quiltersmuse.com Blog

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

Quite frequently, I receive letters such as the following one, asking me to provide a value for a textile, based on just a verbal description.

I have a feed sack panel printed with a pattern for two bunny toys. One is bubble gum pink and the other is depression blue. There is a stamp identifying that the bag was made by Werthan Bag of Nashville. The only information they could give me was that it must have been printed between 1928 and 1932 as they converted to camouflage fabric after that. There is only one small stain that does not affect the pattern. The feed sack panel has been hand quilted with cross-hatching on the background and outline quilting on the pattern. I would appreciate any information about this and especially the value of the quilt.

I love to hear from readers, and I love to know what kinds of wonderful textiles they have inherited, found at a flea market, or been given.

I do not appraise anything.

Why is that, you say?

Appraisals and appraisers represent a specialized niche within the quilt world. Certified appraisers are dedicated souls who devote their lives to thinking about “values” of objects. While that is a valid form of occupation, it does not lie within my interest area as a creative person and writer.

When I think about purchasing an antique quilt or other textile object, I usually have a reason for collecting it. Perhaps the object is in really poor condition, but I love the design and would like to re-create it, even if I end up throwing away the original object (which, by the way, is rarely the case). Mold or mildew on a textile would be the main reason I would discard it.

A good appraiser knows that it is necessary to actually view the object, in person. Photos are fine, but they can be altered to make something look better than it is. Much more about the textile’s condition, workmanship, and actual colors can be determined by seeing it.

I am leary of anyone who says that he/she can appraise something from a photo. I stand in disgust of appraisers who low-ball an appraisal, knowing that the object is worth far more, and then turn around and buy it for their own collection. That, my friend, is unethical! It is taking advantage of an unknowing person who has placed trust in the appraiser to do right by them.

Sometimes, I get the impression that I am asked about the value of textiles because it is a major hint for me to make an offer. I never do, approached in that manner.

The bottom line is this: If you own a wonderful old textile that you would like to share with others, online, send me a photo and information, and I’ll consider the merit of publishing it. I run an educational website, not an appraisal business. I am so happy when folks share details of their objects, as the lady did who wrote to me in the letter quoted above. Sorry to say, I just can’t and won’t ever attempt to share potential market values – it’s not my area of interest or expertise.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Don Beld, founder of the Home of the Brave Quilts program that makes and presents quilts to families of fallen U.S. military heroes who have served and died in Iraq or Afghanistan, sends the following message:

The Home of the Brave Quilt Project during the next 30 days will present one or more (one for each child left behind) Home of the Brave quilts to the families of the fallen heroes from Ft. Hood, Texas. This project is being coordinated by our national coordinator, Sandi Carstensen, in Iowa.

Quilt top that was hand pieced by Don Beld.

I am in the process of making, by hand, of course, a Memorial Quilt for the fort to have as part of their memorials. I have attached photos of the finished quilt top, which I completed this week in five days or about 60 hours of hand piecing. I will be hand embroidering and hand quilting during the next several weeks with the hope of getting it to the fort by December 5, 2009. I expect it will take me about 200 + hours to hand quilt. I will be using dark brown thread for the embroidery and quilting.

Close-up of the Fort Hood Memorial Quilt being made by Donald Beld of California

As my friends and associates, I thought you might like to see the top as we all honor these fallen heroes.

Best, Don

***
Thank you for this information, Don. You are truly an inspiration and have been a steady worker, putting your heart and soul into honoring military men who gave their lives in service to our country. In honoring them, you bring honor to yourself. May God bless you and all of your efforts!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Musician and quilter, Ricky Tims, is a man who is blessed with many talents! Well, known for his “Caveman Style Quilting” and “Rhapsody Quilts,” Ricky has just written, produced and recorded a Christmas CD, in Nashville, with other musicians. If you want to feel happy, view his YouTube video that shows beautiful and peaceful scenes of his adopted small town, La Veta, Colorado. The title of the CD is “Christmas in a Small Town.”

Some of the songs will sound familiar to you, but they have been arranged in a new way by Ricky, who also served as conductor for recording sessions. He has been playing piano since he was very young, and majored in music. According to what I read, when his home town in TX was hit by a tornado, his parent’s home was flattened and all of the songs he had written during high school were blown away by the wind.

We are happy that his musical career did not end there. We are equally cheered by Ricky’s enthusiasm for the process of quilting and for all of his teaching, not to mention his co-ownership of the online entity known as The Quilt Show. We wish him every success with this exciting new album. The song, “Christmas in a Small Town,” is a treasure! Enjoy the video, and then, please think about ordering the CD. (No affiliation).

Patricia & James Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

Dear members and other friends of the Manchester Historic Association,

I am pleased to announce a new event presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On Thursday, November 19 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Millyard Museum will be the scene of the “Night at the Millyard Museum – Where History Comes to Life,” an event that is sure to please anyone who would like to mix a little history in with an evening of entertainment and holiday shopping. The evening will feature dancing, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, holiday shopping in the Museum Shop, and a silent auction with many affordable items. The museum’s historical exhibits will be open for viewing, and to help history come to life, the event is “costume optional.” Everyone is invited to come dressed in historically-themed costume, and prizes will be given out for the most outstanding examples. Entertainment will be provided by the popular local band, Soulhouse 7, performing a variety of soul, blues, R&B and rock favorites. Highlighting the evening will be a special stage show by Soulhouse 7 with their partners “The Blues Brothers – The Next Generation.”

Ticket prices are $35 ($25 for members of the Manchester Historic Association). Tickets must be purchased or reserved prior to the event. For tickets, stop by the Millyard Museum at 200 Bedford Street, any time from Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or the Research Center at 129 Amherst Street on Wednesdays or Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Or, you may order or reserve tickets by calling (603) 622-7531.

Would you like to help out by donating a silent auction gift?

We are looking for gift baskets, gift certificates, jewelry, decorative items for the household, holiday centerpieces, artwork, and craft items. All items must be new (unless you would like to donate an antique of some sort – we’re open to suggestions!). Your generosity as a donor will be noted on our website, at the event and in our Annual Report. Donors also receive two free tickets to the event (up to a $70 value). To donate, please contact me by e-mail, or call (603) 622-7531.

For complete details about this event, including an updated list of the silent auction gifts, visit the website www.manchesterhistoric.org.

We will hope to see you at “Night at the Millyard Museum – Where History Comes to Life” event!

Yours,

Aurore

Aurore Eaton
Executive Director
Manchester Historic Association
Millyard Museum – 200 Bedford Street – Manchester, NH – 03101
Research Center – 129 Amherst Street – Manchester, NH – 03101
(603) 622-7531 ext. 223
aeaton@manchesterhistoric.org
www.manchesterhistoric.org
www.meetup.com/Manchester-History-Network

This announcement is brought to you courtesy of Quilter’s Muse Publications, an educational website for textiles and history