QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5908

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Health

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

11.0033

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2011:142.1

Object label:

50 State Block Exchange Quilt
Nifty Fifty Quilters Group
All 50 states
1998
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2011:142.1

Essay:

The Nifty Fifty One Swap made two charity quilts. A quilter from every state worked on these quilts and the names of their friends and families who have suffered from cancer were added to the back. This quilt was designated for signatures of Breast Cancer Survivors.

The other quilt was designated for survivors of any cancer.

After the back of the quilt was filled with signatures it was donated to the MSU Museum.

Quilt's title:

50 State Block Exchange

Owner's name for the quilt:

sampler

Quilted by:

Neyers, Joyce

Name of the group that made the quilt:

NIfty Fifty Quilters

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Received as a gift

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

May 1995

When was the quilt finished?

April 1998

Why was the quilt made?

Commemorative; Fundraising

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Does/did the quiltmaker belong to a group? Name of the group?

Nifty Fifty Quilters

Where does/did the group meet?

Linda McNeil, Heather Ronk & Jane McGovern - Alabama; Denise Bradshaw - Alaska; Martha Ann Warren - Arkansas; Betty Gaffery - Arizona; Monica Rock - California; Carol Stine - Colorado; Tracey Devney - Connecticut; Rena Tolbert - Delaware; Marie Eastwood - Florida; Susan Meyers - Georgia; Susan Kinkki - Hawaii; Glenna Seal - Idaho; Mary Jo Vincent - Illinois; Kathy Hale - Indiana; Patricia Knight - Iowa; Elizabeth “DiAnn” Hunter - Kansas; Barbara Bruser - Kentucky; Ardis Hasenback - Louisiana; Susan Tauber - Maine; Cathy Martin - Maryland; Juliana Lloyd - Massachusetts; Judy Mandziara - Michigan; Joyce Neyer - Minnesota; Kathy Davenport - Mississippi; Pat Fitzpatric & Denise Sadlin - Missouri; Kay Jones & Tender Loving Quilters Guild - Montana; Chris Link - Nebraska; Cindy Niespodzianski - Nebraska; Jan Gassiot - New Mexico; Marjorie Mittleman - New York; Beth-Holly LaDuke - New Hampshire; Vicki Lynn Fallon - New Jersey; Piedmont Quilt Guild, Nancy Gretzinger - North Carolina; Susan Widhammer - North Dakota; Mary Edwards - Ohio; Jeri Bodine - Oklahoma; Kathy VanBuskirk - Oregon; Wendy Smith - Pennsylvania; Jessica Polley - Rhode Island; Joan Vanover - South Carolina; Lori Smith - South Dakota; Pam Millwood - Tennessee; Kathryn Burch - Texas; Betty Mae John - Utah; Amy Pratt - Vermont ; Teresa Drummond - Virginia; Debbie Tiburzi - West Virginia; Janet Nelson - Washington; Julie Ann Baumann - Wisconsin; Judy Hiff - Wyoming

What are the main activities of the group?

The Nifty Fifty Quilters are a group of quilters from all over the world who exchanged 12” quilt blocks through the internet. Organized by Teresa Drummond, where every quilter would receive a block from all 50 states. This meant organizing fifty quilters to complete a total of 2500 quilt blocks. Teresa’s friend Wendy Smith helped Teresa and went on the internet to recruit members. Wendy sent out fabric samples so everybody’s blocks would be compatible in color and we requested history forms on all participants. These forms told us about the quilters and why they chose or designed their state block. Many things evolved during the two and a half years of our exchange. We decided on doing two extra red, white and blue quilt blocks each, one for charity to raise money for breast cancer and one for a quilt museum. Three states not follow through with their commitment. Fortunately, the following guild members from Stafford Piecemakers took over the remaining states: Linda McNeil, Heather Ronk and Jane McGovern did Alabama, Pat Fitzpatrick did Missouri and Jessica Polley did Rhode Island. Without the help of these ladies, the 50 state quilt exchange would not have been completed. Wendy and Teresa orgainzed everyone to come to Stafford Virginia to help sort the 2500 blocks and sew the two charity quilts. We had representatives from 14 states come, with the furthest from Utah. We have had a lot of support from our group with this project. I would like to thank the following: Wendy Smith from Pennsylvania my co-organizer. Pam Crosby our web site creator. Vicki Fallon from New Jersey compiled all the history forms Joyce Neyers from Minnesota quilted the charity and museum quilts. Kathryn Bunch from Texas suggested our recipe booklet. Pam Millwood from Tenessee came up with our name "NIFTY FIFTY'". Rena Tolbert from Delaware made extra blocks for our charity and museum quilts. Marjorie Mittleman from New York organized the awards and prizes for our group. Merryvale Fabrics donated fabric for the backing of the charity and museum quilts. Quilt Patch in Fairfax Virginia donated the battings.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

80 1/2"

How long is the quilt?

92"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Blue; Red; White

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Date; Multiple Names; Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

Row A, block 1: 50 State Block Exchange Starting date: July 1995 Ending date: April 1998 Originators Wendy Smith - Pennsylvania Teresa Drummond - Viriginia Wendy Smith - I am honored to have worked with such a group of inspiring people. To me that is what quilting is all about. It is the coming together and sharing. It has been an incredible journey. Teresa Drummond - It has been a unique experience working with such a creative group of quilters. I thank them for their friendship and support throughout our exchange. Row A, block 2: Linda McNeil Alabama Row A, block 3: Amy Pratt Burlington Vermont Row A, block 6: Wendy J. Smith Eagleville, Pennsylvania Row A, block 7: Carol Stine Aurora, Colorado Row A, block 8: Dedications Pam Crosby - Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Your beautiful website of our blocks was a great motivator and pulled our group together at the end of a long three years. Kay Jones - Your dedication and love of this project will always be remembered. You are missed. Merryvale LTD - Bonnie Stratton The Quilt Patch - Leslie Pfiefer Thank you both for your support with our project. Prairieville Quilting - Joyce Neyers. For your generous help in completing the quilts. To all our Mothers In celebration for the love, support, and guidance you have given us throughout our lives. In memory of Janet Edith Rothrock 4/58/38-2/21/98. Beloved Mother and a Special Friend. Row B, block 1:Debbie Tiburzi Troy, W.V. Row B, block 2: Joan Vanover Hilton Head Island SC Row B, block 3: Pam Millwood Maryville, Tennessee Row B, block 4: Vicki Fallon, Medford, NJ Row B, block 5: Cindy Niedsdor???????, Bel??? Nebraska Row B, block 7: Kathy Davenport, French Camp, Mississippi Row B, block 8: Beth-Holly LaDuke - Concord, NH Old Man of the Mountain Row C, block 2: Marjorie Mittleman Hickory Hill New York Row C, block 3: Ardis Hasenbeck Baton Rouge Louisiana “Magnolia” 1998 Row C, block 4: Chris Link Las Vegas Nevada 1998 Row C, block 5: Lori Smith Sioux Falls, South Dakota Row C, block 6: Judy Manziara Clinton Township, Michigan Row C, block 7: Kathryn Burch Dallas, Texas Row C, block 8: Teresa Drummong Stafford, Virginia 1998 Row D, block 1: Susan Myers Atlanta, Georgia Row D, block 4: 50 State Block Exchange “Nifty Fifty” Row D, block 5: Martha Warren Arlen OK Row E, block 1: Pat Knight DesMoines, Iowa 1998 Row E, block 2: DiAnn Hunter Liberal, Kansas Row E, block 3: Betty Gaffery 1998 Tuscon, Arizona Row E, block 4: Julie Sittler Wausau, Wisconsin Row E, block 6: Oregon Kathy Buskirk Row E, block 7: Piedmont Quilters’ Guild Greensboro, N.C. Row E, block 8: Marie Eastwood Ft. Myers, Florida Row F, block 1: Jan Gassiot Albequerque, New Mexico Row F, block 2: Susan Widhamaier Minot AFB North Dakota Row F, block 3: Juliana Lloyd Lynn, MA Row F, block 4: Betty Mae John Layton, Utah Row F, block 5: Gillette, WY Judy Iliff Row F, block 6: Janet Nelson Washington State Row F, block 7: Cathy Martin California, Maryland Madeline Murphy Row F, block 8: Glenna Seal Idaho Falls, ID Row G, block 1: Denise Bradshaw - Alaska Martha Ann Warren - Arkansas Betty Gaffery - Arizona Monica Rock - California Carol Stine - Colorado Tracey Devney - Connecticut Rena Tolbert - Delaware Marie Eastwood - Florida Susan Meyers - Georgia Susan Kinkki - Hawaii Glenna Seal - Idaho Mary Jo Vincent - Illinois Kathy Hale - Indiana Patricia Knight - Iowa Elizabeth “DiAnn” Hunter - Kansas Barbara Bruser - Kentucky Susan Tauber - Maine Cathy Martin - Maryland Juliana Lloyd - Massachusetts Judy Mandziara - Michigan Joyce Neyer - Minnesota Kathy Davenport - Mississippi Pat Fitzpatric & Denise Sadlin - Missouri Linda McNeil, Heather Ronk & Jane McGovern - Alabama Kay Jones & Tender Loving Quilters Guild - Montana Row G, block 5: Jane McGovern Alabama Row G, block 8: Ardis Hasenback - Louisiana Chris Link - Nebraska Cindy Niespodzianski - Nebraska Marjorie Mittleman - New York Beth-Holly LaDuke - New Hampshire Vicki Lynn Fallon - New Jersey Susan Widhammer - North Dakota Mary Edwards - Ohio Jeri Bodine - Oklahoma Kathy VanBuskirk - Oregon Wendy Smith - Pennsylvania Jessica Polley - Rhode Island Joan Vanover - South Carolina Lori Smith - South Dakota Pam Millwood - Tennessee Kathryn Burch - Texas Betty Mae John - Utah Amy Pratt - Vermont Teresa Drummond - Virginia Debbie Tiburzi - West Virginia Janet Nelson - Washington Julie Ann Baumann - Wisconsin Judy Hiff - Wyoming Jan Gassiot - New Mexico Piedmont Quilt Guild, Nancy Gretzinger - North Carolina

Method used to make the inscription:

Ink

Location of inscription:

on block

Describe the quilt's layout:

Block pattern

Number of quilt blocks:

55

Size of quilt blocks:

11 1/2” x 11 1/2”; center 11 1/2” x 23”

Arrangement of quilt blocks:

Straight

Spacing of quilt blocks:

Side by side

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique; Machine Applique; Fusible Applique

Describe the techniques used to make the quilt top:

Counted cross stitch

Embellishment techniques used to make the quilt top:

Ink drawing

Embellishments used:

Cotton thread

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Front turned to back

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Polyester

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Quilting designs used, overall motifs:

Meander/free motion

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

Our Nifty Fifty One Swap made two breast cancer charity quilts. Since a quilter from every state has worked on these quilts and have added the names of their friends and families who have suffered from this terrible disease, we would also like everyone from all 50 states to have the opportunity to place names of loved ones on these quilts.We have designated one quilt for signatures of Breast Cancer Survivors and signatures of family members who have lost a loved one. As our quilt traveled to quilt shows we noticed that others who had survived cancer had also signed the back of our quilt. So we have designated the second quilt for any survivor of cancer who would also like sign the back of the quilt. We will donate these NF I queen size quilts to a Quilt Museum to raise awareness for Breast Cancer as soon as the backs are filled with signatures .

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

The quilt traveled to quilt shows throughout the U.S.

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Gift

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

Teresa Drummond

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees