JOTQG
President, Jackie Rose, had a table at the front complete with lectern, which was draped with a Hexy runner. Two quilts, c1930s-40s, made by Rose’s grandmothers, were draped over each side of the table. On the left, a scalloped bordered Scrappy quilt, made by Julie Elizabeth Paxton, and on the right a Double Wedding Ring, made by Mollie Franklin Hensley, also with a scalloped border. The box gracing the center of the table, filled with quilting ephemera, belonged to Rose’s maternal grandmother, Mollie Franklin Hensley.
Two long tables were filled with quilts for Isaiah House, and another table held various pieces of material left by a guild member who had recently passed away.
The program for the day included a representative of Isaiah House, who shared information about this ministry. Rose presented “Suitcases and Shoeboxes,” describing the contents of the boxes and speaking lovingly of her grandmother’s quilting expertise, and the importance of heirlooms. This theme was continued during Show and Tell when various guild members shared heirloom quilts. The Archives of Appalachia was represented to conduct research for a digital exhibit. The business meeting followed with announcements of a Sit and Sew from 1:00 to 4:00 that day, numerous upcoming events: Fall Quilt Sale during the October Storytelling Festival, quilts on display in the Jonesborough Library, a quilt challenge, upcoming “sew-ins” and Mystery Quilt event, and the monthly presentation of birthday gift and door prizes to members. The number of upcoming events was quite impressive!
Thirty of the 40 members were present at the meeting. Of 18 people surveyed, 14 were retired. Of the 14, five were educators. Also included in this group were: homemakers, a social worker, a behavioral scientist, and a registered nurse. The youngest member of the group was 24, and an electrical engineer. The average age was 73, with one member proudly announcing she was 88! When asked the reason for quilting, the consensus was that quilting is a relaxing, meditative, creative, and interactive outlet that produces a sense of accomplishment that is tangible and enduring. There were mixed answers as to whether or not the quilting tradition will continue due to careers and the obsession with technology, but the overall consensus was positive that, yes, the tradition will continue. Reasons for this optimism were more opportunities to learn how to quilt through classes or online videos, more artistic license and self-expression, long-arm technology, and even the introduction to quilting in schools.
1.
This Butterfly quilt was presented by Barbara McBride Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024. Smith’s next-door neighbor, Della Johnson in Waco, Texas, gave her the quilt in 1963 because she was the first person in her family to attend college, and she was “fluttering away.” Smith referred to Johnson as a “neighbor, caregiver, and faux grandma.” Johnson hand-quilted in the evenings while she listened to her radio. By day, she ran a home laundry for Baylor University Students.
2.
This Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt, also presented by Barbara McBride Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was given to her as a wedding present in the 1960s. McBride stated that she did not understand the value then and was “waiting to be able to get a nice bedspread.”
3.
This Double Wedding Ring quilt, pieced by Anderson and made in the 1930s, was presented by Carri Haumiller at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024.
4.
This Flower Garden quilt with scalloped edging was presented by Carrie Haumiller Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024.
5.
This Hexy quilt with triangle edging was presented by Carrie Haumiller Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024.
6. (Include photo of Mollie here #31)
This Crazy Quilt was presented by Jackie Paxton Rose Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024. Made by Rose’s grandmother, Mollie B. Franklin Hensley, this quilt features her initials, MBF, her mother’s initial, ESG, Elizabeth Sara Gentry, and the name of her husband, Roscoe Hensley. The unique features of a crazy quilt are the irregular shaped pieces with embroidered edging and images.
?????(Reference recording 0028_203, woman discusses how to make a crazy quilt.)
7.
This Double Wedding Ring with scalloped edging and double rows of quilting, was presented by Jackie Paxton Rose Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024. The quilt was hand-quilted by her grandmother, Mollie Franklin Hensley in the 1930s-40s.
8.
A close-up of the Double Wedding Ring presented by Jackie Paxton Rose Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, reveals the intricate patterns of stitching. Two cardboard pattern cut-outs were traced onto the quilt, then hand-stitched. The quilt was hand-quilted by her grandmother, Mollie Franklin Hensley in the 1930s-40s.
9.
This Fan Quilt presented by Jackie Paxton Rose Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was also made by Mollie Franklin Hensley.
10.
This Scrappy Quilt presented by Jackie Paxton Rose Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was made by her grandmother Julia Elizabeth Paxton. Scrappy quilts are just as they sound, scraps of leftover cloth made into a quilt. The Scrappy Quilt is thought to originate from the Great Depression when material was dear and every piece counted. This quilt, made in the 1930s-40s, features a scalloped edge.
11.
This close-up of the Scrappy Quilt presented by Jackie Paxton Rose Smith at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, features “ice-cream cones” on the edge which forms the scallop. The quilt was made by her grandmother Julia Elizabeth Paxton.
13.
This Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt with coordinating striped edges was presented by Sandy Countermine at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024. The origin is unknown.
14.
This Pink Grandmother’s Flower Garden Quilt was presented by Sandy Countermine presented at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024. The origin is unknown.
15.
This Pink Stars Quilt was presented by Sandy Countermine at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024. The is origin unknown.
16.
This 1920s Scrap Quilt presented by Vickie Lilly at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was made by her great-grandmother, Ma Householder of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Lilly pointed out the tears stating that the quilt has seen much use.
18.
This Denim Scrappy Look Quilt featuring four big squares, presented by Vickie Lilly at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was made by her grandmother, Julia Moore Paxton in the 1940s
21.
This Scrappy Quilt presented by Vickie Lilly at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was made by her grandmother Florence LaFollette of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
22. (Add photo of Lafollette here: #23)
This Step Around the Mountain Quilt presented by Vickie Lilly at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was also made by her grandmother Florence LaFollette. One of Lafollette’s quilts was featured on page 18, in the book Quilts of Tennessee, Images of Domestic Life Prior to 1930, available in the Archives of Appalachia. Lilly, taking great pride in this fact, had frames made for family members featuring the book cover and description. See below:
Photos 17 19 24 20
25.
This Crazy Quilt presented by Wendy-Jo Thibodeau at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was made by her grandmother Susie, who was married in 1918. A sheet was used for backing.
26.
This Umbrella Ladies Summer Quilt presented by Wendy-Jo Thibodeau at the Jonesborough Old Time Quilt Guild Meeting, on April 11, 2024, was made by her mother, who was born in 1935.