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!

Deborah Fell's "Coming Together or Falling Apart?"

"Coming Together or Falling Apart?"

Decade: 2010s

Deborah Fell - 2010

Deborah Fell is an Urbana, Illinois quilt artist who took on the challenge of the decade 2010s for my eagle motif decade by decade project. Not an easy task when you consider the decade of her choice is just beginning and there is nothing that has "already taken place" to draw on for inspiration.

That takes creativity and vision. Deborah has both of those qualities.

Here is Deborah's biography - taken directly from her web site http://www.deborahfell.com/

"Deborah Fell is a studio artist committed to the art quilt medium. She is a professional member of the Studio Art Quilt Associates, the Surface Design Association and has had over twenty years of education at the Quilt/Surface Design Symposium in Columbus , Ohio . Deborah focuses on abstract, organic shapes using surface treatment such as dyeing and painting fabric. Deborah has obtained national recognition for her work. Her art has been exhibited in venues such as the United Nations Building in New York City; the Moscone in San Francisco; Art Quilt Elements at the Wayne Art Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; The Works Gallery in Newark, New Jersey which is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate Museum; in Pakistan through the U.S. State Department Arts in Embassies Program; and the premier international exhibit Quilt National. One of Deborah’s art quilts appeared on the front cover for the American Journal of Nursing; another art quilt is a part of the former Ground Zero Headquarters— St. Paul Trinity Chapel—collection. Most recently, Deborah was asked to collaborate with ABC TV Host Ty Pennington to create the special art project for Extreme Home Makeover, Season 7, Montgomery House. In 2010, Deborah will have an art piece part of an Obama art exhibit; this exhibit opened in Tokyo in 2009. Deborah says, “Art allows us to move from one place to the next. I do art because I believe art makes a difference in our world; it is a gift we give ourselves and it is a celebration of our very souls.” Deborah continues to be a studio artist committed to the art quilt medium."


Stop by and visit her web site when you get a chance - she is an amazing artist (and teacher), who creates one-of-a kind pieces of art.

Special Note: Scroll back up to the full view picture of her wallhanging -- do you notice "the flag" look of the piece? I love those kinds of details.

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

Art Quilt with a Historical Twist

I have been a traditional quilter (hand piecer - hand quilter) since 1985 when I took my first class at our local community center - my son was two and I was looking for a creative outlet and a way to meet other moms. I became hooked on quilting the first night of class -- the teacher even said -- you love this don't you? I did and still do. I put away my oil paints and brushes and have never looked back.

I never thought I would venture into the art quilt arena though, but I have always been drawn to pictorial quilts because they tell stories. I decided in 2010 to try my hand at creating an art quilt, but I knew the wall hanging would have to tell a story, incorporate my love of history, and of course it would need to have an eagle motif on it.

My Defining Moment Art Quilt Series was born.

My definition of a defining moment is a point at which the essential nature or character of a person is revealed or identified and because of this moment, event, or discovery their life is changed forever.

This piece entitled "The Eagle: Walter Carlin Parks, Jr." is the first wall hanging in my series. It honors my dad whose defining moment, like so many others of his generation, was WWII. If you want to know the whole story about my father go to my web site: http://www.illinoisquilthistory.com/, go to the community by community section, scroll down to Atkinson, click on "Earning the Eagle's Badge," and you'll find my dad's story is there.

The aircraft carrier on fire (in the Storm at Sea quilt pattern) was my dad's ship the St. Lo.

It was hit by enemy fire and sank in the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

A "not so" final word about art quilts.....

I love the "no rules" aspect of art quilts - you can use ANYTHING in them from buttons to string to fabric to thread to ribbons to photographs (the list is endless) and it frees you up to create and tell a story the way you want to.

Hoffman 2011 Quilt Challenge

"This year the Hoffman Challenge is celebrating its 23rd Anniversary. The Challenge started with 94 enthusiastic quilters, and in some years, the number of entries has grown to more than 700. In addition to the three quilt categories (pieced, appliqué and mixed technique), new categories include clothing (wearable art), accessories, and dolls."

If you are interested in participating in this challenge, here is the web site with all the information you will need to know:

http://www.hoffmanchallenge.com/challenge2011.html

If you'd like a glimpse at 2011 fabric and coordinating fabrics to be used on this challenge, they can also be found on this page. Each one is a beauty and perfect for a Broderie Perse quilt even if you decide not to participate in the contest.

Quilt Kit Identification – Rosie Werner’s Quilt Kit Research Web Site

Cinderella Youth Quilt Kit

LeeWards - Elgin, Illinois

Mail Order Catalog

Researcher, lecturer, and collector Rosie Werner is an independent quilt historian who specializes in identifying 20th Century Quilt Designs that were sold as kits. She established her web site “Quilt Kit Identification” to help us date and identify appliqué, crib, cross-stitch, embroidered, and pieced quilts that were sold through art needle company retail stores and mail catalogs.

Her documentation includes:

Photo or Drawing of the Quilt
Name and Number of the design
Company or Designer
Sources
Materials in Kit
Size
Description
Quilting Designs
Original Price

Extras Include:
· Stories Behind the Quilt Kit Companies and Designers
· Reading List

This is a subscription-based web site.

For more information contact:

Rosie Werner
P.O. Box 18
Dundas, Minnesota 55019

Web Site: http://quiltkitid.com/index.shtml

Email: rwerner@quiltkitID.com

Telephone: 507-645-7995

Cell: 507-649-0171