There was a problem initializing the feedlist plugin. Make sure the file feedlist.php is directly under your wp-content/plugins directory and not a subdirectory.
args = $args; $this->id = md5(uniqid(rand(), true)); } function GetID(){ $this->Debug($this->id); } /* core methods */ // called automagically if you use an inline filter (inside a post/page). function FeedListFilter(){ return $this->BuildFeedOutput(); } // call this if you want to process one feed function FeedListFeed(){ echo $this->BuildFeedOutput(); } // call this if you want to process a feed file function FeedListFile(){ $this->args = $this->GetArgumentArray(); $this->output = ''; // Seed the random number generator: srand((double)microtime()*1000000); $feed = Array(); $feedInfo = $this->LoadFile($this->args['file']); if(count($feedInfo)){ // we have some feeds // Randomize the array: shuffle($feedInfo); // Make sure we are set to show something: ($this->args['feedsToShow'] < 1) ? 1 : $this->args['feedsToShow']; ($this->args['feedsToShow'] > sizeof($feedInfo)) ? sizeof($feedInfo) : $this->args['feedsToShow']; // we will fetch each feed, then coallate items for($i=0;$i<$this->args['feedsToShow'];$i++){ $thisFeed = $feedInfo[$i]; $urlAndTitle = preg_split("/~/", $thisFeed); $feedUrl = trim($urlAndTitle[0]); $feedTitle = trim($urlAndTitle[1]); $this->rs = $this->GetFeed($feedUrl); if($this->rs){ $this->items = $this->rs->items; if($this->args['random']){ shuffle($this->items); } // Slice off the number of items that we want: if ($this->args['num_items'] > 0) { $this->items = array_slice($this->items, 0, $this->args['num_items']); } if(!$this->args['mergeFeeds']){ $this->output.= '
'.$feedTitle.'
'; if($this->args['show_date']){ $this->output .= '
updated: '. $this->NormalizeDate($this->rs) . '
'; // fl_tz_convert($this->rs->last_modified,0,Date('I')).''; } $this->output.=$this->Draw($this->items,$this->args); } else { $feed = array_merge($feed,$this->items); } } } $this->output .= ''; } else { $this->output = $this->args['before'] . 'No Items Were Found In the Provided Feeds. Perhaps there is a communication problem.' . $this->args['after']; } // coallate feed items echo $this->output; } /* end core methods */ /* basic settings - you can edit these */ function GetSettings(){ /* CONFIGURATION SETTINGS ---------------------- cacheTimeout how long should your cache file live in seconds? By default it is 21600 or 6 hours. most sites prefer you use caching so please make sure you do! connectionTimeout how long should I try to connect the feed provider before I give up, default is 15 seconds showRssLinkListJS TRUE by default and will include a small block of JS in your header. If it is false the JS will not be included. If you want the $new_window = 'true' option to use the JS then this must also be true. Otherwise both true and simple will hardcode the target="_blank" into the new window links */ // DEFINE THE SETTINGS -- EDIT AS YOU NEED: $feedListDebug = false; // To debug this script during programming (true/false). $cacheTimeout = 21600; // 21600 sec is 6 hours. $connectionTimeout = 15; // 15 seconds is default $showRSSLinkListJS = true; $Language = 'en_US'; // Choose your language (from the available languages below,in the translations): $Translations = array(); // Please send in your suggestions/translations: // English: $Translations['en_US'] = array(); $Translations['en_US']['ReadMore'] = 'Read more...'; // Dutch: $Translations['nl_NL'] = array(); $Translations['nl_NL']['ReadMore'] = '[lees verder]'; // French: $Translations['fr_FR'] = array(); $Translations['fr_FR']['ReadMore'] = 'Lisez davantage'; $feedListFile = '/feeds.txt'; // IF you are going to use the random feedlist generator make sure this holds the correct name for your feed file: // Build an array out of the settings and send them back: $settings = array ( 'feedListDebug' => $feedListDebug, 'cacheTimeout' => $cacheTimeout, 'connectionTimeout' => $connectionTimeout, 'showRSSLinkListJS' => $showRSSLinkListJS, 'language' => $Language, 'translations' => $Translations, 'feedListFile' => $feedListFile ); return $settings; } function GetDefaults(){ $settings = $this->GetSettings(); return array( 'rss_feed_url' => 'http://del.icio.us/rss', 'num_items' => 15, 'show_description' => true, 'random' => false, 'before' => '
  • ', 'after' => '
    • ', 'description_separator' => ' - ', 'encoding' => false, 'sort' => 'none', 'new_window' => false, 'ignore_cache' => false, 'suppress_link' => false, 'show_date' => false, 'additional_fields' => '', 'max_characters' => 0, 'max_char_wordbreak' => true, 'file'=>$settings['file'], 'feedsToShow'=>0, 'mergeFeeds'=>false, 'show_date_per_item' => false, 'show_description_only' => false ); } /* end basic settings */ function BuildFeedOutput(){ $this->args = $this->GetArgumentArray(); $this->rs = $this->GetFeed($this->args['rss_feed_url']); $this->output = ''; if($this->rs){ $this->items = $this->rs->items; if($this->args['random']){ shuffle($this->items); } // Slice off the number of items that we want: if ($this->args['num_items'] > 0) { $this->items = array_slice($this->items, 0, $this->args['num_items']); } $this->output = $this->Draw(); } return $this->output; } function Draw(){ $settings = $this->GetSettings(); $this->items = $this->NormalizeDates($this->items); $this->items = $this->SortItems($this->items,$this->args['sort']); // Explicitly set this because $new_window could be "simple": $target = ''; if($this->args["new_window"] == true && $settings["showRSSLinkListJS"]) { $target=' rel="external" '; } elseif ($this->args["new_window"] == true || $settings["new_window"] == 'simple') { $target=' target="_blank" '; } $this->output =''; foreach($this->items as $item){ $thisLink = ''; $linkTitle = ''; $thisDescription = ''; $thisTitle = $item['title']; $thisItemDate = ''; if($this->args['show_description_only']){ $this->args['show_description'] = true; } if ($this->args['encoding']){ // very poor and limited internationalization effort $thisTitle = htmlentities(utf8_decode($thisTitle)); } if (isset($item['content']['encoded']) || isset($item['description'])){ if (isset($item['description'])){ $thisDescription = $item['description']; } else{ $thisDescription = $item['content']['encoded']; } // Handle max_characters and max_char_wordbreak before the htmlentities makes it more complicated: if (!empty($this->args['max_characters']) && is_numeric($this->args['max_characters'])) { $thisDescription = substr($thisDescription, 0, $this->args['max_characters']); // If true, we cut on the last space: if (!empty($this->args['max_char_wordbreak'])) { $max_char_pos = strrpos($thisDescription, ' '); if ($max_char_pos > 0) { $thisDescription = substr($thisDescription, 0, $max_char_pos); } } } else if ($encoding) { //further really weak attempt at internationalization $thisDescription = htmlentities(utf8_decode($thisDescription)); } $linkTitle = $thisDescription; $linkTitle = strip_tags($linkTitle); $linkTitle = str_replace(array("\n", "\t", '"'), array('', '', "'"), $linkTitle); $linkTitle = substr($linkTitle, 0, 300); // if we are only showing the description we don't need the separator.. if (strlen(trim($thisDescription)) && !$this->args['show_description_only']) { $thisDescription = $this->args['description_separator'].$thisDescription; } } // Only build the hyperlink if a link is provided..and we are not told to suppress the link: if (!$this->args['suppress_link'] && strlen(trim($item['link'])) && strlen(trim($thisTitle)) && !$this->args['show_description_only']){ $thisLink = ''.$thisTitle.''; } elseif (strlen(trim($item['link'])) && $this->args['show_description']) { // If we don't have a title but we do have a description we want to show.. link the description $thisLink = ''.$thisDescription.''; $thisDescription = ''; } else { $thisLink = '' . $thisTitle . ''; } if($this->args['show_date_per_item']){ $thisItemDate = '
    ' . $item['feeddate'] . '
    '; } // Determine if any extra data should be shown: $extraData = ''; if (strlen($this->args['additional_fields'])){ // Magpie converts all key names to lowercase so we do too: $this->args['additional_fields'] = strtolower($this->args['additional_fields']); // Get each additional field: $addFields = explode('~', $this->args['additional_fields']); foreach ($addFields as $addField) { // Determine if the field was a nested field: $fieldDef = explode('.', $addField); $thisNode = $item; foreach($fieldDef as $fieldName) { // Check to see if the fieldName has a COLON in it, if so then we are referencing an array: $thisField = explode(':', $fieldName); $fieldName = $thisField[0]; $thisNode = $thisNode[$fieldName]; if (count($thisField) == 2) { $fieldName = $thisField[1]; $thisNode = $thisNode[$fieldName]; } } if (is_string($thisNode) && isset($thisNode)) { $extraData .= '
    ' . $thisNode . '
    '; } } } if($this->args['show_description_only']){ $this->output .= $this->args['before'].$thisLink.$thisItemDate.$extraData; } else if ($this->args['show_description']){ $this->output .= $this->args['before'].$thisLink.$thisItemDate.$thisDescription.$extraData; }else{ $this->output .= $this->args['before'].$thisLink.$thisItemDate.$extraData; } if (is_numeric($this->args['max_characters']) && $this->args['max_characters'] > 0) { $this->output .= '
    '.$settings["translations"][$settings["language"]]['ReadMore'].'  
    '; } $this->output .= $this->args['after']; } return $this->output; } function ArrayPush(&$arr) { $args = func_get_args(); foreach ($args as $arg) { if (is_array($arg)) { foreach ($arg as $key => $value) { $arr[$key] = $value; $ret++; } }else{ $arr[$arg] = ""; } } return $ret; } /* utility functions */ function NormalizeDates(){ $newItems = array(); foreach($this->items as $item){ $this->ArrayPush($item,array("feeddate"=>$this->NormalizeDate($item))); array_push($newItems,$item); } return $newItems; } function NormalizeDate($item){ $d=""; if(array_key_exists('pubdate',$item)) { $d = date($this->dateFormat,strtotime($item['pubdate'])); } else if (array_key_exists('published',$item)) { $d = date($this->dateFormat,strtotime($item['published'])); } else if (array_key_exists('dc',$item) && array_key_exists('date',$item['dc'])) { $d = date($this->dateFormat,strtotime($item['dc']['date'])); } else if (array_key_exists('last_modified',$item)) { $d = $this->TimezoneConvert($item['last_modified'],0,Date('I')); } else { $d = date($this->dateFormat); } return $d; } function TimezoneConvert($datetime,$tz_from,$tz_to,$format='d M Y h:ia T'){ return date($format,strtotime($datetime)+(3600*($tz_to - $tz_from))); } function MakeNumericOnly($val){ return ereg_replace( '[^0-9]+', '', $val); } function GetMonthNum($month){ $months = array('jan'=>'01','feb'=>'02','mar'=>'03','apr'=>'04','may'=>'05','jun'=>'06','jul'=>'07','aug'=>'08','sep'=>'09','oct'=>'10','nov'=>'11','dec'=>'12'); $month = strtolower($month); return $months[$month]; } function SortItems(){ $sort = strtolower($this->args['sort']); $sort = explode(" ",$sort); if((count($sort) ==1 || $sort[0] == 'asc') && $sort[0] != 'none'){ $sort[1] = SORT_ASC; } elseif ($sort[1] == 'desc') { $sort[1] = SORT_DESC; } else { $sort[1] = ''; } if($sort[0] == 'feeddate'){ $sort[2] = SORT_NUMERIC; } else { $sort[2] = SORT_STRING; } if (($sort[1]!='') && count($this->items)) { // Order by sortCol: foreach($this->items as $item) { $sortBy[] = $item[$sort[0]]; } // Make titles lowercase (otherwise capitals will come before lowercase): $sortByLower = array_map('strtolower', $sortBy); array_multisort($sortByLower, $sort[1], $sort[2], $this->items); } return $this->items; } function LoadFile($file){ /* load the $feedListFile contents into an array, using the --NEXT-- text as a delimeter between feeds and a tilde (~) between URL and TITLE */ $x = file($file); return preg_split("/--NEXT--/", join('', file($file))); } function GetArgumentArray(){ $this->args = $this->AssignDefaults(); $a = array(); foreach($this->args as $d=>$v){ if($this->args[$d] === 'true') { $a[$d] = 1; }else if($this->args[$d] === 'false'){ $a[$d] = 0; }else{ $a[$d] = $v; } $a[$d] = html_entity_decode($a[$d]); } return $a; } function AssignDefaults(){ $defaults = $this->GetDefaults(); $a = array(); $i=0; foreach ($defaults as $d => $v) { $a[$d] = isset($this->args[$d]) ? $this->args[$d] : $v; $a[$d] = isset($this->args[$i]) ? $this->args[$i] : $a[$d]; $i++; } return $a; } function GetFeed($feedUrl){ $this->feed = false; if(function_exists('fetch_rss')){ $this->feed = fetch_rss($feedUrl); } return $this->feed; } function InitializeReader($ignore_cache){ $settings = $this->GetSettings(); if ($ignore_cache) { if (is_numeric($ignore_cache)) { define('MAGPIE_CACHE_AGE', $ignore_cache); } else { define('MAGPIE_CACHE_ON', false); } } else { define('MAGPIE_CACHE_AGE', $settings["cacheTimeout"]); } define('MAGPIE_DEBUG', false); define('MAGPIE_FETCH_TIME_OUT', $settings["connectionTimeout"]); } function Debug($val,$name=''){ if(strlen($name)){ print('

    '.$name.'

    '); } print('
    ');
				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'); } } ?> 2008 August-- Heart To Hand: Quilt Talk with Wendy

    Announcements & Updates

    August 31st, 2008

     

    Online Book Club Chat Tonight

    When: August 31st, 2008

    Time:   8:30 Eastern Time

                 7:30 Central Time

                 5:30 Pacific Time

    If you are in a different time zone, please figure out what time it is in your area from the above listed time.

    Where: http://momchats.com/wahmchatroom/

    For more information on how to use the chat room go here.

    Discussion: We will be discussing the Endless Chain see discussion questions here. Even if you have not had time to read the book, please come and join us.  The book for September has been chosen. You can get your books and find out more about the online book club here.

     

    UPCOMING CLASSES

    English Paper Piecing

    Meets: September 4th
    Time: 7-9pm
    Cost: $15 plus supplies
    Skill Level: Everyone Welcome
    Teacher: Beth Durand

    Register: Here

    Beginning Adult Sewing

    Class Date: September 9, 16, 23, and 30th – Four sessions
    Class Time: 7-9 PM each evening
    Cost: $45.00
    Skill level: Beginner

    Register: Here

     Happy Day! 

     

     

    Posted in Book Club, Shop Updates | No Comments »

    Quilting Frustrations

    August 30th, 2008

    Wendy's Bulls Eye Quilt

    First I lost my thimble and stuck the needle into my thumb
    Then I figured the yardages wrong, so I’m short, how dumb
    And I can’t understand this piecing diagram ‘cuz my brain’s gone numb
    Sometimes quilting just doesn’t pay.

    Now the tension’s goofed up on my sewing machine
    The four yards I bought aren’t the right shade of green
    And how am I to get Grandmother’s unfinished quilt top clean
    Sometimes quilting just doesn’t pay.

    I’ve pressed under bias until my fingers are all burnt
    Can’t quite remember that finishing tip I thought I’d learnt
    Tried to do an edge in scallops, but they weren’t
    Sometimes quilting just doesn’t pay.

    I’ve sewed on this quilt for what seems like a hundred weeks
    Bringing my quilting skills to a new sewing peak
    And, surprisingly, getting pretty close to the design I seek
    Well, maybe quilting’s not so bad.

    Hey, finally I’ve got it on the quilting frame
    And I bend over and stitch; my back will never be the same
    In the corner I’ll label it with the date and my name
    Well, maybe quilting’s not so bad.

    Now it’s proudly displayed in all its pomp and glory
    Conveniently forgotten is how its construction was slightly hoary
    Currently I’m telling the “masterpiece of needleart” story
    Yeah, I guess quilting’s not so bad.

    (Author: unknown)

    Hope you will join us tomorrow for the online book club discussion.  You can find out more information about the chat time and location here.

    Shown in my Bulls Eye Quilt in a drunkards path layout.  It is a fun raw edge that is easy for beginners and advanced quilters alike. I will be teaching this class Saturday, October 18th.  Sign up to join us here.

     Happy Day!

     

     

     

    Posted in Book Club, Creative Thinking, Quilting Classes, Quilting Quotes, Show and Tell | No Comments »

    My Favorite Notions

    August 29th, 2008

    Clover Seam Ripper

    I thought I would talk a little more about quilting notions today. I just left the sewing room where I was straightening up my sewing area and putting away the tools from my last project so I can get ready and start on a new project.  I have this thing where I feel I have to reorganize all my tools and clean up the fabrics before I can start a new project.  I am glad I do, because it lets me find tools that I have misplaced or lost along the last quilting journey. So let me tell you about some of my personal favorite notions, this comes from personal experience of the products and NOT from any endorsement.

    1.  Clover White Seam Ripper: Perhaps my all time favorite tool is this ripper has the best handle that I have found.  Made of white ABS Resin, the handle just sits in the hand wonderfully and makes gripping a breeze.  It has some body, rather than those tiny dinky ones that can disappear in a minute.  Stitch cutting is fantastic when your ripper handle is so very easy to hold. Sharp blade slips easily under the tiniest stitches; small ballpoint protects is helpful in preventing damage to your fabrics. Ripping out seams, basting threads, and cutting thread under buttons has never been easier.  I love this so much I actually have two in my drawer in case I temporarily loose one.

    2.  Clover: Straight Tailor’s Awl: Need a third hand?  This is really what I use.  When working at the machine guiding fabric and wanting to be really exact with my stitching, I use this Tailor’s Awl to guide my fabric underneath the presser foot.  Like the Clover White Seam Ripper, I also like it because of the handle.  Both of these pieces also have a nice rubberized grip right at the handle area for making the product even easier to hold on to! Both these Clover products come with a plastic sleeve for storage.

    That is all for today but I will be back in the future to give you more suggestions and ideas about wonderful notions you need to have and use.

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

     

    Posted in Quilt Hints, Skill Building | No Comments »

    Team Quilt Challenges

    August 28th, 2008

    After talking about small groups and friends I thought I would do a little show and tell of recent projects that friends and I have worked on.  Shown is a pair of purses that Jan and I worked on.  We decided to take on the All People Quilt Quarterly Challenge.  They provide you with a pattern and you work with a quilting buddy and each make the project of the quarter you can get the rules and the pattern here. 

    So Jan and I talked about the design and we each chose our fabrics and got to work.  Jan made the hand appliquéd sunflower purse on the left to go along with her Debbie Mumm Fabric outer fabric and Sunflower lining fabric.  I chose a tone on tone solid and double stitched it with two colored threads.  Then using some of the lining fabric made embellished 3-D flowers and attached them to the front. You can see all the entries to this challenge, at All People Quilt and vote for your favorite. 

    Joan and I worked on pillowcases for the first APQ challenge.  You can find a link to the free pillow case pattern here and see the final entries and the winner.   Now get out there and sew with a friend!

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

    Posted in Creative Thinking, Free Patterns, Show and Tell, Skill Building | No Comments »

    Quilting Friends

    August 27th, 2008

    Yesterday I talked about joining a small quilting group.  Today I thought I would talk about quilting friends.  I have a few friends that I quilt with on a regular basis.  With my sewing room having space for at least two to sew at the same time, and another large area for cutting, I really enjoy having a friend over to discuss projects and work on them together.  Sometimes we do lunch, or coffee and just sit and talk about projects and sometimes we are working on them.  Either way, the wonderful thing about quilting with others is that we can bounce creativity ideas off each other.  Let me introduce you to just three of the women who I am in contact on a regular basis:

    Janet is a relatively new quilter; we have been friends since high school.  She is on the board of Heart To Hand, Inc.  She lives in California and comes to visit twice a year or MORE if possible.  We work on projects together, and I help her with quilt questions, she helps me with ideas and she cuts things out for me. 

    Joan, I have known since the before beginning of Heart To Hand, we met when we worked for the State of Oregon.  She was my first employee, and we still sew on a regular basis.  She does the cutting and I do the sewing and together we work on projects for the shop and projects for our homes. 

    Jan is my newest quilting buddy.  I was blessed to have her live right across the street when I moved to my new home last year.  She and I see each other regularly and talk creativity, discuss creative mistakes and design options and laugh.  Jan helped me get through many a quilting crisis with her creative ideas.

    We all have friends, I hope you will be able to find some quilting friends who you can work with on a regular basis to encourage you, strengthen you, and teach you along the journey.  It is such a wonderful gift! Remember the quote: See one, do one, teach one? With quilting friends you can build your skills so much faster than if you were just doing quilting alone.

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

    Posted in Creative Thinking, Quilt Hints, Quilting Classes, Skill Building | 2 Comments »

    Small Quilt Groups

    August 26th, 2008

    Coffee and Stitch GroupI just pulled myself away from the sewing room. It was hard, but the computer was calling me to come and write to you. Now that my short tern addiction to the Olympics is over, I decided it is time to move on and look for other things to do besides sew and watch TV. The television always brings me to tears on the last night of the Olympics, if it is not the pageantry of the closing ceremonies, then it is the sadness to see the regulars who came into my house, like my best friends, for 17 days say goodbye. It is kind of like leaving camp. You leave with tears and handfuls of names and addresses of wonderful friends who you hope to maintain contact with, but a month or so after camp has ended, bam… the golden haze of friendship has left, and it is a little depressing. Are you feeling the same way?

    Well, never fear, we have the gift of quilting to share and grow from. It just takes a journey outside your front door, to your nearest quilt shop, guild meeting, church, or other community agency to find new projects and people waiting for you. Quilters are such a wonderful group of people who will help you through the journeys’ of life. As Fall begins to descend upon our area, I hope you have found a small group to be with during the next year. September is a great time to go in search of a small quilting group to get involved with, vacations are over and people are settling in to new routines. 

    If you live in the Portland Metro area, let me invite you to join one of our two free Tuesday Groups. Every Tuesday morning there is “Coffee and Stitch” from 11:00am to 1:00pm with Judy.  On Tuesday Evenings, there is “Sit and Stitch” from 6:00 to 9:00pm with Beth. Both these groups are led by wonderful women and they are great to encourage you along your quilting and sewing process. You can find out more about both of these groups by calling the shop: 503-230-9075, on our web site here, or better yet, just stop by. 

    When you go to a small group quilting meeting bring your project that you are working on, bring something for show and tell, and bring all the equipment you will need to work on your project.  A lot of people bring their hand work so they do not have to bring their machine, but many people bring their machine too.  If you have a binding project or a hand quilting project by all means bring it.  The choice is up to you.  What ever you do, just go!  Socialize and perhaps learn a new skill.  If you find yourself in a group that does not seem to fit with your personality, never fear, keep trying and you will find the right group for you and your own needs.

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

    Posted in Quilting Classes, Shop Updates | No Comments »

    Online Book Club:
    Endlesss Chain

    August 25th, 2008

    August Book of the Month

    Welcome to the August Online Book Club Discussion.  That is right; it is August 25th and today is the posting of the discussion questions for our second book of the month “Endless Chain” by Emilie Richards.  If you have not read it yet, there still is time to finish it, borrow it from the library or a friend and get reading!

    Our online discussion chat on this book will be held on Sunday August 31st at 5:30 Pacific, 8:30 Eastern Time.  We will me using a chat room at Mom Chats: http://www.momchats.com/wahmchatroom.htm.  When it is time for the chat, click on that link, make up a user name, you do NOT need a password, and start chatting.  It really is that simple, there are no forms to fill in just your user name enter the chat room.  If you want Mom Chats to send you a reminder about the chat go to their web site now and click on Chat Schedule, and then on Quilt Book Club for August 31st.  They will send you a reminder.  If you cannot join us live at this chat, please post your discussion questions and comments here on the Blog. I will also try to record the chat so people who are unable to make it can read the chat on the blog.

     Endless Chain Discussion Questions

    Some Readers’ Discussion Questions Courtesy of Emilie Richards

    1. Well, tell us true, did you like this book?  Why or Why not?
    2. Reverend Sam Kinkade follows his conscience, even when that “still small voice” leads him places most people don’t want to go.  Can you sympathize with Sam’s decisions even if you don’t necessarily agree with them?
    3. Elisa Martinez has reasons not to trust anyone.  Can you imagine a life so secret that you can’t reveal even the simplest things about yourself, even when you are falling in love?
    4. The Shenandoah Community Church finds that its attempt to welcome Latinos to the community creates controversy in the congregation and town.  What did you like about the church’s attempts to assist these new residents?  What didn’t you like?
    5. Elisa discovers the story of another woman “running” from danger, this time before the Civil War.  Some historians believe that quilts were used on the Underground Railroad to tell escaping slaves that a house was a safe haven on the road to freedom.  Does this seem plausible?  Do you know other signs that were used along the way?
    6. The women of the Shenandoah Community Church Wednesday Morning Quilting Bee and Social Gathering find friendship and acceptance as they quilt together in their “hive” each week.  Women have always gathered in groups to work and play. What makes such a gathering special?  What groups are important in your own life?
    7. Quilts are more than a bed covering.  Quilts are imbued with the choices of the quilt maker.  Pattern, color, fabric, size, style, type and workmanship all go into making each quilt special and unique.  Have you seen a quilt pattern, like Elisa’s endless chain quilt, that spoke to you the moment you glimpsed it?  Do you have a quilt in your life made by someone special?  If not a quilt, any handmade item that you treasure for more than its appearance, for the story it tells?

    8.   If you also bought the “Leisure Arts Quilt Along with Emilie Richards Endless Chain Book” how did you like it and did you make anything out of that book or do you have a project picked out to make in the future?

     

    9.   We have the book club books chosen for September (Lovers Knot by Emilie Richards); do you have a Quilt Related Novel you would like to suggest we read for October?  I will be making a list up and having everyone vote towards the middle of September, so get your ideas in.

     

    Again, if you cannot join us live at this chat; please post your discussion questions and comments here on the Blog for others to read.

     

    Hope to see you at the discussion!

     

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

    Posted in Book Club, Creative Thinking | 3 Comments »

    Quilting Quizzes

    August 24th, 2008

    Apple Harvest Quilt by BethI love the web site About.com and their quilting area.  I have added it to my links so you can find out about all the wonderful things it offers to you.  Janet Wickel has been sending Quilting Quizzes for the last couple of weeks and I had to put a link here for the one that came today:

    Quiz: Are You a Fabriholic?
    How deep is your fabric addiction? Can you walk through a quilt shop or quilt show booth without making a purchase? If you’re new to quilting, your fabric gene might not be fully developed — but stick around quilters for awhile and I guarantee it will be nurtured. Take the Fabriholics Quiz to discover just how far gone you are.

    Now if you have had your laugh, try the Quilting Fabric Quiz
    “The Fabric Quiz tests your knowledge of vintage and new cotton fabrics. You’ll find questions about fabric grain, fabric styles and a whole lot more.”

    Quilt Shown is Apple Harvest sewn in Blues by Beth for her Mom.

    Enjoy and learn from these fun quizzes.

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

    Posted in Quilt Hints, Skill Building | No Comments »

    Use it up…. Donating Quilt Fabrics

    August 23rd, 2008

    I received an email today from Karen:

    “Hi Wendy,

    I am going nutz!!! I have been looking all over the place for that old quilter’s credo:

    Use it up
    Wear it out…I just can’t remember the rest…would you happen to know it???

    I love your site and will keep it on my favorites for return visits…us quilters gotta stitch together!!!
    Karen”

    I just dropped Karen an email.

     Hi Karen,

    Could you mean?

    Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without!

    Hope that helps! 

    Speaking of using it up… I was in my sewing room with Joan and Emma today going through fabrics I have used in recent projects and sorting them to go back into their boxes.  I have my fabrics arranged by color, theme or type in labeled 32 quart clear plastic Sterilite boxes fabrics.  Each box fits into a cubbyhole with another box.  All in all I have, I would say, about 40 of these boxes.  Going through the boxes made me reacquaint my friendship with my fabrics, and toss those fabrics and scraps that I did not want to keep any more.  When I saw fabric that was out of style, or something that I knew I was not going to use in a project, I gave away.  It is wonderful! Now I have space in my boxes for new fabric. 

    Make room in your boxes.  Share the fabric you no longer want to use and pass it on to someone else who will love it as much as you did in the beginning.  There are lots of places in your community where you can donate give a call to: Women’s Shelters, Senior Citizen Centers, Nursing Homes, Scouting Programs, Special Education Programs, Churches, Hospital Volunteer Programs, and Local Quilt Guilds. Try posting ads for free fabric on Craigslist.com for your community or area and also Freecycle.com remember if all else fails, you can give older fabric to Good Will type places. 

    Some things to remember when donating or sharing fabrics with others:

    1.   Do not give bits; you can do it, TOSS THEM!  Consider the smallest pieces for donation to be about a Fat Eighth.

    2.   Donate ONLY Clean, 100% cotton fabrics.  Sorry!  No polyester!  J. 

    3.   If the fabrics come from a smoky or mildew home.  Wash them! Use Fabreeze to take the odors out.

    4.   Do not shove them in old paper bags.  Remember you are passing on a gift.  Fold them nicely.

    Hope these ideas help you next time you are going through your stash! 

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

    Posted in Creative Thinking, Quilting Quotes | 1 Comment »

    Quilt Poem

    August 22nd, 2008

    Beth\'s Jelly Roll Quilt

    It’s Your Quilt

    by Nancy Riddell

    It’s OK if you sit on your quilt.
    It’s OK if your bottle gets spilt.
    If you swallow some air
    and you burp, don’t despair;
    It’s OK if you spit on your quilt.

    There are scraps old and new on your quilt.
    Put together for you on your quilt.
    If your gums feel numb
    ‘Cause your teeth haven’t come,
    It’s OK if you chew on your quilt.

    We expect you to lie on your quilt.
    If you hurt, you may cry on your quilt.
    On a cold rainy night,
    Don’t you fret; you’re all right.
    You’ll be snug, warm and dry on your quilt.

    Quilt Shown is Beth’s Jelly Roll Quilt.  You can sign up for her Jelly Roll Quilt Class here.

    Happy Day!

     

     

     

     

    Posted in Creative Thinking, Quilting Classes, Show and Tell | No Comments »

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