Historic NSW Hexagon Quilt Top Unearthed

The Quilt Study Group of NSW has a fascinating request: to identify the maker of a lovely half-inch hexagon quilt top. The owner is a 90 year old. She did not make it but she believes it was made by a member of her family, which has links to the families of NSW Governor Philip Gidney King and the retailer David Jones.


The hexies are backed with papers which could help with this identification.

The owner would like it to go to an institution where it can be seen and admired, possibly the Powerhouse Museum. If we can identify the maker this would be a great bonus. The QSG of NSW is keen to take on this project and we will start with a debate on the thorny question: what should be done with an item such as this? Watch this space for developments.

Annette Gero and Karen Fail talk for the Powerhouse Museum History Week in September

As part of the 'Quilts and Communities Seminar' that is being held as part of History Week at the Powerhouse Discovery Centre, Castle Hill,  Annette Gero and Karen Fail have been asked to talk   about two of the quilts in the Museum's collection that they have studied. The talk will be held on Wednesday the 12th September 2012 at Castle Hill.


Karen will talk about  Aunt Clara's quilt. This beautiful embroidered patchwork quilt is named 'Aunt Clara's quilt' for Mrs Clara Bate (nee Hughes). Family history suggests that Clara worked on the quilt all her life and that its imagery reflects both her daily life and its significant events. See http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=259537 for more details.

Annette will talk about military uniform quilts in the Powerhouse's collection.

The theme for History Week is 'Threads'.

The seminar is a unique event that will be held at the Powerhouse Discovery Centre, 172 Showground Road, Castle Hill. It will look at the power of quilts to mobilise and connect communities and will include a range of professional speakers and case studies. The seminar is perfect for museum professionals working with collections and communities, as well as those interested in textiles and museum collections.

See http://historycouncilnsw.org.au/history/post/how-the-power-of-quilting-connects-communities/ for more details.

Update on booking details: You do need to book for this event for catering purposes and you cannot pay for this at the Powerhouse in Ultimo. There is now a surcharge for credit cards used for admission costs which range from .4% to 2.75% depending on which card you use. See
http://castlehill.powerhousemuseum.com/pdf/events/Connecting_Communities_Seminar_Flyer.pdf
for more details.

Judy Hooworth's 26th May 2012 talk to the QSG of NSW

Looking forward......looking back......  30 years of contemporary quiltmaking

Judy Hooworth, the 2012 winner of the Rajah Award, will give an illustrated talk about the history of quilt art in Australia from her perspective; and specifically how her own work developed and evolved and continues to evolve today. 

Black Water #9

Judy will look at how The New Quilt has changed and how it has influenced her work and the work of fellow artists.

Join us in the Charles Kerry Meeting Room on level 5 at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney at 2pm on Saturday the 26th of May. There is no entry fee to the Powerhouse Museum if you are coming to the talk. Guild members pay $5 and non-Guild members $15 to attend. Afternoon tea is provided.

Report on Katrina Hadjimichael's March talk to the QSG of NSW

Katrina Hadjimichael spoke to fifty interested people at her talk for the Quilt Study Group of NSW at the Powerhouse Museum on the 17^th March 2012. She told us about her background – studying archaeology at Sydney University and working as a research assistant for a variety of politicians over 15 years. Even though her mother and grandmother did needlework  (embroidery, knitting, crotchet, cross stitch, tapestry and later patchwork) Katrina hated sewing at school and only got hooked on quilting when she bought a small wall hanging kit in 1992. Her first quilts had a country look

She started teaching when one of her local patchwork shop owners noticed her work. From 2006 teaching her own quilt designs has become her full time income.

‘My main interest now focuses on reproduction fabrics from the second half of the nineteenth century and I make quilts that (hopefully) look old.  I am in the process of collecting a library of books dedicated to quilt history and I love to surf the net reading about others who work in this genre.  There are now quite a few websites of Museums and Quilt Study Groups which publish photographs of antique quilts.  Antique quilt dealers are also a good source of visual stimulus for antique designs.  A lot of quilters, including myself, are writing their own blogs to keep the public up to date on their latest endeavours’.

Katrina then took us though the detail of each of her quilts along with images of the quilts that inspired her. Here is the first one - 

‘That photograph of that quilt haunted my thoughts for a long time!  I had to make my own interpretation of it….This quilt has been the subject of an article in The Journal of the British Quilt Study Group, Issue 10, 2009.  The article by Bridget Long called “Sibling, Cousin or Friend?” compares the coverlet that I loved from the British Quilt Heritage Project with another very similar fragmentary coverlet now in a private collection in the United Kingdom’.

And the quilt she made was ‘Pemberley’. It is an interpretation of an old quilt, but designed with more symmetry in the components, simplified borders and a different centre to the original.

Because she loves English Frame quilts so much, Katrina then continued the Jane Austen series by working several of her favourite shapes into the framework of borders on her ‘Netherfield’ quilt.

Katrina described in detail the process she followed to come up with the final design and inspired fabric choice for this quilt.

The third in the series, ‘Longbourne’, went through the same process of design and fabric selection. It was inspired by Elizabethan crewel wool embroidery centres and Lucy Boston’s favourite shapes used for paper piecing.

We were privileged to see the fourth in the series, ‘Rosings’, which has just been on show with the three earlier quilts in the series. They were displayed this month in Melbourne at the Australasian Quilt Convention and it ‘Rosings’ is Katrina’s entry in the Sydney Quilt Show this year.

She reminded us that there are 3 other houses mentioned in Jane Austen’s books if she wants to continue with her ‘obsession’! To finish we saw eight of Katrina’s other quilts that show her continued love of reproduction fabrics. And she had also brought along some of her students’ quilts for us to admire and examine.

Katrina Hadjimichael's QSG talk in March.

Come along to hear Katrina Hadjimichael talk for the Quilt Study Group of NSW at the Powerhouse Museum at 2pm on Saturday the 17th March 2012.

Katrina states that-

 "I have been trained in classical archaeology and have always been fascinated by history and the objects that past generations have made.  I have been quilting for 20 years and teaching my own designs for the past 10 years.  My recent work has centred around a group of quilts inspired by antique English quilts.  I have named these quilts after the houses featured in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice": Pemberley, Netherfield, Longbourn and Rosings.  I also love to make quilts that look old using my large stash of reproduction fabrics and traditional designs.  I am currently writing a series of articles for "Quilters' Companion" magazine detailing the history of patchwork designs and quilting techniques." 

Katrina also has a blog  http://katrinahadjimichael.blogspot.com.

 

Some of Katrina's students will be bringing along their quilts so you can see the different variations created from her patterns. Here is one of her best known quilts - Pemberley

 

Talk on Australia's Quilt Heritage by Annette Gero in April 2012 for the National Trust of NSW

A National Trust lecture on quilts by Annette Gero will take place in Heritage Week 2012. It will be an illustrated talk and cover Australia's quilt heritage and the history of the women who made them.

Start Date		Saturday 21 April 2012
Start Time		10:30:00 AM
End Date		Saturday 21 April 2012
End Time		11:30:00 AM
Name of Event *		Parramatta Lecture Series 2012: The Fabric of Society : Australia's quilt heritage and the history of the women who made them. An illustrated talk by Annette Gero
Venue Name *		Northcott Conference and Function Centre
Venue Address *		1 Fennell Street North Parramatta, NSW 2150 Australia
Organising Property/Committee/Branch *		Parramatta Properties with Friends of OGH & EFC
Event Description *
The Parramatta Lecture Series 2012 will highlight the history of women's work in its many facets, with a focus on colonial times.  Dr Annette Gero, historian and author of “The Fabric of Society - Australia's Quilt Heritage from Convict Times to 1960” has been documenting and collecting quilts since 1982. She curated a stunning exhibition shown at Old Government House in 2000. The thread that holds this patchwork of Australian history together is that every story told includes the making of a quilt. Each story draws on women's memories, diaries, their letters to relatives, official records, newspaper and magazine articles reflecting the current domestic influences. Annette will bring along some quilts to illlustrate the talk and will be selling copies of her book.
What is on offer?	·         talk/lecture ·         food/drinks included in ticket price
Cost *	Paid Event
Members	$10.00
Non Members	$15.00
Bookings essential *	Yes - see http://www.nationaltrust.com.au/events/ for details or phone 02 9635 8149
Tickets essential *	Yes
Event suitable for:	·         Adults

Report on the 2011 QSGA "Unfolding Tradition" Seminar

The seventh Quilt Study Group of Australia Seminar was held at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne on the 5^th and 6^th of November 2011 and was hosted by the Quilt Study Group Victoria. The QSGV convenor, Janet O’Dell, opened the seminar and gave an opening talk, standing in for the keynote speaker, Dr Annette Gero, who unfortunately was unable to attend. 

Janet spoke about the Braddyll quilt she bought in 2008 in England. It is made from a variety of wonderful dress silks in the grandmother’s flower garden pattern with background hexagons of honey yellow silk and a rich purple border with a gold fringe.

The Braddyll Quilt

It was made in 1842 by three sisters, the last in line of the once wealthy and prominent Braddyll family of Conishead Priory in Cumbria. We learnt of her fascinating research to date into the history of the family and the Priory, reaching back to the twelfth century.

Margaret Rolfe then presented Annette Gero’s planned talk, discussing the quilts inspired by, recreated or adapted from Annette’s book ‘Quilts: The Fabric of Society’ during a quilt challenge run by the Victorian Quilters in 2011. 

Gail Fry Chalker and Margaret Rolfe

Admiring the Challenge quilts on show

We saw images of eight of the original quilts and were able to view in detail the quilts made by the prize winners, which were hung around the room.

For more details about the challenge, see http://www.victorianquilters.org/forms/VQFOSPP.pdf

Lynette Nilaweera then spoke about the Wool Quilt Prize and the National Wool Museum in Geelong. The collection started in 1983 in The Meat Market Craft Centre in North Melbourne as the “Running Stitch Collection” and was expanded in 1995 when a Melbourne Textile group approached the Museum to hold a competition. The collection has grown with the biennial acquisition of the winner of the only wool quilt prize awarded in Australia and New Zealand, and through the donation of quilts and waggas by owners and quilt makers. They also hold a number of wool sample books in their collection. The quilts in the collection were made from the 1890s to the present day. We were shown images of seven representative quilts in the collection and then were delighted to see images of the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 prize winning quilts from the competition.

See http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/nwm/ for more details of the Museum and the Prize.

The Martha Bergin quilt, currently on display in the Gold Rush section of the Melbourne Museum, was the subject of Margaret Rolfe’s talk. The centre of this wonderful 1843 Irish appliqué quilt is embroidered with Martha’s name, and the place it was made (Athlone) and the date it was made.

Corner of the Martha Bergin Quilt

Centre  of the quilt

 Margaret discussed the source of the chintz pieces that were broderie persed onto a white linen background, mentioning a possible link to Martha’s father’s drapery in Athlone, and similarities to another Irish quilt made around the same time in nearby Toomyvara. Margaret described how Martha Tipping née Bergin (1822–1883) came to Australia via America in 1846 at the time of the Great Irish Potato Famine and ventured into the gold fields of Victoria. It was wonderful to hear the story in the presence of her descendant, Dr Edmund Muirhead, and his wife who donated the quilt to the Melbourne Museum.

For more information, see http://museumvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whatson/current-exhibitions/melbournestory/favourite-objects/martha-bergins-quilt/

After lunch, Bronwyn Cosgrove detailed the conservation work undertaken on the 1840s Dickens Quilt by the National Gallery of Victoria. It was acquired by donation in 2007 and had spent years rolled up in a shed in country Victoria.  It is a wonderful coverlet of 16 frames made in cotton, glazed cotton, chintz, silk and wool and its condition posed serious challenges to restoring it to display quality. It had a large amount of mould, mildew, soiling, dye bleeding and iron mordant deterioration, along with rodent and silverfish damage. They estimated 30 to 35% of the fabric had been lost when it was brought in. Bronwyn took us through the five steps taken to clean, dry, stabilize and repair, then mount the quilt. The Gallery estimate that for the stitch stabilization period along, three conservators spent almost 600 hours working on the quilt. It was displayed in 2009 for four months but it is uncertain when next it will be on view. It is included in Annette Gero’s book “Quilts: The Fabric of Society” and can be viewed at http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/col/work/80980

Two members of the Strathdate (Bendigo) Quilters Inc talked to us about their project to restore, research and document the 1895 Signature Quilt. It was brought to them in 2006 and contains 264 embroidered signatures of local men and women of the day (including prominent business people, local councillors, clergy, senators and MHRs, musicians, theatrical people and other community members). 

They took us through the history of Bendigo, especially during and after the gold rush. As the provenance is not certain, they believe the quilt was made as a fund raising item at the Golden City Fancy Fair in 1895 for the Sisters of Mercy Convent High School. We learnt of the history of some of those people who signed the blocks .

Centre of the 1895 Signature Quilt

 For more information, see http://www.bendigoweekly.com.au/news/quilt-needs-a-home

 On Sunday, Alan Tremain started the day by showing some of the quilts, quilt tops and items he purchased when he travelled to USA using the Quilters’ Guild of NSW scholarship. He showed us some quilts from Gees Bend, feed sack quilts and individual quilt items and discussed their background in detail. We also saw his latest purchase, a hatchet block quilt, along with recent quilts and quilt tops he has made as educational samples. 

Alan Tremain talking about his quilts

Alan's Hatchet Quilt

You can see some of these items in the presentation Alan gave as part of his Guild Scholarship requirement on our blog at http://australianquiltstudygroups.blogspot.com/2010/11/9th-october-2010-talk-by-alan-tremain.html

Janet O’Dell started her talk, ‘Traditional Bed Turning of Selected pre-1850 Quilts and Coverlets’, by showing us the Maldon Crazy Quilt. It was won in a raffle around 1900 and is now owned by Sandra and Ken Jones, who were present for the talk.

The Maldon Crazy Quilt

It was made by Sarah Jackson née London, and consists of velvet and silk appliqué pieces outlined in gold threads. It has had new braid edging and backing added and is a wonderful crazy quilt that we all examined in great detail. You can read more about the maker at

http://livehistoryhobart.com.au/calling-all-you-quilters/

Janet then showed us part of her extensive collection of quilts, coverlets and quilt tops made in the UK, USA and Holland. She loves hexie quilts, star quilts and medallion (frame) quilts and this is reflected in her purchases over the years.

Janet O'Dell (left) pointing to details on one of her quilt tops

 If you would like a copy of the seminar presentations, including photos and descriptions of Janet’s quilts, the Seminar CD costs $A10 including p. & p. within Australia. Please send orders and payment to:
QSGV
P O Box 120
Briar Hill
Vic 3088
Make cheques payable to Victorian Quilters Inc Quilt Study Group.