');
print_r($val);
print('');
}
/* end utility functions */
}
function rssLinkListFilter($text)
{
return preg_replace_callback("//", "feedListFilter", $text);
}
/* Templates can call any of these functions */
function rssLinkList($args){
if(!is_array($args)){
$args = func_get_args();
}
return feedList($args);
}
function feedList($args){
if(!is_array($args)){
$args = func_get_args();
}
$feed = new FeedList($args);
return $feed->FeedListFeed();
}
function randomFeedList($args){
if(!is_array($args)){
$this->args = parse_str($args,$a);
$this->args = $a;
}
$feed = new FeedList($args);
return $feed->FeedListFile();
}
function feedListFilter($args){
$args = explode(",",$args[1]);
if(count($args) == 1 && !strpos($args[0],":=")){
$a = array();
$a["rss_feed_url"] = $args[0];
$args = $a;
} else {
$a = array();
foreach($args as $arg){
$arg = explode(":=",$arg);
$a[$arg[0]] = $arg[1];
}
$args = $a;
}
$feed = new FeedList($args);
return $feed->FeedListFilter();
}
/* end template functions */
if (function_exists('add_filter'))
{
add_filter('the_content', 'rssLinkListFilter');
}
if(function_exists('FeedListInitError')){
add_action('admin_head','FeedListInitError');
}
if(function_exists('add_action')) {
function rssLinkList_JS(){
$jsstring = '
';
echo $jsstring;
}
$jsFeed = new FeedList('');
$settings = $jsFeed->GetSettings();
if($settings["showRSSLinkListJS"]){
add_action('wp_head', 'rssLinkList_JS');
}
}
?>
Blue Ribbon Days are here! The Oregon State Fair opened in Salem last week and runs through September 7th. There were some beautiful quilts shown at the Quilt Gallery and I thought I would share some pictures Dean took. Thanks so much to Jan and Dean for heading to the fair and reporting back! Keep in mind that the quilts at the fair are sometime hung up high so it makes it difficult to take photos.
Happy Day!
Wendy
Take some classes this month and learn a new sewing or quilting skill!
Happy Day!
Wendy
Be an Angel Day encourages us to do acts of kindness, and to help others. While it really is one day, August 22, 2009, I decided that it should be a week long, if not a year long event. It is a perfect day to do something for someone who does not even expect your intervention.
According to Earth Angel for Peace: “Be an angel dayis a non-profit, non-denominational event celebrated annually on AUGUST 22. This is a day on which people around the world are encouraged to be like the angels - God’s selfless servants - and ‘do one small act of service for someone; be a blessing in someones life.’ The 1st Annual BE AN ANGEL DAY was celebrated August 22, 1993.
As Quilters we often do a variety of things for others. I am repeatedly touched by the true kindness and offerings by my customers. Special handmade cards, patterns picked for me, offerings to be retail staff to assist when we get overwhelmed. They offer goodies from their garden, from their stash and mostly from their heart. I am forever grateful for each and every one of our wonderful customers.
Enjoy the week!
Wendy
This is Lars; he is 18 and just graduated from High School and is heading to Pacific University here in Oregon in the Fall. I remember when Lars was a tiny baby. He would sit in his car seat on the table between his mom and me while we ate bowls of Hungarian Mushroom Soup and Salad bar at Old Wives tales restaurant. Lars and his brother Noah came to the shop during this winter, because his Mom wanted to give him a quilt for his graduation. Lars is a real scholar and musician and chose books as his theme and Thimbleberries fabric for his colors. We looked at several patterns and he pointed out the aspects of the patterns he liked. I look all this information in and designed him a quilt. Beth worked on his quilt here at the shop and then did custom long arm quilting. Here it is all finished. Congratulations Lars!
Well it is Summertime, and the weather is warm. If you have kids, or even if you do not, you likely have made a pitcher or two of Kool-Aid or lemonade. I received this great article in the mail today from Quilting Arts Embellishment Newsletter. I knew when I read it, I just had to pass it on to you!
“Linda Sharp, whose needle-felted plum quilt was chosen to depict November in the 2010 Quilting Arts calendar, shares her technique and enthusiasm for Kool-Aid dyeing, a perfect summer activity.
Kool-Aid dyeing gives absolutely delicious colors to protein fibers,” says Linda. “This process is safe, inexpensive, and easy. The materials are readily available, it requires no special equipment, and it smells wonderful!
Materials
Optional: Candy thermometer, rubber gloves
Note: A good ratio to begin with is 1 package of Kool-Aid to 1 ounce of fiber. (Double this for the lemon flavor.) More Kool-Aid will give you stronger colors. You can mix colors if you’re feeling adventurous. Use unsweetened Kool-Aid and do not add sugar.
Directions
This is a great way to get a bit of silk or wool the color you want, to overdye a batch of garish fibers, or to get matching colors. Dye many batches now, and you’ll have a cache of beautifully colored fibers that smell like summer all winter long.”
Please send picture if you try this wonderful idea!
Happy Day!
Wendy
34th Annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show
Saturday, July 11, 2009
9:30 am to 5:00 pm
Invite your friends & family to join us for the most vibrant day of the year in Sisters. Over 1200 quilts from around the world will cover the 1880’s-style town in rich texture and color.
Quilt entry information for the 2009 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show is now available to download on their website. The brochure contains complete information about how to register quilts to enter in our show, this year’s Theme Contest and Quilt Block Contest and other Special Events planned for this year.
Happy Day!
Wendy
Weeble and I enjoyed some of the dog days of summer this past weekend as Oregon hit three consecutive days of over 100 degrees. Everyone knows that the “dog days of summer” occur during the hottest and muggiest part of the season. Webster defines “dog days” as… “The period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere.” If you are experiencing the dog days of summer in your area, here are a couple of wonderful projects to make for your loving pets.
Cozy Quilted Pet Bed: Quilts aren’t just for people anymore! Check out this step-by-step guide to make a comfy bed for your pet.
Dog Days of Quilting Block: From Simply Quilts an adorable pattern provided courtesy of quilt designer Amy Bradley.
Puppy and Cats Quilt: This darling quilt features a puppy and his cat friends. Fish and bones create a playful atmosphere for these pals.
Saw Tooth Cats: We used paper foundation piecing in a sawtooth pattern for the curved backs & tails of the cats as well as the borders. Ideas for quilt layout & color planning are included along with quilting template patterns & a marking template for the cats’ embroidered faces.
My Fury Friends: Two dogs and a cat sleep quietly under their nine-patch quilt. Select fabrics that match a favorite pet or add you own creative interpretation of each animal.
Finally, be sure to take a look at our collection of cat and dog fabrics. These are very popular and I always try to keep as many as possible in stock. You can see that the cats are way out winning the dog fabrics, but, Weeble and I will do our best to change that! Or to at least equal it a bit!
Happy Day!
It is county fair time. I have not been to a lot of county fairs in my time, but when I go, I simply love them. All the displays, crafts, treats, rides and oh yes, quilts!
I have been talking with just SOME of our customers and teachers here at the shop and wanted to share with you some ribbon winners from county fairs in the Portland Vancouver area.
Deb Carreno, who has taught some of our classes in the recent past, told me today that she won first place in the Clark County Fair for her version of my pattern “Cruising into the Sun”. This was one of the row by rows I designed a couple of years ago and I asked Deb to make a sample of it for Quilt Market. Here is a picture of it, I think you will agree that she did a fantastic job of choosing colors and making this quilt.
Beth Durand, shop staff, teacher and long arm quilter won a second this year in the Sandy Historical Society Quilt Show with her version of Baby Curves. Beth teaches a variety of classes at the shop here in Oregon City.
Beth won first last year with her hand stitched and hand quilted Grandmothers Flower Garden. She will be teaching this technique English Paper Piecing in early September.
Congratulations to both these wonderful women, who are truly such talented quilters! Be sure to send me pictures of your winners! We will add them here to the Blog!
Happy Day!
Back to school time again. If you have kids going out for the first time, to a dorm or their first apartment, you might consider making them some pillows to match that quilt you made for them to take along. Betsy and some of the ladies in my First Saturday class were talking about how their children use pillowcases for a variety of things. Betsy’s daughter just finished a hiking pilgrimage in Spain and Betsy made her daughter and her friend matching pillowcases to commemorate their adventure. The girls carried everything on their back, and did not take pillows, but just took pillowcases and stuffed something in them every night to use as their pillow. On laundry day they would use their pillowcase for laundry bags and they also used their pillowcase to carry their groceries back to their room.
I remember on year my friend Shelley and I made about 150 pillowcases for gifts for Christmas all in one weekend. We did everything on the serger, and even machine embroidered the cuffs with names and funny sayings. Pillowcases are great first time sewing projects for kids and adults. So here are some links to fun and easy sewing pillowcases.
Basic Pillowcase in Regular, Queen and King Sizes
Regular or Queen Size Pillowcase with decorative cuff and flange
Ruffle Pillow pattern for décor pillows
So many great ideas for such a very easy project you can make quite a few of these easy projects before the school bell even rings.
Happy Day!
As sewers and quilters we have an obligation to pass on to our children and grandchildren the wonderful joys that sewing can bring. A lot of people wonder when their child is ready to sew. Perhaps age is the least important of all criteria. Other criteria such as socialization, reading, dexterity and curiosity are much more important.
Age: When we teach children, we ask that students be a minimum of eight years old. However, I have taught younger, as they have met the following criteria
Reading Skill: Students should be able to read a basic reading book like Dr. Seuss or the Bernstein Bears.
Dexterity: Shoe-tying: can the student tie their shoes neatly and quickly? The bow should have even size loops; the tails should be mostly even, and the knot should be secure. Name-writing: can the student write their name in all the same size letters? All letters should be forward facing. Either all caps or the advanced caps/lower form is fine. Coloring: Can the student follow the lines and keep the colors where s/he wants them? Can the student outline a shape, and then color it in?
All of the above signifies a completion of the cognitive loop between the eye, the hand, and the brain. This is the stage at which sewing can be learned and remembered. The student is able to see what the hand is doing and make a correction while the task is underway. This is more advanced and desirable in student than seeing what needs to be corrected after the task is finished. Or noticing that a correction does not need to be made at all!
IS YOUR CHILD READY TO QUILT
Your child should be able to meet the above criteria listed PLUS:
1. Be able to set up their sewing machine themselves, thread their sewing machine and wind the bobbin and change a needle.
2. Sew the straight lines on binder paper without wobbling into the next line.
3. Be trustworthy with scissors and pins. If you do not want your student to use a rotary cutter in class I will be glad to give you the cutting directions BEFORE class starts. Just let me know in advance!
FOR SMALLER CHILDREN
Size has nothing to do with sewing. However if your child cannot sit in a chair and have their feet touch the floor, then have them use a small pillow. Then take a cardboard box and some duck tape or masking tape to attach the foot pedal to the box.
Happy Day!
