Interview with Elsie Campbell, October 23, 1999

Partial Transcript: --Campbell. It's October 23rd, 1999 at the International Quilt Show.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell discusses a quilt she made for her son, who traveled extensively throughout his youth and young adulthood. She talks about how she created the quilt, including the quilt's design and symbolism. She discusses the number of fabrics used, how the quilt was pieced, and other techniques used in making the quilt.

Keywords: Art quilts; Fabric markers; Family memories; Family quilts; Machine quilting; Mothers and sons; Quilt designs; Quilt piecing; Traveling; Traveling quilts

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

Partial Transcript: Tell me about your own interest in quilting.

Segment Synopsis: Campbell talks about her lifelong interest in sewing, making dog clothes and other crafts as a child. She recalls using quilts for warmth in her child as a Mennonite, who made their own quilts. Campbell then talks about how she began quilting, specifically recalling the first quilt she made with the women in her church.

Keywords: 4 patch blocks; Hand sewing; King sized quilts; Machine sewing; Mennonite women; Quilt frames; Traditional quilts; Utilitarian quilts

Subjects: Artists; Childhood; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Sewing; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: What do you enjoy about quilting?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell discusses her favorite aspects of quilting, particularly hand quilting. She talks about dealing with her carpal tunnel which resulted from several hours of hand quilting. Campbell tells the interviewer how she has difficulty with machine quilting.

Keywords: Favorite aspects; Hand quilting; Least favorite aspects; Machine quilting

Subjects: Artists; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Sewing machines; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

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

Segment Synopsis: Campbell talks about what she believes makes a great quilt, particularly color and design, as they are the first elements of a quilt a viewer notices. She also cites workmanship as important in making a great quilt. She recalls visiting the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky and viewing the quilt "Cosmic Pelican" by Caryl Bryer Fallert. Campbell discusses her preference for making traditional quilts, though she attempts to create art quilts as well.

Keywords: Art quilts; Cosmic Pelican; Fallert, Caryl Bryer; Great quilts; Quilt colors; Quilt design; Traditional quilts

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; National Quilt Museum; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: What do you think it would take to make a quilt that would be "museum quality"?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell tells the interviewer she believes a quilt, in order to be "museum quality", needs to have cohesion with the color and design. She also believes wanting to touch and interact with the quilt is what makes a "museum quality" quilt.

Keywords: Art quilts; Artistic cohesion; Artistry in quilting; Museum quilts; Quilt design; Traditional quilts

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Creativity; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: What is it about quilting that you really like?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell talks about her love of the quilting community, as she finds it easy to connect with other quilters. She talks about meeting other quilters at craft shows and conventions around the United States.

Keywords: Craft shows; Quilting communities; Quilting conventions; Social life; Women and quilting

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

Partial Transcript: Uh, what ways do your quilts reflect your community or region?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell discusses her interest in Amish quilts as possibly part of her community's influence on her quilting. She talks about the distinct differences between Amish quilts and Mennonite quilts, the latter of which was the community she was raised in.

Keywords: Amish quilts; Artistic influences; Cultural influences; Mennonite quilts; Regional quilts; Traditional quilts

Subjects: Amish; Appliqué; Artists; Communities; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Mennonites; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: We're discussing the, the quilts that are in the magazines "Quilting Today".

Segment Synopsis: Campbell talks about the quilting articles she wrote for the article "Quilting Today", which she wrote as the editor for the magazine. Campbell discusses how she became an editor. She talks about a quilt she created when her father passed away, which was shown in Paducah, Kentucky at the National Quilt Museum. She talks about how that quilt, as well as another one, was published by "Quilting Today". She applied for an editorial position at the magazine several years later and was given the job.

Keywords: Magazine editors; Quilt designs; Quilt history; Quilting Today (Magazine); Quilting articles

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; National Quilt Museum; Paducah (Ky.); Periodical editors; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: What do you think we should do for the future quilters of the world?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell talks about quilting with the gifted children program she taught in Kansas, helping each class to make their own quilt each year. She also discusses a program where she taught children to do various textile projects, including sewing and tie dying. Campbell and the interviewer talk about how quilting has grown during her lifetime, particularly in women's history and quilt research.

Keywords: Future of quilting; Gifted children; Gifted school programs; History of quilting; Quilting today; Women and quilting

Subjects: American women, 1600-1900; Artists; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women's history; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: The quilt that's in the show, would you like to discuss that?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell recalls how she created the design for her quilt, which she entered into the International Quilt Show. She took her son to Paducah, Kentucky for a quilt show, where she got a book and gift certificate for her "mother-son quilt team." From the book she got, she got the design for the quilt she entered into the show. She discusses the creative processes with making the quilt, including the colors and design. Campbell talks about her signature quilt designs, which include feathers and hearts.

Keywords: Color schemes; Historical quilt color schemes; Historical quilt designs; Men in quilting; Mother son quilt team; Quilt colors; Quilt designs; Unique quilt designs

Subjects: Artists; Crafts & decorating; Creativity; Decorative arts; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting; Quilts; Rotary cutting; Textile artists; Textiles; Women; Women’s voices

Partial Transcript: Now, is there something that you'd like to discuss?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell talks about her desire to make more art quilts, as opposed to her usual traditional quilt designs. She and the interviewer discuss the quilting community and their designs, discussing how some quilters share their designs and some are protective of their designs.

Keywords: Art quilts; Creative processes; Quilt designs; Traditional quilts; Unique quilts

Subjects: Artists; Community; Crafts & decorating; Creativity; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Textile artists; Textiles; Women

Partial Transcript: Okay, um, how do you think quilts can be preserved for the future?

Segment Synopsis: Campbell stresses the importance of educating the public on the proper care and conservation of quilts, including proper cleaning and usage. She discusses her enjoyment of working in the quilt industry, contrasting it to the difficulties she faced while being a school teacher. She also talks about the difficulty she has with editing others' work for the quilt magazine. Campbell then gives advice to novice quilters.

Keywords: Dry clean; Magazine editors; Proper quilt care; Quilt preservation; Quilting Today (Magazine); Quilting magazines; School teachers; Wet clean

Subjects: Artists; Career changes; Crafts & decorating; Decorative arts; Quilting; Quilts; Teachers; Textile artists; Textiles; Women