by Quilt Alliance | Jul 26, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1847, the Republic of Liberia, formerly a colony of the American Colonization Society, a group formed to return freed African American slaves to Africa, declared its independence. It was the first West African nation to become a democratic republic. Between 1822 and the American Civil War approximately 15,000 African Americans settled in Liberia. Isabella Major of Monrovia, Liberia, made this Liberian Star, or Star of Bethlehem, in 1972. The owners of the quilt live in Flint Michigan, and documented the quilt, which was a gift to them, during the Michigan Quilt Project. According to the owners, the quilt was so special that “they put the quilt on their bed only on the anniversaries of their wedding and her mother’s death.” View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view. Source:http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/liberian-independence-proclaimed Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 25, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1978, the world’s first “test tube” baby was born. Louise Joy Brown was conceived by her parents, Lesley and Peter Brown, via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Brown’s younger sister Natalie was born four years later, becoming the world’s 40th IVF baby. This Baby Blocks quilt is actually a wholecloth quilt made from pre-printed fabric and tied with red yarn. It was made in Connecticut by an unnamed quiltmaker between 1876-1900 and was documented in The Quilt Index as part of the Connecticut Quilt Search in 1996. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/worlds-first-test-tube-baby-born Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 24, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
I’m back from the Quilt Alliance’s Not Fade Away conference. I missed you, OTDHQ fans! On this day in 1982, “Eye of the Tiger”* by Survivor hit the top of the U.S. pop charts. This hit from the third of five “Rocky” films (actor/director Sylvester Stallone) held top billing on the chart for 6 weeks. The first hit from the boxing series was “Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)*.” *I apologize in advance for leaving these tunes to replay in your head all day! Anna Lee Girard of West Virginia, hand appliqued, pieced and quilted this Tiger Lily (alternately named Meadow or Wood Lily) quilt in 1881. Anna Lee was a housewife in rural Mason county in the central part of the state, and purchased new fabric to create this quilt. The lucky family member who inherited the quilt documented it during the West Virginia Heritage Quilt Search in 1992. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quoteye-of-the-tigerquot-from-rocky-iii-tops-the-us-pop-charts Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 17, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1955, Walt Disney’s first theme park, Disneyland, opened in Anaheim, California, built for $17 million on 160 acres of former orange groves. Today more than 14 million people visit Disneyland and spend close to $3 billion. Ellen (or Mary) Cline White hand pieced and hand quilted this Sunflower and Orange Peel quilt around 1840. The quilt was made in California but ended up in Tennessee, where it was documented by the Quilts of Tennessee project. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view. Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/disneyland-opens Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 16, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On this day in 1967, comedian and actor Will Ferrell was born in Irvine, California, the son of Betty Kay, a teacher, and Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., a musician with The Righteous Brothers. His parents were both natives of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, and moved to California in 1964. Emma Hotchkiss Irvine of Kentucky made this exciting Crazy Quilt in 1883. Emma was a direct descendent, through her father Benoni Hotchkiss, of Ambrose Doolittle, a private from Connecticut during the Revolutionary War. The quilt is now part of the permanent collection of the DAR Museum. View this quilt on The Quilt Index to read more about it’s history, design and construction. Be sure to use the zoom tool for a detailed view. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Ferrell Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
