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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Essay
Lone Stars: A Legacy of Texas Quilts: ...
Bresenhan, Karoline Patterson