Star Trek Quilt

Have you heard that Christies will auction memorabilia from various Star Trek shows? I have a UFO wallhanging featuring Black Women in Space - and the USS Enterprise is one of the ships on the quilted wallhanging. I wonder if Lt. Uhura or Dr. Mae Jeminson ever quilted? Do drop a line if you have stitched a Star Trek quilt!

Sistah quilts in Kansas City!

Visiting Kansas City? Stop by the Johnson County Museum of History for Inspired Threads African American Quilts. This exhibit showcases 25 quilts from local black quilters - September 9 - December 31, 2006. You can also sign a signature quilt there in the museum lobby. Be sure to see the event calendar for NedRa Bond's doll making class, storytelling featuring quiltmaking and more! Free admissions.

Photo Lunch Box

Speaking of Christmas.... I just came across an interesting product ... photo lunch boxes. Long Beach, California portrait photographer Vangie Ogg is the one producing these personalized gifts.

Wonder what it would look like to have a favorite quilt printed on a lunch box?

Jolly Brown Santa Fabrics

It's been years since I've seen cotton fabrics featuring a Black Santa Claus. This year fabric manufacturer Michael Miller has introduced two cute holiday prints: Jolly Brown Santa and Snowflakes and Jolly Brown Santa with Elves. You can ask your local fabric store to order these prints or purchase online. Try www.eQuilter.com or call their toll-free number 1-877-fabric-3. I've purchased from eQuilter a number of times - and really like the customer service.

Do post a comment if you've seen other Black Santa fabrics this year! Thank you!

AAQB show 75 new quilts!

The African American Quilters of Baltimore invite you to "Painting in Stitches," their bi-annual show. This year more than 25 sistah quilters will showcase + 75 all new quilts! Support them October 7 and 8, 2006. Visit www.AAQB.org for details.

Inbetween Spaces - NC exhibit

The Stone Center for Black Culture and History presents Inbetween Spaces: Textured Imaginings of African-American Lives, a collection of 21 quilts by Heather Williams, assistant professor of history at UNC at Chapel Hill and member of African American Quilt Circle. Williams uses fabrics and poignant images to chronicle the lives of black folks. She causes us to think! The exhibit is open from Sept 21 - Dec 6.

If you get to see the show, do leave a comment here and tell us about the "Romare's Garden" quilt, inspired by Romare Bearden. Or the George Washington Carve inspired quilt... Or the "History Quilt," (photo). Enjoy! And, thanks to a NC friend for sharing this news.

Myrah Brown Green - Exhibit

In NY? Be sure to attend the 3rd Annual Off The Main Art Fair, at the Puck Building, Oct 5 - 8. The show will feature contemporary African, Caribbean & Latin American Art.

Sistah-Dr. Myrah Brown Green will have more than 20 quilts on display at booth #12 with painter Laura James.

Here is "Revelation: The Circle of Life Prevails" quilt (2000) by Myrah. Take a friends... and enjoy Myrah's powerful quilts!

Donating a Quilt - how to

Recently a quilter emailed me and ask how to donate quilts to a local museum or historical society. I'm no expert on this topic. So, a quick search engine visit uncovered the following link helpful link:

1. Leaving a Legacy: Donating Quilts to Museums by Andi Reynolds © 2004. Excellent summary discusses: museum acquisition policy, donated quilt attributes, quilt value, legal, financial, and tax implications. There's also helpful links to quilt museums nationally.
2. Here's a link to one museum's policy - New England Quilt Museum - insightful look at donation criteria.

When I researched the materials for Black Threads, I uncovered 585 African American-made quilts in 100 museum collections. The hundred museums and contact information are listed in the book.

Without donations ... and museum purchases!.... of our quilts - who will know our fabric stories in 100 years?

Quilt Pink Day - Sept 30

Saturday, September 30, Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork & Quilting is hosting Quilt Pink Day to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness and research. To participate, find a local quilt shop from the Quilt Pink Store Directory, call a friend and make plans to visit on Quilt Pink Day; and make a pink-and-white quilt block. Each block will be stitched together to make a quilt that will be sent to American Patchwork & Quilting magazine headquarters for an online auction in Spring 2007.

Be sure to leave your comments about the day! Happy Stitching!

MacArthur Fellows Announced

This morning the MacArthur Foundation announced this year's MacArthur Fellows. Each fellow will receive $500,000 with no strings attached! These extraordinary folks are from various fields: art, science, literature, medicine, music, sciences.

In 2000, one of the MacArthur Fellows was Sistah Deborah Willis (photo), a quilter... and photography historian. Her quilts incorporate photographs, such as her quilt here, Wedding Stories.

Congratulations to all Fellows!

Nelson Mandela quilt

Beverly Ann White of Pontiac, Michigan donated her "Mr. Mandela" quilt to Michigan State University Museum - African American quilt collection - in 2003. She said the quilt reflects her "strong emotions of elation and relief I experienced when he was released from his years of captivity in South Africa. The quilt is 43 1/2 inches x 44 1/4 inches.

Check out Beverly Ann and her other quilt donation by clicking here.

Learn more. Read African American Quiltmaking in Michigan edited by Marsha MacDowell. Enjoy!

Crafty Brother Todd Paschall

Introducing Crafty Brother - Todd Paschall. I first became acquainted with Todd's unique crochet portraits in an Atlanta Constitution 1997 article. Todd's works then sold for $250 to $10,000. He won a 2003 People's Choice award at the Crochet Guild of America conference by capturing Billie Holiday in yarn - yes, that's simple single stitch crochet!

Honey Girl Q* Block Patterns

Check out Ohio's Carole Staples' Honey Girl Quilt Block Patterns©! Take a look at the gallery and patterns. Enjoy!

Gutenberg Q* History

The other day I came across Annie Fellows Johnston's 1904 storybook "The Quilt That Jack Built" online, and free, at www.Gutenberg.org. This worldwide project scans copyright-free books and magazines. Do a search and find old quilt references.

Your Quilts on a Stamp!

The US Postal Service will print 500 million "American Treasures: Gee's Bend Quilts" stamps in the coming year!

Now, I'm not from Alabama, but one of my own quilts was also featured on a US Postage stamp! Did you know you can personalize your postage? Visit www.Stamps.com. When stamps were ... just ... 37 cents, I had my "I Count!" quilt made into a US stamp. Maybe, I'll have a Christmas quilt stamp made next. Let me know if you've had one of your quilts made into a stamp, too!

Oprah Quilt - Gorgeous!

.......................... Dateline - Shreveport, Louisiana! The Quilting Queens, Hurricane Katrina volunteers all, stitched a GORGEOUS quilt from unused donated clothes. The center of the quilt features a painted and embroidered image of Oprah Winfrey, designed by artist Larry Milner. The quilting ladies, including (from left) Dorothy Myers, Helon Cooper, Mary Howell, and Charlotte Martin, hope that Oprah accepts the quilt - shipped to Chicago last Monday.

Glad to hear folklorist Dr. Susan Roach has documented these quilters creation! What do you think about this quilt?

Check out Vickie Welborn's article in the SheveportTimes!

Law & Order Sister Quilter

NBC's Law & Order begins its seventeenth season on September 22. Sister Quilter and Emmy Award-Winner, S. Epatha Merkerson, continues to wear the badge of Lt. Anita Van Buren - one she's had since 1993!

Did you know S. Epatha is a passionate quilter? Been stitching for more than 15 years. Her baby quilts have gone to family and Samuel Jackson's daughter, Zoe, as well as Camryn Manheim's son.

Back in 2003 or 2004, S. Epatha led the Law & Order cast and crew into making a multi-block quilt, later auctioned in support of the Campaign for Smoke Free Kids. Does anyone have a photo of this quilt?

$15,000 Quilting Book - Sold Out

In 1995, Brighton Press published Faith Ringgold's limited edition Seven Passages to a Flight. The book, signed by Ringgold, had nine hand-painted and hand stenciled etchings with autobiographical text printed on linen. An edition of 30 sold for $4,800. A deluxe edition of 10, which included a hand stenciled and hand sewn quilt, sold for $15,000.

I was reminded of this book when visiting the newly opened Smithsonian National Portait Gallery in Washington, DC. A Faith Ringgold stenciled quilt is included in the "Americans Now" exhibit - on display until April 29, 2007. You'll find the quilt on the first floor directly across from a stunning portrait of Senator Hillary Clinton.

Oh, the $15,000 books? All sold out! Check it out here!

Digital Textile Printing

Art Quilters & Fashion Designers - Need your help!

As a quilter, sometimes I would like to have a few yards of a specific home-made design. Where in the US can one get a short run of a one-of-a-kind design printed on 100% cotton?

Where does the quilting guild which wants to print a commemorative print go?

Online I've located: Digitalis from Wales ... and Digital Textile from Spain. What about the US?

Look forward to your comments!

Big Mama's Quilts - Never too late!

It's never too late to start quilting.

Revelation! The Quilts of Marie "Big Mama" Roseman - just closed at the INTUIT: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art in Chicago. Marie Roseman (1898 - 2004, a seamstress and midwife, started quilting in her 70s!

Her quilts illustrate her unique outlook on life. She incorporated regular items found in the house, such as yarn, artificial flowers, lace, and buttons, into her quilts. I would have loved to see this Duck Quilt in person! Marie Roseman's imaginative quilts remind me of Baltimore's Elizabeth Talford Scott, mother to bead artist Joyce Scott.

Martha Watterson and Doug Stock curated this first solo exhibit of Marie Roseman's work.

Be sure to check out Big Mama's quilts!

Dressing in West African Fabrics

Fashion Week - NY
I watch just one reality tv show, Bravo's Project Runway. I'd like to see a Project Runway challenge using West African Fabrics!

When I lived in London several years ago, I learned about the fabric arts of Yinka Shonibare (b. 1962). He takes these fancy prints and turns them into Victoria fashion treasures.

Yinka reported buys his fabrics from Brixton (London) markets. No G Street Fabrics for him!
Check out Yinka's website: http://www.yinka-shonibare.co.uk/.

San Fran's MoAD Museum - A Must See

Saturday, Sept 9, 2006

The Museum of the African Diaspora is a MUST SEE stop whether you live or are visiting San Francisco. Located at 685 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105 (phone: 415.358.7200), this nearly year-old museum seeks to share experiences of people worldwide.

Carrie Mae Weems: The Louisiana Project is on exhibit until October 9. A thought-provoking exhibit featuring photographs, film, as well as silhouettes. There's two fierce self-portraits featuring Ms. Weems looking into a hand-held mirror wearing an original log-cabin patterned quilted dress! The portraits are titled "I looked and looked and failed to see what so terrified you."

I want that dress!

I was in town to share a few thoughts about African American Quilt History at MoAD. The lecture hall was packed! So good to meet the stitching sisters from the African American Quilting Guild of Oakland. Good also to have my mother there, along with a studious cousin at San Fran State U, a life-long friend from Hallmark days, and a dear 2nd cousin, twice removed in the audience.

Also at MoAD is "PATTERNS: Traditional West African Textiles and The Art of Gee's Bend Quilts," a companion exhibit to the Gee's Bend exhibit at the deYoung Musuem.

Check out the latest MoAD exhibit at www.moadsf.org/exhibits !