by Quilt Alliance | Apr 23, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for April 23. On this day in 1564 William Shakespeare was born according to the church record of his baptism. He lived to age 52 and is credited for authoring 38 of the most analyzed and performed plays in history. This quilt, titled “Idiot Star,” was made by the late quiltmaker and writer Helen Kelley in 1989. Celebrated for her affinity for color and storytelling in her work, Kelley included this inscription on the back of the quilt: “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May” Shakespeare/ made by one rosebud and five American beauties/The quilt belongs to me/ Helen Kelley 1989.” These names are inscribed on the front of the quilt, one per block: Marge Anderson, Connie Pluhar, Helen Kelley, Helen Lange, Mary L.Chmiel, Norma Ahlquist. The quilt was documented as part of the Minnesota Quilt 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. Sources: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-shakespeare-born Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Apr 22, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for April 22. On this day in 1970 the first Earth Day was celebrated to increase awareness of the world’s environmental problems. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin came up with the idea hoping to pull together grassroots environmental groups and increase ecological awareness. Evelyn F. (Berg) Klug of Cedarsburg, Wisconsin made this watercolor quilt titled “Backyard Gone Wild” around 1998. It was inspired by a trip to Monet’s gardens. Klug documented the quilt in 2002 as part of the Wisconsin Quilt History 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. Sources: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-first-earth-day Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Apr 19, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for April 19. On this day in 1897 the first Boston Marathon was run. The distance for the race was 24.5 miles. Fifteen competitors started the race and ten finished. Women were not allowed to enter the Boston race officially until 1972. Lyle Morehouse of Metarie, Louisiana, made this quilt, titled “A Reason for Running,” in 1980. Morehouse appliqued and pieced her old race t-shirts and hand quilted it together. Record notes include “She ran 15 marathons.” Morehouse documented the quilt in 2003 as part of the Louisiana Quilt Documentation 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. Sources: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-boston-marathon-held Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Apr 18, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for April 18. On this day in 1906 the Great San Francisco Earthquake, estimated at nearly an 8.0 on the Richter scale, toppled numerous buildings and killed hundreds of people. This cheerful quilt titled “Bel peyizan lakay” was made by Haitian quiltmaker Denise Estava, whose partially constructed home was destroyed in the massive earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Estava was one of the founders a cooperative called PeaceQuilts set up to raise money for relief assistance through the sale of quilts like this one. You can purchase quilts from this group at their website: www.haitipeacequilts.org. The quilt is part of the Michigan State University Museum collection. 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. Sources: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-great-san-francisco-earthquake Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Apr 17, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for April 17. On this day in 1864 Confederate forces attacked Union troops in the village of Plymouth in eastern North Carolina near the Albemarle Sound. The Rebels took the city after four days of battle, but Union troops would recapture Plymouth later that fall. This was the second largest battle fought in North Carolina during the Civil War. This fragile Lone Star quilt was hand pieced, appliqued and quilted by Mary Rhodes between 1815-1840 in Plymouth, North Carolina. In 1947, Mrs. Alice Hoover Taft of Raleigh, N.C. donated the quilt to the North Carolina Museum of History, who contributed this record to the Quilt Index. 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. Sources: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-plymouth-north-carolina-begins Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
