Images(11)

Quilt, Appliquéd by Helen Fleenor

Dateca. 1965

Maker Helen Fleenor (1925 - 2001)

OriginAmerica, Tennessee, Morristown (probably)

MediumPlain and printed cottons (fiber identification by eye)

DimensionsOH: 85 1/8" x OW; 74 1/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number2022.609.10

DescriptionThis is a rectangular quilt made of appliquéd, embroidered, and pieced squares depicting pictorial designs and written mottoes. The textiles are mostly plain woven in solid colors, prints, checks, and plaids. Other textiles include variations of textured weaves and twills. Each block is worked separately with the stitches worked through a backing fabric without any evident batting between. The blocks are finished off and joined together with overcast or blanket stitches ( in a quilt-as-you or "potholder" style). Some pencil marks are visible, especially under mottoes.
Embroidery stitches include blanket, outline, satin, straight, and running stitches for the quilting at about 6 stitches per inch.
The blocks consist of the following from left to right:
Top row: Spotted dog on plaid ground; hearts and circles on “Monkey Wrench” pieced block; The Human Touch verse; heart, squares, and star; goose and polar bear; pieced bands and question mark; Monkey Wrench pieced square in red and black.
Second row: Windmill or 4-petal flower; angel and rectangles; rose wreath and star center; Jesus head and shoulders worked on sunburst flower printed cotton; motto “Our Home is just a little house” and Bible; chickens and hearts; circles, diamonds, and abstract shape.
Third row: Butterflies and birds on rose print; barn, cow, pumpkins; fawns, rabbit, and sun; hearts on ribbons, rectangles, teardrops; Horse, pine trees, sun; abstract shapes, diamond; circles and pieced bands.
Fourth row: Hearts and circles on printed sunburst flowers; pieced U-shaped bands, squared pieced circles; a large block that is two squares tall and 1 ½ squares wide with pieced red gingham star, hearts, and motto “All Hearts go home for Christmas”; a second large block two squares tall by 1 ½ squares wide with a blue pieced star, even-sided cross, and motto “Be truthful and loving…”; smaller square with a wreath with a blue animal or amphibian face; six-sided pieced element with circles and cat.
Fifth row: Motto “How to Observe Thanksgiving…”; cardinal and squirrels; bottom half of the large block listed above; bottom half of second large block listed above; smaller block with cats, egg shapes, circles; motto “You Are Loved.”
Sixth row: Circles, abstract shield-like shapes, printed antique car motif; pink gingham flower, red and yellow center; chickens, squirrels, birds; overlapped hearts in abstract shape (lily pads?); flying doves, fat pig, ducks in pond; Arrows, rectangle at center; Vases of flowers (?) and coffin shapes.
Seventh row: Abstract shapes, hearts, lace; kissing angels, stars; circle over four petals; car, sun; motto “I said a little for you…”; white building with short steeple or bell tower, flower pots; cardinals, blue birds, and rabbits.
Eighth row: Hearts, diamonds, spades, abstract curved shape; motto “A Gift…”; elephants and pond; woman in red dress, cats, antique car prints; bear, deer, sunset; curved diamonds, even arm cross; star, tulip, pumpkin, hummingbird, piglets, butterfly.

Label TextHelen Rose Fleenor Bowlin, known as Helen Fleenor, was a gifted folk artist working in an outsider art tradition. This quilt’s 56 blocks are filled with imaginative, colorful designs incorporating scenes and animals from Helen's rural environment. Helen's sense of joy and hope dances across the surface of her appliquéd, embroidered, and pieced squares. Each block was finished off and joined together with overcast or blanket stitches in a quilt technique known as "quilt-as-you" or "potholder" style.
InscribedBe Truthful and Loving/ Be Kind/ Be Happy/ Be Faithful and True/ Be Trustin[g] and Honest/ Be Thank-Ful/ Be Thank-Ful/ For all you Have/ Jesus Loves You
Our Home is Just a little House. But God Knows Where We live/ The Best Things in Life are Free. When we count our many blessings it isn’t hard to see that life’s most valued treasures are the treasures that are Free. For it isn’t What we own or buy that Signi-fies our wealth. - - -It’s the special gifts that have no Price: our family, friends and health./ Holy Bible
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U → E → V
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The Human Touch
Tis the human touch in this world that Counts, The touch of Your hand and mine which means far more to the Fainting heart Then Shelter and bread and wine. For shelter is gone When the night is over And bread lasts only a day, But the touch of the hand and the Sound of the Voice Sing on in the Soul always.
All Hearts Go Home for Christmas Because There’s always Love There
How to Observe Thanksgiving All Year round - - - - Count Your blessings—instead of your crosses Count your gains --- instead of your losses. Count Your joys instead of your Woes. Count Your friends instead of foes. Count Your Smiles instead of your tears. Count your Courage instead of Fears Count Your full Years instead of your lean. Count Your Kind deeds instead of Your mean Count your health instead of Your wealth Count on God instead of your Self[.]
A Gift
Our faith in God is a gift—the greatest gift we’ve ever received. It enriches our lives with Joy, Peace, Courage and Strength. So, it makes Sense that we wont [sic.] to Share this gift with the people around us. After all, our faith is the gift that Keeps on giving—forever!
I Said a little [sic.: the word “prayer” omitted] for You and I asked the – Lord above to Keep you safely in His Care And enfold you in His love. I did not ask for fortune for riches or fame. I only ask for blessings in the Saviour’s Holy name Blessings to Surround you in times of trial and stress And inner joy to fill Your heart with peace and happiness.
ProvenanceHistory of Quilt Maker:
The quiltmaker was born Helen Harvelle/Harville; her parents were Andrew Harvelle/Harville and Bertie Holt. Helen married three times: Jimmy Rose (1944); William Fleenor (1978); and Bowlin (first name and date unknown). She was born in Grainger County, Tennessee and is buried in Morristown, Hamblin County, Tennessee. She apparently lived much of her life in Morristown.