QUILT INDEX RECORD
19-15-477
Minnesota Quilt Project Documentation Number:
HK09-055
When was the form filled out?
10/17/2009
Where was the quilt documentation day held?
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Alternate inventory control number:
031
Ownership of this quilt is:
Private
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Minnesota Quilters Inc.
Who documented this quilt?
Minnesota Quilt Project
Materials used to make the back:
Cotton
Describe the back:
Print; Same fabric used throughout
Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:
1
How wide is the quilt?
49 in
How long is the quilt?
60.5 in
Size of quilt blocks:
9.75" x 9.75"
Sashing width:
2.75"
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:
10
Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:
9
Describe the borders:
Border 1 (closest to center): in., sides, ; Border 2:
This is a:
Finished quilt
Quilt's title:
Idiot Star
Shape of edge:
Straight
Shape of corners:
Straight (Square)
Overall color scheme:
Multicolor
What color is the quilt?
Black; Blue or Navy; Yellow
Quilt's condition:
Excellent/like new
Family/owner's date for quilt:
1989
Time period:
1976-1999
Type of inscription:
Date; Message; Multiple Names
What is inscribed on the quilt?
Back: "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May" Shakespeare/ made by one rosebud and five American beauties/The quilt belongs to me/ Helen Kelley 1989"
Method used to make the inscription:
Attached label; Embroidery; Ink
Location of inscription:
on back; on block
Describe the quilt's layout:
Block pattern
Number of quilt blocks:
7
Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:
one w/color variations
Owner's name for quilt:
Idiot Star
Names for quilt's pattern in common use:
Star
What is the shape of the quilt blocks?
Squares
Arrangement of quilt blocks:
On point or rotated on 45 degrees
Spacing of quilt blocks:
Side by side
Describe the quilt setting:
Plain sashing surrouns all sides of all blocks
Fiber types used to make the quilt top:
Cotton
Fabric types used to make the quilt top:
Muslin
Fabric styles used in the quilt top:
Novelty; Print; Solid/plain; Striped
Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:
Machine Piecing
Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:
Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc); Embroidery; Other embellishment technique
Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:
plastic flamingo,spool, thread, pin, plastic stars, cartoon face
Embellishments used:
Beads attached; Buttons attached; Charms attached; Cotton thread
Describe embellishment materials or techniques:
rosebuds on back
Materials used in the quilt binding:
Cotton
Fabric structure of the binding:
Plain weave
How is the binding made?
Bias grain
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:
grey
Quilting designs used, overall motifs:
Outline
Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:
Floral
Describe the quilting designs used:
teacup, peanuts
Where did the maker get their materials?
Sewing scraps
Where did the maker find their pattern?
Original to maker; Traditional pattern variation
Where did the quiltmaker find the pattern for the quilting design on the quilt?
Original to maker; Public domain
Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:
names inscribed on each block - one per block: Marge Anderson, Connie Pluhar, Helen Kelley, Helen Lange, Mary L.Chmiel, Norma Ahlquist
Quilt top made by:
Kelley, Helen
Quilted by:
Kelley, Helen
Quiltmaker's country:
United States
Quiltmaker's gender:
Female
Quiltmaker's birth date:
April 28, 1927
Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:
Englewood
Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:
New Jersey
Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:
United States
Quiltmaker's date and place of death:
September 1, 2008
Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
English, German
Quiltmaker's educational background:
BA, Northwestern University, 1947
Quiltmaker's religious affiliation:
Presbyterian
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?
Urban
Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' ethnic/tribal background:
Norwegian
Number of children:
5
How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?
4
How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?
1
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Self-Taught
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 20-29
Why does the quiltmaker quilt?
Church; Gifts; Income; Pleasure; Therapy
Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:
more than 50
Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?
yes
Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?
yes
Describe any favorite patterns, tools, etc. used by the quiltmaker:
Postage stamp quilts, with a scene from a favorite trip and the address and stamp depicted on the back.
Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:
Among the many honors that Kelley received throughout her career in quilting and service to her community were: 1995—Artist of Distinction, Fiber/Metal Arts of Minnesota; 1998—Minnesota Quilter of the Year; 1999—”Renaissance” was selected by a prestigious national committee of quiltmakers and quilt historians as one of the 100 best quilts of the 20th century, a project organized by the International Quilt Association (“Renaissance” is now in the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society); and in 2000 Kelley was selected to receive the Minnesota Textile Center’s Spun Gold Award. Kelley continued to lecture, teach, and exhibit her work right up to her sudden death September 1, 2008. A 30-year retrospective of her work was on exhibit in Marion, Indiana, during her induction into The Quilter Hall of Fame as its 38th Honoree, July 17-19, 2008.
Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?
Minnesota Quilters, Inc., North Presbyterian Quilters
Where does/did the group meet?
Minneapolis, MN; St. Paul, MN
What are the main activities of the group?
Education of quilters and promotion of quilting. Quilts for the needy.
Person filling out this form is:
Quilt owner; Spouse of quiltmaker
Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:
Quilt owner
If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?
Inherited
How was this quilt acquired?
Inheritance
Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:
Inherited from maker, September 2008.
Where the quilt was made, city:
Minneapolis
Where the quilt was made, county:
Hennepin
Where the quilt was made, state:
Minnesota (MN)
Where the quilt was made, country:
United States
Why was the quilt made?
Art or personal expression
List related photographs, letters, interview tapes etc. relating to the quilt only:
Wrote 7 books. Obituary 9/11/2008, Mpls Star Tribune. Quilters Hall of Fame website.
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Bill Kelley
Who photographed this quilt?
Gail Bakkom
Cite this Quilt
Kelley, Hele. Idiot Star. 1976-1999. From Minnesota Quilters Inc., Minnesota Quilt Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=19-15-477. Accessed: 03/28/24