QUILT INDEX RECORD

32-28-601

Alberta Heritage Quilt Project Number:

AHQP 1-0087

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Royal Alberta Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Alberta Heritage Quilt Project

Person filling out this form is:

Quiltmaker

When was the form filled out?

04-04-1992

This is a:

Finished quilt

Owner's name for quilt:

Herons

How wide is the quilt?

81.25 inches

How long is the quilt?

95.25 inches

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Rounded

What color is the quilt?

Blue or Navy; White

Overall color scheme:

Two color

Type of inscription:

Date; Signature; Other

Describe the type of inscription:

name of quilt pattern

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Herons 1986 Handmade by Nel Noonan

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label; Embroidery

Location of inscription:

on back

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt finished?

c.1986

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Number of borders:

1

Describe the borders:

Machine appliqued cat-tails form a border around the edge of the quilt

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton or polyester blend

Fabric patterns, styles, motifs, or print categories used in the quilt top:

Solid/plain

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Applique

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Embroidery

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

For the inscription: The first part of the inscription (Herons 1986) was hand embroidered, whereas the second part (Handmade by Nel Noonan) was a commercial label that was attached to the quilt.

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton or polyester blend

What color is the back of the quilt?

Blue or Navy

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

How is the binding made?

Back turned to front; Bias grain; Hand sewn; Home cut; Machine sewn

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

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Outline

Quilting designs used, background fills:

Other

Describe the quilting designs used:

Outline quilting used for the border and medallion; a sunburst design was used for the background fill patter.

Quilt top made by:

Noonan, Alice Ellen Spackman

Where the quilt was made, city:

Calgary

Where the quilt was made, province:

Alberta

Where the quilt was made, country:

Canada

Why was the quilt made?

Personal enjoyment; Other

Details about why the quilt was made:

The quiltmaker "traded [her] first Heron quilt for brother's hand carved Canada Goose, and so had to make another because [the quiltmaker] liked the pattern so much."

Where did the maker get their materials?

Purchased new

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

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

Quilt was designed by quiltmaker's sister, Mary Smith. The design was inspired by Wedgewood and Easter Eggs.

Contests entered:

Pacific National Exhibition- 1st prize Heritage Fair- 1st prize

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

See Alberta Heritage Quilt Project 1-0082, 1-0083, 1-0084, 1-0085, 1-0086, 1-0087, 1-0088, 1-0089, 1-0090, 1-0091, and 1-0092.

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Spackman

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's birth date:

03-29-1921

Quiltmaker's birthplace, city:

Lineham

Quiltmaker's birthplace, country:

Canada

Quiltmaker's birthplace, province:

Alberta

Number of children:

4

How many of the quiltmaker's children were girls?

3

How many of the quiltmaker's children were boys?

1

Description of quilt:

Nel Noonan by Mary Carrol of Peachland BC This is a biographical account of Nel Noonan's life and quilting work

Essay:

Nel Noonan by Mary Carrol, Peachland, BC Nel Noonan was born and grew up in southern Alberta, and has spent her married life in Calgary. While raising her family (one son, three daughters) she was always sewing and knitting for them, as well as doing many crafts in her spare time. These included hooked rugs, needlepoint and leatherwork. Nel always had an interest in quilting and saved scraps and pieces of material for when she was able to follow through on this desire. Nel started by making several pieced and Cathedral Window quilts. A friend invited her to join the quilters group of the Alberta Handicraft Guild. Here she had her eyes opened to the variety and quality of quilts which the members produced. The first quilt she entered in competition at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede was a Wedgewood type design of Alberta flowers she named “Flowers of the Foothills”, an original design by her sister. It won a 3rd place ribbon. Nel decided to do another of the same design but in the meantime she worked on improving her quilting. This second quilt won a 1st place ribbon, which launched Nel in the making of her unique designer style quilts. As well as making these special quilts, she has made many children’s quilts, quilted cushions and bags. It wasn’t long before Nel was winning top prizes at exhibitions in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, and several of her quilts have been featured in Canada Quilts magazine. A design of the West Coast Indians led to a series, “A Tribute to the Native People” and “People of the Midnight Sun”. When the Calgary Stampede executive chose as their theme “A Salute to the Cowboy”, Nel produced a rodeo quilt. This was shown at the Millarville Fair where local ranchers enjoyed finding their brands in the border design. Many of these were brands belonging to old family friends or well known ranchers in the foothills country. This quilt has just come back from Japan where it was included in a travelling exhibition in that country. Other special quilts include two done in a stained glass technique. One of these is a design of Canadian children of different ethnic backgrounds playing together, which she named “Listen to the Children While They Play”, the other “Blossoms and Butterflies” was Viewers Choice at the “Thimbles and Thistles” Quilt show held at the Banff School of Fine Arts in conjunction with the Patch in Time quilt conference, 1985. Nel has done a number of quilts in traditional designs, celtic designs and plain coloured quilts with all-over quilted designs. The most astounding this is that she quilts without a thimble! She says the callous that develops helps! Her method of doing intricate machine appliqué is to draw the design onto the appliqué material, baste it securely to the background with the straight of the material corresponding to the background. After sewing all the lines in a narrow satin stitch, she then cuts away the waste material. This method leaves a design that does not pucker, crinkle or pull loose. Nel along with other members of the Handicraft Guild have done a number of demonstrations at local fairs, the Glenbow Museum and at several elementary schools in Calgary. The interest and response from both boys and girls is always gratifying. The ladies dress in turn-of-the-century costumes while doing these demonstrations. The school demonstrations are offered in appreciation of the school board for providing reasonable accommodation for guild activities. Some years ago she was approached to help plan a fall fair at Heritage Park in Calgary and has helped with this annual event ever since. Nel is both fortunate and especially proud of the quilt designs created for her by members of her family. Her sister Mary E. Smith, Peachland, BC, her brother Rey Spackman, Kelowna, BC and her son-in-law Alain Corbeil have designed quilts which Nel executes with pride. Nels colour inspiration, her fine sewing skills and excellent choice of colour in adapting the designs to fabric is what makes each quilt very special.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Copyright holder:

Royal Alberta Museum