Stitches From the Soul - new site from Ohio guild

Do take a moment to visit the new website from Stitches From the Soul - a quilting guild which meets at the Third Baptist Church, 402 Pinewood Ave., Toledo, Ohio. The founder is Sistah Quilter Lauretta Odoms Russell. Here is a photo featuring quilts made for the local Ronald McDonald House. In the photo are: Jeanna Temple, Lauretta Odoms, Rev. Glenn Jones (who has known me since I was a kid - Hi, Glenn!), Carrie Brown, and Sandra Page. Best wishes to the Stitches From the Soul guild! Enjoy!

The Journey of Hope in America: Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama

Opening December 18, 2009 is the exhibit "The Journey of Hope in America: Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama" at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center in Wilberforce, Ohio. Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi is the curator who has organized the quilts of 95 artists! The 208-page color catalog is available for pre-order for $16.50. The book ships in April 2010. Congratulations to all the quilters with pieces in the show! Enjoy!

The City Quilter Shines in Time Square

Way to go Panasonic for placing a rotation of five quilts from the City Quilter shop in New York on display in Time Square! It is my understanding the quilts will be up through December 31, 2009 - up high on the 28' x 38' electronic screens. Shown here is Cathy Izzo's "Batik Schoolhouse" quilt. Enjoy!

Have an iTouch? What quilting books are you reading there?

Raise your hands if you have an iTouch or iPhone? I purchased an iTouch last year. For those who don't know, it's like an iPhone without the camera OR the monthly phone bill! I can download any app, song, or even full-length movie from the iTunes store and enjoy.

Earlier this year, I downloaded Amazon's free Kindle app so I can read books purchased for the Kindle electronic reader on my iTouch. My Mom has my old Kindle and she LOVES it - but that's another story (smile!). I've read about five novels now and a few how-to books on my iTouch. As a quilter, you might enjoy the following Kindle versions of these quilt-related books. You can read them all on an iTouch as well.

• Crafted Lives: Stories and Studies of African American Quilters by Patricia Turner
  
• The Memory Quilt: A Christmas Story for Our Times by T.D. Jakes
• A Quilter's Holiday: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel by Jennifer Chiaverini

What are your favorite quilt-related things to do with your iTouch? Enjoy!

Underground Railroad Quilt Custom Shoes by Kweli Kitwana from Zazzle

Sistah quilter, multi-talented artist, and political activist Kweli Kitwana has taken her love of color and designed a number of canvas shoes on Zazzle.com, the website that allows you to personalized products and make them available for sale. Pictured here is her Underground Railroad Quilt Custom Shoes, available for $63.55. Kweli has also designed a toile-like Harriet Tubman themed fabric on Spoonflower.com - click here to see. I love seeing how Sistah quilters are using technology to push creative boundaries. Can you imagine - a local quilting guild could design their own themed-shoes or commemorative fabrics?! Enjoy!

Eluster Richardson Of Hearth and Home Quilt show

The exhibit "Of Hearth and Home Art & Quilt" opens at the Riley House and Museum in Tallahassee, FL through January 31, 2010. The show features the paintings of self-taught artist Eluster Richardson (photo) and the quilts of 95 years old Amanda Richardson, the artist's mom.
Click here to read an article about the show from the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. There's also a fabulous slide show featuring 14 images from the exhibit. Dear Mr. Richardson - the quilt world needs a catalog of your quilt creations! Enjoy!

Unpacking Collections: The Legacy of Cuesta Benberry, An African American Quilt Scholar

If you are in the Lansing, MI area between Dec 6, 2009 and September 5, 2010, do stop by and visit the exhibit Unpacking Collections: The Legacy of Cuesta Benberry, An African American Quilt Scholar at the Michigan State University Museum.

According release about the exhibit, "In 1977, she [Cuesta Benberry] gave the Quilter's Hall of Fame her study collection of over 800 quilt blocks, a scrapbook, and a few pieces of ephemera. In 2003 Cuesta gifted the American Folk Art Museum with the non-African American portions of her quilt ephemera collection. In 2007 Cuesta passed away leaving behind a legacy of public scholarship and her collections. In mid 2008, her family gifted the Michigan State University Museum with her collection of African and African American quilts and her quilt history collection and the museum also acquired Cuesta's extensive collection of quilt kits. In 2009, the American Folk Art Museum transferred their Benberry Collections to the MSU Museum so that the bulk of her work could be in one place where it could be more effectively accessed for research and educational uses." The exhibit allows one to interact "with a selection of textiles, rare books, patterns, ephemera, and samples of her personal journals, correspondence, and extensive research files." According to the Lansing City Pulse, the Benberry Collection has 52 quilts. The exhibit will include 16 quilts including a"1987 art quilt by artist Faith Ringgold and "Joseph's Coat of Many Colors," a lively, colorful creation by the women of the Gee's Bend Freedom Quilting Bee." Enjoy.