November 19th, 2009
Unknown quilt block from photo dated 5/25/2004
Diane Fath writes:
Hello Pat,
We are trying to figure out what quilt block pattern was used in the attached quilt. My Mother made the quilt but has passed away in a car accident.
Can you please help me? Any help you can give is much appreciated. Thank you.
Diane
Full view:
Quilt made by Debbie
Sorry to hear of your loss, Diane. This looks like it is probably a “modern” quilt design from a contemporary design artist. If anyone has more information, please contact: pat@quiltersmuse.com
Thanks.
Posted in Quilt Design, Reader Questions | No Comments »
November 19th, 2009
Letter to the Editor:
Hello, My name is Traci Cromwell and I am the Cultural History Collections Manager at the Indiana State Museum. I am trying to get the word out about the museum’s quilt collection that is available for research online in the artifact collection database. See Indiana State Museum online database. Currently we have close to 600 historic quilts in the collection online that date from 1810-2000. Highlights from the online quilt collection include:
* The largest collection of Indiana Amish quilts (perhaps Midwestern Amish too) and the best provenanced. Anyone doing research on Amish quilts should visit our site to see them. Includes examples dated in the quilting from 1869 to 1985.
* The Indiania (sic) Fancy Quilt, titled, dated and signed by Clarissa Rohrbach Strong of Delaware County in 1854. Wonderful documentation combined with excellent condition and visually striking design.
* Dogwood quilt designed by Marie Webster and made by Mary Ann Sipe. Webster was the author of the first American book on quilts and was a famous quilt designer from Marion, Indiana. Her work appeared in the Ladies’ Home Journal.
* Storybook appliqué quilt made by Martha Jungclaus in 1929-1937, following the children’s book illustrations of Fern Bissel Peat, an Indiana native.
* Indiana State quilt with all counties made in the county of origin for Hoosier Celebration 88, a state-wide celebration.
* The Lincoln campaign ribbon quilt. Made by 13-year old Maggie Frentz of New Albany in 1876, incorporates campaign ribbons of all candidates for President and Vice President in the 1860 election, including both Lincoln and Douglas.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the museum’s online database that I can answer. We would very much appreciate you posting our online database link to your wonderful quilt website.
Thank You-Traci
Traci Cromwell
Cultural History Collections Manager
Indiana State Museum
650 West Washington 46204-2725
phone: 317-234-1719
fax: 317-234-1724
tcromwell@dnr.IN.gov
Posted in Announcements, Museum News | No Comments »
November 19th, 2009
Rubia, an organization that has 501 (c) 3 status as a non-profit, is dedicated to increasing the literacy of the women of Afghanistan. They raise funds for education mainly through the sale of embroidered goods. A few years ago, we had the opportunity to write an article for The Quilter magazine, based on a meeting with Hafiza Malikbaba and Rachel Lehr, (one of the American founders of Rubia, a fluent linguist who knows all of the Afghan dialects).
Small bag or embroidered purse made by a member of the Rubia organization in Afghanistan. Photo taken at Rachel Lehr’s home.
Today, I received notice that Rubia is offering their annual calendar, priced at only $10. each ppd. This year, it features the photographs of Afghan children, taken by Rachel and others. The Internet site for Rubia is selling some very sweet-looking, lavender-filled, 5″ embroidered hearts made of either silk, wool, rayon, and cotton, in other words, whatever fibers were available to the women when making these objects.
Please take a minute to visit the Rubia site: http://www.rubiahandwork.org/special_sale.html
To read more about Afghanistan and Hafiza, please read our online file: http://www.quiltersmuse.com/afghanistan_embroideries.htm
This announcement is brought to you as a courtesy of Quilter’s Muse Publications
Posted in World Textiles | No Comments »
November 16th, 2009
Currently, two Hmong “Happy Fisherman” Pants are offered on eBay by “zootube”
This is auction #130344035302 Hmong fisherman pants
This is auction #130340681357 Hmong fisherman pants example 2
Zach Fauth has been traveling in Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand for 10 years now, collecting and vending textiles. These two pairs of "Happy Fisherman" pants are completely handmade and hand loomed from cotton/hemp.
They feature both piecework and patchwork designs. One of the designs is "Elephant's Foot," rendered in cross-stitch. I have read that the colorful patchwork design, repeated on these objects, can represent the "altar" that is present in every Hmong home in southeast Asia.
For more information about the Hmong and their traditional needlework, please visit: Hmong Textile Art: The Tie That Binds A Culture by Patricia L. Cummings.
Posted in Hmong, World Textiles | No Comments »
November 15th, 2009
Vintage tinted and embroidered pillow made by Elizabeth Cox Wassum, photo courtesy of Betty Wassum Hall
Betty writes:
I read your article “Three Centuries of Decorative Pillow Making” (in The Quilter magazine) and really enjoyed it. I have read many of your articles and always enjoy them.
I am quilter and quilt collector and collect other hand made items. I wanted to share these pictures with you of a pillow I have in my collection. I don’t know how old it is, but I remember it being in our house before I started to school and I am 71 years old. It was made by my mother, Elizabeth Cox Wassum.
Betty Wassum Hall
Thanks you for this note and photo, Betty. We always enjoy hearing from appreciative readers.
Note from Patricia: The Quilter, November 2009 (cover date) that features the article mentioned above is now off-sale, replaced by the January 2010 issue that has my article about a unique, antique “Lobster Claw” quilt. Back issues and subscriptions are available by calling (800) 940-6593 in the U.S., or (386) 246-0189 outside the U.S.
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications
Posted in Reader Mail | No Comments »
