QUILT INDEX RECORD

25-21-65

Who documented this quilt?

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin

Texas Quilt Search Number:

tqs_0098

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner; Other

Source of the information on this quilt:

This quilt was reviewed and documented during the Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association's Texas Quilt Search, 1983-1986, and/or during the Association's Phase II of the Texas Quilt Search, 1986-1989. Karey Bresenhan served as quilt historian.

When was the form filled out?

1986-1989

Choose the best description of the source to the quilt:

Quiltmaker; Quilt owner

How did the quiltmaker participate in the creation of the quilt?

Made entire quilt

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

Made the quilt

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

This quilt is owned by the quiltmaker.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Virginia Reel

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Snail Trail

Brackman # or other source & #:

2091

How wide is the quilt?

78 in.

How long is the quilt?

88 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Red; White

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Notes on condition, damage, or repairs:

quiltmaker notes that quilt has never been used, only exhibited

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

1976

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1976

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

28 pieced blocks

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Alternating with plain squares; Side by side

Number of different block patterns used in the quilt:

1

What is the shape of the quilt blocks?

Squares

Number of borders:

2

Describe the borders:

inner white muslin border; outer red calico border

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

Describe the fibers or fabrics in the quilt top:

red calico

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

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

no

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Description of the back:

red calico

What color is the back of the quilt?

Red

Describe the back:

Machine sewn; Print

How is the binding made?

Edges turned in/ no separate binding

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How thick is the quilt?

Medium (3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Hand quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

cotton

Color of thread used in the quilting:

white

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 1:

10

Number of quilting stitches per inch, place 2:

12

Width between quilting lines:

less than 1/2 in.

Can you see any knots on the front or back of the quilt?

no

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Grid/crosshatch

Quilting designs used, decorative motifs:

Floral; Other

Describe the quilting designs used:

close crosshatch quilting and decorative quilting, including flowers (Wild Rose pattern), twisted ribbons, leaves, geometrics on white blocks

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

Never used and remaining bright, quiltmaker Donna Landers made this quilt as gift for her husband.

Quilt top made by:

Landers, Donna Ray Brown

Quilted by:

Landers, Donna Ray Brown

Where the quilt was made, city:

San Angelo

Where the quilt was made, county:

Tom Green

Where the quilt was made, state:

Texas (TX)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Made by owner

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Mrs. Landers made this Virginia Reel quilt during the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 as a gift for her husband. She has taught herself knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, and quilting by reading instruction books.

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

In 1975, Mrs. Landers was galvanized into making this quilt after she read an article on "How to Cope with Boredom" in Readers' Digest magazine. The article urged readers to "Sit down and list five things you've always wanted to do. Then pick one, and flat-out do it." Mrs. Landers followed this advice--she had always wanted to make a quilt pictured in a quilting book she had seen. In 1976, having finished her Virginia Reel, she entered it into a San Angelo quilt contest and won a blue ribbon. Mrs. Landers now teaches quilt classes and is an active member of the Concho Valley Quilters' Guide, in addition to being a daily quilt maker.

Why was the quilt made?

Gift or presentation

Details about why the quilt was made:

art and personal expression; gift to husband

The quilt was made to be used for:

Bedding, special occasion

Quilt is presently used as:

Bedding, special occasion; Keepsake/memento

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Commercial/Published source: Book; Public domain/traditional pattern

Describe the source of the pattern:

inspired by a quilt she saw in a book

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

Mrs. Landers says she especially likes this quilt pattern "because it 'moves' the eye across it. It is softened with the 'wild rose' quilting."

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

“Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, 1936-1986,” 16th Annual International Quilt Festival, November, 1990, Houston, Texas.

Contests entered:

won blue ribbon and Best of Show at 1976 San Angelo Stock Show, Women's Exhibits

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association’s Texas Quilt Search Archives

Publications (including web sites) where this quilt or maker was featured:

Bresenhan, Karoline Patterson and Nancy O'Bryant Puentes, Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts, Vol. II, 1936-1986 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1990), p. 96-97

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Donna Ray Brown Landers

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Brown, Donna Ray

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

12/24/1931

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

San Angelo, Tom Green County

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Texas

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's marriage date(s):

01/04/1949

Quiltmaker's educational background:

high school and studied fashion design

Quiltmaker's occupation:

homemaker; teaches quilting

In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker live?

Urban

Quiltmaker's state:

Texas (TX)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's father's name:

Brown, [unknown]

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and /or partner's/partners' name(s):

Landers, [unknown]

Number of children:

2

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Self-Taught; Other

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Under 10 years of age

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Fundraising; Gifts; Income; Pleasure

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

creative outlet; feels she has an affinity for needlework

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

Concho Valley Quilter's Guild

Where does/did the group meet?

San Angelo

What are the main activities of the group?

Mrs. landers is a charter member of the group and also the originator of the West Texas Quilt Show in Fort Concho

Estimated number of quilts made by this quiltmaker:

20-50 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

yes

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

yes

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Mrs. Landers made her first quilt in 1950--a crib quilt for her first child. She makes about one quilt each year and occasionally sells one of her quilts. She loves to quilt, she says, "I simply enjoy it, for the quietness of spirit that I feel. There is also definitely a sense of heritage involved, for I come from a long line of quilters."

Who photographed this quilt?

Sharon Risedorph

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Assistant Director Winedale