QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5277

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:

08.0095

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

2008:119.35

Object label:

Positively Blue
Shirley Bullock
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2000
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2008:119.35

Essay:

This wall hanging consists of one large nine patch, 12" x 12". In the four corners and the center are five adinkra symbols from Ghana, embroidered on white ground in the sashiko style. The four alternating squares are a medium blue print. There are 3 borders: inner 2" dark blue, top and bottom; middle 1" medium blue, top and bottom; and outer 3" millenium fabric; on all four sides. It has a 3/8" straight of the grain binding. It is outline quilted in white thread.

According to Bruce Willis in The Andinkra Dictionary: A Visual Primer on The Language of ADINKRA, the symbols are:
Nsoroma (upper left corner) - "Child of the Heavens" or "Star" - a symbol of faith and dependence on the supreme being (Willis, pg 154)
Akoma (upper right corner) - "Heart" - a symbol of love, goodwill, endurance and consistency (Willis, pg 72)
Gye Nyame (center) - "Except God, I Fear None" - a symbol of God's omnipresence and immortality (Willis, pg 114). This adinkra is very popular in the African American community and many people are familiar with the proverb it represents.
Nyame Biribi wc Soro (lower left) - "God, There is Something in the Heavens" - a symbol of hope and inspiration (Willis, pg 156) and
Ananse Ntontan (lower right) - "Spider's Web" - a symbol of wisdom, craftiness and the complexities of life (Willis, pg 76)

Quilt's title:

Positively Blue

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Nine Patch

When was the form filled out?

4/22/08

Quilt top made by:

Bullock, Shirley

Quilted by:

Bullock, Shirley

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

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, city:

Chapel Hill

Where the quilt was made, state:

North Carolina (NC)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2000

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Details about why the quilt was made:

Mrs. Bullock made it because she "heard I liked blue quilts".

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's city:

Chapel Hill

Quiltmaker's state:

North Carolina (NC)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

21"

How long is the quilt?

27"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue; White

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Date; Multiple Names

Describe the type of inscription:

Title

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Positively Blue by Shirley Bullock, Durham, NC

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

August 2000

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

1

Size of quilt blocks:

12" x 12"

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Number of borders:

3

Describe the borders:

outer 3" millenium fabric; on all four sides middle 1" medium blue, top and bottom inner 2" dark blue, top and bottom

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:

Embroidery

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

What color is the back of the quilt?

Blue or Navy; White

Describe the back:

Print

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain

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

less than a half inch

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Color of thread used in the quilting:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

5

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

5

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

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

Sashiko like designs were embroidered in the white blocks.

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