QUILT INDEX RECORD

40-38-563

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

International Quilt Museum

Who documented this quilt?

Oregon Quilt Project; Philomena Durcan Collection

Oregon Quilt Project ID#:

2016.WA.LP.002

Documentation Site:

Laurel Park

Date data collected:

06-08-2016

Quilt's title:

Sun Light

Ownership of this quilt is:

Private

Owner's Name:

Durcan, Philomena Theresa

Quilt owner's city:

Portland

State

Oregon (OR)

Quilt owner's county:

Multnomah

Quilt owner's country:

United States

Quilt name or pattern used by family/owner:

Solas na Greine ( Sun Light)

Owner's relationship to quiltmaker (if any):

Quiltmaker

How was quilt acquired by owner?

Made by owner

Occasion, date, person inherited from, etc:

Pattern from "Celtic Spirals" by Philomena Durcan.

Any additional stories or notes about the quilt's history or ownership?
Who will inherit this quilt?

Eoin Durcan will inherit this quilt.

Date finished:

c.1991

Place made:
City

Sunnyvale

State

California (CA)

Country:

United States

Top made by:

Durcan, Philomena

Quilted by:

Gardner, Pat

Reason(s) quilt was made:

Other

Details about why the quilt was made:

To create Celtic designs

Has this quilt been exhibited, displayed, or entered in competitions?

This quilt has been exhibited at museums and shows.

Quiltmaker's Occupation, at the time the quilt was made:

Homemaker, Quilter, Author. Teacher. Owner of "Celtic Design Company".

Quiltmaker's birth date:

10-15-1934

Name of the city where the quiltmaker was born:

County Sligo

Name of the country where the quiltmaker was born:

Ireland

Highest education level completed:

High School

Quiltmaker's spouse's name:

Wiechec, Walter

Spouse's Occupation:

Physicist

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Durcan

Quiltmaker's ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Irish

Religious Affiliation:

Roman Catholic

Number of children:

None

Did the quiltmaker make other quilt? approximately how many?

20-50 quilts

Major influences on quilt making?
Other interesting information about the quiltmaker:

My mother was a lacemaker and taught her craft. She also made lace for the church's altar cloths. She did not require that I learn sewing. I learned to sew and quilt after I married and moved to California.

Did the quiltmaker participate in group quilting activities?

Yes, Studio 12 and Sew N Sew Clubs in Sunnyvale, CA, USA. It was great fun and we all learned together. Marmie Schraub and Pat Gardner help me develop the bias tape applique technique. A wonderful friendship group.

How was quilting learned?

From Friend; From guild or club member

Favorite pattern:
Piecing preferences:
Quilting is done with:

Favorites: I love all my spirals and florals. Piecing: by hand Quilting: hoop

Reason(s) for quiltmaking:

Gifts; Pleasure; Other

Notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

My four books were published after the quilts were designed and made. More than one quilt design is included in the second, third and fourth books.

Do you know if any of the following exist?

patterns for quilting photos of quiltmaker Photo of quilt Quiltmaker's patterns Publications

Please give other stories, customs, or interesting information about this quilt:

After we published the "Celtic Spirals", we wanted to try the design using different colors and arrangements. This is one of the results. Note that the colors, borders and arrangement of the spirals and quilted spirals gives the quilt a different look and feel. Rather than duplicating the original design, we were encouraging people to try out different colors and arrangements that suited them and their homes.

This is a:

Other

Describe the item:

wall hanging

Overall width (in inches, to the nearest 1/2"):

44 1/2"

Overall length (in inches, to the nearest 1/2"):

45"

Borders: _1 _2 _3 _more than 3

2

Width: (in inches, to the nearest 1/2") _1 _2 _3 _____other

1st border: piping sized 3/16" 2nd border: 1 3/4"

Quilt Layout Format:

Block pattern

For quilts with a block format, describe how the quilt blocks are set together:

Alternating with plain squares

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate Colors:

Green; Pink; Purple

Overall Color Value:

Light or pastel colors

Damage to Quilt:

Fold marks or creases; Stains

Describe the damage:

1/4" stain

Overall Condition:

Very good/almost new

Family/owner's date for quilt:

c.1991

Date Time Frame:

1976-1999

Types of Inscriptions:

Message

Content of Inscription (enter verbatim):

Message on back: Philomena Durcan (her address) Sunnyvale, CA 94087 (her phone number)

Quilt Top Materials and Construction
Fibers types in Top:

Cotton

Fabric types in Top:

Muslin

Fabric patterns, styles or prints used:

Print; Solid/plain

Quilt Top Construction
Piecing techniques:

Hand Piecing

Applique techniques:

Hand Applique; Reverse Applique

Quilting Description:
Techniques Used:

Hand quilting

Number of stitches per inch:

10 per inch

Thread Type:

Cotton

Thread Color:

Green, Lavender

Width between quilting lines:

1/4" to 1", medium density

Knots visible?

no

Overall Pattern Design:

Double parallel lines; Echo; In-the-ditch; Patches outlined/in the ditch

Decorative Patterns:

Other

Describe any quilting designs that appear on the quilt, but were not listed in a previous field.
Marking Lines:

Decorative patterns for the quilting include " Celtic designs".

Binding:

Bias grain; Hand sewn; Machine sewn

Width of Binding:

less than a half inch

Specific Width of Binding (measurement to nearest 1/16"):

3/8"

Quilt Batting
Materials Used:

Cotton

Batting Loft:

Thin

Describe the quilt filling:

Batting loft is Thin.

Quilt Back Materials:

Cotton

Predominate Color of Backing:

Green

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

3

Width of pieces (nearest 1/2"):

3/4", 43", 3/4".

Describe the back:

Machine sewn

Source of Quilt's Materials:

Purchased new

Quilt Top Pattern Source:

Commercial/Published source: Book; Original to maker

Describe the source of the pattern:

"Celtic Spirals" by Philomena Durcan.

Quilt Design Pattern Source:

Original to maker

Details

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