Goldie Richmond Exhibit

While we were visiting in Tucson recently we went to the Arizona History Museum with our friend Paulette.  I was happy to share the Goldie Richmond Quilt exhibit with her!  Goldie was the owner of a Trading Post in Sells, AZ near the Tohono O'Odham Reservation back in the 20s to 40s.  She hand-appliqued and quilted quilts while she waited for customers.  Most of her work represents life on the Reservation at that time, and are wonderful charming works.  She also appliqued floral designs.  Only about ten of her quilts have survived.

I love how she used fabric with pottery on it for the stripping!

One of my favorites...the rider being bucked off his horse!

 
Goldie was six feet tall and quite a fascinating person...she had to save her husband from a bobcat once and killed the very large bobcat with her bare hands!

I would love to make a Goldie Richmond homage quilt at some time...with my own scenes inspired by hers, of Indian life.  There are actually patterns of homage quilts for sale at Cactus Quilt Shop in Tucson, HERE, but I would like to do my own thing.  I have no idea WHEN I will get this one made, though!  So many quilts, so little time!

Goldie Richmond's Museum-Bound Quilt Up Close

If you liked what I showed you of this quilt from its visit to the Quilt Guild meeting last month, you will love seeing it up close.  I know we did!  We were able to visit the quilt at Cactus Quilt shop on the corner of Oracle and Orange Grove in Tucson a few days ago.  It's headed to the Arizona History Museum eventually. This quilt was "found" after years of not knowing its whereabouts, and purchased for the museum. The "portholes" each depict an aspect of desert life, particularly of the Tohono O'Odham people on the reservation where Goldie had her trading post.

Top portion of the quilt.  Click to make larger.  Note also that the grape and floral "border" is not part of the quilt but is from one hanging behind it.

Lower portion of the quilt.

All the portholes were original creations, appliqued by hand by Goldie, and embellished with embroidery.  Notice the lariat extending from the rider in one square to the calf in the next.

Her quilts were all made from early-to-late-middle of the 20th century.

The flag of the Tohono O'Odham Nation. They were called Papago in her day, but the name means Tepary Bean People and had been given them by the Spaniards.  They changed back to their original name later.  Tohono O'Odham means "Desert People."

I loved how she created a "crowd" of people in this square.

This is the book written about Goldie, by Carolyn O'Bagy Davis.  I understand the quilt will be traveling with the author as she promotes the book, for the next two months.  It's a delightful read! Goldie made a number of this style quilt that she won ribbons with, and sold to her customers.  She did some Baltimore album quilts as well.

This quilt hangs in Cactus Quilt shop and is a kit that can be purchased to make a "Goldie-style" quilt like this.  I bought the kit, but think I would use muslin and feedsack material to make mine instead of these more modern fabrics.  It also wasn't as large as a bed-sized quilt, so I thought maybe I'd make several squares of my own design to add to it as well.

A wall-hanging in Cactus Quilt shop that would also work well as a square.

And of course, I would have to do one of the San Xavier Mission!

A HOT sun and cactus...and I think somebody likes cats. :-)

Goldie Richmond Quilt Found

I attended the Tucson Quilt Guild Tuesday night, which I always enjoy immensely.  Our speaker was Jane Sasseman, and her talk was so interesting.  There were a few items of show & tell, and the regular business.  Our guild does a lot of work for charities and there is always something going on.  But what thrilled me to no end was when Nancy Landon of Cactus Quilt Shop (I've featured Cactus Q S on here a couple of times...it's my favorite shop!) came forward and told about an amazing purchase for the Arizona History Museum.  Our Guild donated half the cost of this historic quilt, found after years of searching, and the Museum is raising the other half.  But the owner was moving to South America so they had to move fast and Nancy and another shop owner went in together to pay the other half so the quilt could be acquired immediately.  The Museum will reimburse them.

This is one of 6 "porthole"quilts, as Goldie called them, made by Goldie Richmond who documented Tohono O'odham life.  She and her husband tried prospecting but during the Depression decided to buy a Trading Post on the Reservation where they sold goods to Tohono O'Odham who came to love them.  After her husband died, Goldie continued to run the Trading Post.  She made and sold quilts for sale to supplement her income.  She was 6'4" tall, and learned the Tohono O'Odham language.  She died in 1971.  This quilt was one of two that were "missing" and has recently been re-discovered.  It will be displayed at the Arizona History Museum but for the time being will be on display at Cactus Quilt Shop.  I plan to go see it up close and get more photos!

Behind the quilt you can see some of Jane Sasseman's wonderful fabric designs.

This is Goldie standing in front of one of her quilts.

Goldie's Trading Post

A different Goldie "porthole" quilt.

She also made Baltimore Album Quilts and this is one of hers.

A book written about Goldie's life, by Carolyn O'Bagy Davis.

Another Lovely Visit!

Has it truly been a year (actually longer than a year!) since Mary was here visiting her sister?  Has it truly been a year since I had the opportunity to meet her and get to know she and Mike and her sister Dorothy?  Mary's blog is Faith Fabric and Photos and she also has a quilting blog called FFP Quilt Corner.  Visit her at both!  Also, last year I posted pictures of her visit to Tucson from Indiana on my main blog A Colorful World...see that post HERE.  Today I want to share on my quilting blog because, after a marvelous lunch at Union, we all headed to Cactus Quilt Shop to do some looking and buying!  Cactus Quilt Shop is located on the corner of Orange Grove Rd. and Oracle Rd. on the west side of town, and has been my "place to go."  They had been to the shop before as well.  We all had a great time getting caught up and visiting, enjoying our marvelous lunch, and then doing that little bit of shopping.  So good to see them again!

Dorothy, Mary and Mike in front of one of the gorgeous quilts hanging in the shop.

We three ladies....Notice how colorful we all were with our shirts!My hubby did not join us, since he so kindly takes care of our grandson so I can get away.  He's such a sweetheart, that way!  I was a little disappointed he got left out both times, so NEXT year! :-)

Interior of the shop.

A rack of vintage quilt treasures near the checkout counter.

I asked permission to pull out one end of the pink applique one so I could take a photo of one of the squares to share with you.  Isn't it adorable!