Lil' Rev's Internet Junction Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and music-historian

Scraps of Quilting Music: (How Quilters Saved the World)

 This heart-warming one man show, features Wisconsin’s Favorite Folk Singer Lil Rev. You’ll find yourself singing along  as he weaves a unique tapestry of songs, stories, poems and Quilting Lore, into a spell binding show that delivers a strong dose of good will.

This program is an ode to the millions of quilters worldwide, whose gifts of patience have kept us warm in thick of winter, brought us a little piece of home in the thick of war and showered our daily lives with a love that is unique to all of those men and women who strive to let their stitches tell the story.

Drawing on material from personal interviews with Wisconsin Quilters, Historical Documents and a passion for all things rooted and timeless; Lil Rev sheds light on the magic that is quilting.

Just a few of the subjects that Lil Rev touches on include: The Aids Quilt, quilters of the Old West, Gees Bend, quilts that will be sent to Iraq, as well as the a story of a quilt from the Civil War and how quilts pass on our family histories.

The love and lore that is quilting shines brilliantly in this program for all ages!

While the titles and songs speak to the quilter, the moral of the story for most quilters is ten fold. If we listen we’ll discover a program that entertains us all, while reminding us to slow down, build community,  spend time with our family, share our lives stories and learn to make do with what we have. This is the essence of the program ... Scraps of Quilting Music.

Zelpha Hooks is one of the many old time quilters from the Midwest that Lil' Rev has had the opportunity to interview.  Zelpha specializes in quilts for babies, that she sends to Native American reservations and shelters for the homeless. 
Zelpha resides in Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin.

“You had us all laughing and crying.” 

-Common Threads Quilt Guild (2009)

"Lil' Rev's performance Scraps of Quilting Music at the Woodson Art Museum was entertaining, educational, and inspirational.  His stories and songs of quilts were a wonderful addition to our exhibition of contemporary quilts.  Everyone in attendance left with a greater appreciation of the quilting tradition and a smile on their face."

Andy McGivern

Curator of Exhibitions

Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum

Wausau, WI

 

 

Sample Set List:

1)       The Quilters Shanty (a song to get everyone singing like a ship of working sailors)

2)       Love Is a Quilt (Si Kahn)

3)       Use It Up Wear it Out

4)       Aunt Dinah’s Quilting Party (a classic)

5)       This Old Quilt

6)       Quilting Lore (jokes & funny sayings)

7)       Home on The Range (harmonica) followed by a Poem titled: The Freedom Quilting Bee

8)       Grandma’s Patchwork Quilt (written by Larry Penn)

9)       The Colors of My Quilt

10)   Banjos & Quilts (You Are my Sunshine…)

11)   Johnny Comes Marching Home (harmonica) The Soldier’s Quilt (poem)

12)   The Red River Bee

13)   Needle N Thread (The Quilter’s Square Dance Tune)

14)   How Not To Make A Prize Winning Quilt (funny list)

15)   The Farewell Song (for Quilters)

Lil' Rev with the North Shore Quilter's Guild
May 2008

Working with her church, Zelpha donates the majority of her quilts to charitable organizations.  Friends and community regularly donate money to support Zelpha's handiwork.

Sample some of the songs from the program:

Colors of My Quilt

 Needle N Thread

Freedom Quilting Bee
A Poem

 

This Old Quilt

Soldiers Quilt
A Poem