QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-1039

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

97.0004

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

1997:1.1

Object label:

Santa Quilt
Heart of Michigan Decorative Artists
Ingham County, Michigan
1996
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#1997:1.1

Essay:

The "Santa Quilt" project was for a fund-raising raffle in 1996. The artists only instruction was to stay within the "Santa" theme. Over 2000 tickets were sold and, ironically, the winning ticket was purchased by Mr. Ron Rycus of Lansing who happens to be Jewish. Recognizing the time and talent involved in the quilt, Mr. Rycus enlisted the aid of The Lansing State Journal (specifically John Schneider) to find a home for this piece of artwork. It is through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Rycus that the "Santa Quilt" is now a permanent part of Michigan State University's quilt collection.

The Heart of Michigan Decorative Artists is a chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters whose goals are to: act as a dissemination point for information about activities related to decorative painting; raise and maintain high standard for the art of decorative painting; and stimulate interest in and appreciation for the art form. Members who worked on this quilt are: Carole Brooks, Rebecca Hilbert, Melanie St. Bernard, Sandra Maas, Sandy Vine, Pearl Brooks, Stoney Bretz, Linda Miller, Eileen Hatt, Leona Oakes, Diana Rochowiak, Shirley Watson, Leigh Kussro, Dottie Cook, Judie Reusch, Elaine Adams, Kathy Driggs, Julie Tews, Sandy Irey, Debi Knowles, and Dorothy Jay.

Owner's name for the quilt:

Santa Quilt

Name of the group that made the quilt:

Heart of Michigan Decorative Artists

If this quilt was made by a group, describe activities the group engaged in:

Goals are to: act as a dissemination point for information about activities related to decorative painting; raise and maintain high standard for the art of decorative painting; and stimulate interest in and appreciation for the art form.

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1996

Why was the quilt made?

Fundraising

Details about why the quilt was made:

The "Santa Quilt" project was for a fund-raising raffle in 1996. The artists only instruction was to stay within the "Santa" theme. Over 2000 tickets were sold .

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Group

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

This group is a chapter of the Society of Decorative Painters: Carole Brooks, Rebecca Hilbert, Melanie St. Bernard, Sandra Maas, Sandy Vine, Pearl Brooks, Stoney Bretz, Linda Miller, Eileen Hatt, Leona Oakes, Diana Rochowiak, Shirley Watson, Leigh Kussro

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

84"

How long is the quilt?

101"

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Heart of Michigan Decroative Artist 1996. Those who have contributed time and talent to this project are: (Squares are numbered left to right, top to bottom): Carole Brooks, Squares 1 & 16, Quilter; Rebecca Hilbert, Squares 2 & 8; Melanie St. Bernard, Square 3; Sandra Maas, Squares 4 & 19; Sandy Vine, Squares 5 & 12; Pearl Brooks, Squares 6; Stoney Bretz, Squares 7, Asst. Quilter; Linda Miller, Squares 9 & 11; Eileen Hatt, Squares 10 & 26; Leona Oakes, Square 13; Diana Rochowiak, Squares 14 & 30; Shirley Watson, Squares 15 & 21; Leigh Kussro, Square 17; Dottie Cook, Square 18; Judie Reusch, Squares 20 & 24; Elaine Adams, Square 22; Kathy Driggs, Square 23; Julie Tews, Square 25; Sandy Irey, Square 27; Debi Knowles, Square 28; Dorothy Jay, Square 29; Many of the quilt blocks contain the artists signature and an additional inscription.

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

1996

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

paint

Location of inscription:

on block

Number of quilt blocks:

30, hand painted, then each block is bordered in green fabric

Size of quilt blocks:

13" x 14 1/2"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Sashing width:

2" red with white hearts

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Painting

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

In-the-ditch

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Christmas exhibits , East Lansing, MI, curated by Val Berryman at the MSU Museum

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

The Lansing State Journal, 1996

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

The couple won the quilt in a raffle and because they are Jewish and don't celebrate Christmas donated to the MSU Museum., 1997, Ron and Lynn Rycus.

Describe anything about the history of the quilt that wasn't already recorded in a previous field:

The winning ticket was purchased by Mr. Ron Rycus of Lansing who happens to be Jewish. Recognizing the time and talent involved in the quilt, Mr. Rycus enlisted the aid of The Lansing State Journal (specifically John Schneider) to find a home for this piece of artwork. It is through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Rycus that the "Santa Quilt" is now a permanent part of Michigan State University's quilt collection.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

If the source helped design the quilt, describe their input:

Designed the pattern

Who photographed this quilt?

KEVA

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum