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To Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes; To Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

25-21-113

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_0143

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 Phase II of the Texas Quilt Search, 1986-1989. Karey Bresenhan served as quilt historian.

When was the form filled out?

1989-1990

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

If the source helped design the quilt, describe their input:

Designed quilt motif; Designed the pattern

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

This quilt is owned by the quiltmaker.

This is a:

Finished quilt

Quilt's title:

To Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes

Owner's name for quilt:

To Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes

How wide is the quilt?

64 in.

How long is the quilt?

81 in.

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Blue or Navy; Gold; Green; Orange; Red; Yellow

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor; Bright or primary colors

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

1989

When was the quilt finished?

1989

Family/owner's date for quilt:

1989

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Subject of the quilt:

Pele, fire goddess of Hawaii

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

central pictorial medallion is set on a navy field that serves as an overall border

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton; Cotton or polyester blend

Fabric types used to make the quilt top:

Broadcloth

Fabric styles used in the quilt top:

Print; Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Piecing; Machine Piecing; Strip/string Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Attachments (beading, charms, buttons, etc)

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

embellished with beads and with shells

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

no

Embellishment materials used in quilt top:

Beads attached; Metallic thread; Other attachments

Describe embellishment materials or techniques:

shells

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Describe the back:

Same fabric used throughout

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Front turned to back; Straight grain

What is the width of the binding (measure on the top only)?

less than a half inch

How wide is the binding (measure on the top only)?

narrow straight grain binding taken from the front to the back

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How thick is the quilt?

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Thread type used for the quilting:

metallic threads

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

Describe the quilting designs used:

machine quilting with metallic threads: some outline quilting, with lines joining points of hexagonal stars; continuation of straight and hexagonal lines in background

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

Vivid colors and high contrast of applique and piecing; rainbow rays point into the sky; pale to deep blues and greens in water; reds, oranges, golds, and blacks for hair and volcano; utilizes hand piecing of hexagonal stars, machine strip piecing, and machine quilting with metallic threads

Quilt top made by:

Kennedy, Beth Thomas

Quilted by:

Kennedy, Beth Thomas

Where the quilt was made, city:

Austin

Where the quilt was made, county:

Travis

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:

This is Beth Kennedy's fourth quilt in a series devoted to matriarchal rituals. It pays homage to Pele, fire goddess of Hawaii. The quiltmaker notes that "on a trip to Hawaii, I collected some small pieces of lava found on a Kaui beach to bring back as a memory of a dream trip to paradise. A short time later, while on Oahu, I learned about Pele and her fury with those who take lava from its resting place. Not wanting to offend Pele, I returned the small lava rocks to the sea with an apology, asking her to return them to their proper place. After deciding to make a series of quilts on matriarchal rituals, I knew Pele would forgive me if I made her a quilt. It is also vivid reminder of a beautiful place and time."

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression

The quilt was made to be used for:

Artwork/wall hanging

Quilt is presently used as:

Artwork/wall hanging

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker; Traditional pattern variation

Describe the source of the pattern:

some traditional patterns, such as hexagons

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

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

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

Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, 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. 188-189.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quilt owner's name:

Kennedy, Beth Thomas

Quilt owner's state:

Texas (TX)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Thomas, Carolyn Beth

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

1941

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Dallas

Quiltmaker's birthplace, state:

Texas

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

United States

Quiltmaker's educational background:

BA, MA, University of Texas

Quiltmaker's occupation:

quilmaker, lecturer, teacher

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:

Thomas, {unknown}

Quiltmaker's spouse's/spouses' and/or partner's/partners' occupation:

attorney

Number of children:

1

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From Class; From guild or club member; Self-Taught

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 30-39

Why does the quiltmaker quilt?

Gifts; Income; Pleasure

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

artistic expression; the sisterhood with women; a sense of carrying on the quilting tradition and furthering the art; professional quilter

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

Austin Area Quilt Guild, two local bees (Patchwork Pals, Easy Piecers)

Where does/did the group meet?

Austin, Texas

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

Any other notes or stories about the quiltmaker:

Mrs. Kennedy is part of Texas's growing professional community of nontraditional quilters and fiber artists.

Who photographed this quilt?

Sharon Risedorph

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Assistant Director Winedale

Cite this Quilt

Kennedy, Beth Thoma. To Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes. 1989. From Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin, Texas Sesquicentennial Quilt Association, Texas Quilt Search. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=25-21-113. Accessed: 03/29/24

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