Wonkyworld

March Quilt of the Month

2012-03-02T23:08:00.002-08:00

I haven't blogged enough lately, so I thought I'd take a moment to announce my March Quilt of the Month. This month's selection is a wonderful, graphic quilt. It reminds me of spring. The quilt has popped up in my blog over the last year, and is available on a couple products in my Zazzle shop. It was also exhibited in the Northwest Quilting Expo last September. To check out my quilt of the month, click here.

Folky 70s Cheater Fabric

2012-02-23T04:20:00.001-08:00

70s cheater fabric, found on eBay

Here's something different- 1970s cheater fabric. I found this piece recently on eBay, roughly four yards of it, and I love the patriotic combination of denim and bandana print. There are tulips, apples, butterflies, and LeMoyne stars.

The fabric also has patches of striped, polka-dotted, and small scale print including several squares of red bandana print. I thought it would be an interesting piece of ephemera to accompany the 70s quilts I've been collecting, but I haven't yet found a quilt made with this fabric.

The fabric reminds me of how young people in the 70s would patch worn out denim jeans with bandana fabric. Those were the good ol' days!

An Honor and a Gift

2012-02-22T14:13:00.000-08:00

1970s polyester top, finished in 2012

It had been several months since I'd been able to attend a board meeting at the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook, but I made it over to yesterday's 9am meeting. It was great to see everyone, and the new library is looking great. During the meeting, I was presented with a Life Membership to Latimer as thanks for a donation from my family last year. It was very humbling to receive such a great honor. Thank you, Latimer!

The quilt has a nice variety of textured double-knit polyester fabrics

After the meeting, I was speaking with one of the newer board members, Rhoda DeGiovanni, about a polyester quilt top someone in the guild had found. The top was recently finished by members of the guild, and Rhode brought it in so we could look at it. I shared observations about the similarities between the quilt and the ones I'd found, and commented about how nice a job the Tillamook County Quilters had done finishing it.

The finish was very much in keeping with what I'd expect to see on a quilt from the 70s. It had simple, chunky binding rolled from back to front, soft fabric on the back, and was tied very simply with one tie in the center of each square.

Love the label on the back!

There was also a label on the back with two cows eating grass and the message, "Made with love by the Tillamook County Quilter's Guild." I thanked Rhoda for sharing the quilt with me, and that's when she said I could have it. Of course, I was blown away and very grateful. This quilt is really a "time-span" quilt, started at one time and finished many years later. As such, it's a great example of how to finish a quilt using a perfectly chosen period style. Well done, Tillamook County Quilters, and thank you!!

Pressed Penny Collection

2012-02-21T22:50:00.000-08:00

I started my first Penny Passport over ten years ago and completed it today

Collectors tend to specialize, but we don't always limit ourselves to collecting one thing. I collect quilts, but I have several other little collections. One of those is my Penny Passport full of pressed pennies from all across the U.S.

From Honolulu, 2002

I started collecting flattened pennies over ten years ago, when I stumbled across my first penny machine. A few years later, I'd acquired a few others and learned there was a Penny Passport sleeve available for storing the pressed pennies. Each penny is embossed with a design commemorating the place where the penny machine is located.

Today, I completed my first Penny Passport when I got eight pennies from the Tillamook Creamery. My little collection now includes pressed pennies from Hawaii, Detroit, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Diego, Seattle and Oregon.

From Las Vegas, 2006

Time to get a new Penny Passport. I've discovered a web site with a list of all the penny machines. It's called Penny Collector. Check it out at www.pennycollector.com.

Flea Market Find

2012-02-18T14:39:00.000-08:00

1970s Hexagons made of double-knit polyester

My friend Mary Kanski from the Northwest Quilters called to tell me about a quilt she'd seen at the Tigard Flea Market. It was a double-knit polyester quilt made with many small hexagons, and it was on sale for half price! So I went to the flea market today, and here's what I found.

Detail photo taken with a flash

It's a wonderful double-knit polyester hexagon quilt with an overall concentric diamond pattern. Wow! The man who was selling it looked a little like Santa Claus. I asked if he knew anything about it, and he'd gotten it at a garage sale here in Oregon. He thought it was from the 1970s because the material was the same as that from the clothing of the time.

Binding is rolled from back to front

I don't think there's a single quilt maker today who would dare make a quilt like this out of double-knit. It's such a stretchy material, and working with it must've been difficult. There is a single line of quilting along the inside edge of each row, giving the quilt a three-dimensional effect. Again, wow! What a great find! Thank you, Mary!!

Eight Very Old Quilts

2012-02-13T10:00:00.000-08:00

Applique Crib Quilt, c. 1820, Pennsylvania

The recent arrival of the whole cloth quilt from New England got me thinking about the other very old quilts in my collection. There are less than ten quilts in my collection that I think of as very old, and they all represent specific points in American quilt history. So, I thought I'd put them together in a blog and let others see them all in one place. When I say "very old" I'm thinking before 1840, because that's around the time when fabric manufacturing really took off in America.

My first very old quilt is an applique crib quilt, made in Pennsylvania around 1820. It was a gift from my parents more than ten years ago when I moved into my first house. They gave it to me for Christmas. Of course, when I opened the box, I was speechless. This wonderful little quilt includes walnut-dyed fabric with remnants of glaze on the surface. When my parents purchased it, the quilt was said to be Amish, but I haven't been able to verify that theory. It's not at all what we think of when we hear the term Amish quilt, but it is solid fabric and geometric, so who knows!

Economy Block, c. 1810, New England

Some time around 2006, I acquired a wonderful, wool Economy Block quilt, made around 1810 in New England. One of the interesting things about it is the top fabric. The term "linsey-woolsey" is often used to describe early American wool fabrics, but a lot of those fabrics are all wool, rather than linen warp and woolen weft. This quilt hasn't gone to the lab for examination yet, but I have a feeling the top fabric may have a linen component. If so, we could truly call it linsey-woolsey. This quilt also has a home-loomed twill tape binding, green on one side and red on the other three sides, and a woven backing. A tiny cross-stitch inscription appears on one block.

Sunburst Diamonds, c. 1830, New England

A couple years later, I picked up a Sunburst Diamonds quilt, made in New England, and a Kansas Sunflower or Star Medallion crib quilt from Tennessee. Both were made in the 1830s, and both are all cotton. The Sunburst includes some great early fabrics with small-scale prints that are slightly out of register when printed in multiple colors. The crib quilt is a rescue quilt, in poor condition, but in my opinion it's design makes it an enduring masterpiece.

Crib Quilt, c. 1830, Tennessee

Star Medallion, c. 1800, Rhode Island

Just last March, I acquired a Star Medallion four-poster quilt made around 1800 in Rhode Island. It is a very early example of a pieced quilt, and includes glazed "Calamanco" wools and lush, decorative quilting. Research has been a little challenging because so few of these early pieced wool quilts still exist, and a majority of those are in museums and private collections. Later in the year, I added a cotton Robbing Peter to Pay Paul or Orange Peel, made around 1830 in New England, and a whole cloth chintz quilt with beautiful, decorative quilting and a loomed twill tape binding.

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul, c. 1830, New England

Whole Cloth Chintz, c. 1820, Eastern United States

Whole Cloth Quilt, c. 1800 (or earlier), New England

That brings us up to the present, and if you've been following my blog you may have read about the whole cloth quilt from New England I won at auction from Pook & Pook in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Similar to the Economy Block, the whole cloth quilt is made of a course, scratchy wool with natural dyes. But unlike the Economy Block, I think this one may be all wool. The fibers look consistent throughout, and you can see it in close-up photos. Some of the characteristics of this quilt, such as elements in the quilting design, materials, and finishing, make me think it could have been made a little earlier than 1800.

It is very rare to see anything like any of these quilts here in Oregon, which was still a territory when all these quilts were made. Here in Portland, anything made before 1900 is very old - and I rarely see quilts made before 1930. The antique shops have a lot of vintage, but not many things what I'd consider bona fide antique, 100 years old or older. It's fun to have a growing group of these quilts, demonstrating a variety of techniques and materials, which were all important in early American quilt making.

Do you have any quilts made in the 1830s or earlier? What makes them unique? Please comment!

Details of New (Very Old) Quilt

2012-02-06T09:12:00.000-08:00

This detail, taken from reverse side, shows the quilting in the center

Here are some more photos of the New England wool quilt. It's just fascinating. Make sure to click the pictures to enlarge - you won't see this type of thing every day. The quilting was done with a sturdy red wool thread, and it really jumps out on the light colored backing. The row of heart clusters that runs down the center of the quilt from top to bottom, is wrapped in wavy feather vines and filled with fine parallel line quilting.

Whole Cloth Quilt, front view

Outside the center row, each heart has two paisley shapes quilted within

The parallel line fill is something I've seen in calamanco and other whole cloth wool quilts throughout the period from 1760 to 1800, but it seems most evident in the quilts dating from the 1780s. Several of those examples are the deep blue glazed calamanco whole cloth quilts.

There are streaks in this panel, possibly from the original dyeing

The color is unusual, and likely to be one of the natural vegetable dyes used throughout New England. Originally, it was probably closer to a brick red, as seen on the rolled binding on the reverse.

Detail view of the corner binding, rolled from front to back

Depending on the light, the quilt can look rich and coppery, reddish brown, or lighter, like tanned rawhide. Other details include some old repairs, a couple spots that could be bleach, and a few small holes exposing wool batting on the inside.

Wool batting (left) peeks out from the inside

There are signs of age, some fading, a few nips in the binding, small holes here and there - but I wouldn't say this quilt has condition issues. It's in very good condition. It just happens to be more than 200 years old. It's not easy to study the genre because there are so few of these quilts out there, mostly in museums. I'm glad to have the quilt. We just don't see things like it in Oregon very often.

Hope you enjoyed the detail photos. Don't forget to click to enlarge!!

New (Very Old) Quilt

2012-02-01T23:48:00.000-08:00

Whole Cloth Quilt, unknown maker, c. 1800, New England

Look what just arrived! Recently I discovered Live Auctioneers, a web site that facilitates live internet bidding on auctions taking place across the country. This quilt was part of a decorative arts auction held at Pook & Pook in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was made in New England over 210 years ago, and is all wool.

The early American whole cloth quilting tradition has its roots in the western European traditions, particularly the whole cloth quilts made in Great Britain and France. Many of these quilts are made with a glazed "calamanco" wool, most often seen in deep blue. This quilt is an earthy reddish brown color and is made of a worsted wool material that is sometimes called linsey-woolsey. I was pleasantly surprised by the color. The picture accompanying the auction didn't show how rich the color is in person.

Lush, decorative quilting is what makes this quilt sing. The four-pointed star shapes running down the center are made of hearts - click the picture to enlarge it - and the quilt is covered with wavy feather vines, paisley shapes that resemble hearts and butterflies, and elegant parallel line fill.

You can't imagine how pleased I was when I opened the box and saw how great it is. It's always a little risky bidding on things you can't see first in person, but I had a good feeling about this one. To see another interesting early example of a whole cloth quilt, check out my February Quilt of the Month.

Be@Home Best of the Web Blog

2012-01-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

A little over a week ago, I got a note from one of the editors at Be@Home, a home décor blog that features anything from interior design tips to room trends and crafting-related content. He had just come across my blog and wanted to feature it in their weekly Best of the Web Blog, so this week there's a link to my blog.

Of course, I was happy to be included, and couldn't resist sharing comments about using quilts as part of interior decor. Here's what I had to say.

“A great quilt can be an interior designer’s best friend, whether displayed on a bed or the wall. A quilt can make a house a home. When displayed on the walls, quilts are great for acoustics, and can dull the echo in a large space just like a rug on a hardwood floor. Quilts are also much more economical than other types of art, such as paintings, for covering a big wall space. If I have a message for interior designers, it’s just that.”

I've always enjoyed home decor and think everyone will enjoy the blog, so here's the link - check it out! To view the Be@Home Blog, click here.

Quilts in the Attic, by Karen Musgrave

2012-01-15T07:15:00.000-08:00

"Night Flight" 1982 by Andrea Leong Scadden, aka Andrea Balosky

I'm so excited about the new book "Quilts in the Attic: Uncovering the Hidden Stories of the Quilts We Love" by Karen Musgrave. It's not just because one of the quilts in my collection is included in the book, it's really the whole idea of it. All quilts have stories, whether we know the whole story or not, but I don't think anyone has done a quilt storybook the way Karen has.

The book description from Amazon says, "As both history and art, quilts help express the human experience and can lead quilters to discoveries about themselves, about the past, and about the artistic creation as a whole. Quilts in the Attic features 30 heartwarming stories of great quilt discoveries - from bidding on a breathtaking quilt at an estate auction in Virginia to uncovering a little-known art form in France to finding and repairing a priceless heirloom quilt that had been used, neglected, and damaged, these stories from everyday stitchers and well-known quilters alike reveal the mystery and meaning of the quilts we love."

One of these stories is "An Unexpected Gift" and is about the day I was given two important art quilts by a mysterious woman who emerged from the crowd at the 35th Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon. The woman, who turned out to be known quilter Andrea Balosky, gave me so much more than a pair of quilts that day, but you'll have to read the book for the whole story.

Most books about quilts are really more like picture books. Some include text about the quilts, their makers, and other information to contextualize the quilts. Karen's book is really a storybook. It includes a color plate of each quilt, but it has much more text than pictures. As it turns out, there's a lot to say about each of the quilts in the book! Available on Amazon, to preview and order, click here.

Going to the AQSG Seminar - What to Bring?

2012-01-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

New York Beauty with Nine Patch Cornerstones, c. 1940

Each year, the American Quilt Study Group has a Seminar. The Seminar brings quilt enthusiasts and scholars together for a weekend engaged in quilt study. In addition to the presentation of research papers chosen for publication in Uncoverings and a renowned keynote speaker, Seminar offers pre-conference tours, study center sessions, poster presentations, and roundtable discussions all directed toward the interests of quilt lovers. Other events include book signings, live and silent auctions, show-and-tell, exhibits and vendors.

Block detail, Florence Caldonia Corley Shealy's quilt, c. 1870, SC

I've never attended the Seminar before, but I've wanted to for a few years. In 2009, I was just becoming a member and found out about it too late. In 2010, I was signed up to do a poster presentation, but had to back out. In 2011, I was booked to do lectures and an exhibit at the Northwest Quilting Expo before I realized it was the same weekend as Seminar. But 2012 is going to be a whole different story. This year, the Seminar is in Lincoln, Nebraska - home of AQSG and the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. There, I will lead a study center on my New York Beauty quilts.

New York Beauty, unknown maker, c. 1940, Ohio

Say what? Did I really sign myself up to lead a study center at my first Seminar? Shouldn't I just do like other first-timers probably do, and sit in the back, wide-eyed, madly scribbling down notes?

From Texas, the late 19th century tan fabric was once another, deeper color

The biggest question of all is, "What to bring?"

C. 1870, unknown maker, Southeastern U.S.

Since I've got 50 New York Beauties at this point, and a few other quilts I'd love to share during show-and-tell, part of me just wants to load up the car and drive to Nebraska. Am I crazy for thinking that?

Another recent acquisition, c. 1940

Well, I guess I've got time to decide. Thank you to AQSG for this exciting opportunity. I can't wait! All suggestions about what to bring are welcome!

Friday the 13th: A Lucky Day!

2012-01-13T21:13:00.000-08:00

New England Linsey Woolsey / Calamanco Whole Cloth Quilt, c. 1800

Today, I proved to myself that Friday the 13th can be a lucky day!

Back when I first discovered eBay, more than ten years ago, I used to get a big rush when bidding in the last moments of an auction. As I entered my one sniper bid hoping to win without paying too much, my heart raced as I clicked the bid button and refreshed the screen. It was an exhilarating moment, but since then, it's really become routine. I've won 100% of the eBay auctions I've bid on for several years running, and I can't recall the last time I didn't win.

But Live Auctioneers is relatively new to me, and I've never bid on any auctions through their site until this week. Sue Reich had notified me about a quilt to be auctioned off at the end of the month, and that got me poking around. There aren't a lot of quilts, but I found a rare one listed as a coverlet. It's a tan New England Linsey Woolsey / Calamanco Whole Cloth Quilt, T-shaped for a four-post bed, made around 1800. It was being auctioned through Pook & Pook.

Quilts like this don't come around very often, so I bid to win, and win I did. As the bids climbed from $150 to almost $1000, I wasn't sure my bids were going through, but at $1100 I ended up the high bidder. It was over in an instant, and once again, I had that exhilarated feeling! Can't wait to see this old, rare quilt in person. I could tell from the picture, it's a keeper. What a lucky day Friday the 13th was this year!

Why Quilts Matter

2012-01-13T11:58:00.000-08:00

This late 19th century Pine Tree / Tree of Life quilt appears in the series

I feel a strong connection to "Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics" - the nine-part documentary series exploring quilts, which has recently aired on PBS stations across the U.S. I'm a big fan of the subject, and creator Shelly Zegart, who sold me my first antique quilt. I made a contribution to support the production, my name (Bill Volckening) appears in the credits, and two quilts in my personal collection appear in the series.

The critically acclaimed series was recently recommended by Educational Media Reviews Online (ERMO), as reviewed by Winifred Fordham Metz of UNC at Chapel Hill, and Lori Widzinski at the University of Buffalo, State University of New York. An ERMO recommendation is a very big deal, but I'm not surprised knowing Shelly. If you don't know her, she's essentially a guru of antique quilts, and has done it all. Just google her!

So, one day last May, I received an e-mail from Shelly, who was frantically looking for a pieced quilt with a "humility block" - an obvious mistake - to illustrate the highly romanticized notion that quilters made intentional mistakes because only God was perfect.

As always, she knew just the right person to ask. The Pine Tree / Tree of Life quilt hanging on the wall just two steps away from me would work perfectly. It's in Episode 9: Quilt Scholarship: Romance and Reality. The other quilt, which popped up in another episode, is the quilt on the cover of my "Beauty Secrets" catalog. Apparently, Shelly had sold it to Susie Tompkins of Esprit in the early 1990s, but still had a picture of it.

This quilt also made a cameo in the series.

Naturally, I feel a strong connection to Why Quilts Matter, but starting this month I'll have another connection. I'll be doing guest blogs on the Why Quilts Matter web site. In fact, my first blog will also be the first guest blog. In the blog, I tell the story of my "eureka moment" - the moment back in 1989 when I first realized why quilts matter. It's no coincidence that Shelly Zegart was present that day.

What's the Deal with Zazzle's Shoes?

2012-01-08T10:16:00.000-08:00

I've got some interesting news for all fans of Willy Wonky quilt shoes. Zazzle has temporarily halted all sales of Keds sneakers because they will soon be introducing a whole new line of shoes. My Zazzle buddy Cathleen Savage, who sells iPhone cases and other items, alerted me to the news seen in this forum post.

If you've tried to view the shoes in my collection, you've likely run into a page that says, "Zazzle, the leading innovator in product customization and co-creator of the world’s first 100% customizable shoe is changing the shoe game again. Coming in 2012, we’re launching the next generation of completely custom shoe styles with new silhouettes, features, and styles."

According to the forum post, Zazzle will make an effort to incorporate current designs into the new shoes, which would be helpful to me. I had designed over 70 pair of shoes! Still fresh in my mind, they can be recreated if necessary. Here's what that post says:

"We have some very exciting news to share and wanted to broadcast it to a wide audience here first. As some of you will start to notice, your shoe product pages will soon be adorned with a Coming In 2012 message and will be hidden from view. We are making this change in order to make room for an expanded, self-branded shoe offering in 2012. Rest assured that we will do everything we can to migrate your existing shoes to the new styles coming in 2012."

So, that's all the information I've got. I'm sorry Zazzle won't be able to deliver product right away, especially after I'd promoted the shoes here and piqued the interest of so many readers. Some people were lucky to get the shoes before the holidays. Others will unfortunately have to wait. Even though it's beyond my control, I'm excited to see what's next. I may have to design some other types of items in the meantime! The coffee mugs were well-received by my family at Christmas...maybe I'll offer some of those. To visit my Zazzle shop, click here.

Phyllis George Quilt

2012-01-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

New York Beauty, c. 1890, from the Phyllis George collection

The Quilt Complex has done it again! Julie and Jean always have such wonderful things, and just before Christmas they had a "New York Beauty" quilt that was formerly part of the Phyllis George collection, from her book, "Living With Quilts: 50 Great American Quilts" published in 1998. Here are some pictures. Images courtesy of The Quilt Complex.

Adieu 2011, Welcome 2012!

2011-12-31T11:52:00.000-08:00

Hexagon Flowers, c. 1970

Happy New Year! It's the time of year to reflect on the past and look toward the future, and the future looks bright! I know it's been a rough year for a lot of people, and I almost feel guilty saying how good a year it was for me, but I think I earned it.

1970s Polyester Bowties

On the heels of the Small Wonders, Timeless Quilts, and Beauty Secrets exhibits, I'm working on an exhibit of 1970s quilts to be displayed here in Portland in 2013. I expect this exhibit to stir the pot, because it will challenge viewers to see objects made of lowly, double-knit polyester as works of art.

Coincidentally, Roderick Kiracofe will soon release his new book, which will examine quilts from the mid century forward and will include 1970s quilts. We've both gotten a peek at each other's quilts through Facebook, and I'm excited. It's the perfect time for something new!!

"Rocky Mountain" aka "New York Beauty, c. 1870

There will still be time for something "old" in 2012, namely my collection of "New York Beauty" quilts...though I expect these quilts will be a part of something new in the new year and beyond. Plans are still in the works, but I'm aiming toward bring them to Lincoln, Nebraska, for the American Quilt Study Group Seminar, and I'm having discussions about future venues for the "Beauty Secrets" exhibit. Meanwhile, I'm still collecting these quilts. Now I have 50 of them!

This and the other "New York Beauty" were acquired after
Beauty Secrets was published

Coinciding with all the planning will be more documentation. The Oregon Quilt Project is soon going to get underway again, and I'll be helping to train the local volunteer group in Eugene to do photography, while making more information available online for groups around the state. I will also be documenting my own collection, and plan to include it in The Quilt Index. Busy, busy, busy - but it's a good busy! I wish all my readers much joy, good health and prosperity in 2012. Happy New Year!!

Deck the Halls

2011-12-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

A couple years ago I had Christmas at my home. It was a quiet time, just my mother and I, but the house was festively decorated with quilts. I was thinking about the idea of decorating with quilts recently because The Quilt Complex had a New York Beauty once owned by Phyllis George, which I am soon adding to my collection. George's book, Living With Quilts, is unique in its presentation of quilts as objects to be enjoyed around the home, and not just on beds.

When decorating for Christmas, the theme was red, white and green, but I bent the rules slightly to include an 1830s Sunburst Diamonds quilt with madders, browns, double pink and butterscotch. It looked marvelous in the front foyer.

Upstairs in the loft, I had a dazzling red and white Mariner's Compass from the 1840s, made in Burlington County, New Jersey - near where our family once lived.

I was in Maine for Christmas this year, so I didn't decorate the house. Maybe next year I'll deck the halls once more. Happy New Year!!

...and the winner is...

2011-12-18T01:11:00.000-08:00

Tumbling Bloxfords De Luxe - my best selling shoe

This year's Blog Hop Party - the 4th virtual assembly of quilt bloggers from around the world, all hosting wonderful give-aways - was a first for me. I'd never offered a give-away, and my involvement with mostly antique and vintage quilts wouldn't necessarily lend itself to the traditional give-away. But just before the Blog Hop Party was to begin, I began to design some Willy Wonky brand merchandise, and that included shoes.

Pat's Flats are named in honor of Pat Sloan

When I learned about the Blog Hop Party, I wanted to give away a pair of shoes. I had no idea how popular the shoes would be, even though in my heart I felt quilt lovers would enjoy them. Giving away a pair of these shoes turned out to be much more exciting than I'd realized. Who would win? And which shoes would the winner pick?

Yorks - one of several selections for guys

The blog announcing the give-away easily sailed to the top of my list of most viewed blogs, replacing the long-time #1 Separated at Birth: My Virtual AGSG Poster Presentation in the top spot. The number of comments was overwhelming. There were 202 comments during the drawing period - by far a record for my blog. Most gratifying of all was how favorable all the comments were. There would've been over 400 comments if I could've thanked each and every person whose comments made me smile. Thank you, readers and fellow quilt bloggers!

Sunnysides will bring a smile to everyone's face

Judging by the comments, it seems there are a lot of people who will be disappointed they didn't win. If you did not win the drawing, I hope you'll still consider getting your own pair of Willy Wonky shoes. There are currently 71 styles to choose from. Click here to visit the Wonkyworld shop.

So, on to the winner of the drawing. A random number was drawn using random.org, and the lucky winner is...COOL CATS AND QUILTS - Gerri Richards of Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada! An e-mail has been sent to the lucky winner. Many, many thanks to all who participated!!

A Year of Memorable Moments

2011-12-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

July: Lucy Mingo signs her quilt 33 years after she made it.

Many, many memorable moments in 2011 - from Lucy Mingo signing her quilt, to the moment I saw Beauty Secrets hanging at the Benton County Museum. Really, I'm speechless. Here are some of my favorite memorable moments from 2011.

January: Small Wonders catalog officially released

February: Small Wonders on display at Latimer Quilt and Textile Center

March: Jo Barry & friends win viewer's choice at the NW Quilters Show

April: the quilt that made me weep, by Andrea Balosky

April: a diminutive Amish crib quilt got a lot of attention in Paducah

May: Beauty Secrets catalog underway

June: Antiques Roadshow comes to Eugene

July: Lucy Mingo and friends sign her quilt in Sisters

Lucy Mingo's quilt, Bible Story, 1979

July: Old Quilts lecture at Sisters

July: Little Boo was strangely attracted to this quilt. I was pinning a sleeve

August: eight quilts, including this Airplanes quilt, sell on eBay

August: Beauty Secrets installation day

September: Treasures in the Trunk, curated by Mary Bywater Cross

September: 20 antique quilts on display at the NW Quilting Expo

September: I catch 1970s fever

October: I morph into Willy Wonky and work to launch the new web site

November: Janis Pearson gives me a quilt she made in 1972

November: Mottainai exhibit at the Japanese Garden

December: I discover Zazzle and start designing shoes and gifts

Wow! What a year!! I can't believe it's coming to a close, but I'm already looking forward to another great year in 2012. Happy Holidays!!

A Year of Collecting

2011-12-17T00:17:00.000-08:00

Star Medallion, c. 1800, unknown maker, Rhode Island

What a wonderful year it's been for collecting quilts. There's not much more I can say, but I thought I'd repost some of my favorites. Here are 20 great ones I acquired in 2011.

Mountain Mist New York Beauty, c. 1930

Crossroads, c. 1870, Texas

"New York Beauty" c. 1870 by Florence Caldonia Corley Shealy, SC

1970s double knit polyester quilt, unknown maker

"A Star in the Garden" 2010 by Mary Kerr

Wool Crazy Quilt Top, c. 1900

Original design from Washington, 1970s

Crazy Block Sampler, c. 1900, Michigan

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul, c. 1830, New England

Nine Patch quilt top, c. 1840, eastern United States

New York Beauty, c. 1940

Whilecloth Chintz quilt, c. 1820, eastern United States

Barn Raising Log Cabin, c. 1940, Ohio

American Flag quilt, 1976, Florida

Houses, c. 1975

Unknown Design in double knit polyester, c. 1975

The Thrifty Wife, c. 1900, Wisconsin

Stars, 1972, by Janis Pearson, Oregon

Album Sampler, 1870, Pennsylvania

There were others, but I think the point is clear. It's been an incredible year for collecting, and if I'm not careful I'll need a much bigger house for all the quilts. Hope you enjoyed the show!!

A Year of Exhibits

2011-12-16T04:33:00.000-08:00

"Beauty Secrets" at the Benton County Museum was a smashing success!

Today, I received a Christmas letter. It was just like a lot of other letters sent out by friends and families during the holidays. There was a brief summary of how the year went, a few details about each member of the family, and a holiday greeting. This type of letter is a familiar tradition, sometimes taken for granted, but it got me thinking.

I wanted to send a brief reply to say how things had been going, but soon realized summarizing the year in just a few sentences wasn't so easy. So much happened. It was a remarkable year, and I'm so grateful. In many ways, it was a year of exhibits.

Small Wonders exhibit at Latimer Quilt and Textile Center

As the year opened, I was working on the "Small Wonders" exhibit of doll quilts by Andrea Balosky at the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook. It was exciting to discover the quilts and do an exhibit, and it was my first curatorial experience. To accompany the exhibit, I produced a 120-page, full-color catalog with pictures of all the quilts and a wonderful artist's statement.

Albert Einstein by Andrea Balosky

I probably could've just transported the quilts, hung them, brought them back and left it at that - but there was something very compelling about the quilts. Each one was a tribute to a person, and as a whole body of work, it was incredibly inspirational. So I felt I had to do a catalog. It was just the right thing to do. I did all the photography and layout, and self-published the whole thing through Blurb. That catalog, by the way, can be found here.

American Legion Auxiliary quilt on display at the High Desert Museum

The middle part of the year was very much occupied with preparations for "Beauty Secrets: 150 Years of History in One Quilt Pattern" at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon. It was the first-ever museum exhibit of quilts from my collection. So, I was busy organizing quilts and working on a catalog for that exhibit, but there were other things going on.

Timeless Quilts at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland

One of my quilts was on display in Bend at the High Desert Museum. I was also involved with the Timeless Quilts exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, and later in the year displayed 20 quilts at the Northwest Quilting Expo. And there were a lot of lectures, including the Quilter's Affair at Sisters.

For me, the main event was "Beauty Secrets: 150 Years of History in One Quilt Pattern" at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon. The exhibit came together in about a year, but it was really the result of 22 years of collecting. It included a timeline of quilts made of the same essential pattern over a 150 year period, and drew record numbers to the Benton County Museum. The catalog is 80 pages, full color, and includes 42 examples of the New York Beauty quilt made between 1850 and today. You can find the catalog here.

Not a bad year's work, but that's only the exhibits. There were also lectures, publications...and lots of collecting going on. A productive year, and if I was to send out a Christmas letter, it would be all about quilts.

The "Missing" Blocks

2011-12-14T01:17:00.000-08:00

Last December, I blogged about the Album Quilt with Lyre , c. 1850, by Mary Couchman Small of Martinsburg, Berkeley County West Virginia. There were several posts: Four Exquisite Flower Pots, Four Circular Vine Blocks, Be Still My Heart, 1,000,000 Stitches?, Whatcha-Call-Its or Whirligigs?, The Lyre, Five Symmetrical Blocks, A Bird in the Coxcomb, Scherenschnitte?, and Unusual Princes Feather Block.

At the time, I realized there were four remaining blocks. I'd intended to blog about them, but got caught up in the holidays and didn't get around to it. Well, better late than never. Here are the missing blocks.

The first block is a heart shaped wreath with berries. It is upside-down and at an angle on the quilt, but it is certainly heart shaped. The second block is a circular vine wreath with flowers, leaves, and buds in each corner. The third is a small basket with oddly shaped leaves and flowers, including stems that end at the basket handle, and a mysterious curved sprig below the basket.

The last block is the real reason why I wanted to do this blog around the holidays. It's a Christmas cactus! Now, I've seen other patterns called Christmas Cactus, but most of those are either Coxcomb or Cactus Basket. The pattern here is undeniably a Christmas Cactus, even though it is an original interpretation of the plant.

Full view of the quilt by Mary Couchman Small

If you missed all the other posts about this quilt, I hope you'll go back and take a look. Also, much of the story about this quilt - and its sister quilt made by Couchman Small's daughter, Harriett - is in a blog called Separated at Birth: My Virtual AQSG Poster Presentation from September, 2010. Interesting story, worth the read. Enjoy!

Who Will Win? And How?

2011-12-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

Coming Soon: Barn Raisers II De Luxe

I'm astonished by all the comments on my Blog Hop Party Give-Away, so I thought I'd do a quick post to thank everyone for commenting and provide a few details about how the drawing will be done.

Each of the comment posts will be numbered in chronological order. Only one post from each person will be counted, and my own posts will not be counted. From there, I will use random.org. I will provide the numerical range, 1 to whatever it ends up being, and it will select a random number. The person whose comment corresponds with that number will be the winner.

Coming soon: Flower Power Hi Tops

I will contact the winner and announce who has won within a day of the end of the drawing, on December 17th, 2011 at midnight. Comments posted after midnight on the 17th are welcome, but will not be counted in the drawing. The winner may select any size, and any one of a number of shoe designs in my Wonkyworld shop at Zazzle. More designs are being added each day, and there should be at least 50 to choose from by the time the drawing is done. Maybe more!

Should you be considering shopping, there is a sale going on today, with some products up to 75% off. Go to www.zazzle.com for details, and click the banner at top for the discount code.

Shoe Salesman?

2011-12-10T21:26:00.000-08:00

Coming Soon: Flower Power Flats!!

Way back in my high school days, I attended a boarding school in New Jersey and lived next door to a young man named Solomon. His father had a successful shoe business, and a lot of the boys liked to poke fun at "Sol" because everyone knew he was really being groomed to go into the family business. That's what he did, he's had great success, and I have a lot of admiration and respect for him.

As much as I've admired Solomon, never in a million years did I think I'd be doing anything with shoes, except buying them, wearing them or kicking them off. But I can now say without any hesitation that I'm a shoe salesman. All the positive comments on my Blog Hop Party Give-Away have been just wonderful. People are talking...but they're also buying...and once again, I'm blown away by the quilt community.

When I tell my friends and family about the shoes, they usually say, "Are you serious?" and then I show them the shoes...

Coming soon: Hyacinth Highsteppers

I guess already I knew my quilts were popular, but the idea of putting the designs on Keds to create stylish and unique footwear that quilters love...it's something I never imagined.

Ruby Slippers

There are minimal royalties involved. I get a 10% cut plus referrals, but that's not what's important to me. Getting quilts out there into the world is what's important. In addition to the shoes, I've got a whole line of gifts available, from postcards to puzzles, from aprons to ornaments. Not everyone can own a Willy Wonky quilt, so offering functional and decorative items featuring the quilts is the next best thing. Big thank you to all who have commented, and special thanks to those who will soon receive their own Willy Wonky quilt shoes. May you enjoy them in good health! If you haven't entered my give-away, please do - and good luck!!

Blog Hop Party Give-Away!!

2011-12-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of holiday giving, I'm participating in this year's Blog Hop Party with Give-Aways. Each participating blogger offers some type of give-away, setting their own rules about how the give-away will work. All participating bloggers will be linked to the host site, Quilting Gallery.

So, what am I giving away?

Sunsteppers

SHOES!! One pair of custom-made Willy Wonky Quilt Sneakers by Keds, to be exact! I am offering these shoes currently through Zazzle, and new designs are being added daily. Ladies shoes come in two types of slip-ons and lo lace-up. Men's shoes come in low and hi top lace-up. Here are a few samples.

Double Wedding Ring Slippers

Tumbling Bloxfords De Luxe

Yorks II

Barnraisers

Sturgeon Bay Stompers

To enter, simply post a comment on this blog entry describing where you would go wearing quilter's shoes. Comments must be received from now until the end of the day on December 17th. A winner will be drawn randomly after the closing date and announced on the blog.

Upon notification, the winner will select a shoe style and provide shoe size and mailing address. Delivery time will be several weeks depending on location of winner and time to manufacture the shoes, but I think you'll agree it's gonna be worth the wait! to see more, visit my Zazzle shop.

See other gifts at Zazzle.

Shopping: For Quilt Lovers

2011-12-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

When people see my quilts, they sometimes wish they could take the quilts home. Now they can...sort of... Wonkyworld at Zazzle is open for business, just in time for holiday shopping. My shop was designed specifically with quilt lovers in mind, and I'm happy to offer decorative and functional items. It's shopping for quilt lovers!

If you're a fan of the blog, treat yourself to a souvenir. Show your love of quilts, and have a tangible reminder to come visit the blog. Most orders received this week should arrive in time for the holidays. See other gifts available on Zazzle, and to visit my shop, c lick here.

Dazzled by Zazzle

2011-12-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

Pending design: Sturgeon Bay Stompers

I've been designing things as long as I can remember. Over the last 25 years, I've designed books, book covers, awards, business cards, pins, athletic wear, swimming caps, postcards, posters, T-shirts, banners, calendars, logos, etc., etc., etc. Most of the time, if a design comes to fruition, I've gone through individual vendors to purchase the goods, and then either used or resold them.

Willy Wonky iPad case

The print-on-demand craze of the last decade has been mostly about books for me, and I've used Blurb and iPhoto to produce my items. I never knew about Zazzle until this week, when a lovely lady named Cathleen Savage who runs a Zazzle business called QuiltedPhones contacted me asking about quilt images. We discussed some ideas, but as soon as I discovered Zazzle, I wanted to create my own products.

Blue Shade Shoes

For anyone who isn't familiar with Zazzle, it's like print-on-demand gone wild. There are mugs, mousepads, iPhone cases, cards, posters, ornaments, stickers, laptop sleeves, T-shirts and even Keds sneakers! That's what really got me going - the idea that I could design sneakers. After poking around on Zazzle for an afternoon, designing some products and ordering a few Christmas gifts, I realized I needed my own Zazzle shop.

Cathleen was very gracious when I told her of my plans to start my own shop, even though it meant I would be holding on to my images. And I'm thankful to her for leading me to Zazzle. To visit my Zazzle shop, click here.

Sensational Scrappy Stashbusters

2011-11-30T04:20:00.000-08:00

Scrappy Crazy Block Sampler, c. 1900, Michigan

Today, a Facebook friend asked if I could provide more information about the quilts in the pictures I'd posted. In particular, she wanted to know if the quilts were all part of my collection, or if they were just interesting ones I'd found elsewhere. When I said they were all mine and I usually posted pictures whenever I received new quilts, she said, "Wow. Seems like you get a new one almost every day. The UPS truck must know the way to your house!"

Indeed.

Scrappy Bars Crib Quilt, c. 1970, Pennsylvania

This week I've had four new arrivals including two from eBay and two I found in Centralia, Washington, on my way back from my lecture in Tacoma. The theme of the week seems to be sensational scrappy stashbusters. I still need to take pictures of one of the pieces from Centralia, so there are three pictured here in this blog.

The first is a scrappy Crazy Block Sampler from Michigan, found on eBay, which absolutely sparkles with color. The quilt includes some orphan blocks and wonderful contrast between darks and bright colors. The second quilt, also found on eBay from a seller in Pennsylvania, is a scrappy Bars crib quilt. Even though it is a small piece with a very simple pattern, the use of color is lively and visually sophisticated.

Housetop Strips with Courthouse Steps, c. 1970, WA

The third quilt is one of two I found in Centralia, Washington on the way back from my lecture in Tacoma on Tuesday. I was driving down I-5, and saw a sign for an antiques district, so I pulled off and had a look around. I almost missed this quilt in one of the last shops I visited, but when I was lingering and chatting with the shop owners, I spotted this quilt tucked away, low to the ground. Didn't even have to unfold it to know I wanted it, but we opened it up quickly just to check the condition.

I'm not sure exactly what to call this quilt. It's like an irregular Housetop design made of strips, and includes elements of the Courthouse Steps Log Cabin design. The fabrics and colors scream 1970s. All of these quilts are scrappy. All would serve as great ideas for quilters who want to pare down a stash, and in terms of visual impact, all of them are sensational!

Masterpiece Quilts: Road Trip!

2011-11-29T16:48:00.000-08:00

Today, I took a road trip to Tacoma, Washington, to speak to the Puyallup-based Comforter Quilt Guild. It was my fourth lecture in the last two weeks - and the third time I've given my "Masterpiece Theater" lecture in this period - but each lecture was its own thing, and it kept me energized. Today, I brought eight quilts, mostly from the 19th century, for the hour-long lecture. Here's what I brought.

I began with three album or sampler quilts, all vastly different. There was the Mary Couchman Small Album with Lyre from West Virginia, c. 1850; the Album with Rooster by Hannah J. Swin of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1868; and the Sampler with Birds and Wreaths, which I just received during the past week.

The next group included three pieced quilts, all variations on the pattern most widely known as New York Beauty made in the mid-to-late 19th century, before the New York Beauty name was coined.

I wrapped up with a modern looking wool utility quilt and Lucy Mingo's Bible Story quilt from Gee's Bend. Both quilts represented my evolving idea of what a masterpiece quilt could be. During the talk, I also shared some books, including Shelly Zegart's "American Quilt Collections: Antique Quilt Masterpieces"; Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedias of pieced and applique quilt patterns; Eileen Trestain's "Dating Fabrics" and a few others. It was another fun day, a great group, and I hope to have the opportunity to visit them again in the future! Last lecture of 2011 will be on December 12th at the Northwest Quilters meeting. That'll make 14 lectures for the year. It's been a great year!

More Pictures from "Mottainai: The Fabric of Life"

2011-11-27T04:31:00.000-08:00

I found a few more pictures from "Mottainai: The Fabric of Life" - on display one more day, today, at the Japanese Garden in Portland. It's open from 10am-4pm today, and then it will be gone! These pictures include some of the garments made out of natural materials such as Wisteria, textile samples and bags, and I tossed in a couple shots from the garden at the end. Even on a grey day, the Japanese Garden is glorious. I like to go there at different times of the year - always a new experience! Enjoy the pictures, and for more info about the exhibition click here.

...and if you missed the pictures I posted yesterday, click here.

Mottainai: The Fabric of Life

2011-11-26T17:55:00.000-08:00

Recently, I had the great pleasure of seeing "Mottainai: The Fabric of Life" at the Japanese Garden in Portland. This exhibition of antique Japanese folk textiles from the Meiji period (1868-1912) is comprised of selections from the private collections of Stephen Szczepanek of Sri in Brooklyn, and Kei Kawasaki of Gallery Kei in Kyoto.

The exhibition demonstrates the remarkable ability of the Japanese to not only make do with the very little they had, but to make art with it. Here are a bunch of pictures from the exhibition. Don't miss the detail shots, and more info at the end. Click pictures to enlarge.

These garments are turned inside-out to show the remarkably pieced linings.

This garment was made of Kudzu, a naturally water-repellent material

Indigo materials were common because of the native indigo plants

Not a scrap was wasted.

These objects were absolutely fascinating, and reminded me very much of the denim work clothes quilts from Gee's Bend. Sadly, there is only one day remaining in the exhibition. Tomorrow (Sunday, November 27th, 2011) is the last day. If you're anywhere in the vicinity, just get there. It's worth it! For more info, click here.

Fundraising Quilts

2011-11-26T13:03:00.000-08:00

AAI Family Tree Quilt - in progress

Recently, I had the pleasure of photographing a wonderful fundraising quilt for the Adoption Advocates International. I thought it would be a good blog topic because there is a long, intriguing tradition of fundraising quilts in the United States. Fundraising quilts were first made in the 19th century, and by World War I, communities all across the nation were making them. Many of these quilts were inscribed with names, often done in ink or with embroidery, and some included actual signatures.

American Legion Auxiliary Fundraising Quilt, Salem, Oregon, 1931

In these signature quilts, each donor would be represented with their name on the quilt, and completed quilts were often raffled off. Sometimes, raffle winners would donate the quilt back to the charity and it would be raffled again.

The 1931 American Legion Auxiliary quilt from Salem, Oregon, is a great example of this type of quilt. It includes a center medallion prominently featuring the Auxiliary logo, and rows of embroidered names around the medallion. Leaders of the organization received prime positions on the quilt, with names and titles appearing around the inner circle closest to the logo. Two names of deceased supporters appear with gold stars embroidered next to their names.

Spanish American War Commemorative Inscribed Quilt, c. 1915

Another terrific example is an inscribed red and white Spanish American War Commemorative Quilt found in Seattle. This quilt has 784 names including names of ranked military and notables such as Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and Clara Barton. Each block has a center disc with historical references to names of battleships and events in the Spanish American War. The quilt was made around the time of World War I, and is presumably part of an effort to raise funds for the war.

Adoption Advocates International, a Port Angeles, Washington based international adoption agency had a great idea for this year's fundraising quilt. For the past few years, AAI volunteer and quiltmaker Barb Patton has made an annual quilt to raise funds for Layla House, a child care facility operated by AAI. These quilts were raffled off and the proceeds supported the agency's humanitarian mission. This year, AAI is trying something unique and different - a family tree quilt.

Here's what the Family Tree looked like as an unfinished top

Supporters can add leaves and other elements with inscribed names

This quilt is waiting for just one thing before completion - the names of families and supporters on the leaves, branches, trunk and background. There are birds, butterflies, snails, squirrels, rabbits, and even shooting stars - and each supporter makes the quilt more fun and lively. Since I am adopted and have such admiration for my parents and those who adopt, I made a donation for a leaf with my family's name. November is National Adoption Month, so it's a great time to support AAI's efforts by helping them fill the landscape surrounding their beautiful family tree. To learn more about the AAI Family Tree Quilt, click here.

"On a Quilted Breeze" by the Oregon Coastal Quilters

"Before I-84" by the Northwest Quilters

Of course, I couldn't blog about fundraising quilts without mentioning the remarkable quilts being created all across Oregon. Sisters always has an amazing raffle quilt, and the incredible "On a Quilted Breeze" from the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild was recently on display in Houston. My guild, the Northwest Quilters, is raffling off a sensational covered wagon quilt called "Before I-84" celebrating the journey across the Oregon Trail. For more info, click here.

So, the tradition of fundraising quilts is alive and well and today's quilters, taking a page out of the notebooks of their ancestors, are making creative, important quilts. If you see a raffle quilt or other type of fundraising quilt, I hope you'll participate in the benevolent tradition of beautiful and unusual American quilts. I know I do. I've got stacks of old raffle tickets. Maybe I'll get lucky one day. :)

A Dream

2011-11-25T14:36:00.000-08:00

Applique Sampler, c. 1880, Pennsylvania

If this amazing applique sampler quilt looks familiar, there are a lot of good reasons. I've had my eye on it for years, and have traced its auspicious journey from my "first sighting" in the Quilt Digest to its arrival on my front doorstep this afternoon. The interesting thing is a dream led me to acquire it.

In 1986, the quilt appeared in the fourth edition of "The Quilt Digest" as part of an article by Michael Kile, about "the dealer's dealer" Sandra Mitchell. There is a full view picture on page 79. I first read the article several years ago, and immediately recognized the quilt when it was available for sale through Shelly Zegart's web site. However, I could not afford it at the time.

I continued to check Shelly's web site periodically to see if it was still available, and one day, I discovered it had been sold. Not too long afterwards, I came across a picture of the quilt on the Facebook page of Houston collector Tom Reddick, who happens to be a Facebook friend. Even though I was sad to miss my opportunity, I was glad to know where it was.

Some time this year, the quilt popped up on The Quilt Complex web site as a consignment. The price was reasonable, and I was keeping it in the back of my mind. If I had any money left after taxes and other fall expenses, maybe I could buy it.

I'd almost forgotten about it when I woke up the other day thinking about the quilt. I had been dreaming about it. Half-asleep, I made my way over to the computer and checked the web to see if it was still available. I thought for sure it would be gone after the International Quilt Festival in Houston, where The Quilt Complex had a booth. It took my eyes a few moments to adjust to the computer light, and then it took my mind a few moments to wrap itself around what I was seeing. It was on sale, price reduced.

Immediately I sent a note to Julie Silber asking if it was still available, and within the next three e-mails I'd arranged to buy it. Funny how the idea came to me in a dream. I think the Quilt Gods intervened.

photos courtesy of The Quilt Complex

Embroidered Crazy Block Top with Crazy Border

2011-11-23T08:44:00.000-08:00

Recently I found this wonderful wool quilt top, and the unusual design really caught my eye. It's an embroidered crazy block with a crazy border, and I don't recall ever seeing one quite like it. I posted a picture to the Facebook page for Antique and Vintage Quilts, and my friend Pat Sloan asked to see detail pictures, so I thought I'd share some more pictures here.

The center block is embroidered with a flower basket and the name Clifford.

Wreath with leaves, flowers and ribbons.

Wreath with dragonflies and flowers

Block with embroidered flowers, and a section of the pieced border

Embroidered cat with ribbon and birds

I bought the top thinking I would sell it, but I may get it finished first. I have another embroidered wool quilt from the same period, turn-of-the-century, finished with a knife-edge binding and flannel back. So, that's how I'm thinking this piece should be finished. If there's anyone out there who feels like it would be a fun project to finish this piece, I'd be willing to sell it as a top and let you have all the fun! I'm also willing to share pictures of the other completed quilt for inspiration on an appropriate method of finishing. If you're interested, just send me an e-mail.

Two Scrappy Double-Knit Polyester Quilts

2011-11-22T18:12:00.000-08:00

Bowties, c. 1975, California

My quest for 1970s quilts has turned up two more colorful examples made of double-knit polyester. The first is a vibrant, multicolored Bowties quilt with hot pink, lime green, and a multitude of other solids and prints. The bowties run diagonally in the blocks, from upper left to lower right, which gives the quilt a wonderful sense of movement.

25-Patch Grid, c. 1970, Michigan

The second quilt is a wonky, multicolored 25-Patch Grid quilt from Michigan. This quilt is reminiscent of the utility quilts from the Southeast, and has what I like to call a casual geometry. The patches are roughly the same size and shape, but not exact. Horizontal strips jump out, lending structure to the design, while the vertical strips between blocks blend in more.

So far, the sophisticated use of color is one thing I take away from my search for 70s quilts. In the 1850s red, white, and green were most prevalent. In the Depression Easter egg colors dominated. In the 1970s there was Technicolor, influenced by Pop Art, evolving multimedia, and a generation of film and television. The luxurious fabrics and high level of craft may have been mostly absent, but I feel the 1970s quilts stand out for their innovative use of color.

Melting Pot: 19th Century Quilts

2011-11-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Early 19th century wholecloth chintz quilt

Last night, I did a lecture for the Westside Quilters Guild of Hillsboro, Oregon - another very fun group! The topic was "Melting Pot: Quilts from the 19th Century" and it was based on a self-published book I made for friends and family last Christmas. In the lecture, I gave an overview of quilt history from the earliest American wholecloth quilts, through the "best" quilts of the Civil War era, to the Victorian, Amish, and wool quilts of the late 19th century.

Nine-Patch Top, unknown maker, New England, c. 1830

The book was a survey of quilts from my collection and included various types of quilts. The lecture was more of a whirlwind tour of several important trends in quiltmaking during the 19th century. It was the first time I'd brought out the recently acquired wholecloth chintz quilt, which served as an example of type of quilt made from the 1760s through the second quarter of the 19th century. When discussing the quilt, I described some of the details and talked about imported fabrics and the advent of fabric production in America. By the 1840s, production was in full swing. The 1830s Nine-Patch top was made during the transitional period, when both imported and domestically produced fabrics were in use.

Detail: Album with Lyre, c. 1850, Mary Couchman Small, West Virginia

Block detail: MacMillan Family quilt, Monroe County, KY, 1868

The next two quilts represented the best of the "best" quilts from the Civil War era. First up was the Album with Lyre, which was hanging for the duration of the lecture. This quilt is among the finest examples of applique and quilting, and quilters always love getting up close to it. The MacMillan Family quilt, a variation of the pattern best known as New York Beauty, stirred a similar reaction from the audience. Both quilts are superlative examples of highly refined work, and both include solid, domestically produced fabrics.

Amish Nine-Patch crib quilt, c. 1900, Ohio

The last three quilts served as examples of the way quilters used color in late 19th century. Interestingly, the quilts also represented three different genres. I showed the Ohio-made Amish crib quilt from the Esprit Collection; the silk Diamonds quilt, a Victorian masterpiece related to the Crazy Quilt movement; and a wonderfully modern looking wool utility quilt. All three pieces displayed a darker palette with lush, earthy colors and rich jewel tones, and each quilt represented a specific type of fabric.

Block detail: utility quilt from the late 19th or early 20th century

Silk Diamonds, c. 1890 - I call it an "OCD" quilt

I always enjoy the reactions when people see these quilts for the first time. These reactions are probably similar to my own when I discover a great quilt. But beyond that, I love sharing what I've learned about quilts and quilt history. Many thanks to the Westside Quilters for inviting me to come lecture. I'm looking forward to visiting with the group again in the future! To check out the Westside Quilters Guild, click here.

Five Polyester Crib Quilts

2011-11-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

Five Polyester crib quilts arrived last week. Three are tied, and all are made from square patches of multicolor double-knit. So far, I've found ten crib or baby sized quilts from the 70s, and I'm wondering if they were more often made than crib quilts of other periods. Here are pictures of all five new ones.

I can only imagine these quilts are like a bad flashback for some quilters, who may remember working with double-knit polyester. Apparently, it wasn't the easiest material to use. It is stretchy and dense making it tricky to piece and difficult to quilt. That's why so many of them are tied.

In a way, it's like a love hate relationship. Since I'm the guy who can't thread a needle, I think of these quilts more in terms of quilt history and art history, and they certainly hold a unique place in both fields of study. The 70s quilts intrigue me because of the way quilters were using color. Even the pastels were technicolor! The fabrics are also a lot of fun. Check out the detail of the double-knit clown fabric. Now, how can you look at that and not smile?

What is a Masterpiece Quilt?

2011-11-19T15:37:00.000-08:00

During my collecting journey, I gained an appreciation for
wool quilts. This one was made roughly 100 years ago
but there's something very modern about it.

Earlier today, I did a lecture for the Columbia River Gorge Quilters Guild in Hood River, Oregon, and the subject was masterpiece quilts. I've done variations on this lecture before, and today I focused on the idea of a masterpiece quilt and how my idea evolved.

Block detail: cotton pieced quilt, unknown maker, c. 1850, Kentucky

In the program description, I asked, "What is a Masterpiece quilt? Masterpiece is a term that's usually associated with the fine arts, such as painting or sculpture. In the world of art, a masterpiece is a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship - an artist's best piece of work. People don't always think of quilts as works of art, but they are!

Detail, Album quilt by Mary Couchman Small, West Virginia, c. 1850

We started with "best" quilts, the type of quilt collectors were collecting in the 80s, leading up to the time when I bought my first quilt in 1989. The level of skill, dense quilting, expert construction and detail left no doubt that these quilts were masterpieces. They spoke for themselves. Coincidentally, 1989 is the year I saw my first quilt exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, featuring masterpiece Applique quilts from their permanent collection.

Economy Patch, c. 1810, New England

Around 2001, wool utility quilts from the late 1800s and early 1900s started to catch my attention. Compared with the early-to-mid 19th century cotton quilts, the wool quilts were a whole different animal. The bold geometry, modern looking designs and often earthy combinations expanded my understanding of what a masterpiece quilt could be. More recently, I've developed a true love for the early 1800s wool quilts, which are often extraordinarily modern looking and visually sophisticated.

Block Detail: scrap quilt, c. 1970 - I call it "Wild Thing"

Toward the end of the lecture, I talked about one of the biggest revelations I had as a collector. In 2002, I saw The Quilts of Gee's Bend at the Whitney Museum in New York. It was just the second major quilt show I'd seen. The exhibition opened my eyes to all types of quilts, in any condition, and expanded my definition of a masterpiece quilt way beyond the wool utility quilts. It even led to what I'm collecting right now- primarily 1970s quilts.

"Wild Thing" - I think I love you...

The last quilt I showed is a quilt I call "Wild Thing" - and it represents a point at which I was drawn to a quilt, but needed to figure out why. Sometimes the things that are most difficult to understand are most worth getting to know. 1970s quilts, many made of materials such as double knit polyester, are not widely appreciated or collected right now, but I believe some day they will be.

So, it was a wonderful morning with a great group! And they put on a fantastic quilt show annually in September, so mark your calendars! To check out the Columbia River Gorge Quilters Guild, click here.

Portland Modern Quilt Guild - A Fun Group!

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Night Flight, 1982, by Andrea Leong Scadden, aka Andrea Balosky

Yesterday I visited the Portland Modern Quilt Guild at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland for an evening talk about masterpiece quilts. The room was packed, and what a fun group! There was lots of laughter, great questions, and the usual wide eyes, craned necks and audible gasps (I love those). The talk was an adaptation of my "Masterpiece Theatre" lecture, tailored to the guild.

Cross Roads, c. 1870, Texas

It was a whirlwind tour of my journey as a collector, and how my idea of a masterpiece quilt evolved over the years. The story started with the type of quilts that collectors were buying in the 1980s when I started collecting - "best" quilts - which are easily recognized by their wonderful design, great construction, and dense quilting.

Album with Lyre, 1850, Mary Couchman Small, West Virginia

From there, we went to Alabama when I showed Lucy Mingo's Bible Story quilt, made in 1979. Seeing the Gee's Bend exhibit in New York was a real turning point for me. I realized the definition of a masterpiece quilt was much more broad than my preconceived idea of the "best" quilt.

Bible Story by Lucy Mingo, Gee's Bend, Alabama, 1979

It was a big jump, but that's kind of how it happened for me. The first quilt exhibit I ever saw was Applique Quilts at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The second quilt exhibit I saw was The Quilts of Gee's Bend. It was a lot to digest in a short time, but my art history background was a good foundation for understanding various styles of artistic expression. I loved the Gee's Bend quilts from the moment I first laid eyes on them!

Blue Skies and Green Tangent, 2011, by Andrea Balosky

I showed nine quilts in 45 minutes! Crazy, I know, but four were grouped together when I spoke about Andrea Balosky. Everyone seemed to have fun...I know I did! Thank you to the Portland Modern Quilt Guild for inviting me speak. I hope to return to the guild in the future to speak about more great quilts! To check out the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, click here.

Thank You, Janis!

2011-11-13T11:50:00.000-08:00

Stars, 1972, Janis Pearson, Oregon

Yesterday I received a generous gift from Janis Pearson during the meeting of the Columbia-Willamette Quilt Study Group at the Willamette Heritage Center Mission Mill Dye House. She gave me wonderful star quilt she made here in Oregon in 1972.

The quilt made with eight-pointed stars constructed of multicolored calico and floral print diamonds, appliqued to a white ground, and each star is outlined with decorative embroidery. It is amazing to see so many great calico prints after enjoying blogs about 70s calicos by Barbara Brackman on her Material Culture blog. The fabrics in this Star quilt are in perfect condition!

Janis Pearson, member of the Northwest Quilters and the Columbia-Willamette Quilt Study Group, is among the most talented hand quilters I've ever met. She recently donated a jaw-dropping whitework quilt to the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center, and the quilt is densely and decoratively quilted with tiny stitches. Compared to the whitework quilt, which was made several years later, the Star quilt is sparsely quilted. But the lovely four-leaf clovers are perfectly placed and very well done. Clearly, this quilt was made by a gifted quilter.

Of course, I'm elated to have a 1970s quilt made in Oregon by an Oregonian, particularly one I admire so much. This lively quilt has a sense of movement. The stars appear to dance and spin because of the way the colors are alternated. For me, the cherry on top of the sundae is the inscription on the lower left corner. It says Janis M. Pearson, 1972. It's a star among 70s quilts. Thank you, Janis!

Five Quilts for Sale, More on the Way

2011-11-12T00:32:00.000-08:00

Here are the first five quilts for sale at www.willywonky.com. More quilts will be added this week, so please bookmark me and visit again soon!

Split Nine-Patch, Straight Furrows, also called Perkiomen Valley Patch,
cottons, 70" x 72", unknown maker, c. 1880, Pennslyvania, $495

One Patch Variation, Optical Illusion, cottons, 68" x 84",
unknown maker, c. 1870, Ohio, $395

Drunkard's Path, cottons, 68" x 77", unknown maker,
c. 1910, Michigan, $425

Nine-Patch Variation, Cross in Window, wools, 60" x 88",
unknown maker, c. 1920, Texas, $325

Wild Goose Chase, cottons, c. 1840, 110" x 113",
unknown maker, New Jersey, $795

Introducing: willywonky.com

2011-11-11T00:13:00.000-08:00

It's 11-11-11 - a lucky day to announce the launch of my new web site: www.willywonky.com! The site will include quilts for sale and quilt-related services such as buying and selling quilts, photography, consignments, assessments and appraisals.

If you're looking at the profile picture and wondering what that's all about, it's a rendering of me as Willy Wonky, my quilting alter-ego. No, I didn't wear a wig and rent a purple tux. I found an old film still of Gene Wilder from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and morphed it with a picture of me. Isn't Photoshop great?

For Sale: Monumental 1840s Wild Goose Chase, New Jersey, $795

So, I'm just getting started. I'll be the first to admit I've put more thought than actual work into the project, but I'm pleased to start right here, right now. As I open for business, there are just five quilts listed for sale, but I have dozens of quilts I'd like to sell. More offerings will be added gradually over the next several weeks.

To visit the new web site, go to: www.willywonky.com.

That 70s Surf, Part Two

2011-11-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

In August, I did a blog entry called "That 70s Surf" with some favorite things from the 70s. Since I've been thinking about the 70s quilts a lot lately, I thought I'd do another 70s Surf blog with more things I remember all too well. Of course, there was the Pet Rock.

When I first saw this classic McDonald's Big Mac commercial I had to practice saying "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun." Even though I was just a kid, I wanted to be smarter than all the grown-ups in the commercial who couldn't get it right. Some people were just in a haze in the 70s, but nothing got past me.

That's not to say I wasn't a total goofball. The classic "Manamanah" from Sesame Street was one of the songs I still, to this day, find myself singing. I was busy avoiding schoolwork, watching cartoons, and collecting Wacky Packs.

Without question, my favorite food in the 1970s was cereal. Any kind of cereal would do, if it was full of sugar, had cartoon characters and prizes or games. I ate Quisp, Count Chocula, Frankenberry, Boo Berry, King Vitamin, Super Sugar Crisp, Sugar Pops, Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles, Cookie Crisp, and my all-time favorite, Cap'n Crunch! There was regular Cap'n Crunch, Peanut Butter Crunch, Vanilla Crunch, and my absolute favorite, Cap'n Crunch with Crunchberries!!

It wasn't until the late 70s that I learned about pizza parlors. Before that, Mom made homemade pizza sometimes but the rest of the time we had Tree Tavern frozen pizza.

The Tree Tavern started as a tavern and restaurant on Crosby Avenue in Paterson, New Jersey, and was a landmark location in Paterson through the 1950’s and 1960’s - right in the heart of the city. The Francia family presided over the restaurant from the very beginning. They froze the very first Tree Tavern Pizza in 1955 and was the first frozen pizza ever sold in a supermarket. I would still eat a Tree Tavern pizza, but in 1977 our family moved to south Jersey, closer to Philly than New York. That's where we discovered the local pizza parlor, Sal & Joes. It was similar to the one in the opening scene of Saturday Night Fever.

Toward the end of the 70s, disco wasn't as cool as it used to be, so I started listening to classic rock on WMMR in Philadelphia. That's when I discovered Pink Floyd. I don't think I was ever the same after that! Developing an appreciation for time and money was just the beginning.

Willy's Quilt Buying Season

2011-11-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Bicentennial 13-star American Flag Quilt, purchased for $9.00.

Each year, I have a short, concentrated quilt buying season, which usually lasts from September through early to mid November. It's probably no coincidence that I find more great quilts when I've got a little extra spending money, but I still feel these months are very strong for fresh-to-the-market quilts. Things are starting to slow down a bit, but several new acquisitions have rolled in over the last few weeks. Some of these quilts will be available for sale when I launch my new web site, Willy Wonky Quilts. Others are going to be part my collection. Here are some of my favorites.

Monumental size polyester Crazy Quilt, c. 1975, Idaho

Kaleidoscopic polyester Sampler, c. 1970, New Mexico

Boldly designed wool quilt, c. 1910, Wisconsin

Scrappy Drunkard's Path quilt, c. 1910, Michigan

Wool tied comfort, c. 1920, Texas

1930s Broken Star quilt, Ohio

Snowball Variation / Octagons, c. 1970, Ohio

Four 70s Crib Quilts

2011-10-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Alphabet quilt made with cotton print fabrics

Yes, they made crib quilts in the 1970s! And just like the full-sized quilts, many are tied comforts made of double-knit polyester. Here are some pictures of the quilts I've found recently.

"Baby Girl" quilt made of double-knit polyester

"Baby Boy" quilt made of double-knit polyester

"Silly Goose" quilt, a log cabin variation made of cottons

More 70s Quilts!

2011-10-09T05:56:00.000-07:00

Bicentennial quilt made of knit fabrics, from Texas

More 70s quilts arrived on my doorstep during the last couple days, and I've been trying to get pictures, etc. I've got about 20 of them right now, and need about 40 for an exhibit, so I'd say things are coming along nicely. A storyline is beginning to surface, just as it did when I started putting together New York Beauties earlier this year.

Suburban 70s spin on the traditional Schoolhouse pattern

When considering all the things that happened during the 70s, the quilts of that decade make a lot more sense. It was a transitional time for quilters and for Americans - and you can see it in the quilts. Colors were bold, traditional patterns were streamlined and simplified, and the level of needlework was very basic.

A 70s "Trip Around the World" quilt

The 70s quilts are often dismissed by serious collectors and historians because of their humble nature and somewhat less-than-desirable choice of materials - such as double-knit polyester - but based on the responses I'm seeing on Facebook, it seems the world is ready to embrace these quilts.

Two 70s Pinwheel Quilts

2011-10-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

A second 70's Pinwheel quilt arrived yesterday (pictured above). The other one (pictured below) came a week or two ago, and it's interesting to see the two together. One is very colorful, bright, and is dominated by solid fabrics. Its blocks are smaller, which created more pinwheels and a greater sense of motion. The other one is much darker with larger blocks, and comes to life with some wonderful print fabrics.

In a way, the one with the smaller blocks and bright colors is easier to understand. It's happy, and the combination of colors suggests a birthday party. The other quilt has a much more unexpected combination of colors and fabrics, mixing turquoise, brown, black, plaid and floral print. The row of smaller blocks at the top is also unexpected and adds an element of quirkiness.

So, I can't pick a favorite. I like both, for different reasons. Same basic quilt, two entirely different visions. The quilts compliment and enhance each other, and I can picture them hanging together.

Do you have a favorite?

Which one?

When was this quilt made?

2011-10-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

Solid fabrics are usually more difficult to date than print fabrics, so dating a quilt with all solids is not as straightforward as it may seem. The seller of this quilt said it was made in the 1940s or 1950s, but I'm not so sure. To my eye, it just doesn't have that vibe.

Maybe it's just my idea of the era that doesn't fit - World War II, then Happy Days, poodle skirts, cars with huge tail fins, drive-ins - but based on the quilts and other objects I've seen, I'm not sure people used color this way in the 40s and 50s. Several of the colors seem like 30s, but certain colors seem like anything but that.

"When was this quilt made?" I think I'll need to ask some other questions to arrive at a reasonable answer.

When were these solid color fabrics all available at the same time? There's a wide variety of solids including pastels and bold colors, and the way the colors are juxtaposed suggests Esprit de Corps, Benetton, and even Miami Vice. Could it be a 70s or 80s quilt?

When did the quilt world adopt bias grain binding? The binding on this quilt is straight grain, which suggests the quilt wasn't exactly finished yesterday. At the same time, the binding is about 1/2" wide, which doesn't seem too 70s. So, is the quilt younger or older than that?

Does the quilt have any tell-tale signs of age? Patina? No. Yellowing? No. Stains, fabric deterioration, or fading? No. Mint condition? Yes, pretty much!

More questions: Is it Amish? It came from Ohio, but most Amish quilts were made with solid fabrics in deeper, richer colors. What kind of quilts were the Amish making in the 50s through the 80s? Did they use pastel-colored fabrics? If so, did they use pastels during a certain period?

Facebook friend and noted author Roderick Kiracofe replied to my query about the quilt in the "Quilts- Vintage and Antique" group and said, "As you know, solid colors are more difficult to date. I believe in a wide age range, 25 to 50 year ranges on many of these mid to end of the 20th century examples. This is a good one."

I agree, but still wonder. The binding may be a clue, but the biggest clue still seems to be the way color was used. Can a color scheme betray the date of a quilt made entirely of solids? My gut feeling says it's a 70s or 80s quilt...but I may just call it a mid-to-late 20th century quilt to be safe.

What do you think?

"Cool"

2011-10-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

1970s tied quilt, all double-knit polyester

I've been finding a lot of wonderful 1970s double-knit polyester quilts lately, and there are some trends I'm noticing. Common threads, if you will. Many of these quilts are actually tied, and some only have two layers and no batting. Quilts in the 70s were not necessarily three layers and quilted, but if there was piecework and applique involved, it was generally seen as a quilt.

1970s Butterfly quilt, tied and 100% double-knit polyester

Many of these works, including the three in this blog post, are simply finished. Two are tied, and one is quilted. These three quilts have white backgrounds with all-over designs and a highly simplified sense of craft. The colors include a limited use of primary color combined with strong use of pastels and other non-primary colors.

Technically, there is a lot of push-pull with the use of color in these three quilts. Strong colors jump to the foreground. Muted colors fade into the background. In the first quilt, a structured pattern with strong red and yellow jumps out from a less organized, more muted background.

These quilts were made during a time when Pop Art was part of American culture. The Pop Art method of creating spacial relationships with basic use of color was certainly part of the artist's vocabulary, but these wonderfully upbeat quilts show how the language of color had infiltrated the mainstream. As they would've said in the 70s, "Cool."

Cultural Artifacts: The Spirit of '76

2011-10-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

I was ten years old and living in North Caldwell, New Jersey in 1976, when the Bicentennial captured the imagination of Americans. It was a very patriotic time, and the expression of patriotism aptly reflected the moment. The 70s brand of patriotism was highly commercialized. Its aesthetic was romanticized and often over-processed looking. Today, many of the cultural artifacts of the American Bicentennial seem rather kitschy. That's what I love about the whole thing.

This 1976 art quilt came from Texas...another great find on eBay. As soon as I saw it, I bought it on the spot. It was totally unique - unlike anything I'd seen - but I soon realized it was directly connected to something I had tucked away in a cupboard. It was a memory half-forgotten, but still existed because of an object from the past.

In 1976, I was a student at the Gould Elementary School. We had a wonderful art teacher. Wish I could remember her name... One day, she got the class to make colonial figures in the spirit of the Bicentennial. I chose Benjamin Franklin. My Ben Franklin figure was made with a glass bottle body and a styrofoam ball head. It was covered with moistened plaster of Paris bandage tape, and painted and embellished when dry. I used tempera paint, felt, acrylic yarn for hair, a piece of lace for the ruffle, and white twine for the kite string. The kite was made out of construction paper, but fell off and disappeared long ago.

When I look at the "Founding Father" art quilt, I am struck by the use of lace, the same way I had used lace on my figure. I am also struck by the similarities in the simplistic rendering of the faces. These are two naive, folk art objects, one childlike, and the other playful in its clever choice of fabrics.

These cultural artifacts of the American Bicentennial show just how thoroughly the colonial and arts and crafts revivals had captured the imagination of Americans in 1976. Children, artists, quiltmakers - ordinary people - expressed patriotism - each in his or her own way. The images may seem primitive, but they are unique, authentic, and have somehow survived the test of time.

Two Fabulous 70s Quilts

2011-10-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

Cathedral Windows with a jaw-dropping 1368 windows

In the midst of all these quilts I've been finding on eBay lately, two amazing 1970s quilts arrived. The first is a remarkable Cathedral Windows, and the other is a 100% double-knit polyester Butterfly quilt. Both quilts are wonderfully multicolored on white, and both include intriguing color combinations seen in the 70s.

Colorful, kitschy Butterfly quilt, all double-knit

The Butterfly quilt is 100% double-knit polyester tied with yarn. The yarn ties are amusing because they remind me of caterpillars. On the back is an inscription in red embroidery thread- "Holly From Grandma Orel" and the date 1979.

The Cathedral Windows quilt has a jaw-dropping 1368 windows featuring a multitude of fabrics, many selectively or "fussy" cut. There are butterflies. sea creatures, fish, novelty prints, mod designs, and even the Liberty Bell. The quilt has large prairie points around the edge, adding movement and flair to an already mind-boggling quilt. On the back is a label that says "Made Especially for You by Blanche Halsten" and the date 1970.

What other incredible treasures have I found on eBay this month? Stay tuned...

Enormous 1840s Wild Goose Chase

2011-09-30T22:14:00.000-07:00

Enormous 1840s Wild Goose Chase, Eastern United States

As if the wholecloth chintz quilt wasn't impressive enough, there was another quilt in the same package - an enormous 1840s Wild Goose Chase in red, white, and green. The quilt came from an eBay seller in Ohio, but a handful of quilt historians and I think it looks like a New Jersey quilt. One historian called it "sorta Delaware Valley" and another said it had that "dark, diagonal, no border New Jersey look" to it.

I wondered how I'd photograph this monster as it hung over my banister

The quilt measures a whopping 110" x 113" - the largest in my collection - and includes a dazzling combination of early red and green prints with solid white, which has aged to an off-white. The yellow has faded out of some of the green fabric, leaving behind a lovely blueish green. It appears as though the quilt had been exposed to water at times, as there are multiple water stains on the back.

There are water stains all across the back of the quilt

The red fabric is a small-scale print with white diamonds outlined in black

The green fabric is a small-scale over-dyed floral print

The binding is 1/4" straight grain, rolled from back to front

A friend asked why people thought it was a New Jersey quilt, and my response was that it reminded me of a lot of the quilts I've seen that were made in New Jersey in the 1840s. The quilts were very large, often without borders, often set on the diagonal, and were simply quilted, finely bound, elaborately pieced with geometric designs in simple color schemes such as red, white, and green - but white is not the predominant color.

All signs seem to point in that direction, but even though I believe it's likely to be from New Jersey, I'm designating its location of origin as Eastern United States. It's a biggie, and it's a beauty.

Early Wholecloth Chintz Quilt

2011-09-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

Late 18th or early 19th century wholecloth chintz quilt with tape binding

Yesterday my doorbell rang and the postman had a certified letter for me to sign. It was from the U.S. Postal Service, hazardous materials division. They had a package for me, but weren't allowed to deliver it because it was in a liquor box. So I drove across town to get the package from the office near the airport. It was the package I'd been expecting from Ohio, with two old quilts. One of these was a very old wholecloth chintz quilt.

Click to enlarge and see the spectacular quilting design

The quilt is in fair condition, probably good considering its age and the delicate materials used in its construction. The chintz fabric is paper thin. The backing is very fragile, thin silk, and the quilt is surprisingly lightweight. I found it on eBay from a seller in Ohio, but I think it probably came from one of the east coast colonial states.

Striped silk on the back, check out the quilting design!

The fabric looks French, as does the style of presentation. If you look closely at the full view, there is an elaborate, medallion style quilting design, framed, with wandering feather vines along the outer edges. You can see the design even better on the back. The center medallion appears to be a circular feather wreath surrounded by double-line diamond grid fill, with smaller diamond grid fill inside the circle. There is a rectangle framing the center. Click the pictures to see enlarged views.

Dertail of back with quilting and striped silk fabric that has changed color

Detail of chintz fabric, lines of diamonds make blue striped background

Couldn't you just see this quilt in a very well appointed colonial bedroom, with matching curtains and pillows, on an ornately carved canape bed? So, that's one of the two quilts in the package. What else was in the box? Stay tuned...

Some New Old Things

2011-09-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

"Founding Father" art quilt wallhanging, c. 1976, Texas

Early 19th century quilt top with rare vibrant green patches

I've been finding a lot of fun quilts and textiles on eBay lately. Here are some of the things I've found.

Funky 1970s orange and blue quilt, complete with fat binding!

Early 20th century strippy Bars quilt top from back east

The first of two wonderful 1940s New York Beauties

...and the second...

Early 19th century patchwork quilt found in Oregon

An 1830s four-post "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" from New England

...and just for fun, a 1970s "Silly Goose" Log Cabin crib quilt

Most of these new old things were bargains, and there are a few more arriving soon. Then it will be time to start selling off other quilts I've had for a long time to make room for all the new ones. I'm working on a new web site called "Willy Wonky Quilts" where I will be selling and consigning lots of great quilts, so stay tuned...

Treasures in the Trunk Exhibit

2011-09-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Quilt historian and author Mary Bywater Cross has done it again! Her book "Treasures in the Trunk: Quilts of the Oregon Trail" was published in 1993, and quilts from the book had been exhibited a few times around Oregon, but not for many years. Now, an exhibit called "Treasures from the Trunk: Quilts and their Makers after the Oregon Trail Journey" is on display at the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mission Mill in Salem, and it's up until December 24th. Here are some pictures from the exhibit.

This exhibit is definitely worth a visit. It has some wonderful quilts and great stories about the people who made them, with many connections to family journeys across the Oregon Trail. Also a good reason to pick up a copy of Mary's book, if you haven't got a copy already. The Willamette Heritage Center at the Mission Mill is located at 1313 SE Mill Street in Salem, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10AM to 5PM. Free admission on Tuesdays, so check it out!!

Those 70s Quilts

2011-09-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Polyester Pinwheels

As my New York Beauty exhibit is winding down, I've found a new obsession. 70s quilts! Last year I found one that I call "Wild Thing" and I blogged about it. At the time, I was baffled by the quilt because it was so far removed from anything I'd ever collected. Then I realized why I was drawn to it. I was born in the 60s and grew up in the 70s. Double-knit polyester may not be "the fabric of our lives" but it was the fabric of my childhood.

The quilt I call "Wild Thing"

I brought one of the recent acquisitions for show and tell at the last Northwest Quilters meeting, and I think people were puzzled but amused. One friend sitting toward the front made a funny face, as if she'd just bitten into a lemon. The quilt was wonderfully kitschy, very bright and colorful, and as I mentioned to the group, there's not much need to store it in archival materials. As long as I keep it away from an open flame, we're good.

The quilt I brought for show and tell

Even though I'm sure many quiltmakers might be horrified by the idea of double-knit polyester being a thing of beauty, there's something very optimistic about these quilts. I can envision a whole museum space full of them, and the effect it would have on viewers.

Nine-Patch made of double-knit polyester

Double-knit polyester "Windowpanes" string quilt

Some folks wouldn't even consider 70s quilts to be vintage, but as I've said before, "All new quilts become old quilts, and everything old is new again!" These quirky, kitschy quilts are tomorrow's antiques. So I'll be looking at the bottom of garage sale piles, in Goodwill, and on eBay for more of those 70s quilts.

Some Expo Favorites

2011-09-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

One of several gorgeous landscapes by Marjorie Post, Northwest Quilters

The Northwest Quilting Expo at the Portland Expo Center was a great success, and it appeared as though everyone really enjoyed it. I was there on Friday and Saturday to do lectures, and today I strolled through the quilt exhibit with my mother, who's still here visiting from Maine. There were some amazing quilts, and we loved it. Here are a few of the quilts that caught our eye.

Best In Show: "The Magical Mermaid's Castle" by Claudia Pfeil

"Darwin's Diamonds and Flowers" by Ronda Beyer

The hookah smoking caterpillar, a quilt I first saw in Sisters,
part of the Cover to Cover Book Club Quilters display.

"Key Lime Pie" by Jenny Bonynge of Emerald Valley Quilters

My wool quilt, c. 1810, was the oldest ever displayed at Expo.

"Emiline" by Pat Kuhns was a winner in the "small" category

I didn't get the info on this rooster, but he was a head-turner!

A big thank you to all the folks who made this year's Expo possible. Special thanks to Shellie O'Donnell, who invited me to be a part of the show, and her husband, Jim, who was on his feet all weekend helping in every possible way. Mom and I were very impressed with the whole show. We ran into several people who had heard me talk about Mom during my lectures, so that was fun, too! ;) I was definitely exhausted by the end of the day today, but had to share some pictures. Enjoy!

Three Days: Three Lectures

2011-09-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

An early four-post bed quilt, part of my "Discovering Old Quilts" lecture

When it rains, it pours...but I'm not talking about the weather. It's a perfectly sunny day in Portland, and Day Two of my crazy "three-lectures-in-three-days" schedule. Last night, I spoke to the Mary's River Quilter's Guild at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon - the site of my "Beauty Secrets" exhibit. It was a full house in the Moreland Auditorium, and several familiar faces including my mother, who is visiting from Maine. It was the first time Mom had ever heard me lecture. I also got to meet Debra Kerns of Lafayette, Indiana, who was in Oregon visiting. Kerns is the maker of the "Oriental Express" quilt in the exhibit, and it was great to meet her in person!

The Moreland Auditorium was the location of last night's lecture.

After a lovely introduction from the Mary's River Quilt Guild programs coordinator, Monique Lloyd, I opened with, "Don't you just love how I decorated this space?" and we were off and running. The lecture began with four items that didn't quite make it into the exhibit, including a rescue quilt - the one with two large chunks missing. As expected, there was a collective audible gasp from the audience when the damaged quilt was revealed.

I also showed a woven coverlet in the New York Beauty design, a large Depression era quilt, and a modern day example that was made with a Karen Stone pattern. The program started around 8pm, so I thought it would be a good idea to keep things interactive. So after some talk about how the collection and exhibit came to be, I asked audience members to pick a favorite quilt in the exhibit, and I would speak about it. We did several quilts this way, I took some more questions at the end, and I was very impressed by the types of questions being asked. I was also very impressed with the guild and hope to visit them again in the future.

Twenty quilts from my collection are on display at Expo through Saturday

That was Day One. Today and tomorrow I'm lecturing at the Northwest Quilting Expo, a large quilt show with many vendors at the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center. The topic for both days is "Discovering Old Quilts" and it's being run as a class with sign-ups done in advance. There is also a display of 20 antique quilts from my collection, representing the period from 1810 to 1910.

"Discovering Old Quilts" - Victorian silk "Bars"

I have no idea how many people will be there for my class/lectures, but I've planned to show a wonderful group of quilts representing 100 years of history from 1830 to 1930. One of these quilts is a huge "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" or "Lemon Peel" quilt, made around 1830 in New England (pictured at top). It just arrived on my doorstep yesterday, so I'm excited to share it! Some of the quilts in the lecture and exhibit will soon be available for sale. In October I'm planning to launch a web site called "Willy Wonky Quilts" where I will sell and consign quilts. Stay tuned...

In Search Of: Andrea Balosky

2011-09-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

"Salute to the Sun" 2011, AAQI quilt by Andrea Balosky

One of Andrea Balosky's quilts in the Bits and Pieces exhibit in Salem

I feel a little guilty for not blogging so much during the last couple months. It's been busy here. My mother is visiting from Maine for three weeks, and I've had a lot of quilt related activities on the calendar. In the midst of all this activity, my friend Nyima Lhamo, aka Andrea Balosky has popped up once again - in two places. Three of her quilts are part of the Bits and Pieces Exhibit at the Bush Barn Art Center in Salem, Oregon; and several new quilts are on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative web site.

"Piet Meets Rube" by Andrea Balosky

Pueblo, by Andrea Balosky

Two of the three quilts in the Bits and Pieces exhibit are smaller, along the lines of the doll quilts in the Small Wonders exhibit earlier this year at Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook. The third quilt is a full-size piece, and it is really the first thing I saw when I entered the gallery. The quilt is made of simple strips and squares, but somehow creates a dazzling optical illusion, as if each of the four quadrants is bulging out toward the viewer. I don't know how she did it, but it's epic!

"Quadrille" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

Recently, I was very pleased to find NINE new quilts by Nyima (Andrea) on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative web site. Of course, I wanted them all...and I'll be bidding when they're up for auction. The quilts are every bit as lively and exuberant as her previous work, and looking at them makes me happy. The quilts made by Balosky in 2011 are her first since she left the United States to live in the Himalayas around 2004, and with the second batch this year, it seems she's really hitting her stride. I don't think I can do them justice with words, so I'll just share some pictures of the quilts, courtesy of the AAQI web site.

"Hithertoo Squares" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

"Lost in Poem" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

"Monsoon Polka" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

"Patch 22" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

"Sudoku Serenade" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

"The Brill" 2011, by Andrea Balosky

"The Three Sisters" 2011, by Andrea Balsoky

Every time I see something she's done that I hadn't seen before, I'm blown away. The quilts at Bush Barn Art Center were made before she left the U.S., and the AAQI quilts were made in India. They are all wonderful in my opinion, and there's something enchanting about the new quilts. These are very small quilts. Most are the size of a standard piece of letter paper, yet they are packed with color, design, and movement. What started out as a chance meeting has grown into a die-hard love and appreciation for this newly rediscovered artist. I'm a big fan, and can't wait to see what she does next!

That 70s Surf

2011-08-31T15:36:00.000-07:00

One of my Facebook friends, Sally, was surprised when she saw my picture for the first time the other day. I'm much younger than she thought, born in 1966, the same year Sesame Street was conceived. Three years later, when Sesame Street first aired I was watching. Cookie Monster was my hero. Decades later, I still dissolve into laughter when I see this scene with Kermit and Cookie Monster.

Watching Sesame Street made me think of William Wegman, whose work first started to gain attention in the 70s. I've met Bill, his sister, Pam, and some of the dogs that were maybe the third generation of Wegman Weimaraners. I met Batty, Chundo, Crooky, and Chip. My parents met some of the other dogs, and Mom goes to the same church as Pam in the summer. This short video from 1972 is one of Wegman's earlier works. Cracks me up every time.

Lost in a 70s surf, I drift between Alka Seltzer commercials and Schoolhouse Rock, from Hong Kong Phooey to The Brady Bunch, and beyond. Lately, I've even been looking at the quilts and textiles of that crazy decade. I don't know if I'd want to relive the 70s, but the memories are interesting and amusing. Most of all, the 70s were my formative years.

Born in the 60s, grew up in the 70s, reached adulthood in the 80s. Explains a lot about me, doesn't it, Sally?

On the Radio

2011-08-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! You may be wondering where I've been lately. I'm sorry I haven't blogged as much as usual this month, but I've been in the land of eBay and housecleaning. Mom's coming to visit for three weeks, and it's time to get ready!

So, just a quickie blog today - really more like an announcement - I'm going to be a guest on Pat Sloan's radio show today at 4pm EST. Pat is a Facebook friend, and several weeks ago she wanted to hear about everyone's weekend projects. I posted a link for the "Beauty Secrets" catalog, and we struck up a conversation, which led to an invitation to be a guest on the show.

I'm very honored to be invited as a guest on the show, and really looking forward to it! To listen to the show, tune in at:

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/radio/index.html

Beauty Secrets: On The Quilt Show Blog!

2011-08-22T20:20:00.000-07:00

Click Here to visit The Quilt Show Daily Blog

I recently received an e-mail from Mary Kay Davis, editor of The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. Mary Kay had been in Oregon the previous week, and she visited my exhibit at the Benton County Museum. She asked if she could share pictures and spotlight the event on The Quilt Show Daily Blog. "Of course!" I was happy to know the exhibit made an impression.

Over the weekend, The Quilt Show Daily Blog featured the exhibit on their blog, and I want to thank The Quilt Show for including me. I'm especially honored because it's my first exhibit. It's wonderful to be able to share information about the exhibit, pictures of the quilts, and links to my web site and print catalog for anyone who may not be within reach of Philomath, Oregon.

They called it "a little gem of an exhibit that shouldn't be missed."

Photo by Mary Kay Davis, frame from Smilebox slide show

Wow! BIG Thank you to The Quilt Show!! To view the blog, click here. Beauty Secrets: 150 Years of History in One Quilt Pattern is currently on display at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon through October 1st. The exhibit is part of Quilt County, a biennial, countywide celebration of quilts. An 80-page, full-color printed catalog is available in limited numbers at the museum, and online through Blurb. To preview or purchase the catalog, click here.

eBay End-of-Summer Clearance Sale!

2011-08-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

Fabulous Wool Tumbling Blocks quilt, this week on eBay

It's time to get ready for back-to-school season, and I'm having another eBay sale! Several quilts are among the offerings, which also include sterling silver, Tommy Bahama silk camp shirts, swimming instruction DVDs, and other random collectibles. Here are a few of the items listed.

Signed Steuben crystal bouquet vase, George Thompson design

Henry Clifford Davis Sterling Fishing Trophy, Bermuda, 1936

Patriotic Airplanes quilt, c. 1940

Mecca trading card, U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer Charles Daniels

Pottery Barn two-sided blue and white pillow cover

Cotton Crazy Block quilt, c. 1900.

Gorham Sterling Silver Revere Bowl

Georgia Bars cotton utility quilt, c. 1910

Busy week, but a lot of fun sorting through things and deciding what to keep and what to let go. If you're interested in seeing what's for sale, click here!

Beauty Secrets: Mellow Beauty

2011-08-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

In late October, 2009, I bought a quilt that came at the beginning of a flood of great quilts. It was this 1880s "mellow" beauty from Texas. The quilt was found by Julie Silber and Jean Demeter of The Quilt Complex. When I spotted it on their web site, I bought it on the spot. They called it a "mellow" beauty because it's the pattern most commonly known as New York Beauty, and the faded colors give it a wonderfully pleasant effect.

2011 NW Quilters Show, Portland Expo Center

If someone said the quilt design came from a published pattern, I'd believe them. It has structure, symmetry, and a head-turning combination of colors. The traditional Rocky Mountain Road or Crown of Thorns quilt was most often made with solid green and red on plain white - sometimes with touches of other color like cheddar orange. This Texas quilt also has solid fabrics, but the lush blue and ruddy, faded brown are uncommon. The yellowy cheddar orange adds to the handsome, earthy color scheme.

Even though the colors are the result of time and fading, I feel like it's a happy accident. Condition is certainly an issue for a lot of people who collect, but my approach to collecting New York Beauties has been fairly inclusive. You don't see them often. For a while, I just bought every one I saw, and tried to make sense of it later. Chronologically ordering the collection for "Beauty Secrets" is how I've begun making heads or tails of the whole thing.

This quilt is currently on display at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon, as part of "Beauty Secrets: 150 Years of History in One Quilt Pattern" through October 1st. The exhibit is part of Quilt County, a biennial, countywide celebration of quilts. An 80-page, full-color printed catalog is available in limited numbers at the museum, and online through Blurb. To preview or purchase the catalog, click here.

Beauty Secrets: Transitional Quilt

2011-08-17T23:22:00.000-07:00

In the last two years I've purchased 26 New York Beauty quilts and tops, more than half of my "Beauty Secrets" collection. Just before that flurry of activity, I bought this 1950s blue and white quilt, made by Gertrude Barr of Nichols Hills, Oklahoma. It's an intriguing quilt, for more than one reason.

The quilt is the product of a published pattern, but I'm still seeking the source. By the time it was made, published patterns had become thoroughly homogenized in terms of aesthetics. Looking at this quilt, it is clearly well-planned and perfectly symmetrical. There are no extra rows of blocks or half-blocks, and there isn't a point out of place.

New York Beauty (detail), c. 1980, North Carolina

It's somewhere in between the Mountain Mist quilt from the 1930s and the published patterns of the 80s. Similar to the teal, red and white quilt from North Carolina made in the 1980s, the one I blogged about on August 9th, the quilt is representative of the calm before the storm - or more appropriately stated, the calm before Karen Stone! After the wave of very mechanical, homogeneous looking quilts, Stone and other artists gave the New York Beauty a major makeover in the 90s. Now, we're in a whole new place.

A Karen Stone inspired Lady Liberty Quilt by Marita Wallace.

Knowing what has transpired in the last 15 or 20 years, it's enlightening to look at the quilts on the bubble. Gertrude Barr's quilt is on the bubble. It represents rigid classicism before a period of aesthetic innovation, commercialism before a grass-roots, creative evolution. It's truly a transitional quilt.

Beauty Secrets: Maverick

2011-08-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

What is a "Maverick" quilt? Julie Silber, in a recent interview with Pat Sloan said, "Well, I think I made it up...and it was, believe me, way before the last election. So it has nothing to do with any politicians. They're just oddball, eccentric, idiosyncratic quilts. They tend to be based on traditional designs and traditional formats and then they have a very personal twist to them that really makes them memorable."

This 1940's quilt is definitely a maverick, and coincidentally, I bought it from Julie Silber, who had it listed on eBay in February, 2007. It is based on the New York Beauty design, and has elements of the traditional design but is a huge departure from any other New York Beauty I've ever seen. Although the red, white, and green color scheme and spiky arches wedged in the inside corners of the blocks could be considered traditional, that's where all similarities end.

According to the auction listing, the quilt came from an African-American estate in East Texas and was made by "Auntie" - but that's about all we know. Regardless of the race of the maker, the quilt was made by a very free-spirited individual - someone who may have known about tradition but was not bound by it. The blocks don't line up, the number and quality of the points is not consistent, and the sashing is boldly rendered with roughly placed, wide strips of green and white fabric.

It's the kind of quilt that astonishes and perplexes a lot of quiltmakers. It makes you scratch your head and wonder, "Why did she do that? How did she do that?" Even though it's beyond quirky and not particularly well crafted, it's always a viewers' favorite whenever I show it. Even traditionalists who don't particularly care for Gee's Bend quilts love this one. I think it's because the quilt is so human. It's far from perfect, just like most people - but unlike a lot of us, it seems to celebrate and embrace its flaws.

Beauty Secrets: No Mistake About It!

2011-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

In 2005, I bought a quilt that would eventually change a lot of things for me - but I didn't realize it at the time. The quilt, a 1980s teal, red and white New York Beauty, was made in North Carolina and came from an eBay seller. When I bought it, I thought it was a lot older than it is, but then, I knew very little about dating fabrics and quilts at the time. I was still very much isolated in my quilt collecting hobby, and the only source of information was whatever I would hear along the way.

These days, it's hilarious to think I felt it was from the 1940s or 50s. Shortly after I received it, I brought it along to the Palmer Wirfs Antiques Show at the Portland Expo Center, where there is always a booth for identification and assessment of collectibles. It's a little like Antiques Roadshow. You wait in line, meet with an expert, and get a verbal assessment.

There was a lovely young lady from California named Erin who knew a lot about quilts and fabric dating, so I always waited to speak with her. When I told her what I thought I knew about the quilt, she quickly set me straight. I was a little embarrassed that it wasn't as old as I thought, but tried to look on the bright side and played it off as being my "youngest" quilt. Then I stashed it away, feeling a little foolish for having a 1980s quilt in a collection of much older quilts. It sat on a shelf for years, and nobody saw it - my mistake, my dirty little secret.

As I continued collecting, I gradually learned more about quilts and suspected this quilt was from a published pattern. I wasn't particularly thrilled about that because it pushed the quilt one step further away from being a one-of-a-kind original, but it was still a New York Beauty. Then one day something else dawned on me. In all my years of collecting, I hadn't seen any other New York Beauty quilts from that time period. That realization led to another: what I first thought of as a novice collector's mistake turned out to be quite rare and important in the context of my collection. From that point forward, I appreciated and embraced this quilt.

Earlier this year, when the photostreams from the Infinite Variety red and white quilt exhibition started to surface, I discovered another quilt made with what looks like exactly the same pattern. In my mind, it supported the idea that my quilt was made with a published pattern, but I still haven't found the source. So, if there's anyone out there who recognizes this pattern and may have leads to the source, I hope you'll let me know!

Beauty Secrets: Amazing Zig-Zag Borders

2011-08-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

By 2005, I was buying more quilts and several of those were the "New York Beauty" pattern. The best of these was a quilt I found on eBay, which came from a seller in Virginia. The quilt had been listed around the July 4th holiday, and when the auction ended with no bids, I contacted the seller to see if it was still available. It was, and I made arrangements to buy it.

The quilt was made in Virginia in the second half of the nineteenth century, and one of the things I really liked about it was how the maker put madder red points on the green arches, a direct reference to the difficult piecework. Most of the time, the points match the arches, giving the illusion from a distance that it's one piece of fabric. I realized print fabrics were rarely seen in these quilts, and the amazing zig-zag borders on two sides made it even more unusual.

When I opened the box, the first thing I noticed was pencil marks on the white fabric where the quilting design was marked. Bonus! Note to all quiltmakers: pencil marks may be the bane of your existence, but they are thrilling to a collector of antique quilts. This quilt has been exhibited only twice - once in the 2011 Northwest Quilters Show, and now as part of my first museum exhibit.

Beauty Secrets: Ohio Beauty from Texas Comes to Oregon

2011-08-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

My third New York Beauty, a 1940's red. white, and blue head-turner, came from Mary Ann Walters of Log Cabin Antique Quilts in Texas. I bought it in January, 2004. In the same purchase, I also bought a funky, early twentieth century goblet quilt. At the time, Mary Ann said the New York Beauty came from Ohio, and warned me about the quilting stitches, which were rather odd and uneven. Thinking it would detract from my interest, she wanted to make sure I'd be happy with the quilt. I immediately loved the unskilled hand in the quilting stitches, and considered the quilt a bargain.

When I brought this quilt to show the Columbia-Willamette Quilt Study Group in 2009, everyone was very interested in the quilting. It was a puzzle. What was the story? People started making up their own theories about the person who had done the quilting. The quilt was compelling, and a mystery. From a distance, it's a show-stopper. Classic, bold, and patriotic, the quilt a wonderful display piece with a very human touch.

Beauty Secrets: My Second New York Beauty

2011-08-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Twelve years after I bought my first New York Beauty, I found a second one. I'd seen only a few other examples along the way and was still very disconnected from the quilt world, but I was starting to buy through eBay, was finding several quilt dealers online. From time to time I visited Shelly Zegart's web site, where she had quilts for sale. That's where I found this quilt.

It was listed some time around Christmas, but it wasn't listed long because I bought it in January, 2001. The quilt would be a nice companion to the red, white, and green quilt I'd bought in 1989, I thought, but there were significant differences.

The dark, solid navy background was one thing. The thickness and loft was another. Then there was the basic grid quilting, and rustic, loomed backing fabric. Clearly it was more of a utility quilt, even though the piecework was very well done. The tan fabric was another color at one time, but had faded.

Around that time, I started to see other New York Beauties called by different names, particularly Rocky Mountain Road and Crown of Thorns. I wasn't as enthralled with the names as I was with the quilt's design and its rarity as a collectible. To me, there was something very American about these quilts. I didn't see them every day, but made a subconscious decision to buy every one I saw if I could afford it.

Beauty Secrets: My First Quilt

2011-08-04T14:24:00.000-07:00

I love to tell the story about how I got my first quilt. I was living in New York, going to grad school at NYU, and dating a young lady from Germany who was a Fullbright exchange student at F.I.T. Ulrike, or "Uli" as she liked to be called, really wanted to make the most of her experience in New York, and she always had ideas about where to go and what to do.

One day, she had a postcard invitation to a private showing of antique American Quilts. I have no idea where she got the invitation, but we went to an upscale, uptown brownstone apartment that afternoon to see quilts. Uli had heard about our nation's tradition of patchwork quilts, and wanted to return to Germany with a bona fide antique American quilt.

Before that day, I had never heard the name Shelly Zegart, but that's who greeted us at the door. Over the years, Shelly has continued to be a guiding light. There were very few people who influenced me during the bulk of the 22 years I've collected, but Shelly's been there since day one.

There were dozens of amazing old quilts draped over the furniture, all over the apartment, and Shelly blew me away that day. She was clearly passionate about quilts, very bright, and brimming over with information and stories about the quilts. Uli found an indigo and white Drunkard's Path quilt, and we giggled about the name since we invariably ended up at the Irish pub on the corner of 23rd and Lexington most evenings.

I was studying photography at the time, and art history was always part of my college curriculum. Shelly made me realize that quilts should be considered part of art history. Quilts were works of art. I fell in love with this New York Beauty quilt, and couldn't really afford it, so I left empty handed. But I think Shelly could tell I was smitten, so she kept in touch and worked with me on a payment plan. A few months later, I owned my first quilt.

At a lecture in Lebanon, Oregon. You can see the batting inside the quilt.

The plan was to display the quilt on the wall, but I was moving around a lot, wasn't exactly sure how to display it, and was afraid of what my mom would say when she saw it. How could I justify such an extravagant purchase? So, I hid the quilt from Mom for a number of years.

She finally saw it one day, when visiting my new apartment in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She and Dad had come to see where I was living, and I had the quilt draped over a rack in the corner of my bedroom. Mom made a beeline to the quilt, and I realized I had to explain myself. After I fessed up, she said the quilt was the best thing I've ever spent my money on.

Open - a day early!!

2011-08-03T17:15:00.000-07:00

The quilts are up, the labels are in place, the lights are set, and "Beauty Secrets: 150 Years of History in One Quilt Pattern" at the Benton County Museum is open - a day early!! Originally the exhibit was scheduled to open on Friday, but things went so smoothly yesterday, it was actually ready to go this afternoon. So, it will be open tomorrow - Thursday. Photos courtesy of Mark Tolonen.

"Beauty Secrets: 150 Years of History in One Quilt Pattern" is on display now through October 1st at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon as part of Quilt County, a biennial, countywide celebration of quilts. An 80-page, full-color catalog is available in limited numbers at the museum, and online through Blurb. To preview or purchase the catalog, click here.

"Quilts are Cat Magnets"

2011-08-03T11:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I was pinning sleeves on quilts most of the afternoon. My cat, Boo, was sleeping on the couch. She's an old kitty, I think about 17 years old, and she doesn't move around as well as she once did. Boo paid no attention until I started working on the Mountain Mist New York Beauty.

The quilt was all spread out on the floor with the loose sleeve positioned, and that's when Boo decided to pay me a visit to express her approval. First I felt her rub up against me, and when I turned to look, there she was rolling all over the quilt, purring.

"Why does she like this one best?" I wondered. She hadn't been the least bit interested in any of the other quilts. Did little Boo know it was a Mountain Mist New York Beauty? Did she realize it was a key point in the chronological progression of quilts in my upcoming exhibit at the Benton County Museum? Did she know how hard it was to find this quilt?

I tried to shoo her away, and even picked her up and moved her off the quilt a couple times, but she wasn't about to go away. As soon as I moved her, she'd be right back on the quilt, rolling around and purring. Then I realized why couldn't I get the cat to stay off the quilt. It's something Pepper Cory said a while ago: "Quilts are cat magnets."

So, if you happen to go see the "Beauty Secrets" exhibit at the Benton County Museum and notice a few black cat hairs on the Mountain Mist New York Beauty, now you'll know where they came from.