Return to Preserving Our Quilt Legacy Workshop

      My work as a quiltmaker includes repairing antique quilts, creating unique art quilts, and teaching and lecturing. My background in anthropology leads me to enjoy both the social history of quilts and quiltmaking as well as the creative process of expression in my own work. I have been self-employed as a quilter since 1980. In 2002, I started creating theatrical costumes and props, and in 2011 I branched out once again, into vintage clothing restoration.
      A main thrust of my work is repair and conservation of antique quilts. I have lectured on quilt history and design at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Textile Arts Centre, and the Field Museum in Chicago, and many quilt guilds and historical societies. I have taught through quilt shops and adult education programs. I was employed at The Wild Goose Chase Quilt Gallery, an antique quilt gallery and shop.
      In 2013 I published a book: Preserving Our Quilt Legacy: Giving antique quilts the care they deserve. The second edition was published in 2016, and third edition in 2019.
      I also create quilted artwork. I accept corporate and private commissions. My quilts have been shown and published throughout the U.S. and in Japan, and have received awards the from the Barrington Area Arts Council in IL and the Sacred Threads show in Reynoldsburg, OH. Publications include "Patchwork Quilt Senka" in Japan and "Connecting Stitches: Quilts in Illinois Life". I design and maintain my website.

Quilting

Book Author
   Preserving Our Quilt Legacy: Giving antique quilts the care they deserve.
   Self-published. 2013. 2016. 2019.

Employment
   Quilt repair and commissions -- 1980 - present.
   Sales and repair of antique quilts -- The Wild Goose Chase Quilt Gallery. Evanston IL. 1981-1990.

Quilt History Research
   The Melrose History Quilt - A 3-year project researching 222 people on a name-inscribed quilt, which located the quilt in time and space. It was made in Melrose, MA, in 1897-98. A commemorative exhibit was held, at which I lectured. Melrose MA. 2018.

Selected Publications
   Ann Quilts blog. http://annquiltsblog.blogspot.com/  2011-present.
   "There is a Mystery in Every Antique Quilt:  This American quilter brings the story of these precious things to life again." Feature article. By Dorothee Crane. Quilt- & Textilkunst Patchwork Professional, Germany. January 2018.
   Artwork for the brochure and invitation to Peace It Together: The Middle East Peace Quilt, by Genesis at the Crossroads. 2006.
   Covers of the journal of the Int'l. Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine. February 1997.
   Connecting Stitches: Quilts in Illinois Life, Janice Wass, ed. Illinois State Musuem. 1995.
   Featured quilter: "Quilt Shop and Quilters in Evanston" in Patchwork Quilt Senka, 1991.

Awards
   Award of Merit -- Contemporary Stitches. Barrington Area Arts Council, IL. 2003.
   Quilt selected for show publicity postcard -- Sacred Threads, Upper Arlington, OH. 2003.
   Fine Art of Fiber, Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL:
      Viewer's Choice, 1st Place, 1995. Viewers' Choice, 3rd Place, 1991.

Major commissions
   Kaleidoscopic Colors -- Series of 9 wall quilts. Odesta Corp. Northbrook IL. 1988.
   Chicago skyline wall quilt -- WCLR radio. Skokie IL. 1985.
   Quilted artwork for Johnson & Johnson sales brochure -- Abelson-Taylor Advertising, Chicago IL. 1982.

Lectures and Workshops
   Lecture -- Quilt Repair Tales. MOKA Quilt Study Group. Kansas City, MO. 2018.
   Lecture -- Peace It Together: The Middle East Peace Quilt, by Genesis at the Crossroads. Columbia College. Chicago IL. 2006.
   Keynote speaker -- Material Images. Lakeview Museum. Peoria IL. 2001.
   Lecture/demonstration -- Senior Celebrations, Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago IL. 1999.
   Moderator of 5-member panel discussion -- Inspirations for Quilt Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago IL. 1984.
   A selection of quilt history and design programs presented at quilt guilds, historical societies, the Fine Art of Fiber, the Textile Art Centre, and the Field Museum of Chicago.

Selected Invitational Shows
   From the Heart. Southern Illinois Artisans Center -- Whittington, IL. 2008.
   Seasons and Signs: Eight Women in Fiber -- Stocker Center Gallery. Elyria OH. 1997.
   Here to There -- The New York Quilt Festival. New York NY. 1995.
   Illinois Quiltmakers -- Freeport Art Museum. Freeport IL. 1990.
   Fiber National -- Adams Art Gallery. Dunkirk, NY. 1989.

Group Shows, with FACET Midwest Fiber Artists:
   Personal Landscapes -- touring show, 1990-1991.
   Windy City Blues -- touring show, 1999-2001. 
   Narrative Portraits -- touring show, 2000-2002.
   Art Connects: Contemporary Fiber -- Concordia University, River Forest IL, 2004.

Selected Juried Shows
   Floribunda -- Aullwood Audubon Center. Dayton, OH. 2008.
   Contemporary Stitches -- Barrington Area Arts Council, Barrington, IL. 2003.
   Small Works -- Katie Gingrass Gallery. Milwaukee, WI. 2003.
   In The Garden -- Quilters Hall of Fame, Marion, IN. 2003.
   Sacred Threads -- Reynoldsburg, OH, and Upper Arlington, OH. 2003.
   Facets of Fiber -- Barrington Area Arts Council, Barrington, IL. 2003.
   Material Images -- Lakeview Museum, Peoria IL 2001, and Southern Illinois Art Gallery, Whittington IL 2002.
   Fiber 98 -- Textile Arts Centre, Chicago IL. 1998.
   Naturally Quilts '98 -- Delaware Musuem of Natural History, Wilmington DE. 1998.
   Beyond Women's Work -- Visual Arts Gallery, University of Illinois, Springfield IL. 1997.
   Undercurrents -- Aullwood Audubon Center. Dayton, OH. 1996.
   Symbolic Visions -- Woman Made Gallery. Chicago IL. 1994.

Vintage clothing repair
   Basya Berkman Vintage Fashions. 2011-present.

Theater
Costume mistress
   Evanston Dance Ensemble. 2008-2009.
   Thin Ice Theater. 2008-2014.

Costume Design and Construction
   Evanston Dance Ensemble. 2002-2009.
   Thin Ice Ensemble Theater / Evanston Home Educators. 1999-2014.
   Tellin' Tales Theater. 2011
   Mudlark Theater. 2009
   Hell in a Handbag Productions.  2009.

Quilt Consultant
   Feetwood-Jourdain Theater. 2014.
      Gee's Bend. Quilt consultant and preparation.

Costuming classes.
   Thin Ice EnsembleTheater, 2011-2013.

Education
   B.A. in Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston IL. June 1977.

Additional education
      American Quilt Study Group annual seminar -- Lincoln, NE. 2019.
      Reading Quilts - Making History -- Xenia Cord. Shipshewana, IN. 2019.
      Pattern Making -- Oakton Community College. 2010.
      Clothing construction and alteration technique workshops -- Vogue Fabrics. Evanston, IL. 2007 - 2011.
      Scenic and Costume Design -- Alumnae of Northwestern University Continuing Education. 2007.
      Costume Design -- Mudlark Theater Company. Evanston, IL. 2007.
      Textile Conservation Seminar -- Helene von Rosensteil. Mount Carroll, IL. 1988.
      Quilt Conservation Seminar -- Houston TX. 1985.
      Dating old quilts -- Julie Silber. Arlington Heights IL. 1984.
      Quilt design workshops with David Walker, Maria McCormick-Snyder, Rhoda Cohen, Judi Warren, Jinny Beyer, Michael James, Nancy Halpern, and others. 1981-1990.