Traveling Quilt, Can you Help?

My Quilt Hanging at Seminar

My 2014 American Quilt Study Group Civil War Era Study quilt was chosen to travel for exhibit the next four years.  

What's an AQSG study quilt?  Click HERE to read to the guidelines.

With permission, I am adopting an idea from Racheldaisy, of Blue Mountain Daisy's blog.

Here's where you can help!

If you visit a venue where my quilt is on display, will you take some pictures and email them to me?  I am making a journal to go with my quilt.  It can be whatever inspires you!  You with the quilt, my quilt next to other quilts, the building etc...feel free to be creative.
From the first stitch of the quilt, to the time it arrives back home it will be a six year journey!


Exhibit Travel Schedule:

Quilt on my wall before Milwaukee

• February to June of 2015 
  Monroe County History Center, Bloomington IN
• July 1 to October 2015
  New England Quilt Museum
• November 2015 to March 1, 2016
  Virginia Quilt Museum
• March 11-13, 2016 
  The Dallas Quilt Show
• April 1 to July 30, 2016
  Quilter's Hall of Fame, Marion, Indiana
• September 15 to December 15, 2016
  Northern Michigan University, DeVos Art Museum
• December 20 to February 20, 2017
  Baldwin Reynolds House Museum, Meadville, PA
• March 1 to May 31, 2017
  Gilbert Historical Museum, Gilbert AZ
• June 2017 to October 20, 2017
  Rocky Mountain  Quilt Museum, Boulder, CO
• November 1 to February 28, 2018
  Sheerer Museum of Stillwater, Stillwater, OK
• June 1 to August, 2018
  La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum, LaConner, WA

Antique Inspiration Quilt

My inspiration quilt was chosen because it had a patriotic theme for the 1850-1865 time period.  By current judged quilt show standards it also has an unusual layout.   The unique setting with the central flag appealed to me. 

I was fortunate the owner of the quilt, Jeananne Wright, generously allowed me to borrow the treasured original.  I took close up photographs of the quilt including each star, the flag, binding and backing.  On the photos I added observational notes on thread, fabric and stitching.

In designing my reproduction I reduced the size to fit within the study guidelines and to have a wall size quilt.  It was important to me that I used the same layout as the original and incorporated what we might consider mistakes using today’s aesthetic quilt standards.  The layout includes omitted sashing, partial stars and cut off star points.  In executing the design I stitched the entire quilt by hand as the original maker did.   I used 100% cotton fabric, batting, light and dark thread to replicate the materials of the time.

 

My quilt in process - completely hand stitched

The quilts central flag design inspired me to research the use of flags in American history.  The American flag was changing during the study period (1850-1865) with the split between the north and south as well as the admission of new states to the union.  Patriotism ran high during the Civil War.  Numerous military flags were used in the civil war in both the north and the south.  There were numerous flags for infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments and battalions. The navy also used multiple national flag styles.  Brigades, divisions and corps also carried designation flags.  In some cases flags were homemade and presented to the military companies.  Flags were protected by a color guard of a regiment’s most experienced noncommissioned officers.  A flag was also a rallying point in the confusion of battle.

Stars on the original quilt 

Flags are enormously important in the history of our nation.  Seeing the stars and stripes in any form evokes strong emotion and sentiment.  The maker of the inspiration quilt identified with a particular flag design that was important to capture and preserve in a quilt.  Imagine the anonymous makers surprise if he/she could see it now."

It is a stunning exhibit and I didn't have nearly enough time to see it in Milwaukee.  I am hoping to catch it at least once as it travels, I hope you can too. 

Thank you!

Dawn

New Book BASKETS A Study of Nineteenth- Century Basket Quilts

I have shared information about the American Quilt Study Group program for study quilts before. (HERE to review)

The book for the 2016 Basket study is now available on Amazon, HERE.

It is a fantastic book, and ALL profits go to the American Quilt Study Group.

I was one of the participants and am honored to say I know most of the 50 quilt makers in the book. A wonderful body of work.

The traveling exhibit of 25 quilts will be at the Minnesota Quilt Show June 14-16 in Saint Cloud. More on that in a future post.

"There are thousands of patterns found in quilts. One of the perennial favorites is the basket. Nineteenth century basket quilts show an amazing variety. As with other quilts, the quiltmakers had many reasons to create these basket quilts. Some of these makers and their stories are known but many have been lost to time. Members of the American Quilt Study Group were challenged in the most recent quilt study to study a basket quilt from the nineteenth century and create a new quilt of their own that was inspired by the original. The new quilt could be a reproduction or simply reflect the original in a way that spoke to the maker. This book showcases the nearly fifty study quilts created for the quilt study, along with images of the antique quilts that gave each quilter their inspiration. AQSG invites you to enjoy the quilts, and follow each quilt maker’s journey from inspiration to creation, through the thoughts and reflections they have shared about the history, process, and significance of quilting from the nineteenth century into the twenty first century."

My entry, all white, was from my collection and a bit of a risk - not the kind of colorful quilt that might catch the judges eye. It also is hard to photograph all white textiles. However, it is intended as a study and I wanted to try something new.

I did a tufted technique with white schwalm/dresden embroidery.  The project is 100% hand stitched.

I reduced and reproduced, a design from an antique piece in my collection.

The edge is sewn and finished in knotted fringe.
No binding.

The quilting is simple cross hatching - serves just to keep the layers together. The white work is the "feature" of the quilt.

While my fringe was machine made purchased fringe, the antique is hand tied fringe.

My basket is a simple shape, in the fashion of some found on school girl samplers.

The interior of the basket is filled with rows of embroidery stitches.

My quilt will travel with 24 others - I hope you get a chance to see it!  The variety is exciting, you won't be disappointed.

Basket Exhibit Travel Schedule ***

March 24 - June 30, 2017 

     Ohio County Historical Society: Rising Sun, IN

October 1, 2017 - January 4, 2018
     Iowa Quilt Museum: Winterset, IA

March 9-11, 2018
     Dallas Quilt Show: Dallas, TX

June 14-16, 2018

     Minnesota Quilters, Saint Cloud MN

July 1 - September 3, 2018
    Baldwin Reynalds House: Meadville, PA

September 18 - December 5, 2018
     Virginia Quilt Museum: Harrisonburg, VA

March 1 - May 31, 2019
     Gilbert Historical Museum: Gilbert, AZ 85296

***Subject to change, always check the venue before traveling

AQSG Civil War Book (HERE)

The Civil War Study exhibit is also still traveling
(My flag quilt is in this exhibit)

June 2017 to October 20, 2017
    Rocky Mountain  Quilt Museum: Golden, CO

November 1 to February 28, 2018
    Sheerer Museum of Stillwater: Stillwater, OK

March 2018 to May 31, 2018
     Alabama Dept. of Archives and History, Montgomery, AL

June 1 to August 31, 2018
La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum: LaConner, WA

Happy Stitching,
Dawn

Thank You, Bloomington Indiana

Thanks to generous reader Diane, I have a virtual tour of the American Quilt Study Groups 2014 Civil War Study Quilt Exhibit.

First, I big thank you to the organizations that are supporting this touring exhibit the next four years.  Their support enables this informative and beautiful exhibit to be seen around the country.

Main Street Bloomington Indiana

We enter beautiful downtown Bloomington, Indiana...driving down a wonderful American Main Street.

Diane tells me 40,000 college students fill the town during the school year.  The weekend of her visit was a basketball game so the town was filled with activity and excitement.

For those of you who may not know, America is a little crazy for basketball in March - March Madness.

Let's continue the tour...we need to find the exhibit host - Monroe County History Center.

Monroe County History Center

Here it is...
What a beautiful building.

Diane tells me the building used to be the Carnegie Library - just about every county seat in Indiana had a Carnegie Library.  Most have been converted into history museums.  You can read more about it HERE.




The exhibit is in the Rechter Gallery, where rotating displays are FREE to the public.
American Quilt Study Group Presents: Quilt Study of Civil War Era Quiltcan Quilt Study Group Presents: Quilt Study of Civil War Era Quilts
The purpose of the Quilt Study is for members to replicate, either exactly, or as an interpretation, a quilt of a particular style or period. In this way, members can learn from the textile the history, techniques, and perhaps something of the person who made the original. This year, the Quilt Study replicated 25 Civil War Era Quilts. Opens: February Closes: June 2015.

Exhibit Entrance and Sign

This is the entrance to the exhibit.
The sign explains the exhibit and the study AQSG Members undertook.

This is the gallery shot Diane sent.

The next best thing to being there!

It is impossible to get all 25 quilts in one photo.

Here is another angle.

The music stands hold the information card for each quilt not on a wall.

Besides each beautiful quilt, there is a wealth of information about quilts in the Civil War era on the important tags that travel with the quilts.

If you get a chance to see the quilts, I hope you go!  PLEASE tell the venue that you came to see the quilts.  We need to get the word out that  quilts related to antique quilts (as well as antique quilts) attract attendance!!

Diane also provided a shot of my little flag quilt.

You can read more about it HERE, and see my inspiration quilt.

My quilt is hand pieced and hand quilted, and includes the 19th C. setting and construction.

I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour.

I am so appreciative to Diane who made this post possible!

Have a great weekend,

Dawn

Quilters Hall of Fame

In some venues, the original quilt will be displayed
with the study quilt

The Quilters Hall of Fame is located in Marion, Indiana. The exhibit schedule can be seen HERE.
They are currently exhibiting, "In War Time: A Study of Civil War Era Quilts 1850 - 1865" - 25 small quilts reproduced with permission from private collections and museums.

Each quilt is accompanied by a written statement  that documents the study of the original quilt as well as their journey as a quilt maker.

Original Quilt is in the collection of the Indiana
State Museum and Historical Society

The study quilts will be on exhibit through July, 2016 in the Marie Webster House. They then move to their next venue. The quilts travel for four years.

On June 4 - July 9 they will also have an Indiana Historical Society exhibit titled, "Faces of The Civil War". Deb Geyer, Executive Director says, "This exhibit bring to life the stories of many Hoosiers whose lives were touched, and in some cases taken, by the Civil War and illustrates how regular people coped with the tragic experiences of the day - all from an Indiana perspective."









If you are in the area or planning a trip, you might also be interested in attending Celebration 2016, (July 14-16) when Carolyn Mazloomi will be inducted into The Quilters Hall of Fame.

The 25 quilts represent a wide variety of techniques from quilters across the country.  The next study theme is "Baskets", the 50 entries will be shown at the annual American Quilt Study Group Seminar.

Some of the entries are group projects.
I think you will enjoy the variety of works in the exhibit.
A special thank you to the many volunteers who make this activity possible. In addition to the team of AQSG volunteers, thank you to each location who participates in the program.

Original quilt from Deanna's collection - will
be on exhibit when the study quilts travel to the
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum - Golden, Colorado 

At The Quilters Hall of Fame - Executive Director Deb Geyer, Exhibits Coordinator Sherry McConnell and the many volunteers who make it all possible.

Photos courtesy of Dale Drake.


The companion book, "In War Time: A Study of Civil War Era Quilts 1850-1865" is still available HERE. It includes all 50 fabulous quilts.






Do you have the book?
Have you seen the exhibit?
Are you going to the exhibit?
Are you participating in the basket study?
Would love to hear from you!
Have a great week,
Dawn
PS
Yes, my little flag quilt is also in this exhibit!

March Blocks and Flag Travels

2015 BOM Blocks Catherine's Garden

It always makes me smile when you find the BOM blocks before I get the blog post written.  You know you can count on the blocks being there a bit before the first of each month.  Thank you!  Click HERE.

This is a picture before I selected my ground fabric.  A little auditioning of green grass options.

This isn't the final setting, but it could be if you wanted to!

My set on orange ground is coming along.  I also found the blue dot I wanted for an additional set. Will Share those next month.

Civil War Star - Collection of Jeananne Wright

The AQSG Civil War Study quilts have started their travels.  Click HERE to see each quilt with entry statements.

This is an outstanding group of quilts, enjoy every minute of your browse through all of the entries.

Star from the inspiration quilt I was so graciously granted written permission to interpret.


Have a great week!!
Dawn