BACK TO QUILTS

Crazy Quilt for Elaine; Crazy Quilt; Contained Crazy

CITE THIS QUILT

img
quilt

QUILT INDEX RECORD

15-11-1139

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Wisconsin Quilt History Project

Who documented this quilt?

Wisconsin Quilt History Project

Wisconsin Quilt History Project Number:

A1155

Person filling out this form is:

Quilt owner; Relative of quiltmaker; Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

Daughter-in-law of quilt maker

When was the form filled out?

11-14-2015

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quilt owner

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

Received as a gift

Where was the quilt documentation day held?

Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

Crazy Quilt for Elaine

Owner's name for quilt:

Crazy Quilt

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Contained Crazy

How wide is the quilt?

35 in.

How long is the quilt?

52 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Beige or Tan; Black; Blue or Navy; Burgundy; Fuchsia; Gold; Green; Orange; Purple; Red; Rust; Turquoise or Teal; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor; Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Damage:

Open seams; Other

Describe the damage:

Broken embroidery threads

Type of inscription:

Message; Place; Other

Describe the type of inscription:

Name of owner with floral embellishment, Printed advertisement labels of fruit and flowers, Attached woven label on back

What is inscribed on the quilt?

"Ready to dine!" "Elaine" "HAWAII" "CHERRIES Wieck's Naturally Sweet ANGEL KISS" "STRAWBERRY MOUNTAIN Sugar Sweet Fancy Select Berries RICHMOND VIRGINIA" "Lady Bug, Lady Bug, Fly Away Home" BACK-"ALL WOOL MARIPOSA BLANKET MADE BY SHULER & BENNINGHOFEN HAMILTON, OHIO."

Method used to make the inscription:

Other

Describe the method used to inscribe the quilt:

Woven attached label on back

Location of inscription:

on back; on block; other

Describe where the inscription was found:

Front

Time period:

2000-2025

Family/owner's date for quilt:

2005

Further information concerning dates:

The quilt was made for the owner's 25th wedding anniversary.

Describe the quilt's layout:

Crazy

Subject of the quilt:

Interests and momentos reflecting her daughter-in-law, Elaine.

Number of quilt blocks:

6

Size of quilt blocks:

Approx. 17.5 x 17.5 in.

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

6

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Rayon; Silk; Wool

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth; Flannel; Glazed; Satin; Velvet; Other

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Floral; Multiple scrap; Novelty; Print; Solid/plain

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

Silver & Gold Lame, commercially embroidered upholstery fabric.

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Foundation Piecing; Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Blanket, buttonhole, or other decorative applique stitch; Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Can you feel or see paper on the quilt that was used as a construction aid?

no

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Wool

What color is the back of the quilt?

Beige or Tan

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

3

Width of pieces on the back:

4.5, 35.5 & 22.25 in. (irregular shapes)

Describe the back:

Machine sewn; Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Other

Describe the binding:

Edges are bound together with hand embroidered blanket stitch using cotton embroidery floss.

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

No filling

How are the layers held together?

Not quilted

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

The edges of every patch are hand embroidered with cotton embroidery floss in various colors that coordinate with the motifs and fabrics of the patches. Complex embroidery patterns reflect the theme of gardening with daisies and rose buds. There are two hand embroidered girls: one holding a plate and pitcher, the other holding a broom. Other hand embroidered motifs include; a moon and stars, a sun, wind, tree, palm trees, her son in a hard hat, a spider web with a spider and flowers inspired by seed packets. The fabric used is contemporary. Three patches are printed labels from advertisements for fruit and flowers.

Quilt top made by:

Helminiak, Marion Baum

Quilted by:

Helminiak, Marion Baum

Where the quilt was made, city:

Racine

Where the quilt was made, county:

Racine

Where the quilt was made, state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

The quilt was given to the owner for her 25th wedding anniversary by her mother-in-law.

Why was the quilt made?

Other

Details about why the quilt was made:

25th Wedding Anniversary

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quilt is presently used as:

Keepsake/memento

Where did the maker get their materials?

Other

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

Scraps from her drapery and slip-cover business the "Nimble Needle" in Racine/Racine County, Wisconsin

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?

Original to maker

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

Every quilt made by Mrs. Helminiak is customized for the owner. This quilt has floral motifs because her daughter-in-law, Elaine, is a gardener. Her husband Mark, an architect, is depicted as a little guy with a hard hat. The embroidered palm trees represent a trip the couple had taken for their 25th anniversary in Hawaii. All of her crazy quilts have an embroidered spider web.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Baum

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

08-26-1928

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Milwaukee/Milwaukee County

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Wisconsin

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

French Canadian & Bohemian Czech Republic

Quiltmaker's educational background:

Doctorate

Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:

Roman Catholic

Quiltmaker's occupation:

Owner of the "Nimble Thimble"

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's county:

Racine

Quiltmaker's city:

Racine

Quiltmaker's state:

Wisconsin (WI)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Baum, Orien Willard

Quiltmaker's father's birthplace:

Janesville/Rock County, Wisconsin

Quiltmaker's father's ethnic/tribal background:

French Canadian

Quiltmaker's mother's name:

Baum, Florence Rosella

Quiltmaker's mother's birthplace:

Watertown/Dodge & Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin

Quiltmaker's mother's ethnic/tribal background:

Bohemian Czech Republic

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:

Polish

Number of children:

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

2

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 40-49

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Gifts

Notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

Mrs. Helminiak's mother made crazy quilts for all of her children. At bedtime the children would enjoy looking at the embroidery and patchwork designs. Mrs. Helminiak continued the tradition by making crazy quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

20-50 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Mrs. Helminiak's business the "Nimble Thimble" provided custom drapery and slipcovers to customers. Over the years she saved all of the scraps for her crazy quilts.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts

Details

  • img
  • img
  • img
  • img

Cite this Quilt

Helminiak, Marion Bau. Crazy Quilt for Elaine. 2000-2025. From Wisconsin Quilt History Project, Wisconsin Quilt History Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=15-11-1139. Accessed: 03/29/24