Brrrrrrrr it is chilly this morning, only 35 F, but consolation is that the sun is out and hopefully the temperature will rise a titch more by lunch time.
As I often tell you I surf the web for items of interest to me and last night was no exception. For my surfing I decided it was time to seek more site containing information about the Historical Quilts. I discovered the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. Have you ever visited this web site? WOW what a lovely place to spend some time. Talk about Eye Candy!!! This site exudes information about the history of quilting, not to mention the pictures of the 1,068 quilts which are represented by 16 countries. These are quilts that have influenced our quilting of today. In that era of long ago quilting was a necessity, can you believe it today some call it a hobby! To me, it is a passion which I am not too good at. LOL
Then there is this site, The Quilt Index also as informative and exciting as the previous site. Here you can search the index by date, by style, by collection, by purpose and on and on it goes, why there is even a section on Mourning Prints in the Fabric Prints section at the bottom of the Browse page. Informative, educational, exciting, and I bet you every block ever seen in a quilt is represented.
There was a Symposium in Fort Scott, Kansas this year called, "Voices From The Quilts" so the topic of Historical Pioneer and Civil War Quilts is ever popular to quilters today.
I keep saying I am a lover of the traditional quilt styles and my most favorite are the two color quilts, these I find striking and really show off the actual quilting designs. I spent hours at the Museum site alone, never mind how many more hours I can still spend without even going into the Quilt Index site. Totally amazing!!!
You might also be interested in Classica (by Kay) on Twitter she decided to paste pictures of historical and classical quilts with anyone interested in these treasures.
Then another web site so very interesting called "Pioneer Quilt Patterns & The Stories Of Their Names" , which is extremely interesting! Visions of those women making the time somehow from their chores to actually sit and make these beauties all by hand is not comprehensible given that in our culture today we have running water, electricity, the sewing,embroidery, and quilting machinery as well as the internet. These women quilt designers had none of any of what we take for granted in 2012, never mind the 17 and 1800's though some women were fortunate enough to have had Elias Howe invent the first of the lockstitching sewing machines! But, can you imagine yourself living in that era? Creating those quilts we treasure so greatly today? I know for a fact I would never have made a good pioneer, nor see myself living in those by gone days where life was hard and cruel, and there were no amenities such as we are privileged to take for granted. When reading about those women and what they did in that day and age I often feel rather ashamed of myself and the lamentations coming from me just because I have to vacuum, or wash floors (using electrical equipment no less). I mean really if they could complete what they did in a 16 hour day, how come I cannot compete in a week and still never accomplish what they accomplished? Makes you stop and think doesn't it?
Lastly on my historical web surfing journeys are my visits to The Heber Valley Civil War Living History Museum site for the sheer pleasure of seeing what is being saved of the history of these quilts and the civil war times. You may have to highlight the words on that site because it is on a very dark background, but well worth the investment of time if your at all interested in the information shared within it.
Barbara Brackman, who in my opinion is today's' leading authority on Civil War Quilts has taken great pains and time to reintroduce others to these wonderful patterns. This sites stimulate my immagination. Time and again I visit these sites to enjoy the choice of colors and the block combinations of the quilts from so very long ago.
One of these years I am going to head on over to Hickory Hill Quilts and order some of those exquisite civil war fabrics, and then return to Barbara's site and learn how to actually make one of those wonderful quilts.
I hope I have introduced you to some sites which you may not yet have discovered and that you enjoy the information contained on those sites.
Time for me to get back outside and finish clearing up the yard waste, this week is filled with commitments and while I would love to sit here in front of my sewing machine, I will just have to force myself out of doors.
Thank you for stopping in today, it is such a pleasure to have coffee with old and dear friends.
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Author Unknown.....................................
The sun was shining, the wind was up and it was chilly today, but, given that the weather was dry I was out all day doing some much needed clean up of the piles around the gardens that need to be taken away. Yard waste is always a chore to clear up isn't it? Don't the garden beds look neat and tidy? You may remember last year all of the overgrown trees and shrubbery were cut away back or even pulled out, now I am hoping it wasn't a mistake and that the growing will begin and it won't look so bare! Guess we shall just have to wait won't we.
Still lots more, but I believe you get what I am trying to explain to you.
This blue is actually what it was today, the sky, I mean,
absolutely a perfect day. I even caught the moon in the afternoon sky. Then just because, I decided to take some pictures from around the Bay to share with you how pretty it was.
I see I caught Mr. Hawk out searching for his family's dinner.
Isn't our tiny Bay pretty today?
While Saturday was a happy day hearing of the birth of my great nephew, it turns out to have also been a sad day in a way, my cousin suffering from pancreatic cancer these past three years passed away. She was just 62 and had so very much to live for. Thank the Lord her suffering is over. She fought the cancer for close to 5 years and finally she had no fight left in her, I am relieved as are her wonderful husband and her children to know she will no longer suffer. Nancy fought so very hard but finally after her doctors told her there was nothing more modern medicine could do, she allowed herself to leave. We will all miss her but are grateful she no longer has to suffer pain as she did.
It is time to give myself a rest after such a full day.
Thank you for dropping in, I would love to hear how your day went!
If by tomorrow I do not hear from the two winners who haven't contacted me I will have Mr. Random choose two new winners and announce that on Wednesday.
In Memory of Nancy 1950 - 2012 rest in peace.
Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak. Sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go. ~Author Unknown
Another little person has finally made his appearance into the world yesterday! I am great aunt to a whole new person, with his own unique personalty and character. His name is Cameron Gregory -------, born March 31st ahead of his mum's plans, cause he was supposed to have been born on Tuesday morning next week! Already he is proving to have his own indomitable character, he was certainly ready and wasn't going to wait for them to choose his time. LOL
I don't enjoy making baby gifts ahead of time until I know for certain that baby is here and all is well with the babe and his mummy. I know, it's not a natural way to feel, but that is just me!
Seeing as he and I have yet to meet I really have no idea of how this little man is going to evolve, but the Master design seems to be a good one and I am certain this new person will turn out as terrific as his parents.
Remember, I am not a master at anything, least of all a quilter, but I like making and giving handmade gifts. Quickly I pulled out two pieces of flannel and have them sewn together with a binding and voila I have a receiving for the little one. All right it isn't a quilt just a little something to welcome him into the family. I won't be making big quilts for little people until they are at least 4 or 5. So this little token will do for a start. I did a fancy stitch along the binding, with the back being blue with teddy bears on it and the front being white flannel, making it a good thickness.
It needs a Teddy to go along so that he has a cuddly bear, so will place a little one to go with his blankie.
Just as babies are arriving all of the time, so it is in the quilting world! New patterns and designs seem to be arriving all of the time. LOL
These designers must eat, drink and breath designing because what I see that is being presented into the marketplace today for use is terribly exciting.
For instance one of the new blogs I follow Me and My Sister Designs has some of the cutest quilt designs I have seen in awhile. I love the comfy feel of this blog and these gals have lots to keep me interested. Did you know, they design quilt patterns for Moda? I love the simplicity of their patterns, colorful, clean, crisp and easy. Also they've been featured in ALL SMALL Magazine from American Patchwork and Quilting magazine in an article on Table Wear.... nice!
Moda has a great crew of people who design for them, with Joanna Figueroa of Fresh Figs Blog being another one of those designers. Joanna has a new book out titled WITH FABRIC & THREAD wow, again newly designed patterns to inspire us all. These selections are so cute and your imagination can really run away with endless possibilities on quilt ideas to put them into.
Denyse Schmidt is another of those fabric and quilt designers that simply takes my breath away. The quilts are striking in their design and color choices, and one of her new quilt patterns named "Point Me" is something I really want to try. Its simplicity is beautiful. Denyse also has a new book titled "Modern Quilts" and it looks intriguing. While I consider my likes to lean towards the traditional, these new designers are quickly making me look at fabric, color and design in a whole new light.
Finally, I love, love, love Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs! Anne Sutton and Margaret Peters wrote Country Quilts for Friends released in 2006. You will easily recognize Anne's patterns because their easy and fun and above all whimsical. Lastly, Kaffe Fassett remains my most favorite of all designers with his bursts of color and way out plain but explosive designs. When I read, visit or see anything Fassett, my traditionalism flies out the window!
I would love to hear from some of you on who your favorite designers are and why? These people are such a huge influence on our passion for fabric and every year more and more designers are being discovered and they in turn are teaching us all new tricks.
Exciting isn't it.........................................?
Thank you for visiting with me today, sorry I wasn't here yesterday, but, I managed to be busier than I had planned for, things just happened and time, well, there wasn't any left over before the sandman arrived. Take care, have a wonderful day not matter where you are or what you've planned.
Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out. ~Art Linkletter...............................................................
