QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6719

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network; The Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

15.0130

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

2014:55.91

Essay:

On Sunday mornings countless Black women adorn themselves with lovely hats.

This is a tradition that originated in the Black church and is inclusive of various religious denominations. A woman was not considered properly dressed for worship without her crown. As a child, I remember my own fascination with hats. My mother had a sizeable collection. There were times when we both wore matching dresses and hats. Oh, let me knot forget the gloves! They were an essential part of our Sunday attire.

Mother had several beliefs: "A lady always wears gloves" and "You can tell a lot about a person by the type of hat they wore." Miss Ruby was created for all those ladies, from the past to the present, who made wearing a hat an art form. She is the older more sophisticated church lady I remember -- complete with fancy white gloves. A bird was placed on her shoulder as a touch of whimsy. I often use birds in my pieces because they are seen as mediators between heaven and earth, acting as messengers because they can fly.
-- By Gwen Aqui

Quilt's title:

Miss Ruby's Crown

Who helped you fill out the form?

Aleia Brown

When was the form filled out?

3/19/2015

Quilt top made by:

Aqui, Gwendolyn

Quilted by:

Aqui, Gwendolyn

Where the quilt was made, state:

Washington D.C.

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt finished?

2007

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

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

Women of Color Quilters Network

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

36"

How long is the quilt?

39"

Shape of edge:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Blue; Brown; Purple; Red; White

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Beads, buttons, found objects

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Back turned to front

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Medium

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt collector

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?

Received as a gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

From the Collection of Carolyn Mazloomi

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum, all rights reserved