The Women of Gee's Bend
A small remote community in Alabama (pop. 700), represents the genius of a group of exceptional quilters who, for more than a
century, have created distinctive works of art for their homes and families. The textile artists of Gee's Bend are the inheritors of a
tradition that goes back many generations. The "discovery" of these unique American masterpieces has led to their exhibition in
museums including The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and The Museum of
Fine Arts, Boston, among others.
Windham Fabrics is proud to partner with the Gee's Bend Quilters Collective ad present The Quilts of Gee's Bend. It is out
pleasure to encourage every quilter to be inspired by the vision and courage of the modern quilting pioneers, and create their
own masterpiece. For more information about the women of Gee's Bend, their stories, and their quilts please visit
www.quiltsofgeesbend.com.
"Lazy Gal Variation"
by Qunnie Pettwat (b. 1943)
The great-granndaughter of Dinah Miller who is said to have arrived in the United States aboard a slave ship from Africa - the
Clotide which docked in Mobile Bay, Alabama prior to the Civil War. Qunnie learned to quilt House Tops under the tutelage of her
mother, Candis Pettway. In 1960 after she married, she found her unique artistic voice and began making patterned quilts
including Wedding Ring - which she learned from her sister - Chestnut Bay, Bear Paw and Crazy Z. Quinnie's daughter. Loretta
P. Bennett is one of the youngest quilters actively creating extraordinary quilts today.
52" x 62" - kit $67.50
"Housetop - 4 Block Variation"
by Mary L. Bennett (b. 1942)
The granddaughter of Deila Bennett (1892-1976) ancestor of many quilt makers in Gee's Bend. Mary L. Bennett pieces primarily
"Housetop" and "Bricklayer" compositions and imaginative variations on them. As quoted by Mary, "I was born down here in
Brown Quarters and got raised by my grandmother. I started out working in the fields for my uncle Stalling Bennett. I didn't get no
schooling - every now and then a day here and there. Didn't nobody teach me to make quilts. I just learned it by myself, about 12
or 13. I was seeing my grandmama piecing it up, and then I start. I just taken me some pieces and put it together, piece them up
till they look like I want them to look. That's all."
57" x 65" - kit $78.50
"Strips & Strings"
by Mary Lee Bendolph (b. 1935)
The 7th of 17 children, descends from generation of accomplished quilt makers. She learned to quilt from her mother, Aolar
Mosley and a network of aunts and female in-laws. She worked in Alabama fields and attended school intermittently until she
was 14, when she began her own family. Bendolph was one of many Gee's Benders who accompanied Martin Luther King Jr. in
his march at Camden, AL in 1965. Her quilt making style marries a flair for improvisation to traditional construction techniques
that emphasize rectangles and squares. Her minimalist patches, small compositions of cloth, built to create intricate overall
compositions that contain humorous touches and autobiographical references.
75" x 60" - $78.50 kit
"Housetop"
by Rita Mae Pettway (b. 1942)
them by the way she know how to make them," say Rita Mae. Piecing quilts, according to Rita Mae, was done individually but
them by the way she know how to make them," say Rita Mae. Piecing quilts, according to Rita Mae, was done individually but
quilting "we all did together." Rita Mae, along with her ancestors and her daughter, renowned quilter Louisiana Bendolph share
a penchant for creating strip quilts in concentric squares resulting in Housetops and Hog Pens, each artist though has a unique
style and variation on the theme.
style and variation on the theme.
52" x 64" - kit $67.50
A small remote community in Alabama (pop. 700), represents the genius of a group of exceptional quilters who, for more than a
century, have created distinctive works of art for their homes and families. The textile artists of Gee's Bend are the inheritors of a
tradition that goes back many generations. The "discovery" of these unique American masterpieces has led to their exhibition in
museums including The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York and The Museum of
Fine Arts, Boston, among others.
Windham Fabrics is proud to partner with the Gee's Bend Quilters Collective ad present The Quilts of Gee's Bend. It is out
pleasure to encourage every quilter to be inspired by the vision and courage of the modern quilting pioneers, and create their
own masterpiece. For more information about the women of Gee's Bend, their stories, and their quilts please visit
www.quiltsofgeesbend.com.
"Lazy Gal Variation"
by Qunnie Pettwat (b. 1943)
The great-granndaughter of Dinah Miller who is said to have arrived in the United States aboard a slave ship from Africa - the
Clotide which docked in Mobile Bay, Alabama prior to the Civil War. Qunnie learned to quilt House Tops under the tutelage of her
mother, Candis Pettway. In 1960 after she married, she found her unique artistic voice and began making patterned quilts
including Wedding Ring - which she learned from her sister - Chestnut Bay, Bear Paw and Crazy Z. Quinnie's daughter. Loretta
P. Bennett is one of the youngest quilters actively creating extraordinary quilts today.
52" x 62" - kit $67.50
"Housetop - 4 Block Variation"
by Mary L. Bennett (b. 1942)
The granddaughter of Deila Bennett (1892-1976) ancestor of many quilt makers in Gee's Bend. Mary L. Bennett pieces primarily
"Housetop" and "Bricklayer" compositions and imaginative variations on them. As quoted by Mary, "I was born down here in
Brown Quarters and got raised by my grandmother. I started out working in the fields for my uncle Stalling Bennett. I didn't get no
schooling - every now and then a day here and there. Didn't nobody teach me to make quilts. I just learned it by myself, about 12
or 13. I was seeing my grandmama piecing it up, and then I start. I just taken me some pieces and put it together, piece them up
till they look like I want them to look. That's all."
57" x 65" - kit $78.50
"Strips & Strings"
by Mary Lee Bendolph (b. 1935)
The 7th of 17 children, descends from generation of accomplished quilt makers. She learned to quilt from her mother, Aolar
Mosley and a network of aunts and female in-laws. She worked in Alabama fields and attended school intermittently until she
was 14, when she began her own family. Bendolph was one of many Gee's Benders who accompanied Martin Luther King Jr. in
his march at Camden, AL in 1965. Her quilt making style marries a flair for improvisation to traditional construction techniques
that emphasize rectangles and squares. Her minimalist patches, small compositions of cloth, built to create intricate overall
compositions that contain humorous touches and autobiographical references.
75" x 60" - $78.50 kit
"Housetop"
by Rita Mae Pettway (b. 1942)
them by the way she know how to make them," say Rita Mae. Piecing quilts, according to Rita Mae, was done individually but
them by the way she know how to make them," say Rita Mae. Piecing quilts, according to Rita Mae, was done individually but
quilting "we all did together." Rita Mae, along with her ancestors and her daughter, renowned quilter Louisiana Bendolph share
a penchant for creating strip quilts in concentric squares resulting in Housetops and Hog Pens, each artist though has a unique
style and variation on the theme.
style and variation on the theme.
52" x 64" - kit $67.50
"Housetop Nine Block"
By Annie E. Pettway (b. 1904)
Annie E. Pettway was born June 18, 1904, one of the ten children born to Austin H. and Leetha Pettway. She married Ed O.
Pettway, and together had nine children. Ed O., who had been born a Williams, had his name changed to Pettway when his
family moved to the area known as Pettway, on the site of the former Pettway Plantation in Gee's Bend.
Annie E. Pettway spent her life working in the fields and raising her growing family, which would eventually include
numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She pieced and quilted quilts and also taught her daughters and
granddaughters how to quilt.
"Housetop Nine Block" * 66" X 74" *
By Annie E. Pettway (b. 1904)
Annie E. Pettway was born June 18, 1904, one of the ten children born to Austin H. and Leetha Pettway. She married Ed O.
Pettway, and together had nine children. Ed O., who had been born a Williams, had his name changed to Pettway when his
family moved to the area known as Pettway, on the site of the former Pettway Plantation in Gee's Bend.
Annie E. Pettway spent her life working in the fields and raising her growing family, which would eventually include
numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She pieced and quilted quilts and also taught her daughters and
granddaughters how to quilt.
"Housetop Nine Block" * 66" X 74" *
Kits
I tried out this new "Cutting Gizmo" for cutting
apart your chain piecing. I LOVED it! It works
really great and the blade can be changed out
for a new razor blade. This was the hit at our
last retreat!! All you scrappy girls doing those
chain piecing, this is the gizmo for YOU!
apart your chain piecing. I LOVED it! It works
really great and the blade can be changed out
for a new razor blade. This was the hit at our
last retreat!! All you scrappy girls doing those
chain piecing, this is the gizmo for YOU!
| Quilts & Patterns |
Other Items
| If you are interested in purchasing any of these quilts, check the web store for the Quilt #, and contact us to ask for pricing. |
These kits are Mary's Shops! To buy the
complete set, including backing, binding and
pattern, costs $22.50.
complete set, including backing, binding and
pattern, costs $22.50.
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| © Mouse Creek Quilts 2007 - 2011. All rights reserved. |
Mouse Creek Quilts
Established 2007
Established 2007
Another Lily & Will collection, "B is for Baby!"
We don't have a fabric kit complete, but the
instructions and template are $8.50.
We don't have a fabric kit complete, but the
instructions and template are $8.50.
| For those kits that don't have pricing listed, just call the shop and ask! |
Here's the Farmhouse Block of the Month for
April of 2011! It's done now, but we're
currently selling it as a kit.
April of 2011! It's done now, but we're
currently selling it as a kit.
Once a block of the month, now just one of our gorgeous kits! The Hanna
Wallis quilt was in the archives of the DAR and was made in 1840.
Hanna came from a Quaker family and her father Samuel was a "Land King"
who bought huge tracts of land in Lycoming Valley, PA. His house, built in
1769, apparently still stands in Muncy, PA. Unfortunately, he also turns out to
have been a spy for Benedict Arnold which was only revealed long after his
death.
Hanna was born in 1781, died in 1859. She married William Miller so she was
actually Hanna MIller by the time she made the quilt. If she made it in 1840
she'd have been almost 60 years old. She and William had three children who
lived to adulthood: Samuel who moved to NY State, Cassandra and Susan,
both of whom married and seem to have stayed in PA. In 1850, with the first
census to list every person, Hanna is living with her daughter Cassandra and
her husband. Hanna's daughter, Susan, is there too; she's clearly widowed.
Each of the blocks represents a woman in history. From Martha Washington
through women who dressed as men to serve in the military. I think it will be
quite interesting to learn about those strong women that came before us!
Wallis quilt was in the archives of the DAR and was made in 1840.
Hanna came from a Quaker family and her father Samuel was a "Land King"
who bought huge tracts of land in Lycoming Valley, PA. His house, built in
1769, apparently still stands in Muncy, PA. Unfortunately, he also turns out to
have been a spy for Benedict Arnold which was only revealed long after his
death.
Hanna was born in 1781, died in 1859. She married William Miller so she was
actually Hanna MIller by the time she made the quilt. If she made it in 1840
she'd have been almost 60 years old. She and William had three children who
lived to adulthood: Samuel who moved to NY State, Cassandra and Susan,
both of whom married and seem to have stayed in PA. In 1850, with the first
census to list every person, Hanna is living with her daughter Cassandra and
her husband. Hanna's daughter, Susan, is there too; she's clearly widowed.
Each of the blocks represents a woman in history. From Martha Washington
through women who dressed as men to serve in the military. I think it will be
quite interesting to learn about those strong women that came before us!