Daily Blog

  0

fShare

Tweet

As you probably already know, I spent the summer working on my new Christmas CD. For those of you who say you have one - or are getting one - thanks!! HOWEVER, it's not selling the CD right now that has me all pumped up. Instead, it is the stories that are being posted on www.christmasinasmalltown.com. There are currently two easy steps for you to do. 1. watch the video and, 2. share your memory.

The following is one of today's Featured Stories and demonstrates the reason why I want you to watch the video and share your story if you have not already done so:

"I grew up in a small town in Michigan ( born in 1955). Money was scarce, presents few, mostly the clothes we needed and a few small toys. but what I remember most is the Christmas Tree. There was always a real, fresh, green, sweet smelling Christmas Tree. We decorated it with all colored lights and so beautifuly with decorations and tinsel. It always reached to the ceiling with the angel on top. I closed my eyes as I listen to this wonderful music...the memories came pouring in and tears began to fall...my beloved Gramma was with me ...Grampa too..lights, laughter, hugs and kisses. Snowflakes on my upturned face, eyes shinning brite on Christmas morning...all memories so dear to my heart. Thanks for reawakening the memories. 
Peace,
Claudia

Read more stories like this - watch the video, share your story, and get the music!

P.S. - To my quilt army volunteers, it's not about just buying a CD for yourself - your mission is to encourage your friends to go to the website - watch the video - and share their stories. Raise your hand if you have passed it on.

  0

fShare

Tweet

While in Houston, Alex went shopping for a Horn sewing table for Bernina.  She's saved her pennies and now she's considering all the options.   First, she takes a look at something similar to the table she already owns.  Will this do the trick?  Click on the photo and find out.  Then stay tuned to find out what happens next.

To learn more about Horn of America and all of their wonderful products, click here.

  0

fShare

Tweet

For the Love of Toile

by Lilo Bowman

Toile, or "cloth" in French, has been embraced by interior decorators and clothing designers (and--more recently--quilters) since the 1700s. Inspired by the demand for the exorbitantly priced printed cotton fabrics of India, Irishman Francis Nixon created what would come to be known as the first toile fabric in 1752. His printing technique soon spread to England and France; the French expanded the style and gave the textile its name.

To replicate the Indian prints, Europeans began by dipping a block of carved wood into paint. The paint-dipped block was then pressed onto fabric and struck with a hammer. This method was very time consuming, and did not yield the desired crisp and detailed prints. With the the invention of copperplating in the latter 18th century, fine and detailed designs could be carved and attached to rollers that allowed unending and repeating patterns to be printed onto fabric that was passed between them.

Chateau de l'Eglantine

The most famous toile is Toile de Jouy, created by Christophe-Phillipe Oberkampf, in the village of Jouy-en-Josas near Versailles, France. As a young boy, Christophe was apprenticed to a dyer. In 1760, at age 20, the young man began producing his first fabrics in a small cottage. He was the designer, engraver, and printer. With the advent of the copperplate printing process, the much-loved, one-color prints of mauve, blue, puce, and red came into being. At this same time, new "French" patterns were replacing the traditional Indian motifs. Scenes depicting families picnicking, couples dancing, or idyllic scenes of farm families at work charmed stitchers as much back then as they do in present day.

The love which the people of France feel towards Oberkampf and the printed fabrics he manufactured between the years 1760-1843 has been lovingly preserved in the Chateau de l'Eglantine. Oberkampf's drawing room has been reconstructed to recreate the atmosphere of his residence. It features wooden plates, copper plates and rollers, dyes, and silk-screen printing frames that illustrate the printing processes from the 18th century to the present day. The museum features a collection of over 5000 items relating to Oberkampf, as well as textiles from other French printing factories. To learn more about the museum and its collection, click here. 

To view a quick and fun sewing project (Divided Roll Basket) featuring toile, visit Projects here.

  0

fShare

Tweet

Last Spring, Janis Biggs, Diana Forrester and Mary Clark part of "The Monday Morning Book Club", introduced their new book, The Guild in the Granary to our TQS members.  For those of you that may have missed it, they are sharing another excerpt from the book for you to enjoy.

"The Monday Morning Book Club" meets at the real live Always In Stitches quilt shop in Grove City, Ohio, and they love to read books with a quilting theme. As they shared their experiences the three ladies found they had a story to tell of their own. So Alma Lynn Thompson (the nom de plume of these three ladies) was created. Their ideas, blending quilting, friendship, mystery and revenge, became the book The Guild in the Granary.

Click Here to read an excerpt from the book.

You can win one of two FREE autographed copies.

To enter, simply click here to send an email to TheGuildintheGranary@thequiltshow.com and put "McDiggs" in the subject line. Hurry...Your entry needs to be in by Monday November 9, 2009 midnight PST.

Get your Holiday shopping early and order a copy of The Guild in the Granary for you or a friend: click here.

  0

fShare

Tweet

Halloween has come and gone, enjoy a few last memories of Halloween as we present some of the wonderful costumes made by our Quilt Show members.  For more costumes and the stories behind them, please visit Show and Tell.

  0

fShare

Tweet

  Hairy Sugar Plum Fairy Nutcracker

It's a toss up for sure, but after looking at the two images you have to choose one over the other - really!

A. The Sugar Plum Fairy? or B. The Nutcracker?

The Hairy Christmas Fairy was spotted by the SUN, a newspaper in the UK. Click to read the hairy fairy story. No wait!, read that later - continue on...

Then, there's always the Nutcracker. Alex has let me know over and over and over that she thinks Nutcrackers are creepy, but I like them and I certainly like them better than the hairy sugar plum fairy!. What do you think? What's your pick?, the Nutcracker - or the hairy Sugar Plum Fairy?

Or how about forgetting all that and instead, read this story - one about the Nutcracker, the Mouse King, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. While you're there, click the green arrow and Listen to a sample of my rendition of Sugar Plum Fairy. 

  0

fShare

Tweet

Enjoy the changing seasons with a few "leafy" quilts from our Quilt Show Quilt Gallery.  To find more quilts, simply go the Quilt Gallery, click on the Advanced Search button under the quilt icon, and then enter "leaves" into the "Name of Pattern or Block."  Thank you to mcquilt52, GinnieStitchin, eeastman, and karymir, for sharing their lovely quilts in the gallery. 

  0

fShare

Tweet

We live in the days of Big Business - so what can the little guy do? Well, thankfully, the internet has allowed the little guy to make some headway if only the little guy can get folks on the internet to help. I'm asking you to join my army for the next few weeks to help spread the word about Christmas In A Small Town.

My music is not published by any major record company - it's just my own independent label. Right now I can't get my record into the big stores or on the end caps at Target - at least not this year. But with your help I CAN get folks to learn about it. The first thing that has to happen is for you to fall in love with the song to the point that you would be excited about sharing it. Over the next few days I'll ask you to do easy steps to help spread the word.

Step One

Begin by visiting Christmas In A Small Town.com and watch the video. Then, register YOUR TOWN and share your memory (locate the YOUR TOWN link.) Take time to read a few memories that are posted. They will warm your heart and make you thankful for so many things.

This just in from Jill in Iowa: "I am watching the You Tube video of Christmas in a Small Town.  My blood pressure lowers (and it wasn't even high when I started watching).  I smile.  My heart is happy. Really... really.... really.... this is like the very, very best Christmas song I have ever heard.  What would it take for it to get picked up and taken big?!  Everyone deserves to be this happy!!"

Nope, I can't get my CD into the big stores, but you can get the CD on my website. You "green" techie folks can get it instantly on iTunes - yes, in U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, and European Union!

  0

fShare

Tweet

Now that we have all survived All Hallow's Eve, let's see what you and your family wore to celebrate the occasion.  Don't forget to post the pictures of your homemade Halloween costumes in Show & Tell for everyone to share and gain inspiration.  Here's a Baby Elephant from TQS member, Ventpuppet.

  0

fShare

Tweet

The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles is having a sale to benefit the museum.

High Fiber Under Five is an opportunity to acquire world class fiber art for less than $500. The second annual invitational art sale features works by emerging as well as nationally- and internationally-known artists, and includes wall pieces, sculpture, wearable art, jewelry, basketry and mixed media pieces where fiber plays a prominent role. Designed to pique the interest of collectors of other art media as well as interest new collectors, all pieces are priced at $500 or less. 

November 3-8, 2009; 10am-5pm daily; plus 8pm-11pm November 6 during the South First Friday gallery crawl

San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
520 South First Street
San Jose, CA 95113

Admission is free.

Click here to see the online gallery.