International Quilt Museum Lincoln NE
DK Quilt Guild: A place for quilters to gather, share ideas, projects, and to make the world a better place, one quilt at a time. Join us and share your thoughts, projects, questions, and tips. Quilters here are at many different levels of skill. Beginners and non-quilters are welcome, too.
We NEED diarists!
Your diary can be elaborate and full of photos, a simple story of your own quilting history or that of someone you love, a discussion of a current project or a technique you're learning, new adventures... You could post quilt retreat-day recipes (things like crockpot meals, so food appears without much attention from you)…
We could do show and tell or open thread, also, but either way, we need diarists to host. It is EASY if you're willing to take the chance. We NEED diarists!
Your diary can be elaborate and full of photos, a simple story of your own quilting history or that of someone you love, a discussion of a current project or a technique you're learning, new adventures... You could post quilt retreat-day recipes (things like crockpot meals, so food appears without much attention from you)…
We could do show and tell or open thread, also, but either way, we need diarists to host. It is EASY if you're willing to take the chance.
DK Quilt Guid Diary Schedule
11/10/24 — OPEN
11/17/24 — OPEN
11/24/24 — OPEN (Not sure if there’s a Thanksgiving break)
12/01/24 — OPEN
************
Well, I’m back with a diary that I started in May…
At the end of May I had an unexpected trip to the hospital and the end result is that I had lung cancer. Fortunately, I live in Rochester, MN and Mayo Clinic is absolutely a lifesaver. After months of chemo and radiation, it looks like I’m in remission. It will take some time to regain stamina and strength but I feel like I’ve come out from under a very dark cloud.
So here goes… Last April I was driving back from AZ and decided to take a detour through Lincoln, NE to stop at the International Quilt Museum.
I wish I was as good as Pam from Calif at quilt photography but I hope you get the idea. It’s hard to choose just a few quilts to show so I’ll try to keep to a patriotic theme for Election Day coming in a few days.
From the “New Deal for Quilts Exhibit”:
Giddap, A Very Demoratic Donkey Possibly made in Illinois, c. 1940 Cotton; Hand pieced and quilted. Ardi and Robert James Collection
“First published in the Kansas City Star in 1931 prior to the 1932 presidential election, this commercially available pattern was one of several published in newspapers to promote quilting one’s political allegiance.” — per signage next to quilt.
This quilt was inspired by the 1918 Great Influenza pandemic.
Redwork - Maker unidentified Made in the US c. 1919 Cotton; machine pieced; embroidered; hand quilted Sue Reich Collection
It likely inspired the unidentified quilter to make blocks like this one.
“A Good American Strives to Gain and Maintain Vigorous Health.”
This quilt was a part of the “New Deal’ quilts because of the parallels between the pandemic and the Great Depression/New Deal of the 1930s.
Jayne Bentley Gaskins, Reston, VA, 2020 Cotton; Machine Appliqued, embroidered, machine quilted.
Like many other Americans stash at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gaskins turned to her craft as an outlet to assist in public health efforts and provide a necessary distraction from the gloomy news. Gaskins organized a local group of sewers to make masks when there was a critical shortage of personal protective equipment. She made this quilt out of remnants from that effort, “plus a great deal of love and gratitude.” — per signage next to quilt.
Feed Sacks: An American Fairy Tale Exhibit:
Redwork album: Maker unidentified Possibly made in Missouri dated 1933 Cotton; hand embroidery; machine piecing; hand quilting Gift of Joanna S. Rose
Instead of removing the printed logos, the maker used the logos as a pattern and expertly embroiled over each one. Using a variety of stitches to further emphasize different design elements, the commercial logos are transformed from packaging into art. The variety of brands on this quilt speak to the small-scale, local production of most flour in the United State at this time. How did one person manage to acquire so many different brands?
Redwork embroidery quilts were popular from about 1885 to 1925. The quilt is dated 1933 in the top center “Queen of the Pantry” block and the state seal of Missouri is located in the center of the second row. The rest of the blocks are a catalog of popular, now-defunct, locally owned mills throughout Missouri and Kansas. — per signage next to quilt.
And I couldn’t resist:
Lastly, as I went up to the reading room, I found a gentleman sitting in a sunny window hand quilting this quilt. We had a nice chat but I didn’t think to get his name or a photo of the full quilt. It was a donated quilt top from around the turn of the century (1900s). The flowers were appliquéd on but instead of smooth they were bunched up for a 3-D effect,
Well, I think I’ve done enough for now. So what have you been up to? Any projects or quilt travels to share? See you in the comments.
