Interview with Judy Dales, October 22, 1999

Partial Transcript: Today's date is October 20, 1999.

Segment Synopsis: The interviewer, Le Rowell, introduces her subject for the quilt interview, Judy Dales.

Partial Transcript: Judy, where are you from?

Segment Synopsis: Dales discusses her background growing up in Vermont, spending time in New Jersey, and finally settling in Houston, Texas. She tells Rowell that she has been coming to the quilt festival for 10-12 years.

Keywords: Personal background; Personal origins; Quilt makers

Subjects: Houston (Tex.); New Jersey; Quilting; Quilts; Textiles; Vermont; Women

Partial Transcript: Tell me about the piece you brought today.

Segment Synopsis: Dales talks about the quilt she brought to discuss in the interview. She discusses the personal meanings behind the quilt, which is made of drawings she did which eventually became a part of the quilt. She talks about how she created the quilt, using the “piecing” technique and the kinds of seams she used for the quilt. Dales talks about the challenges she faced making the quilt. Dales also talks about the fabrics used in the quilt, 300 in total.

Keywords: Challenges in quilting; Decorator weight fabrics; Fabric work; Personal challenges; Seamwork

Subjects: Quilting; Quilts; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: You mentioned your book. Tell me about the book.

Segment Synopsis: Dales discusses the book she recently published about quilting. She talks about the difficulties in writing a successful book and how she completed it. Dale describes the book’s contents, which are educational in nature.

Keywords: Book publishing; Book writing; Books about quilts; Instructional books; Personal challenges; Personal difficulties

Subjects: Books; Procrastination; Quilting; Quilts; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: What is your first memory of a quilt? Where did you start?

Segment Synopsis: Dales talks about going to college and not having any decorations for her dorm room as a freshman. She discusses how she wanted something special for her dorm room the following year, so she got a quilt from her family’s attic. Dales describes the quilt’s pattern and makeup and how it is now in her possession and is a museum-quality quilt. She talks about how she learned needlework from her grandmother, but learned quilting for herself.

Keywords: 19th century quilts; Antique quilts; Antique textiles; Museum quilts; Vintage quilts

Subjects: Needlework; Nineteenth century; Quilting; Quilts; Textiles

Partial Transcript: How does quilting fit in with your family now?

Segment Synopsis: Dales talks about how quilters make up her social circle and how she does not associate with non-quilters. She discusses how quilting fits into her family, which her husband encouraged. She talks about her children’s attitudes towards quilting as well. Dales talks about the domestic tasks her husband has become involved in because she travels around to different conferences for quilting. Dales discusses how women can become too passive in the domestic sphere if they do not have something to be passionate about outside of the family life.

Keywords: Assertiveness; Domestic crafts; Domestic partnerships; Women in marriages; Women in the home; Women’s crafts

Subjects: Families; Family life; Quilting; Quilts; Textiles; Women; Women’s history

Partial Transcript: Tell me about, um--you've mentioned you had quilts in France and you have some in this show.

Segment Synopsis: Dales discusses the prizes she has won for her quilting and the exhibits her quiltings have been featured in. She has a quilt in the White House Craft Collection, created by the Clinton family to showcase American crafts, including a controversy about the quilts not being hung up on the wall. She discusses the significance of the craft collection to crafters and artists. She talks about the quilts she creates and the stories behind the quilts she has created. Dales discusses the historical significance of some of the quilts she has created.

Keywords: Clinton family; Domestic crafts; Quilt collections; Quilt exhibits; Quilt museums; The White House Collection of American Crafts; White House Craft Collection

Subjects: Clinton, Bill, 1946-; Clinton, Hillary Rodham.; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women's history

Partial Transcript: What do you think makes a great quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Dales discusses the aspects of what makes a great quilt. She talks about how the emotional aspects of a quilt separate good quilts from great quilts. She once again discusses the White House Craft Collection and how she believes she was chosen to create part of a tree skirt and to participate in the White House collection. Dales talks about the creative process of making a quilt, including the cathartic and emotional aspects of creating a quilt. She tells an anecdote about her emotional involvement in a quilt she created, and how she got the inspiration for the quilt she made that ended up in the White House Collection of American Crafts.

Keywords: Cathartic crafting; Creative process of quilting; Quilt arts; Quilt designs; Quilting practices; The White House Collection of American Crafts

Subjects: Catharsis; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Grief; Quilting; Quilts; Spirituality; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Is quilting an art or a craft?

Segment Synopsis: Dales talks about how quilting is both an art and a craft. She talks about what this means to the community. She believes an art quilt must be well-made as a craft, because “the craft supports the art” and they are both necessary to make a great quilt. Dales talks about the elusiveness of art and how it is difficult to define art, which makes it interesting. She talks about people she knows who are craftsmen but not artists and vice versa.

Keywords: Artistry; Arts & crafts; Craftsmanship; Quilting competitions; Quilts as art; Quilts as crafts

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Women; Workmanship

Partial Transcript: What do you think is the future of quilting in America?

Segment Synopsis: Dales discusses her involvement in quilting and how people believe quilting is “dying”. She talks about trends in quilting which she dislikes, including people who want the hard work done for them instead of doing it themselves. She dislikes how people do not want to learn the basics of quilting and creating their own patterns. Dales also discusses how quilting as an art is becoming more accepted in mainstream art. She then discusses the progressive nature of her upbringing as a rural woman. She found strength and confidence as a woman from her quilting. Dales discusses the rise of men in quilting and the concerns she has about this issue.

Keywords: Art quilters; Arts & crafts; Future of quilts; Men in quilting; Professional quilters; Quilt culture; Quilting competitions; Quilting shows; Quilting trends; Women’s empowerment; Women’s stories

Subjects: Artists; Communities; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Families; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Women; Women’s history