Archive for the ‘publications’ Category

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“Get on Board, Don’t Be Late …”

Friday, February 19th, 2010

While this post is not about gospel music, at the moment I am thinking of “Mac” McHale’s gospel tune whose words include, “Get on Board, Don’t Be Late, Get on Board, Don’t Hesitate, God’s Ship is Sailing in the Mornin’.” Have you heard the saying, “He who hesitates, loses?” Why all this talk about hesitation? Ok, here it is. Books on CD for quilters and embroiderers are the hottest trend coming down the pike. I have counted at least ten other published ones, besides the five that I offer! Ones I’ve seen advertised cover hand quilting instructions, how to do appliqué, and other topics. If you have a shop. your better informed customers will be looking for quilt and needlework books on CD. If you hesitate to stock an inventory, the sales will go to someone else.

In the past two weeks, since announcing that five of my e-books are now available in CD form, I have had a very good response, as I stated in my last post. A couple of negative responses linger on my brain, from people whom I believe did not consider the matter with an open mind. Their lack of understanding of the advantages of e-books is preventing shop managers from wanting to offer these innovative, educational, and unique products. In essence, they are cheating their clientele out of an opportunity.

In New England, quilt shops are going out of business, left and right. Some of the rudest people I have ever met “man” these shops that would presume to take money from the public, in return for “attitude.” When I am treated poorly, in a shop, my policy is to never return, and to tell all my friends about the experience. All of the aloof, disinterested, jealous, hateful shopkeepers deserve to fail at business and I am so happy when they do! Of course, the idea of owning a shop is not appealing to me. I’d rather drive a car off a cliff. It is hard work to maintain a shop, make samples, plan classes, stock inventory, go to quilt market, try to keep books on the shelf from becoming dog-eared, mangled, sneezed on, etc. by the public, and keep both hired help and customers happy, I assume.

Statistics show that the majority of quilters have a high household income and are over the age of 55. People that age have been around the block a few times, but if they have money, they are no doubt educated, or married to someone who is educated. Quilting is a luxury hobby to most who engage in it. If someone wants a warm bed cover, a blanket would do, or a cheap, department store quilt. Making quilts today is a way to celebrate the past, a subject that my books all re-visit! Quilting is about beauty, continuity of tradition, and the satisfaction of creating something wonderful -by yourself!

Quilters have discretionary money for fabrics, threads, machines, classes, trips overseas, retreats, magazines, and … books! I’ll speak for myself. I love books and I want to see, if not read, cover to cover, every quilt book “with content” that comes down the pike. Someone mentions a new quilt history title, and I’m right there, ordering it. Then again, I am an educated woman and intend to keep learning until the last gray cell is non-functional.

This weekend, I hope to do some quilting! Seems like a good time to think about designing a small project with some great, intrinsic meaning! I love combining the cerebral with the artistic (left and right sides of the brain!). I hope that you all enjoy your weekend. “Get on board, don’t be late … don’t hesitate. God’s ship is sailing in the Mornin’!”

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Music, Literature and the Arts and Their Importance

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Ever since I can remember, whenever times were lean, as they are now for many people, the first thought is to cut back on spending. Now, it is reasonable to think about that. All of us should have some kind of a budget plan, and trim excess spending wherever we can so that earnings = more than expenses, at the end of the month. This is not a lecture on saving money, however. Rather it is a commentary on wise spending of money when it comes to school budgets, and even personal spending.

Music and Art in the schools are always the first departments to receive cuts in funding. In my opinion, they should be the last to be compromised. Music and Art are exactly what are needed to energize us and to make life worthwhile. For children, training in music will always stand them in good stead, as will the practice of art and the knowledge of the masters. Yes, some of those students may become professional performers or practitioners. Culture needs music and art, plain and simple.

Civilization requires a knowledge of the past and it is always fun to look at the “History of Ideas,” a field of thought (academic discipline) that was developed by a friend of mine, Florence Petherick, Ph.D., (who has now passed on). She was fascinated by ideas, and their origins and development, over time. We are all interested in what other people say and that is the reason that many books of quotations are sold. FDR said, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” Who wouldn’t remember that statement? There are many sayings, even old-time Yankee ones, that shape our thinking and help us to put things into perspective.

“A penny saved is a penny earned,” is one of those frequent remarks. What people do not realize is that in an inflationary economy, such as this one, it is not a good idea to hoard money. For me, personally, I would rather have a new book than a new piece of clothing. We all have our priorities. My point is this: Do not neglect music, art or literature because of the current financial state of the nation. In our own small way, we each need to encourage the arts, and our own knowledge of them, by continuing to buy books and also encourage our local libraries to acquire new educational materials. If you have the chance, vote for keeping music and arts in the schools!

A nice birthday gift that is easy to send is an amazon gift card in any amount from $10. to $500. that is redeemable at amazon.com or endless.com We are not always aware of someone’s taste in music or books, and the gift card allows them to choose what they would like. This is just a random thought that seems to fit in well with what I am thinking, this morning. Below, I have provided a link so that you can check out this idea for yourself.

Be well.

Patricia

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“What Makes People Laugh?”

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

Charles E. Clark, Ph.D. asked himself, “What Makes People Laugh?” and then launched into a review of periodicals to find jokes and humorous stories published in early New England during the 1790s and beyond.

His talk, “What New Hampshire Thought Funny Two Hundred Years Ago,” is a program sponsored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council. We heard this lecture at the Libby Museum in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire on August 11, 2009. All talks in this series repeat in various New Hampshire locations.

Libby Museum, Wolfeboro

Libby Museum, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire

The lecturer explored recurrent themes that were the basis for laughter. Early New Hampshire settlers made fun of the clergy, lawyers, doctors, sex, or ethnicity, particularly, the Irish. Jokes often centered on a contrast of the sophisticated, educated person with the country bumpkin.

Additionally, people enjoy laughing at themselves, or their situations, for the sake of comic relief. An audience member mentioned the television series, “Mash,” as a modern day example; and another person recalled the movie, “Glory,” to illustrate that same point.

Professor Clark read quite a few examples of early, published humor, especially notable quotes from “NH Farmer’s Journal and the Farmer’s Weekly Museum,” (a name that changed a few times), based in Walpole, New Hampshire, and primarily written by Harvard-trained lawyers who wrote many “lawyer jokes,” thereby making fun of themselves. “The Walpole Wits,” as they were called, succeeded in producing a publication with an extraordinary circulation for their time.

Citing another source, the presenter shared the story of a man who wanted to steal a pound of butter from a Vermont country store. He put it under his hat and tried to slip out the door. The storekeeper realized what was happening and invited the man to sit down next to a hot fireplace and cordially provided him with a hot toddies, which made him very “hot.” Butter soon began to drip down the man’s clothes and when he was thoroughly saturated, the storekeeper thanked him for providing so much amusement, and said that the price of a pound of butter had been worth it all.

When the audience was asked to share something that they found humorous, I mentioned the Irish song about a sweet old dearie, retiring for the night. The verse goes: “She was pullin’ ‘em up, and pullin’ ‘em down, and forgot to pull down the shade.”

Click on this link to see an overview of the program and to learn more about Dr. Clark.

We have attended ten nightly educational events of this kind this summer and have to say that we have thoroughly enjoyed them. From Dr. Martin Fox’s “History of Photography,” to Edie Clark’s discussion of regional cooking, to three memorable musical programs, and many other worthwhile programs, I believe I’ve probably mentioned all of these events on this blog. So, scroll backwards to other pages to see those comments. Many thanks to Dr. Clark for this most recent, delightful program!

lake in Wolfeboro

View of Lake Winnipesaukee, at sunset, across from the Libby Museum

One presenter, Steve Blunt, who reenacts the character of “John Hutchinson” of The Hutchinson Family Singers, is a consummate showman who dresses in period costume. He tells me that he will be performing at Eastern States Exposition on September 25, 2009, in the morning, with the gal who sometimes accompanies him. We enjoyed seeing him at the Hancock Public Library. I can’t say enough about the NH Humanities Council’s dedication to providing excellent speakers and presenters!

By the way, the Libby Museum offers many interesting artifacts including an early schoolgirl Sampler, a piece of Tapa cloth from Hawaii, and a coin from Pres. Harrison’s campaign, just a few of their many treasures. In 1912, Dr. Henry Forest Libby started the museum as one to focus on natural history. Since then, many additional items have been added. We hope to visit there again soon!

Ever a learner!

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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UNH Professor Publishes Book – Asian Americans in New England: Culture and Community

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Press Release
Media Contact: Lori Wright
603-862-0574
UNH Media Relations
July 6, 2009

Monica Chiu photo
Photo of Monica Chiu

DURHAM, N.H. – Monica Chiu, associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire, has published a book on the history, culture, and role of Asian Americans in New England, the first collection to address Asian and Asian American contributions to the region.

Asian Americans in New England: Culture and Community, published by University Press of New England, explores 19th century Chinese American friendship albums, Japanese American acrobats, the 20th century influence of Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts on regional and national Asian arts collections, contemporary Vietnamese American community art, and the construction of Asian Indians and religion in New England, among other topics.

book cover
Cover of Asian Americans in New England: Culture and Community

The collection highlights a broad range of Asian American communities and historical experiences. From the poignant writings of a young Chinese immigrant to the influence of hip-hop in a New Hampshire Lao American community, the collection seeks to establish a regional template for the study of Asian American lives and art far from the West Coast. The essays provide a record of particular achievements, as well as an understanding of the rich Asian American culture in New England, along with an analysis of the depiction of New England Asian Americans, one of the fastest growing minority populations in the region.

“If we look back to the region’s reception of ‘Orientals’ at the turn into the 20th century, we find curious New England audiences intrigued and surprised by Asian visitors, many of whom had never seen Asians before. Their reception and visibility afford us a window into understanding what political, economic, and social practices influenced New Englanders’ acceptance or rejection of Asian visitors and later second-generation Asian Americans and Asian refugees. What Asian Americans in New England created from that reception, as well as from their own creative integration into regional citizenship, are the artistic and cultural legacies presented in this volume,” Chiu says.

Chiu’s book has received critical acclaim from her colleagues.

“A sparkling collection of essays across disciplinary formations, ‘Asian Americans in New England’ reveals the reciprocal impress of New England and Asian America. Moreover, this foundational volume illustrates how spatial distinctions, whether regional, national, or transnational, are human creations and as such invite observance and transgression,” said Gary Okihiro, professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University and author of Island World: A History of Hawaii and the United States.

“This collection deals another crushing but healthy blow to the West Coast-centric Asian American Studies paradigm, all but assuring the continuing growth of this vibrant field in race and ethnic studies. The book’s contributors challenge the dominant historical images of Asians in America as manual laborers, shopkeepers, and victims of crude nativism, without minimizing the impact of racialization and orientalism on community and identity formations,” said Evelyn Hu-DeHart, professor of history and director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University.

Monica Chiu is the director of the University Honors Program and an associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire. She specializes in Asian American literature, criticism, film, popular culture, and twentieth-century American literature. She is the author of Filthy Fictions: Asian American Literature by Women (2004).

The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world-class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, space-grant and community-engaged university, UNH is the state’s flagship public institution, enrolling 11,800 undergraduate and 2,400 graduate students.

Another book by Monica Chiu

This press release is offered as a public service announcement by Quilter’s Muse Publications, with permission from UNH Media Relations writer Lori Wright.

Coincidentally, and as a point of interest, a current article in the September 2009 issue of The Quilter magazine, written by Patricia Cummings and photographed by James Cummings, focuses on the Genesis Center of Providence, Rhode Island, and their exhibit of Hmong textiles (at RISD, last Spring). The embroidered pieces were made by refugees from Southeast Asia, namely, Laos. This article is Part 2 of a series, the other issue having been published with a July 2009 cover. Contact us at: pat@quiltersmuse.com

Patricia Grace Cummings, University of New Hampshire class of 1973

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Retired Dentist Sees Slave History and a “Code” in an 1887 Crazy Quilt/ New Book Available

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Dr. John E. Allen and his family's Crazy Quilt

John E. Allen, D.D.S. and his ancestral Crazy Quilt from 1887

A new book published by Trafford Publishing is titled, The Content of Their Character: The Story Behind This Antique Quilt and the History of the African American Family That Made It. Written by John E. Allen, D.D.S., a retired dentist and jazz musician, the book explores 150 years of family history, and adds to the quilt code controversy, as he proclaims. The quilt was made by ex-slaves and contains its own “code,” he states. More information is available at the publisher’s site.

The price is US$44.48. Call 1-888-232-4444, where a friendly voice will take your order, or order through amazon.com with the link below.

This notice is brought to you as a public service. I try to keep my readers informed.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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New Book Available Today: Redwork Renaissance Revisited

Monday, May 4th, 2009

Patricia Cummings
Patricia Cummings, author of yet another book about Redwork and outline stitch embroidery!

In 2002, I wrote my first book, Redwork Renaissance: 49 Designs from an 1893 Coverlet. After a good run, we went on to other things, and the book was out of print for quite awhile. I began getting inquiries about its availability from friends of people who had bought the bound copy. Within the last year, we decided to bring the title back as an e-book on CD, with greatly-expanded content and additional information. The result is Redwork Renaissance Revisited by Patricia Lynne Grace Cummings and James Cummings, ISBN: 978-0-9769763-6-3. “Greatly-expanded” are the operative words with historically-significant textiles, and just downright cute motifs on many different items. Many designs are one to a page, ready to print out and trace for a project of your own.

The Crescent Moon Goddess was the central focus of the 1893 coverlet and I had adapted that pattern to a large framed Bluework piece. One reader, Linda Mageske, followed suit and added the moon goddess to her Crazy Quilt block. Here it is:

Linda Mageske's Crazy Quilt block
Linda Mageske’s Crazy Quilt block with a smaller version of the Crescent Moon Goddess. (There is a second, large, nineteenth century design of this type in our e-book, as well as directions for making a framed piece.

If you would like to learn how to do the stitches of Surface Embroidery, this book is great for any beginner. With the many quaint antique designs, the book is perfect for a child making a first quilt, or even a smaller item, such as decorating a pillowcase, my first project when I was five years old. I have a larger write-up about the book and its contents. One feature of the pdf file format of the book is that one can view thumbnails images on the left hand side of the screen. That makes it easy for finding the full size pages of patterns, without scrolling through dozens of them.

kitty design from an antique baby coverlet
This kitty design, on a new baby quilt made by Pat, was re-created from an antique quilt made in Canada. Notice the many straight stitches. It doesn’t get more simple!

I think there is a lot to like about this e-book and it features many designs that could be incorporated into Crazy Quilts or other projects that are smaller than full-size quilts or coverlets. As always, we hope that our products are synonymous with quality.

antique motif from unfinished quilt top - goose w/hat
The goose wearing a hat is one of 49 designs provided from an antique, unfinished, quilt top, a new acquisition for me.

For more information about this new product, please visit our Products Available page. We will mail you the actual CD. This is not a downloadable file. Offer good to U.S. addresses only. This is a really fun e-book. We have spent a great deal of time, effort, and expense to develop it, and we hope that you enjoy the results. There is additional information on the publications by Pat page of the website, and on the home page.

Patricia and James Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Irish Quilting

Friday, February 27th, 2009

I have always associated the color “Green” with Ireland, land of my forebears. Here is an old photo of me, wearing a green outfit, during my high school years (1960s).

Pat wearing a green outfit

I love the idea of Irish themed quilts and so, I decided that you might like to know about a new magazine on the subject!

I am posting the following letter I received, after I inquired as to how to purchase the new Irish Quilting magazine. Here is a link to one of their sites:

http://www.irishquilting.ie/

~~~

Slainte Patricia!

Thank you for your interest.

In US or Canada, please contact our distributor below for our magazine. You can buy or subscribe to Irish Quilting by contacting:

Stonehouse Publications
Toll Free 1 800 461 1640 ext.224
Fax 1 905 428 7554
Email info@stonehouse-publications.com
www. Stonehouse-publications.com

Alternatively, you can contact Stonehouse Publications for a list of retailers near you.

Thanks very much for your interest. Be sure to write us what you think when you get your first copy!

Slainte!

Thank you for your interest.

If you are in Ireland, you may purchase a magazine or subscribe by contacting us at Irish Quilting, 01 201 9938.

If you are in UK, please find the list of retailers attached.

If you are in Australia or New Zealand, please contact our distributor at www.honeysucklecottage.au.com. (Pat’s note: This link does not appear to be working!)

If you are in US or Canada, please contact our distributor for our magazine. You can buy or subscribe to Irish Quilting by contacting

Stonehouse Publications
Toll Free 1 800 461 1640 ext. 224

Fax 1 905 428 7554

Email info@stonehouse-publications.com

www.Stonehouse-publications.com

Alternatively, you can contact Stonehouse Publications for a list of retailers near you.

Thanks very much for your interest. Be sure to write us what you think when you get your first copy!

Sincerely,

Sherry Nugent

Editor

+353 1 201 9938

Irish Quilting
Knockraheen
Roundwood
Ireland

~~~

The subscription I ordered cost $47. + change for six issues and will begin with issue #2. Being of Irish descent, how could I resist a magazine with a title like that? Our own Mark Lipinski of Quilter’s Home magazine is featured in issue #2. I can’t wait to see this new magazine!

For the meaning of “Slainte,” please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sl%C3%A0inte

Here is a link to an article I wrote about Irish Quilts.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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Massachusetts Quilts: Our Common Wealth – a new book!

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

Massachusetts Quilts: Our Common Wealth by Lynne Zacek Basset, editor, is a hard cover book that is 1 1/4″ thick. This heavy volume contains the stories of individual quiltmakers, as well as luscious photos of their quilts. The book is the result of the hard work of many, including those quilt historians who took the time to work on the Massachusetts Quilt Documentation Project (MassQuilts). Only pre-1950 quilts, held by individuals and private museums, were studied.

Wholecloth quilts are a special area of interest to the editor and she excels in drawing their designs. Therefore, it was not surprising that so many of those types of quilts and her meticulously-rendered designs are present. However, while they add a lot of flavor, one can see that all of the quilts that were chosen to be exhibited in this volume, represent the New England tradition at its best: varied, eclectic, individual in their flavor.

Since the book has just arrived, I have only had time to leaf through it. Even in these hard times, it is worth digging deep in your pockets and checking old coats for quarters, to come up with the price of this book, $37.80 on amazon, with free shipping to U.S. customers. This long-awaited quilt history book is cause for celebration and it truly surpasses any expectation I may have had prior to its publication. For your convenience, I am placing a link to the sales page, here:

Patricia Cummings

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Censorship Hits the Quilt World

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

The news that a relatively new magazine titled, “Quilter’s Home,” has been banned from sale at all JoAnn Fabric Stores, across the country, came as a surprise yesterday. The magazine, released on January 27, 2009, is the brainchild of former television show producer, Mark Lipinski. Before discovering that his true calling was quilts and expressions of humor, Mark was a producer of the Oprah show.

In a statement published on the Quilt Art mailing list of about 3,300 active art quilters and lurkers, it was revealed that an article by Jake Finch, author of two quilting books, has caused quite a stir. Reportedly, Jake interviewed art quilters whose work is a little “on the edge.” The magazine was specially-wrapped in clear cellophane to prevent unsuspecting children from stumbling across the suggestive images contained therein. The quilts in question were previously vetted and displayed in art venues by the handful of art quilters in question.

Lipinski, through the words of Finch in a subsequent statement, is not calling for a boycott of JoAnn Fabrics. He believes the chain store is a vital part of the crafts industry, and he does not want to inconvenience his readers who might wish to avoid shopping there now, out of loyalty to him or the magazine.

Any publicity, whether good or bad, is still publicity. Everyone will now clamor to try to get a copy of this magazine, just to check it out for themselves. I don’t blame them. In fact, I made some phone calls yesterday, and no stores within a driving distance to me have the magazine yet. The issue in question is the March 2009 edition.

I guess it all depends on what anyone would call objectionable, but after seeing the previews of violent movies, I find violence to be far more obscene than any quilt that depicts the human body … unless the quilt is just totally done in bad taste and is crass and nasty. Since I have not seen the quilts in question, I will reserve any judgment, and am posting this to alert you, just in case you’re curious, too.

Either the art of quilting has reached a new high or a new low. It will be up to the readers to decide.

Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications

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The Beautiful Mrs. Webster

Friday, October 10th, 2008

Cover of CD
The beautiful Mrs. Ellen Webster is seen in this photo probably taken in 1893, if that is, indeed, her wedding dress. After months of researching and writing, I have finally turned over a Master Copy of the CD that contains information about Mrs. Webster and all of her activities. She had a keen mind that was active right up until the time of her “unexpected death” at 82.

The CD is in pdf format and can be viewed using any computer that has downloaded Adobe Reader, a free software program. There is a lot to like about this format, including easy scrolling through the pages.

I am just thrilled that we decided to give this piece of history to the New Hampshire Historical Society so that they can replicate the CD and sell it in their museum store to raise funds that will stay with them. It feels good to present this gift.

More information about the project is located on the index page of our website, along with ordering details.

  • http://www.quiltersmuse.com

    • Do yourself a favor and send for this unique and wonderful product.

    Thanks to my friends who have been passing out brochures at meetings and promoting the project verbally. All help is needed and appreciated.

    Patricia Cummings, quilt historian, and James Cummings, photographer and photo editor

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