by Quilt Alliance | Dec 12, 2012 | Fundraising
Did you know that there are more than 30 million quilters across the globe? It’s true! Every day, in small towns and big cities, using tools as simple and time-honored as a needle and thread or as complex as latest computerized sewing machine, quilters all over the world are sewing quilts for the joy of the process and with the hope that the patchwork they create today might someday be numbered among the treasured antique quilts of tomorrow. As quiltmakers, we realize that while future generations may remember us only faintly, if at all, our quilts will powerfully tell our stories. We at the Quilt Alliance take the hopes and dreams of quiltmakers very seriously, making it our mission to document, preserve, and share the heritage of quilting by collecting the rich stories of quilts and their makers from every era. To that end, the Quilt Alliance has some very exciting news for quilters and those interested in the art, history, creation, collection, and documentation of quilts! Thanks to the generosity of an extraordinary anonymous foundation, all contributions made to the nonprofit Quilt Alliance between now and the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2013, will be matched up to $10,000. That’s right, ALL donations made to Quilt Alliance from now until year-end will be matched dollar-for-dollar until we reach this $10,000 goal. Here’s the best news for contributors like you: as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, all of the donated financial support to the Quilt Alliance is tax deductible! That means that anything you donate during the last few weeks of 2012 can be deducted as a charity contribution when you file your taxes during the next few months! Of course, we would love for quilters and quilt lovers to donate a small fortune to help us reach our $10,000 goal but we’re aware that even our most enthusiastic supporters may not be able to make big donations. That’s why this is such a special opportunity! Between now and year’s end, every donation of every size, does double-duty, going twice as far so that the Quilt Alliance may continue its very important work, linking the worlds of patchwork, scholarship, and public interest. Please consider helping us in any way you can within the next couple of weeks — $5.00, $15.00, $25.00 or more! As we head toward our target, anything you contribute will be doubly appreciated and every gesture of generosity will go twice as in helping the Quilt Alliance celebrate the history of quilting and insuring that quilts past, present, and future will be documented and preserved for the generations of tomorrow. You can support Quilt Alliance using online forms or by printing and mailing our downloadable forms that are available by visiting:www.QuiltAlliance.org/support/donate.php. Time is running out for you to essentially double your contribution and help to support the Quilt Alliance with a matching donation from our anonymous donor. Please log into our website and help us continue our important work, today! Money Photo Credit: …
by Quilt Alliance | Dec 10, 2012 | Guest Blogger
Welcome to the launch of the Quilt Alliance blog!! Whether you make quilts or collect them, sleep under or study them, or just want to learn more about quilts, you have come to the right place. Founded in 1993 by four women who cared passionately about giving quilts a voice, the Quilt Alliance documents, preserves and shares the stories of quilts and their makers. Originally, the nonprofit was called the Alliance for American Quilts, but the name was changed this year, as the Alliance’s projects go global. Feel free to drop in anytime to the Alliance’s unparalleled “virtual quilt museum” at www.quiltalliance.org. You can browse more than 53,000 quilts from four centuries at the Quilt Index, an amazing archive run in partnership with Michigan State University Museum and MSU’s MATRIX. Some of the quilts come from major museum collections, but many were photographed and analyzed by state documentation projects, hidden treasures rarely seen. Or go read one of the 1,000-plus interviews at the oral history project, Quilter’s S.O.S. – Save Our Stories, which are also archived at the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center. The reason for this blog is that the Quilt Alliance is so much more than these outstanding online resources. This blog will be a place for quilt-lovers to find out about new projects, live events, volunteer opportunities, quilt contests, and more. As well as a place to connect with other quilt nerds. And about the website. You might think you know it pretty well, but I can tell you, there are some hidden gems lurking there. I know, because I hid some myself. When I joined the board of the Alliance in 2005, I created a virtual honoring quilt on the website as a personal tribute to my late mother, Jo Cox, who taught me to quilt. You can see it by CLICKING HERE. The thing that makes me truly proud: there is a second, simpler honoring quilt, and someone bought a block on it for me. My husband’s ex-wife gave it to me as a Christmas gift, and I did cry. You can be a part of a virtual online quiltmaking memory quilt and help support Quilt Alliance in the process. The Memory Quilt is a place for individuals and groups to honor the special people who have touched their lives and taught them to love quilts. Many beloved people die without their accomplishments and generosity being celebrated as they deserve to be. Here’s your chance to honor that special person in your life! CLICK HERE for more information on how you can get involved in the “Star Memory Quilt” or the “Chinese Coin Memory Quilt.” Welcome!! Come back often. Bring friends. And tell us what you think. Meg Cox, President, Quilt…
by Quilt Alliance | Jul 27, 2012 | Events
MEET: Denyse Schmidt Jennifer Chiaverini Mark Lipinski Victoria Findlay Wolfe A Big Apple Benefit for the Alliance for American Quilts (while you’re there mix and mingle with Frances Holiday Alford, Allie Aller, Marie Bostwick, Meg Cox, Jodie Davis, Luke Haynes, Leslie Tucker Jenison, Carolyn L Mazloomi, Michele Muska and more of your favorite patchwork personalities . . .) Join Denyse Schmidt, Jennifer Chiaverini, Mark Lipinski and the Alliance for American Quilts (Quilt Alliance) in New York City at the Fashion Institute of Technology for an exciting day of inspiration, learning, prizes, samples, a silent auction and (yes!) gorgeous quilts! The event is a benefit for the Quilt Alliance, documenting, preserving and sharing the history of quilts and their makers since 1993. This event will include a live Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories(Q.S.O.S.) oral history interview with Denyse Schmidt (left), iconic quiltmaker, teacher and entrepreneur whose stunning couture and custom quilts (since 1996) and “work” quilts (since 2003) reinterpret traditional patterns with a modern sensibility. Quilts from Denyse’s new book, “Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration”will be exhibited at the event and Denyse will do a Q&A after her interview as well as a book signing. Photo of Denyse Schmidt courtesy of Lane du Pont. This event will include a live Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories(Q.S.O.S.) oral history interview with Denyse Schmidt (left), iconic quiltmaker, teacher and entrepreneur whose stunning couture and custom quilts (since 1996) and “work” quilts (since 2003) reinterpret traditional patterns with a modern sensibility. Quilts from Denyse’s new book, “Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration”will be exhibited at the event and Denyse will do a Q&A after her interview as well as a book signing. Photo of Denyse Schmidt courtesy of Lane du Pont. Jennifer Chiaverini (right), author of the New York Times bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series, as well as five collections of quilt patterns inspired by her novels, will be presenting her lecture “The Giving Quilt and Other Stories.” Join New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini for a special preview of her forthcoming novel, “The Giving Quilt” (October 2012), the 20th volume in the beloved Elm Creek Quilts series. Jennifer will read from the book and satisfy readers’ curiosity in a lively question-and-answer session. Photo of Jennifer Chiaverini courtesy of Steven Garfinkel. The event will also include a special appearance by Mark Lipinski (left). Expect surprises! Mark is the bold creative genius behind numerous print, web and TV productions, most recently the web radio show Creative Mojo with Mark Lipinski. Selected house-shaped quilts from the Alliance’s “Home Is Where the Quilt Is” contest will also be displayed at FIT and the rest will be exhibited at The City Quilter (133 West 25th Street.). Door prizes, goody bags and a special silent auction of products donated by our generous sponsors (see logos below) will round out the event. Be sure to like the Alliance Facebook page where we’ll post details on all of the incredible products you can win or bid on at the event. New this Year: Unlimited Attendance via our “Home Tickets”! We expect 350 attendees to join us at the center of fashion in New York at the Fashion Institute of Technology, but even those who can’t make the trip to the Big Apple can enjoy this event and support our cause. Portions of the event will be recorded for distribution via exclusive online video to all those who purchase a “Home Ticket,” which will also include a Quilters Take Manhattan To-Go Pack with goodies provided by sponsors, our event program and the option to purchase a signed copy of Denyse’s new book. Glam Wall: Love, the Quilt Alliance. Guests will have the opportunity to don fun and fashion-forward accessories and hold up a sign with a personal message to the rest of the quilt world as part of our Love, the Quilt Alliance publicity campaign. The Alliance will share these messages via websites, blogs and social media to promote our mission as we approach our 20th anniversary (2013). Ticket Prices and Payment Options Tickets prices: $45 for members, $60 for nonmembers, $25 for Home tickets (see above). Please consider joining the Quilt Alliance when you buy your ticket. Annual membership fees start at $25 (Friendship Level). Visit our membership page for more information or join when you buy your event ticket online. Payment Options: PayPal, Credit/Debit Cards or check. While PayPal is our payment processor, you do not need a PayPal account to make your payment, but please choose PayPal as your payment option when you register if you plan to pay by PayPal or credit card (in the next screen you will be able to choose PayPal or debit or credit card). PayPal accepts payments from all Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express cards, as well as some other localized payment types. To purchase your ticket by phone using your credit card, phone our office in Asheville at 828-251-7073. Regular office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 – 2:00 pm. If we miss your call, please leave a detailed message with you name, number and best time to return your call and we’ll get back to you promptly to process your order. If paying by check please note: registration is not complete until payment is received. Please mail your check within 10 days of registration to avoid cancellation. All payments must be received no later than September 1, 2012. And don’t miss . . . Quilters Take Manhattan After Dark Saturday, September 15, 2012, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s loft home After your fun afternoon at FIT join us for a night of cocktails, demonstrations and music in the cozy, spacious and sophisticated studio and home of Victoria Findlay Wolfe, co-founder of the New York City Metro Area Modern Quilt Guild, owner of Bumble Beans, Inc. and founder of the Bumble Beans Basics charity project. The event is a benefit for the Quilt Alliance, documenting, preserving and sharing the history of quilts and their makers since 1993. Our generous sponsors include the following: Click on each logo to visit that sponsor’s website. Platinum level sponsors: Gold level sponsors: Silver level sponsors: Bronze level sponsors: Venue…
