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Redwork Farm

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QUILT INDEX RECORD

38-36-3822

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project

Who documented this quilt?

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project; Sinema Family Quilt Collection

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project Number:

LSQ160016

When was the documentation day held? Or when was the form collected?

10-12-2016

Where was the documentation day held?

Phoenix, Arizona

1. Type of quilt object

Finished quilt

2. Designer's title:

Redwork Farm

3. Quilt Width:

46 inches

3. Quilt Length:

38 inches

4. Shape of edge:

Straight

5. Shape of Corners:

Straight

7. Predominant Color(s):

Beige or Tan; Pink

9. Overall condition:

Excellent/like new

14. Date of Quilt:

2000-2025

15. Source of Fabric:

Purchased new

Describe the sources of the quilt's materials:

Local Quilt Store - Quilted Apple

16. Subject of the quilt:

Farm Scene

17. Layout format:

Pictorial

Describe the source of the pattern:

Laurene Sinema Design

22. Borders:

22.2. Border descriptions:

One 2 inch border on all sides, pieced, fabric same as quilt.

23. Fiber used in quilt tops:

Cotton

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

Plaid

25.1 Piecing techniques:

Machine Piecing

25.2 Applique techniques:

Hand Applique

25.4 Other construction technique:

Applique by Sanchez, Virginia

26.1. Embellishment techniques:

Embroidery

26.2 Embellishment materials used in top:

Cotton thread

27.1. Materials used in binding:

Cotton

27.2. Fabric structure used in binding:

Plain weave

27.3. Construction techniques used in binding:

Separate binding applied; Straight grain; Home cut; Machine sewn

27.5. Width of binding:

less than a half inch

28.2. Batting loft:

Thin (Less than 3/16?)

29.2. Quilted by:

Orberg, Helen

29.3. Quilting technique used:

Hand quilting

29.3.1. Thread color:

red

29.3.2. Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 1):

29.3.2. Number of quilting stitches per inch (Place 2):

29.4.1. Motif/overall quilting patterns:

Outline

31.1. Fabric fiber types used in quilt back:

Cotton

31.2. Color of backing:

Red

31.3. Number of pieces in quilt back:

31.3. Size of pieces in quilt back:

46x38 inches

31.4. Description of back:

Print; Same fabric used throughout

30. Quilt notes and observations:

Object not commercially manufactured.

1. Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Name of Quilt Owner:

Sinema Family Quilt Collection

Quilt Owner's State:

Arizona (AZ)

Quilt Owner's Country:

United States

2. Other related items such as publications, image, oral history, or ephemera:

As a little girl, Laurene learned to quilt sitting beside her Grandma Nielsen. Because of a poverty-poor childhood she was unable to utilize this skill until age 26 when she was called to be president of the women's organization in her church. It was like a rocket launch! From that moment on every lady learned to quilt whether they liked it or not.

Our family life and household revolved around church and quilting. There was quilting and craft stuff everywhere. In her late 40s, Laurene and her good friend, Janet, started The Quilted Apple. Throughout the next 25 years she built The Quilted Apple into one of the most renown quilt stores in the U.S. - and around the world. People came from everywhere to shop at her store. She traveled all over the nation teaching, lecturing and promoting quilting and appliqué. Our family life and household then revolved around The Quilted Apple.

We had four talented daughters but none ever gained any great interest in quilting or the operation of the store. One granddaughter sat her Grandma's side and became an expert and prolific quilter. With unbelievable determination and courage, Laurene rose from poverty to become a successful wife, mother, grandmother, civic and church leader and business woman. Every single person Laurene came in contact with became an instant friend. She loved and respected all and in return was beloved by all.

Gerry Sinema

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Arizona Quilt Documentation Project

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

Two events in 1978 marked the beginning of the quilting revival in Arizona. In that same year, Laurene Sinema (1929-2003) helped establish the Arizona Quilter's Guild and founded, with partner Janet Carruth, the first quilt shop in Phoenix, The Quilted Apple. The Quilted Apple, which would play a significant role in Arizona quiltmaking, opened its doors with only 12 bolts of fabric on the shelves! Over the next 25 years, thousands of individuals passed across its threshold and learned to love quilts and quiltmaking. Laurene's eye for quality, her excellent workmanship skills and her communication abilities made her an exceptional teacher. Her own work was beautiful, inspiring and of the highest quality and she expected no less from her staff and students. Students surprised themselves with their accomplishments. To keep her shop unique, Laurene designed imaginative quilt-oriented projects for classes that she taught and she inspired many staff members and students to do the same. Laurene's passion for quilting extended far beyond the door of The Quilted Apple. She spearheaded the organization of The Arizona Quilt Project and served as president during the 6 years that the group researched and documented quilts and their makers in Arizona. For 8 years, she contributed her wisdom and good ideas as a member of the International Quilt Council, an advisory group to Karey Bresenhan, the founder of International Quilt Market and Quilt Festival. She was a sought-after speaker and quilt show judge, and taught classes across the country and internationally. Always aware of new trends in the marketplace, Laurene influenced them as well. She authored 8 books and numerous magazine articles. The popularity of her designs for classes in her shop encouraged her to start a pattern company called Laurene Sinema Designs which eventually published over 60 quilting and appliqué patterns. She also designed three lines of reproduction fabric for South Sea Imports. An extraordinary people-lover, Laurene had the gift of making each person she met feel valued. People were naturally drawn to her and she always seemed to have "time." Often, a customer stopped by the shop and poured out her heart to Laurene after receiving devastating medical news, suffering from a death in the family, or experiencing the shock of divorce. Laurene Sinema's outlook on life and its challenges was always positive, and her unlimited enthusiasm and drive were restricted only by the number of hours in a day. Laurene's vibrant personality inspired those involved in the quilting world--in Arizona and beyond--to evolve to new heights, and in the process she brought joy and beauty into countless lives.

Essay:

REDWORK FARM unknown maker antique redwork embroidery Collection of Lynn Miller REDWORK FARM QUILT Laurene Sinema Designs hand appliquéd & embroidered by Virginia Sanchez hand quilted by Helen Orberg cotton fabrics Collection of Sinema Family Laurene based her Redwork Farm quilt pattern on the antique redwork embroidery here. Years later, after Laurene's death, Lynn Miller found the original embroidery in a box of redwork that she purchased from Laurene's estate. On the pattern package, Laurene described it as "a folk art farm on a sunny day filled with a farmer, his wife, and various animals." She shared the pattern with the Primitive Spirit group at The Quilted Apple.

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

One of Laurene Sinema's students dubbed her the "Quarter Block Queen" because, to save time when learning the techniques for an appliqué design, she would execute only one fourth of the pattern for a class sample. In the process of trying out the pattern she learned tricks to share with her students to make it easier for them to produce beautiful appliqué. Laurene was a perfectionist when it came to handwork and quilting. She stressed that in her classes. My mother was also a perfectionist and loved taking classes from Laurene. I worked at The Quilted Apple full time for several years and taught part-time for over 10 years. I was always so proud to be associated with the shop. Laurene and Janet provided such a wonderful, warm and inspiring atmosphere where you always felt welcome. Nancy Jean Derivan Eshelman Schneider

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