May 7 - 13, 2007 - QuiltHistory

Quilt Block History, Quilt Dating, Restoration & Conservation

These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.

Primary topics of this QHL Digest:

Identifying “Aunt Martha’s Modernistic Star” — Members trace a mystery pattern to Brackman No. 268.5 and Aunt Martha’s 1931 booklet, with a source for reprints.
Freezing Quilts to Control Insect Infestation — A practical exchange on using freezing — not a frost-free freezer — to kill insects in antique textiles, citing National Park Service conservation guidance.
A Lighthearted “Bug Talk” Tangent — The freezing discussion spins off into stories about cockroaches, ladybugs, and praying mantises turning up in old quilts and elsewhere.
The Mystery and History of “Arch Quilts” — A multi-day thread tries to pin down the origin of Chinese Arch Quilts, including a possible tie to 1970s fabric-buying trips. (see the article on Arch quilts)
Displaying and Framing 1940s Embroidery Pieces — A member asks how to mount unframed vintage embroidery for a small library display and gets practical framing advice. (see the article on caring for antique quilts)
Teddy Pruett’s “Murphy’s Law” Quilt Show Story — A member’s long, funny account of a disastrous quilt-show road trip draws sympathy and a nudge to write it up for publication.
Rehoming a Worn Silk Quilt and Other Quilt Finds — Members trade notes on a badly worn 1850s silk quilt looking for a new home, plus other antique quilt sightings from shops and shows.
Quilt Study Groups and an Appraisal Day — Announcements for regional quilt study group meetings and a quilt appraisal and conservation day in Pennsylvania. (see the article on quilt appraisers)

From: Sandra G Munsey <munsey@>

Aunt Martha’s Modernistic Star Pattern is Brackman No. 268.5 and may be found in Block Base software. Template patterns may be printed from Block Base. The notecard says it was printed in Aunt Martha’s Prize Winning Quilts in 1931. Sandra on Cape Cod —-__JNP_000_1662.01ba.6c4c–

Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 09:02:01 -0700 | From: “lenna.demarco”

Recently I was in an antique store and saw a quilt from across the room that looked for all the world like a 1940’s quilt. It was an exploding star in solids with extensive feather, cable and wreath quilting throughout. Granted it was about 5 stitches to the inch but still there was alot. The colors were right and there was what appeared to be approriate wear and fading. However, once I got up to the booth and looked closely at the quilt I found a label on the back that said ARCH QUILTS. Anyone know who makes these? Where are they from It seemed abit better grade than the Chinese quits in Walmart.

The dealer didn’t try to represent the quilt as an antique and only priced it at $69. I’m just curious about it, because from across the room it sure looked good. My heart started to pitty pat!

BTW, I did buy a REAl antique quilt from same dealer from 1890s that had maker and date included. Good price, too!

Lenna, who is at the end of the semester and doesn’t have to face college students for another month!!

Date: Sun, 6 May 2007 23:39:16 -0500 | From: “Jan Masenthin” <quiltsrme@>

I have heard different answers from different experts — anywhere from 2-3 days in the freezer, 2-3 days out, 2-3 days back in, to the same rotation but with 2 weeks for each in or out session. Anybody know a bug scientist who could clear up my confusion?

Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 07:51:29 -0700 | From: Laura Robins-Morris

In China the peach is a traditional symbol of long life. One wonders if they were merely switching to another revered and appropriate symbol, or making a statement on the single-child policy. But given the Chinese fondness for double meanings, the peach was probably chosen to do both. Laura

> …China in the late 80s…Pomegranates used to be given as wedding > gifts as a symbol of fertility. …But with their campaign to reduce > population, the gift was changed from a > pomegranate to a peach.

Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 10:30:03 -0700 | From: “Margaret Geiss-Mooney”

Good morning, fellow QHLers – The National Park Service has a whole series of PDFs online for free that covers all sorts of “collections care” questions including the freezing process to control/kill insect infestations in textiles. Please go to the following link:

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

Scroll down the page until you get to ‘Agents of Deteriotation’ and click on ConserveOGram 3/6 “An Insect Pest Control Procedure: The Freezing Process”.

Please note that you need to meet certain requirements for the textile(s) involved AND the freezer you are planning to use for this process to be successful. Otherwise, you will cause unnecessary damage to the textile(s) AND lull yourself into a false sense of security that you have killed the pests.

…I have heard different answers from different experts — anywhere from 2-3 days in the freezer, 2-3 days out, 2-3 days back in, to the same rotation but with 2 weeks for each in or out session. Anybody know a bug scientist who could clear up my confusion?…

While you are on the list, take a look at all the information, procedures, etc. that is available on a wide variety of topics and types of materials. This list of PDFs would be a good one to bookmark for future reference! Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney Textile/Costume Conservator Professional Associate, AIC

No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.5/793 – Release Date: 5/7/2007 2:55 PM

Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 12:17:11 -0700 (PDT) | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>

Hello all, I second what Margaret said! I believe you will find in the literature that a frost-free freezer will not do the job. It cycles up and down in temperature so as to do its frost-free thing, and that defeats the process. Judy Schwender

Margaret Geiss-Mooney <> wrote: Good morning, fellow QHLers – The National Park Service has a whole series of PDFs online for free that covers all sorts of “collections care” questions including the freezing process to control/kill insect infestations in textiles. Please go to the following link:

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

Scroll down the page until you get to ‘Agents of Deteriotation’ and click on ConserveOGram 3/6 “An Insect Pest Control Procedure: The Freezing Process”.

No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.6.5/793 – Release Date: 5/7/2007 2:55 PM

Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 13:25:42 -0500 | From: “Barbara Vlack” <cptvdeo@>

I found Aunt Martha’s “Modernistic Star” pattern in BlockBase2, which is Electric Quilt software based on Brackman’s Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns.

The block is catalog #268.5

If you cannot find or get a pattern, I could create a pattern printout as a PDF file from EQ6.

I assume you want templates for this block, which is a pieced hexagon.

It’s a lovely star, but does not appear to be “beginner” level piecing. 🙂

Barb Vlack I have made a $1000 fund raising promise for Alzheimer’s research. Cheer me on at: http://www.amisimms.com/1000promise.html <http://www.amisimms.com/1000promise.html>

Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 15:55:35 -0400 | From: “Velia Lauerman” <velialive@>

Dear Sandra, Thanks for your help finding the Modernistic Star. I was able to go on line and ordered a booklet for $10. The ladies at the retreat will be grateful too. Velia

Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 17:39:05 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

Good evening,

The worst thing I ever regretted doing in my life was selling my Entomology book to a fellow student who needed a copy. What fun was the Entomology class I took with Dr. Fisher at the University of New Hampshire! If I had discovered the joy of studying “bugs” sooner, I might never have majored in Spanish!

Every class was an experience. The man was a class-act. He could impersonate insects…he really, really could! If the insect he was describing was a sucking insect, there he’d be demonstrating the action. If it was a chewing insect, there again, he’d be chomping to beat the band. The class was a hoot. If I remember correctly, I got an “A,” so delighted and entranced was I!

In his spare time, he was a member of a local theater group. Before becoming a professor, he had lived in Hawaii, if I remember correctly, inspecting cans of pineapple for any trace of insects.

People who have had a “real life” before entering the world of academia often bring more to the table…or, I mean…to their classes.

To this day, I still enjoy insects. Oh, sure, some of them are ridiculously irritating, like the black flies that go up your nose, in your ears, and crawl under the edge of clothing. Or, the massive horse flies that like to take a chunk of human flesh or horse flesh (better the human as the horse will bolt.) I like the teensiest insects that are so fragile and small that one looks at them and has to wonder how anything that small could have parts, could function, and could survive.

Bugs, you gotta love ’em. They will survive on this planet even if there is a widespread nuclear holocaust. Ants will still be marching around. I can see it now. Resilient, adaptive creatures, encompassing the qualities that every good quilter and/or quilt historian should have…ever learning how to survive in this dog eat dog world; picking up their dead and carrying them off.

That said, we still have to contend with moths, crickets, and silverfish. Remember that larvae do the most damage. They are the chewers, but they mainly like to munch on food particles that are clinging to a garment or quilt. Cleanliness is prevention.

‘Nuff said,

Pat Cummings

Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 08:16:56 EDT | From: Mitzioakes@

Don’t forget the lowly cockroach! They found them in the pyramids of Egypt! Thank God I live in Vermont where the cockroach population has a hard time surviving Winters. Now if you’d like to talk about cluster flies – that one I can hold my own on (how about a gallon bucket full when cleaning out your summer camp in May????? But I do love ladybugs (ONLY ladybugs, hate the rest of the insect world.) Mitzi from VT where Spring has Sprung!!!!!

Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 10:52:48 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

— Mitzioakes@ wrote:

> Don’t forget the lowly cockroach! They found them > in the pyramids of Egypt! >

Mitzi – Can you hear me singing, “La Cucaracha, la cucaracha”?

I hate Ladybugs. They are no ladies at all, squirting their orange “juice” on my white curtains. “Cute” is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Pat

Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 15:15:26 -0400 | From: “Beth Davis” <bethdan533@>

Hello Lenna, Regarding the history Arch Quilts-it seems that there isn’t much information available-a mystery. There were two locations originally: Elmsford, NY and Hawthorne, NY. Earliest quilts date from about 20 years ago. People did comment on the high quality of these quilts. I might have examples of ads-but not where I can get my hands on right now, but can check later. They no longer seem to be in business, although there is an Arch Associates in NJ that deals with household textiles.

There are a couple nice examples in eBay: 110124205278 (with a great shot of the label on the back!) Another one is 140114957427

Regards, Beth Davis Rush, NY

RE: However, once I got up to the booth and looked closely at the quilt I found a label on the back that said ARCH QUILTS. Anyone know who makes these? Where are they from It seemed a bit better grade than the Chinese quits in Walmart.

Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 19:13:34 EDT | From: Mitzioakes@

Guess I am not ladybug expert – I really never knew what they did, only that they are cute….(guess I know now why my son hates them too – he never told me that did things like that.) Guess I’ll have to find another bug to like – got any suggestions? Honey bees maybe cause they do their thing for apple trees and we like apples….. Wonderful day here in Vermont – hopefully in NH too. Mitz

Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 16:59:32 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

How about praying mantises? As far as I know, the only act of violence between them is after copulation when the female attempts to bite the male’s head off.

Otherwise, they are pretty “cute.” I don’t think they do anything wicked to quilts. 🙂

Pat

— Mitzioakes@ wrote:

Guess I’ll have to > find another bug to like > – got any suggestions?

Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 08:01:16 +0000 | From: pollymello@

1850 Yellow Some one asked about a good 1850 yellow. As a member of the Baltimore Applique Society we have reproduced several Baltimore Album quilts ( 1846-1853) and matched the fabrics to the originals. The best 1850 solid yellow is P&B 31Y yellow, for yellow prints Windom Chrome Yellow 1850 series by Mary Koval, her poison green and colonies red are also good prints. The best solid red is Kona Rich Red. The P&B yellow and the Kona Rich Red are available at Seminole Sampler in Catonsville, Maryland 410-788-1720. Pomegranates: They grew by my church when I was growing up in Irving, Texas. So, I never thought that they might not be original to America. After the pomegranate comments, I checked the internet. They were listed as one of the products grown in the Austin colonies in Texas, pre-Texas Independence 1822-1836. Polly Mello Elkridge, Maryland

P.S. I am happy to see another “Polly” on the list. We are scarce. –NextPart_Webmail_9m3u9jl4l_26281_1178697676_0–

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 09:03:56 -0500 | From: “Susan Wildemuth”

I have some 1940 – unframed (raw-edged) pieces of embroidery work. They will be on display in a very small community library setting (library doesn’t have a display case) — they will be on the upper stacks of the book shelves where people can easily see them, but out of harms way. The display period would be about 1 or 2 weeks.

I don’t want to frame them, but how should I display them where they will be protected, but receive the least amount of stress? Plexiglass with corner secures?

Any suggestions?

Thanks — Sue

No Virus Found In This Message Scanned at barracuda.geneseo.net

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 07:19:33 -0700 (PDT) | From: Barbara Burnham <barbaraburnham@>

Susan,

You could mount them onto foamcore with pins and add cardboard mats to dress them up and hide the edges. But if they were mine, I would have them professionally framed (if that is appropriate for the piece). My framer adds a bit of space between the fabric and the glass and frame, which keeps them from touching, and mashing the embroidery work.

I would suspect that “Plexiglass with corner secures” might mash the embroidery unless you can add some spacers.

Barbara

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 10:59:48 -0400 | From: “Candace Perry”

For that short a period of time, I think a plexi sandwich is fine. Actually, For low cost framing this is even done in museum setting sometimes — but I think it does depend on the “dimensionality” of your needlework — for example, a cross stitch piece might be fine. Candace Perry

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 07:54:08 -0700 (PDT) | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>

Hi all, I was the Montana / Idaho sales rep for IKO Notions from 1985 to 1989. They were a wholesale fabric/notions company in Denver. There were also domestics and clothing devisions. At some point when I was on the road, IKO began repping Arch quilts, and I placed them in 2 of my quilt shops, as I recall. There was a controversy about this line of goods because of the reproductions of the Smithsonian quilts overseas. The contoversy also was over undermineing American quilters who were producing quilts to earn money. (Of course that is still a problem- who will pay what a custom patchwork quilt is actually worth?)

The line didn’t do that well for me, and as I recall IKO didn’t keep it for long. I can’t remember where they were located, but the quilts themselves were imported. I’ll see if some of my old contacts can help me out with this. Judy Schwender

It’s here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. –0-321091710-1178722448=:55429–

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 11:05:44 -0400 | From: “Pepper Cory”

I don’t know if this factoid will add or detract from the Arch Quilt thread but in the late 1970s I went on a fabric-buying trip to NYC (when I had a quilt shop) and there saw in a boutique some Arch Quilts, complete with a nifty white wrought iron display fixture. As I remember, the workmanship was not bad and they were made in Haiti. Pepper

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 18:45:52 EDT | From: MADrahman@

Dear Mary,

Life is great!!! It takes so little to light up some of us. I just love when you come across old patterns and things that most people would throw away. Have fun. Mary Ann Drahman

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 16:03:55 -0700 (PDT) | From: Jackie Joy <joysbees@>

Another connection that was on Yahoo today.

Jackie in Reno

ATHENS, Greece – Archaeologists in Greece have discovered a rare 2,700-year-old piece of fabric inside a copper urn from a burial they speculated imitated the elaborate cremation of soldiers described in Homer’s “Iliad.” The yellowed, brittle material was found in the urn during excavation in the southern town of Argos, a Culture Ministry announcement said Wednesday “This is an extremely rare find, as fabric is an organic material which decomposes very easily,” said archaeologist Alkistis Papadimitriou, who headed the dig. She said only a handful of such artifacts have been found in Greece. The cylindrical urn also contained dried pomegranates — offerings linked with the ancient gods of the underworld — along with ashes and charred human bones from an early 7th century B.C. cremation.

Ahhh…imagining that irresistible “new car” smell? Check outnew cars at Yahoo! Autos. –0-1998126260-1178751835=:83094–

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 16:53:13 -0700 | From: “Alan”

Not only do female praying mantises attempt to bite the male’s head off, the usually end up eating him.

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 21:48:53 -0500 | From: “Stephanie Grace Whitson”

I’ll have to look back in my records but if I recall correctly I used to buy quilts from a wholesaler and that was the importer’s moniker. The quilts were all made in China. I had them chopped up into small quilts to use for a plush gift product that was part of a gift line I designed in another life. And I will admit to an obcene amount of glee at chopping them up. They fit my purposes perfectly and misled no one. I paid anywhere from $29 to $49 for a twin size quilt depending on how many I bought at a time.

Stephanie Whitson Higgins

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 05:13:52 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

Good morning!

Lest any of you might think that my remarks are limited to Bug Talk, I would like to mention a topic about which I have researched and written about, at length. Publication of my findings about Bundling has prompted some letters from interested parties, one of whom conveys the assurance that the practice continues TODAY.

You can read about this idea of “bed courtship” in the following file at my free, educational website:

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

Have a wonderful day!

Patricia Cummings

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 11:50:27 EDT | From: Trishherr@

Hope some of you who live near the Southeastern part of Pennsylvania will join up for our quilt appraisal day. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me, Trish Herr

Heritage Center of Lancaster County Announces Upcoming Quilt Appraisal and Conservation Day FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 2007 For more information contact: Erika Belen, Public Programs Coordinator 717-299-6440

Lancaster, Pa. =E2=80“ May 9, 2007. The Heritage Center of Lancaster County is pleased to offer a quilt appraisal and conservation day on Saturday, June 9, 2007, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Jasper Yeates Educational Center located at 24 South Queen Street in downtown Lancaster. The cost is $10.00 for one quilt, and $7.50 each for two or more quilts. To register, please call the Heritage Center, (717) 299-6440. Pre-registration is not necessary, but it will help determine numbers thatday. Quilts will be evaluated on a first come, first served basis. Bring your favorite pieces for review by Dr. Trish Herr, a textile historian, Dawn Heefner, a certified quilt appraiser, and Jo Griffith, a quilt instructor and professional quilt appraiser. The event is a great opportunity to learn more about a family treasure and hear the experts talk about your quilts. Please note: this is not a written appraisal. The Heritage Center of Lancaster County operates the Heritage Center Museum, formerly the Lancaster Cultural History Museum (5 W. King Street), and theL ancaster Quilt & Textile Museum (37 N. Market Street). The Heritage Center Museum exhibits regional decorative arts and history. The Quilt and Textile Museum showcases the former Esprit Collection, considered to contain the finest examples of late-19th and early-20th century Lancaster County Amish Quilts. Currently closed for renovations, the Quilt and Textile Museum will reopen in the fall with expanded exhibition spaces and an accessible entrance.

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 09:22:04 -0700 (PDT) | From: Judy Schwender <sister3603@>

Hi all- My contacts and I agree that Arch quilts were made in China. Judy Schwender

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 20:16:59 -0400 | From: Teddy Pruett <aprayzer@>

This is vaguely quilt related, but I’ve something on my mind and want to share it with a couple thousand of my closest friends. I have been involved in a first time attempt to put on a “quilt walk” in mylittle downtown historical district. The planning and publicity were donerapidly, and this is the weekend. The original concept was that each merchant would be in charge of obtaining quilts and displaying them in their windows. Several merchants have done an amazing job. Some merchants let us know that they would not be participating, don’t bother them again, and don’t let the door hit yer fat little quilter’s be donka donk. What mostly happened is that many of the store owners were willing to decorate the windows – if WE provided the quilts, and if WE did the decorating. SO, three of us have been hanging the quilts, cleaning the windows, begging for keys to vacant buildings, climbing ladders, inventing the wheel, hanging quilts from sky hooks, staying up until midnight making signage, ………I cannot begin to describe what we have been through this week. I lost count of the quilts I pulled from my house, dozens and dozens and dozens….it will take me two weeks to put them back. You know, they come out of a hole but that hole disappears and is no longer in existence when you go toreturn the quilt. But that isn’t the fun part. FIrst of all, we have a downtown park gazebo that we were going to hang quilts on. OOPS!! SOmeone rented out the gazebo for a wedding. SO that’s out. ANd this is a downtown Quilt walk. WALK! SO, the city in it’s wisdom chose this week to tear up the sidewalks!!!!!!!! I kid you not – they’ve jack hammered up the stinkin’ sidewalks and there are barricades, yellow tape, and holes everywhere. Well, Thank YEW verra much, dear city. That ain’t all, either. We are absolutely smack dab in the center of so many forest fires – it is really frightening. Today, we stopped for lunch, and when we came out the sky was dark with smoke and ash. At 2 in the afternoon, it was totally midnight dark – street lights came on, birds went to roost – talk about creepy!!! I know how animals feel now – you know how they can predict earthquakes and such. It was disorienting, I can’t find a word to describe it – just icky someway. Like waiting on the end of the world. Ash was falling like snow, and piling up on the curbs and on the cars. We actually have a couple of vendors that are coming to be part of our ..uh…our “celebration.” So, they are driving around town looking for the oldhistorical Blanche Hotel. Circling around it, going behind it – and one of them finally asks a local, finds that she is indeed at the right place. SO, she is telling me about it. ANd I say” Well, heck – AL Capone stayed here. Even AL Capone knew this was the Blanche Hotel” So, my friends and I get to thinking about it – there hasn’t been a real sign denoting the Blanche in decades!!!!!! Everyone assumes everyone knows the Blanche. SO, wehad a good laugh about that. Not the vendor, who was exhausted and lost and felt as if she was driving in to the depths of hell – remember, she arrived mid-afternoon in the pitch dark. Bless her heart. ALso, we’ve put out this publicity showing our local historical museum. Itis housed in one of the earliest homes in town, which, during the restoration was painted a blush peach color. The publicity shows a pink house. Our quilters will wander in the wilderness for forty years in their search – the house was painted deep sage green a few weeks ago. Ain’t life grand???? Teddy Pruett www.teddypruett.com Only a few of the lies they tell about me are true. _________________________________________________________________ C

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 21:08:09 EDT | From: Mitzioakes@

I can see a short story out of this one!!!! My heart goes out to you – I have been in similar circumstances a few times in my life too, but yours has to be the most unique Love or hate him Murphy is alive and well in this world. I just know this weekend will turn out great and I only wish you were close to Vermont, cause I’d pack up my little old Saturn and head out to help you. Mitzi ps – Vermont broke a 111 year old record today with temperatures in the 90s in my area. Guess global warming is a fact (must I thank Al Gore tho?). GOOD LUCK AND HAVE A GREAT QUILT WALK……..

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 20:31:59 -0700 | From: “Margaret Geiss-Mooney”

Good evening, QHLers – Ideally, you would find some shadow boxes that you could lay the embroidery in without squarshing them between plexi and backing board. I’ve seen 1″ – 1-1/2″ deep shadow boxes with plexi glazing that have a plush fabric on the back and so the embroideries wouldn’t slide down and could be pinned in place perhaps using sequin pins. The shadow boxes won’t be archival but should be OK for a very very short time (like 1 or 2 weeks). It is a good idea to have the glazing to prevent dust deposition and touching. But you don’t want ‘direct intimate contact’ between the embroideries and the glazing. The glazing should be acrylic and not glass so there won’t be the possibility of the glass breaking (especially when in front of the public. Make sure they turn the lights off in the area when the library is closed or else provide ‘black out’ cloth covers to cover the embroideries to protect them from the light when no one is there to look at them. If you do go with the squarsh tween plexi and backboard, place a “fluffy” layer behind the embroidery (such as polyester felt; cotton flannel; polyester fleece if really heavily embroidered) to help pad out the embroidered parts.

…For that short a period of time, I think a plexi sandwich is fine. Actually, For low cost framing this is even done in museum setting sometimes — but I think it does depend on the “dimensionality” of your needlework — for example, a cross stitch piece might be fine…

… You could mount them onto foamcore with pins and add cardboard mats to dress them up and hide the edges. But if they were mine, I would have them professionally framed (if that is appropriate for the piece). My framer adds a bit of space between the fabric and the glass and frame, which keeps them from touching, and mashing the embroidery work.

I would suspect that “Plexiglass with corner secures” might mash the embroidery unless you can add some spacers….

.. I have some 1940 – unframed (raw-edged) pieces of embroidery work. They will be on display in a very small community library setting (library doesn’t have a display case) — they will be on the upper stacks of the book shelves where people can easily see them, but out of harms way. The display period would be about 1 or 2 weeks….

Regards, Margaret (Meg) Geiss-Mooney

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 23:09:16 -0500 | From: “Stephanie Grace Whitson”

When you’re had time to recover. . . this story would make a GREAT article for a magazine. The “UNshow'”. . . or “How NOT to walk a quilt” or something like that.

STephanie Higgins

Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 21:53:55 -0400 | From: “MARIE SARCHIAPONE” <mariesarchiapone@>

Teddy are you in Georgia? A current country western singer wrote a song based upon some thing Winston Churchill said. This is not a direct quotation from Mr. Churchill but it is the song lyric. “If you’re going through hell keep on going. You might be gone before the devil even knows you’re there.”

I know what its like to live near a horrendous fire. For weeks if not months the fire at the World Trade Center aka Ground Zero left snowy ash on everyone and everything. We wore respirators outdoors. We washed our dogs paws. From my terrace the center glowed red. It looked like the mouth of hell. We were glad to be alive, but afraid of what we might be breathing. The winds blew west to east, so Brooklyn got the worst of it. Measurements in New Jersey, upwind of the fire, showed there were many times the legal limit of toxins as deadly as lead.

Somewhere inside me is a 911 quilt. I just don’t know how to translate what I experienced into fabric. …and then after making it, how could I live with it?

Do the Georgia fires inspire anyone?

Marie in Albany formerly of lower Manhattan

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 10:02:31 EDT | From: RAGLADY@

_http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rodney-atkins-lyrics/if-you_re-going-through-he ll-lyrics.html_ (http://www.elyrics.net/read/r/rodney-atkins-lyrics/if-you_re-going-through-hell-lyrics.html)

Rodney Atkins’ “Going Through Hell” [Chorus] If you’re goin’ through hell keep on going Don’t slow down if you’re scared don’t show it You might get out before the devil even knows you’re there

Gloria raglady@ writes: but it is the song lyric. “If you’re going through hell keep on going. You might be gone before the devil even knows you’re there.”

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 08:40:41 -0700 (PDT) | From: Joy Neal <joyzneal@>

If you live in Washington State, please consider joining us.

We are fast approaching our next Quilt Study Group meeting. It is scheduled for Sunday, May 20th, La Conner Library, 614 Morris Street, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30. Bring a sack lunch and quilts to share.

We have a local woman who is bringing her collection to share with the group. This is our last meeting until we resume in the Fall.

Please RSVP so I know how many chairs to set up.

You will want to visit the La Conner Quilt Museum after the meeting to see the lastest exhibit!

Any questions feel free to e-mail me.

Joy Neal La Conner

Joy Neal La Conner, Mt. Vernon

I support the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative, a program to raise awareness and fund research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. All proceeds will be donated to Alzheimer’s research. Learn more at: www.AlzQuilts.com.

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 13:02:06 EDT | From: QUILTMOORE@

Found in Greece in a copper urn which also contained dried pomegranates. ;>)

http://news.@/topnews/articles/_a/2700-year-old-fabric-found-in-greece/ 20070509154109990001?cid=2359

Nan in FL

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 13:45:02 -0400 | From: Judy Knorr

–Boundary_(ID_6LawAF7FGsywKncBo1wa1g) Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

Teddy, Don’t let the “buzzards” discourage you. I still think your idea is way cool! Here’s hoping that all goes well in spite of the obstacles and everyone enjoys your efforts! Judy Knorr

–Boundary_(ID_6LawAF7FGsywKncBo1wa1g)–

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 14:50:25 -0400 | From: “Lucinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>

As the immortal Satchel Paige reminded us, “Don’t look back something might be gaining on you.” Cinda on the Eastern Shore

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 16:21:36 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

Hello,

We visited Chester, Vermont today for their quilts around town show. It was a beautiful day and the town was certainly in a quilt frame of mind.

An old quilt that I really like was hung on the porch of an inn. There is a photo of it on the home page of my website. Out of curiosity, has anyone seen this pattern before? I love the quilter’s choice of colors.

Pat Cummings http://www.quiltersmuse.com

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 19:43:46 EDT | From: KathrynHerrmann@

Pat, I believe this is a pieced Hands All Around. I’ve also seen it referred to as a Wedding Ring variation. I’ll have to go check through some books.

-Kathryn Hendersonville, NC

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 22:27:04 -0600 | From: “BOBBIE A AUG” <qwltpro@>

Pat, It is Hands All Around or Lover’s Knot. It is the symbol of The Colorado Quilting Council and also The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum BA

Bobbie A. Aug Author, lecturer, teacher, AQS Certified Quilt Appraiser qwltpro@ www.BobbieAug.com P.O. Box 9654 Colorado Springs, CO 80932-0654

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 03:39:05 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

Thanks, Kathryn and Bobbie for your quick response. My mind was drawing a blank. Funny, I have made that design before, but only one block for a pillow. I didn’t recognize the pattern with the blocks all set together, although a little voice in the back of my mind kept telling me I knew it from another time and place.

As always, QHL folks are at the ready to be helpful. I think the quilt is stunning and only wish that more provenance information had been available to that whomever made the quilt, living or dead, could get some credit.

Best,

Pat Cummings

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 08:05:48 -0500 | From: “Charlotte Bull”

Re the beautiful quilt on Pat’s site. Just go to Brackman. #4047. Friendship Wreath (Lockport Batting) or Friendship Knot (OCS/Wheeler) It has the pieced arcs like the Wedding Ring. There are 2 others, #4045 & # 4046, that have solid arcs. Both are called Friendship Knots by Finley or the KC Star (1/2/32).

Yes, Pat, I surely do agree. Lovely color choice. I remember doing this block about 1992 for a block exhibit I coordinated on the Theme of Friendship for my guild and eventually for our Friends of the Library!

Thanks for the good memories you revived. char of Mo OZ – on a surprisingly sunny morning after days of rain & thunder & fog ——=_NextPart_000_0014_01C7946C.59C5E9F0–

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 15:45:31 -0400 | From: “Lucinda Cawley” <lrcawley@>

A friend has a badly worn silk quilt (1850 maybe, I haven’t seen it) and wonders whether anyone would be interested in it as a study piece. She is trying to downsize but is reluctant to just pitch it. Any suggestions? Cinda on the Eastern Shore

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 15:53:31 -0500 | From: “Nancy Roberts” <aquilter@>

Re: Teddy’s report on Murphy’s Law. My husband and I attended the quilt walk in Lake City, FL, on Friday. The farther north we drove from Ocala, the more dense the smoke from the wildfires became. So, dense smoke-check; torn up sidewalks-check; formerly pink historic museum now green-check. Attendance was low while we were there, and understandably given the fires. And yet, the event was so well done. Teddy got rave reviews from the volunteers at the museum for all she and the committee had planned and executed. Her “Aunt Aggie’s” Boneyard quilt was on display in the very room where vintage photos of the strange tourist attraction hung. We could tell that Lake City is a charming town even though we were seeing it at its worst. So if this is the “first annual”, it can only get better from here. It’s great to have a whole town celebrate heritage quilts. My husband continues to impress on me that I managed to take him to the worst place in the state from an air quality point of view, and then walk him around town. Yet, he agreed that Lake City will get another chance. Hope it’s at the second annual! Congrats to the group that coordinated this enormous effort. Hope those fighting the fires stay safe and are able to gain control of them soon. Nancy Roberts

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 14:50:51 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

A brightly colored “quilt” hanging outside an antique shop, on a porch, caused us to stop to look at it. I’ve never seen anything like this before. I so wanted a photo but, alas, the photographer of the family was too shy and did not want me to ask permission for him to take a picture. Talk about frustration!

The quilt is not an antique, that part is for sure. The size of it is actually more like a very large wallhanging. Some of the blocks were pieced (nine patch units set together in fours to make one block) and pineapple log cabin units (set the same way.) Alternate blocks had frog appliqués and other semi-detached animals (made that way, on purpose,) and that had been zigzag stitches along the raw edges that stood in relief. The backgrounds of the blocks that were not pieced were red or blue. The fabric appeared to be rayon or other shiny material, but not silk.

The back of the quilt was all smaller squares, relatively speaking, that feature sort of stumpwork-like, stuffed, critters and/or insects – hard to figure out what the motifs were supposed to represent.

I suppose this piece is an import. I looked for tags but didn’t see any. It felt damp and clammy to the touch. At $79, perhaps it is a bargain for someone who would enjoy owning it, or perhaps would like to hang it in a Chinese restaurant. A lot of the motifs look very Chinese.

Again, I wish I had a photo to share, and wish that I had something more than my memory to rely on, in describing the piece.

Has anyone ever spotted something like that?

Pat Cummings

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 17:10:40 -0700 (PDT) | From: karenquiltrockisland.com

Dear QHLers,

I hope this is an appropriate post for QHL but I couldn’t think of a group of quilters who might be more interested. I just learned this afternoon from the staff at The Quilters Hall of Fame that QHF has a copy of Brackman’s “Clues in the Calico” for sale in the Gift Shop. Our gift shop manager googled the title and set the price in the middle-range of all the prices she found for this book on the Internet. She has priced it at $175.00. I just checked amazon.com and it ranges in price from $140-$550, assuming all of those are still available. I see one on TradeMe with a starting bid of $150. You could check eBay too.

If you purchase it from The QHF , the money, of course, goes to help with the upkeep and management of The Quilters Hall of Fame/Marie Webster House. If you are interested in adding this book to your library and like the price, just call 765-664-9333 and ask for Becky Faulstich and tell her about this post. If you find the office closed, leave your name and phone number and she will return the call.

Thank you,

Karen Alexander — in the sunny (finally!) San Juans President The Quilters Hall of Fame

Date: Fri, 11 May 2007 08:41:16 -0400 | From: “Velia Lauerman” <velialive@>

Dear Margaret, In your expertise working with archival materials, can you elaborate on the synthetic chemical materials used for framing such as pinning with sequin pins, foam board, polyboard etc.? Just checking as I have believed that any chemical in these synthetic compositions are harmful whether left for a day, week or years. Storing quilts would be of the same nature recommending that the cotton sheets put one top/bottom would be treated to reduce debris. Maybe this sounds a little much but for the sake of preserving it may cause rust, buggies, or other foreign things we don’t even know synthetics cause. Even though some pieces have lasted so long just thrown around, improperly stored and the like. Have worked with costumes at the Detroit Opera House where there are lots of dusty stuff we sort, clean and use. What a sanitary world we want to be in. Just this morning I had to caution my ten year old to wash hands with soap and let the water run down the drain after touching a feather she was taking to school. Well, the kids are showing up with Pink eye ! For what it’s worth.

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 16:36:48 -0400 | From: “Sharron K. Evans” <quiltnsharron@>

Lucinda, I’m surprised you haven’t had a hundred responses to your email. I would certainly be interested in your friends quilt depending on how much money she’s wanting for it. I’ve been looking for quilts that can be used to see and feel the textures of fabrics as opposed to purchasing quilts that are in great form.

Best regards, Sharron Evans

Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 06:50:33 +0200 | From: adi hirsh

Sounds like a Chinese baby quilt with insect and animal shaped appliques intended to ward off these pests – scorpions and other such dangerous insects. These are modern (I have one myself somewehre around the house, and will try to put a photo on eBoard if I can figure out how to do it ), made in colorful polys and synthetics, but I suspect they are ancored in tradition. The second image here: http://www.georgeleonard.com/storycloths.html is from such a quilt (here from a Hmong quilt, but the tradition is, I think, Chinese in origin). Hope this helps Ady in Israel .

Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 04:01:45 -0700 (PDT) | From: Pat Cummings

Thanks to all who have responded to my queries over the last couple of days. I appreciate everyone’s readiness to try to answer my questions. I’ve been searching high and low for the Hands All Around Pillow that I made, in blue (on a white background). The design is significantly different than the two patterns names that Charlotte pointed out, and yes, the quilt in Vermont does have pieced arcs, a significant difference. I have added Charlotte’s information to the caption.

Happy Mother’s Day! I had a chance to catch a glimpse of my grand-baby yesterday.

In the spirit of children, today I believe I will set aside some time to select fabrics for an appliqué quilt that was featured in one of Sandi Fox’s books. That original quilt belongs to the Shelburne Museum, and Froncie Quinn has come up with a pattern for making the c. 1880, 35″ x 37″ quilt (in reds and greens on a light background.) The pattern is “hot off the press,” and looks like one that I will enjoy making, although it is rare for me to use a commercial pattern of any kind, these days.

I’d like to thank Adi for the website link. The connection between the wall hanging I saw and Hmong work makes a lot of sense.

I hope you all have a lovely day today.

Pat in New Hampshire, where the apple tree is in bloom and the Orioles are back!

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 20:33:43 -0500 | From: <quiltbaker@>

Ask someone in the quilt guild, or anyone on line if they would like it. I would. I’m sure there are a lot of others that would like it. Nancylea

Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 00:00:01 +1000 | From: “quiltstuff”

Sometimes I guess quilters just feel the need to record things. This quilt is by a friend of mine in response to the Canberra bush fires of 2003. http://jennybowker.com/neighbourhood.htm Jenny was telling us ( via email) how dark the skies were and how burning leaves were raining down in her suburb..

Jenny is an extraordinary quilter in telling stories with her quilts. if you want to spend some pleasant time look at the gallery of her quilts. She writes well too , so her blogs are interesting http://jennybowker.blogspot.com/ especially now that she is posted with her husband in Cairo for a couple of years.

Suzy Atkins > Somewhere inside me is a 911 quilt. I just don’t know how to translate > what I experienced into fabric. …and then after making it, how could > I > live with it?> Do the Georgia fires inspire anyone?

Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 07:47:13 -0400 | From: “Velia Lauerman” <velialive@>

Our quilt Study group is working with SILK. I would be willing to compensate with any cotton at the moment. I am downsizing the cottons. Would really appreciate the worn silk. Aside ! Thanks to the response for the Modernistic star pattern. Yesterday as I showed a new group and new quilters the cottons, old quilts waiting restoration and the collections inside the studio (garage) I spied a pillow I had purchased or rescued at a garage sale or maybe an antique shop can’t even remember where. MODERNISTIC STAR ! wholey smoke, Velia Lauerman,108 North st.,Hudson,Mi.,49247 9705, 517 448 2323. HAPPY DAY TODAY AND ALL DAYS MOM

May 7 – 13, 2007

October 27 – 30, 1997

July 5 – 6, 2004

September 27 – 30, 1999

November 1 – 4, 2006

April 5 – 17, 2001

December 1 – 6, 2006

Similar Posts