Emma Allebes, Pen Woman Extraordinaire!
by Pat Biasotti
EMMA ALLEBES, Tapestry and Textile Artist, whose work was recognized internationally, brought sunshine into every life she touched. Pen Women, her family, friends, and the Fabric-Art World lost a bright star when she suddenly died of leukemia last October.
Her bright personality, transcendent faith, and deep love of husband, Ted, and family were legend among all who knew her. TED ALLEBES, an artist in his own right, was her lifelong love. Friends smile, remembering the delightful banter between them. When they jointly presented a program, it was not only informative, but often comedic. Emma’s grandfather was a tailor who passed on to her the talent for sewing, love of fabrics and textiles. Her three daughters sewed at an early age and are today accomplished needlewomen, winning their own share of awards. She was a proud grandmother of nine, plus three great-grandchildren.
She loved to tell stories, often laughing at herself. One December, when those present in her quilting class were hurrying to finish their Christmas gift projects, Emma announced:
“I sure had the tables turned on me! Some lady called last night and wanted me to make a special wall hanging for her daughter’s Christmas gift. My goodness, I don’t have the time, so I just quoted her a ridiculous price. She took me up on it!”
Emma burst out laughing. She must have spent late, late nights until Christmas to finish it. In retrospect, it is a tribute to her integrity—and perhaps her stoic, Viking spirit (her grandparents and mother came from Norway).
After their three daughters married, she realized a dream and opened a specialty fabric and quilt shop, TAYOS,” in Fair Oaks, California, the suburb of Sacramento where the Allbes’s lived. Emma had long taught needlework classes through adult education—before quilting, macramé to over a thousand students. Now she not only became a businesswoman as well, but also expanded her classes to offer new and innovative quilting techniques. Over time, she added cloth doll making; these dolls were often very whimsical creations. A “Doll Club,” which met at TAYOS for years, was one of the first
in the nation and evolved from these classes. It became so popular it had a waiting list. Some of the members’ dolls have won awards all over the United States.
Meanwhile, she produced beautiful quilts exquisitely pieced and sewn, plus distinctive outfits of wearable art, modeling the creations herself in her many public appearances.
She had a penchant for unusual shoes, as well, and when traveling, Ted good-naturedly tolerated her seeking out shoe shops. One time, she purchased a pair of unusual black and yellow pumps. Being a stickler for everything matching, she made her famous black and yellow “Taxi Outfit.” to go with the shoes. It has won numerous awards and has been exhibited all over the United States.
Another famed outfit is the “Pearly Queen,” based on the London Pearlies, a society carrying on the tradition of clothes covered with pearl buttons to designate the person’s status. It features 2,000 hand-sewn gray pearl buttons and traveled nationwide with the Fairfield Wearable Art Fashion Show. The buttons made the costume so heavy that the models had trouble keeping the pants from falling down, and Emma replaced them with lighter ones (another 2,000-button sewing job!)..
Emma garnered many major quilting awards, and her quilts have been shown as far away as Japan. Her entries in the International Art Competitions sponsored by the Church of the Latter Day Saints won several prizes. One, a patchwork wall hanging, “Let Us Speak Kind Words,” (from the hymn of the same name) was among the winners in over 700 entries from 30 countries.
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Museum of Church History in Salt Lake City featured an art exhibit. From their permanent collection they displayed two of her works: an embroidered fabric quilt, “Women of All Nations: Nurturing Peace,” and her Scandinavian folk art style quilt, “The Faithful Gardener.
In 2008 she was commissioned to make a quilt commemorating the 40th anniversary of the California State Fair. Her studio walls are lined with ribbons and awards from the California State Fair for her quilts, wall hangings, and wearable art.
She was also a certified Fairfield and Bernina fashion show designer. Her wearable art garment, “Diamonds Down Under,” was in a prestigious Fairfield show, and one of twelve entries selected to go to Holland for “Quilt Europa” in 1992. Her garment, “Symphony and Lace,” part of the 1994 Fairfield show, was featured on the cover of “Craft and Needlework” magazine.
To illustrate Emma’s flair for creativity and whimsy, she and Ted collaborated in decorating a life-size fiberglass lion. In 1994, a Regional Arts Project of the Sacramento area, “Lions in Safari,” emulated Chicago’s famous decorated cows and selected local artists to embellish fifty lions. The latter were auctioned off to raise funds for the Sacramento Zoo and charity. Fair Oaks is noted for its large feral chicken flock, which roams the downtown village streets. Ted and Emma came up with “Rooseline,” draped with a quilt (what else?) and featuring a rooster head on a lion body.
As fellow Pen Woman Liz Thayer remembers, “She was a person of quiet efficiency with a mixture of “imp,” superb in all things she addressed in life--generosity to family and friends, and a willingness to go the extra mile.” She was often overcommitted. During the time she was President of the Sacramento, California, Pen Women branch, often overcommitted to, she was asked to run for another term. She graciously agreed, then with a finger to her lips quickly added, “Oh, but don’t tell Ted.” She had a deep conviction that being a member of an organization also meant involvement. Besides, Pen Women, she was active in her church and belonged to numerous quilting and fabric art groups. She was one of the primary organizers of the Folsom (CA) Quilt Show, which attracted participants from all over the Western states. She was also an enthusiastic member of the “Gypsy Traders,” an antiques collector’s club.
Goodbye, Emma. We will always remember you as a treasure who enriched our lives beyond measure.