January 12, 1933

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A portion of a Beauty in the Home column featuring letters from Quilt Club Corner members and two announcements about the Quilt Club Contest.

Beauty in the Home
… Planned Wall Panels Create Room of Dignity

By Edith B. Crumb.

This department seeks to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their homes and will be glad to answer questions pertaining to interior decoration. In order to serve all who, seek advice promptly no more than three problems will be discussed in any one reply. Readers are invited to write to this department as often as they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your question clearly, write on only one side of the paper, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and address Beauty in the Home Department, Detroit News. Letters with their answers will be published for the benefit of all homemakers, but names and addresses will not be made public.

(clipping cut-off)...blue green chintz to match the draperies.

The sofa as shown in the picture has one taffeta pillow, two embroidered satin pillows and two lace pillows. Don't you think it would be more in keeping with a living room scheme to omit the last of lace?

The over-mantel decoration might be either a mirror or a portrait, but considerable care should be given to the selection of something for this space, as the panel is oblong and very difficult to treat as a square picture is not pleasing in it and if one wished to use a portrait it would be a good idea to rearrange the panels to make a fitting background for it. (clipping cut-off)

(clipping cut-off)... might be of plain peach silk or light yellow parchment of very simple design.

Quilt Club Corner.
I wish to enter two quilts in the Detroit News Contest. I have made 18 quilts in the last year, but they are not all eligible for the contest.

I find the Double Wedding Ring the most fascinating of all my quilts. I am just finished my fifth one. I will be very glad to exchange patterns with any of the members.
Mrs. Hazel Habel.
1237 Lansing, Detroit, Mich.

You certainly must find a quilt pattern fascinating if you want to make five alike. I don't think that a new quilt-maker usually feels that way about a design. She would no doubt, want to make five quilts but they would probably be five different designs. I think it must have a great deal of patience. I feel that I can surely count on seeing several quilts from you in the Contest.

It has been quite some time since I wrote a letter to our Corner and I want to say that I enjoy it more and more each day. I have invited Mrs. Lumbert of Portland, Michigan to be my guest during the Contest and hope she will be able to attend it.

I am so anxious for the time to arrive when we all may see the beautiful quilts on display and all the members.
Mrs. Edith Fisher.
19166 Shick,
Detroit, Michigan.

I am glad to know that you have been a steady reader of the Corner even if you have not written often but do hope that you will not wait so long before sending the next letter.

Mrs. Lumbert must be delighted with the invitation you have extended and I shall look forward to seeing both of you present at the Contest.

$500 in Prizes at Quilt Contest

This is to remind you of that Quilt Contest that is to be held in November and to urge you to send in you application for entry as quickly as possible. If you have made a quilt form a Detroit News pattern, whether you belong to the Quilt Club or not you are welcome to enter a quilt. This may be a completed quilt or a top from a Detroit News pattern and if you have an antique quilt, 50 years or more old, you may also enter this. There is no limit to the number of quilts you may enter.
The prizes are as follows:
First Grand Prize...$100.00
Second Grand Prize...$50.00
Third Grand Prize...25.00
There will be three prized for appliqued quilts as follows (these must be completed quilts):
1st...$50.000
2nd...25.00
3rd...10.000
There will be three prizes for pieced (completed) quilts, as follows:
1st...$50.000
2nd...25.00
3rd...10.00
And there will also be three prizes for tops only, in appliqued design, as follows:
1st...$35.00
2nd...20.00
3rd...10.00
For quilt tops which are of piecework designs there are to be three prizes:
1st...$35.00
2nd...20.00
3rd...10.00
And for the children's and young girls' quilts there will be two prizes as follows:
1st...$15.00
2nd...10.00
There will be ribbon awards for the antique quilts and coverlets.

Important Notice of Quilt Contest
Due to the fact that so many have written in for an extension of time on their quilts, it has become necessary to postpone the Quilt Contest to some time in November.

Now - will everyone who has ever made a quilt from a News pattern consider exhibiting it? More than one may be exhibited and all that one has to do is fill out the coupon which is to be found on this page Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and send it to the Beauty in the Home Department, The Detroit News. This notice must be sent in before October 15 and your cooperation in sending it in as quickly as possible will be appreciated.

If you have never made a quilt from a News pattern, but have an old quilt, 50 years of age or more, you may enter that. There is great interest in old quilts and you will be aiding in the revival of this early American occupation if you will allow others to see some heirloom which you may have.

Will you not send in your coupon at once?

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.