QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5271

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Cuesta Benberry Collection

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

08.0089

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

2008:119.29

Object label:

Rose Wall Quilt
Helen Kelley
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1995
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.29

Essay:

Helen Kelley was an award winning quiltmaker who made over 150 quilts. She taught nationally and internationally, authored 7 books and was best known for her column, "Loose Threads" in Quilters Newsletter Magazine. She was inducted into the Quilter's Hall of Fame in 2008.

Cuesta Benberry wrote:
Helen said she gave me this quilt because I gave her so much encouragement when she was writing her dating book published by C&T. It was a mutual feeling because Helen was one of the first persons to encourage me when I gave my lecture in 1980 at the Show-Me symposium at Columbia, MO. I cited the quilts made in Africa, and Helen showed me a picture of a quilt made by Africans in appreciation of the help given to them by a Peace Corps worker. That served as a confirmation in my investigation that quilts were indeed made in Africa. I was absolutely stunned to receive this gorgeous "Floral Bouquet" quilt from Helen Kelley, one of the foremost quilters of today.

Quilt's title:

Rose Wall Quilt

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Kelley, Helen

Quilted by:

Kelley, Helen

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

Minneapolis

Where the quilt was made, state:

Minnesota (MN)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1995

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's city:

Minneapolis

Quiltmaker's state:

Minnesota (MN)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

18 1/2"

How long is the quilt?

24"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Brown; Green; Pink; White

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Date; Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

To Cuesta Helen Kelley 1995

Method used to make the inscription:

Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on block

Describe the quilt's layout:

Pictorial

Number of quilt blocks:

1

Size of quilt blocks:

18 1/2" x 14"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of borders:

3

Describe the borders:

inner 1/2" rust middle 1/4" cranberry or maroon outer 2 1/2" rust print

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Hand-dyed

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Green

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Bias grain

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Width between quilting lines:

1/4"

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid/crosshatch; In-the-ditch; Outline

Describe the quilting designs used:

scroll in border

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

From Cuesta, "Helen said she gave me this quilt because I gave her so much encouragement when she was writing her dating book published by C&T. It was a mutual feeling because Helen was one of the first persons to encourage me when I gave my lecture in 1980 at the Show-Me symposium at Columbia, MO. I cited the quilts made in Africa, and Helen showed me a picture of a quilt made by Africans in appreciation of the help given to them by a Peace Corps worker. That served as a confirmation in my investigation that quilts were indeed made in Africa. I was absolutely stunned to receive this gorgeous "Floral Bouquet" quilt from Helen Kelley, one of the foremost quilters of today."

Source of the information on this quilt:

MSU 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)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

This quilt was collected by Cuesta Benberry to further her research on quiltmaking and/or African American quiltmaking. Her son donated the collection to the Michigan State University Museum when she passed away in 2007.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

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

Made entire quilt

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees