Carol (re: Antique Forum)-- If you go to the top of this page, and click on "Forums" you'll get the list for all the GW forums. I visit the Knitting and Crochet and Sewing forums, too. I've just been reading a lot on the history of quilting, so this is a timely discussion for me. Here's what I've learned: At the time of the Revolutionary war, quilted bedcoverings were just beginning to come into vogue. Quilting itself had been done for centuries prior to this time, but almost exclusively for clothing--it's speculated that it started as padded clothing for wearing under armor. Most of the applique from that period was "broderie perse". This involved purchasing a length of printed chintz, then cutting the individual motifs out and appliqueing them onto a muslin, silk or wool background fabric. This allowed you to buy a relatively small piece of the printed fabric and still get a large quilt out of it. The appliqued top was then quilted, often with trapunto and other elaborate details. An out-growth of broderie perse became popular in Baltimore. Baltimore Album quilts feature very fine applique, but in the form of unique designs formed from many bits of cloth. These were often made by the friends and family members of young women as wedding gifts, especially among the wealthier families. They were also made as parting gifts for families that were leaving the area to homestead on the frontier. In other parts of the country, where this technique wasn't popular, wedding quilts would have been pieced. On the frontier, where fabric was at a premium, quilts were made from the scrap bag, using remnants left-over from clothing construction. It is very unusual to see a pioneer quilt made from just a couple of fabrics that were obviously bought just for that purpose. Some families were very serious about preparing hope chests and a young woman wasn't considered ready for marriage until she had a certain number of quilts finished and stored in her hope chest. I've heard of as many as a dozen being considered necessary by some demanding mamas. The Amish families that I know of have no requirements for quilts or hope chests, nor do their quilts look like those that we traditionally consider "Amish" with solid, bold colors. Amish quilting in the late 21st century underwent a big change as it became a lucrative source of income for families struggling to make ends meet. Modern Amish quilts tend to follow current color trends and are often made for the retail market. Amish women do make quilts for themselves, but the examples I've seen look no different than any other contemporary quilts. I think that we really begin to see quilting as a necessity slowly begin to taper off after WWI. By the late 1800s you could buy ready-made bedding that was of reasonably good quality and inexpensive from at your local department store. Mail-order companies made it possible to buy them even in remote areas. Interestingly, this is the hey-day of the crazy quilt, which is made from silks and velvets and is a silent testimony to the fact that the maker had time to spare for making a completely impractical quilt and could afford to buy expensive fabrics to have her clothing made from. It was a subtle way of showing your friends and neighbors that you were a woman of leisure. During WWI, women began to enter the workforce to fill the gaps left by the soldiers and had less time for time-consuming tasks like quilting. In the 20s, it was definitely less popular because it was seen as old-fashioned at a time when society was rushing head-long into the technological age. Women, who finally had time-saving devices like vacuum cleaners and gas and electric ovens, simply lost interest in quilting. In spite of this, it doesn't die out and a major resurgence of interest occurs during the Depression and the second world war as it was a way to both save money and provide warmth for your family. It contributed to the war effort, freeing up fabric mills to make fabric for the troops. In response, flour, sugar and feed companies made their bags from fabrics that could be used in quilts. However, after WWII, quilts takes another fall in popularity and quilts from the late 40s, 50s and 60s are very uncommon. With the Bi-centennial in 1976, interest again increased and it has been on up-swing ever since, but with major changes in techniques, style and purpose. There is no need to make quilts for your hope chest so now quilting is a labor of love or a means of personal expression. I think the best quilts are both. Annie

Jerseygirl - I think I'm going to look for some different sheets instead of solid. I liked these Chaps sheets I saw at Kohls a few months ago. Looks like they're out of the queen size though. http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/bedandbath/brandsforbed/chaps/PRD~c10757/Chaps+Summerton+Tattersall+Sateen+Sheet+Set.jsp Roselvr - IRL the red is a deep cranberry. I can't get it to photograph right. I don't like how it looks in photos at all. Thanks for the link. I do like that comforter but with the floral pillow I already have and really like, I don't want to add anymore flowers to the bed. Gscience - Aww, sorry to hear about your kitty. I give ours daily hugs. Red - No, Fabricguru only had that 3/4 remnant listed. Since I got the go from DH I'm going to follow through for this one. _______________ So here's my happy update: :D I called NH today and was put on the phone with Bree. I explained the situation and she seemed sincerely apologetic. I was informed Lisa doesn't work there anymore. ....She took my info and we were literally saying our good bye on the phone when I blurted out my cry for a little discount. We talked some more and she wanted to know all the issues I had. I explained and she again apologized, told me she would talk with the owner and call me back. She did tell me they normally don't like to do stuff like this (with the fabric orders) over the phone. Probably to avoid confusion! Bree called back and said Mary Carol apologizes. I didn't think she was at the store but it made me feel special, ha. I'm getting the new fabric and shipping for free BUT I'm to send NH my pillow shams and bedskirt made in the other fabric. I agreed. The correct houndstooth is $4 more a yard and I'm also getting 1/2 yard more than the first time I ordered. It's still going to cost me to have new stuff made and I'm not really thrilled to send what I have back but I'm not going to use it and I probably won't attempt to sell it. I don't think this is a bad deal at all since it's partly my fault and they're also aware of that. I honestly didn't expect more than maybe a yard or so for free, a discount or free shipping, you know? I'm not going to put anymore thought into it. They're sending the fabric out today and I'm going to wait until I know it's the right one and amount before I ship my stuff to them. I'm very happy and have decided to keep my NH books. :) I'll probably have a new thread in a day or so brainstorming ideas again for the room.

I maintain that an old GF of mine believed the smoke detector was a timer. Anyway, a couple thoughts: For cookbooks, I still like the church/school/local fundraiser type cookbooks. Yes, there's duplicates and yes it'll use canned goods and other convenience items but for confidence building they're a good place to start IMO. Plus I find many of them entertaining to read. You've said you cook soup, stew, roast, etc, so you're not a total newbie to cooking. Do you like what you cook? If so, you're a good cook. Has anyone complemented you on your cooking? If so, it's confirmed. "Good" is a subjective term. If you don't like your cooking or are "meh" about it, what's wrong? Under/over seasoned? Under/over cooked? If something like that, that's a good place to start. "Cooking" is also apparently a subjective term. I know people to take a store-bought rotisserie chicken, some frozen vegetables, a can of soup, some Minute Rice and a frozen pie crust with some canned pie filling and say they "cooked". OK. If that's cooking to them, more power to them. Don't get me wrong, convenience foods are fine if that's your thing and often it can help you improve. Example: Maybe you like lasagna and start with a frozen one. Then maybe you think it needs more cheese and a little more seasoning. Good. Put on more cheese and add some seasoning. Make your own garlic bread to go with it. Then when you're more confident, try making a lasagna of your own. You don't need to make your own noodles unless you want to. And there are some good bottled/canned pasta sauces. Try some different cheeses you like. Maybe put in some cooked sausage instead of hamburger or stick with burger. Do a little more each time or progress at your own speed. Are you being intimidated by the shows that everything has to be "gourmet" or some fancy presentation? I personally do not eat with my eyes, I eat with my mouth and my taste buds tell me if it's good or not. That piece of parsley on the plate and having the fish sticks stacked in a pyramid do nothing for me. I suspect there's some modesty here. Like I said, you know how to cook some things so don't put yourself down. I know a several people who would love to be able to cook roasts, soups, stews, etc.

Lots of French horns for sale on Etsy and eBay—I checked! My 26 wreaths have arrived and the Etsy lady just shipped the velvet bows. I wanted a deep red without a hint of that orangey hue you find in most outdoor red velvet bows. I also wanted just four loops and no really long tails. She made them for five dollars each and I am happy to have the full number of them without going to different stores. i recommend her highly if you’re interested, TinaM.