Irene Gilbert

Irene Gilbert

MI49016-035

Irene Gilbert

Eleanor Wilkinson

2011-03-04

Moda Fabrics

Battle Creek, Michigan

Nancy Wilkinson

Eleanor Wilkinson (EW): [papers shuffling.] This is Eleanor Wilkinson. This interview is being conducted for South Central Michigan Q.S.O.S., a project for the Alliance for American Quilts. Today I'm interviewing Irene Gilbert at Westlake Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, Michigan. Today is March 4th, 2011, and the time [watch picked up.] is 9:59 a.m. We have several things to talk about today, not only the quilt that you brought in, but you brought in some examples of your embroidered quilting work and your postcards. Let's start with the quilt that you showed us.

Irene Gilbert (IG): Okay.

EW: Does this quilt have special meaning for you?

IG: I believe it does because Log Cabin quilt in "Quilt As You Go," is what this one was, is my favorite of all quilts.

EW: And was this a quilt you made early on in your quilting history?

IG: No, as a matter of fact, I made it in 2001 but it'd been about the fourth one I'd made.

EW: And because it's your favorite, is that why you chose it to bring it?

IG: Yes.

EW: What do you think someone viewing this quilt might think about you?

IG: They might think why did I pick out the colors I did, but that had to do with my husband. You see I do blues or earth tones, but I knew I wanted to do grey, and he said, 'How about purple?' And, usually he doesn't comment, but I thought, 'Oh well, why not?' And it did turn out really well.

EW: It did. How do you use this quilt?

IG: Yes. Every day.

EW: You sleep under it?

IG: Yes.

EW: And what are your plans for this quilt?

IG: I will just keep it. It's going to be mine; I'll never give this one away.

EW: Okay, okay. Now, let's talk about your embroidered work. You've got an embroidery machine?

IG: Yes, I do.

EW: And one of those nice technological advances?

IG: Yeah. It's a Pfaff and I've had one since 1999.

EW: And tell me what kind of work you do on it.

IG: Lately I've been doing embroidery with the quilting. Some of the flowers, like in the block, will be embroidered and then pieced around the flowers and then I found a pattern that was all thread, and it was shaped in double wedding ring and I'm working on that one right now.

EW: Oh, that will be fun.

IG: Yeah. It will be very pretty because the colors are bright.

EW: We'll be glad to see that sometime. And now the postcards. You've been doing postcards.

IG: We just started the club in January. We meet at Ruth Dean's the second Saturday of the month, she has a quilt shop out on Six Mile Road [Battle Creek, Michigan.] and I was sent a postcard and I just sent one back for my friend, she had been making them and little did I know that she had never received them, but she was doing them years ago and that's what started it. She sent me one, then I sent her one and we just kept going back and forth, three, four times and finally we thought, well it'd be nice to have a club.

EW: Sounds like fun.

IG: Yeah, yeah it is.

EW: Tell me about now, your interest in quilt making. When did you first start doing quilt making?

IG: 1982. My friend that lives down the road from me, Mary DuBois and I joined the Cal-co Quilters' Guild [Battle Creek, Michigan.] and back then, you were making blocks a lot, more than quilts, they would show you a little bit about a block. But it was a lot of hand quilting on that block and that's when I realized that I didn't want to do it, not that it isn't beautiful, but I thought, well, I want to get more than one quilt done. [both chuckle.] And I didn't think I would by hand quilting. So--

EW: Hand piecing?

IG: Yep.

EW: It does take a long time. And, so, how did you learn to quilt?

IG: Just by looking at the books. The books, some of the books, are very, very good explaining exactly how to do it and everything. Or picking up a pattern. You know, lots of times they'll give you the information in there.

EW: How many hours a week do you quilt now?

IG: It varies, but I'd say I spend at least three or four hours every week doing something that has to do with quilting.

EW: Now, I don't know how far back this will go in your memory, but can you remember your first quilt memory?

IG: That I had made, the first quilt?

EW: No, the first time you became conscious of quilts or had seen a quilt, maybe in your childhood or anything like that?

IG: I think when we joined the guild, because I had never made a quilt or a quilt block until Mary asked me if I was interested. So, I believe it was then, 1982.

EW: Are there other quiltmakers in your family?

IG: No. Well, I take that back. My sister started. She moved to Tennessee, and she started joining a club and so now she's making quilts where she never did before.

EW: Oh, did she do that after she saw what you were doing?

IG: Yes.

EW: How does quilt making impact your family?

IG: It's a part of me, it's a part of my life with the kids and the grandkids. They know that I, because I'm making quilts, that I can do other things too as far as, you know, sewing and sewing related? And I think they always ask me for information or what I can do and what I can't do as far as helping them out.

EW: That's fun.

IG: Oh yeah.

EW: Do you get them involved in your quilting?

IG: I have the granddaughters, two of them. One's sixteen and one's nine, and they really enjoy it. The other two are boys and they don't. They like things I make for them, but they don't really want to sew them. [both chuckle.]

EW: I guess I can understand that. Now have you ever used quilts to get through a difficult time.

IG: No, I don't think so. I don't get depressed easy. I'm a happy person, I don't think negative until I really have to. So, it hasn't, come down to that, which I know that it has helped other people a lot.

EW: And do you remember any amusing experience that has occurred from your quilt making?

IG: No, I can't think of any. No, other than everybody's liked it. I do have to say I didn't like Watercolor because when I took it home, I took a class, about ten years ago and my family could not tell me what was in the picture of the watercolor and so, I think that's the only reason why I don't care for it. Now, I've seen some other Watercolor where you could see a basket of flowers, or a road or something like that and now that was something that I liked, but that was personal.

EW: But you didn't continue with that line.

IG: No.

EW: What do you find especially pleasing about quilt making?

IG: I think the piecing of it. And when it's finally all the squares put together because you've made something when you've got all the squares put together. It's pretty when it's in blocks, but you get all those blocks together and then it really comes to life.

EW: Then you've accomplished something.

IG: Right.

EW: Are there any aspects of quilt making that you do not enjoy?

IG: Other than the Watercolor I said, no I don't think so. I used to say I didn't like thirties prints, but now I'm really liking them a lot if they're not too busy, if there's like sashing in between or a flower here or wherever. But if it's too many prints right next together it's just too busy for me.

EW: And tell me about any art or quilt groups that you are a member of.

IG: No, no art or quilt, well, just the Cal-Co Quilt.

EW: You're a member of the Cal-Co Quilters' Guild of Battle Creek? [Michigan.]

IG: Right.

EW: And a circle?

IG: Yes, we meet the second Tuesday of every month and there's four of us. And we just call it The Ladies Meeting.

EW: Oh, that's cute.

IG: Yeah. And we enjoy it. There's four of us that, we also belong to this group here, the Friday group, and then four of us out of the Friday group meet, so--

EW: Okay, and now then what advances in technology have influenced your work?

IG: I think the fabrics themselves. They're just getting prettier and prettier. It's like you fall in love with them before you even get them into a quilt. You know, because they've really come a long way on the different fabrics.

EW: And do you find when you go into a quilt shop that you sometimes see something that you have to buy even though you don't have a plan for it?

IG: Oh yes, always. Always, always. And I have a big stash of fabric as well as the notion things that go with it because you want to do it, but then you find out you don't do it until maybe six months or a year later because there just isn't enough time to do all the things you'd like to do.

EW: Do you have UFOs?

IG: Oh yes, many, many. I call them UFOs and then if I've bought them and I haven't worked on them I call them wannabes. They either wannabe a UFO or they wannabe a quilt. [both laugh.]

EW: Do you ever go back to work on them?

IG: I do. And I've been saying every year now the last three years that I'm going to finish at least one. I had my standards too high, saying three or four of them, but now if I finish one, now last year I did finish two, so--

EW: Got to figure you're ahead.

IG: Yeah, so as long as I say one, and you know, not that it wouldn't be impossible, but it's more likely to happen with one than to say three or four.

EW: Do you think these are things you just get bored with, or do you have some decision that you're not ready to make about them?

IG: Well, some of them it's a decision, because a finishing technique didn't come out right. Like I made this one that was embroidered, and I had to put these strips of ribbon in between all the squares to make it look like you were looking out a window, with wood in between. And when I sewed it on there, it wiggled and so it wasn't on there straight. Now that's a UFO from about three or four years ago, but I really want to finish it. I don't know as if I got bored, I just didn't like the finished product--

EW: You didn't like what was happening?

IG: Right. But, not usually the main reason why I go on and I don't finish them is you see something you want to do now, or more important than what you were working on.

EW: Something new and exciting?

IG: [chuckles.] Yeah.

EW: What are your favorite techniques and materials?

IG: I like the batiks really well lately. So, one day I know I'm going to have to do a quilt in the batiks. And, I don't know, I think bright, toward the bright colors I'm starting to go at, where I didn't used to, I wanted to stay earth tones and stuff, but I think I'm liking more of the brights. Which I don't think I'm the only one, a lot of people I think as they get older, they do want them.

EW: Could be.

IG: Yeah.

EW: Do you have a preference between piecing and applique?

IG: I like the piecing. Appliqué I'm just starting to do and it's the machine applique because I don't do too much by hand and I started using the nylon thread. I took a class, and I am right in the middle of it and it's turned out really good for not being able to see your stitches, for being machine applique--

EW: Oh, that's cool.

IG: Yeah.

EW: Let's talk about the place where you create. Do you have a studio or a sewing room?

IG: I have a sewing room which is an old bedroom from our oldest son and, but I also have a sewing machine and my computer set up in the living room, in a corner of the living room. And so usually I'm on either or, or sometimes both because a lot of my sewing things I can watch it sew out on the computer and then see it when it's on the fabric.

EW: You're talking about mostly embroidery then?

IG: Yes.

EW: So, you can be there to change thread or whatever you need?

IG: Right, yes.

EW: How do you balance your time?

IG: Boy that's a hard one sometimes. I just try to do it; I had read in Nancy's Notions back when I was just doing garment sewing and not too much quilting that even if you only had 20-30 minutes to sew it really did. If you don't have to take care of all your things, which I don't, I can leave them right where they were. And a lot of times an hour, you know, you can really get done a lot of things. And I think that's the way I do it most of the time. But then in the evening when we're sitting around just relaxing watching TV, I do a lot of sewing then too. And we're watching the television at the same time I'm sewing, so that helps.

EW: Yes, it does.

IG: Because it's two things I'm doing.

EW: Yes, it keeps your mind occupied.

IG: Yes.

EW: Do you use a design wall?

IG: You know my husband just put me one up in the basement because I just got a small arm quilting machine so I can quilt my own quilts, but I haven't used it yet. But, yeah, it's huge. It's like twelve foot by eight-foot design wall.

EW: Wow.

IG: Yeah. So, I plan on it, I just haven't used it yet.

EW: How do you think you'll be using it?

IG: Probably as I do blocks, to set them up and arrange them in the pattern I want them to go in.

EW: Well, now that you are beginning to use the design wall, how have you been doing it before?

IG: I think I just made the blocks and then when I put them together, I laid them out on the floor in the living room to see which way I wanted them to go together.

EW: Now what do you think makes a great quilt?

IG: Oh, man, that's a good one. I think they're all great, I really do. I think it just depends on your color choices that you pick out and some of the ladies that I've seen their quilts are beautiful, but I wouldn't have picked them colors, but they did, and it just turned out beautiful, so I think it's whatever, whatever you think of at the time, that you think would be pretty or that you would like.

EW: When you walk around a quilt show, what is it about a quilt that catches your eye?

IG: I believe it's the color. The color, if it's in my color family. Or now a lot of embroidery's catching my eye because I do like to do the embroidery. But, yeah, I'd have to say it's the color.

EW: And what do you think makes a quilt artistically powerful?

IG: The pattern that they picked out I think has a lot to do with the art part of it you know. I'm not into too much, like wearable art, or seeing that on a quilt so much as I am the older fashion, just piecing.

EW: You prefer the traditional designs?

IG: I think so. Yeah.

EW: What makes a quilt appropriate for a museum or a special collection?

IG: I believe it's the way the quilter did it, the fabrics they picked out and the pattern, but mostly how they quilted it, too. That's gorgeous work now. Especially hand quilting, you know.

EW: It is. Now what makes a great quiltmaker?

IG: Everybody. I believe everybody makes a good quiltmaker. If it's something that you love and you enjoy doing, that right there makes a good quiltmaker.

EW: Are there any special people whose works you are drawn to?

IG: Hmm. No, I don't think so. I think I like them all.

EW: Are there any artists that have influenced you?

IG: No, I don't think so either.

EW: Okay. How about machine quilting versus the hand quilting?

IG: Yes. I like the machine quilting.

EW: You like machine quilting.

IG: I do because I think when I started out and it's so true today that you can do many quilts if you do it on the machine where if you do it by hand, it's going to limit to how many you do. Plus, I don't think I set that much to be able to accomplish the hand quilting you know.

EW: It would take too long?

IG: Right.

EW: And so now you have this new machine that you're going to try your machine quilting skills on?

IG: Yes. I mean, it does the quilting on it. And it's only a short arm, so it doesn't have the real big arm, but yeah, I'm going to try to quilt my own quilts. See, I'd had some tops made, but then to quilt them that's always been the challenge. And even by machine, to quilt them, you know, to have them look right. So, I'm going to try it that way.

EW: Good. Now, why is quilt making important in your life?

IG: I just love the quilts. I even have a quilt on the back of the couch that was a cheater and it's a Double Wedding Ring and I just love covering up with a quilt. It just feels comforting, and I like to see them, I like to see all kinds of quilts.

EW: Have you used quilts when your children were younger?

IG: No, because I wasn't quilting too much then. But then, I've made them all quilts since then.

EW: So, everybody has a sample of your work?

IG: Oh, yeah.

EW: And in what ways do your quilts reflect your community?

IG: Oh, I think it's because it's a quilting community. And with our quilt show and so many quilting, you're just a part of that, you know you're part of the community because of quilting.

EW: What do you think is the importance of quilts in American life?

IG: Hmm. For people to see what other people can do, what they cannot do. It's just wonderful like when we have our quilt shows that they can go and see or buy a quilt or maybe take a class or whatever. And, if it's something they would like to do.

EW: How do you think your children use the quilts that you've given them?

IG: Some of them good, some of them not good. But then at the same time, if it fell apart and they didn't use it no more because they used it a lot, that's fine, I don't think I've ever made any quilt that I thought was going to be an heirloom. My opinion of the quilt is to use them. I never really wanted to tuck one away and save it.

EW: That's anticipating another question I guess, of how quilts can be used.

IG: And that's it too. If you use them a lot they're going to get worn and torn and so on--

EW: To sleep under?

IG: Right. Where if you don't, they're going to last a long time, but I don't know, I believe in using them.

EW: Okay. Do you hang any quilts on the wall?

IG: No, I haven't. I've seen quilts hanging on the wall once and someone told me that unless you really get it hung right up there, it's really pulling on it and distorting it with the stitches could come out--

EW: So, it could be damaged?

IG: Right. So, I never really got into that.

EW: And do you think there are any quilts that should be preserved for the future?

IG: Yes. If I ever was going to do one by hand and hand quilt it and put that much time into it and everything, yes, I think if I was ever going to save one, that would be the one.

EW: And how would you save it?

IG: They say the best way to do it is to put it on a bed. And then put another quilt or something over top of it. That way you don't want to fold it and refold it and tuck it away in the closet and then also, you can show it if anybody comes.

EW: That's a good idea. What ways do you think quilts have a special meaning for women in American history?

IG: I think because of the fact of the way the quilts came down. First, they were made for warmth. And, just used whatever they had, you know, like the old clothing or whatever. And, to me it's like a way of life just to keep quilting and make all these beautiful quilts.

EW: What do you think is the biggest challenge for quiltmakers today?

IG: The biggest challenge is probably doing a technique that you just found out about, but it was something new for you. And, staying with it. And the reason why I say staying with it because I just learned how to make these little, teeny yo-yos. And I probably practiced about two hours, and they still weren't looking good and finally my fourth hour of practice I got them, so they looked like yo-yos instead of just a little ball there that was stitched up. [both laugh.] So, I think persistence, keep doing something you really want to do it, to keep--

EW: To keep in practice?

IG: --persisting. Yes.

EW: This brings us to the end of the questions that we have. Is there anything that you would like to add?

IG: I can't think of anything. I believe you've asked all the questions, and they were very good.

EW: Well, thank you. We appreciate so much you're taking the time to do this interview with us. This concludes our interview, and the time is now 10:28 a.m. Thank you.

IG: Thank you.