by Quilt Alliance | Nov 11, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1918, World War I (also known as the Great War) ended at 11 a.m. when German forces, low on manpower and supplies and facing certain invasion, signed an armistice agreement with the Allies outside of Compiegne, France. The war left 9 million soldiers dead and 21 million wounded, and at least 5 million civilians died from disease, starvation or exposure. In honor of Veteran’s Day I’d like to spotlight two quilts and their makers whose work is documented in the Quilt Index, one made for a solider and one made by a military nurse. Sallie Allen Watson of Knoxville, Tennessee hand pieced and hand quilted this “Soldier’s Quilt” (or “Peony Variation”) around 1944 for her grandson-in-law, who was serving in World War II at the time. The quilt was documented during the Quilts of Tennessee project by a relative of Watson’s. Amanda J. Wright of Lake Providence, Louisiana hand appliqued, pieced and quilted this wool feedsack Strip quilt. Wright was born in Natchez, Mississippi and learned to quilt from her slave parents. She served as a nurse in the Civil War and her husband was a Confederate soldier. She died in 1929. The quilt was documented during the Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project by one of Wright’s family members in 2005. View these quilts on The Quilt Index by clicking on the images above. Read more about each quilt’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/world-war-i-ends Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Nov 8, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1900, author Margaret Mitchell was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Mitchell was a free spirit fascinated with writing and stories as a child. After leaving Smith College to help her family, she took a job as a journalist for the Atlanta Journal to make ends meet, earning $25 per week. Injuries forced her to quit and it was during this time that she began writing the book that would make her famous, “Gone with the Wind.” She died in 1949 from injuries sustained when she was struck by a taxi in downtown Atlanta. This quilt, titled “Whisper to the Wind,” was made by Cheri Rabourn of Lee’s Summit, Missouri in 2011 for the Quilt Alliance’s “Alliances” contest. From Cheri’s artist statement: “I dedicate this quilt to my Niece – “Shonda full of beauty and grace may the sun shine softly up on your face. You’re a free spirit loving and kind sent to this earth for blessings to find. As a gentle breeze blows through your hair, whisper to the wind all your hopes, dreams and prayers.” The annual Quilt Alliance quilt auction, titled TWENTY this year, begins Monday, November 11. Starting Monday at 9pm Eastern, you’ll be able to view and bid on the Week One quilts on eBay.com by searching for “Quilt Alliance”. As soon as the auction is live we’ll also post links our website, blog and FB page. Thanks in advance for helping to make this important fundraiser a success! View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Mitchell Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Oct 25, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1771, career midwife Catherine Kaidyee Blaikley died in Williamsburg, Virginia. Blaikley was widowed early in her marriage and to maintain her inheritance she took up leasing rooms and midwifery. At the time of her death the Virginia Gazette praised Blaikley for delivering more than three thousand children.” Edna Cable Stanton of Tennessee hand pieced and appliqued this Shooting Star quilt around 1885. The Quilt Index record states: “Edna Stanton was a midwife and farmer, widowed when her husband died in the Civil War. Anna Stout did the quilting in 1953. She died in 1984 at the age of 96.” A family member documented the quilt during the Quilts of Tennessee project. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Blaikley_Catherine_Kaidyee_ca_1695-ca_1771#start_entry Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Oct 24, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1901, Annie Edson Taylor, a 63-year-old schoolteacher, became the first person to ride over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Taylor’s husband died in the Civil War, and afterwards she moved all over the U.S. before finally settling down in Bay City, Michigan in 1898. Taylor heard of the falls and the upcoming Pan-American Exposition to be held in Buffalo, N.Y. and planned the stunt seeking cash and fame. Mary Ann Lawson of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, machine pieced and hand quilted this Lady of the Lake quilt in 1940. Lawson’s granddaughter received the quilt as a gift and documented it in 1989 as part of the Heritage Quilt Project of New Jersey. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-barrel-ride-down-niagara-falls Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Oct 23, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1905, American competitive swimmer Gertrude (Trudy) Ederle was born in New York City, the daughter of German immigrants. Ederle became the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926. Loretta K. Reardon of Lansing, Michigan, a swimmer and a quilter, hand quilted this Hour Glass pattern quilt, titled “Lap Swimming,” in 1993. Reardon writes, “I used to live at a Lake (Algonquin Lake in Hastings) and did a lot of swimming. Later I took up lap swimming. I missed swimming when ill, so these aquas and blues remind me of it.” Reardon documented her quilt as part of the Michigan Quilt Project. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to find out! Read more about its history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view or click the “See full record” link to see a larger image and all the data entered about that quilt. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Ederle Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
