QUILT INDEX RECORD
38-36-3268
Where are the records for this quilt housed?
Arizona Quilt Documentation Project
Who documented this quilt?
Arizona Quilt Documentation Project
Arizona Quilt Documentation Project Number:
QRC160026
When was the documentation day held? Or when was the form collected?
03-14-2016
Where was the documentation day held?
Gilbert, AZ
1. Type of quilt object
Finished quilt
2. Designer's title:
Jewish Menorah
3. Quilt Width:
41 inches
3. Quilt Length:
36 inches
4. Shape of edge:
Straight
5. Shape of Corners:
Straight
6. Overall color scheme:
Two color
7. Predominant Color(s):
Beige or Tan
9. Overall condition:
Excellent/like new
13. Inscription:
Single
13.1. Content of inscription(s):
Commercial name label
13.4. Location of inscription:
on back
14. Date of Quilt:
2000-2025
Date quilt begun:
2002
Date quilt completed:
2002
Family/owner's date for quilt:
2002
Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:
Local Quilt Store and Craft/Hobby Store
16. Subject of the quilt:
Jerusalem buildings & Hanukkah memorah
17. Layout format:
Other
18.1.4. Commercial Pattern (Designer, Source):
Pattern: Happy Hanukkah by Elizabeth Rosenberg from Inventing Traditions
Size of quilt blocks:
inches
Describe other spacing style:
Plain multiple frames
22. Borders:
1
22.2. Border descriptions:
There is one border measuring 1 inch on all sides that is plain using different prints from the top.
23. Fiber used in quilt tops:
Cotton; Other synthetic
24. Fabric patterns, styles, motifs, or print categories used in quilt top:
Print; Solid/plain
25.1 Piecing techniques:
Machine Piecing
25.2 Applique techniques:
Blanket, buttonhole, or other decorative applique stitch; Hand Applique
26.1. Embellishment techniques:
Embroidery
27.1. Materials used in binding:
Cotton or polyester blend
27.2. Fabric structure used in binding:
Plain weave
27.3. Construction techniques used in binding:
Front turned to back; Bias grain; Hand sewn; Machine sewn
28.1. Material used for quilt batting or filling:
Polyester
28.2. Batting loft:
Thin (Less than 3/16?)
29.2. Quilted by:
Zabezensky, Ferne
29.3. Quilting technique used:
Hand quilting
29.3.1. Thread type:
Cotton
29.3.1. Thread color:
Brown
29.3.2. Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 1):
5 stitches per inch
29.3.2. Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 2):
5 stitches per inch
Distance between quilting lines:
Varies
29.4.1. Motif/overall quilting patterns:
Other
29.4.2. Decorative quilting patterns:
Vines
Other quilting designs used:
Quilted with vines in the sashing. Some of the overall pattern is a design accent. The background has single assorted lines.
31.1. Fabric fiber types used in quilt back:
Cotton
31.2. Color of backing:
White
31.3. Number of pieces in quilt back:
41
31.3. Size of pieces in quilt back:
36 inches
31.4. Description of back:
Same fabric used throughout; Solid/plain
1. Ownership of this quilt is:
Private
Name of Quilt Owner:
Ferne Zabezensky
Quilt Owner's City:
Mesa
Quilt Owner's County:
Maricopa
Quilt Owner's State:
Arizona (AZ)
Quilt Owner's Country:
United States
When was this object acquired? Under what circumstances?
Newly Made by Ferne Zabezensky
3. Quilt maker's name:
Zabezensky, Ferne
Gender:
Female
Birth date:
07-08-1942
Educational Background:
All from Arizona State University - BS in Medical Technology, MS in Microbiology, PHD in Higher Adult Education
Religious affiliation:
Jewish
Quilt maker's occupation:
Microbiologist & Professor
Quilt maker's birth city:
Logansport
Quilt maker's birth state:
Indiana
Quilt maker's country of birth:
United States
In which kind of environment did the quiltmaker grow up:
Rural
6. How did the maker learn to quilt:
From Class
When learned to quilt:
Age 50 or over
Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt?
Gifts; Pleasure
7. Name of quilting group
Las Sendas Quilt Group in Mesa, AZ and Arizona Quilt Study Group & Quilt History Bee in Prescott Valley, Az
Specialized activities/events of group:
Annual show & Charity quilts
8. Estimated number of quilts made:
more than 50
Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?
no
Does/did quiltmaker teach quilting?
only informally
Describe the quiltmaker's unique or favorite materials, patterns, quilting techniques, etc.:
Jewish designs, Hawaiian designs, hand quilting
Describe any unique traditions, quilting related customs, beliefs, songs, or rhymes used by the quilt maker:
Changes home decor monthly with 25 quilted items (hangings, runners & placemats). Have quilted more than 1200 items.
Any other notes or stories about the quilt maker:
Has given quilt lectures/presentations on Jewish quilting, Australian quilting, Hawaiian quilting and other topics
Access and copyright information:
Restricted
Copyright holder:
Arizona Quilt Documentation Project
Essay:
Ferne Zabezensky – quilting biography I grew up around quilts and slept most of my life under a quilt. My paternal grandmother, Anna Bridge, was a prolific quilter and I observed her cutting pieces for quilts from scraps of fabric I used in sewing many of my clothes. I saw many of her quilts in the frame and learned the pattern names but she never asked if I wanted to learn to quilt. My mother brought several of her quilts to Arizona when they moved from Indiana in 1960. Our family were members of the Church of the Brethern and we lived near an Amish community. In 1964 I married a Jewish man and we established a Jewish home, but celebrated the Christain holidays with my family. Most gifts were practical items of needle arts (embroidery, cross stitch, and needlepoint). I thus searched for Jewish designs for his family. In 1981, while teaching at Phoenix Community College I took an evening class in quilting as I was interested in beginning to quilt. I think I knew more about quilting than the teacher – so I wasn’t very inspired. In 1986 I was awarded a sabbatical to teach in Perth, Australia. When walking through the International Exposition for the America’s Cup Races, we saw an appliquéd turkey with the quote “Happy Thanksgiving” in the Phillipine booth. My husband said I could make one like it: I replied “I don’t do appliqué”. So we purchased it ($15) and brought it home. He said I could quilt a hanging for other holidays after I retired. The next summer I took some quilting classes from a shop in Prescott, AZ and before long I had several hangings made. By the late 1990’s I had 25 places in my home that I decorated with mostly my quilted items (7 place mats, table runner, buffet runner, and hangings). I changed these hangings every month, plus an extra set for late July and Hanukkah. In addition, we liked to travel and have traveled to all 7 continents. I have decorated a room in our home each dedicated to one of the continents with quilted hangings and bedding. When we travel I like to purchase fabric depicting the country. I purchased several batiks and cottons in Singapore and Australia. When I go fabric shopping I am always looking for more designs to add to my home décor. That is how I came upon liking appliqué after visiting Hawaii! After running out of items to do needlework for our Jewish family, I turned to quilted items but found the Jewish designs in fabric to be quite limited, but I purchased all I could find. Since the mid 1990’s I have collected more than 120 fabrics of Jewish design; they are becoming more popular in recent years. However, commercial patterns are still quite limited. I soon discovered that one could take a 6 pointed star quilt block and rotate it to become a Star of David so I currently am into making quilts of “Jewish” design – mainly for future family gifts. When I find a Jewish print, the first thing I do is make a placemat so that I have some of that design left to see when I have used up the remaining yardage. Family and friends now expect that their gift will be something quilted. To date (2015) I have quilted more than 1200 items. I was fortunate to have kept a log of all my items quilted and to have taken a picture of each. I like to share my items with others and have given guest lectures on log cabin designs, Hawaiian quilting, Hopi quilting, Jewish quilting, and Australian quilting.
Details
Cite this Quilt
Zabezensky, Fern. Jewish Menorah. 2002. From Arizona Quilt Documentation Project, Arizona Quilt Documentation Project. Published in The Quilt Index, https://quiltindex.org/view/?type=fullrec&kid=38-36-3268. Accessed: 04/18/24
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Zabezensky, Ferne Owner; Quiltmaker
Arizona Quilt Documentation Project