I hope this is coming through in Plain text. I have a new laptop and hope I have the settings right. Laura Robbins-Morris wrote: “So I’m left wondering. How old is the tradition? Recent perhaps and how did it start? Why NS and not PEI? Is there a particular style that is most popular, or a tradtional style? So many questions.” I can assure you that quilting in PEI is alive and well and is as old as most other areas. I lived briefly in PEI and moved to Colorado five years ago, so if you are really interested, I can put you in touch with some PEI quilters who can tell you more about what is going on right now. The outgoing president of the Canadian Quilters’ Association/Association Canadienne de la courtepointe is in PEI and there is a region representative for PEI in the Association. If you are looking for published material, one is in the out-of-print “Patchwords 1992 and Patchwords 1994. Volumes 1 and 2 of the Research Papers of the Canadian Quilt Study Group. Edited by Nancy Cameron Armstrong ” In 1994, Sherrie F. Davidson presented a paper titled: “The Prince Edward Island Heirloom Quilt Survey: A Progress Report”. More accessible is the “Pieces of History: 20th-Century Quilting in Prince Edward Island” by Edie Zakem and I. Edie is the Islander with the connections in the PEI quilt world, and I wrote the history that we researched together. We were asked to work on “First Hand: Arts, Crafts, and Culture Created by PEI Women of the 20th Century” which is a millenium project created by the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women and is on the PEI government website. The First Hand project is at http://www.gov.pe.ca/firsthand/index.php3. Click on the links to the quilting module. If what comes through in this post for the address is broken up with a hyphen, eliminate the hyphen when you type in the address. Sherrie Davidson, a friend of Edie’s, but whom I never met, generously allowed us to read her unpublished manuscript which gave us a tremendous starting point for our work. I believe her unpublished manuscript is in PEI while people try to find a publisher-a rather long proces s. Sherrie had moved out of PEI before I moved in. I was asked to write an article for Blanket Statements for the AQSG and the Winter 2004 issue contains “Japan and Prince Edward Island, Canada” Cross-Cultural and Cross-Disciplinary Convergence” which deals with the fact that Japanese women, in love with L.M. Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables” would come on a literary pilgrimage. They went back to Japan in love with PEI quilts. There have been a lot of quilt world exchanges between PEI and Japan as a result. By the way, L.M. Montgomery was quilter too. PEI has a rather small population of 137,000. This number may have changed since I last looked, but you get the ball-park. It seems to completely shut down after the tourist season, so that may be the reason your trip in May? didn’t seem to show much evidence of a commercial quilting culture. If you are there in the summer, you would have seen much more. There are many active quilters in and out of guilds. Last week, I was in Ottawa, Ontario at Quilt Canada 2006, the get-together and show of the Canadian Quilters’ Association/Association canadienne de la courtepointe, had a great time, and renewed ties with some PEI quilters. If you email me privately, I could put you in touch with them.

Best Wishes, Ann-Louise Beaumont in Greeley, Colorado

Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 09:47:32 -0700 | From: “Maureen” <maureen@>

There are quite a few Canadian quilt history books on the State Quilt Documentation and Regional Quilt History Bibliography; here’s the link — scroll down to the international section. http://www.booksandoldlace.com/quilting/StateQuiltHistoryBibliography.htm

Maureen in Ashland, OR Where it is raining again.

Subject: Nova Scotia quilts From: Laura Robins-Morris <lrobins@> Date: Wed, 31 May 2006 16:50:02 -0700

So I’m left wondering. How old is the tradition? Recent perhaps and how did it start? Why NS and not PEI? Is there a particular style that is most popular, or a tradtional style? So many questions.

Any Canadians on the list with answers??

LauraI’

Date: Sat, 03 Jun 2006 13:20:58 -0300 | From: Barb Robson <robsonb@>

Hi Laura and QHL,

How I wish I knew you were coming to NS! I would have been happy to give you an insiders tour and have you meet with some quilters and see some NS quilts. Next time! There are quite a few Guilds around the province who love and welcome visitors.

Scott Robson, author (with Sharon MacDonald) of “Old Nova Scotian Quilts” is my brother-in-law and is “the” authority on the history of quiltmaking in NS (as well as hooked mats). He is a curator at the Nova Scotia Museum. You can order a copy of the book from the Museum’s website http://museum.gov.ns.ca/pubs/socibook.htm just scroll down, the titles are listed alphabetically (and it is available in French).

The Nova Scotia Heritage Quilt Project has documented over 1200 quilts. While we have not had a registry day in a couple of years we are hoping to get going again this fall. Sharon MacDonald and I co-chair this committee. Apparently at the Quilt Canada conference in Ottawa last week there was a meeting to revive the “Canadian Quilt Study Group”. I’m sure when details are finalized there will be a post to QHL.

Some of the quilters who meet at the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth come to our Guild meetings and they have been making the UGRR quilts. NS Has a large black population, many of whom can trace their family back to the slaves escaping to Canada via the UGRR. This issue came up at a recent showing of the “Quiltmakers from Gees Bend” at the Art Gallery of NS. There were a number of African-Canadian quilters there who in the discussion after the movie talked about making the UGRR quilts. The controversy was brought up but the feeling seemed to be that this was “their quilting story” and “they” (the African-Canadian quilters) were going to support it regardless of what the historians say. There is some talk of the Gees Bend exhibit coming to the Art Gallery of NS and that perhaps some of the Alabama quilters would come to meet with the NS African-Canadian quilters here. We did have a quilt registry day in East Preston, a black community outside Dartmouth and the majority of the quilts we saw were very similar to the Gees bend quilts and this was in the late 1990’s. I had taken a copy of “Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt” to that registry and asked several people about the story but no one knew anything about it or seemed interested.

Ann-Louise nows a lot more about PEI quilts than I do. I know they tried to start a documentation project but with the CQSG it has been hard to keep track of what is going on.

As to the Red Cross quilts, apparently about 45,000 (yes, that number is correct) were sent overseas during WWll from Nova Scotia alone. There is some research going on now I believe in England regarding these quilts. Some have turned up in the British Quilt Registry though they are marked with a label saying “Canadian Red Cross” so it has been difficult to know exactly where they came from in Canada.

Hope you will come back again some day, especially when we are open for tourists!

Cheers,

Barbara Robson Fox Point, Nova Scotia

Date: Sat, 03 Jun 2006 12:10:49 -0500 | From: amdresner <amdresner@>

I am taking a fibers class starting the 5th of June. I am really looking forward to it. I have a question about fibers. This is the first time for a “Fibers” Class at the local community college and I would like to have a finished piece that will incorporate all types of fibers. I want my project to be one that will inspire other to take the Fibers Class when it is next offered. Something to challenge the mind and the artist with in.

Does any one now of a source for “fibers”? I am looking for the smallest fibers to work with in my piece. I am wanting to have the availability to various sources of “fibers” that are available for this project. By fibers I am talking about those that can be woven, spun, used to embellish, embroidery, crochet, or other wise use in a wall hanging. I have located several sites where I can order up to 32 gauge colored wire.

I would love to find a source for vegetable fibers, banana leaf, silk threads both flossy and smooth, as well as maybe bamboo, hemp or other out of the ordinary, or exotic fine gauge fibers.

Have any of you seen such a piece or know of any sites that I may go and look at what another artist has incorporated into their piece? It does not have to be a wall hanging, maybe an article of clothing or furniture decor. I would love to hear from any one that has seen or knows of any sources I have mentioned above.

Thank you in advance for any input you may care to share with me.

Anita Dresner

Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 20:08:08 EDT | From: JLHfw@

Dear Anita, The Yarn Barn in Lawrence, Kansas has a wide variety of yarns including hemp yarn. _www.yarnbarn-ks.com_ (http://www.yarnbarn-ks.com) (800) 848-0284 Regards, Janet in Fort Worth

Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2006 14:16:28 -0700 | From: Karen Alexander <karenquilt@>

Remember the discussion about Denyse Schmidt back in January (and a couple of very entertaining responses)? Well, in case you still wonder who she is, the latest (August) issue of Am Patchwork & Quilting has a featured article on her. Take a look at her design inspiration wall if you come across the issue.

They also have a great featur article on Barbara Brackman!

Karen Alexander

Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2006 12:01:02 -0400 | From: “Shari Spires” <skspires@>

Hi, I am a lurker, but the subject of Canadian quilts has brought me out of hiding. For the last 10 years I have been meeting with quilters from British Columbia and Nova Scotia each year. I too can put you in touch with some NS quilters who could certainly give you a lot of information. This year our group is meeting in Albany. We alternate between the US and Canada. By the way, I really enjoy this list. I am simply in awe of all the information.

S Spires Subject: [qhl] Quilting in Prince Edward Island, Canada-long

Date: Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:24:09 -0700 | From: Karen Alexander <karenquilt@>

Dear QHL members, I had reason to email Karey Bresenhan yesterday about something so also mentioned the antique Russian quilt display at Expo that was just mentioned on the BQHL list. Her response is below. Karen Alexander – from the San Juans, where today we actually have sunshine!

<<Karen, I’m so glad you wrote me about this. We’ve been trying to get to the bottom of this mystery all day! First, we do NOT have antique Russian quilts. Definitely not. The earliest quilt is 1970, which might qualify as vintage but certainly not antique. We have no idea who the “birdie” was who told the British list that the quilts were antique, but they were simply wrong. Originally the sponsor, Bernina, did say that the quilts were antique, but they were mistaken. The written descriptive material from Russia clearly states that the earliest quilt is 1970. Nowhere have we announced that we had antique quilts from Russia, so we’re not any closer to solving our mystery now at 1 a.m. than we were at noon yesterday when your email came in!

I’d appreciate it if you could clarify this with the British list so that this inaccurate information does not spread all over the internet. I don’t want to disappoint anyone. We WILL have Russian quilts on display at Expo, but they will not be antique quilts.>>

Date: Sat, 3 Jun 2006 11:17:17 -0700 | From: “Major Maam” <majormaam@>

The instructor of the Textiles class that I took, had swatches of the more uncommon types of fabrics. We had to bring in the more common ones like cotton, rayon, poly etc.; and share. The instructor will have sources for you.

We also had to do tests on some of the fabrics; like, the effects of the dyes and fibers in the sun after so many hours of exposure, burn tests to see (and smell) the different reactions of different fiber.

Some fibers disintegrate or have other reactions when sewn next to other fibers, you might want to wait until the class starts before you get something in mind to make for a project.

Have fun in the class, I really enjoyed the one I took. Becky