AAQLA 2007 Cookbook

Earlier this month the African American Quilters of Los Angeles hosted its annual quilt show. The AAQLA was founded in 1986. Its current president is Louise McGee. I'll post more about the actual show later, right now I wanted to show you the cookbook the guild sold at the show. This 156 page cookbook features desserts, breads, vegetables, salads, appetizers, soups, entrees and meat recipes. What is great about THIS cookbook is the inclusion of a AAQLA fact sheet, an endearing dedication to Helen Brathwaite, one of the guild's founders and cookbook creator, cute quilting sayings, and .... this is the unique part.... COLOR photos of each year's quilt challenge quilt. These Quiltin' Sistahs are on the forefront of documenting their guild's activities for the generations who will come after! Congrats AAQLA!

Afro Modern: A Twist on Tradition

Look what I got in the mail!  The program guide and postcard for the African American Quilters of Los Angeles' 2013 quilt show - Afro Modern: A Twist on Tradition.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the show in person, which took place in Carson, California in November. I've been in previous years and the quilts are FANTASTIC! I counted 85 or so exhibiting quilters in this 2013 exhibit checklist! Congratulations to AAQLA and president Linda County.

Here's a link to the AAQLA website - http://www.easysite.com/aaqla - jazz music plays when you visit, so be careful if you are web surfing from work!  Enjoy!

AAQLA - Guild Show set for November 10

The African American Quilters of Los Angeles (AAQLA) Guild is pleased to announce its 2007 guild show, "Reflection of Our Heritage: Quilting Our Past into the Present.”

If you're in Southern California on Saturday, November 10, 2007, do see the exciting quilts of Blanche Jones, Vera Stewart, and Rosalee Watson at the Carson Community Center in the Carson Dominquez Room located at 3 Civic Plaza, Carson, CA 90745 - between 9am and 6pm. One day only! Admission is $7.00. Linda K. Gardner is the show chairperson. Enjoy!

“African American Quilters of Los Angeles: A Tradition of Pride” - opens Sept 7, 2011

If you are going to be in the Los Angeles area, “Wrapped in Pride: Ghanaian Kente and African American Identity,” an exhibition at the California State University, Dominguez Hills University Art Gallery opens Sept. 7. This exhibit will explore the art of making kente, its symbolism in the cultures of Africa, and its expression of identity in African American communities.

Concurrently, at the University Art Gallery will be the exhibit “African American Quilters of Los Angeles: A Tradition of Pride” curated by African American Quilters of Los Angeles (AAQLA) vice president Estelle Hamilton and the University Art Gallery, and will feature 30 quilts, including those by Ree Adams, Anne Bastiste, Olga Chachere, Linda Country, Linda Gardner, Ernestine Hadley, Estelle Hamilton, Lou Holland Jones, Debra Knox, Sharon Mathews, Judith Nash, Emma Quinn, Elvis Smith, Toni Terrell-Randolph, and Audrey Williams. An anniversary shout-out to AAQLA, which is celebrating 25 glorious, stitching years in 2011! Both exhibits run through October 18, 2011.

Read more: The Downey Patriot - African cloth on exhibit at university. Enjoy!

African American Quilters of Los Angeles - new site!

Congratulations to the African American Quilters of Los Angeles - they have a new website. It's www.easysite.com/aaqla. Do take a moment to visit the site and see the fabulous pictures section! Drop a note on the site's Guestbook. Enjoy!

Los Angeles Sistah Quilters

Twenty years from now - who will have documentation of your quilting guild?

The African American Quilters of Los Angeles published a 60 page booklet to accompany their 20th Anniversary Quilt Show last April 2006. The exhibit was held at the Carson Community Center over two days.

More than 150 members strive to perserve quilting in the City of Angles. Harriette Vanderhorst chaired the Quilt Show. Kudos to Estelle Hampilton, who lead the Publications and Printing effort. The show catalog includes photos and names of AAQLA members, letters from the out-going president Sara Brandon as well as in-coming president Louise McGee. All the members are listed. A gift to any quilt historian... there's a list of each of the quilts which were on display by quilter name, quilt name and quilt description!

The Guild also presented a quilt to Dr. Mayme Agnew Clayton, who passed away in October 2006. You might have read about Dr. Clayton - she had one the largest privately held collection of African-American historical materials, over 30,000 items.

If you're in the LA area, the Guild meets every third Sunday from 1:00 – 5:00 pm at the Department of Water and Power, 4030 Crenshaw Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90008. You can contact the guild at P.O. Box 781213, Los Angeles, CA 90016.