Remembering 1983

Hope you all had a happy Christmas and we wish you a happy New Year!

2008 was a momentous year—our 25th anniversary! We’ve done a lot of reminiscing around the lunch table on how things have changed in our industry over the years. I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and and see what my coworkers looked like in 1983. Enjoy!

Gailen Runge, Creative Director

Mary Wruck

Mary Wruck, Business Development Manager

Teresa Stroin, Technical Editor

Teresa Stroin, Technical Editor

Stacy Chamness, Developmental Editor

Stacy Chamness, Developmental Editor

Kristy Zacharias, Design Director

Kristy Zacharias, Design Director

Kerry Graham, Designer

Kerry Graham, Designer

Lisa Fulmer Bruce

Lisa Fulmer Bruce, Marketing Manager

Megan Wisniewski, Media Relations Coordinator

Megan Wisniewski, Media Relations Coordinator

Adrianne Shroyer

Adrianne Shroyer, Internet Administrator

Andy LaFaille

Andy LaFaille, Fulfillment Manager

Todd Hensley, CEO

Todd Hensley, CEO

Quilts from the Civil War by Barbara Brackman Now Available

Quilts from the Civil WarWe are very excited to announce that we’ve just brought Barbara Brackman’s book, Quilts from the Civil War back from out of print status. This book which sold over 35,000 copies has been out of print since 2004. We’ve had so many readers request the book over the years that we are happy to announce its return.

This time around you can purchase it 24 hours a day right from your computer. The book is now an eBook and you can purchase it here for only $19.99 as a full color PDF.

Once you click on the Buy Now button, you will go to paypal to complete your purchase and instantly download the PDF.
In case you are wondering what is in the book, here is a great review from a reader review posted on Amazon:
60001_page23“Quilts from the Civil War” not only contains projects for reproducing numerous quilts of the 1850s and 1860s, it also contains an excellent discussion of the role quilts played in people’s lives. Barbara Brackman describes quilts made for freedom fairs, by the Sanitary Commission for use by soldiers, and quilts made to express patriotic fervor. Brackman goes beyond a mere discussion of quilts, however, to discuss the development of chemical dyes, women’s involvement in the war effort in general, the effect of the blockade on southern textile production, the need to hide quilts from occupying Yankee forces, and even the relationships that developed between quiltmakers and soldiers who received the donated quilt.

60001_page82Brackman also examines the argument that quilts were used as clues for slaves escaping on the Underground Railroad, and concludes that these tales likely were a myth. (Nevertheless, she includes a Jacob’s Ladder-style quilt that honors the Underground Railroad.) In evaluating this theory, she discusses the history of the Log Cabin quilt.

Period photographs of women and children, engravings of Sanitary Fairs and other gatherings, photographs of original and reproduction quilts and original dresses beautifully illustrate this book. Excerpts from journals, letters and newspaper articles and reprints of ads calling for the production of items for soldiers add further interest.

Brackman provides a unique timeline that combines both traditional historic events, such as “March 4, 1864 - Grant becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Union Army” with social or women’s history, such as “August 1864 - Ladies Christian Commission of San Francisco sponsors a Grand Fair” and “October 5, 1864 - Mary Jones of Georgia records paying $16 a yard for calico.”

Footnotes provide directions for those interested in further research.

For those interested in trying some of the projects contained in the book, the directions are clear and easy to follow. Brackman provides strip quilting directions for some of the quilts (such as the Underground Railroad) but not for others where this technique could speed production (such as the Log Fence). The appendix contains excellent information on batting, quilting styles, binding and other details to give quilts a more period look.

Overall, despite projects that are more inspired by historic quilts than faithful reproductions, “Quilts from the Civil War” is an excellent source of information about textile production during the 1850s and 1860s.

Let us know if there are any of our out of print titles that you would like to see us bring back from the dead. Happy Reading!!

A Slice of Christmas eBook Now Available

Slice of ChristmasThe terrific book, A Slice of Christmas from Piece O’ Cake Designs, is now available as a digital download right here on our blog.


Read all about it:

A Slice of Christmas from Piece O’ Cake Designs
Linda Jenkins & Becky Goldsmith

Festive Santas and more from Piece O’ Cake Designs!

Celebrate a very special Christmas with Piece O’ Cake Designs!

Designers Linda Jenkins and Becky Goldsmith present a collection of their best-loved appliqué Christmas quilts and more, so you can fill your home with handmade treasures for the holidays.

60090_page5• 7 sparkling Christmas projects include quilts, stockings, tree skirts, and a table runner—mix and match patterns for even more projects!
• Designs feature a retro ’50s Santa, Christmas trees, and Santa sampler from past favorites A Piece O’ Cake Christmas and A Sampling of Santas (out of print), plus a NEW poinsettia design

60090_p1011

• Choose from hand or machine appliqué—includes instructions for both
• Projects offer a range of skill levels from confident beginner to advanced appliqué artist

$21.99, 116 Pages, loads of color

Piece O’ Cake Designs is the brainchild of Linda Jenkins and Becky Goldsmith. Together, Linda and Becky have been designing fun, fanciful quilts since 1994. Piece O’ Cake quilt designs, in both book and pattern form, are very popular among quilters. Linda and Becky teach across the country and have appeared often on HGTV’s Simply Quilts. Linda lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Becky lives in Sherman, Texas.

By clicking on the Buy Now button below you can purchase this eBook for $21.99 through Paypal. After completing your transaction you will be able to download the PDF file immediately. You will need Adobe Reader or other PDF reader in order to open the PDF file.

Enjoy and let us know what you think of the new eBook.

Knitting Bag & Take-Out Box Pattern Digital Downloads for Sale

I’ve been experimenting selling some of our patterns as downloads lately and I discovered a method which seems to work pretty well. If you are interested, you can now purchase two new sewing patterns by following these links.

Knitting Bag Project

The first project is a nifty knitting bag by Pam Archer that is quite easy to make up and very fashionable. The project download includes a complete supply list and step-by-step instructions. Only $2.99.

Click the button below to place your order through paypal.

Take-out box

The second project is a fun fabric Take-Out box by Linda Johansen. Supply list and instructions are included. $2.99.

Click the button below to place your order through paypal.


Each download is delivered as a PDF file and can be opened with adobe Acrobat and various other PDF readers. Have fun and happy sewing! Let us know what you think.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas !!!!!

Merry Christmas

With this quilt, my family and I wish everyone at C&T Publishing—who so kindly and professionally helped make my first book a reality—all my readers, fellow quilters around the globe, and all my friends…a Merry and Wonderful Christmas!!!

Jette

My first quilt

Guess what? I made my first quilt!! After more than ten years at C&T, I finally gave into quilting fever and made a quilt for my mom for Christmas. It’s a memory quilt and it has photographs of all of her loved ones.

I was able to use many of the products that manufacturers have sent to our company over the years—from Printed Treasures fabric sheets to Hobbs batting to some fabulous batik fabrics from various manufacturers. I’m in love with batiks!

I think I’ve must have gotten some tips by osmosis from reading our books over the years, and I now have an even higher regard for our authors and books. Before this I thought our authors were phenomenal quilters whose art was incredibly inspiring, but now I realize how incredibly good they are at teaching!

I referred to a number of books more than once during some late night sewing sessions. Some helpful beginner books for me were Start Quilting with Alex Anderson and Make Your First Quilt with M’Liss Rae Hawley. I also refered a lot to Foolproof Machine Quilting and the All-in-One Quilter’s Reference Tool. I poured through books to make sure I was doing it right! 

Ok, so my first quilt is not perfect, but someone once told me that a quilt wasn’t meant to be perfect and that there should always be at least one imperfection in it! Well, mine has more than one, but I’m still pleased with how it came out. Now all I have to do is finish sewing the binding and I’m done—right before I get on the plane to deliver it on Christmas Eve. Wish me luck!

Fantastic Fantastique Ornaments

Fantastique Ornament

Fantastique Ornament

While decorating the tree at C&T, we thought it should be a reflection of us, so it seemed natural to make ornaments using Fantastiques. I love these little guys! It’s a 6″ x 8″ book with mix and match characters that you just pop out. There are pages of heads, arms, and legs as well as images to use for torsos. You can use other things for the torsos though, like these playing cards! They’re fun to embellish too—what better excuse for glitter and feathers? 

Save Handmade!

Handmade child’s hat from mosey.etsy.com

A lot of talk has been circulating online about the CPSIA and the heavy restrictions that will be placed on toymakers and manufacturers of children’s products. Unless changes are made to this legislation, a whole lot of small companies and crafters will be forced to go out of business. I encourage you to spend a few minutes to become familiar with this legislation and contact your state representatives. Thank you!

(The following is from handmadetoyalliance.org)

Continue Reading…

Keeping my People Warm with Crocheted Scarves

I have been Crocheting scarves for my grandkids for Christmas this year. I come home every evening and start one or finish one. I’ve been sharing them with everyone at work so they can give me their opinion’s on the color and style. Some of them end up on my co- workers because of these cold days ….. and they look cute with them on.

Danielle, C&T's Marketing Coordinator modeling one of my scarves

Danielle, our Marketing Coordinator, modeling one of my scarves

My mother got me started crocheting because I was kind of stressed raising 3 kids and working. She told me that it would calm me down, and I could do it while watching my favorite programs on TV. My mother and her sisters were all crocheters and so I guess it is like a tradition in my family. But I am not as good as they are yet.

My mother made dresses for each of my granddaughters and also made Raiders Slippers for my grandsons. I knew every Christmas that I would get a new pair of Crocheted slippers from her. I sure miss getting my slippers since she passed away six years ago, but I am determined to learn and keep the tradition going…I hope!

I still have a Raiders Scarf and Christmas stocking she made me that I treasure. I am hoping my grandkids keep their scarves to remember me, and that I too can do grandmotherly things.

On Weather and Buying Local

Illustration by Christopher Silas Neal

Being one of the early-birds at work, I have to leave my house in Alameda very early…6:30am! As I was driving to work this morning, there was a beautiful frost over everything. (Those of you in Northern California know that this doesn’t happen very often.) Even though it is nose-freezingly cold, it’s pretty great to have a winter white morning! 

I was listening the radio when the news came on, and as usual, it wasn’t good news. As the newscaster spoke of how our state is quickly running out of money, my mind began to drift to all that I had to do for the day, the holiday craziness, and my boyfriend’s birthday fast approaching.

But I couldn’t get my mind completely off the news and the people who have hit really hard times during this especially cold holiday season. As I pulled into the driveway shrouded with fog, I determined that for the rest of the presents that I have to buy (which is, um, pretty much all of them), I’m going to purposefully buy them locally. I want to do my part in stimulating the economy and support the local businesses. More than ever, now is the time to stick together and support our community, don’t you think?

C&T Publishing is a group of quilters and crafters dedicated to publishing products tailored to our audience. This blog is where we break away from book schedules and marketing campaigns to focus on what drives us to be creative and how this creativity manifests itself in our every day lives.
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