September 7 – 12, 1998
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:
- Autograph Album Inscriptions (1880s–1950s) — Members compare gracious 19th-century inscriptions from an 1886 Iowa album with triter mid-20th-century versions, sharing specific verses and family history along the way.
- McKinley–Bryan Campaign Crazy Quilt — A member spots a crazy quilt at the Museum of Nebraska History embroidered with 1890s political slogans for McKinley and Bryan, prompting interest in campaign-era textiles. (see the article on Victorian crazy quilts)
- AQSG Seminar Report from Omaha (Day 1) — Alice Cruz reports highlights from the first day of the American Quilt Study Group conference, covering Deborah Bede on textile conservation, the Ardis and Robert James collection, and Cindy Brick’s restoration business workshop.
- ‘Magical Fabric Art’ Book Discussion — Members evaluate Sandra McCraw Scarpa’s new book on quilting and magical practices, with mixed reviews and alternative purchasing sources from Llewellyn.
- Selvage Information and Color Congress — Members discuss what printed selvage information means, the spelling of ‘selvage’ vs. ‘selvedge,’ and how the apparel industry’s Color Congress influences fabric color trends years in advance.
- Fabric History Teaching Scrapbook — A member seeks cotton fabric swatches from specific historical eras for an American History teaching resource, particularly needing pre-1850 and Civil War-era samples.
- Hair Used in Quilts — Members discuss historical uses of human hair in textiles, including marking initials on linens and a Civil War–era hairwork display at the Custer Museum.
- Baltimore Album Quilt Inkings — A member asks whether the inscriptions on original Baltimore Album Quilts were original compositions or common verses, connecting to the broader autograph album discussion.
- Batting Choices for Flannel Quilts — Discussion of which battings work best in flannel quilts — poly for warmth, cotton for breathability — with tips on tying with surgeon’s knots. (see the article on quilt batting)
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 1998 21:37:35 -0600 | From: “William G. French” <alaska [at] radiks [dot] net
Today while viewing a small quilt display at the Museum of Nebraska History in Lincoln, NE, I saw a crazy quilt embroidered with “Hurrah for McKinley & Gold”. This was a friendship crazy quilt completed in 1898. Don’t know that this helps with the gold fabric discussion and gold standard quilts, but thought I’d share it anyway.
The quilt display at the museum also includes Grace Snyder’s Flower Basket petit point made of 85,789 pieces, and several other lovely red and green appliqu�s and several pieced quilts. Worth a visit for those who are in the area.
Kathleen
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 1998 22:25:41 -0500 | From: QLTRSTORE [at] harlannet [dot] com (Perkins, Jennifer)
Hi All!
Looking forward to seeing you all in Omaha this week. Thought I’d give you the latest weather forcast-will be in the 80’s this week, cooling to the mid 70’s on the weekend and next week.
Can hardly wait to show you the repro of Bet’s yellow quilt!! Mary Waller drafted the pattern, and I have it pieced and ready to quilt. I love it!!
See you this week!
Jennifer in Iowa
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 00:00:45 EDT | From: RThomp3876 [at] aol [dot] com
<< Have other list members run across others that feel antique quilts are icky or of no value? >>
I don’t know if this applies or not, but my daughter, (age 12) likes to call the small brown spots often found on old quilts, “snot stains”. Maybe it’s just a pre-teen thing. 🙂
Roseann in California
Date: Mon, 07 Sep 1998 22:57:04 -0700 | From: KAREN BUSH <Birdsong [at] worldnet [dot] att [dot] net>
I agree with Nancy, Slyvia Landman is a friend of mine and has several books out on research/marketing, etc…her URL is :
http://www.crl.com./~studio/ LOTS of good information on the site, too!
🙂 kb
—
KAREN BUSH- “QUILT AS DESIRED” The Tell All book on Hand Quilting AND Professional Hand Quilting Services
http://idahoquilt.com
Member of American Quilter’s Society
Member of the Professional HandCrafters
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 06:49:34 EDT | From: Kittencat3 [at] aol [dot] com
Actually, it’s true. I don’t know if it’s a formal congress, but manufacturers and designers *do* choose the basic colors they’ll use several years in advance. That’s why we had all those earth tones in the 70’s, and gray and pink in the 80’s. Ever wonder why Cranston Print Works keeps putting out the same prints but in slightly different colors each year?
Hard to believe, but it’s true.
Lisa Evans
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 07:39:35 EDT | From: KirkColl [at] aol [dot] com
Thanks to Shirley for the answer about the words printed in the selvage, selvedge etc. I’m willing to accept any reasonable spelling supported by my big dictionary and i love learning the sources of words. What gets me is when someone wants to know about the “salvage” of the “muslim”
— you know that white cotton fabric!
Glad to know Raewynne made it safely to the East Coast. Looking forward to seeing everyone next week. Only four people called yesterday to change their roommates or plane times! And the newspaper did a great huge article about valuing a quilt, and put the wrong hours in for the appraisals. For all you appraisers coming, bring lots of extra forms and comfortable shoes. I think we’re going to be swamped if the number of calls so far is any indication. If you are flying in late, call with your flight time so we can make sure the hotel has a late van scheduled.
Yours,
Nancy Kirk
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 07:31:29 -0700 | From: Debra Roby <debroby [at] earthlink [dot] net>
> Has anyone ever heard of the Color Congress?
> Several years ago I took a class about color in quilts, and the instructor mentioned that there is a group of men who meet in a secret location every couple of years to decide what colors will be in vogue in clothing and fabric. Has anyone else ever heard of this? How long have they been meeting?
Nancy,
Although I have never heard of this by that name, I do know that the home dec industry DOES have regular meetings where they project the colors/styles that will be popular in the near future. This is done because of the lead time involved in designing the fabrics that people will be looking for. (a couple years ago, they predicted a strong return of yellows (from deep chrome to the palest yellow). I still haven’t seen this trend.
I’m not sure how long this has been happening. Probably as long as there has been some national industrial association. And I doubt that they meet “in secret” (behind closed doors). It’s probably a subcommittee of their national/international organization and they report to the group on a regular basis.
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 11:01:20 EDT | From: Crowcreek2 [at] aol [dot] com
Hi, I noticed that you said you bought a “grasshopper” Elna. I was with my mother-in-law this past weekend and bought an Elna Supermatic. It is a green color. Is this the machine you are talking about? we paid 35.00 for it, case, and about 10 cams, plus all the extras, even the oil can! It is in excellent shape!
I also found a FW221K. In a “9” condition. (I really have to look for any scratch, and NO rust, the plug feels like it was never used, amazing) Picked it up right away, because I missed out on a steal 5 years ago! 100.00 for so much stuff, didn’t buy it, and regreted it ever since. I paid through the nose to get this one. made in Britain. What is it I really have in the FW market? I’m still new at this. The serial # is EK988730, with a cat.CAJ6-8. Any information would be helpful, thanks, Denise
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 14:26:59 -0400 | From: Steve Greco <GrandmasAttic [at] compuserve [dot] com>
I did not receive Issue #253 and #254. Could you please resend them to me Thank you!
Rachel Greco
Grandma’s Attic Sewing Emporium, Inc.
GrandmasAttic [at] compuserve [dot] com
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 15:41:54 -0400 | From: “Kelchner, Alan” <Alan.Kelchner [at] stdreg [dot] com>
Can anyone suggest good places to visit in San Francisco and the outlying areas? I will have access to a vehicle <G>. I have places like the Textile Museum in San Jose, and Lacis, and some 4-story fabric store. I’m looking for some really cool things to do, don’t have to be quilt/antique related. Actually promised myself to keep the antiquing to a minimum and do something different, but non-touristy.
Thanks.
Alan
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 18:17:54 -0400 (EDT) | From: dcl924 [at] mindspring [dot] com (Diane Lockwood)
>Does anyone know of another list of quilt shops, websites, teacher sites etc…like the one that Piecemakers kept? They had a very good list of websites and now that they have closed their site, it’s gone.
Here is an exceptional site: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/3012 Margaret Garland keeps it up to date. Click on “Quilt Links” on the first page, near the bottom. Then a menu appears with several catagories, one of which is “Teachers”.
If you click on “Complete Listing” you will find hundreds of quilt related links.
Diane Lockwood
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 15:33:20 -0700 | From: “Mary Cross” <mbcquilt [at] web-ster [dot] com>
I’m curating an exhibition of log cabin quilts for an Oregon museum this fall. I recently saw Louise Townsend’s Mt. St. Helens Barn Raising Lob Cabin in R. Shaw’s Quilts . Can anyone tell me where her quilts are now located or who could help me to find this one? I think it would be lovely addition to this exhibit and tribute to Louise to have the quilt exhibited within 150 miles of Mt. St. Helens.
My request for the “quilt book police” to assist in solving a cataloging problem seemed to raise some negatives. Around here, we tend to think of them as conscientious,concerned, carefulm, attentive. I hear the words “flower police” who watch to see that flowers aren’t picked in pubic gardens; “fashion police” who follow the rules of dress; etc. Of course, the Library of Congress is the ulitmate authority on cataloging. I have written there in the past without a response. But mistakes do happen and most library staffs are willing to reconsider when an error is made and it is brought to their attention.
Thanks for your help. Mary
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 17:54:35 -0700 | From: susan silva <woody [at] ior [dot] com>
> QHL-Digest Digest
Volume 98 : Issue 255
> Today’s Topics:
QHL: If you’re coming to Omaha for QRS…
QHL: apologies and HGTV?
QHL: apologies and HGTV?
QHL: Quilt list
Re: QHL: Quilt list
QHL: quilt police/judging
> Date: Sat, 05 Sep 1998 21:55:16 -0500
> From: Mary Waller <mswaller [at] iw [dot] net> To: QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com
> Subject: QHL: If you’re coming to Omaha for QRS…
> Message-ID: <35F1F994.26E98FD7 [at] iw [dot] net>
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> For the fellow-allergy sufferers going to Omaha in a couple of days, I’ll mention that we’ve had a bumper crop of mold and ragweed in the Midwest this summer, so please pack your meds if you need ’em!
> Mary Waller
> Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1998 23:30:44 -0400
> From: “susanlk” <susanlk [at] erols [dot] com> To: <QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com>
> Subject: QHL: apologies and HGTV?
> Message-ID: <01bdd946$bb0a6280$95f0accf@kannenbel> Content-Type: text/plain;
charset=”iso-8859-1″
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> Apologies for forgetting to delete the entire digest when I replied…sorry.
> Now, WHAT is HGTV? Some cable station? How do non-cable viewers get ANY quilt shows? Thanks. SusanLK
> Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 10:07:18 -0400 (EDT)
> From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
> To: susanlk [at] erols [dot] com, QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com Subject: QHL: apologies and HGTV?
> Message-id: <01J1HDMHW12M90E87O [at] delphi [dot] com>
> On 5-SEP-1998 23:41:30.1 susanlk said to JOCELYNM
> Now, WHAT is HGTV? Some cable station? How do non-cable viewers get ANY
> quilt shows? Thanks. SusanLK
> Susan,
PBS is it, around here.
> Jocelyn
> Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 13:38:11 -0400
> From: “Pat Sloan” <quilterpat [at] pressroom [dot] com> To: <QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com>
> Subject: QHL: Quilt list
> Message-Id: <199809061754.KAA32685 [at] orbital [dot] cue [dot] com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
> Does anyone know of another list of quilt shops, websites, teacher sites etc…like the one that Piecemakers kept? They had a very good list of websites and now that they have closed their site, it’s gone.
> Pat
> Date: Sun, 06 Sep 1998 14:36:59 -0400
> From: Kathy D <DeSchuit [at] ix [dot] netcom [dot] com> To: quilterpat [at] pressroom [dot] com
> These are the sights I had bookmarked with quilt related links. I am not sure if they all are still available but they are here for you to give a try.
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/3721/anita.htm
> http://www.vintagevogue.com/html/favorite_links.html http://www.linearlinks.com/quilting/
> http://www.lydias.com/sewing.html
> http://www.quiltsearch.com/Quilt/links.html
> Kathy in NH
🙂 Mailto:DeSchuit [at] ix [dot] netcom [dot] com
> “Families are like quilts: lives pieced together, stitched with smiles and tears, colored with memories, bound with LOVE.”
> Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 13:32:23 -0800
> From: ayjones [at] tacoma [dot] nwrain [dot] net (Yvonne Jones) To: QHL [at] cue [dot] com
> Subject: QHL: quilt police/judging
> Message-Id: <v01520d00b218ac7e4b71@[205.134.220.112]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”us-ascii”
> I first heard the term quilt police on the quilt art digest. Another way of putting it could be a person that critiqued a quilt or judged a quilt.I enjoy seeing quality work but keep my opinions in my head as much as possible but they slip out so I guess we all could be called quilt police in different degrees.On a less serious note, that question brought to mind 4 stories that stuck in my mind for one reason or another.
> When my last child was only 6 weeks old she was taken to her first quilt show and has been to many ever since that day.When she was about 4 my DH & I were at a local quilt show, as we were walking around the show we noticed a quilt from a distance that we thought was wonderful.As we got closer our daughter got quite close, turned to us and said “euuuuuw, it’s machine quilted”.It drew quite a chuckle!
> Once when I was at a judged quilt display at the State Fair three ladies were looking at a particular quilt that was very well designed and heavily quilted.The person that made the quilt is well know for great prize winning work and is published. One of the 3 ladies turned to the others and said with authority “some people do not like all that stitching (hand quilting) because it reminds them of a mattress pad”.
> I also recall a story about a friend of mine. She was just making a joke about a quilt that was hanging in a quilt show, but I was in hopes that the quilt maker was not near us.It was a 4 patch quilt, and would not lay flat if you tried.She said “I wonder if I could ask her for that pattern?”
> Now I will try to bring this subject so it is QHL related.My quilt guild always seemed to enjoy it when I would bring in an antique quilt for show and tell. One day I showed 3 beautiful 30’s quilts and they seemed very well received. At the break I over heard a conversation that was not meant for my ears when one of the members said to the other “I wouldn’t want someone’s OLD used quilt”.I also have a friend that is very blunt and has similar feelings about “old quilts” or often refered to as antique quilts<grin>.Have other list members run across others that feel antique quilts are icky or of no value?
> To the person that asked about judging.My friend J. and I read all we can about judging so we can do our best work. I see a relationship in the subject quilt police and judging, after all every time we put a quilt in a quilt show we set our quilts up to be judged.It is just a coincidence that my friend just went through many old quilt magazines and copied everything she found on judging. She sent me copies of everything that she felt was worth keeping.Unfortunately not all of them show what magazine they came from but I will still list them and I could find out if someone wanted very much to find an article.They are:
> Loose Threads by Helen Kelly, article is called PSEUDO ME The article examine Dos and don’ts and “Who says?”
> Judging the Quilt Contest, by Martha Waterman
> Quilting Today – Issue 32
> The Judge’s Dilemma by Carter Houck
> Patchwork Quilts
> Quilt Lovers’ Forum, Breaking the Rules by Cindy V. Davis – QNM
> Quilt Lovers’ Forum, To Enter or Not to Enter:
> How to Beat The Rejection Blues
> By Elizabeth A. Busch – QNM
> Coming to Terms, An Open Letter to Readers from Gerald E. Roy, American Quilter, Spring 1991 page 16
> A Record of National Quilt Contests, by Cuesta Benberry QNM June 89
> ayjones [at] tacoma [dot] nwrain [dot] net
> The QUILT-R 🙂
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1998 20:45:25 -0500 | From: “Jeff & Sheri Lesh” <jefflesh [at] netins [dot] net>
Thanks to a couple of you who had some good hints about cleaning my wool area rugs. They are all cleaned and repaired. What a good job done. I ended up laying them out on the deck and soaking them, then brushing them with some Orvis dissolved in water and them rinsing them well. It worked very well, I was able to do three over a two day period. I am most appreciative for the wealth of information that is available at my disposal on a daily basis. Thanks for sharing.
Sheri
Iowa, It must be Heaven!!!!
Jeff & Sheri Lesh jefflesh [at] netins [dot] net
Date: Tue, 08 Sep 1998 20:19:18 -0800 | From: “Norma I. Herbold” <normah [at] olypen [dot] com>
Hello everyone. I’m emerging from “lurkdom” to ask a question that I hope several of you will share your thoughts. Last week at quilt club one of my friends was working on an antique appliqued baby quilt, with a pre printed quilting design. The appliqu is 4 bunnies, a momma holdin g a baby, a girl feeding a duck, a boy feeding a cow, and a momma in a rocking chair with a baby. My friend was commissioned to quilt the top for a physician who was expecting her first child at age 40, by the grandmother to be. The top was appliqued by Great grandmother. When great grandmother set the top together, for some reason she left part of the pre printed selvage showing on the quilt top. (I personally loved the fact she did…gave me clues about the quilt) It is next to a border, so it can’t disappear in the binding.
It says “”Progress” #
1360, 54 X 72″, Child’s Quilt, T.S. & G. Inc. NYC”. The local expert quilter in the club suggested to my friend that she appliquE9 something over the printing. I kept my mouth shut till she walked away, where I then said, I thought she was wrong, that appliquE9ing something over the quilt would take away from the integrity of the quilt, and that it should be left just like great grandma set it together. (this is coming out of the mouth of someone who took apart a “kansas dugout” quilt top, pieced by grandma israel because it wouldn’t lay flat…and you know what, it is still apart.) Anyway…am I right or did I speak from whence I didn’t know what I was talking about?
There is a sad part to this story. The baby was stillborn. Grandmother called to tell my friend not to hurry on the quilt. For my friend it took a lot of the joy out of the quilting. She was having such a good time in the beginning. But according to a mutual friend, the family believes that a child belongs in their home, whether it is birthed or adopted.
So…back to lurkdom…have I mentioned that I have learned so much from this list! I eagerly look forward to my nightly digest.
Norma Herbold
Greenhaven Enterprises
Quilt Retreats on the Olympic Peninsula
http://www.olypen.com/normah
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 22:14:27 -0500 | From: QLTRSTORE [at] harlannet [dot] com
Dear Friends,
Well, I got to come home one night (only live 1 hour from Omaha), so I’ll report in on the first day of the conference! Deborah Bede is a wonderful resource person-really knows her stuff! She is presenting from the conservation side, but showed us a really neat trick for couching over a tear with extremely fine thread to hold an underneath patch in place-really made it disappear! She pulls the thread from a piece of crepaline so we’re talking really fine! The Ford Conservation facility is beautiful with gorgeous gardens where we ate our lunch. They had neat microscopes hooked up to a TV so we could look at fibers and watch her do the stitching as a demonstration-really helped! Also got our own microscopes, tweezers, and microspatulas to take home, along with some nifty surgical curved needles. If some of you are coming in for the weekend and can stay for the repeat of this session on Mon. and Tue. you wouldn’t be sorry! Tomorrow we get to use their big wash table and see how to really wash a quilt! Saw several QHL’ers there-Sharon Tandy, Jan Dreschler, gosh, knew I should have written it down..sieve for brain 🙁 and all the appraisers were there, too-Eileen Trestain (book will be out in 2 weeks), Bev Duvinert, Carol Elmore, Sharon Newman…about 21 of us in all. Got the best tote bags of any of the conferences-I’ll really use this one!
Hope to see you all soon!! We miss those of you not coming!!
Jennifer in Iowa
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 06:18:07 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Regarding whether or not to appliquE9 over an exposed selvage on g-gramma’s quilttop, I think it’s up to the g-granddaughter. If this quilt has historical importance it shouldn’t have been quilted. If you add something to hide the selvage, the integrity remains, just hidden. Just don’t remove the offending piece. 20
But since this is someone else’s quilttop, the decision must be made by them (with your learned opinion as help in deciding). I have absolutely no compunction in telling someone my opinion about what to do, even if it means loss of a job! But then, sometimes you have to relent and do what they want, even if it goes against your instincts (i.e. the depression era quilt at home that I’m to do – if it were mine, I’d trash it. But this is the only old family quilt in this family, and it is dearly loved ……..). In the past, I’ve been asked to cover a 100-yr-old restoration ! Personally, I thought it was cool, and integral to the piece, and said so.
If it were mine, I’d have left it exposed. But it’s not my quilt in the end. Fortunately the restoration exits for another to discover years down the road! Imagine, restoring a restoration <G>. Unfortunately, that which we see as wonderful historical records are not accepted as wonderful by the general buying public. People want perfect quilts, and those historical “distractions” are unwanted. So explain to the granddaughter about the historical significance of the selvage, then allow her to decide. Hopefully she’ll want what we’d want.
Alan who cannot WAIT any longer to go to CA – I wanna go now…………..
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 11:01:12 -0400 | From: Nancy Roberts <robertsn [at] norwich [dot] net>
Norma, your story of the crib quilt is so sad. I’d suggest that your friend complete the quilting as planned. It may help her and aid the family in their grief to have “something” that was so special for their baby. And I agree with you that the printing on the selvage is of interest and needs to be left intact. It may have been part of the great-grandmother’s plan. Thanks for posting. Nancy
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 13:42:52 EDT | From: RBCochran [at] aol [dot] com
Earlier postings queried the use of hair in quilts. I had noted that it was sometimes used as thread for marking initials on linens. I have just come across the following information which may be of interest. It is from pp. 204-205 of Historic Quilts by Florence Peto (1939):
“However, when quiltmakers began to evince a taste for realism, which later developed into a passion, hair was one of the mediums employed for the admired late 19th century effects. A quilt of unidentified origin [and not pictured in Historic Quilts], which might be said to show signs of the approaching trend, is composed of twelve large white muslin blocks on which have been appliqued a medley of designs, most of them religious in character. . . .One one square, the Bible floats above a blue cloud and over the Book hover two draped figures of angels with wings; they have been furnished with heads of real hair–brunette hair, lest you always think of angels with golden tresses.”
–Rachel in NJ
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 13:44:47 EDT | From: ZegrtQuilt [at] aol [dot] com
During the upcoming AQSG meeting in Charleston, WV, I will be signing copies of my book, American Quilt Collection: Antique Quilt Masterpieces. I will also be leading part of a tour through the exhibit I recently curated. The exhibit, Kentucky Quilts: Roots and Wings, will be at the Kentucky Folk Art Center in Morehead, Kentucky.
I will have many of my fine antique quilts at the quilt sale, where you can select from the affordable to the extraordinary. I hope to see many of you there and look forward to the event. It should be wonderful! If you have any special quilt requests, please contact me before the event so I can arrange to take special orders with me.
Best wishes,
Shelly Zegart (zegrtquilt [at] aol [dot] com)
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 13:45:02 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co [at] mail [dot] airmail [dot] net>
Hi folks.
I’ve been doing the “c” word in my crammed full closet…clearing out books and “stuff” from a previous quilting life as a shop owner (after 14 years, don’t you think it’s about time!) Anyway…I ran across a booklet… called “American History in Patchwork Patterns: The Charter Oak” by Ione Benck McIntyre, published in 1981 by The Patchwork Press of Bemidji MN. Does anyone know if they ever did any more…they say that this is to be the first in a series… Just wondering
Laura
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 13:56:03 -0500 | From: Laura Hobby Syler <texas_quilt.co [at] mail [dot] airmail [dot] net>
>great grandmother set the top together, for some reason she left part of the pre printed selvage showing on the quilt top. (I personally loved the fact she did…gave me clues about the quilt) It is next to a border, so it can’t disappear in the binding.
It says “”Progress” #
>1360, 54 X 72″, Child’s Quilt, T.S. & G. Inc. NYC”. The local expert quilter in the club suggested to my friend that she appliquE9 something over the printing. I kept my mouth shut till she walked away, where I then said, I thought she was wrong, that appliquE9ing something over the quilt would take away from the integrity of the quilt, and that it should be left just like great grandma set it together.20
Norma, IMHO, I agree with Alan ( like I usually do <G>) you did the right thing to speak up. Things like that just shouldn’t be “messed with” . Thank God she didn’t suggest bleaching it out!!!
Some “contemporary quilters” just don’t get what we are trying to do with “the old stuff”…even if we go so far as to take a top apart that doesn’t lay flat!! Won’t tell you how many I’ve got that are in line for that!!
Laura
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 07:09:49 -0700 | From: “Robert & Marlene Rasmussen” <mbras [at] netins [dot] net
Does anyone know of a source that has the inkings and/or messages that are on the original BAQs? In pictures of the quilts they are so small that even though I use a magnifying glass I can’t read them. I just wondered if they were made up by each quilter or if they were much used verses like those we used to use in autograph albums of my highschool days. Yes that was in the 50’s. Also saw my Mother’s Album once and it seems like they had much nicer verses than we used. That was in the early 1900’s. Hope someone on this list has studied the BAQs. Marlene
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 08:30:44 EDT | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
>> the 4 story fabric store (Maggie) is Britex. It is right down town and quite a hoot. The stairs are manic, but what a fabric collection. Every once in a while I go to get some very cool imported cottons, Italian, French and always some of the Liberty of London lawn cottons –then the third floor is where the remnants are – very fun, indeed!
(Did you see this?) I don’t think a trip to SF is complete without a Golden Gate Carousel ride. It has all been restored and you can ride it for $.25.
When I was 7 or so, mom would take us to Golden Gate Park on Sunday to the Tea House ( a pot of tea and cookies is still around $1.00) and then give us ten dimes to ride that carousel all afternoon! The animals are gorgeous, what you imagine when you think about carousels, horses, dragon, sea monsters – just breathtaking. The aquarium and the museum are right there as well, and I would highly recommend them both. Some very fine quilts in that museum. there is a great web page on the city as well. It’s one of those travelocity thing >>
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 08:33:22 EDT | From: Denise Clausen <nadyne [at] oregoncoast [dot] com
Hi friends I have two autograph albums with dates around 1886. They belonged to my Great Aunt and many of the signatures include, Alta, Iowa. Much of the writing is in the beautiful script of the Baltimore Album Quilts. The things they wrote were gracious, beautiful prose. Some could have been copied from popular publications, but I think many were original. I also have an autograph book from my mother’s Hi School days (I think she graduated in 1943) and the writing was uniformly bad and the sentiments were trite. Must be something about the focus of the era. Good luck with your research Denise Clausen From unusually warm Sandlake, on the Oregon coast.
Robert & Marlene Rasmussen wrote:
> Does anyone know of a source that has the inkings and/or messages that are on the original BAQs? In pictures of the quilts they are so small that even though I use a magnifying glass I can’t read them. I just wondered if they were made up by each quilter or if they were much used verses like those we used to use in autograph albums of my highschool days. Yes that was in the 50’s. Also saw my Mother’s Album once and it seems like they had much nicer verses than we used. That was in the early 1900’s. Hope someone on this list has studied the BAQs. Marlene
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 13:16:59 EDT | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
Two quilt displays are either currently going on, or are future exhibits, at the Penobscot Marine Museum Maine’s Oldest Maritime Museum Church Street at US Route 1, P.O. Box 498 Searsport, Maine 04974-0498 (207) 548-2529 (207) 548-2520 (fax)Education Center “Love Affair with Maine: The Textile Art of Irene T. McLellan” an exhibition of folk art quilts and wall hangings.
Merithew House “Storm at Sea” a quilt by the Stonington Fishermen’s Wives Co-op Elisabeth in south TX who is researching sites to see in October in New England
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 14:32:23 -0500 | From: Swede <kittyboxers [at] toledolink [dot] com>
Hi!
I was e-mailed by Amazon the other day about a new quilt book (tho it says it was released in July). I’m sure many of you got it too if you sub to their notification service. Am wondering if any of you read it or if you are going to buy it. I have mine on order already! It sounds intriguing! Here’s what they sent me (and I have no affil. or anything – just thought it looked like a cool and unusual quilting book):
“Magical Fabric Art: Spellwork and Wishcraft Through Patchwork Quilting & Sewing” by Sandra McCraw Scarpa Quilts have long been used as protection from the chill of winter, and even today with electric heating, quilts are still given as gifts on important occasions such as births and weddings. These simple handcrafts can elicit powerful feelings of protection and memories of love, and the magic within them is undeniable. “Magical Fabric Art” shows you how to build on this foundation to create symbolic and practical talismans with “only the simplest cutting and sewing … sharp scissors and new needles.” By including some modest preparations to charge the materials with your intent and by giving some extra consideration to the timing of your project, you can construct a quilt for love, a quilt for protection, or many other possible projects that draw on the energies of your creative abilities and focus them into a fabric of your own design.
If you’re buying it or have read it would love to hear your impression of it!
Annastina — ��� Money doesn’t bring you happiness, but it enables you to look for it in more places. ��� The real reason you can’t take it with you is that it goes before you do. ��� Money isn’t everything….there’s credit cards, money orders, and travelers checks.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 16:45:48 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Denise Clausen wrote:
> What did they say? thank you Gwen ghs [at] islc [dot] net Hi friends
> I have two autograph albums with dates around 1886. They belonged to my Great Aunt and many of the signatures include, Alta, Iowa. Much of the writing is in the beautiful script of the Baltimore Album Quilts. The things they wrote were gracious, beautiful prose. Some could have been copied from popular publications, but I think many were original. I also have an autograph book from my mother’s Hi School days (I think she graduated in 1943) and the writing was uniformly bad and the sentiments were trite. Must be something about the focus of the era.
> Good luck with your research
> Denise Clausen
> >From unusually warm Sandlake, on the Oregon coast.
> Robert & Marlene Rasmussen wrote:
> > Does anyone know of a source that has the inkings and/or messages that are on the original BAQs? In pictures of the quilts they are so small that even though I use a magnifying glass I can’t read them. I just wondered if they were made up by each quilter or if they were much used verses like those we used to use in autograph albums of my highschool days. Yes that was in the 50’s. Also saw my Mother’s Album once and it seems like they had much nicer verses than we used. That was in the early 1900’s. Hope someone on this list has studied the BAQs. Marlene
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 17:52:48 -0400 | From: “Robert Varney” <bobkat [at] gisco [dot] net>
Haven’t seen the book myself yet, but it is also available from Llewellyn at $15.95. Related is Magical Needlework by Dorothy Morrison, also from Llewellyn at $17.95, which I do have–good, but not outstanding. I was thinking of purchasing–does anyone else have input?
—–Original Message—– From: Swede <kittyboxers [at] toledolink [dot] com>
To: quiltbee [at] quilter [dot] com <quiltbee [at] quilter [dot] com>; QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com <QHL [at] cuenet [dot] com>
Date: Friday, September 11, 1998 2:36 PM Subject: QHL: Cool book!
Hi!
I was e-mailed by Amazon the other day about a new quilt book (tho it says it was released in July). I’m sure many of you got it too if you sub to their notification service. Am wondering if any of you read it or if you are going to buy it. I have mine on order already! It sounds intriguing! Here’s what they sent me (and I have no affil. or anything – just thought it looked like a cool and unusual quilting book): “Magical Fabric Art: Spellwork and Wishcraft Through Patchwork Quilting & Sewing” by Sandra McCraw Scarpa http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/156718653X/ref=ad_oc1 Quilts have long been used as protection from the chill of winter, and even today with electric heating, quilts are still given as gifts on important occasions such as births and weddings. These simple handcrafts can elicit powerful feelings of protection and memories of love, and the magic within them is undeniable. “Magical Fabric Art” shows you how to build on this foundation to create symbolic and practical talismans with “only the simplest cutting and sewing … sharp scissors and new needles.” By including some modest preparations to charge the materials with your intent and by giving some extra consideration to the timing of your project, you can construct a quilt for love, a quilt for protection, or many other possible projects that draw on the energies of your creative abilities and focus them into a fabric of your own design.
If you’re buying it or have read it would love to hear your impression of it!
Annastina — ��� Money doesn’t bring you happiness, but it enables you to look for it in more places. ��� The real reason you can’t take it with you is that it goes before you do. ��� Money isn’t everything….there’s credit cards, money orders, and travelers checks.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 18:33:37 EDT | From: QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
I recently took a few days of R&R and visited my friend in Grants Pass, Oregon. She took me to Roseburg which is right off Interstate 5.
If you are ever traveling through Oregon be sure to stop and see a great quilt shop call Country Lady Quilt Shop, 709 S.E. Jackson St. Roseburg, OR 97470. The friendliest ladies you will ever meet and lots of wonderful fabric. Charming old town as well. Toni B.
QuiltFixer [at] aol [dot] com
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 17:40:36 -0700 | From: Denise Clausen <nadyne [at] oregoncoast [dot] com>
“I have two autograph albums with dates around 1886. They belonged to my Great Aunt Minne Williams of Alta, Iowa.”
Gwen Shapiro wrote: What did they say? thank you GwenA couple of quotes that I like are:
How sweet to have a faithfull friend, In whom we can confide;
To bless us if we act aright And if we err to chide.
In memories wreath twine one bud for me.
Let your influence ever be on the side of Truth, Justice, and Right.
May your life be as full of good deeds As your album is full of good wishes.
May you garner the minutes That make up the hour And pluck in your pilgrimage Honor’s bright flower.
My Daughter Minnie In striving for the things of this life, do not expect to attain happiness without occassional season of Sorrow. Cultivate thyself to accept the inevitable and smother all feelings that are rebellious against the laws of nature. Wm P Williams (Aunt Minnie was crippled from birth and remained unmarried her long life. She was post mistress at the calvary base, Fort Meade in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
These albums probably include some good-byes, before the family moved west.)
(I inherited “birds in the air” quilt blocks that she made and the templates she used, cut from post-marked postcards. I made them into a family quilt with names and all kinds of remembrances on it. There are no other family quilts that I know of.)
And there is always at least one charactor in the bunch…. one entry reads….
Miss Minnie, Always look out for number one.
Cousin JHW This is just a tiny sample of the two books.
Happy reading Denise
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 22:48:49 EDT | From: Kittencat3 [at] aol [dot] com
I haven’t seen either of these publications…but based on the general quality of the research and writing I’ve seen in Llewellyn books, I’d be *very* careful about taking any of the folklore/magic therein seriously. Their books on “Merlyn” are particularly bad.
If I wanted to make a quilt as a talisman, I’d check out some of Dover’s graphic arts collections and find a traditional pattern suitable for adaptation as applique or quilting. I’d also try to use fabrics dyed with natural pigments, like indigo or madder (there’s a terrific book on madder dyes that came out a couple of years ago), and work by hand instead of machine. I’m not sure if this particular tradition applies to needle arts as well as agriculture, but it’s supposedly best to start a major work during the waxing moon. And the traditional way to cleanse a room of evil influences is to cense the room with either incense or a smudge stick of burning sage. Devout quilters often prayed while working – look at all the quilt blocks with names like Crown of Thorns or Calvary! My own wedding quilt (made well in advance of the ceremony) was sitting on the bed of my first apartment when my roommate, a devout Anglican, had her rector bless the place. Some of the holy water landed on the quilt, and though I’m not an Anglican, I must say that the marriage has by and large done well….:)
Good luck!
Lisa Evans
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1998 22:50:58 EDT | From: Kittencat3 [at] aol [dot] com
There’s a lovely autograph in a schoolbook originally owned by my great aunt Lena Hess:
When this you see, Think of me, And take a cup Of catnip tea.
I’ve never made catnip tea for myself (although I understand it’s a soporific) because the cats would absolutely go *berserk* if I tried…..
Lisa Evans
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 00:57:55 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 11-SEP-1998 22:52:05.4 Kittencat3 said to JOCELYNM
> I’ve never made catnip tea for myself (although I understand it’s a soporific) because the cats would absolutely go *berserk* if I tried…..
Lisa, You might be surprised…..on several occasions, I have made catnip tea for an ailing kitty who would have benefitted from drinking more, and had absolutely no luck in getting them to drink it! <G>
Jocelyn
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 02:43:47 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Denise Clausen wrote:
> This is reallly wonderful. Thank you for sharing this with me. gwen …………………………………………………………. “I have two autograph albums with dates around 1886. They belonged to my Great Aunt Minne Williams of Alta, Iowa.”
> Gwen Shapiro wrote: What did they say? thank you GwenA couple of quotes that I like are:
> How sweet to have a faithfull friend,
> In whom we can confide;
> To bless us if we act aright
> And if we err to chide.
> In memories wreath twine one bud for me.
> Let your influence ever be on the side of Truth, Justice, and Right.
> May your life be as full of good deeds
> As your album is full of good wishes.
> May you garner the minutes
> That make up the hour
> And pluck in your pilgrimage
> Honor’s bright flower.
> My Daughter Minnie
> In striving for the things of this life, do not expect to attain happiness without occassional season of Sorrow. Cultivate thyself to accept the inevitable and smother all feelings that are rebellious against the laws of nature. Wm P Williams
> (Aunt Minnie was crippled from birth and remained unmarried her long life. She was post mistress at the calvary base, Fort Meade in the Black Hills of South Dakota. These albums probably include some good-byes, before the family moved west.) (I inherited “birds in the air” quilt blocks that she made and the templates she used, cut from post-marked postcards. I made them into a family quilt with names and all kinds of remembrances on it. There are no other family quilts that I know of.)
> And there is always at least one charactor in the bunch…. one entry reads….
> Miss Minnie,
> Always look out for number one.
> Cousin JHW
> This is just a tiny sample of the two books.
> Happy reading
> Denise
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 06:03:20 -0500 (CDT) | From: akcruz [at] ix [dot] netcom [dot] com (Alfonso & Alice Cruz )
Good Morning all!
For those of you who are not fortunate enough to be in Omaha, I will try to share some of the highlights of each day. This may get long <G>.
Deborah Bede, a conservator, spoke on her approach to textile conservation. She also did a pre-conference Conservation Workshop at the Ford Conservation Center. I believe there is still space available for the post-conference repeat of this workshop. Deborah has a very different approach than someone like myself, who is a restorer. Hers is a stabalize/preserve viewpoint, while I look at a damaged quilt with the goal to return it to usable condition. Slides of her textile washing tub, some 2000 yr old textiles and other pieces she has worked on – Roosevelt’s stuffed dog, Fala & a costume for a MOMA fashion show were quite interesting. Ardis & Robert James spoke about their adventures in acquiring and giving away their quilt collection. Both of them had the entire room laughing. Ardis’ definition of a collection: When you have more than you need of something.
I enjoyed seeing the interplay between them. Robert gave us a Bible study lesson (to everything there is a season) and spoke about the business of getting rid of a collection – how they decided who would get it, the agreements of the exchange, etc. It was quite a complicated process. And they continue to acquire quilts! Robert also encouraged each of us to think about donating our own collections. BTW – they sleep under an electric blanket!
The first day workshops were too short! Cindy Brick’s The Business of Restoration was finally halted by Nancy Kirk, after running into the lemonade break.
The discussions of pricing, insurance, customer relations, estimating, sub-contracting, contracts, etc, could easily have held us there for another hour.
Sharon Harlemann Tandy talked about the work on her Master’s Degree. If you know of any quilts that have been divided between family members, or any written material on this Solomon’s Choice type situation, please share it with her! She provided her own quilt history reference library list & sources for information and spoke on becoming a quilt historian.
As well as encouraged all of us to do the same!
Since we had to choose two of the 4 available mini-workshops, one of the other attendees will have to throw in their .02 worth on The Business of Appraising and Restoration 1-2-3.
A product review session ended the day (at least for me).
Sharon Newman showed us her newest line of fabrics. I have to get some of those baseball bat prints! I didn’t attend the party at the Kirk Collection, but understood that Ben was going to repeat the very popular trolley fabric auction.
Today we are going to get all the QHLers in attendance together for a photograph. Should be quite a motley crew!
Alice Cruz The Quilted Chile akcruz [at] ix [dot] netcom [dot] com
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 08:48:54 -0400 | From: Gwen Shapiro <ghs [at] islc [dot] net>
Good morning Laura, I am doing a state block trade. Would you be intereste, I live on the coast in South Carolina, and making Light house blocks, and I hope to get all 50 states.( Maybe I should say 49)
I look forward to hearing from you, Gwen
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 09:34:53 EDT | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
I had planned on using Warm and Natural as the batting for my throw-sized flannel quilt. Now am wondering if that will be ‘too’ warm, and should I use another layer of flannel, or even polyester?
Thanks.
Elisabeth
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 09:33:40 EDT | From: Quilt97 [at] aol [dot] com
Would someone please explain how to tie a surgeon’s knot for tying a flannel quilt?
Also, which is better, the surgeon’s knot or a square knot? One quilt shop says ‘surgeon,’ the other says ‘square.’ 🙂
Thanks.
Elisabeth
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 10:55:44 -0400 | From: Th Schott Family <fschott [at] ix [dot] netcom [dot] com>
I am working at putting together the scrapbook of fabrics through history that I mentioned awhile back. It’s for my neighbor to use in teaching American HIstory to her class.
I have been through everything I own and all the repro samples I have saved, but find myself very short on cottons from the 40s, 50s, 60, and 70s. If anyone would be so kind as to send me 2″ squares (2 each of each fabric) from any or all of these time periods, I would be very grateful. My address is: Nancy Schott, 15 Karlswood Road, Hebron, CT 06248.
Thank you, Nancy
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 12:29:05 -0400 (EDT) | From: JOCELYNM [at] delphi [dot] com
On 12-SEP-1998 07:05:22.7 akcruz said to JOCELYNM
> us to think about donating our own collections. BTW – they sleep under an electric blanket!
Makes sense to me….I collect trinket boxes, and I don’t keep anything in them. <G> And ALL of us have collections of fabric that’s not being used….<EG>
> Sharon Harlemann Tandy talked about the work on her Master’s
> Degree. If you know of any quilts that have been divided between family members, or any written material on this Solomon’s Choice How can we contact her?
Jocelyn
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 14:55:11 -0500 (CDT) | From: JP1311S [at] ACAD [dot] DRAKE [dot] EDU
Hello everyone! I’ve been reading with great interest about all the searching for out-of-print books. There’s new hope. Two different companies that supply books to libraries and book stores are now developing a print-on- demand service for anyone who needs it. Baker & Taylor Corp. and Ingram are both getting into the business of printing formerly out-of-print books.
We just had a meeting with Baker & Taylor at our library here and they told us about the service. They take orders from individuals as well as from libraries and bookstores. They contact the publisher and negotiate printing rights (and they have had great success at this) and then they print the book for you. They showed us one book, some old fiction thing I never heard of, and it looked great. I asked about highly-illustrated books and they admitted that they are still developing that area. They get the book electronically from the publisher and publishers are willing to give printing rights for even just one book. In the list they gave us at the meeting there wasn’t a single book over $50, most around $30.
So, I don’t know that we will be able to request books right now that have those wonderful photos of quilts, but it’s coming.
Web site for Baker & Taylor www.baker-taylor.com Web site for Ingram www.bookweb.org Good news, huh?
Judy in Des Moines
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 15:29:38 EDT | From: Lalalawyr [at] aol [dot] com
I wrote to Annastina privately about “Magical Fabric Art – Spellwork and Wishcraft Through Patchwork Quilting and Sewing,” but since there was further discussion on the list about this subject, I thought I’d reiterate it here.
Unfortunately, I have to say I was a little disappointed in this book, but possibly because I expected more – not because the book didn’t deliver what the author set out to do. But I found it too basic in some respects, and very advanced, but not very thorough, in others.
I would probably still recommend it to anyone interested in it or attracted to it, though, because it can spark interest and inspiration in doing a talisman quilt (which is all I really expect from a quilting book). And I found it fascinating to think about combining spellwork (focused intention) and quilting. I’m sure Lisa is right, though – women have been “weaving” their prayers, hopes and intentions into their quilts in a variety of ways for centuries. This book just outlines one systematic way to go about it.
I had two main problems or quibbles with the book. The first problem is that the author gives a list of herbs, crystals, symbols, etc. to use for certain quilts and purposes – but no sort of exhaustive list, and no good references for such information.
So if you have a purpose for your own talisman quilt(s) other than the few quilts she outlines, you have to do your own research. Of course, a friend pointed out that finding the things that have meaning for you/me is more powerful than going by someone else’s lists anyway, and I’m sure that’s true.
But it is a bit frustrating to get certain lists, and not others – ok, maybe I shouldn’t rely on someone else’s symbol list, but the very format of the book kind of leads me to want to.
The other problem I have is the basic method or technique – not that it’s wrong, just that it’s hard for me, personally.
You are supposed to “charge” the fabric (with herbs, moonlight, intention and ceremony) before you start working, and then try to finish the talisman quilt within one lunar cycle (28 days).
This is tough! For me anyway.
It’s hard enough to think about focusing on one project and finishing it that quickly – but I can do that. The part that’s really hard (for me) is to make sure I have all the fabric I might want or need for a particular project at the beginning of the project!! That’s not usually the way I work – especially since I’m thinking of doing a pictoral applique wallhanging, where I might discover want a couple square inches of something that suits the quilt, long after I’ve begun. I kind of rebel against the constraint of having all your materials together at the beginning – so I’m just going to charge all sorts of fabric that I might want to use and see how it goes.
Anyway – I would love to hear others’ reactions to this book.
Melissa
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 17:23:53 -0500 | From: Swede <kittyboxers [at] toledolink [dot] com
Hi Gang!
Have a question that’s a wee bit OT. Trust you won’t mind…e-mail me privately if you think this is way off. I’m asking this list because it seems as tho lots of you work in museums and research related fields.
I would like to research the history of my house and property that it sits on. I’ve dug up some unusual info ~ not to mention fossilized bones ds literally dug up. We took the bones to our doctor, chiropractor and veterinarian. All say they are are fossilized bones but don’t know know what type animal/age they are. I’ve found a history book of our town actually from 1870, which has been most enlightening but I need coordinants to find out how our location was described way back when. Ds and I have also found a map showing our neighborhood divided into plots with the names of the landowner/farmer ~ unfortunately, I can’t get a gauge on where our house would be as no roads or landmarks that would help us identify our location existed then. I guess I need to trace back to the building of our house and before. We’re only the third owners since 1922.
How would I do this? I think I got a look at the abstract years ago when we bought the place and was curious then – but it didn’t say anything.
Any suggestions?
Annastina
