Interview with Hazel Carter, November 4, 2000

Partial Transcript: This is Karen Plumber and we're speaking with Hazel Carter on Saturday, November the 4th, 2000 at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas and the time is 3:20.

Segment Synopsis: The interviewer and interviewee are introduced, including date and time.

Keywords: Quilters; Quilters' S.O.S. -- Save Our Stories (QSOS) Oral History Project; Quilting.; Quilts.; Save Our Stories

Subjects: Quilting.; Quilts.

Partial Transcript: Hazel, did you bring us a quilt today--

Segment Synopsis: Carter describes the quilt she brought with her. This quilt was the most recent one she completed and was shown in her local quilt guild, which she also founded. She describes the founding of the guild Quilters Unlimited and how it has grown. The design of the quilt is a Star of Bethlehem and features a statement strip of yellow. This quilt is made by hand, not machine stitch. She prefers hand quilting except for quick gifts or for children.

Keywords: Quilters; Quiltmakers; Scrap fabrics; Scrap quilts

Subjects: Appliqué.; Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting.; Quiltmakers--United States.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Star of Bethlehem.; Textile artists; Textile crafts; Textiles

Partial Transcript: Well, my first quilts, uh, up until nineteen... let's see...

Segment Synopsis: Carter discusses her personal and familial history with quilting. Her mother and grandmother quilted and she was inspired by her family to quilt, starting in second grade.

Keywords: Quilters; Quiltmakers

Subjects: Appliqué.; Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Families.; Family histories.; Quilters; Quilting.; Quiltmakers--United States.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textile artists; Textile crafts; Textiles

Partial Transcript: Um, let's leave the quilt right now, we may come back to that later if you would like, but, uh, I understand that you have founded the Quilters Hall of Fame and we would like for you to expand on that, please.

Segment Synopsis: Carter discusses the founding and development of the Quilters Hall of Fame, including its origin in the Continental Quilting Congress, which she also helped found in order to bring different quilters from around the country to the East Coast. She was inspired to found the Hall of Fame by other quilters' disregard for past quilters that came before them. She highlights some of the living inductees who came for the first meeting, including Marguerite Ickis, Gail van der Hoof, and Jonathan Holstein. The granddaughter of Marie Webster, an inductee, offered Webster's house for the Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana.

Keywords: Continental Quilting Congress; Gail van der Hoof; Jonathan Holstein; Marguerite Ickis; Marie Webster; Quilters Hall of Fame

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Marion (Ind.); Quilters; Quilting.; Quiltmakers--United States.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textile artists; Textile crafts; Textiles

Partial Transcript: Let's go back in history just a little here.

Segment Synopsis: Carter discusses the role of women in the tradition of quilting and the contemporary quilt world. She highlights the role of Jonathan Holstein and Gail van der Hoof in helping make the quilting world less insular.

Keywords: Gail van der Hoof; Jonathan Holstein; Quilters; Quiltmakers

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilting.; Quiltmakers--United States.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textile artists; Textile crafts; Textiles; Women's history.

Partial Transcript: Back to all the quilts that you, uh, mentioned earlier, uh, you would do machine quilting for a quick gift or whatever. How many quilts do you make in a year's time on average?

Segment Synopsis: Carter discusses how long it takes her to make quilts and her documentation of her personal quilts. She describes her teaching experience that grew from teaching how to quilt to how to date a quilt. Her travel with quilt groups and her quilting awards are also discussed.

Keywords: Quilters; Quiltmaking

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Educators; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting.; Quiltmakers--United States.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Teachers; Teaching; Textile artists; Textile crafts; Textiles

Partial Transcript: What takes most of your time now?

Segment Synopsis: Carter discusses how she began appraising quilts, starting with doing four courses with the American Society of Appraisers, and her current work in this field, including the travel she does as a result. She also mentions how she and Carter Houck are often confused for each other and get complimented for each other's work. She doesn't plan on writing a book.

Keywords: American Society of Appraisers.; Appraisals; Business valuation; Carter Houck; Ladies Circle Patchwork; Ladies Circle Patchwork Quilts; Ladies Circle Patchwork Quilts magazine; Quilt appraisals; Quilt appraising; Quilters; Quiltmakers

Subjects: American Society of Appraisers; Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting.; Quiltmakers--United States.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textile artists; Textile crafts; Textiles

Partial Transcript: When you travel--you say that you have to have something to stitch most evenings. Do you, do you always carry something when you travel to stitch?

Segment Synopsis: Carter mentions always carrying something to stitch when traveling. She also talks about her relationship with the quilts she has made and given as gifts.

Keywords: Quilters; Quiltmakers

Subjects: Arts and crafts.; Craft and art; Fabric arts; Fabrics; Quilters; Quilting.; Quiltmakers--United States.; Quilts--Design.; Quilts.; Textile artists; Textile crafts; Textiles