VIP Cranston Fabrics - four Barack Obama designs

Gotta give a shout out to VIP Cranston Fabrics for introducing these four Barack Obama 100% cotton fabrics - 44" wide. My fingers are itching to make a quilt now! Thanks to Millie for sharing this link to Bear Paw Quilt Co, who is taking pre-orders for the fabric, which is due out in May 2009. Enjoy!

Call for Fictional Women's Stories - Women on Quilts

Have a creative writing bug? Women on Quilts is inviting women to write a creative story about growing up as a female between 1902 and 1942 in the US. The winning stories will be published in an eBook. The effort is a fundraiser for the Quilters Hall of Fame July 2009 induction ceremonies of Merikay Waldvogel. Enjoy!

Finalist - National Museum of African American History and Culture

Have you seen the 6 finalists for the design of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture? The Washington Post has a terrific article and slide show featuring the designs by:

• Devrouax & Purnell and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners
• Diller Scofidio and Renfro with KlingStubbins
• The Freelon Group, Adjaye Associates and Davis Brody Bond
• Foster and Partners/URS
• Moody Nolan, in association with Antoine Predock Architect
• Moshe Safdie and Associates with Sulton Campbell Britt & Associates

An eleven-member panel will make a final decision next month. How would you vote? Enjoy!

Viola Canady (1922 - 2009) - Sewing in Heaven

Mrs. Viola Canady, the co-founder of the Daughters of Dorcas and Sons Quilting Guild of Washington, DC has passed away. Her services are tomorrow (March 26) at Cedar Hill Funeral Home at 10:30am. The viewing is at 10am.

Mrs. Canady was a wonderful quilt teacher. One of her specialties was quilting stain glass images. She worked for the Department of the Army as a tailor/fitter for 19 years before retiring. She even sewed the decorations on General MacArthur's uniform. You can read a 2002 Alliance For American Quilts interview with Mrs. Canady by clicking here. You can also read a profile about her in Roland Freeman's book, A Communion of the Spirits. Here's a link to a 1996 New York Times article/interview with Mrs. Canady.

You can post a note to Mrs. Canady's online memorial book. Mrs. Canady is survived by her children Vernon Canady and Beverly Canady Swilley and by three grandsons: Eric, Troy and Brandon. Blessings to Mrs. Canady.

President Obama: A Celebration in Art Quilts - new book!

In case you weren't able to visit the President Obama: A Celebration in Art Quilts exhibit in person, you can now purchase the 120-page exhibit catalog for $24.95. Sue Whalen and the 60-member strong ObamaQuilters have collaborated on this just available book via Blurb.com.

Now, in case you're not familiar, Blurb.com is a website that allows one to create your own book and have the book printed on demand when it is purchased. Great for the environment - the book only comes into existence once it is purchased. In my experience, it is a safe website. I've purchased a half-dozen books from Blurb. Congratulations to each of the ObamaQuilters! Enjoy!

Try new visual search engine KartOO on quilt research

Someone recently asked me if I had used KartOO.com, a visual search engine designed by two French guys. You've GOT to take a moment and go to http://www.kartoo.com/ - then type in African American quilters ... then just have fun with how certain search phrases are visually represented. What do you think of the site? Enjoy!

Sankofa African-American Museum on Wheels

Driving through Richmond area of North Carolina this week is the Sankofa African American Museum of Wheels - operated for 20 years (yes, 20 years!) by Angela Jennings. In this photo from the Richmond County Daily Journal newspaper, she is sharing a quilt illustrating the slave-trade triangle of Africa, the Caribbean, and America. Apparently, Ms. Jennings started what would become the museum to teach her nephew about Black History. I'd love to meet her and visit the museum! Have you stepped into this museum on wheels? Do Tell!

Harriet Powers inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame

Harriet Powers (1837 - 1910) is one of three women to be inducted into the Georgia Women of Achievement Hall of Fame! The 18th annual induction ceremony takes place this Thursday, March 12, 2009 at Wesleyan College in Macon, GA.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter first suggested the idea of honoring the history and contributions of Georgia women in 1988. Soon what would become the Georgia Women of Achievement, Inc. was formed with the goals of: publicizing the accomplishments of GA women, encouraging research in this area, and providing information on such role models for Georgia young people.

Best wishes on a lovely ceremony - hope there are a few sistah quilters in the audience as the crowd honors Sistah Quilter Harriet Powers. Enjoy!

Barbie Turns 50 - Black Barbie Quilt by Kyra Hicks

Raise your hands if you played with Barbie dolls! Well, Barbie is turning 50 in the next couple days. I don't recall ever owning a Mattel Barbie doll, but do remember playing with Barbie and all the accessories over at a friend's house on Sundays after church.

My next encounter with Barbie came when I worked as a marketing strategist for Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, specifically on the dear Miniature and Magic ornaments and, my favorites Merry Miniatures (I was on the team that created the Merry Miniature Cinderella Collection!). Can't believe I was paid to work at Hallmark as it was a magical experience to work on products that connected emotionally with people and with a terrific team of creatives (shout out to all the Keepsakes artists!).

I had a heated discussion about Barbie ornaments at work with my then manager (sorry, no details via such a public blog :> ). To deal with my anger, I came home and worked through my feelings by designing and stitching this quilt here. Black Barbie Quilt is based on the original Barbie doll. In the background I've painted repetitiously, "Black Barbie has no name." Appliqued is "Barbie, America's Doll was never intended for me." This quilt has been exhibited at the American Folk Art Museum ("Talking Quilts") in New York and, more recently at the Fenimore Art Museum.

What does Barbie mean to an African American woman or a young black girl? How have others interpreted this American icon from a Black perspective? Here's a few links:

• "My Aunt's Quilt" by AuthenticEducator (Barbie bed quilt Photo via Flickr)
  
• Don't Just Play Barbie, Be Barbie - African American Barbie blog by V Byers
• Ann Ducille on "ethnic" Barbies from the Anti-Racist Parent blog
  
• Writer K. Danielle Edwards article from TheRoot.com "Dolls Like Me"
  
• Yona Zeldis McDonough's "The Barbie Chronicles," a collection of essays on the doll
• Philadelphia Doll Museum - collection of African American dolls
  
• You can occasionally find Black Barbie fabric online or on eBay

So, has Barbie had an impact in your life? Have you stitched anything with a Barbie theme? Do tell! Enjoy!

Carolyn Mazloomi Calls for Book Submissions

Sistah Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi has a call out! Dr. Mazloomi is author of the following contemporary African American quilting publications:
* Spirits of the Cloth
* Threads of Faith
* Textural Rhythms: Quilting the Jazz Tradition
* Quilting African American Women's History

She will soon be selecting quilts for her next publication. And, if you have a quilt to fit the theme, do follow the instructions below to have your quilt considered. Here's the call for book submissions from Dr. Mazloomi:

"President Barack Obama has evoked much passion and inspiration from people all around country. There have been several quilt exhibitions featuring quilts inspired by the President. I seek high-quality images of quilts celebrating the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, to be published in a book, The Journey of Hope in America: Art Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama, to be released in August 2009. Please share this call with other quilters.

The Journey of Hope in America: Art Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama will capture this incredible cultural movement in a book featuring quilts and the inspiration behind them. The book will be a large, full-color, 200 page hardback. Deadline for submissions is June 15th, 2009. Artist will be notified of acceptance by the end of June, 2009.

All visuals submitted must represent work that is original in design. A maximum of three entries per artist is allowed. Submit professional quality high-resolution images (JPEG or TIFF) on CD or via email, image list, statement/ inspiration of no more than 300 words for each submission, and contact information (name, postal mailing address, phone, e-mail address). If you email quilt images, please label each file with name of quilt. For the return of your CD, you must enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Selected artists will receive a complimentary copy of the book and discount on additional copies. Please send submissions to Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, 5481 Oldgate Drive, West Chester, OH 45069 or drmaz4wcqn@aol.com."

Handmade quilts by Michelle Howard-Harrell, others on display

Roxbury Community College professor Michelle Howard-Harrell is one of other sistah quilters with handmade quilts on display at the Roxbury Community College Library, 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury, MA. 617-541-5323. You can see the display of two dozen quilts until March 15, 2009. Enjoy!