QUILT INDEX RECORD

40-38-567

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.06

Documentation Site:

Laurel Park

Date data collected:

06-08-2016

Quilt's title:

Fr. John Kerns, 25th Ordination Anniversary

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:

Fr. John Kerns 25th Ordination Anniversary

Owner's relationship to quiltmaker (if any):

Quiltmaker

How was quilt acquired by owner?

Made by owner

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

Owned by Fr. Kerns

Date begun:

c.2009

Date finished:

c.2010

Place made:
City

Portland (Bethany)

State

Oregon (OR)

Country:

United States

Top made by:

Durcan, Philomena; Yee, Kathy; Carroll, Patti

Quilted by:

Durcan, Philomena; Carroll, Patti

Reason(s) quilt was made:

Gift or presentation

Details about why the quilt was made:

To create Celtic designs

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.

Favorite pattern:
Piecing preferences:
Quilting is done with:

Favorites: 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:

Fr. John Kerns was the founding pastor of St. Juan Diego Church established in 2002 in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon. He was Philomena's pastor when she moved to Oregon in 2008. As the church building project was in it's infant stage in 2009, Kathy Yee, Pastoral Associate, recruited Philomena and Patti Carroll to begin to think about a quilt for Fr. Kerns who favors his Irish background. Philomena designed the quilt as an adaptation of another quilt "Through the Garden Gate". A drawing of Fr. Kerns personal chalice centers the quilt with grapes and wheat, the symbol of wine and bread which is consecrated to the Body and Blood of Christ. Celtic crosses surrounds the center above and below. The roses recall the roses that Our Lady of Guadalupe requested that St. Juan Diego pick. After Our Lady arranged the roses in his tilma, Juan Diego took the roses to the bishop. As the tilma unfolded and the roses pour out, an image of Our Lady remained on the tilma. The tilma remains today in the Basillica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The St. Juan Diego parishioners signed their well wishes on the backing fabric of the quilt before it was assembled to be quilted. It was presented to Fr. Kerns at the celebration of the dedication of the St. Juan Diego Church building and Fr. Kerns 25th Ordination Anniversary on October 24, 2010. Philomena picked a few roses from his front yard to match the colors and style of the quilt. The rose bush was "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Patricia Carroll is an experienced quilter with an expertise in the Baltimore Quilt style. Her applique and quilting stitches are wonderfully executed. Patty tackled the central images of the grapes and wheat with precision. Kathy Yee is a quilter in the Hawaiian Quilting style. She helped with the applique and design. Between Patti and Philomena, these two veteran quilters completed the final stitches well before the deadline. Fr. Kerns was surprised and pleased with the gift which honors his many years in God's service.

This is a:

Finished quilt

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

41 3/4"

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

70 1/2"

Quilt Layout Format:

Medallion or framed center

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate Colors:

Cream; Pink; Purple

Overall Color Value:

Light or pastel colors

Describe the damage:

None

Overall Condition:

Excellent/like new

Family/owner's date for quilt:

c.2010

Date Time Frame:

2000-2025

Types of Inscriptions:

Date; Message; Multiple Names

Describe the type of inscription:

Many other hand written signatures also on the back of his parishoners.

Content of Inscription (enter verbatim):

Inscription: October 4, 2010 In celebration of faithful service to God. Always with a joyful heart Fr. John Kerns 25th Anniversary of Ordination Created with loving hands by Patti Carroll Philomena Durcan Kathy Yee

Date of inscription (enter verbatim):

October 4, 2010

Signature: _inked _embroidered _stamped?

Attached label

Quilt Top Materials and Construction
Fibers types in Top:

Cotton

Fabric types in Top:

Muslin; Sateen; Other

Fabric patterns, styles or prints used:

Print; Solid/plain

Describe any unique characteristics of fiber, fabric, or fabric prints used:

Another style of fabric used in the construction is 'lame'.

Applique techniques:

Hand Applique

Embellishment techniques:

Embroidery

Quilting Description:
Techniques Used:

Hand quilting

Number of stitches per inch:

7 to 8 stitches per inch

Thread Type:

Cotton

Thread Color:

Cream

Width between quilting lines:

1 1/2", medium density

Knots visible?

no

Overall Pattern Design:

In-the-ditch

Decorative Patterns:

Other

Background Fill Patterns:

Grid/crosshatch; Parallel lines

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

"Celtic cables" are also used in the quilting pattern. Pencil lines are visible.

Binding:

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:

Cream

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

2

Width of pieces (nearest 1/2"):

41", 1/2".

Describe the back:

Machine sewn; Print; Same fabric used throughout

Source of Quilt's Materials:

Purchased new

Quilt Top Pattern Source:

Commercial/Published source: Book

Describe the source of the pattern:

Through the Garden Gate Quilt from a pattern in "A Celtic Garden " by Philomena Durcan.

Quilt Design Pattern Source:

Original to maker

Details

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