Quilting a Life: One Patch at a Time By B. L. Eikner
The Gee’s Bend Quilters, African American quilters who kept the art alive and are from the small town of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, is the most famous quilting circle in America and have toured around the world. There are many quilting circles in Oklahoma and Sistah’s Bee Quilting (SBQ) in Tulsa, after almost twenty-four years, is moving into the light of the art world. The Sistah’s Bee Quilting group was founded in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1997 by a group of women from various backgrounds but with the common thread of having grandmothers and mothers who quilted. When asked for the top three reasons for joining the quilting group, Joyce Williams, president, stated, “Our mothers and grandmothers were quilters, so we grew up exposed to the art and necessity of quilts; [second], the ability to make something functional out of nothing and furthering the principle of ‘waste not/want not’ and finally, expanding on and sharing creative ideas and coalescing with other ‘Sistahs’. During these times we solve world problems, listen to rhythm and blues, and enjoy each other’s company.”
Margaret Love with her quilt Shadow Box, 98” x 108”, cotton, machine quilted and hand sewn, Photo by Don Thompson Images
The art of quilting has been around for centuries. First seen in the textile works of the Chinese, Turks, and North Africans. Men of war wore quilted vests and jackets layered to add warmth and protection during activities of conflict. As time went by, bedding was designed with multiple layers to ensure warmth during frigid weather for the rich and elite and then peoples around the world used patches and scraps to make quilts a common bedding among the public.
Sistah’s Bee Quilting, Left to right: Joyce Williams, Lois Smith, Margaret Love, Gwen Taylor, Sammie Hitche, Billie Patterson and Tereena Johnson with African designs inspired quilt, Photo by Don Thompson Images
The quilts’ journey to the North American continent was by the indigenous travelers, movement of Europeans during the 16th century, enslaved Africans, and other immigrants. The process, though originally handmade, was changed significantly during the industrial revolution and with the invention of the sewing machine in 1840. This revolutionized the textile industry domestically and internationally. There are over thirty quilt museums around the country and over fifty-five around the world. The various styles, techniques and models have kept the quilting art form alive and well.
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In 2007, the SBQ decided to open a shop, The Quilters Hangout, and transform their pastime into a center of artistic creation, education, and exposing the art of quilts to the community. The shop is located at 3314 N Harvard Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma and was built by O. C. Taylor, one of the founding members. The members have not only made quilts but collected family and antique heirlooms and repaired quilts for clients and family members who want to preserve them. Member and founder Shirley Smith has been given the name, Quilt Whisperer, due to her extensive skills and expertise in repairing antique quilts. As a group, Sistah’s Bee Quilting, has crafted close to one thousand quilts. They have not entered any contests, sold any quilts, or asked for payment on any of their projects since inception in 1997. The Founding members are Gwen Taylor (Treasurer/ Instructor), Shirley Smith (Instructor), Lois Smith (Instructor), Billie Patterson (Vice President), O. C. Taylor, and the late Reverend J. B. Patterson. Current members are Alona Alexander, Margaret Love (Secretary), Tareena Johnson (Instructor), Teri Evans, Deborah Brown, Pauline Banks, Ella Hunt, Shannon Rentie, Sammye Hitchye, Cheryl Rainey, Theressa Hingin, Mary Beth Morgan, Emily Marshall, and Joyce G. Smith Williams (President). (continued to page 18)
