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I'm sure the rest of you are chomping at the bit and want to get started printing on fabric.  Jeanie's latest video - From Scanner to Computer - is now available in the classroom and gives you valuable information on how to scan your photos into your computer.  She also talks about adjusting the quality of the photos.  When Jeanie shows you how to improve your old photos as you scan, it will look like magic.  Lesson 4 - Cropping the Picture will be available, 7/16.

Remember to ask questions or answer questions on this class in the Forum. Click here.

Lesson 3

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In France, le 14 Juillet, also known as Bastille Day, is celebrated. It is a national holiday which commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille, stood as a symbol of Louis the 16th's absolute and arbitrary power. By capturing this symbol a signal was sent to the people that his power was no longer absolute and should belong to the Nation.

Today, a military parade was held  down the Champs-Elysee in Paris to celebrate the 211th anniversary of the storming of the prison. As part of the celebration, African veterans of the French army who fought in World War II were also honoured by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

How are you going to celebrate?

Bastille

 

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quilt braceletWhile at the Sisters Quilt Show, various forms of quilting "jewelry" caught our eye.  Everything from our lovely TQS patches/pins to sterling silver charms.  What type of quilting jewelry do you own? Do you have any antique chatelaines? Do you have a quilting charm bracelet?  Do you make quilting jewelry?

We'd like to see your pieces and you can post your pictures in the forum.  Just click here, and you'll hop over to the Forum, SCRAP BAG, Everything Else, Quilting Jewelry topic.  All you have to do is post a reply, click on upload attachment and follow the directions.

Come on, show us your bling, you know you want to!

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My kids have been raised their whole life around quilting - recently Adair wanted to make a quilt for a dear friend who had moved to New York. This friend wanted a yellow wall but because of rental restrictions this was not possible - so my daughter got busy. She chose a pattern from one of the quilts in my Super Simple series co-authored with Liz. This was a perfect choice for a "painted wall" quilt - so this now begs the question - Is Adair now a quilter? And who wants to tell her that! LOL

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Feathered Star by TQS member MNQuilter


Can you imagine spending 25 days working at the most tedious and foul-smelling process just to obtain the color red for a piece of fabric? What is it about this particular color that captured the imagination, admiration, and envy of the world during the late 1800s?

In the 1880s, the range of colors available for fabrics was rather limited, and--due to the stress of washing (boiling and bleaching)--colors tended to fade fairly quickly. Typically colors were limited to available natural dyes or to the natural color of wool produced by animals. It must have been a thrill to add the luxury of a brilliant red fabric to one's quilt or wardrobe.  To read more visit our Articles page here.

 

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Not sure what exactly is going on here - but check out the security station in SFO - This is a FIRST!!!!! Off to Knoxville - please stop by The Quilt Life Booth to say, "It's a new day". That is where I will be hanging out when I am not teaching............

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Every year at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show they have a quilt block contest. The blocks have to be a particular size, this can change from year to year, and certain fabrics must be used. This year the fabrics were black and white, giving the blocks quite a geometric appeal. Here are just a few of the entries and a look at the grand prize winner. If you're looking for a way to just dip your toes into the contest world, this is a great way to start.

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Feathered Star by TQS member Denise-nh

For the Love of Turkey Red
By Lilo Bowman

Can you imagine spending 25 days working at the most tedious and foul-smelling process just to obtain the color red for a piece of fabric? What is it about this particular color that captured the imagination, admiration, and envy of the world during the late 1800s?

In the 1880s, the range of colors available for fabrics was rather limited, and--due to the stress of washing (boiling and bleaching)--colors tended to fade fairly quickly. Typically colors were limited to available natural dyes or to the natural color of wool produced by animals. It must have been a thrill to add the luxury of a brilliant red fabric to one's quilt or wardrobe.

Turkey-red cloth was a highly prized cloth that was intensely rich in color that would not fade or bleed. The dyeing process, which employed the madder root and a host of other ingredients, originated in India, but soon spread to Levant, Smyrna, and Adrianople. The name Turkey red is often misinterpreted as a color, when it really is a dye process used in the region of the Middle East referred to at that time as Turkey. While the color of the fabric was a thing of beauty for the eye of the beholder, the process to produce this luscious material was far from it, and was held in secret for many years. Many spies were sent to this region of the world in search of the recipe.

It wasn't until 1765 that two Greek dyers from Smyrna were enticed to Rouen, France to demonstrate the technique for dyeing cotton and linen fabrics that would not fade or bleed after numerous washings and/or bleaching. This information subsequently was carried to Scotland, where--in less than 20 years--an entire industry revolving around the production of Turkey-red fabric developed in Leven, an area known for its production of quality textiles. Workers from all over Scotland and Ireland came to work in this booming industry.

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Red Squares by TQS member Charlotte


Alas, the process, or "craft" as it was called, was a very unpleasant job. The locals who worked the craft were known as "jellie eaters" (that is, jelly or jam) due to the red hands and arms they acquired from the dyeing process. As with most things during the 18th century, the manufacture of Turkey-red fabric was very labor extensive. It was also quite smelly! We found a recipe for the process from John Wilson's "An Essay on Light and Colours" (Manchester, 1786). As you can see, the process involved a multitude of steps, and could take as long as three weeks to complete.

1. Boil cotton in lye of Barilla or wood ash.
2. Wash and dry.
3. Steep in a liquour of Barilla ash or soda plus sheep's dung and rancid olive oil.
4. Rinse, let stand 12 hours, dry.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 three times.
6. Steep in a fresh liquor of Barilla ash or soda plus sheep's dung, olive oil and white argol.
7. Rinse and dry.
8. Repeat steps 6 & 7 three times.
9. Treat with a gall nut solution.
10. Wash and dry.
11. Repeat steps 9 & 10 once.
12. Treat with a solution of alum, or alum mixed with ashes and lead acetate.
13. Dry, wash, dry.
14. Madder once or twice with Turkey madder to which a little sheep's blood is
added.
15. Wash.
16. Boil in a lye made of soda ash or the dung liquor.
17. Wash and dry.


Keep in mind that this entire process was done without the aid of rubber gloves, facial masks, or good ventilation. (Can you image doing this yourself today? Not likely!) Many manufacturers soon discovered, however, that society loved the brightly colored and reliable fabric, and was willing to pay even 10 times more than for other fabrics. It was just that popular throughout the world.

Of course, then as now, printed designs were directed at particular tastes and markets. Muslims tended to prefer geometric and floral patterns, while Hindus desired elements such as elephants, peacocks, and tigers. Familiar circles, diamonds, and paisley can be found in a simple piece of fabric worn by beloved (and diverse) icons such as the cowboy and Benjamin Bunny, as well as by elegant ladies in European society. (We are talking here about the bandanna, which in Hindi means "to tie.")

So, the next time you go shopping for some luscious red fabric, remind yourself how lucky you are to be living in the 21st century. Your only problem now is coming up with the money to pay!

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Welcome back quilt campers.  This week's project comes to us from Alexandra Rasmussen at Moonstitches.  This one is a little bit of a challenge; but we know you are up to it..  There is no actual pattern, but the directions are very straightforward.  So you will have to put your thinking cap on.  Whether you make one or a whole flock, these Zakka owls are sure to be a hit in your studio or home.   For directions visit our Projects page here

Be sure to check out each week's project on our Projects page here.   Share your creative versions of any of our projects in Show and Tell here.  Happy stitching!

 

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Is it all about the toes? And we'll bet you thought polka dots were only for fabrics!!

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