Terry Clothier Thompson’s “A New Nation”

“A New Nation”
Decade: 1770s
Terry Clothier Thompson 2010

I know you have seen her books, patterns, attended a class/lecture, or maybe attended/hosted one of her quilt history FabriCamps....her name is Terry Clothier Thompson and she is a designer, quilt artist, and historian from Kansas.

Terry agreed to participate in my eagle motif project and was the first one to tackle the 18th century – her decade was the 1770s. If you have seen or own her book Made in America 1776-1830: Quilts of the Daughters of Liberty you will know that this time period of American history is one of her favorites.

Her inspiration for this wallhanging was an image of the Daughter of Liberty. She added the design of a baby eagle to represent a brand new nation. Next, Terry appliquéd her Daughter of Liberty and baby eagle on a reproduction (fabric) of what could have been a design of an early American textile printer after the Revolutionary War.

I love the detail the embroidery brings to the piece.

Terry calls her eagle motif wallhanging… “A New Nation.”

I call this beautiful piece…a work of art!

Visit Terry at her Web Site and go to her FabriCamp Heading and see if that is something that would work for your quilt history group, quilt guild, or your sit and sew group. It looks like fun!

Contact

Terry Clothier Thompson
425 Pasadena Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049
Phone & Fax# (785) 865-2587
Web Site: http://www.terrythompson.com/
Email: terrythompson@sunflower.com

Debby Rake’s “Eagle in the New Century”

“Eagle in the New Century”
Decade: 1900s
Deborah S. Rake 2010

A designer, artist, and quilt historian with a Master of Arts in Textile History/Quilt Studies, she is known in some circles as Deborah S. Rake but those of us who live in the Midwest (and these days in Texas), know this nice lady by the name Debby.

I first met her at a meeting of the Iowa Illinois Quilt Study Group in Kalona, Iowa back in early to mid 2000s. Back then she lived in small Iowa community and had a tie to the University of Nebraska quilt center and the study of Kit Quilts. These days Debby resides in Texas with her family and serves as the Secretary on the Executive Board of the Quilters’ Guild of Arlington, Inc. (Arlington, Texas).

Debby does not know this, but I contacted her about being part of this eagle motif project back in September because of a redwork square she did a few years back that I have NEVER forgotten She embroidered, in redwork, a copy of the State of Illinois county map, in what I would term as miniature. The Illinois quilt square was part of a fundraising project and what would, along with other redwork squares from other IIQSG members, become a part of a permanent redwork artifact at the Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum in Kalona, Iowa.

I saw this piece first because she sent it to my home to take to the next meeting. I can’t embroider to save my soul, but Debby can and she did an amazing job on that square. I’ll be honest – I did what I was supposed to do and passed the piece on to the proper person at the next IIQSG meeting, but I don’t mind telling you I didn’t want to. That is one piece I fell in love with and I am happy to report it has a good home at the quilt museum in Kalona, if you ever want to see it.


I approached Debby and asked her would you consider being part of my eagle motif decade by decade project and she said “sure.” She picked the 1900s and what you see above is her interpretation called “Eagle in the New Century” and she did a fine thing she utilized the crazy quilt format and her amazing embroidery skills to create the piece of me.

And I love it!

Remembering Grant and the 1870s

By now you all know about my Eagle Motif Decade by Decade Project (if not scroll down through my old blogs and you’ll find the information about it). I have been commissioning other quilt artists and /or historians to create 24” x 24” wallhangings that have an eagle motif in them and reflect a certain decade.

Side note: The 1980s and the 1830s (and any decade before 1830s) are still open, if anyone is interested in creating one of these wallhangings for me.

Back to business……. I wasn’t going to do one of these wallhangings myself – then I was – then I wasn’t, but then I decided I really should – how can I expect someone else to do something I would not do myself. I waited until most of the decades were spoken for before I made a choice. I choose the 1870s and I choose to honor President U.S. Grant with my eagle motif piece.

My inspiration for the piece came from a trip we took to Galena, Illinois this summer for my family reunion – my brothers and their families drove in from various parts of Iowa and Illinois. Beautiful town Galena, Illinois – someone should write a time travel book about it because there are still spots in that town that haven’t changed since the time Grant walked the streets there. Grant’s home still exists - it is a historic site and if you decide to visit Galena a must-see on your trip to this neat city.

Most of my fabric came from reproductionfabrics.com. and Hancocks of Paducah online stores. Many of the fabrics used were from the Old Glory line – lots of fat quarters. This piece also utilizes some antique textiles and buttons (antique and new). I used fabric photo transfer sheets for the computer from Joann’s. The piece is hand-quilted and hand-pieced.

Here is my tribute to the 1870s and my eagle motif wallhanging “Remembering Grant:”

The Eagle

Left Upper Corner

Right Upper Corner

Left Lower Corner

Lower Right Corner

Centennial Side Left Side Piece

Chicago Fire Right Side Piece

Eagle Scout Art Quilt

I love quilt history and quilts that tell stories. It's no secret that I love eagle quilts, the history of that particular motif, and how it can appear and has evolved on quilts. I had been hunting for a Boy Scout quilt with the Eagle Scout quilt symbol on it for a spell to go into my collection of eagle quilts. You can't share the history of that particular motif in America and leave out the eagle scout symbol.

After about four years on the hunt, a light bulb went off in my head - why not commission someone to do an art quilt, one of those one of a kind pieces, that can only come from a truly gifted quilt artist's head. It is a win-win situation. The artist wins, you as the collector wins, and the world of quilt study wins - why not.

I went to quilt artist Jennifer Myers of Ohio (Google Art quilts by Jen) and she created this pictorial wallhanging for me which stirs up memories for this former den mother and summer camp mama and makes me smile. I loved that time in my life and learned many things - most of those boys are in the middle to late twenties now and I see them occasionally. Hard to believe, but a nice memory to be a part of.

I never guide a quilt artist - I let them have free reign -- I tell them I want this size, this theme, and the eagle motif in it and then I let them go. I guess it comes down to this -- to me, I feel too much imput on my part stifles creativity, I TRUST THEM to create a piece for me, and I have NEVER been disappointed.

This quilt came completely from Jennifer's imagination, but it is interesting that the boy scout camp she depicted looks amazingly similar to the one my son used to attend and I used to work at. Next spring if I can remember I will repost this blog and add a "spring" picture of my son's old scout camp. You will be surprised at how similar they are in appearence.

The boys in this piece look like they are having fun, don't they?

Thanks again Jennifer - as always a wonderful job.

Remember quilt history ladies and gents -- you can't find the quilt you're looking for then consider giving a quilt artist the opportunity to make it for you. Like I said earlier, it is a win/win situation.

Eagle Motif Wallhanging Decade by Decade Project

I collect eagle quilts - antique, vintage, and new. I call my collection of eagle quilts the Parks-Wildemuth Collection to honor my parents and my husband.

Eagle Motif Wallhanging Decade by Decade Project

I was walking one day and an idea occurred to me to commission wallhangings – decade by decade traditional or art wallhangings with eagle motifs by quilt artists and/or historians whose work I admire to add to my collection of eagle quilts. The more I thought about that the more I loved the idea. I took a chance and approached my first quilt artist, designer, and historian and that dear soul said yes…..

And the rest is history.

I have a variety of quilt artists and/or quilt historians who have created these eagle motif wallhangings or are in the process of creating them for me.

I am looking for more quilt artists and/or historians to create more eagle motif wallhangings. The only decades that are open (and not spoken for) are 1830, 1870, and 1980 – if you’d like to do wallhanging utilizing the 1820s or an earlier decade we can talk about that too. If you decide you would like to participate, I will need you to contact me first and choose one of the decades not spoken for above and I will save that decade back for you.

Contact: Sue Email: quiltingbee73@yahoo.com and put the words Eagle Motif Decade by Decade Project in the subject line.

The Criteria

The wallhanging has to have an eagle motif in it.

It can be based on an antique eagle quilt or it can be an original design.

It has to represent, either by the eagle motif or the fabric or the design in the quilt - the decade it represents. In other words someone looks at it and they say ahhh - that's the 1970s or that's the 1970s version of the eagle motif.

The maximum size of the wallhanging is 24 inches by 24 inches but it can be smaller than that too.

The wallhanging should reflect the work of the designer who made it.

The piece can have a traditional interpretation or an artistic interpretation.

The wallhanging needs to be signed, dated, and named – a sleeve for hanging – if possible.

It does not matter whether it is hand pieced and hand quilted or machine pieced and machine quilted.

The person can use either period or reproduction fabrics. I get mine from reproductionfabrics.com (Margo)

I would like a photograph (scan) and a biography of the person who created the quilt.

The deadline for the piece is very open -- no hurry and no worry.

I pay a fair price for the commission and for shipping it to me.


What Will I Do with Them

The quilts are going into my eagle collection, but someday I will exhibit the wallhangings as a group - giving the artist who created them full credit in the exhibit for creating them -- I would simply be the owner of the commissioned piece.

Teddy’s 1950s Eagle Has Landed at My Home

"The Eisenhower Years" (or "Eagle Jumping Rope")

1950s Eagle Motif Wallhanging

Quilt Artist: Teddy Pruett

Commissioned for the Parks-Wildemuth Collection

Teddy Pruett created this wallhanging for me for my Eagle Motif Decade by Decade Wallhanging Project. Teddy took on the challenge of the 1950s and this piece is truly a one of a kind work of art by one of today’s most innovative quilt artists. Teddy calls this one “The Eisenhower Years” or by her “less formal” nickname “Eagle Jumping Rope.” It is an excellent example of Teddy’s work and I am so proud to own it.

I LOVE THIS PIECE!

I tried to get some close-up shots of the writing on the red and white striped border and of the eagle herself – love the elephant and donkey motif in the border. If you want to see more of Teddy Pruett’s amazing work, check out the quilt galleries on her web site: http://www.teddypruett.com/

*****

Special Note About My Photographs: My photographs don't do this piece justice. This is the first time I have EVER used a digital camera to take pictures so I want you to know that this beautiful piece was photographed by a very inexperienced newbie digital photographer (me) who loves her 35mm Canon Rebel camera and was drug kicking and screaming into the digital age by her son and the digital version of the same grade of Canon camera – my lenses for both my 35mm and digital interchange or Susie would still be in the dark ages toting around her tripod and going to Walgreens to have her film developed.

Jennifer Myers Quilt Artist

I commission and collect art quilts from various art quilters and/or quilt historians whose work I admire throughout the United States. For those of you who know me -- you know they usually HAVE to have an eagle motif on them and lean more towards patriotic and less towards wildlife, but I also like pieces that commemorate an historical event.

I met an amazing quilt artist (though we have never actually met in person) through a quilt I purchased from a third party. I would learn later that the quilt was designed and created by an Ohio quilt artist named Jennifer Myers. This quilt (wallhanging size) is the first piece I purchased from her -- it is called "9-11."

Author's Collection

This photo is good, but it does not do the piece justice -- I wish you could see it up close -- it is an eye popping design in person - musuem worthy in my book and I will send it to a musuem someday as it belongs there for a variety of reasons. This piece brings up emotions and isn't that what good art and music does -- makes you feel things, fires up memories, and touches that place deep within you - it's about beauty.

Well I commissioned another piece from Jennifer in 2010 - this one is part of a larger eagle motif project. I have been commissioning wallhangings from quilt artists and/or quilt historians - decade by decade which feature eagle motifs in them. Jennifer's decade was the 1960s.

Author's Collection

This one is called "To Everything There is a Season" and like "9-11" this is a masterpiece in my book and I am so proud to be the owner of it.

Jennifer Myers has a wonderful web site that has a gallery or archive of quilts she has created. It is Jennifer's Art Quilts - http://artquiltsbyjen.com/ Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and treat yourself to a visit to Jennifer's archives and see her work.

I plan to commission another art quilt from Jennifer - I have the idea written in my journal and when the time is right I will approach her again. I like her work that much.

Liberty Farm Journal and Farmer’s Wife Eagle Quilt

Liberty

1940-1945

(Summer Spread)

Parks Wildemuth Collection

Why is my textile a Summer Spread and not a Quilt?

This pattern has been used in many a quilt, but the reason my textile is called a summer spread and not a quilt is because it is a single layer with no batting or backing. It is not quilted and the edges on this one are finished – similar to a modern day sheet.

Pattern Construction

This is a patriotic design. Three separate motifs are used in this quilt: #1 Eagle and Shield, #2 Bunting type border, #3 6-pointed Star. The blocks are 16 inch square, border is 14 inch wide.

It can be made into a quilt or a summer spread.

Pattern History

This is NOT a quilt kit.

The pattern Liberty appeared in Farm Journal and Farmer’s Wife Magazine in 1941. It was also featured in several vintage Farm Journal catalogs of patterns. The pattern was not included in the catalog, you had to send away for it. The buyer would then receive an envelope containing stapled sheets with instructions and pattern pieces commercially printed on them. In order to retain the integrity of the original pattern, some quilt makers made homemade templates from cereal boxes or other sturdy items because they would retain their shape after multiple uses and keep their original pattern safe from harm.