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.

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