Quilt No.1006JC - Josephine Curtis

Josephine Curtis
Owner: 
Josephine Curtis
Location: 
NSW Sydney
Maker
Maker: 
Valencia Venn
Made in
AUSTRALIA NSW
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Taylor's sample quilt made from men's suit swatches, mainly greys and blues. Edging is 6cms wide, of blue flannelette. Padding is an old grey blanket, and the backing is of printed pattern corduroy. 1680 x 920 mm.
History: 

Quilt was made by Mrs Valencia Venn in Glenbrook, in 1960. It was then owned by Mrs M Rowe (born Curtis), and is now owned by Mrs Josephine Curtis, daughter of the maker.

Story: 

"The quilt shown in the enclosed photograph was originally made by my mother Mrs Valencia Venn (born 1892 died 1985) from the material pieces of men's suit swatches in 1960. The swatches came from her nephew's menswear shop which was situated in Liverpool NSW.
Mrs Venn was handicrafts officer of the Glenbrook branch of the CWA for many years.
Mrs Venn was a busy seamstress whose main work was making ballet tutu's for the Sydney Royal Academy of Dancing, and also stage costumes. She also started the CWA Handcraft classes in Glenbrook NSW.
Apart from this quilt two others were made for her grandchildren. All of these quilts were well used over the ensuing years." [Josephine Curtis]
The swatches came from Ingall's Men's Centre, 51 Scott Street, Liverpool NSW.

Mrs Valencia Venn, maker of quilt
Mrs Valencia Venn, maker of quilt
House in which quilt was made.<br />4 Lagoon Drive (previously Mark Street) Glenbrook NSW
House in which quilt was made.
4 Lagoon Drive (previously Mark Street) Glenbrook NSW
R.A.D regulation tu-tu, 1974. Worn by Jospehine Curtis (born Venn).
R.A.D regulation tu-tu, 1974. Worn by Jospehine Curtis (born Venn).
R.A.D regulation tu-tu, 1974. Worn by Michelle Rowe (born Curtis).
R.A.D regulation tu-tu, 1974. Worn by Michelle Rowe (born Curtis).

Related Quilts:

Jean Winchester
Patchwork quilt in the Log Cabin pattern, made from cotton fabrics in prints and plains in bright colours. There are 185 squares, all sewn on to check gingham. No padding. Backing is of black cotton.
2718 x 2540mm
Barbara Levy
"The quilt is made up of many cotton hexagons of various colours, patterns and designs, finely sewn by hand, making a very attractive bedspread. Each patch is lined with lawn. It is quite a heavy quilt, with its plain border, and backing of home-spun cotton or cesarine. The family always called it a 'cottage design'."
No quilting.
2312 x 1905mm
Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
Quilt has a centre panel of white velvet roses and green leaves with embroidered spider webs, on red velvet. Two side panels are in crazy patchwork in plain and patterned silks and velvets. All patches are edged with feather, herringbone or blanket stitch. Many patches are embroidered, including 'Minnie', 'Good Luck', birds, flowers, anchor, boat, fish, shell, spider web, crown,, 2 crossed flags, tennis racquets, Australian motifs including wattle. The centre panel has a row of ruched olive green ribbon each side and the whole quilt has a border of dark blue velvet. The padding is cotton wadding and the backing is cream cotton printed with red and pink chrysanthemums and green leaves.
2113 x 1995mm
Anne Gardener
Quilt made from woollen dressmaking scraps, sewn to an army demob issue blanket, grey with blue stripes. Patches are feather stitched in red broder cotton thread. Quilt is edged with red cotton material zig zagged into place. Colours are pink, blue, brown, black and grey, in plain cloth, weaves and checks.
1462 x 966mm
Yass &amp; District Historical Society
Patchwork quilt made from diamond patches in the 'Cotton Box' pattern, in a wide variety of cotton fabrics, including plains, checks, stripes and florals. The patches have blotting paper templates. The quilt is edged with diamond shapes in a red floral cotton. The backing is of the same red floral pattern, featuring yellow, turquoise and white flowers and leaves. Hand sewn.
2135 x 2033mm
National Trust of Australia (QLD)
Quilt made of tailors' swatches, machine constructed around a central frame that is mainly mid brown pieces. This is surrounded by rectangles of mainly charcoal greys and the outer border is navy blues. The backing is a heavy cotton with random green and cream and grey stripes.
1651 x 1220mm