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Deena Graham
Owner, Quiltmaker
Oak Park, Michigan, United States
Great Lakes African American Quilters Network
I knew one day I would start quilting because I wanted to carry-on my grandmother's legacy. I also had an aunt who was a quilter. I saved fabrics for years from simple dress making projects. Little did I know that most of the fabrics saved were not suitable for quilt making.
To start my journey, I took a class at Joann's Fabrics in 2014. My first quilt made was a small chevron quilt. The instructor had the class make a sample block of another pattern to take home. I remember asking after I got the block home, what is this block called again? Nine years later, I'm proud to say, it was a churn dash block and I can recognize it on sight.
I am a graduate of "YouTube University". I am a self-taught quilt maker. I am happy to say my quilt journey has been challenging and wonderful. I'm looking forward to many years of quilt making.
When was the quiltmaker born?
05/30/1959
Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:
African American
Educational background:
Bachelor's degree: Special Education, Marygrove College
Masters degree: Learning Disability, Wayne State University
Occupation (if retired, former occupation):
Special Education Teacher
Where was the quiltmaker born?
Hardeeville, South Carolina (SC), United States
Number of children:
1
How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Self-taught
When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?
Age 50 or over
Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt:
Pleasure
Other reasons the quiltmaker makes/made quilts.
I quilt as a hobby and to continue my grandmother and aunt's quilting legacy.
Name of quilting group(s):
Great Lakes African American Quilters Network (GLAAQN), Livonia Civic Park Senior Center; Biennial quilt show, quilting workshops, charity quilts.
Estimate the number of quilts made by this maker:
20-50 quilts
Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?
no
Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?
no
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Documentation Project; Guild
Great Lakes African American Quilters Network Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Michigan Quilt Project
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Documentation Project
Black Diaspora Quilt History Project -
Documentation Project
Michigan Quilt Project Michigan State University
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Creator
5-Stars Quilt Graham, Deena
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Creator
Circle Quilt Graham, Deena
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Creator
Log Cabin Graham, Deena
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Creator
Woman Graham, Deena
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