To celebrate 250 years of our nation and the quilt makers that stitched out history through those years.

The International Quilt Museum delves into the quilts and objects that made this art possible.

Leslie Levy joins Sara with a few artifacts that are by turns fascinating and familiar, and helps us connect with previous generations of quilters on a very human level.

Stay tuned to be reminded that we are all a part of this material nation.

Funding for “Love of Quilting” is provided by.

The Bernina 990.

If it can be imagined, it can be created.

APQS.

Longarm quilting machines allow you to express your creativity.

APQS.

Quilt forever.

Electric quilt making every quilter a designer since 1991.

[Upbeat music] Hi there, and welcome back to the 48th season of Love of Quilting.

I'm Sara Gallegos and today I have a very special guest with me.

We have Leslie Levy, who happens to be the executive director of the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska.

And you have brought some quilts and some little objects - Yeah.

to share a lot of history with us.

Right?

- Right.

I can't wait.

- Welcome.

- Thank you.

So tell me a little bit about the International Quilt Museum, if you don't mind.

- You bet.

So our journey started in 1997, when native Nebraskans Robert and Ardis James donated their collection of almost a thousand quilts Wow.

- To the University of Nebraska.

- Oh my goodness.

Yes.

Right.

So that's for a few years.

We had this wonderful space, on campus.

And what no one was quite prepared for was how much the public wanted to see the quilts.

Right?

- Right.

- Yeah.

Because everybody wants to see gorgeous quilts.

Absolutely.

- So in 2008, we opened a standalone museum.

So which is now known as the International Quilt Museum there on campus.

And it looks like quite an incredible building too.

It is.

- It's beautiful.

Thank you.

It is a beautiful building.

It's a beautiful place to work.

- Yeah.

So how many of those original 1000 quilts do you have on display or in exhibit?

So that is a great question.

Thank you.

Because you hear, that 1000 quilts has parlayed into we have now over 11,000 quilts and objects in our collection.

Oh my goodness.

- Yes.

- Wow.

So, we have six galleries.

So at any time, like most art museums, we have 1 to 2% of our collection on display.

- Wow.

So you can see upwards of 100 and 2050 quilts, depending on what type of exhibitions we have on That's really fascinating.

- Display.

Yeah.

- It must be I cannot imagine how an intense it is to be able to store that many quilts.

And what do you have to do to keep them all safe?

Right.

So, it's it's a huge responsibility to be the steward of someone's legacy.

- Sure.

And so we have these beautiful, humidity, temperature, light controlled store rooms where all of our quilts are stored in acid free tissue boxes and tissue.

Or if they need to be rolled, we have rolled storage, we have frame storage.

And we also have flat storage.

- Okay.

So depending on what the needs are of that quilt, we can store it appropriately.

And then if it's folded, we have a group of volunteers who refold every quilt in our collection every 2 to 2 and a half years.

- Oh wow.

So.

- Just so that the creased lines don't cause damage to the quilt.

Exactly.

- Yeah.

And they have bragging rights because there's not a lot of people who can say that they've seen every quilt Oh my goodness.

that the International Quilt Museum has in its collection.

So those are some, like good tips for you.

- Yeah.

If you have like a really valuable antique quilt, even just valuable to you, some ways that you could Right.

- Care for it.

But you did just mentioned something kind of interesting Yes.

about how you don't get to see everything in the exhibition.

You said that there's a time period, right?

- Correct.

So for stewardship.

So.

Right, because as you know, fabric and quilts, every time they're exposed to humanity or light or touch, they deteriorate.

- Wow.

So we show a quilt in our collection for a period of 12 months.

- Okay.

In a ten year period.

- Wow.

So if a quilt is on exhibition and our exhibitions rotate every 3 to 4 months.

So if a quilt is on display for three months, then it has nine more months that it can be seen in the next ten years.

That's very interesting.

- So yeah.

- Yeah.

So you have to visit many times - You do.

If you want to see all of the quilts.

Keep an eye on what the different exhibitions are.

And you have a very special exhibition starting soon.

Right?

Yes.

Yes, we we're very excited about it.

In celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

- Yes.

We will be opening in July an exhibition called Material Nation - Okay.

250 Years of American Quilts and History.

- Interesting.

So it will tell the history of America in quilts.

250 objects.

- Wow.

So that will be quilts and notions or objects and things.

When we had the idea to do this, it sounded great.

Right.

And then the reality of 250 objects soon came to be.

So my curators had to come up with the lists of quilts that they wanted, and we divided the galleries into different ideas or concepts - Sure.

- So we could group quilts accordingly.

So one of the first galleries has our earliest quilts in it.

And some of those early antecedents from Europe that came over - Neat.

in there will be a Baltimore album quilt that is brand new to our collection one that was never been seen.

Oh that's special.

And we've tried very hard with this exhibition to use quilts and objects from our collection that have not been on display before.

So yeah.

So people will have the chance to see something new and fresh.

So we also have a wonderful gallery with patriotic quilts.

The creativity that people had in making patriotic quilts over the last 250 years is phenomenal.

- Right.

So we right.

So it you walk in and you just kind of love that red, white and blue.

- Sure.

I'm sure it's very striking.

It is.

- To walk into that gallery.

- Yes.

And then it's just so visually interesting to see the different details.

And we give kind of to whet people's appetite when they walk into the museum and come up to the second floor, we will be hanging a quilt by Luke Haynes.

It's 18ft long.

So it's suspended from the ceiling.

And it's a it's a showpiece.

It really is lovely.

And Luke, it is constructed in the log cabin block.

Okay.

And then he used and, an American flag that he found, that he had thrifted and repurposed it and gave it this beautiful life as a brand new quilt.

And that will be what you see when you walk in.

And it's just the perfect way to greet quilters, too.

- Yes.

because that is so much of the legacy of what we do is repurposing - Yes.

and taking those bits of scraps.

So you mentioned that one gallery has your oldest quilt.

What is the age of your oldest quilt in the exhibit?

In the exhibit?

I believe it is 1760.

Wow.

- As you can imagine, right.

Those quilts are very delicate - Sure.

- and fragile.

And, I was speaking with our curator just recently, and she said, there the designers are, you know, trying to come up with the ways in which some of those really beautiful quilts can be seen, but protected - Sure.

- and displayed in a manner that they need.

You can preserve it.

Do you mind telling us a little bit about the quilt that you brought with us here today?

- Sure, sure.

This quilt was made by Hortense Beck and Hortense Beck from Topeka, Kansas.

She came to quilting after she retired.

So she was in her 60s.

- Neat.

And what she did was she made reproductions of quilts in museums.

Oh, interesting.

And she did it through pictures.

Okay.

And so she made a reproduction of the reconciliation quilt that is in our museum, - Neat.

- which is how we became familiar with Hortense Beck.

- Okay.

And so this quilt right here, she did all of the appliqué.

It is the quilters from Maple Hill, Kansas, did all the quilting for her.

- Wow.

And they did they do it by hand?

Incredible.

- Yes, it is incredible.

And this quilt will be in the exhibition as well.

That's neat.

Yeah.

You mentioned the quilt that she did a replication of, of yours in your collection.

Can you share a little bit about that?

The reconciliation quilt is incredibly famous and it was sold at Sotheby's.

And Sotheby's said it was one of the finest pieces of folk.

Art - Wow.

- They've ever seen.

And so we're fortunate to have it.

Whenever we bring it out.

We do do a press release - Oh that's neat.

on it - Yeah.

- because it is so special.

And - But that is not out with this exhibit, right?

That quilt will not be on exhibition in Material Nation because it was shown when we celebrated our 25th anniversary - Okay.

- a few years ago.

And so that ten year, that 12 month period is, has elapsed on it.

So, yeah.

So, but in addition to our other galleries that we're going to have in the, exhibition, one of the galleries kind of does a 100 year period from 1870 to 1970, which, as you know, there were so.

So much happening - So much happened.

Yeah.

During that time in quilting, you know, the sewing machine became more affordable, right?

So it was more readily available.

More affordable, and maybe easier to use during that time frame.

Yes.

Right.

And fabric.

- Right.

- Was plentiful.

Designers were making patterns.

We had patterns showing up in magazines.

There was almost a pattern for every letter of the alphabet.

- Wow.

It was so prolific and wonderful.

And so it's kind of fun.

Is that gallery will show and highlight a lot of those.

That will be fun to see.

- Yeah, those kinds of wonderful patterns that you forgot about or, - Yeah.

- you know, you knew used to exist.

We have so much economic growth during that time frame too.

- Ye So suddenly quilters are not using just scraps and bits of things, right?

Right.

You can actually just purchase fabric for - Yeah.

- For quilt making for fun.

- Absolutely.

Quilt kits became popular.

We will also have Grace Snyder's hexagon quilts.

- Oh so cool.

So it is we've been saving that one to put on exhibition for this particular purpose, but we also have the event and the beginning of the studio or art quilts Right.

- During that time.

So that gallery is this kind of wonderful summary of what has happened from very traditional quilting into very modern art quilts.

Neat.

- And so, yeah, there's a Jean Ray Lori that will be on and Miriam Shapiro and some of that.

So.

- Sounds fascinating.

It it is.

- Yeah.

- It will be it.

This exhibition will definitely take people back in time and will be, an opportunity for them to really appreciate and relive some of the things that they grew up with.

- Sure.

And some of the things that they know now.

And you've mentioned that this exhibition is quilts and objects.

Quilts and objects.

Yes.

And you've brought a few - Yes.

- For us to use today.

So I mentioned quilt kits, right.

So what is so much fun about this is we brought a quilt kit that was from 1977, and it was published in Women's Day magazine.

That's neat.

- And it loved the title, right.

The Quickest Quilt in the world.

- Yeah.

And I just want to point out that it's a bed quilt kit for 34 dollars and 45 cents.

All the fabric.

- That's like amazing.

Can't do that anymore.

- Right.

And as you can see, it has all of the precut fabric.

It's beautiful.

- That we would see in a kit.

So yeah, - That's really neat.

- So this takes us back right.

Sure does.

Yeah sure does.

- Love the colors.

So so the one of one gallery will have fun things like this and tools and those sorts of things.

So I brought a few of those - Yeah lets see some more.

So that we could talk about them.

Yeah.

Just move this over here for you.

This sweet.

It's a sweet little needle case.

And it says the Army and Navy needle book.

- Oh that's neat.

Iowa is on there, and then it has this beautiful eagle.

That is beautiful.

Can we see the inside?

- Yes.

And now, were these, like, passed out to soldiers or is that just the theme of it?

The Army Navy?

I think it's the theme.

It's the theme.

- Yeah.

- It's really neat.

- So Different needle sizes.

- And there's still some needles.

That's fun.

And I did wash my hands, so I got all the oils off just before we started.

- Right.

So this place up here.

- Yeah.

- Because I don't want to.

So then we can.

Yes.

Cute.

Right.

We have these fun little tools of.

Right, a beautiful thimble.

Yeah.

That is beautiful.

And the matching scissors.

Wow.

That you can see.

And we can still get our pretty decorative stork scissors today.

I know it looks a lot like that.

- It's so fun to see the edging.

Doesn't it?

- Yes.

And then a great tape measure.

- Wow.

That's incredible.

And then just the old wood rulers.

Aren't they fun?

- So fun.

- Yeah.

I'm sure that a lot of our viewers have many of these little treasures - Yes, exactly.

In their collection.

So it's so fun to see, and it's neat to see.

It's from the school in Janesville, Ohio, and it's really neat.

And then this is just a sweet, antique sewing basket.

That's beautiful.

That you can see.

- Yeah.

So beautiful.

So sweet and delicate.

Nothing like we use today.

- Right.

Just the the beading on the sewing basket too.

It's so nice.

It's like a combination of hobbies.

- Right?

Yes, I love that.

So we'll just move these.

We can place these in here.

So delicate.

And then something so fun.

Right.

Quilters have always been thrifty.

Right.

Right.

And, my mom was a quilter and I just remember her using cardboard cereal boxes, greeting cards to make template.

To make templates.

And I think you get your hands on.

Right.

That's really neat.

And what are the little holes in these for?

My guess is they could have put in it could have been the placing for Little hand stitches.

- Yep hand stitches.

or a knot.

- Maybe little french knot.

Very pretty.

And you can keep your your quilting consistent spacing and such.

- And so it's neat to see the little metal templates also.

Right.

- I wonder how they I wonder how they created those.

Somebody had a cutter.

Yeah that's really neat - Love that.

So there's just a little preview of some of the gadgets that you'll get to see.

A preview.

- At the museum.

It also, you know, it's fun to have it's it's important to collect and steward and keep really the history of quilting.

Right?

- Absolutely.

I mean, technology makes certain changes in what we do.

The patterns that we use, the way in which we create our quilts, the dyes that we use, I mean, it all makes a difference in the way in which those quilts look.

- Right.

And how we do it.

And so it's it's important to us as a museum - Sure.

to be able to capture and have these examples saved Different and preserve - There's an artistry that we all take part in.

Right.

- Right.

And also to be able to study and research and know where certain things came from or how we did it.

Right.

Yeah, that's the part I'm excited about.

I definitely want to plan a trip to come see this and see it, just to hear the history of where these things came from.

Yeah.

And so this is then a stencil for border quilting.

Oh, neat.

So how would they mark the fabric with that.

So sometimes they would put almost like a chalk.

- A chalk.

Right.

- Yeah.

Which we still use today.

- Which we still use.

Just in very different ways.

- Just a different way.

That's neat.

- Yeah.

So anyway.

Instead of your plastic template that you're just softly putting that chalk on, you're moving that metal piece all through the border of your quilt.

You just think about how lucky we are now too - Yeah.

- to have such easier ways of doing things too.

Neat.

- And it would also kind of, you know, because it's metal, when you put it down and take it up, it leaves the lines - Leaves a little mark.

and they could have marked after that as well.

- Yeah.

- depending on what, what they had.

- Very nice.

And then this is just fun right.

This is so fun.

So this is a little case you can see and inside is a sweet - The cutest little sewing machine.

little sewing machine.

And you said it's still functional too, right.

It is still functional.

- That's amazing.

Yes.

Isn't that sweet?

I love to see - So the little bobbin.

And yeah, - little hand-crank.

- Little hand crank.

I love the little quarter inch seam guide which is still So similar to what a lot of our machines have today.

Yeah.

- Even the old package of needles in there.

It's really neat.

So most of this is from the late 19th century, early 20th century.

- Okay.

And so this may as well this may be as well.

So anyway, so sweet.

So sweet.

Are there other sewing machines in the exhibit too?

Yes, there will be.

Oh, neat.

Very nice.

- Yeah.

So just an interesting.

And you know, this also sets the stage for kind of our biggest gallery that will talk about quilts and community, and why and how people quilts to belong.

We see quilts, quilting groups, quilt guilds, quilt bees.

- Right.

We see people gathering together for a cause or a mission and making quilts to support that, family members quilting for commemoration or those major life events.

- Right.

Babies, graduations.

That's why so many people get into quilting is like, - Yeah.

- Something triggers it, like a life event and you can't wait.

And then you do find that you have this community and such a human connection and something that everybody can relate to.

- Right.

So I'm sure that's a really dynamic portion of the exhibition.

It is it.

Well, and it also reminds us too right.

Quilts have always been a voice or a vehicle for our voices Sure.

- when we when we need to, we have that energy or we feel very passionate about something.

We quilt.

- Right.

- We we make a quilt.

Sometimes it's working through grief.

Grief.

Anger.

- Maybe it's.

Yeah.

- Sadness.

- Right?

- Joy.

- Joy.

So what is really fun about the West Gallery is seeing, it will take you through all of the different times and ways in which people quilt and create and make - Right.

And why they do it.

So yeah, - I can't wait to see this.

So you mentioned that this is going to run from July through the end of the year, right?

- Correct.

And if somebody is not able to make the trip, is there another way to be able to see these pieces?

- Yes.

So on our website we do have our exhibitions up there virtually.

So you can take a virtual tour of the exhibitions.

That's really neat, you know.

And one other small note that we were talking about earlier is a lot of people do ask if they have these vintage quilts, like, where can I take it?

What are some things that - Sure I can do with it to preserve it?

And you had some good suggestions locally for that too, right?

- Sure.

So you can always check to see, especially if you know where a quilt has been made.

You can go back to that area and see if there is a historical society or a state history museum Interesting.

- that might be interested in it Sometimes we'll see red work quilts.

Sure.

- And they have, wonderful businesses on them.

Sometimes you can go back to those churches or those businesses, Oh interesting.

- And they may be interested in them because they may know somebody Theyll recognize their building.

- Exactly.

Thats neat.

So sometimes having those quilts stay in a local area is really important - Sure.

- for that history.

That's neat.

So and then otherwise there's, you know, there are a lot of quilt museums in the United States that will collect in their area.

Sure.

So they focus on if if they're a collecting museum, they focus on the quilts in their area.

And that's important.

- Yeah.

And I thought that was an interesting point that you made too that.

Some are collecting and some are just displaying Correct.

- and showcasing.

- Correct.

- Yeah.

So yeah, there are probably 5 or 6 solid collecting museums, quilt museums in the United States.

Yeah.

And you can always contact us, and we're always happy to give help in those areas as well.

Well, this is just absolutely fascinating and just a true delight to be able to have you come and join us today and share just a little sampling of these artifacts.

I mean, it's just incredible stuff.

So I hope that you'll be able to check out your local quilt museums.

Of course, support those local areas and take a road trip and get on out to Lincoln, Nebraska.

- Yes.

Come see us.

We love it.

Thank you so much for sharing today.

- Thank you Sara.

Grab a pencil, tips and other useful information.

Coming up next.

Sara.

This came in from Pamela Parish from Buckner, Missouri.

She says, thank you ladies for such a wonderful show.

Here's a helpful trick I discovered.

I accidentally made a mark on my ruler with a permanent marker, and I thought it was there for good.

But later, when my hands were still damp from some hand sanitizer, I grabbed the ruler and the ink came off.

It works with, more common types of markers, so try a dab of hand sanitizer on a cotton ball if you need to remove marker ink from your rulers.

Interesting.

- Okay, let's try it.

I think also, if you were, like, tracing a straight edge, maybe that would help to, - Oh, you know I do that on the edges.

Oh look it does.

- Yeah sure does.

- I do that a lot though.

It's a great idea.

- Very nice.

Who knew?

Good tip.

- Who knew?

- But you won't guess what this is.

Okay, so this is kind of a fun tip from Carolyn McCollum of Boyne City, Michigan.

We have two pictures here.

So she says your show is the highlight of my Saturday morning and it's well worth waking up early for.

Thank you so much.

After purchasing a new TV, she realized that the TV box that it came in was the perfect size The store wall hangings and table runners and it fits perfectly under her bed for storage.

So her sister Karen.

Hey, Karen gave her the idea for the props, so check this out.

We've got her a little.

This is the pic.

This is the TV box.

And inside.

Cute little project.

- Oh its a wall hanging.

It's so cute.

I love that.

This is from Sharon Booben from, Brenham, Texas.

She says hello from Central Texas when I was about eight years old, my grandmother traced a design for me to embroider, and I still have that project and love it.

- Wow.

I have an embroidery module and use it, but there's something special about hand embroidery.

It will take your quilting to a new level and I encourage quilters to try it.

Sharon.

It's beautiful.

- This is gorgeous.

Look, we've got a little tour here.

Yeah.

- And this is all done by hand.

I am amazed.

- So pretty.

- That looks like cross stitch.

Cross stitch.

- That's beautiful.

Then the little, pine.

Pine boughs there.

With this tree block.

- Oh very nice.

It's gorgeous.

- Very nice.

Well, you are very talented, Miss Sharon.

Oh, look at the barn.

So cute.

- Yeah.

- Oh, I love that.

That's great.

Thank you for sending these pictures.

Love that.

Okay.

So another, like, cute little quick one here with a fun project.

Diane Dylan.

Diana Dylan of El Paso, Illinois.

Dear Sara and Angela, I love your show and look forward to it Each week I have two new design tips in these pictures.

She used wooden spools.

Yeah, - To hold a dowel rod up - Oh cute.

- To hold a quilt and then her girlfriend took black and white pictures of different objects to make a sign.

So cute.

- So clever.

This one is from Donna Landry from Saratoga, California.

She said we all have scraps at the end of a project.

Boy, do we I cut pieces three and a half by two and place them in a stash box.

And when it gets full, I make this simple block.

When I have enough blocks, I make a quilt.

Soon I have a quilt made from all the scraps, the ugly fabric, the what am I going to do with this fabric and the leftover binding strips.

And invariably, these are the quilts that everyone wants.

Very pretty.

- Thats true.

Connie Gothea of Poplar Bluff, Missouri says hello ladies.

When I could no longer see the size of the sewing machine needle printed on the shaft, my husband solved the problem by buying me a jeweler's loop.

It works great.

Roxie Brennen from Waterton, South Dakota says I do a lot of free motion quilting on my domestic sewing machine.

I had a sliding sheet made for free motion quilting, and when it outlived its use, I tried a nonstick oven liner for about $10.

It was 16 by 23in.

I use painter's tape to hold the edges in place, and it works like a charm.

Phyllis Ingram of Dover, Pennsylvania, says even though I have been quilting for many years, I'm still learning new ways to do things from you wonderful ladies.

My tip involves heat away ink.

You have to be careful when you use those pens on quilts.

You too have mentioned many times how the ink can come back, - Yep.

but they are ideal for marking patterns.

All your notes vanish when you run a warm iron over the paper.

Thanks so much for sharing your tips.

It's always good to sit around the tips table and learn from you.

- We'll see you next time.

Please share your good ideas and quilting tips.

Send them to the address on your screen.

Additional quilting ideas are available in the pages of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting magazine.

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The cost is $49.95.

Explore loveofquilting.com/LOQtv Find out more about this episode.

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Explore loveofquilting.com/LOQtv and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Funding for Love of Quilting is provided by.

The Bernina 990.

If it can be imagined, it can be created.

APQS.

Longarm quilting machines allow you to express your creativity.

APQS.

Quilt forever.

Electric quilt making every quilt a designer since 1991.

[Upbeat music]