O'Kelly Heating and Air, 314 West Main Street

#277 Shades of Velvet,

Quilter Zell Hawkins

Sponsor O'Kelly Heating and Air

"My great grandmother Zell was always creating, sewing, or quilting when we would visit her in her hillside home in Mars Hill, NC. I remember there were stacks of quilts throughout the home, on the couches, beds, tables, etc. We believe her mother taught her to quilt in her youth. There are some quilts that she had made that I remember growing up always seeing in our home. Handmade quilts were a normal sight for me. We had many of her polyester and feed sack quilts. However, there were two velvet quilts made in the 1970’s that we had of hers that I will never forget."

Crazy Quilts are a style made popular following the 1876 Philadelphia Exposition Centennial. Inspired by the Japanese Pavilion’s crazed ceramics and asymmetrical art, American ladies quickly adapted the shapes into their sewing by designing quilt patterns using lavish velvet, brocade and silk fabrics embellished with fancy embroidery stitches. Ladies’ magazines made this style quite the Victorian rage, and are still in vogue today.

Complete story can be found on our website, search for quilt #277.