Tucson's March Update

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project – Tucson

By Sue Franklin

At the February meeting, the team learned more about the Arizona Quilt Study Regional meeting on March 19 at the Gilbert Historical Museum. There will be a silent auction and also lectures on quilt restoration and stabilization.  Sue Franklin will coordinate a quilt turning and is looking for volunteers to help.

The continuing education, presented by Sue, was on chintz.  She shared her circa 1830-40

 8 point LeMoyne Star crib quilt that contains three different glazed chintz fabrics.  The quilt, in pristine condition, likely came from a wealthy family. It is beautifully quilted with a diagonal grid about 3/8” – ½” for both sashing and borders.  Chintz first was introduced to the Europeans from India in the 1600s.  They were fascinated with its lustrous color and beauty.  Used in Europe for upper class women and men’s clothing, it eventually became popular for bed coverings, too.  Because it was costly, it frequently was used for appliquéd rather than pieced quilts.  Chintz was widely popular in the late 18^th century and until about 1850.

The team documented four quilts.  First on the docket was the English Center Frame crib quilt owned by Sue Franklin.  Next, another crib quilt of Sue, Mother Goose Land, a whimsical appliquéd and embroidered piece.  Third, was a bed quilt, Pieced Tulips, that owner, Kate Clark, remembers sleeping under as a child.  The final quilt was a small wall hanging, made by Sue.  The Reverend Best Cornucopia, a Baltimore Album block.

Later in February, at set up day of Quilt Fiesta, some team members documented eight of the 16 Vintage Quilt Turning quilts.  These include the following, all owned by Guild members.  Katie Ammon had two, Trip around the World and Sunflower, also known as Carpenter’s Wheel.  Judy Breneman shared an Improved Nine Patch, made by her great grandmother.  Bricks, a simple, but stunning quilt from the 1930s was loaned by Patty Goodsell.  Believe it or not, Patty paid less than $50 in the 1980s!  Sisters, Claudia Colton and Marilyn McConnell were given two lovely quilts by a family member.  Claudia’s quilt, Turkey Tracks or Wandering Foot while Marilyn’s was a lovely Hanging Baskets. 

Roberta Sipes shared a magnificent lace trimmed Crazy that she found on Ebay.  I think I need to start checking out that site.  The final quilt documented, a lovely Rose of Sharon from the last quarter of the 19^th century, belonged to Eileen Mechling.  The green had faded to grey, but that didn’t detract a bit from the quilt’s beauty.

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.  Information about quilt documentation teams throughout Arizona may be obtained from Lynn Miller at either 480.202.1230 or azquiltdoc@yahoo.com.  Lynn always needs people familiar with the computer to aid her with data entry for the Quilt Index.  Lynn can do distance training which takes a couple hours.