by Quilt Alliance | Feb 27, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for February 27: On this day in 2010 an earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale hit off the coast of central Chile killing over 500 people and injuring thousands. The quake spawned a tsunami that damaged coastal towns in Chile as well as minor damage in California and major damage to a fishing village in Japan. It was the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a seismograph. This 18” x 14” machine pieced, appliqued and embroidered wall hanging titled “Arpillera” was made in Chile around 1980. The word arpillera means burlap fabric in Spanish, and is used to describe the complex tapestries (and in this case a pieced and embroidered textile) created by women in protest of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. The narrative textiles describe the harsh effects this regime had on Chile and its people. The quilt was documented by John Beck, staff member of the Michigan State University Museum who purchased it from Madame Letellier, who was teaching at the University of Michigan at the time. Letellier is the widow of Orlando Letellier who was assassinated by the Pinochet regime in Washington D.C. in 1976. The piece tells the story of a strike by the professionals’ union (professors, engineers, etc.) in Chile. 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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Chile_earthquake http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_27 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letelier_case http://www.coha.org/chilean-women%E2%80%99s-resistance-in-the-arpillera-movement/ Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Feb 26, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for February 26: On this day in 1928 the R&B and rock and roll pianist Antoine Dominique “Fats” Domino Jr. was born in New Orleans. The youngest of eight children in a Creole family, Fats was inspired to become a musician by his father, a well-known violinist and his uncle, a jazz guitarist. Fats, who started playing professionally in honky-tonks at the age of 10, went on to sell an estimated 65 million records worldwide. Irma Nicholas St. Pe’ of Creole and Czech heritage, made this Patchwork Strip quilt in 1952 in Louisiana. It was documented by her grandchild during the Louisiana Quilt Documentation Project. “My grandmother was very proud of her work. She was always sewing or cooking. She was really excited about the backing material on this quilt. She made good lemon pies and cakes. My grandmother always liked to primp-up! She always wore lip-stick and earrings when going somewhere.” 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/fats-domino-is-born-in-new-orlean http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fats_Domino Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Feb 22, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for February 22: On this day in 1980 the United States hockey team defeated the Soviet Union team, four-time defenders of the Olympic gold medal in the event. Two days later the U.S. team performed a “miracle on ice” by beating the Finland team to earn an Olympic gold medal. Elsie Vredenburg of Tustin, Michigan made this quilt, titled “Ice Fantasia,” in 1989. The machine pieced and hand quilted piece is part of the Founders Collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. The quilt won Second place in the Theme category of the American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show in 1990. 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/us-hockey-team-makes-miracle-on-ice Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Feb 21, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for February 21: On this day in 1948 the National Association for Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) was officially incorporated under the leadership of mechanic and auto-repair shop owner William Frances Jr. Clarice Sabina of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania made this quilt from NASCAR tee shirts in 2010. The extra shirts were sent to Iraq. Sabina documented her quilt during the Western Pennsylvania 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/nascar-founded Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
by Quilt Alliance | Feb 21, 2013 | On this Day in History Quilts series
On This Day in History Quilt for February 20: On this day in 1792 President George Washington signed legislation that would renew the 1775 act that made the United States Post Office a cabinet department led by the postmaster general (the first PG was Benjamin Franklin). This act ensured inexpensive delivery of all newspapers and stipulated the right to privacy, and it gave Congress the ability to expand postal services to new areas of the country. This Postage Stamp quilt top was hand pieced by Louisa Davis and hand quilted by Virginia Newman in 1840 in the Dewitt area of Michigan. Louisa’s great granddaughter, who documented the quilt as part of the Michigan Quilt Project, said “Louisa made this quilt top by candlelight during nights when she could not sleep.” 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/postal-service-act-regulates-united-states-post-office-department Posted by Amy E. Milne Executive Director, Quilt Alliance…
