Quilt No.38SM - Regina Murphy

Regina Murphy
Owner: 
Regina Murphy
Location: 
WA Perth
Maker
Maker: 
Regina Murphy
Made in
AUSTRALIA WA
Date: 
1941 - 1970
Description: 
Denim squares approx 9cm (square) machined together and handstitched to backing sheet. Each square is appliqued individually using natural and synthetic (few) materials. Applique both machined and hand stitched. Backing is unbleached calico.
2280 x 1310mm
History: 

Quilt was made by Regina Murphy for her daughter Sarah between 1964, when her daughter was born, and her first birthday in 1965. Later squares were added to each side. The quilt is owned by Sarah Murphy WA.

Story: 

"Sarah's Quilt
My first child Sarah Therese Murphy was born on 10.3.64. It was the 'Hippie Era' a period of flower power motifs and a preponderance of denim fabrics. I had been brought up in Kalgoorlie WA. My own bed was covered with a white 'Marseilles' quilt, & the frilled pillows with a beautifully embroidered pillow sham. My sister and I were forbidden to even sit on our beds - they were only for sleeping - & then only when the quilt and sham were carefully folded and placed over a wooden towel stand.
My greatest pleasure was to visit my friend in the next street, who lived in a very different household. She had a patchwork quilt, not a work of art to be admired, but a colourful, casual cover to enjoy & even to snuggle under on cold winter days. We would lounge on Gail's bed & read books or talk for hours. After my daughter was born I decided I wanted to create that type of ambience for her bedroom. Her bed was an English Ercol, Windsor style made of beech, curved at head & base. This meant that a conventional quilt would not sit as easily as one created to custom fit. What could suit my aim better than the popular denim. I commenced by cutting 4" squares from every unworn garment I could find. Each square was then decorated with applique or embroidery or both. I started with a 'baby' embroidered motif from a greeting card she had received. The quilt includes pieces from hair ribbons, favourite dresses, pieces of lace from her christening dress, & embroidery. The centre was completed for her first birthday when she moved into her own bedroom.
Each 4" square was turned and stitch by machine for strength. The squares were then joined together & finally attached to an unbleached calico sheet. This meant that the quilt could be used & the calico tucked into the matress. Later as Sarah's interests grew squares were added to each side to cover the sheet. The base is curved to cover the contours of the oval matress. It is a folksy quilt which I hope, achieved its original objective.
Sarah is now married & both bed & quilt reside in the 'spare room' of her own home." [Regina Murphy 20.4.97]
"The squares also tell stories - initials of each family member, names of dogs & cats, symbols of Ireland (family homeland), universities attended and pieces of Sarah's wedding clothes. It tells a number of stories & provides many memories." [RM]

Related Quilts:

Christine Barnes
Cotton quilt with rosettes of hexagons. There is a centre hexagon with a surround of 6 hexagons in a contrasting pattern and then an outer row of 12 hexagons in a different pattern. Between each rosette is a single row of hexagons in a print common to the whole quilt. The materials are typical of the 60s period. There is a deep aqua border. It is machine quilted. The backing is cotton.
2515 x 1829mm
The Pioneer Women's Hut
Patchwork top with a centre frame of a mauve cross outlined in black within a square bordered with pink. The rest of the top is rectangles and squares in a wide variety of materials. There is no padding. The backing is brown, possibly curtain material.
1910 x 1480mm
Bill & Barbara Meynink
Patchwork quilt made from brightly coloured printed cotton fabrics in hexagon patches hand sewn together in rosettes, and stitched by machine onto a border of green moire taffeta. No padding. Backing is green cotton satin curtain lining. There is a matching pillow sham.
2591 x 2540mm
Elsie Shephard
Double sided patchwork quilt/rug constructed from squares machined together in strips and then the strips joined. The squares average about 27cms. The materials are mainly woollens, fleck tweed, school jumpers, gren check, and chenille and all are from used clothing.
1800 x 1170mm
Nancy Dunlap
Repeat block in wedding ring pattern. All cottons with cream background and mainly pale mauve and green dressmaking prints in wedding rings. Green border and cream calico backing. The padding is cotton. 1800 x 210mm.
Jean Gill
Pieced quilt featuring log cabin and tumbling block patterns. It is handsewn and has some appliqued flowers.Materials are mainly velvet with a small amount of cotton. There is no padding and the backing is cotton flannelette.
1525 x 1220mm