January Update

Phoenix Metro Team News and Notes

from Lenna DeMarco

It has been a busy fall for members of the AZQDP. The Metro team is focused on documenting the quilt collections of the various museums around the state. This is a formidable project because there are numerous local museums and some have only one or two quilts. Others have 30 or more.  
This fall, Team Metro completed the quilts at the Desert Cabarellos Western Museum, Wickenburg. Who knew that there was a treasure trove of quilts in their collection? Even Sandra Voris, the (relatively) new director was stunned at the number and quality of the quilts. Major pieces are a ca 1850 Eight Pointed Star with Prussian blue serpentine print sashing, early block prints and dazzling chintz fabrics. It bears the ink signature of Frances Carmon and the museum is continuing to research her as the possible maker.

Other stunning pieces include a master piece crazy quilt dated 1884 which surprised everyone due to the fact that there is hardly any fabric disintegration, a problem that plagues most crazy quilts. There is also a beautiful white work summer sporting a spread eagle, vines and flowers and dates from the early 1800s. Unfortunately, it suffers from severe damage and desperately needs conservation. Patchwork, applique and 20th century kit quilts round out the collection.
Because of the beauty and breadth of the collection the museum will be hosting a yearlong exhibit of the quilts beginning in January, 2016. Below, members of Vulture Peak Patchers in Wickenburg are volunteering under the guidance of Team Metro member Lenna DeMarco to vacuum, stabilize and add sleeves to the quilts in preparation for the exhibit.

In December Team Metro spent 2 days at Cave Creek Museum. Once again the collection was a surprise to all. Beautiful quilts from 2 centuries made up the 20 piece collection. The star of the group was a white tufted summer spread containing the name and date (1842) of the maker. How did a gorgeous New England piece like that survive the rugged AZ life and climate??
Staff at the museum hope to exhibit the quilts with more frequency.

Also in December, Lynn Miller worked with the quilters at Pebble Creek to begin the documentation project on their group's quilts. Lynn praised the energy, skills and commitment of the group and hopes the Pebble Creek Quilters will keep the momentum going a long, long time.

2016 promises more museums and, hopefully, more hidden treasures. If your group is interested in establishing a documentation group please contact Lynn Miller at lynnquilt@aol.com.

Tucson News and Notes from Sue Franklin

In December, the team held the second Public Documentation of the year at the Arizona History Museum. Similar to Museum documentations, a public documentation is like Christmas as one never knows what fabulous quilts will be seen. This time, 23 quilts were brought by 15 people. Two were from the heart of Amish country, including a lovely Amish Lemoyne Star Medallion. The owner, who collects Amish quilts, vowed to return in April for the next public documentation with two more from her collection. She was impressed by the knowledge of the team.

 

Other quilts were well loved family heirlooms such as Friendship Star and Double Z. We had a second Double Z, it looked quite different. Another owner, her third time at a public documentation, was having family quilts documented in order that her children had a good record of their inheritance. She brought Scrappy Trips Around the World and Dresden Plate.

 

One quilt was made to honor an individual, while still another, My Southwest Rhapsody, was a prize winner for its owner. There were two Maple Leaf quilts, but they didn't look at all alike. Also, there were two Dresden Plates; for one, the owner simply called her quilt, Grandma's Quilt.

 

Most quilters have made Log Cabin quilts. Have you ever seen a Pink Log Cabin quilt? The team documented one. Also, a silk Log Cabin beauty was done as well. That quilt included a kimono over 100 years old!

 

Reading this, a reaction might be, public documentation is the cat's pajamas...well, guess what, Phil's Pajama's were documented. This quilt was made entirely of Phil's pajamas when he was a child. Others included Family Tree and a Quadruple Irish Chain with Embroidered Flowers.

 

The team is open-minded, but the group that documented a gorgeous Hawaiian quilt were amazed a man did it! I was called over to inspect the tiny stitches and also to explain, that indeed, the person who made it was a man, even though it was registered under his wife's name. It helped that I knew the couple.

 

Ending our day, we had a Texas Star, a Fan, and a Double Wedding Ring. Now, the team waits patiently for more Museum or public documentations to see what treats await!

 

If you have questions about quilt documentation or would like to join the Tucson team, please either call or email Tucson liaisons Sue Franklin, (520.490.4721; suevette63@comcast.net) or Terry Gryzb-Wysocki, (520.749.9326; terry-gw@mindspring.com). New members are welcome. Also, if you'd like to just come to watch and view the process; that is possible, too. Training sessions are held monthly from 9:30 until 12:30 at the Ellie Towne Flowing Wells Community Center on Ruthrauff Road.