Blisstree » Quilting & Patchworking

Quilters, Turn the Clocks Ahead Tonight for Daylight Saving Time

Mary Emma Allen — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 00:42:26 +0000

Tonight we turn our clocks ahead…and get up an hour earlier in the morning. I enjoy the longer evenings of daylight and somehow find I get so much more done. Do you find this allows you more time for quilting, or do you find the darker winter evenings more condusive to quilting.

However, until the year approaches its longest day, in June, our mornings remain darker. If we’re earlier risers, we’ll find it dark or dawn. But…we may have the glorious adventure of watching the sunrise rather than having it fully daylight when we get up.

Do you find Daylight Savings Time affecting your schedule and lifestyle?

For further information about Daylight Saving Time…it’s history and facts and figures:

About Daylight Saving Time (a web site)

Books:

Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time by David Prerau

Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time by Michael Downing

Time for Change: Setting Clocks Forward by One Hour Throughout the Year by Mayer Hillman

Crafting Springtime Gifts: 25 Adorable Projects Featuring Bunnies, Chicke, Lambs & Other Springtome Favorites by Tone Finnanger

The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

For information on obtaining these books, check out my pages, Books About Spring & Daylight Saving Time.

(Amazon image)

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Quilters, Turn the Clocks Ahead Tonight for Daylight Saving Time

Resources for Identifying & Dating Quilts & Fabric

Mary Emma Allen — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:52:17 +0000

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

(Amazon image)

Post from: Blisstree

Resources for Identifying & Dating Quilts & Fabric

Lunches for Quilters & Tots

Mary Emma Allen — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:00:58 +0000

Do you scurry around making school lunches, getting snacks ready, or checking the hot lunch menu if you have youngsters at home? If you’re working outside the home at quilting or other employment, do you wonder what to take?

I’ve written about this topic at my Mary Emma’s Country Kitchen blog, under School Lunch Variations, covering school lunches from my mom’s day to the present when my grandchildren take lunch and snacks to school. There certainly have been changes over the years.

You’ll also find a recipe for Mayonnaise Cake, something we made often during my childhood for dessert at home and a lunch box special.

What do you do so lunch box time isn’t so mundane and a frantic rush?

Incidentally, do you make quilted or patchwork lunch boxes or carriers?

(Ghirardelli Chocolate image at Amazon)

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Lunches for Quilters & Tots

Quilt Shopping Specials on Super Bowl Sunday

Mary Emma Allen — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:52:37 +0000

Some quilt shops are open on Super Bowl Sunday for those who aren’t interested in watching the game. Check around your area and see if you can find a place to browse, chat and buy with other quilters. Perhaps you can even make it an afternoon outing while the rest of your family are captivated by the TV.

Jean Murray, of Home Biz Notes, mentioned in a comment on my post, Super Bowl Fabrics for Super Quilting Projects,

No fabrics, but one of the local quilt shops is having a special sale on Sunday. I’ll be the first in line!
This is a great day to relax and browse in peace while everyone else is home watching the football game.

You probably also will find online specials at some online quilting stores for this day.

What about you? If you can’t find a quilt shop open on Super Bowl Sunday, perhaps you’ll be working on your quilting projects as you join your family for the game.

(I admit I won’t be watching. We don’t get very good TV reception where we are.)

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Quilt Shopping Specials on Super Bowl Sunday

Exciting New Book About Digital Quilt Designing

Mary Emma Allen — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:00:05 +0000

My daughter Beth has been experimenting with the techie aspects of quilt and fabric art design lately. She discovered a new book she finds exciting and easy to understand. Also, rather than being solely technical, it’s directed toward quilts and quilters, Beth says.

For more information about Digital Essentials by Gloria Hansen, check out Beth’s Meandering Threads blog.

(Amazon image)

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Exciting New Book About Digital Quilt Designing

The Quiltmaker’s Gift & Related Quilt Pattern Books

Mary Emma Allen — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 03:13:36 +0000

When I wrote an initial post about the children’s story book, The Quiltmaker’s Gift, I didn’t realize the interest it eventually would evoke. One reader to my blog asked where she might find fabric with related designs on it, so I sent out her request in a post, Fabric to Represent Story Books, Particularly The Quiltmaker’s Gift.
Then I discovered there were books with quilt patterns to accompany the picture book and wrote about them in Follow-up Books for the Quiltmaker’s Gift.

The Quiltmaker’s Gift

Quilts From the Quiltmaker’s Gift

More Quilts From the Quiltmaker’s Gift

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The Quiltmaker’s Gift & Related Quilt Pattern Books

Quilt/Fabric Art Books about Bird Patterns & Designs

Mary Emma Allen — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:33:46 +0000

Bird Patterns & Designs
As I discussed bird designs on my blog, a spin-off of National Bird Day, I discovered a number of books for quilters and fabric artists that provide bird patterns and designs, along with ideas on incorporating feathered friends into your projects.

Feathered Friends: 18 Paper-Pieced Blocks for Bird Lovers by Jette Norregaard Neilsen

Backyard Bird Quilts: 18 Paper-Pieced Projects by Jodie Davis

Applique Takes Wings: Exquisite Designs for Birds, Butterflies and More by Jane Townswick

Exotic Birds Critter Works Applique Quilting Pattern

Memories of a Lifetime: Birds and Butterflies: Artwork for Scrapbooks and Fabric-Transfer Crafts by Nancy Rosin

Do you have any more to add to our list? Books and patterns you’ve found especially useful?

(Amazon image)

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Quilt/Fabric Art Books about Bird Patterns & Designs

My Fav b5 Posts of the Week

Mary Emma Allen — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 21:00:14 +0000

Favorite Posts

Periodically b5 bloggers post their favorite posts of the week. I write three blogs at b5media, Alzheimer’s Notes, Quilting and Patchwork, and One Book Two Book. (The latter I co-blog with Marcie Pickelsimer.)

Sometimes it’s difficult to choose your very favorite for the week. However, here are the three for this week:

http://www.blisstree.com/…ilt-mysteries/

http://www.onebooktwobook.com/mary-e…storm-of-2008/

http://www.alzheimersnotes.com/not-h…-nursing-home/

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My Fav b5 Posts of the Week

Blogs/Sites for Beginning Quilters – Do You Know of Any?

Mary Emma Allen — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:00:10 +0000

Beginning Quilters

I have a friend interested in learning how to quilt. She received some patchwork baby blankets and is intrigued by this art. So she’d like to know about web sites and blogs that have good basic instruction.

I thought my readers might have knowledge of online places where she could find this information, essentially tutorials in beginning quiltmaking.

If you have or know of such a blog or web site, do let me know. I’ll post them here at Quilting and Patchwork, with links to the blogs, because there must be other beginners out there.

(Amazon image)

Post from: Blisstree

Blogs/Sites for Beginning Quilters – Do You Know of Any?