QUILT INDEX RECORD

40-38-570

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.09

Documentation Site:

Laurel Park

Date data collected:

06-08-2016

Quilt's title:

Celtic Clan Spirals

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:

Celtic Clan Spirals

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?

The International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln 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:

Durcan, Philomena

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.

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:

In 1980 my husband Walter Wiechec (who was a physicist) and myself tentatively published our first book, "Celtic Quilt Designs." Although a bit skeptical, Walt brushed off long-forgotten drafting talents to carefully draw up the interlace designs I roughly sketched, and the book was born. We were amazed and delighted at the response that we got from the quilt world. In 1983 Walt and I became excited about the possibility of adapting the Celtic spiral for quilt patterns. His scientific mind loved the efficiency and grace of the spiral, and I loved the endless design possibilities. As before, he drew up an epicylic circle, and I began to play with different color effects. We discovered that many designs could be developed from one master pattern. Since that time there have been color and design classes, lots of related art classes to learn how to create the special three-dimensional effects, and endless hours of enjoyment and hard work inventing the patterns shown in the samples.

This is a:

Finished quilt

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

51"

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

51 1/2"

Block Size: width x length

15" x 15"

Block Pattern Name:

Each Block Design has a name

Sashing width:

1 1/4"

Quilt Layout Format:

Block pattern

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

Separated by pieced pattern sashing

Shape of edge:

Straight

Predominate Colors:

Gray; Pink; Purple

Overall Color Value:

Light or pastel colors

Damage to Quilt:

Stains

Describe the damage:

Minor stains

Overall Condition:

Very good/almost new

Family/owner's date for quilt:

c.1991

Date Time Frame:

1976-1999

Types of Inscriptions:

Date; Message; Place; Single

Content of Inscription (enter verbatim):

Philomena Durcan @ 1991 Celtic Spirals Philomena Durcan (her address) Sunnyvale, CA (her phone number)

Quilt Top Materials and Construction
Fibers types in Top:

Cotton

Fabric types in Top:

Broadcloth; Muslin

Fabric patterns, styles or prints used:

Batiks (for contemporary quilts); Hand-dyed; Solid/plain

Quilt Top Construction
Piecing techniques:

Hand Piecing

Quilting Description:
Techniques Used:

Hand quilting

Number of stitches per inch:

8 stitches per inch.

Thread Type:

Cotton

Thread Color:

Peach

Width between quilting lines:

3/4" to 1 1/2", medium density

Knots visible?

no

Overall Pattern Design:

In-the-ditch

Decorative Patterns:

Other

Background Fill Patterns:

Parallel lines

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

Spirals were used as the quilting pattern. Quilt has some pencil lines.

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 is "Mountain Mist".

Quilt Back Materials:

Cotton

Predominate Color of Backing:

Pink

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Width of pieces (nearest 1/2"):

50"

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; Public domain

Details

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