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On the road to visit the International Quilt Study Center Museum in Lincoln, NE, Lilo spotted the longest three-dimensional sculpted brick mural in the U.S. created by Catharine Magel and Mara Smith. What was originally a very nondescript wall of the Cloud County Museum and Concordia Travel Information Center ,is now an amazing sculptural history of Cloud County, Kansas.

Artist Catharine Magel's,140' long and 15' high design, offers the viewer a diverse history of Cloud County, KS using the art of hand sculpted images (by lead sculpture Mara Smith) depicting planting and harvesting, mining, aviation and other early mechanized industry.

     

A woman on to the left of the doorway sows seeds, while the man to the right of the doorway harvests a crop. Three young boys represent the orphan train riders that arrived in great numbers during WWII, as does the US soldier shaking the hand of a German POW soldier. Many POWs worked as laborers on farms and in factories that manufactured many items, including brick.


(Section of brick workers during the green clay process. Image courtesy of Catharine Magel)

Mary says the actual work is a multi-step process that involves the selection of wet clay bricks (before firing), "sculpting the design by carving away clay until the desired detail is reached. This arduous process, using common potter hand tools, may take from a few weks to several months depending on th esize of the project. During this period the brick must be kept damp and covered with plastic every night, to keep the clay workable. When the sculpting is finished, it is dissassembled, numbered, and stacked dry. Then the bricks are top set on kiln cars, and fired in a 400' tunnel kiln to 2000 degrees. Drying and firing take nearly a month to complete."
After firing, the bricks are cooled, checked for errors, cracks or other imperfections that might mean re-carving and firing. The bricks are then packed and shipped to the site for installation.

Cloud Ceramics donated 6,400 bricks for the Cloud County Museum Whole Wall Mural. The three-dimensional brick mural covers the exterior wall of the Museum annex located at 6th & U.S. 81 in downtown Concordia. The 140' brick mural features the history of Cloud County including the Cloud Ceramics beehive kilns.

Learn more about the artist and sculptor.

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These look a bit like cactus flowers. What do you think this block might be called? Play the game and find out.

 
 

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We now carry the full range of
Quilters Select Threads - more than 90 colors!

Buy 5 or more single thread spools and save 20% on all 5 - it's like getting one for free! 
Mix and match colors and weights.

Quilters Select 60wt. thread Quilters Select 80wt. thread
Quilters Select 60 wt.
Perfect Cotton-Plus Thread

For hand and machine piecing
Quilters Select 80 wt.
Para-Cotton Poly Thread

For bobbin, machine quilting, and appliqué

  

 

 
 

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Jen from Shabby Fabrics is back with the Table Glitz Series for September, and there's nothing more "September" than apples! Back-to-school, weekends at the orchards, leaves starting to change color. Jen walks you through putting these together and offers some great tips for doing it accurately, you'll definitely want to join in!

Click here for pattern.

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Kay's amazing quilt, Somewhere My Love, was exhibited at the Houston Quilt Festival in 2017. It was created with cotton and synthetic fabrics, lace, ric rac, various trims, and buttons. And, are you sitting down?...It was embellished with approximately 15,000 hand-sewn beads.

Kay's artist statement:

"In 2016, I was invited to do a trunk show and lecture at the Russian International Quilt Festival in Suzdal, Russia. The theme of the festival was Love. There were reenactments of weddings from different areas and periods of history. The title of the quilt is from "Lara's Theme" from the movie, Doctor Zhivago. The subject is a Russian bride dressed in traditional Russian clothing. The building behind the bride is the dome of the Church of the Nativity, which dates back to 1528. I have dedicated this quilt to the loving and gracious Russian quilters."

 

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Ebony dials a traditional kaleidoscope block "up a notch" with her use of bright color.

Watch Ebony Love in Show 2304: Fast, Efficient, Die Cutting & Antique Signed Quilts.

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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Make A Whimsical Treat From Tilda For Yourself Or A Special Friend

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Sale ends at 11:59 PM August 19, 2018

Tilda Project Kits

Enter into Tilda’s world where it is whimsical and romantic, like a ball gown worn with wellies – perfectly imperfect!

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Tilda Pincushion Starfish Tilda Sweet Mermaid Kit Tilda Tiny Whales Kit

Pincushion Starfish Kit

Have you ever had a prettier place to put your pins? This 5" starfish will hold them with grace. 

Sweet Mermaid Kit

This sweet 12.5" bathing beauty with a sea star top promises to bring you only good luck and smiles.

Tiny Whales Kit

Two handsome blue 5" whales make ideal decorations, pincushions or holiday ornaments for you and a friend.

Tilda Patch Cat Kit

Patch Cat Kit

Stitch up a cheeky 24" feline friend who is perfect for hugging!

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Melissa Mortenson, the girl behind the Polka Dot Chair blog, has created a cute mini-quilt pattern and tutorial for WeAllSew. She writes, "I love to quilt, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood to tackle a really big project. Mini quilts make great wall hangings, table toppers, and even place mats." 
 
Melissa's quilt is constructed simply using a variety of Half Square Triangles (HSTs). She even shows you her favorite method for making HSTs. Are you ready to start?
 
 

 

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Enjoy the whimsical charm and technical detail of Scooter by Kimberly Werth. The colorful appliqué is enhanced by stunning quilting, particularly the exhaust...

The quilt was Janet-Lee Santeusanio's Founder's Award Winner at MQX Festival - Midwest 2017 and was also exhibited at AQS QuiltWeek Paducah 2018.
 

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Ebony likes to brighten up traditional quilt blocks with bright blazing colors such as she did with "Hot Pants."

Watch Ebony Love in Show 2304: Fast, Efficient, Die Cutting & Antique Signed Quilts.

HotPantsbyEbonyLove - 36 Pieces Non-Rotating

HotPantsbyEbonyLove - 100 Pieces Non-Rotating

HotPantsbyEbonyLove - 289 Pieces Non-Rotating

HotPantsbyEbonyLove - 36 Pieces Rotating

HotPantsbyEbonyLove - 100 Pieces Rotating

HotPantsbyEbonyLove - 289 Pieces Rotating

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis