September 24 – 27, 1999
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:
- Antique Show Shopping Etiquette — A lively, wide-ranging discussion of etiquette for handling, folding, and negotiating over quilts at antique shows and shops.
- A Four-Eagle Quilt Puzzle — Members compare notes on a distinctive four-eagle pattern quilt spotted at a Mancuso show and on eBay, discussing its likely origin and value.
- More Recovery from Hurricane Floyd — Continued reports from members affected by Hurricane Floyd’s flooding, including advice on removing mold and odor from water-damaged textiles.
- Quilts on Display at the DAR Museum — A member asks about current quilt exhibits at the DAR Museum in Washington, DC ahead of a visit. (see the article on caring for antique quilts)
- Elongated ‘S’ Motifs in Quilt Blocks — A discussion of the symbolism and regional use of an elongated-S quilting motif, prompted by a museum researcher’s question.
- Seven-Pointed Star Patterns and Moravian Art — Members trace the seven-pointed star motif across quilts and its possible connections to Moravian folk art traditions.
- Removing Odors from Antique Textiles — A running thread of home remedies — baking soda, charcoal, sunlight — for removing musty or smoke odors from old quilts and tops. (see the article on stain removal)
- Book Sources for Textile and Sampler Research — Recommendations for books on samplers and antique textile documentation, including a Fitzwilliam Museum handbook.
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 19:44:10 PDT | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@>
Just do it; you are the one who will pay the money for the quilt(s), and you deserve to see any quilt you might purchase fully so you can be aware of condition, etc. If the storekeeper is not offering to help, just pull up a chair, and put the quilts on them as you look at them. A concerned storekeeper would offer to help you, but if you are not getting offers of help, the storekeeper probably isn’t concerned about it. After all, they are there to be seen. Good luck and good hunting, Anne Copeland
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 20:41:07 PDT | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@
Ellen, You have the spirit of a true quilter! Real quilters don’t give up–they just dye to quilt! Can’t believe I said that. Good for you, Anne
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 00:09:30 -0400 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow@
I think that quilt Alan saw on e-bay is a form of Snake In the Hollow, not DWR. I just missed buying a great one this Spring. By a couple of hours.
Rats!
Also, to Alan, the thing I hate is when the dealers have the cutesy booths with the rose leaves, orange peels and other stinky-poo stuff, and hang the quilts over their open “rustic” cupboard doors! Nothing will snag stitches faster than the top of a rustic cupboard door. I never put them back where I found them, in that situation.
If I see a folded quilt I want to look at, I take it to where I can find some open floor space and flap it open so I can look at it unfettered, as it were. No one at any mall or booth or store has ever called me on this habit. They see I am a serious potential buyer and some come over to hear my comments about the quilt in question.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 00:39:18 -0400 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow@
Well, I had a real lesson today. Barb’s research was great and covered most of what I wanted to know about the eagle quilts, but my real lesson was when I sat down with my dear artist husband to share with him my excitement about my find of the 3 matching eagle quilts. I had printed out the two from e-bay and had the James collection book open to their quilt (page 84). And he said — ” I would never give the quilts on e-bay a second look, but this one (the James quilt) is worth looking at forever! ” Then he proceeded to show me why the James’ is a great quilt and the other 2 are ordinary and/or just plain bad.
First off, he looked at the top. (166351233) He pointed out how the drawing of the eagle forms was crude and had no grace. The 2 rosettes were badly done and stopped you dead, without the outward motion they should have. And, something I never had noticed — the maker had not turned her template for each eagle’s head, and they just spiraled around the quilt. (By the way, where are the eagles’ beaks?)
The finished quilt (168322571) was much better stylistically, the addition of the stars at the 4 quadrants and the center was interesting, but the eagles heads were pointing in the wrong directions. They were pointing out of the quilt, when they should have been pointing in. The addition of the pieced and multi color border added some interest but was unrelated to the shapes inside the quilt.
I wish that you all could see the quilt in the James collection book in this context. Even with the faded green of the wings and the outermost and innermost of the 4 rosettes, the red and orange on the dark (blue?) background adds a richness and depth that the e-bay quilt(s) doesn’t have. The serrated edges on the rosettes, the eagles wings and tail, and the dog-tooth border all relate to each other. And the fact that the 4 eagles are all facing in to the center of the quilt makes all the difference. And then he said, “And if you are going to form a collection of quilts, that is how you are going to have to look at all quilts. There is good, there is better, and there is best. You wait, and buy only the best. The Jameses had that eye and that’s why their collection is so great.” And I whined, “But they started collecting in 1979, when you could get a ‘best’ quilt for under $50.00.”
He said, “You’ll just save your money and and have a smaller collection, but just as good.”
That’s why I love the man!
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 22:06:22 PDT | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@>
I think I’ve been there too and seen it myself. And you are right! some years ago, Country Living featured a home with lots of quilts hanging, and lo and behold, they were hung on nails too. Anne
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 23:04:17 PDT | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@>
Very good eye, Judy! There was an Eagle kit that I know of, but the one I have seen before is a central Eagle. The top appears to have blanket stitching, and I agree, the top really looks suspicious. The quilt colors are somewhat suspicious too. Interesting. Hope someone knows for sure, Anne
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 11:21:23 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM@
Carole,
I remember my mother buying 36″ fabric in the 1960s, but by the 1970s, 45″ was pretty much the standard.
Jocelyn
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 99 12:27:29 EDT | From: “Bob Mills” <decision@
Everyone who was at the wonderful Quilt Restoration Conference noticed that I had both VT and NJ on my badge with arrows going two ways. After Floyd shut our electricity off for 36 hours and I lost all my cold food and after we still couldn’t drink the water for 6 days, we packed essentials in a 15 foot Ryder truck and drove to our new home in SE VT. Still haven’t sold the NJ house and have it partially furnished, but now I know where I live. The big headlines in the paper when we arrived were ’25 homes in the county lost electricity’ during Floyd. Some of my friends had 4 feet of water in their basement and all along my block there were carpets, and couches and TV’s and chairs piled on the curb for garbage collection. People lost so much. I was very fortunate.
The one thing that did get wet and mildewed was a quilt I made in 1980. Nothing real special, just a Grandmother’s fan with a lot of fabric from the 1940’s-70’s but I liked it. I hung it in the sun for two days but it still had an amazing smell. So in spite of water rationing, I washed it in cold water with Wisk and a splash of ammonia. Still smelled. Rinsed it again. Dried it flat overnight and put it in a hot dryer in the morning. Still smells a little. Hung it in VT air today and it still smells a little. My washing machine is still back in NJ so that’s it for cleaning. The moral of the story is that plastic containers are OK for packing quilts to be moved. Especially if they are to be put in the garage and hurricane Floyd will come and flood the garage for the first time in 18 years. Lynne, I have been thinking of your volunteer quilt rescue work in NC. I wish I had used hot water in the washer and more ammonia. Don’t know if that would have helped. Also wish I could have washed twice, but since we had so little water, I was pushing it anyway. Anyone with suggestions for Lynne or me?
Jan Drechsler (not Bob)
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bobmills/jan.html
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 99 12:27:28 EDT | From: “Bob Mills” <decision@>
Also have a very large piece of muslin given to me years back by an elderly woman who dated it in late 1800’s. It is very wide…maybe over 100″…can this fabric be that old? Carol, Brackman’s book says that the mail order catalogs were selling 100″ muslin for backings at the turn of the century. So it could be late 1800’s.
Jan Drechsler (not Bob)
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bobmills/jan.html
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 13:36:14 -0400 | From: “sue reich” <mreich@>
I truly appreciate your dilemma. A few years ago, I was given a 40’s/50’s top that had the smell of cat urine (nothing could be worse). I tried all of the conventional methods of removing the smell with frequent washings in various things, airing for weeks. Nothing worked. Then I placed the now squeaky clean top in a plastic bag with some pomanders that I made myself with cloves and various spices, sealed the bag for weeks in a closet. When I brought it out the smell was just about gone and over the past few years it continued to fade. If the smell is in your batting, you may have to take it apart, replace the batting and requilt it. Also another suggestion is to seal it in a bag with baking soda. It may work the way it does in your refrig and absorb the odor. I live in the country. Every now and then we have a dead mouse smell in the eaves and the culprit can’t be found. An open box of baking soda does the trick. Best of luck. Sue Reich from CT
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 14:59:11 EDT | From: Bethquilt5@
Alan,
The Michigan State University Museum has a seven pointed star quilt in its collections. It is ca. 1890 and made of mostly silks and it is tied with clear short, tube shaped beads. I think it lays too flat and is too well constructed to be an eight pointed star with one unit removed. I believe it was meant to be seven sided.
Beth Donaldson
Quilt Collections Assistant
MSU Museum
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 19:19:25 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@
As I remember it, the elongated s was used as the second s when you had a double-s (such as addresf).
Alan
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 20:19:36 -0500 | From: Mary Waller <mswaller@
A young man at our local museum is researching what small metal items like needles, pins, nails, tacks, etc. were like 200 years ago, as part of the preperation for the bicentennial celebrations of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 2004-2006. I told him I’d ask the quilt historians.
If you have any information or references that would be helpful, I’ll forward the information to him.
ary Waller, Vermillion, South Dakota
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 21:39:18 EDT | From: Palampore@
Jan, so sorry to hear you too were affected by the fury of Floyd. Baking Soda is the cure all for many smells. I would use some in soaking for a short period of time, or in your situation I would put crumpled up newspapers with it in a BIG container so that the newspapers aren’t touching it. Cover with something that would allow the moisture out but contain the scent a bit. Charcoal briquets are also a great help with absorbing smells. You have now sent me on another tangent with my info. I have sent out. I didn’t say enough about smell!!!!
I finally left town today. For the 1st time in over a week I could go on the main roads. Still lots of water and much clean up going on. Talked with a woman today who moved her “life” to Greenville from Upstate NY a month before the storm. Put it in storage. Was to move into to her new apt. the day of the storm. All of her worldly possession were in the storage unit that flooded and she is in a very empty new apt. She was asking about her 30 years of x-stitch work that is sitting in water. She can’t even get in to see it until Wed. Do hope her packin was secure……… Yes, I will be most appreciative of tips for dealing with the smell of mold.
Thanks, Lynn in New Bern,NC
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 22:28:52 EDT | From: JLHammerCo@
Does anybody know if there are quilts on display at the DAR Museum in Washington, DC at the present time? I’m visiting my son in Arlington, VA next weekend and thought I’d visit the museum if they have any quilts displayed.
Paula/GA
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 07:37:40 -0400 (EDT) | From: quiltsnbears@ (Roberta in Florida)
He should probably contact Joyce Rivers .Tell him to phone Sandra Katz at 781-322-7372 for information on how to reach her. I don’t know if she is still at Winterthur.
Roberta
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 11:20:10 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
Hi ll,
I’ve been somewhat following the thread on shop etiquette and I have a question for both shop owners and shoppers. How do you feel is the best way to show quilts in a limited space situation? I don’t have a shop but I do antique shows instead and although I am usually able to hang one quilt completely opened and sometimes a crib quilt as well, I always have the remainder of my quilts folded and stacked on tables or low platforms around the perimeter of the booth. I would appreciate hearing from any of you about what you like and dislike and what attracts you to a quilt booth. Please realize that an antique show is different from a quilt show in that I also have other merchandise.
Also, and I know this will get me into trouble, why do women (not men) always rummage thru the quilts and leave with the quilts looking like a hurricane just went through. I say women because after doing shows for twenty plus years, I have paid very close attention to this and honestly it is always women that make a mess. I always ask if I can help them look and most of the time they say we’re just looking, make a mess and walk away. Very seldom do men do this and yes, I know there are more women looking at quilts than men.
How do you deter this type of behavior?
Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.
Darwin, who survived the storm at the Brimfield, Mass Flea Market with no damage.
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 09:31:20 PDT | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@>
Hello All,
The past weekend, while doing verbal quilt evaluations, I saw one that puzzled me. The lady had written documentation for the quilt being c. 1900. It was a lavendar and white shirting (with a woven lavendar stripe) Robbing Peter to Pay Paul, triple line quilting with heavy quilting all over. I have never seen one from this early period with so much lavendar overall. The lavendar was not muslin, but similar to oxford cloth, only thinner and smoother. It was also a little different from the 30s lavendar, but was not something like Mauvine. It was lavendar. The stripe, as I said was a white woven stripe with smaller stripes in between about 1/8″ lavendar woven stripe. The binding was front to back, approx. 1/8 – 1/4″. The backing was off-white, and looked as though it could have been some sort of sacking (more like the backing on older quilts). Has anyone else out there ever seen quilts from that early made with so much lavendar? I did have a quilt that was stolen from me that had lavendar on it, and appeared to be perhaps in the transitional period (1900 – 1920), but this one does not seem to fit into that period for some reason. Anne
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 09:39:36 -0700 | From: “Melissa Devin” <mldevin@
>I’ve been somewhat following the thread on shop etiquette and I have a question for both shop owners and shoppers. How do you feel is the best
way
>to show quilts in a limited space situation?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have been following this thread too, saying *yeah* quite a bit, because nothing is more frustrating than wanting to see a 19th century completely embroidered, gorgeous silk and satin crazy quilt when it is hung up gathered like a curtain, and nailed! Here are my thoughts on showing quilts in limited areas:
Antique shop owners that have many quilts should take note of how Undercover Quilts in Seattle http://www.undercoverquilts.com/ displays their quilts in a very small shop (their shop is as long as my kitchen, but a bit deeper). They hang the quilts like large prints in a print shop would be (where normally a print would be slipped into a sleeve, hanging on the wall, and you can turn the pages to see various prints). Instead of the plastic sleeves, they hang the quilts from sleeves sewn onto the quilts, and you *turn* the quilts using a long plastic rod so that oily, dirty fingers aren’t touching the textiles. Now, I realize that this is not exactly a quick method of display (because of adding a sleeve), but wouldn’t it be much more profitable and nicer on the quilts to display them this way? Especially since the customer is able to view the quilts quickly and easily. For smaller quilts, they are on a turning unit that is similar to a clothes rack (I can’t remember, but I believe that they are folded and placed onto the rod hangers). Smaller quilts are also folded and tucked onto shelves. I am glad to see that I am not the only one that has concerns about wanting to view quilts at antique shops. I have always questioned the etiquette as well.
Melissa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ mldevin@ Go Cougs!!
WAshington State Internet Quilters ~WASIQ~
http://www.wasiq.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 11:52:59 -0500 | From: DAVID BAXTER <davidbiii.lnk@
I highly recommend the Joan Colvin’s Textile art quilts “Nature’s Changing Faces” at the LaConnor Quilt Museum north of Seattle WA.
The gift shop is fabulous also. Call 360-466-4288 for info. Joan’s work is beyond description.
Enjoy Jo Baxter
P.S. See the great crazy quilt framed in glass on the first floor also.
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 13:20:11 -0400 | From: “Diane McGuire” <dianemcg@>
Hi, QHL
I don’t know if it is still available, but they used to sell boxes of charcoal for aquarium filters in the pet section of WalMart. It is great for absorbing odors. Also try using clean cat litter, maybe mixed with baking soda.
We once had our boat sink and we rescued nearly everything including charts, my dictionary and the ship’s clock by keeping it wet (in a bucket of fresh, clean water if necessary) until necessary dry out could take place. The idea is that the water prevents mildew from growing. It has to be literally under water for this to work. Might work with small quilts or needlework.
Good luck to all those flooded out.
Diane in warm, sunny, dry fall weather in Massachusetts
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 11:53:57 PDT | From: “Anne Copeland” <anneappraiser@>
I always help the shop or booth owner to help me first, but if they will not, then I do pull the quilts out and look at them, but I am conscientious in putting them back as best as I can as they were. I generally try to find a chair or something to set the ones I have already looked at. That is something you might consider doing is to set a chair or little table where they can put the ones they have already seen. You might also state when they come in (if you cannot help them or do not want to), “You can refold the quilts you have looked at on the table nearby when you are finished looking at them.” I think many people really want to do the right thing, but are frustrated by the overwhelming task of trying to refold, etc., when there is nothing but the floor to set the quilts on. So shop owners and booth owners, remember that it is up to you to help the patrons “do the right thing” by providing something to help them and giving them a mini-education on what you expect. It generally only takes a line or two to get your point across. Anne Copeland
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 12:00:16 +0000 | From: Bobbie Aug <qwltpro@>
Carole,
I purchased 36″ wide fabric (cotton calicoes) at T G & Y here in Colorado Springs at least until sometime in 1972. Can’t remember after than as I was really into knits but know that 45″ cottons and lots of blends were plentiful by 1975.
Bobbie A. Aug
JOCELYNM@ wrote:
> Carole,
I remember my mother buying 36″ fabric in the 1960s, but by the 1970s,
> 45″ was pretty much the standard.
> Jocelyn
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 16:03:08 -0400 | From: “jawhite@” <jawhite@>
Hi Darwin. I wish I had known you were going to be at Brimfield and I would have made an effort to go. The weather was so nasty that we just didn’t even try this year. Are you going to be in the NE area at all? And sorry, but I don’t know what to tell you about quilts, but I do agree that women are mess makers when it comes to looking at quilts in setting such as Brimfield. BTW, have you been to Brimfield before and if so, where is your booth approximately?
Judy White – Ellington, Ct (just across the Mass border)
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 16:56:52 -0400 | From: Richard Crandall <crandall@>
First a big thank you to all on the list who responded to my questions about ca. log cabins and 100″ wide muslin. You were most helpful Yesterday DH and I went to Lowell, MA to the American Textile Museum…WOW is all I can say! If you haven’t been and get the chance please go. It is terrific. Right now the exhibit is “Waldoboro” style hooked rugs and although I don’t hook I just loved the exhibit. The rest of the museum is very well done. I couldn’t stop looking at the old saleman’s sample books on exhibit. We were on sensory overload after a couple of hours so we decided to go back another time plus we had to move on to NE Quilt Museum, the National Park and the Boott Mill and boarding house. We spent the entire day in Lowell…DH packed a delicious lunch and he enjoyed every minute of the day too. He is almost ready for a needle and thread! All kidding aside, he is getting pretty good at identifying. In reading the literature when I got home I learned that the textile museum has a library and collections/archives that can be viewed with an appt. Something to consider too.
CArole in Maine
PS The next exhibit at NE Quilt Museum is going to be our favorites! Old ones! It starts the end of Oct.
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 17:57:48 -0700 | From: “pepper cory” <pepcory@>
Just a note-I’ve seen 7-sided stars in Moravian art and also in Zoar, Ohio-home to Zoarites (religious group no longer practicing). In addition, isn’t the 7-sided star a symbol of the Iroquois tribe?
Pepper Cory
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 18:30:26 -0400 | From: “Judy Grow” <Judygrow@>
I went to a Mancuso antique show today and saw — a 4-eagle quilt! This one was yellow, double pink , and green on white, competently done, never washed, clean but for the pencil marks. The 4 eagles were facing out of the quilt, and the green print was mightily faded.
The dealer wanted $1795.00 for it. She hadn’t sold it at that price, so I won’t say the one on e-bay is a deal at $611 with 2 days to go. But the one I saw in the flesh today is in the same league as 168322571.
Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 19:55:07 -0400 | From: “Judy Kelius (judysue)” <judy@>
At 06:30 PM 9/26/99 -0400, Judy Grow wrote:
>I went to a Mancuso antique show today and saw — a 4-eagle quilt! This one was yellow, double pink , and green on white, competently done, never washed, clean but for the pencil marks. The 4 eagles were facing out of the quilt, and the green print was mightily faded.
>The dealer wanted $1795.00 for it. She hadn’t sold it at that price, so I won’t say the one on e-bay is a deal at $611 with 2 days to go. But the one I saw in the flesh today is in the same league as 168322571.
>Judy in Ringoes, NJ judygrow@
A few months ago I remember seeing several of these eagle quilts on eBay – I think they were from one collection. If I remember correctly, they brought around $1000 each, maybe a little more or less. $1795 sounds too high to me, especially with fading.
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 22:38:08 -0400 | From: Alan Kelchner <quiltfix@>
Darwin,
That’s too funny! Are you saying the men are more likely to actually fold the quilts, or are they just not as messy. I’m a fanatic about leaving textiles folded when I’m done – whether or not they were folded to start with. The funny looks I get when I fold were attributed to the messes I often encounter. Now, just maybe, I’ll remember that the dealers can’t figure out why the guys are neater than the women. Also, have your “peers” noticed this also?
As for display, what you have would be best. You need to allow access to the aisle in front of your booth so the quilt can be opened without potentially damaging other goods. All I can say is this – make them accessible. It’s like locked cases – I almost NEVER ask to open a case to see a quilt (they’re typically not that special-looking). A quilt in a case always baffles me – like, I can stuff it under my shirt and walk out without being noticed?? <lol>
And do you hit shows in the southeast? I’d like to meet you and see your goods.
Alan
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 23:28:07 EDT | From: EllynLK@
In a message dated 9/26/99 6:57:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Anne Copeland writes:
<< Has anyone else out there ever seen quilts from that early made with so much lavendar? I did have a quilt that was stolen from me that had lavendar on it, and appeared to be perhaps in the transitional period (1900 – 1920), but this one does not seem to fit into that period for some reason. >>
I have a “contained crazy” that is from the 1890-1910 period. One of the scraps is an off-white with a woven lavendar in it that I’m nuts about. There was also a faded out solid no-color fabric; when I took the quilt apart to restore it, I could see in the unfaded seams that it was once lavendar.
FWIW
Lauri Klobas
In chill and foggy Pacific Palisades California
Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 23:50:58 -0400 | From: “Patricia L. Lyons” <72134.3643@>
Hi Newbie,
Take a look at the following book:
Carol Humphrey, Samplers. A Fitzwilliam Museum Handbook, published by Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-57592-3.
Figures No. 57 and 58 may be what you have. The caption for No. 58 states, “Although worked by orphan children, the Bristol Samplers have an almost professional, business-like appearance, unsurprising in that they fulfilled the purpose of a CV [Curriculum Vitae – what we’d call a resume] or reference for a girl seeking a job in service.” No. 57 is labeled, “Samplers from a School Book”. I wonder if you have a leaf from such a book. There’s more, but the thought of transcribing nearly two pages of fairly small print is overwhelming!
Wow, for once I can contribute something to a QHL discussion! What a unique feeling – usually I’m just lurking here, soaking up all the wonderful knowledge shared here.
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 08:09:23 -0400 | From: “Guaraldi, Virginia” <VGuarald@>
This weekend I met a woman at a Robert Frost conference who owns her Great-Grandmother’s double wedding ring top (she says the quilt was never finished because all the marriages in her family were terrible!). She wanted to know the history of the pattern. What sources should I search in to find out the story and origin of the double wedding ring pattern? Does anyone have any stories they would be willing to share? Thanks.
–Ginny in NH
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 08:30:24 EDT | From: Chyral@
In a message dated 9/27/99 8:14:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time, VGuarald@ writes:
> What sources should I search in to find out the story and origin of the double wedding ring pattern?
I would begin with “The Romance of Double Wedding Ring Quilts” by Dr. Robert Bishop. It’s mostly a “picture book,” but there is an essay of ten or so pages in length on just that topic….
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 07:43:40 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co@>
Hi Ginny,
I agree, Bishops book is about it.
Several months ago Lisa Erlandson and I worked on research for an article that she wrote for the VQTS newsletter. This book was the only “real” source that we could find, and it doesn’t offer much information. Seems that the quilt pattern was not found before Circa 1920, even though the interlocking ring motif is found as far back as on Phonceian jewelery and on golden chalisses…….no one can pin down the “author” of the Double wedding ring quilt pattern, although there is quite a bit of speculation that it may have come from the McKimm Studios or one of the other houses producing patterns for the Kansas City Star……..It’s really a puzzlement!
Laura
At 08:30 AM 09/27/1999 EDT, Chyral@ wrote:
>In a message dated 9/27/99 8:14:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time, VGuarald@ writes:
>> What sources should I search in to find out the story and origin of the double wedding ring pattern?
>I would begin with “The Romance of Double Wedding Ring Quilts” by Dr. Robert Bishop. It’s mostly a “picture book,” but there is an essay of ten or so pages in length on just that topic….
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 10:07:23 EDT | From: ZegrtQuilt@
Hello!
I am searching for someone who cleans and washes high-end, fine 19th century quilts made from cotton, silk and wool fabrics. This requires a very specialized type of cleaning like brushing and wet cleaning. Does anyone know of someone who can do this type of work? This would be a person with whom I would like to develop a good working relationship with since I would be sending work fairly consistently.
I would welcome any suggestions!
Thanks!
Jay
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 10:15:05 -0700 | From: pastcrafts@
Diane,
What a wonderful piece of info about keeping wet items wet, in clean water, to prevent mildew/mold growth. As a conservator, I know that it is not the water, per se that hurts the textile, but the agitation and weight of the water on the fibers. This presupposes that the dyes are not water soluble. I do know that when I inadverently put a pair of ketchup stained shorts to soak in a basin of cold water overnight with my daughter’s hearing aids still in the pocket (!), the hearing aids were fine when retrieved and placed in front of a fan. The electronics expert said that the water was not the problem but if they had been agitated or soap had been added then we would have been out $5000. I’ve cleaned a number of samplers and embroideries where the water did not cause any problems with the dyes – but the addition of a surfacent (soap) did.
Any port in a storm…..
Newbie
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 10:41:58 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
In a message dated 9/26/99 9:57:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, QHL-Digest-request@ writes:
<< Judy White – Ellington, Ct >>
Judy and All:
I have been doing Brimfield for 20 some years and have been in the same place for the entire time. I’m in Shelton’s field right on the main road across from J&J’s main entrance. The rain didn’t really effect me except when I was running around May’s Field on Thursday. I really got soaked but so did everyone shopping and there were quite a few of us die-hards running around. Buying wasn’t too good for textiles but I did buy other things. I love Brimfield and have always buy and sell well there. I sold 10 quilts this time and that’s good for Brimfield although I used to sell around fifty in the good old days. Come on up next May. I’ll be there.
Darwin
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 10:53:05 -0400 | From: Barb Garrett <bgarrett@>
Hi All –
You are invited to a quilt show in Northern New Jersey — Brownstone Quilters Guild, Inc presents
“Quilts – Our Legacy” — a judged quilt show Saturday, October 9, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, October 10, 10 am to 4 pm
Guardian Angel Auditorium (corner of E. Allendale Ave and Franklin Turnpike)
Allendale, NJ
07401
Speaker – Saturday at 1:30 pm
Barbara Garrett — “With A Mother’s Love “
An Historical Overview of Quiltmaking 1780 to 1940 Featuring 60 doll quilts designed and made by Barbara 2 raffles — Baltimore Album Quilt
— large basket of fabric
Vendors – Boutique – On Site Parking – Lunch room Donation $5 per day
For information — Marion @ 201-652-7876 or
Barbara @ 201-836-4035 or
Joan @ aludke.bellatlantic.net
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 12:49:52 EDT | From: DDBSTUFF@
IN REGARD TO THE ODOR PROBLEMS:
I just tried a product called Odor Trap which I purchased at a Bed, Bath and Beyond or something like that. It is a powder called Zeolite and this stuff really works. I have a damp, musty basement and decided to try it down there and bingo it really does work. It comes in a 2 lb can and you just sprinkle it around the area where you have a problem and it counteracts the smell and doesn’t have a smell of its own. I looked it up (Zeolite) and it is a volcanic ash so I’m sure there are tons of other companies putting it out under other names. You might want to do a search on the web. It is recommended for all pet odors and household odors. Of course, for molds and mildew, common old household bleach is the best thing.
Darwin
Good Luck
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 14:44:29 -0600 | From: Sharon Harleman Tandy <harleman@>
For anyone interested, check out idahoheartland.net/bbq/ for my guild’s website, then click on ‘raffle’ to see this year’s raffle quilt. The quilt guild is Boise Basin Quilters in Boise, Idaho. Let me know what you think! Sharon Harleman Tandy, Quilts & Answers.
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 14:06:21 -0700 (PDT) | From: Jerry Spring <qwltlvr@>
Hello, This is my first post, and although I have been lurking for several weeks, the following quote got me to thinking and I wanted some feedback. An appraiser recently wrote…
<<
Hello All,
The past weekend, while doing verbal quilt evaluations, I saw one that puzzled me. The lady had written documentation for the quilt being c. 1900. a>>
I have several quilts that I have had appraisals written on. I have hired two different AQS appraisers for these appraisals, and found them to be extremely professional and knowledgeable.
I have heard them explain that they do not do verbal or oral evaluations, that they are “worth the paper they are written on”. I am wondering if someone is actually giving verbal evaluations on quilt value here, or there is just a difference of semantics? Would I be wrong in assuming an “evaluation” cannot be used interchangably with “appraisal”?
Obviously one can’t take a verbal evaluation to the bank…or to the insurer.
I am thinking that this must be a free service?
Thanks,
Glad to be a lurker on this site.
Jerry
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 16:59:46 EDT | From: AG32040@
My friend swears by the odor absorbing power of cat litter for smelly ,mildewed ,wooden objects. It may help the odor left on the dry quilts .
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999 20:21:23 -0500 | From: Russell-Hill <russhill@>
Hello All,
Well here I am with anothe question. I know you will come through for me so here goes. A friend of mine wrote me asking if Blue and White was used in Temperance quilts. I never heard that but I haven’t heard or read everything. So help please. I can’t remember if I wrote a group thank you for the last help you sent me. But thank you if I didn’t. In fact I never got a thank you from the person I sent your answers to. She never even acknowledge them. Boy well this friend will thank me and i know she will thank you to.
Debbie
