November 19 – 21, 2004
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:
- Horseracing Quilter Identified — Members identify Shirley P. Kelly as the maker of award-winning horseracing-themed appliqué quilts.
- Spray Starch & Quilting Prep — A guild-meeting question about using spray starch leads to a broader discussion of quilting prep techniques.
- Pencil Marking Removal — Members debate whether and how pencil marking lines wash out of finished quilts.
- Eyeglass Cases & Off-Topic Finds — A member’s request for stand-up eyeglass case sources turns into a round of helpful product links.
- Henry Ford Museum Quilt Collection — Members compare notes on visiting the Henry Ford Museum’s quilt holdings, including a major quilt loss and current exhibits. (see the article on quilt museums)
From: “Newbie Richardson”
Zenia is spot on when she suggests establishing a relationship with a knowledgable dealer. I have evaluated many private costume and textile collections. Almost all of the best collections were put together by individuals who formed such a relationship, bought what they could afford, and traded up as they progressed. Many of the core of the museum collections we all admire were started by such collections. Newbie
From: “Rosie Werner” <rwernerrconnect.com>
Dear List, I’m Rosie Werner, new to the list, from Minnesota. My favorite place to buy quilts is at estate sales. These are not auctions. Everything has a price tag on it. I like them because you don’t have to wait around for the quilt to be auctioned. The trick is to get there early. I go an hour early on the first day of the sale. Numbers are usually given out and you are let into the house in small groups by number. I head for the bedrooms and have snatched up some real bargains.
From: Elpaninaro@
> I have been asked to do an evaluative survey of good and bad places where > quilt collectors may find and purchase quilts (and, I suppose, quilt tops). > I think we are talking primarily mid- to lower-market, rather than the > $15,000 range, though I would like to hear your stories in any range. > > What advice would you give someone who is in the early stages of collecting > quilts about places where she/he might find good buys, good quilts? Any > personal experiences to support your recommendations? > > And what about the potholes in the collecting road? Ever buy something that > looked terrific on eBay and then failed to recognize it when it arrived at > your door? How to avoid and/or handle such big regrets? >
Hi Gail and all,
Great stories so far!
I wanted to ask everyone about washing old quilts and it so happens the quilt in question falls well into the category of the story of a good find. First the story and my thoughts as a relative newbie on buying quilts.
So far I have bought quilts on eBay and at Quilt Festival in Houston- eBay for about a year and my first trip to Quilt Festival was a couple of weeks ago.
The photos linked below with my washing question are of a Drunkard’s Path I got on eBay this summer. The first old quilt I ever fell in love with was a Drunkard’s Path- so this is the pattern I like most and when I got this I had already seen quite a few of them (ie I had some idea what was good vs bad.)
Anyway, the photo on eBay was very blurry and shot the quilt from far away. So it got almost no bids and I was high bidder at the end- but reserve had not been met. The seller offered it to me in a second chance auction and I asked for more closeups which I emailed to my mother.
Turns out this was a turn of the century piece with yellow calico and white muslin with quilting I have never seen on a Drunkard’s Path- you will see the scallop shaped quilting in the closeup photo below.
Needless to say I got it for an absolute song! Never even been washed- still has the pencil marks, plain as day. Minimal age spotting too, plus I am a sucker for old muslin. That part was a nice surprise.
But I will also confess that along with that steal I have in the past year ended up with 3 eBay buys that I did not like at all. No seller dishonesty in any of the cases, but the quilts just did not end up being in good shape or all that well made. They had been listed with almost no description from sellers who did not seem to have expertise in quilts, so it was up to the buyer to make their best guess from the photos provided.
Success on eBay has come however from knowing which vendors to keep a watch on. The bargains are less frequent, but the quality is there and the quilts are well described. I just asked my Mom who she liked from past transactions and that is where I spend most of my time looking these days. Don’t want to post those names here since there are surely other good vendors I have not yet encountered and I do not want my list to imply other vendors are no good, but I am happy to share my positive experiences in private email if you want suggestions for eBay sellers worth watching based on my actual results and those of my mother.
Quilt Festival was a great place too. Not just for buying, but to actually see and feel a LOT of vintage quilts in a wide range of eras and quality. Having Mom with me was vital however- she was able to take me directly to people she has bought from for years, people she knew back when Festival was new. I made some side trips of my own at Festival and saw some other incredible pieces, but having been steered to good places to do my homework, it took me little time to spot a piece that may be very nice but was overly expensive, or maybe was not quite of the quality I wanted- and also to spot something that did look good from a dealer I had no knowledge of.
I second the vote as well for seeing what really grabs you and going with it. The one thing I bought and REALLY loved was not that old, was not that clean- but it was stunning to me. The entire piece was the same Eli Walker dark green calico appliqued over white- a series of blocks with varying patterns. I absolutely love it and noone has a clue what the pattern is! Really neat piece.
Come to think of it, here is a photo in case anyone can shed some light on just what this might be or how old it is. My Mom told me this particular Walker fabric was available until the 1970s, and that it kept her from making a solid guess of the age.
http://members.aol.com/elpaninaro/quilta.jpg
This is an example of what I would think is a bad “investment” from a financial standpoint, but personally I love it. I plan to use this quilt actually- so it will mean more to me in the long term than buying something just because it was highly collectible, or a bargain.
On to my other question- on cleaning. Here are a couple of shots of the above referenced Drunkard’s Path. I do not want to use it, but would like to display it and the pencil marks are still there. Not the end of the world, but is washing this really a bad idea? I can live with the pencil marks if washing the quilt is risky for some reason, but it would be nice to see what it looks like without them.
http://members.aol.com/elpaninaro/DPcalico.jpg
http://members.aol.com/elpaninaro/DPclose.jpg
Anyway, that’s my take on buying as a newbie and the perils and joys I have encountered so far, plus my eager hope for some thoughts on the wisdom of washing this DP plus washing old quilts in general (and hoping maybe someone knows more about that green applique piece!)
Take care,
Tom.
From: “Beth Davis”
Hi Pat & Cinda, The quiltmaker who does the wonderful quilts with the horseracing theme is: Shirley P. Kelly from Colden, NY
I’ve seen her quilts at Paducah and the International Quilt Festival. She’s won awards for many, including Best of Show 2002 in Houston. I’ve heard her talk one time about how she goes about designing the appliquéd pieces, with great attention to the details, even the color of the “silks” that the jockeys wear. The way that Shirley depicts horses just awes me!
You can see a couple of her quilts at: http://www.affirmedtribute.com/fanpages/quilt.html http://quilting.about.com/library/02lib/blh02_kelly-flowers.htm
Beth
Original message: Who was it that made those wonderful quilts commemorating horse races a few years ago? The one I remember best showed the horses running right at you–I saw it at the PA Extravaganza. Cinda on the Eastern Shore where we have lots of horses but way more chickens ******** Yes, isn’t her first name “Shirley” and she created the quilt with paper piecing? I can’t think of her last name…… The quilt was also shown at the Troy, NY show along with her other magnificent paper pieced animal quilts which look so realistic! Pat
From: “Beth Davis”
Well, besides working full time, quilting and studying quilt history, I also have a horse-albeit a small one. But even at 400 lbs., Firedancer still can pack a wallop!!
My husband and I were tired of dealing with the farrier, for although he was a wealth of knowledge and a great source of information regarding horse care, I found that around half of the time, he would not make the appointment. As mentioned by others, horseshoeing is extremely hard work, and tough on the person (deadly even-ohh sorry about that Pat). Many are plagued by back problems. So we decided to learn the skill ourselves and in-between the two of us, get the job done. Not fun, but like anything, it best to at least know how to do something and not rely on others.
Hmm well enough of that…back to quilting.
Beth
From: Judy Kelius
Hi Tom! I can help with this one since I’ve sold a couple of uncompleted tops on eBay. This was a Paragon kit made especially for Woman’s Day Magazine in January 1956 (kit sold for $20.00). The pattern is an almost identical copy of an unusual green and white mid-19th century New Jersey quilt which had been in the famous Florence Peto collection. The ad says that high-quality color-fast “Quadriga” cloth was used for the kit. The Sunflower blocks in the original quilt were pieced, but they are appliqued in the kit. Let me know if you want me to send you a copy of the advertisement for the kit . . . I still have scans on my computer.
From: Gail Ingram
> Ps, Gail, I bet you my grandfather’s recipe for Fish House Punch ( from > Philadelphia’s Rabbit Club – a cooking club for gentlmen )- will put you > under the dining room table just as fast as your recipe! At the age of 22 I > asked him for the recipe, he told me I wasn’t old enough yet! I pursuaded > him. I was a poor college student, so could not afford to make a lot, just > enough for every one to be relaxed ( but not sick). Boy, was it one GREAT > party!
Let’s meet in TN with punch recipes at the ready. If I had a gauntlet, I’d fling it to the ground, take a cup of Artillery Punch with me, and follow it.
I’m a fan of fish house punches, and sure enough, The Artillery Punch is of that family.
Once, when our five-year-old daughter had spent a month in ICU trying to decide whether she was going to live or die with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (autoimmune response to e coli), my husband and I had an afternoon gathering to thank all the many folks who had cared for us and about us during those bad times. Ruston is a small town, so that meant the grocery check-out clerk who sent cards daily, the ladies at the needlework shop, colleagues, friends, friends of friends, people from our church, the parents of a flock of kindergarteners, nurses who had put a bear in our child’s hands as she was being moved to a larger hospital and said, “Bring him home, Kathryn!” and assorted other people who had taken the time to write or give blood or sit with us through the long hours. We had no idea whatsoever about the number of guests to expect.
And we were giddy with delight that our daughter was getting well. What would do besides a slightly toned down version of the Artillery Punch—an afternoon version? Of course, I also made a non-alcoholic punch, for I knew many who would come would be teetotlers. This is a BIG Baptist town.
Our first indication that some of the Baptists had mistaken the Artillery for the watering hole punch came when a librarian swayed over in my direction and in a most uncharacteristic manner asked, “What DID you put in this punch? I feel positively lightheaded.” She was into her second cup, drinking it the way one would drink water. This was a woman who routinely called us “the Bonnie and Clyde of the Lincoln Parish Library” because we sometimes—well, often—had overdue quilt and needlework books shifting from one’s library card to the other’s. She loved our daughter, but until that moment she had never liked us.
Save up all your good stories, Newbie, and we’ll get under the table together!
Gail
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 06:58:53 -0500 | From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>
>Buy what speaks to you, if you can afford it. >Watching the newspaper ads for local auctions listing quilts >sometimes turns up “non-collectibles” as I politely call them, but >here is my “best find” for under $100. This beautiful scrappy top was >”tied” using knitting yarn, backed and bound with a yellow-flowered >70’s fabric, and a very heavy wool blanket inside. (Don’t hit Delete >yet!) Thrilled to take this treasure home, I spent an afternoon >gingerly cutting off the yarn ties, and trashing the wool blanket, as >I felt the weight and strain would surely damage these beautiful >older fabrics. One row is quirky where it was added on, but I love it >just the way it is, and enjoy looking at the early fabrics. Here are >some pics: >http://home.comcast.net/~bluebars/heartsfull.jpg >http://home.comcast.net/~bluebars/hearts.jpg >Barbara Burnham
That is one of the most beautiful and unusual quilts I have ever seen! You are one lucky lady! –_1474500.ALT–
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 10:28:38 +0000 | From: “JG Kane” <jgkane84@>
Hello, I can confirm that, in England, the Smithy is the building where the Smith works. My parents live in a converted smithy that was part of the working buildings of an old hall – the piggery, barn and granary are also now converted to homes, all with preservation orders on them.
Mum and Dad have photos of the building before it was converted and as it progressed,internally, to their design. Their walls are immensley thick, rubble filled , stone walls, and they have 2 oval windows, the like of which we’ve never seen anywhere else. The kitchen has its old bread oven built into the wall, and higgety piggety beams, some huge ones of which were originally ship’s timbers and hold the whole thing up!
Needless to say it is a wonderful place for quilts to live, and be displayed, so a few North country quilts have found a good home there<g>. Jill, in Yorkshire, U.K.
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 10:50:04 -0400 | From: Barbara Robson <robsonbhhfx.@>
At our guild meeting last week, the use of spray starch came up. Quilters are using it when they iron their new fabric after washing, then using it again when piecing and sewing their blocks. I seem to remember that there are concerns about the use of spray starch as it has proteins in it that attract bugs who then eat the fabric. Does anyone have any links or documentation about this? I didn’t want to raise the issue without stating the proper sources. I would like to put the information in our newsletter. I was surprised by the amount of spray starch that some people are using.
Thanks, Barbara Robson Fox Point, Nova Scotia
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 09:54:32 -0500 | From: Judy Knorr <jknorr@>
I remembered that two different quilts by the same maker had won Best of Show awards at the Quillters’ Heritage Show in Lancaster, PA and both were horse themes. Got out my old programs and looked them up and found this information.
April 1997 -Two Minutes in May by Shirley P. Kelly, Colden, NY – Program description: Here they come! My love of these magnificent Thoroughbreds and racing’s most exciting two minutes – Kentucky’s Derby, extends through four generations.
April, 1998 – Battle of Old Hilltop by Shirley P. Kelly, Colden, NY – Program description: Two horses and their riders engaged in a stretch duel to finish line of :imlico’s Preakness stakes.
I think the second quilt above is the one that also won an award in the PA National Show at Fort Washington.
On the subject of collecting that Gail asked about I would also recommend asking your family. I know not all families have a history of quilting, but I have collected most of my old quilts from my family. It’s amazing what lurks in closets and old chests that no one really wants and happily pass them on to someone “who will take care of them”!! That’s me!! Judy Knorr
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 2004 12:17:29 -0600 | From: “Charlotte Bull” <charlou@>
Wow! What a variety of threads!!! Thanks, all! Re: Tales I was at an estate auction in ARK. Hard to locate back roads. Dragged husband who was not interested! Saw a box full of quilt UFOs and started bidding. A young lady came up, tapped me on the shoulder and whispered “Please stop bidding. My mother really wants it because it was her mother’s.” I stopped, but said I need explanation! So after her mother got the box, the young lady told me this tale.
Her grandmother had invited all her family to a big day together. She then said that each child & grandchild could choose one item that they really wanted and put their name on it. She walked them all over the house & barn as each made their choice. If 2 or more wanted it, no one could have it! She told them that Everything else in her big house had to be auctioned. If they wanted something they’d have to buy it! They could fight each other by bidding only! Top bidder got it and the others had no right to dispute about it afterwards! I gathered she said something like “Put your money where your mouth is!” Then the proceeds of the sale would be split equally between all her children. So, even if they did not win the bid, they’d get a share. This was, the old lady had explained to them, to stop any bickering or fussing after her death and to allow all to share in the sales equally. She was not leaving any money to them, so this was what they’d get! If they wanted it bad enough, they could pay for it! : )))
Evidently the mother really wanted the boxes of quilt items and was buying them. She was only quilter in the family. She wanted the box of leftover UFOs etc to give to the young lady, the grandchild, so that she could learn to love quilting by finishing them! It was in order to awaken the Quilting Genes in the granddaughter! I loved the story much more than I wanted the box of stuff!
Hey, it was the Best Buy I never made! The worst buy I never made was a perfect quilt in an antique store before I had the confidence to buy old quilts.
From: “Charlotte Bull”
Many years ago an excellent much respected antique collector told me this. He said “Pencil lines for quilting tell you that the quilt is in mint unused unwashed condition and it should be appreciated for what the lines tell you”. So, he said, “Do not wash! They are badges of importance. The quilt was appreciated and admired and kept in pristine condition by the maker.” Also, he explained that it does help date it since more recent quilters used the disappearing ink pens that sometimes caused serious problems. Also it tells you that the quilt is not a store bought kit with quilting lines marked on it! Those lines were, to him, a part of the total quilt. So I am sharing his comments. You are free to do what you wish!
I am guessing that someone will tell you our existing joke about what to do when you consider washing an old quilt! charlou
From: “Charlotte Bull”
Please, that quilt of Tom’s with the Eli & Walker green is driving me crazy! I know I saw that pattern somewhere quite recently! So please tell us what it is!!! I already searched, but I really must do something else today. Company coming! House is chaotic mess with quilting in every room!
By the way, that green fabric is the reason why I started buying old quilts. It and a specific double pink were in a quilt that spoke loudly to me. Then, ever since, I find myself buying any quilt with THAT GREEN in it. I was told to join QHL when I asked one of you experts about that specific fabric. I’ve gotten great info from various antique dealers and appraisers when I asked about it. It is “My Kind of Green Stuff!” Better than Money!
But, where did I see the picture of that quilt? I know it’s here in the messy house/mind! Somewhere! Tom, it is a beauty! Love it & Keep it safe! (As if I needed to tell you that!) Charlie
From: Barbara Burnham
Judy, How nice of you to say that. I considered completing that last sashing row with fabrics of the time. Enough cheddar and turkey red have been found, but I doubt that many of those deep chocolate browns survive, at least not in that pristine condition. I have never found, even in new reproduction fabrics, a deep chocolate brown even close to that one. And I’ve been searching for years. So I guess it will stay quirky, as many treasures do. Maybe someday I’ll make a modern reproduction. Barbara
From: “Newbie Richardson”
Dear List – and the new members of it ( Please don’t refer yourselves as “newbies”) We have had several, indepth discussions of the pros and cons and how tos of wet cleaning or dry cleaning old and vintage quilts over the past 18 months. May I suggest that anyone needing to review that information use the archives that Kris has so graciously provided for us? Newbold (Newbie) Richardson
From: “Newbie Richardson”
Hmm, isn’t it the season for EGGNOG? Which recipe complete with whipping cream, a dozen eggs and assorted brandies and left out on the back stoop to “come together”(the alcohol “cooks” the eggs)will keep all of you in Northern Minnesota and on the Great Plains very warm indeed! Cheers Newbie
From: “Newbie Richardson”
Dear Barb, I looked up my own can of Niagara Spray starch on the web – but found no Manufacture’s Data Sheet. However, the PR does say that it contains a corn based starch along with silicon and fragrances. This is probably not a good thing for long term storage of textiles. Rodents and insects are drawn by both the corn and fragrance. If your guild member washes the quilt once it is finished, then it is not an issue. However, if her pieces are of the type that will be put away and stored for the long haul (the next generation, 25 years from now) then she should either wash them, or refrain from using anything more than steam and pressure to get the wrinkles out of the fabrics. Best Newbie Richardson The Costume and Textile Specialists Appraisals, Conservation, & Exhibition Alexandria and Richmond, VA www.costumeandtextile.com
From: “Nancy Roberts”
I have done a web search to no avail, and the quiltmaker’s name just won’t come to mind. But, someone mentioned Shirley and I’m thinking last name Colvin, Colton? She’s a quilter from upstate NY (Finger Lakes area) and has made prizewinning quilts in a series. Each is representative of a race in the Triple Crown series; the Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses; the Preakness; and the Belmont. They are magnificent and I think all three of them have appeared in back issues of the AQS magazines (check the issues that show the annual prizewinners) as well as at shows around the nation. Maybe this much info will jog someone’s memory to fill in the rest of the story. Nancy (from Ocala, FL, which is also Thoroughbred county)
From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>
I had posted this earlier . . . I fear some spam blockers are stopping my emails from coming through so perhaps someone else who gets this can copy it to the list again. This was a Paragon kit made especially for Woman’s Day Magazine in January 1956 (kit sold for $20.00). The pattern is an almost identical copy of an unusual green and white mid-19th century New Jersey quilt which had been in the famous Florence Peto collection. The ad says that high-quality color-fast “Quadriga” cloth was used for the kit. The Sunflower blocks in the original quilt were pieced, but they are appliqued in the kit. I’ve put photos of the kit here:
http://home.ptd.net/~shoofly/sunflower2.jpg http://home.ptd.net/~shoofly/sunflowerkit.jpg
From: Elpaninaro@
In a message dated 11/20/2004 5:05:19 PM Central Standard Time, quilts@ writes:
> I had posted this earlier . . . I fear some spam blockers are stopping my > emails from coming through
Ditto here. I emailed you and Xenia and all a thank you earlier and did not see it pop up. So in case it got lost in cyber-space wanted to thank you again for your help. Very exciting to finally know more about my quilt, and I do not expect I will be washing anything old anytime soon 🙂
Take care,
Tom.
Wow! That would be great. Thank you very much for the information too! Good to finally know a bit more about this piece. I love this list!!!!
Xenia- thank you to you as well and others who had comments on washing. My Mom said the same thing- I was hoping to get a second opinion and your vote makes it final. So time to just relax and enjoy the quilt as it is 🙂
Take care,
Tom.
From: Patricia L Cummings
Judy K. wrote: I had posted this earlier . . . I fear some spam blockers are stopping my emails from coming through so perhaps someone else who gets this can copy it to the list again. This was a Paragon kit made especially for Woman’s Day Magazine in January 1956 (kit sold for $20.00). The pattern is an almost identical copy of an unusual green and white mid-19th century New Jersey quilt which had been in the famous Florence Peto collection. The ad says that high-quality color-fast “Quadriga” cloth was used for the kit. The Sunflower blocks in the original quilt were pieced, but they are appliqued in the kit. I’ve put photos of the kit here:
http://home.ptd.net/~shoofly/sunflower2.jpg http://home.ptd.net/~shoofly/sunflowerkit.jpg
************************************* Tom: You are a lucky dog! I have seen this quilt in person, several times, at various shows here in New England. It was also printed in a book (which I have, and can’t seem to find).
I love this quilt!!! The Quadriga cloth has stayed as bright and clear as the day it was printed.
I’m very surprised that it is attributed to a nineteenth century design, as I actually had received information (several years ago) from someone who claimed that her mother designed the quilt that was published in Woman’s Day.
What I like most about the quilt, is that it is a simple design made interesting because the centers keep changing.
Thanks, Judy, for the kit information.
Best, Pat Cummings www.quiltersmuse.com
From: Joan Kiplinger
The latest issue — December — of the Smithsonian features a well-done summary of the Cincinnati Freedom Center opening and history of UGRR. Not one mention of quilts and codes. That absence, coupled with the newly published Passages to Freedom, shows signs that all of you who worked so hard to get the word out about coded nonsense is having an effect.
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2004 | From: JBQUILTOK@
So, if you’re getting out bid on a box you really want, just get a friend to go hit the other bidder with an ‘all in the family’ story???
I hope this one was ‘for real’ & it reminds me I promised the lady living in the renovation-ruined house I grew up in some ‘before’ pictures.
Janet
From: Patricia L
Re: Tom’s Quilt
Hi:
I knew I’d seen the quilt in a state documentation book and found it in the Wisconsin one. I also found the letter sent to me by the daughter of the quiltmaker. The maker had named the quilt, “The Green Quilt for Black Diamond”. and made it in 1943, in the decade before it was published in Woman’s Day.
As far as Mrs. Peto goes, I do have several of her books, which I can’t seem to locate at the moment. I did find information about Florence Peto in the New Jersey state doc. book, but no photo of the Sunflower pattern quilt. The one page summary of Mrs. Peto’s involvement with the quilt world indicates that she sold her quilts after one final exhibition, and many of them went to museums. I am just curious to see a photo image of the 19th century version from which Mrs. Sholette copied or reproduced this lovely, Quadriga cloth quilt.
If anyone comes across a reference, I’d sure like to hear about it. Thanks.
Pat Cummings www.quiltersmuse.com
From: jeanlester <jeanlester@>
I always think it is funny that folks talk about washing out the pencil marks. I have a quilt that I use as an example.
My great grandmother’s community shared quilt patterns–one lady would order a kit and the other ladies would copy it. The quilt that I inherited was copied. It has been washed, bleached and worn. Most of the colors are completely gone, except one red calico and 4 orange dogs. The pencil lines that she marked the figures with, is still visible!
Jean
From: Judy Kelius
The original quilt is pictured in the Woman’s Day ad I had posted to the internet (it’s the quilt at the top – you will note the compasses have more points than the copy): http://home.ptd.net/~shoofly/sunflowerkit.jpg
I have no idea where the Sunflower quilt ended up . . . you are right in that her collection was broken up after her death. Her son got many of them and a few years ago sold a number of them plus some he had acquired himself. When I was working at the former PA Quilt & Textile Museum, we had acquired two or three that had been part of that collection.
Are you sure the family information is correct? As we know, time often distorts the facts. Or is it possible that Woman’s Day had offered the kit more than once? That often happened as well.
From: JBQUILTOK@
And the way the judges today consider it the biggest sin to find the slightest marks on one.
Janet Bronston
From: Gail Ingram
When I opened my email just now, I was reminded of something that makes me think of this list.
A friend had sent me a particularly moving piece of writing that had come from the webpage of someone she knew. Wanting to know more about the writer, I opened his webpage and somewhere there, I came across the following:
“In 1911, Dr. Charles W. Eliot, who had a knack for inscriptions, wrote a good one while in a boat with friends in Northeast Harbor, Maine. After some fiddling by Woodrow Wilson, Eliot’s words were carved in the stone of the new Washington D.C. Post Office. He wrapped up the essence of the post office in a series of phrases, that read, in part, ‘Messenger of sympathy and love, servant of parted friends, consoler of the lonely, bond of the scattered family, enlarger of the common life.'”
I could not help thinking how true that is of the www and especially this particular part of it, how much QHL enlarges our common lives.
This Thanksgiving, I am putting high on my list of blessings QHL, Kris, and all those members of this list and AQSG who have encouraged me as I’ve branched off into a new path of scholarship and research and whom I count among my real friends.
On C-Span I heard John McCain accept an award from the New Hampshire group that recognizes individuals who have made special contributions to preserving and clarifying our First Amendment rights. Sen McCain’s emphasis was on our commonality as Americans. It was a beautiful piece that celebrated our shared heritage and our shared everyday lives, particularly beautiful coming from an old warrior. It was followed by Sen. Tom Daschle’s moving farewell address to his senate colleagues, another beautiful appreciation of the everyday, particular life we share as Americans.
At the top of my Thanksgiving wish list is going to be that all of us can see what these two men of very different politics see, perhaps recognize that while it makes good news copy, our political differences are not so great as we sometimes imagine. And that in any case, politics always means less than people.
Oh, and yes, I have not forgotten about the punch recipes I must send out.
Gail
P.S. Here in Louisiana, schools are out the entire Thanksgiving week! We may be low in IQ and poor, but we have a whole week to enjoy ourselves this week. Maybe bon temps are more important than wealth and IQ? You think?
From: “sue reich”
On Veterans Day, an new, permanent exhibition space was dedicated at National Museum of American History. The new wing named the Kenneth E. Behring Hall of Military History is an exhibition called ”The Price of Freedom: Americans at War” and is billed as this country’s first comprehensive exhibition of its military history. I just saw a clip about it on my favorite TV channel. The exhibition covers every great war. You might be thinking that this is not quilt related. Think again. When I was researching the quilts in Connecticut, I was struck by the numbers of quilts that survived with direct associations to most of our great wars. I often wondered if their very survival was actually because of that connection. This past year when I was preparing the AQSG Study Center about WWII era quilts, I realized just important quilts made during times of war need to be studied in context with those wars. Check out the web site for the National Museum of American History for an introduction. This exhibit sounds fascinating and is another reason to travel to DC in the very near future. sue reich ——_NextPart_000_0013_01C4D02A.4B710B40–
From: Patricia L Cummings
How interesting all of these connections! Thanks, Judy. In printing out the page you provided, I can better see the difference between the two quilts. The more modern one has less points, adapted from the original to make it easier to assemble.
Apparently, the antique, 19th century quilt is in the collection of the Henry Ford Museum?
The letter I received indicates that the 1943 quilt was made by Mrs. Sholette for her daughter who was nicknamed “Black Diamond”, (the reason why was not explained in the letter). When she was young and would come home from school, her mother would always be working on the “Green Quilt”, hence “The Green Quilt for Black Diamond”.
The correspondent claims that the quilt was renamed “Calico Sunflower” and published as PARAGON needlecraft #01123. She no longer has the quilt that her mother made for her and just says that it now resides in Michigan.
This quilt amazes me each time I see an example of the design in person. Love it!
Pat Cummings
From: Judy Kelius <quilts@>
I don’t think it is in the collection of the Henry Ford Museum, just photographed there during a special exhibit since it says it is from the collection of Mrs. Peto. Does anyone know if the Ford Museum has a good quilt collection? Maybe Mrs. Sholette made the prototype for the kit?
In looking at the photo again, it looks like the original had a pieced sashing and border which were modified for applique in the kit. (I think most of today’s quilters would disagree that applique is easier than piecing. Of course, back then they hadn’t discovered paper piecing for Mariner’s Compasses! ) But the applique motifs in the centers of the blocks seem similar . . . they are a large part of what makes this such a wonderful quilt! I wonder if the original has a different motif in each block? The kit repeats several motifs. I would love to know where the original is today! Trish Herr had several of the Peto quilts, but I think I asked her about this one and she wasn’t familiar with it. Trish, if you are reading this, can you help?
From: “Caron Carlson” <carona@>
Hello All, I have been lurking for a bit, and am fascinated with your dialog. I am an avid quiltmaker now, perhaps when I get a bit bored with the needle and thread I will want to learn more about your world, but I will continue to read.
I found the sunflower quilt kits very interesting. My Gramma was an avid quilter and I remember her working on many two color kits with her “bee” She never really called them her “bee”. She would just say “I am going to sew with my lady friends today” because they all sewed, why call it a special group, lol.
The reason for my post today is that my guild is looking forward to our show in 2006 and wants to do a quilt turning of turn-of-the-century through 30’s quilts and the thought is to set up a “quilt shop” circa 1931. I have extrapolated some useful information from the book “Patchwork Souvenirs from the 1933 World’s Fair” by Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. And basically the skinny is that quilt shops were, well, quilt shops. Like in the Ozarks now. Quilts, quilts, quilts and nothing but quilts. Perhaps someone hand quilting at a frame.
So, on to my question, can anyone suggest anymore reference material that I might find any more interesting tidbits to throw into our little presentation? You know, someting to throw in that someone might walk away and say, I never knew THAT!! I know most of your thinking caps work best in the way-back machine, but I bet there are some real 30s fanatics, eh?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
From: DDBSTUFF@
Hi Julie,
Hope all is well.
I have recently been approached by a Genie Curtze of Germany to possibly do an exhibition of some of my collection in Germany.
I don’t know anything about her but the Esprit Collection was mentioned so I thought you might know her or know of her.
Do you? If so, what can you tell me?
I’d appreciate any information you might have.
Thanks,
Darwin Bearley
From: “Newbie Richardson” <pastcrafts@>
Dear List members in the Seattle, Washington area My adored “adopted” little sister and brother live in Sammamish, WA. They are about to have their 3rd baby – this will give them 3 kids under 5 -yikes! I thought the best present would be a few prepared, delivered meals. Can anyone give me the name and phone number of a local caterer or restaurant that does such things in their area? They are vegetarians – in case that makes a difference. I tried to look it up on line – but the choices and locations were too much for me, here in the DC area, to sort out! Please email privately – and thanks so much for any leads. Newbie Richardson pastcrafts@
From: “Laurette Carroll”
Hello Caron, My friend Pat Nickols wrote an article on Mary McElwain that was presented in the 1991 Uncoverings. McElwain was a quilt shop owner (simply stated) in Wisconsin. She was quite an influence in the quiltmaking world, and the article is very interesting and may be of help to you.
Laurette Carroll Southern California
From: “Jan Drechsler” <quiltdoc@>
Judy Sue sent a great photo of this quilt, but what I really gawked at was the bed. Look at the fin at the end of the bed. How would you ever make it and tuck in the sheets? What an unusual design and I can visualize the bruise on my legs from hitting the edges of the fin! The bed, the floorcovering and the quilt seem very incongruent to me.
Thanks for the copy of the quilt kit cover, Judy.
Jan — Jan Drechsler NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: quiltdoc@
Quilt Restoration; Quilting teacher www.sover.net/~bobmills
From: “avalon” <malthausidcnet.com>
I thought the waste paper basket was great.
Mary
From: Joan Kiplinger
This might be of interest to anyone who wants to particpate in this project. Instructions for cutting and making a block which appears on Pat Cummings website. http://www.quiltersmuse.com/home_of_the_brave_quilt_project.htm
