Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Books on Quilt and Fabric Dating and Preservation

Often quilters write me and ask, "How do I identify this quilt pattern? Do you know how to date a quilt? How can I find out the age of this fabric?"

I've researched some books you may find useful:

Clues in the Calico: A Guide to Indentifying and Dating Antique Quilts by Barbara Brackman
Vintage Quilts: Identifying, Collecting, Dating, Preserving and Valuing by Bobbie Aug, Sharon Newman, and Gerald E. Roy
Fabric Dating Kit: A Pocket Guide to Identifying Quilts & Other Textiles by Color, Fabric & Style by Cindy Brick
Dating Fabrics: A Color Guide 1800-1960 by Eileen Trestain
Dating Fabrics 2: A Color Guide 1950-2000 by Eileen Jahnke Trestain
Making History: Quilts and Fabric from 1890-1970 by Barbara Brackman
Vintage Fabrics Identification & Value Guide by Judith Gridley, Joan Reed Kiplinger, Jessie Gridley McClure

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Quilters' Potpourri Blogger Featured in Anthology

Quilters' Potpourri blogger, Mary Emma Allen has stories featured in the new release, Eternally Yours, an anthology of poetry, light essays, devotions and meditations, edited by Mary Ellen Grisham and published by Xulon Press.

Featuring some of the best Christian writers on the Internet, this book represents work that has appeared in the Eternal Ink E-zine since it’s inception in 1999.

In addition, Mary gives presentations and teaches workshops at schools, libraries, writers’ conferences, and for other groups. Some of her talks include topics such as Alzheimer's and caregiving, quilt history and quiltmaking, New Hampshire history, and writing.

I was pleased when Ms. Grisham selected some of my stories for inclusion in this anthology. It's exciting to encourage and inspire others with my writing.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Quilting Bee Snack Ideas from the Food Bloggers

The Food Bloggers are a group of us who write about food, recipes and related topics. I hope you enjoy our selection this week. You'll find some of these ideas handy for family meals and others great for treats when your quilting group gets together.

A Homemade Fruit and Yogurt Parfait Use fresh or frozen fruit to make a midwinter healthy treat.

Busy Family Meals The best chocolate cookies Cyndi has ever had. Ever!

Butterfinger Buzz A review of Nestle's new caffeinated candy bar -- a twist on an old favorite!

Cooking Gadgets Cyndi has two Smith's Edge knife sharpeners to give away this weekend!

Mardi Gras Cocktail Recipe A delicious recipe for your Mardi Gras celebration

Quilled Pastry Hearts with Key Lime Curd You can make quilled hearts out of paper or get really creative and make them from frozen puff pastry.

School Lunch Variations Mary Emma at Country Kitchen chats about school lunches past and present and gives you a recipe for Mayonnaise Cake.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Time Saving Tips for the Quilter

I often write about home businesses, since freelance writing often is considered one. I've also operated other businesses from our home, such as making quilts and related items.

So when Susan Gunelius invited me to write a guest post at her Women on Business blog gives, I provided 10 Tips On Finding Time for Your Home Business.
Hopefully these tips will be particularly helpful if you're balancing family and business.

Incidentally, writing guest posts is an enjoyable way for an author or quiltmaker to visit other blogs and web sites and make their presence known.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day from Quilter's Potpourri

Happy Valentine's Day!

May this be a special day for you.

We have been enjoying Valentine's Day flowers, cards and candy. This was a fun day at school yesterday with the Valentine parties.

Today the children in our household are enjoying it, too.

I've been drinking Assam tea today while chatting with a friend about quilts and quiltmaking.

Friday, February 06, 2009

Quilters & Families Celebrate Valentine's Day

Do you and your family participate in Valentine's Day festivities?

This was a fun family day when I was a youngster because Mother made it so. She had been a school teacher and held parties for her students. Thus, she incorporated some of these ideas into festivities for my sister, two brothers and me, even though she was a busy farm wife.

  • *Mother often decorated a cake with white frosting and red hearts. When we were old enough, sister and I did this for her.
  • *She helped us children decorate a mail box for our cards. We had a family fun time making and addressing valentines for family members. When we were in school we had exchanges there, too.
  • *Mother planned a special night meal for Valentine's Day, with the cake and fruit for dessert. There was only our family...four children, Mother, Father and the hired man...but we had a joyous time.
  • *We made decorations to hang around the kitchen (the warmest room in our farmhouse during winter), and name cards for each place setting.

Suggestions:

The Night Before Valentine's Day (picture book)

Where Is Baby's Valentine (lift-a-flap book)

My Fuzzy Valentine (Sesame Street Board Book)

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (DVD)

Disney Valentine Assortment

What do you do for Valentine's Day at your house?

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Will Obama Limit What You Can Earn in Your Quilt Related Business?

As Obama proposes to limit the amount of money corporate executives can make, don't jump up and down with glee and cheer. This is only the first step to wage control, class envy and socialism in our country. It smacks of Hitlerism, Leninism, Stalinism, Castroism and other economic controls that dictators impose.

You think this may be good. Those big, bad executives are making more than I do, you think with jealousy. They're making too much money and receive too many perks, you say, for operating corporations that furnish jobs, products, and incentives to maintain the United States as a democracy, not a dictatorship.

What happens when there are wage and profit limits put on your quilting business? What happens when someone like Patricia Bolton, who founded the Quilting Arts business in her barn, reaches the level she has achieved through hard work, creativity and risk? Will she be penalized and told she can only achieve a certain level in income and profits? Will she be told that if she makes over a specific amount with her business, she'll have to give it to those who aren't willing to work but want to live on the dole?

Our country and economy will become a very unsuccessful one if incentives and opportunity for achievement and success are taken away from it's citizens.