QUILT INDEX RECORD
12-8-5903
Who documented this quilt?
Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Health
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project Number:
11.0027
If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:
2011:141.1
Object label:
Nevilyn
Linda J. Huff
Algonquin, Illinois
2008
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2011:141.1
Essay:
This quilt celebrates the maker’s grandmother, Nevilyn, who was born in 1915 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 1999.
Artist statement:
Nevilyn was born June 14, 1915, and she is my grandmother. She learned to sew because as a child she had rheumatic fever and was never allowed to do anything strenuous. In January of 1936 she married Jerry and they started their family. Mostly they worked and lived their lives, struggling through the tough times and rejoicing in the good times.
When it was time to retire, Grandpa hooked up a travel trailer to his truck and told Grandma they were going to visit all the places they had always wanted to see. If they did those things now, he insisted, when they got too old to travel at least they would have the memories of all that they had seen and done.
In 1999 Grandpa died. Then Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The woman sits in the nursing home today has no memories of friends or family or the special things that she and her husband did especially for this time in her life. Nevilyn was once lively and vibrant. In the end only a ghost of her former self remains.
There are 868 small squares in the border. They speak of so many things in my grandmother’s life: the fabric that she worked with to make clothes and quilts, her attention to small details, her desire that things be done the “right” way, and her love of color. They also symbolize all of her memories, funny stories, sad times, the trips she took, and all the things she has done. All the little pieces of her life are now lost to her forever.1
1Sims, Ami. Alzheimer’s: Forgetting Piece By Piece. Mallory Press, 2007.
Quilt's title:
Nevilyn
Quilt top made by:
Huff, Linda J.
Quilted by:
Huff, Linda J.
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Purchased the quilt
Where the quilt was made, city:
Algonquin
Where the quilt was made, state:
Illinois (IL)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Time period:
2000-2025
When was the quilt finished?
2008
Why was the quilt made?
Commemorative; Fundraising
Quilt is presently used as:
Museum collection
Quiltmaker's city:
Algonquin
Quiltmaker's state:
Illinois (IL)
Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:
Linda has had her hands in fabric all other life. She began constructing doll clothes and progressed through cross-stitch, crochet, garment construction, crewel embroidery, counted cross-stitch, and most recently, art quilts. Linda attempts to incorporate her diverse knowledge of sewing techniques in her work.
This is a:
Finished quilt
How wide is the quilt?
35"
How long is the quilt?
41"
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight
What color is the quilt?
Black; Blue; Green; Orange; Pink; Purple; Red; Yellow
Quilt's condition:
Excellent/like new
Type of inscription:
Signature; Message
What is inscribed on the quilt?
Linda J. Huff “Nevilyn” 1167 Sawmill Lane Algonquin, IL 60102 Linda@madco.com 847-845-9442 “Alzheimer’s Forgetting Piece By Piece” Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative “Alzheimer’s Forgetting Piece By Piece” #14 If found call 1-800-278-4824 or 1-810-348-2772 immediately.
Method used to make the inscription:
Attached label
Location of inscription:
on back
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
25
Size of quilt blocks:
7" x 9"
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
Straight
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Side by side
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:
Photography/ photo transfer
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
1
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
How is the binding made?
Straight grain; Front turned to back
What kind of filling is used in the quilt?
Cotton
How are the layers held together?
Machine quilting
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Meander/free motion
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
Artist statement: Nevilyn was born June 14, 1915, and she is my grandmother. She learned to sew because as a child she had rheumatic fever and was never allowed to do anything strenuous. In January of 1936 she married Jerry and they started their family. Mostly they worked and lived their lives, struggling through the tough times and rejoicing in the good times. When it was time to retire, Grandpa hooked up a travel trailer to his truck and told Grandma they were going to visit all the places they had always wanted to see. If they did those things now, he insisted, when they got too old to travel at least they would have the memories of all that they had seen and done. In 1999 Grandpa died. Then Grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The woman sits in the nursing home today has no memories of friends or family or the special things that she and her husband did especially for this time in her life. Nevilyn was once lively and vibrant. In the end only a ghost of her former self remains. There are 868 small squares in the border. They speak of so many things in my grandmother’s life: the fabric that she worked with to make clothes and quilts, her attention to small details, her desire that things be done the “right” way, and her love of color. They also symbolize all of her memories, funny stories, sad times, the trips she took, and all the things she has done. All the little pieces of her life are now lost to her forever.
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Original to maker
Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:
This quilt was part of the special exhibit, “Alzheimer’s: Forgetting Piece by Piece.” The exhibit debuted at the American Quilter’s Society Quilt Exposition in Nashville, TN in August, 2006. It traveled to quilt shows all over the country through July 2009.
Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:
Alzheimer’s Forgetting Piece By Piece, Ami Simms curator, book. Mallery Press, 2007, page 32-33.
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)
Quilt owner's country:
United States
How was this quilt acquired?
Purchase
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative, a non-profit raising money for Alzheimer’s research. Started and administered by Ami Simms, Flint, MI.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
The quilt was made to be used for:
Artwork/wall hanging
Who photographed this quilt?
Pearl Yee Wong
Copyright holder:
MSU Board of Trustees
Cite this Quilt
Huff, Linda J. Nevilyn. 2008. From Michigan State University Museum, Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Health. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=12-8-5903. Accessed: 03/29/24
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Exhibit
Patterns of Inquiry
Michigan State University Museum
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Essay
Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative
MacDowell, Marsha