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"The quilt shown in the enclosed photograph was originally made by my mother Mrs Valencia Venn (born 1892 died 1985) from the material pieces of men's suit swatches in 1960.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:

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
Heather Roobol
Patchwork quilt has three centre squares, one in blue/white/brown in a cross pattern, one in framed square, one with diagonal strips in a pink frame. The rest of the quilt is made from strips of rectangles in different sizes sewn in rows. There is a narrow pieced frame, then an outer border of pieced rectangles. Mostly pastel colours. No padding. Backing is calico. There is a little embroidery.
2160 x 1601mm
Glenda Wilkinson
Quilt consisting of 30 blocks 360 x 360mm each (5 x 6). Each block consists of squares and rectangles arranged diagonally and edged with triangles. Each block is made from 2 or 3 different cotton materials, different colours but mainly pastels. It has not been quilted but tied with pink wool with 5 ties per block. Machine sewn with a folded and machine stitched edge. Padding appears to be coarse open weave cotton. The backing is printed flannelette.
2210 x 1850mm
Irene Pascoe
Utilitarian cot quilt. The padding is layered reused woollen materials, parts of old blankets, part overcoats. These are stitched together with string and knitting wools The top and backing are printed cotton. There is a frill all around and buttons have been used to anchor the padding layers to the outside cover.
1169 x 915mm
Mrs M Batts
This quilt is allover crazy patchwork not done in squares. Many pieces are awkward shapes. In the centre is a 150 x 150mm square of squares each 25mm repeating some of the materials in the quilt. Most of the materials are velvets, satins and silks. There is a border of red and green patterned wool and all seams are feather stitched in a thick gold thread. The padding is thought to be flannelette and the backing is polished cotton in faded red and green.
2560 x 2160mm
Thelma Lithgow
Repeat block quilt top based on hexagons, each 350 mm diameter. Six hexagons and a centre one make a 'flower' and these are set in rows against a plain calico background. Patterned cotton fabrics are used for the hexagons, small prints, fine stripes and tiny flowers. As it is a quilt top only, there is no lining or padding. 2100 x 1800 mm