DO YOU OWN A KINDLE? Did you know you can lend and borrow e-books? Did you know that there is a great organization that aims to place a Kindle in the hands of each school student in developing nations - here's how you can help....

Today I read  about a really inspiring international group of people working in cooperation with educators in developing countries and with business partners in the book publishing industry to bring about changes in the ineffective and random way in which books have, up until now, been made available to students and their families in developing nations.

Check it out at:

 http://www.worldreader.org/how-we-operate.php

I'd like you to read about worldreader.org and get an idea of what their mission is and how they are accomplishing it.

This not-for-profit Non Governmental Organization has only been off the ground since November 2010 and yet they have had some remarkable successes in their pilot project and are about to launch a second project as well. Read through their website and see if their goals and methods are a fit for the way you look at problems and solve them, and then donate - it doesn't matter how little as long as we each give a bit.

Above: the international team working in Ghana.

Courtesy of  worldreader.org

Below, children in one of the first classrooms to start using Kindles in Ghana, are amazed at their new view of the world and with the fact they can take them home and share with their families.

                                                                      Courtesy of worldreader.org
                         
Next, go to the Booklending.com website's blog http://blog.booklending.com/2011/04/helping-worldreader-change-kids-lives-with-books/ and read about the fundraising partnership Catherine has set up to tap her large membership and encourage them to take a one month challenge to donate $5000 worth of Amazon gift cards to worldreader.org - you will note that Amazon has partnered to sell discounted first quality Kindles to worldreader for distribution, so your gift dollars go much farther.
Follow the instructions on Catherine's blog entry to make a donation - I just did, and I feel a whole lot prouder of myself!!!

Back to quilting in my next post!!
Bye for now - Janet
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Looking through my stash of books on quilting, taking stock of where I'm at....

(Lately, I've been feeling a little restless and unfocussed after a prolonged period of working on the same three projects. So as soon as I finished the first phase of one project, I gave myself a week's vacation. I feel the better for it!)

This is the time of year that I feel the need to go through my stash, my started but laid aside projects, books and patterns, and to weed out items I know I am not likely going to use - I set them aside for the Quilters' Gently Used table at the Quilts at the Harbour Show, which is held on the last weekend in September every year - this year is no exception, so put a ring around Saturday September 24, and Sunday September 25, 2011 and be sure to pop by - we'll be looking for you!  We always have great items for quilters to add to your stash!

The above two pictures are of several projects I completed over the last year or two - they vary from a small quilt, mattress and pillow with pillowcase  designed to fit the little doll's cradle also in the picture, and directly above an amish-style queen sized strippy Flying Geese quilt which was entirely handpieced and handquilted. I'm lately exploring another way to produce flying geese more quickly but just as accurately as these were done.

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At the moment, I'm completely out of fresh books and magazines to read and since I need to read an hour or two before turning out the light, I've begun going through my library of quilt books and periodicals.  I find this a really stimulating past time. Last night I was going through a Kaffe Fassett book (ISBN 1 - 56 - 158 - 650 - )

 and also "Homage to Amanda" (ISBN 1 - 55853 - 268 - 4)

These two books sound as though they might be at opposites in the interest spectrum, but early on in the book, Kaffe states his and his co-author Liza Prior Lucy's strong base in traditional vintage quilts. Stunning quilts and lots of great ideas and inspiration in both those books!

And of course I must remind you all of Fons and Porter's Complete Guide to Quilting - I cut my quilting teeth on this text and keep a copy handy as it has so many handy little boxces of highlighted tips - right now I need to look up the diagonal measurements of squares in order to estimate an on-point quilt's size.

Today, in between tidying up a few almost complete small projects on my work table, I have been going through one plastic tote of stash and finding a place to put some very tempting new pieces of fabric. This has led me to all sorts of new ideas and to poking through my computer files of inspiration pictures.

I have remembered a wonderful almost toile like fabric I liberated from a high end printed cotton skirt I bought at Frenchy's: it is a series of six old engravings rendered on raspberry, rose, and two shades of a dark taupe - the subject is a turn of the 20th century America's Cup race and I see a quilt in the economy quilt pattern as suggested above - I think later I'll get that fabric out and at least cut the interior blocks to be framed by some yet to be found additions from the stash - a nice tie in to my  http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/ projects - follow along as I get this new project started.

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And below some teasers from my two current major projects:

Launching a kayak from the wedding quilt I described some posts back - you'll be seeing more of this later..........

and

Above are the last blocks to be restored on the lovely heritage silk crazy quilt; the  final step is now the fancy embroidery stitches that need to be replaced in spots. You gotta love that printed-on flapper!!! Thank heavens that particular block survive the decades since the quilt was made in 1928!
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Talk to you later - hugs! Janet

Launching "A coastal Christmas"

Over the years I have collected many vintage treasures, mainly in the area of vintage china and pottery, fine vintage bed linens and a few carefully selected vintage and antique quilts.

This is in addition to my primary business of one of a kind quiltmaking to special order and my sister business of buying and selling vintage cross stitch and applique quilt kits (http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/) .

12 piece Japanese lustreware breakfast set

The time has come where I need to start dispersing my carefully selected treasures and I am opening a site called "A Coastal Christmas" (http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/) which will be both an online and a bricks and mortar resource, operating year round  for fine

vintage treasures out of my home here in Hall's Harbour, Nova Scotia. 

Sweet pair of  hand embroidered and picot edge pillowslips

Some of the items offered will overlap  with my other site - http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/, which sells a variety of vintage treasures, but most will be new and fresh to the market.

Double/queen hand embroidered and quilted - from a vintage kit

What I am offering is the opportunity to choose a lovely treasure that already has been pre-selectd  out of the less desirable items which usually make up the majority of vintage and antique items in shops and online.

If it had major defects I walked on by - I am choosy in what I buy and you will find no items with major defects here. If I would'nt display it myself - I won't sell it to you.

Late 1890's indigo and double pink flying geese quilt - immaculate!

This is particularly true of the vintage and antique quilts and the vintage bed linens I offer - you deserve to be able to display a clean undamaged quilt and linens on your bed, and you won't find anything else here.

So please go on over to http://www.acoastalchristmas.blogspot.com/ and view the items I have shown you above - along with details  and pricing. Remember, I am set up to take Paypal and am happy to discuss two or three equal monthly payments to secure your choices. Otherwise your personal cheque is acceptable in USD, other currencies please check with me first.

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Meanwhile, next week regular chatty blogging will resume. I've been very busy with commissions over the last couple of months, but that is easing slightly.

Until next week - cheers! Janet

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What I've Been Doing Lately - it certainly hasn't been blogging!

In terms of my current workload, there simply aren't enough hours in a day. I have a full plate - designing and working on a queen/king size wedding quilt; doing an appliqued art quilt which is one in a long series of art quilts for a very good return customer; working on a wholecloth queen sized quilt for another return customer; and restoring a beautiful circa 1928 silk crazy quilt. In addition I write and research a blog entry a week for a client and manage SEO for him; as well as researching and continually checking the secondary market in vintage quilt kits, both applique and cross stitch for my business at  http://www.novascotiaquilts.com/ 

No real excuses for losing my blogging mojo though, except for the fact that winter should be over and isn't! I admit to a certain amount of cabin fever and impatience and some of my local friends in my sidebar are saying the same thing.

On to a happier subject: Here is the centre block in a medallion of 9 blocks celebrating aspects of a recently married couple's life together. This particular block celebrates their wedding day, and when finished will be embroidered with their names and their wedding date. So it doesn't quite look finished, but I'm currently ready to move on and come back later to put the finishing touches on. The background is one of the Hoffman 1895 range of batiks as will be many other of the fabrics in the quilt. The 1895 range of colours is very pleasing, and the fabric is silky, soft and very closely woven so it is very stable and takes both embroidery and applique well. The appliques have been done using vintage floral prints and some more recent repro fabrics from the 1800's, and have been enhanced by embroidered details.  I hope you like it!

Maybe in the next few days I will have something to show you on the crazy quilt restoration, especially if we get a little natural daylight around her! The flash does unpredictable things to silk due to the silks' irridescence and lustre - the photographed colours are not true and tend to be far more harsh than they are in the flesh - oh well!
I must get going before the day is fully out of control - I need to bring some more wood into the house and make some supper casserole preparations as well as do a little more stitching.
Stay warm and look out on the ice - driveways are treacherous around here!
Hugs
Janet

CHECK OUT MY GUEST POST at http://www.coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com

I've just had my first ever guest post published on Jenna's blog: http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/

Needless to say, I'm just thrilled that Jenna is hosting my post on her blog!  Back in the fall, I quickly joined her wool CSA when she announced it and was lucky to get in as there is now a waiting list. I can hardly wait to receive the major shipment of this year's share which is expected to be sometime in late summer after her sheep are shorn and the wool processed and spun at a nearby mill.

Since I received two skeins and the hat I made for Jenna took less than one skein, I am going to knit another, smaller one for a baby or child this weekend and will show you the results as soon as it is finished and put up for sale on my shop: http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/ which in addition to vintage treasures features items for babies and children.

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In other news, the giveaway held by http://www.fiberfarm.com/blog in aid of Pete's Greens is over, having raised over $11,000 to help cover the uninsured loss by fire of the huge barn which supported the Pete's CSA, and I was among the lucky winners - I have won the entire selection of patterns published by "Champagne Maker" at: http://stitchpoet.blogspot.com/  I gave a child's size wholecloth quilt kit to the cause, and Julie, the winner will be receiving it in the mail very soon.

(I must apologize to all my various giveaway winners as this winter has seen a huge amount of snow and it has been very difficult for me to get out as I am somewhat disabled. I still have one set of prizes to go out on Monday - everything else is on its way!!!)

Hmmmmmm..... maybe something like this to make from Jenna's next shipment of wool? This lovely  selection of pretty patterns is going to really expand my horizons - I need to brush up on cables!!! Or maybe a lovely cowl - I'll also be getting that pattern - actually there will be over 30 arriving on my doorstep very soon!!! Yeay!!
Have to go take lunch out of the oven - catch you later.
Keep warm and safe this weekend.
Janet

A REALLY DESERVING GIVEAWAY

I received an email yesterday alerting me to a giveaway benefitting a young farmer in Vermont who lost his whole CSA storage and processing barn to fire two weeks ago - a loss of half a million dollars which is only partially covered by insurance, will make it difficult for him to get up and running again as he lost all his stock, freezers full of meats and his packing machinery and stores. His CSA offers meat, fresh vegetables and fruit and locally grown and processed grain. People in the localvore and green movement are rallying to his support and to the support of the organic CSA movement.
Check out what happened  at Pete's Greens website:  http://www.petesgreens.com/index.html  Then go to the site that is hosting the most amazing giveaway to benefit Pete's operation and help get him up and running again: http://www.fiberfarm.com/2011/01/a-friend-in-need

Even if you are unable to donate, you can still enter the giveaway, but you will have only until Feb 6 to do so - so hurry!
In the winter, I am always short of disposable income due to extra electric and snow clearing costs, but I always have lots of good things in my stash so I have offered the choice of one of two prizes:
1) A Benartex wholecloth quilt kit - all you add is the quilting thread and the quilt batting and I am also offering email support and advice to the first time hand quilter too!

OR 2)you may choose a $50 gift certificate to spend on my vintage treasures online boutique: http://www.funkybabymine.blogspot.com/  which features children's items, vintage handmade and embroidered houselinens, small vintage decorative items, etc.
Pop on over and check it out - just click on the button in my sidebar on the right.

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Remember, too, that the Moda Pillow Talk Blog Giveaway starts today - go to http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/2011/01/pillow-talk.html  to get started! There are some great blogs to visit and some great prizes.

See you soon - meantime, if you are on the eastern seaboard, both Canada and the US, batten down for a good one - I see a roaring woodstove and home made bread in my immediate future!!
Take care - and warm hugs from Janet!

ENDURING WINTER - WAITING FOR SPRING

Last Friday we had a little of everything - we woke up to snow which later in the morning became heavy, but by later in the afternoon we had passed through sleet and settled on drizzling rain and a wind from the southeast.
By bedtime, the wind had backed around to the northwest and was howling in off the Bay of Fundy. Saturday morning dawned very cold but with the wind gradually lessening. The high winds had coincided with high tide and the phase of the moon which means a higher tide than usual, and the damage to facilities at the harbour here was extensive.
Compare this photo with the one I posted in my last post - the view that sunny summer day was taken from the same level as the structures in the photo above are built on - the ripped off shingles were caused by large items such as a small shed and the small craft mooring pontoons which were in their winter storage positions nearby being thrown against them. The buildings are seasonally used storage for the Lobster Pound Restaurant and a building used as a Gallery for artists. It would appear the Lobster Pound itself and the Restaurant and washroom buildings must have had water in them too, and their raised septic bed had damage.
There was as well some erosion damage to seaside embankments on which homes are located. This points up very clearly the peril coastal communities the world round will face in the future due to rising sea levels coupled with increasing intensity of weather systems affecting us.

The weekend was intensely cold, at a consistent minus 18 celsius but the biggest factor in enduring that cold in an old uninsulated house like mine is the wind factor and that was variable settling down a little Saturday only to start to rise again Sunday evening and peak last night before settling again.
I did my usual thing - wandered around with a supply of left over quilt batting strips and a butter knife, tucking batting into all the drafty cracks I found, and keeping doors to the outside and to unheated parts of my house covered with heavy drapes. Both days I was a sight to behold with a knitted cap tied under my chin and two layers of clothing topped by a nordic fleece dressing gown - yikes - thank goodness no one was out and about visiting and thank goodness I didn't have a chimney fire - what a sight to behold! But today, it is rising to a balmy minus 11 and some gentle snow is sifting down out there and snow heralds warmer weather!

Have spent my time searching the internet and writing ideas down for improving my old 1820's house for next year. The old house has at best a layer of birchbark under a layer of shingles and many of the windows really need replacing, but so does my bathroom floor and that must come first.
I'm looking at another woodburning stove and have found something I just love - it is a compact oven cooktop and is small, sleek and nicely designed and engineered - it would be compatible with my old kitchen and could be installed in front of the bricked up fireplace and bake oven combo. It is manufactured in Vermont so I have sent an email to see if it is possible to buy in Nova Scotia.


I also have been checking out a new site that my daughter has launched as a Kindle book lending  exchange now that Amazon has allowed lending to take place. Check it out at http://www.kindlelendingclub.com/   - if you already have a Kindle or are considering buying one, borrowing books makes a lot of sense - even if you can't finish it in the allotted two week span, then you will know if it is a book you'd like to buy and can go ahead and purchase it from Amazon instead. I've put the link on my Blogs and Website sidebar, so go check it out.

It's now finally warm enough in the house to be able to attack the hand applique I'm doing, so I must go now and first bring in more wood; and second spend a few hours at quiltmaking.
Cheers everyone - winter will be over soon!
Keep warm!   Janet