Interview with Thelma Luciana, January 21, 2023

Partial Transcript: So, I'm Amy Milne. I'm the Executive Director of the Quilt Alliance, which is a nonprofit, and I'm here in Morganton, North Carolina, my hometown, and yours, on January 21st, 2023, and it is Thelma Luciana's 90th birthday, and I have the joy of interviewing her for the Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories project. It's an oral history project, and you have so generously agreed to be interviewed, and we're in front of your gorgeous quilt, and we've just had a tour of all of, well not all of your quilts, but many of your quilts and some family quilts, and I just want to thank you for doing this interview. Yeah. And thank your daughter Linda for setting it up. So, I want to start by asking you about the quilt that you chose to hang, and it's right behind us, and everyone listening to this interview will see photos of it, you know, and be able to see the details, but tell me about it.

Segment Synopsis: Luciana's quilt is based on a story, "The Thistledown Fairies," about a girl dreaming of fairies. Luciana used the back of the quilt to record the story. She enjoyed choosing the fabric for this project. Luciana thinks this quilt is "an unusual one," but she is fond of it, which is why she chose to highlight it in the interview. Luciana used a pattern for the quilt. Some of the fabrics that Luciana incorporated into the quilt are hand-dyed. She mostly uses batik fabrics and likes their bold colors. One of the other fabrics in the quilt is silk organza that belonged to Luciana's grandmother. Luciana does not remember when she made the quilt, but she notes that the date is recorded on the quilt label. She does not think that she has an identifiable quiltmaking style. Instead, she says, "I just look at something and want to try something different every time. I'm not into to just doing blocks."

Keywords: Amy Milne; Fabric; Fabric - Batiks; Fabric - Hand-dyed; Fabric - Organza; Fabric choice; Fabric dyeing; Fabric selection; Quilt back/lining; Quilt labels; Quilt purpose - storytelling

Subjects: Morganton (N.C.); Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: So what about this, so this is kind of a narrative, you know, there's a story behind how you designed it. What is, are you, someone who doesn't know you, tell a little bit about your background as a teacher, and how maybe story and that kind of a background effects your quilting.

Segment Synopsis: When Luciana was a child, she lived with her grandparents in Black Mountain, North Carolina during the Great Depression. Both Luciana's mother and grandmother quilted. Luciana was inspired to start quiltmaking from seeing her family members quilting. She got fabric scraps from her grandmother's sewing and tried to use them. Luciana finished two quilts before high school graduation. Luciana says that she has always loved quilting, although she did not quilt while she was in college.

Keywords: Fabric - Multiple scrap; Family; Grandmothers; Learning quiltmaking; Mothers; Scrap quilts

Subjects: Black Mountain (N.C.)

Partial Transcript: And this quilt, you still have, and you still have a lot of your quilts; but Linda, your daughter, has said that she also has a lot of your quilts. Do you give them away, or do your keep them?

Segment Synopsis: Luciana says she prefers to keep her quilts, instead of giving them away, because of all the work it takes her to make them. She describes her quilts as "personal" and "different, each one." Milne also notes that Luciana has kept a lot of family heirloom quilts from the Great Depression. Luciana and Milne discuss the heirloom quilts, which are heavy utility quilts. Luciana says her grandmother was very generous and shared quilts with neighbors who were in need. Luciana says the utility quilts were made from fabric scraps, including printed feedsacks and old clothing.

Keywords: Fabric; Fabric - Feedsack; Fabric - Multiple scrap; Grandmothers; Quilt Purpose - Bedcovering; Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Quilt purpose - Heirloom; Quiltmaking for family

Subjects: Quilts--United States--History--20th century

Partial Transcript: What's the first memory you have of a quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Luciana remembers playing under a quilting frame that hung from the ceiling at her grandmother's house in Black Mountain, North Carolina. She also remembers sleeping under quilts in a cold bedroom, and Luciana says that the quilts were so heavy that she could "hardly turn over." Luciana's mother would warm a flat iron, wrap it in towels, and put it in the foot of the bed. They did not buy batting for the quilts, but used "old, worn-out blankets, and things they had" instead. Luciana still has the quilting frame used by her grandmother and their neighbors who came over to quilt.

Keywords: Family; Mothers; Quilt Purpose - Bedcovering; Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Quilt memory; Quilting frames; batting/wadding

Subjects: Black Mountain (N.C.)

Partial Transcript: And at what point did you say, "I want to try that, I want to do it?"

Segment Synopsis: Luciana always wanted to help with her family's quiltmaking, even as a child. Her first quilt was "a butterfly quilt." Luciana cut out butterflies from scrap fabric and appliqued them onto a square piece of fabric. Luciana's relatives did not sign or label their quilts. She wishes they did, because Luciana would like to know more about the history of the heirloom quilts. She says those quilts have "fancy embroidery," and she was amazed that her relatives "really liked to make them look really pretty." Milne points out that those quilts were not just for utility. Luciana credits her relatives with directly and indirectly teaching her quiltmaking techniques. Specifically, she talks about how her mother helped her figure out how to embroider a design onto black velvet fabric.

Keywords: Applique; Embroidery; Fabric - Velvet; Family; Grandmothers; Knowledge transfer; Learning quiltmaking; Mothers; Quilt labels; Techniques; Technology in quiltmaking

Subjects: Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: And did you, did you teach anyone else to quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Luciana says that she tried to teach quiltmaking and put kits together for several people. When she worked as an elementary school teacher, she would help students who finished their work early make butterfly quilts, like the quilt she was taught to make as a child. She also describes a couple of class projects that were based on quiltmaking techniques. Milne comments on Luciana's ongoing interest in learning new things and the large number of quilts she has made.

Keywords: Childhood; Children; Teaching quiltmaking

Partial Transcript: What is the thing, are there any techniques that you've never done, that you wish, that you're still, you know, "I wish I had done that one," because you're not able to quilt right now. But are their any techniques you still...?

Segment Synopsis: Luciana says that she would have liked to have learned to tat. She then lists other fiber arts and hand crafts she did learn, including knitting, crocheting, basket making, and calligraphy. When she was able to, Luciana took summer classes to learn new types of crafts. Luciana does not think of her quilts as art or craft. Instead, she "just feel[s] like they're things [she] enjoys." Milne notes that Luciana includes "significant labels" on her quilts. Luciana explains that she started labelling her quilts after joining the Burke Quilters Guild in Morganton, North Carolina. The guild required quilts to be labeled when they were submitted for shows. Luciana says it's good to label quilts, because it prompts her to date and name them. Luciana does not keep any additional documentation of her quilts.

Keywords: Burke Quilters Guild; Quilt documentation; Quilt guilds; Quilt labels; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Quiltmaking classes; Techniques

Partial Transcript: And your husband was very artistic and good with his hands. What, tell me about things that you collaborated on.

Segment Synopsis: When asked about projects she and her husband collaborated on, Luciana says, "Everything. We always did everything together." She tells a story about how her husband used to make the beds with her. He came from New Jersey and was considered a Yankee locally, so their marriage was scandalous at the time. Luciana says her husband's primary interest was playing sports and exercising, but Milne mentions that he made quilt stands to display Luciana's work. Luciana and her husband had a cabin where they both enjoyed staying. Luciana still keeps some quilts in the cabin, but most of the quilts are not her own work. She prefers to keep the majority of quilts that she likes at home. Luciana tells Milne that she has "a whole closetful [of quilts] you haven't even seen." Many of her quilts are also displayed in her home.

Keywords: Collecting quilts; Family; Husbands; Quilt purpose - Home decoration

Partial Transcript: So I want to ask you about the guild. You've quilted all your life, you started quilting with your family. What made you want to join the guild, and that was when you retired, right?

Segment Synopsis: Before retiring, Luciana went to the Burke Quilters Guild's quilt shows. She was impressed by the quilts and joined the guild soon after retiring. Luciana enjoyed learning from other members of the guild and teachers. Luciana discusses presenting her quilts at Show and Tell presentations for the guild and when teaching quiltmaking classes in nearby towns like Hickory and Marion, North Carolina. Both of Luciana's daughters quilt, although one is more focused on it than the other. When asked about the most exciting or sustaining part of quiltmaking, Luciana says, "Just doing it. I just had to every day. I just couldn't not."

Keywords: Burke Quilters Guild; Daughters; Family; Guild activities; Learning quiltmaking; Marion; North Carolina; Quilt guilds; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Retired; Show and Tell (quilt guild); Teaching quiltmaking

Subjects: Hickory (N.C.)

Partial Transcript: And when you were still quilting, where did you do your quilting in the house? Was it a separate room for it?

Segment Synopsis: When Luciana was still quilting, she worked in a downstairs den. Luciana's quiltmaking process starts with fabric selection. She prefers to work with blocks. She draws her pattern directly onto the background fabric using a light box. She mostly uses applique and batiks to create her designs. Luciana has experimented with machine quilting, but she prefers hand work at all stages of the quilting process. She prefers to actually hold her project. Luciana finds hand sewing peaceful, and she likes its tactile element. Luciana finds other guild members "receptive" to her hand quilting methods. Milne points out that many quilters are now sending their quilt tops elsewhere to be finished. Luciana agrees but says that she could not let someone else work on her quilt. She likes doing every part of the quiltmaking process when working on her quilts.

Keywords: Applique; Binding; Fabric - Batiks; Freezer paper templates; Hand applique; Hand piecing; Hand quilting; Hand sewing; Home studio; Machine quilting; Quilt guilds; Quilt tops; Quiltmaking process; Techniques; Work or Studio space

Partial Transcript: When you were quilting, did you do one project all the way through, or did you have one started and work a little and...?

Segment Synopsis: Luciana remembers being teased by other quilters, because she preferred to finish one project before starting another. Milne points out that this approach has allowed Luciana to make a large number of quilts. Milne, whom Luciana taught as a student, comments on the parallels between Luciana's quiltmaking style and her teaching style. When asked about changes in quiltmaking during the time Luciana has been quilting, she talks about how patterns and fabrics are now more available online. Luciana is personally not interested in online quilt communities, computers, and new gadgets in quilting. She does, however, use a rotary cutter, after learning how to use one from her guild. Milne notes that Luciana is "very open minded," because she is always trying new styles of quiltmaking.

Keywords: Fabric selection; Fabric/Quilt shops; Learning quiltmaking; Online quilt communities; Quilt guilds; Quilt history; Quiltmaking style; Rotary cutters; Technology in quiltmaking

Partial Transcript: What do you think about quilting as it has to do with your family? Do you feel like it's a tying, it ties you to your, to your ancestors, your relatives, in that your love for making quilts?

Segment Synopsis: When asked if Luciana's "love for making quilts" connects her to her ancestors, she says that quiltmaking makes her feel especially connected with her mother and grandmother. When discussing quilts in American life, Milne mentions that Luciana's grandmother would have re-used materials as much as possible. She asks if Luciana considers quilts to be a symbol of resourcefulness. Luciana agrees and says that she keeps boxes to re-use. Luciana thinks that her own quilts combine art and usefulness, whereas her grandmother and mother would have seen them as utilitarian. However, Luciana says her grandmother and mother were still proud of the quilts they made. In relation to women's history, Luciana thinks that because women were required to work very hard, quiltmaking provided them with a form of self-expression and an opportunity to do work that was rewarding.

Keywords: Family; Grandmothers; Mothers; Quilt Purpose - Artistic expression; Quilt Purpose - Bedcovering; Quilt Purpose - Utilitarian; Quilt history

Partial Transcript: Okay, I've just got a couple more questions. You have a quilt that's in a frame, like it's mounted in a frame with glass behind it. Do you, is it important to you what happens to your quilts when you are gone?

Segment Synopsis: Luciana says that she hopes people will continue to enjoy and share her quilts after she's gone. She says her daughter, Linda, loves Luciana's quilts and will preserve them for the future.

Keywords: Daughters; Family; Quilt preservation