December 19 - 22, 2006 - QuiltHistory

Fabric Identification, Quilt History Resources

These restored messages come from the Quilt History List, an online forum where quilt historians, collectors, researchers, appraisers, and enthusiasts discussed antique quilts and related textiles. The archive dates from 1996 through approximately 2016 and is being restored gradually. Sign up in the form at the bottom of the page if you want to know when a new page is added. Original spelling, opinions, formatting, and inactive links may remain unchanged.

Primary topics of this QHL Digest:

Fabric Prices, Then and Now — Sally Ward describes UK fabric costs, Joan Kiplinger praises British fabric, and Judy Schwender and others recall store displays and fabric sales.
What Walmart’s Exit Means for Quilt Shops — John and Jan Meachen, Marilyn Withrow, Pat Kyser and others say what may happen to mills and quilt shops when Walmart leaves fabric.
Georgia Quilts Book Arrives — Members say where they ordered the Georgia quilt book, including the Atlanta History Center gift shop, which has an exhibit of quilts from the book.
Early American Life Quilt Article — Candace Perry points to a February 2007 Early American Life article with images of a quilt from Linda Eaton. (see the article on early American quilts)
Christmas Greetings and Quilting as a Hobby — Louise sends holiday greetings, and Polly Greene and Alan discuss whether quilting is just a hobby.
Fat Quarter Storage and Other Questions — KJB139 and Margaret Fahey share ways to store fat quarters, and members post odd finds such as an email change and a German patchwork link. (see the article on caring for antique quilts)

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 10:37:45 +0000 | From: Sally Ward (sallytatters)

The recent interesting thread on fabric costs comes hard on the heels of a small epiphany of my own. In the UK we don’t have cheap fabric sources like Walmart, we have expensive fabric (in your terms about $16 a metre, just over a yard) and we have less expensive fabric, around $6-8 a metre. The cheaper fabric is still usually good quality, if not ‘best’, but tends to be more unpopular patterns. The sort of lines stocked by Walmart and Holly Hobby are virtually unknown us and it was not until I actually was able to compare their version of a turkey red print by Judy Roche with the real thing that I understood the scale of the difference. As in the US, we are somewhat divided into quilters who can indulge an expensive hobby, and those who cut up old shirts.

I fall somewhere in the middle, and am lucky to be able to supplement my stash by judicious buying from the US, particularly when the exchange rate is in our favour. So I have gradually collected a stash which I occasionally cull of things I have outgrown or bought in error, usually by donating to Project Linus groups but sometimes by selling on at half price. There are always eager takers.

But what I have *is a stash*, not a lot of quilts. When fabric is expensive or hard sought out, it becomes very difficult to actually use it up. I fold it, stroke it, consider it, but don’t often cut into it.

Recently I had time to read a book called ‘Pickle Dish Quilters’ which was kindly passed to me last summer by a visitor. Set in the Depression, the characters exchange scraps and give meaningful gifts of snippets of their best fabric. It brought me up short and made me wonder just what I am doing looking at all this neatly folded fabric. I even considered going wild, buying a huge laundry basket, and unfolding, crumpling and tossing in every piece of fabric I own. I wondered if this would throw up some interesting fabric combinations, and by making the fabric ‘messy’ actually liberate me into using it.

What I think I’m saying is that in the same way as I suggested a while ago about the use of rotary cutter methods, the acquisition of an expensive stash can be an inhibiting thing when it starts to control you rather than the other way around.

Sally Ward Just recovered from a broken elbow but now sporting a sliced and diced thumb, at least able to type but I still can’t hold a needle!!!

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 06:57:58 EST | From: KathrynHerrmann

This Walmart fabric thread is fascinating! I married into a textile family and the business has been greatly changed by the exporting of our industry. Many other countries have little in the way of worker and environmental protection and very low wage scales. This, of course, translates into lower cheaper goods for the American consumer which is how Walmart built its empire.

While I’m no Walmart fan and avoid it like the plague, I do wonder how having no fabric department in our most frequented store will effect future generations. How many of us remember when fabric departments in our larger department stores were the norm? Even if our mothers weren’t quilters or home sewers, we had exposure to the smell and feel of fabric on the bolt. There were those cool buttons on cards, cabinets of thread, and entire walls of impressive notions.

The Joann’s, Hancock’s, and Mary Jo’s will probably be able to pick up much of the slack for quilters looking for a bargain, but I doubt children who have non-sewing parents will ever set foot in them.

-Kathryn in Hendersonville, NC

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 08:57:29 -0500 | From: joan kiplinger (jkip)

Following Sally’s thoughts on fabric pricing, from this side of the Atlantic there are many of us who think there is nothing finer than UK lawn and voile, Italian wool, Pima and Sea Island and the Swiss Swisses [batiste, lawn, organdy and other fine plains]. While they are costly and not the fabric of quilters, they are worth every penny. Plus, for the most part the cottons are made in 60″ wide which will eventually become the standard. Joann already sells soft drill and denim in this width, for example. I can’t remember who wisely predicted in an earlier thread about future fabric costing more if WalMart deserts its following but wider widths in lesser quality fabrics are slowly gaining entrance in this country. So while the price may go up, in some cases it could remain the same or even be lower due to the extra width.

On another note, like Candace I am not a quilter but a maker of machine pre-quilted fabric which gets a binding and is dubbed a coverlet. Non-skilled labor at its best LOL. But her suggestion and those of others about donating leftovers to persons, charitable organizations and guilds is a worthwhile one. It also reminded me of my attempts to give cloth away to those who were on limited incomes. On four different occasions in four different time periods from the 1950s through 70s in four different locations I tried to give some cotton leftovers to those who could not afford to buy good fabric. I confess here that I have always indulged in buying the best fabric I could as I made my own clothes and worked in a corporate setting. Cloth durability and fashionability was essential. The cotton I offered was quite suitable for quilting as well as for clothing. In each case, I kid you not, the response from the intendee was “Oh, I don’t know how to sew on good material”, and the fabric was not accepted by them. These are times that leave one speechless. However, in the 1990s the remnants did find a good home with a quilting guild which hugged every piece.

Let’s hope that WalMart reviews fabric sales at its stores and retains those departments which are profitable. I would hate to see anyone not have a local fabric outlet.

And a speedy recovery to you, Sally.

Sally Ward wrote:

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 07:29:19 -0800 (PST) | From: Judy Schwender (sister3603)

Hi all, My brother works at the WalMart near the Hancock’s store here in Paducah. His take on it is that his store will retain the cut fabric department because they make so much money during the AQS Quilt Show and Contest week. So, it is likely that some of the stores will keep their fabric departments. This will still have an impact though. Judy Schwender

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 07:32:41 -0800 (PST) | From: Judy Schwender (sister3603)

Sally Ward wrote: “the acquisition of an expensive stash can be an inhibiting thing when it starts to control you rather than the other way around.”

Collecting fabric is a hobby in and of itself. It’s that or salt & pepper shakers……….

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 07:44:46 -0600 | From: Gail Ingram (gingram)

>as I suggested a about the use of rotary cutter methods, the acquisition of > an expensive stash can be an inhibiting thing when it starts to > control you rather than the other way around.

Very interesting, Sally.

I am, however, wondering what size basket would be required for your stash. You should not be lifting gravel-truck-size baskets, you know.

The recent physical damage seems to be concentrated in the arm and hand regions: something inside seeking to get out? To tell you something?

It is gray, misty all day here in Louisiana. Very Christmas-looking for our part of the world.

Gail

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:16:12 -0600 | From: larry (larryw)

I spoke with a sales associate last night. She said that they had told them that some store would keep the fabric for a time anyway. She said phase out time was to be 1-5 years.

I think they have done several things to shoot themselves in the foot.

1. They stopped letting employees and customers make display garments/ projects. Displays sell!!! People that like fabric but are not sure what to do with it, need help. They now have about a dozen premade displays form the manufacturer. They used to have two displays on each rack plus the wal was full. 2. They kept lowering the quality of fabric they carry. When it got thin enough to read through I stopped buying it. I also encouraged my quilt students to compare quality(by showing them how) and purchase the best they could afford at the time. 3. They started hiring people who did not know anything about sewing to cut the fabric. I started working for Wal-Mart in 1978 when I turned 16. They put me in the fabric department because I knew how to sew(4 years of home ec). Of course I had limited knowledge, but I had a base to learn on. The lady that cut for me last week did not know to open up the fabric to prevent cutting a pannel. Not her fault, just no training. 4. They quit letting the dept. mgr. order what sells. Instead they just send what ever they want you to sell. This proved fatal one year when they sent all black angels to our 90% white rural missouri town. They were greatly discounted after christmas and still could not sell them. While the store in the city that needed the black angels got primarily white ones. Corporate Intelligence!!

All in all I am sure we will find fabric somewhere. There will be oppurtunity for fabric peddlers!

Sherrie

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:36:17 +0000 | From: Sally Ward (sallytatters)

> : something inside seeking to get out? To tell you something?

Well the most recent was telling me not to go digging barehanded in garbage bins where other people leave sharp edged tins \<G>. (no, it wasn’t the revenge of the rotary cutters)

Sally

Who just walked home through freezing fog.

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 12:44:20 -0500 | From: joan kiplinger (jkip)

Sherrie — You bring back memories of the Joann of the 70s-early 90s when there were oodles of displays plus racks of ones no longer used which you could buy at a great price. The sewing was superb and some graments and items provided great lessons in techniques.

Yes, displays and promotions help to sell; gives one an idea of how a fabric shapes up, so to speak.

larry wrote:

I spoke with a sales associate last night. She said that they had told them that some store would keep the fabric for a time anyway. She said phase out time was to be 1-5 years.

I think they have done several things to shoot themselves in the foot.

All in all I am sure we will find fabric somewhere. There will be oppurtunity for fabric peddlers!

Sherrie

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:11:58 -0500 | From: Pepper Cory (pepcory)

Many thanks to all of you who penned thoughtful comments regarding WalMart’s closing most of their fabric departments. Please keep your “reporter’s hat” on and keep my email handy: Pepper Cory pepcory . What I’m interested in is how this will play out in the future and affect independent quilt shops and fabric consumers country-wide. You all are a fabulous source of information! Again, many thanks and with your permission, might I contact some of you in the future on this subject? Sincerely, Pepper

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:16:47 -0800 (PST) | From: Judy Schwender (sister3603)

Sherrie wrote: “There will be oppurtunity for fabric peddlers!”

Actually we called ourselves rag men. And my boss, the distributor’s fabric buyer, told me once, “We might make a rag man out of you yet!”

Judy Schwender

Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:23:05 -0800 (PST) | From: Judy Schwender (sister3603)

Hi all, This discussion of displays reminded me of two towns I sold fabric in, 80 miles apart, each about 27,000 people. When I showed by samples in one town the store staff would say, “But what can our customers make from that? What would you use it for? We only need one or two white-on-white prints.Stripes don’t sell.” The next day in the other town the store staff would say, “Oooh wouldn’t that be fun to use in a border! And that other print would be great as a background! This one can be a fabulous sky! Do you have more stripes? They are great for…”

Night and day…………

Judy Schwender

joan kiplinger wrote: Sherrie — You bring back memories of the Joann of the 70s-early 90s when there were oodles of displays plus racks of ones no longer used which you could buy at a great price. The sewing was superb and some graments and items provided great lessons in techniques.

Yes, displays and promotions help to sell; gives one an idea of how a fabric shapes up, so to speak.

larry wrote:

I spoke with a sales associate last night. She said that they had told them that some store would keep the fabric for a time anyway. She said phase out time was to be 1-5 years.

I think they have done several things to shoot themselves in the foot.

All in all I am sure we will find fabric somewhere. There will be oppurtunity for fabric peddlers!

Sherrie

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 01:38:17 EST | From: RAGLADY

I had to laugh at your message, Judy…. the “rag business” is how I got my screen name.

My main accounts were the major car companies – primarily the paint and assembly plants. When I would go to call on my customers, the minute they saw me they’d holler “Here comes the RagLady” \<grin> Of course in the auto paint shops, cotton was a big No No — lint free wipers only.. So that mean 100% polyester squares – except for the tackcloth they had to use in the repair shop sections.

Gloria raglady sister3603 writes: > Actually we called ourselves rag men. And my boss, the distributor’s > fabric buyer, told me once, “We might make a rag man out of you yet!” > Judy Schwender

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 02:00:39 EST | From: Mitzioakes

Just to add my 2 cents this early am in Vermont – collecting fabric sure beats collecting salt and pepper shakers – why? One does not have to dust fabric and you cat can’t break fabric (a few hairs is ok), and you can hide fabric a lot easier than salt and peppers! Mitzi

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:32:16 -0500 | From: rfkerr

Gail and all – I ordered (and recieved) my copy from the Atlanta History Center gift shop. They currentyly have a wonderful exhibit featuring many of the quilts in the book. http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/ Mary Kerr

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:58:42 -0600 | From: John & Jan Meachen (4js)

This may have already been addressed but will put my seldom spent 2 cents in to this discussion. I am not only an employee of our local quilt shop but help the owner do most of the buying. Several of the reps that stopped by after Fall Market made the comment that they wonder how this will affect the factories that have come to rely on the Wal Mart contracts to remain in business. When you think that a production run of fabric may almost all be going to Wal Mart, who will be there to pick up that amount of production to keep some of these mills in business. Even if most is printed overseas, so is most of the fabrics for quilt shops. This could have an impact on cost and the number of mills producing fabric in the future. Quit shops are usually shown the “Quilt Shop Only” lines…we know the factories are printing other lines and these are for the craft stores. I have a feeling the execs at Wal Mart see the inability of turning over the fabric every 3-6 months as being a problem when it comes to profitibility of square footage in their stores. We have been hearing the rumors for several years they were planning to do this….guess the time has finally come.

J. Meachen Wausau, WI

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:14:27 EST | From: RAGLADY

Absolutely!! Try hidding a few salt and pepper shakers under your mattress if you don’t believe it. 8-))

Gloria raglady Mitzioakes writes: > you cat can’t break fabric (a few hairs is ok), and you can hide fabric a > lot easier than salt and peppers! > Mitzi

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 07:33:01 -0800 | From: applique_artist

I live in the Pacific Northwest….Tacoma/Seattle area and we have a Walmart on every corner, it seems. I do a lot of shopping in these stores, but never in the needlework department. They’re poorly stocked, as far a notions, etc. and fabric quality is very low. In this area, where we are well supplied with quilt shops, I can’t imagine that the shops would be effected one way or the other by Walmart fabrics. I belong to a good sized quilting guild and I can’t ever remember hearing of anyone buying fabric at Walmart. This is an interesting subject. I’d like to hear more about this. Jeannie Austin, Graham Washington

—– Original Message —– From: Quilt History List digest Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2006 9:05 PM To: qhl digest recipients Subject: qhl digest: December 16, 2006

QHL Digest for Saturday, December 16, 2006.

1. Marie Webster design? 2. Project Runway 3. Project Runway 4. Need your thoughts and input- 5. Museums and sewing 6. RE: Museums and sewing 7. demonstrations 8. Re: Need your thoughts and input- 9. Re: demonstrations 10. Re: demonstrations 11. Re: demonstrations 12. Re: Need your thoughts and input- 13. Re: Need your thoughts and input-

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:26:03 EST | From: CarylSchuetz

Yes, collecting fabric is a hobby in and of itself. My mother’s dear friend had shelves of fabric in her garage. She would spend time with her stash, caressing and holding it, opening it and studying it, laying it out.

Her husband thought she was odd with regard to her stash…..because she was a collector of fabric; she did not sew and she did not quilt….just loved her beautiful cloth collection. Caryl Schuetz in Indy

Collecting fabric is a hobby in and of itself. It’s that or salt &pepper shakers……….

“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””” Caryl Schuetz Professional Association of Appraisers – Quilted Textiles certified by the American Quilter’s Society P.O. Box 68827 Traders Point Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 www.quiltvalues.com “””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:07:13 -0800 | From: Marilyn Withrow (marilynquilts)

This may be a cross-post — sorry if you get it twice, but I’ve been trying to get it to QHL and QuiltBiz — let’s see if it works this time!

I agree with those of you who shop Wal-Mart — as I do on occasion for some specific things — and who think it will be awful if Wal-Mart closes its fabric department — but a Wal-Mart closing its fabric department is not going to stop us quilters. It will just send us in a different direction. When you think of all that quilters have conquered over so many years — wars, illnesses, economic changes, migrating across this great country, emigrating from other countries, the Depression (which brought about some of the most prolific quilts, by the way) — the closing or opening of one store or another will have little or no effect in the long run. Remember Sears and Penney’s when they used to be in our downtowns and we could go there and find wonderful material (which is what we called it then, in the Midwest)? When they closed their material departments, it didn’t stop us. We found it other places, got creative, and made wonderful quilts with fabric from other places, other shops, took trips to the Big City to buy — and now we have the Internet! Never fear, quilters will find the fabric and notions they need, one way or another, and will continue to make beautiful quilts. Remember, necessity is the mother of invention……..or, when you run out of one fabric you think you need, creativity takes over and you “make do” — and the quilt is even more wonderful for it. The Depression and wars haven’t stopped us — Wal-Mart is powerful, yes, but not powerful enough to stop a determined quilter.

Marilyn Maddalena Withrow Professional Quilt Appraiser, Judge, Historian, Designer and Speaker Oregon State Co-Coordinator, Home of the Brave Project Editor, “Blanket Statements,” AQSG quarterly newsletter www.marilynquilts.com www.footscreekfarms.com “Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:16:07 -0500 | From: Candace Perry (candace)

In the February 2007 EAL — a wonderful article with images from the Winterthur quilt collection by Linda Eaton! Candace Perry Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center

Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 06:01:20 -0600 | From: Pat Kyser (patkyser)

I think JMeachen has hit the nail on the head. If mills lose their large WalMart production, they may not be able to continue making the smaller amounts of “better” fabric for quilt stores. Therein lies a rub we may not like. Only time will tell, but I fear our beautiful array of new closely woven fabrics may indeed be impacted by WalMart’s withdrawal from the fabric selling business. One drop in the mighty ocean DOES a ripple make, and we may look back on this event as a major one in our quilting history. Pat in Alabama

Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:20:58 EST | From: MargaretFahey

Speaking of fabric and stashes… I think I “need” some kind of system of containers for my fat quarter stash. Ideally, it would be a clear container so to see the fabric and would be stackable to some degree.

What system do you use, besides lopsided on a shelf and spilling out when rummaging?

I tried to explain a fat quarter to my 16 year old grandson by email since I had it on my wish list. Pretty funny.

Margaret

From: KJB139

I found a clear plastic tub to fold flat quarters in and if I use the lid, I can stack them. I arranged them by predominate color.

KBurns

Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 07:50:40 -0600 | From: louise-b

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Things are quiet here for now and for Christmas! Hope at least part of your family and you can be together. My duaghter will be here today with us but just us on Christmas.

Take care – Louise

Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 08:18:28 -0800 (PST) | From: catz

Can someone point me in the right direction to change my email address with quilt history… Thanks ! Marie Johansen

Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 13:26:01 -0500 | From: Pepper Cory (pepcory)

Hello friends-After the discussion about Wal-Mart’s closing many of its fabric departments, I thought this was a wonderful ironic article. There’s such opportunity for independent quilt/fabric shops to take up the slack! Would be interested in your reactions to this story. Write me at pepcory

Recent Time magazine story about sewing: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1562966,00.html

Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 15:04:05 -0400 | From: Polly Greene (pjgreene)

Someone recently wrote that quilting is just a “hobby” and I had to laugh. I consider it an addiction that simply takes over. It is impossible to stop buying fabrics and letting them accumulate in huge piles. And then there are all the quilts and wallhangings that you can’t stop making. I don’t see any difference between us and the gambling addicts or the foodies who can’t get enough food. So far no one has started up a program like Weight Watchers where we can go and talk about our addiction and try to get some control.

Polly in Nova Scotia where a meter of fabric is commonly $16.

Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:46:19 -0800 | From: Alan

> Someone recently wrote that quilting is just a “hobby” and I had to > laugh.

I’m always vaguely horrified whenever some talks about my hobby. They’re usually the people that don’t have a clue about how it’s become my life’s work. Study, restoration, traditional, and my artwork. Then there’s the time I made an art quilt, rather significant piece for me. I’d taken it to the shop to show the owner/friend. She had it at the counter and she showed it to a little old lady, who said “I guess it’s all right for a placemat”. The owner wanted the floor to open up under her, and I was in the corner trying to not laugh out loud. Sometimes people don’t get it.

From: adamroni

Hi all.

Although not an American, and not a customer of Walmart, I’d still like to put in my two cents’ worth. I am aware of my very good fortune in being able to afford to buy whatever fabric I need (within reason, although what’s reasonable for a quilter may not seem reasonable to her husband :-)). What I’d like to question is just how much does price reflect quality. Risking heresy (I know there are quite a few quilt store owners in this group, and I apologize in advance if my thoughts offend anyone), and drawing on 16 years worth’ of shopping for fabric in the US and Europe, I honestly find it difficult to see the relation between price and quality. I am not talking about fabrics classed as “crafts”, which are admittedly of inferior quality. But, as I live outside the US I have had to buy all my fabrics on the internet (and before that, from quilt stores that had swatch and mail order service), and have to say that in too many cases I have paid top dollar (today’s equivalent of $8-$9 a yard) for truly inferior fabrics. I only make reproduction quilts, so have a fairly wide selection of repro fabrics from the early Nineties onwards. All the early lines of the Smithsonian repro fabrics, for instance, were quite expensive, were made by a well known manufacturer and carried by reputable stores – and yet were so thin and badly printed as to render them truly inferior. I have even bought some hideously expensive European fabrics (priced at 25 Euros – some $40 – a meter) that with time and use have fared much much worse than “cheap”, or rather cheaper, fabrics. IMHO, a high price, and even a reputable store, do not always warrant quality.

I do realize that a local quilt store needs to charge higher prices to survive – to cover cost of immovable stock, trained staff, rent etc. I have no quarrel with that – to the contrary, I happily support the only quilt store in Israel, that opened 3 years ago. It is much nicer to buy real fabrics than click on thumbnails on a screen. But if truth be told, I am getting a little tired of the greige goods story – I have bought excellent quality printings on high thread count fabric at discount prices, and have paid quite a lot for fabric that, as a friend once said “I could spit through.” Isn’t it time to admit that some manufacturers – even supposedly reputable ones – simply skimp on fabric and manufacturing processes and are still charging the same high prices? And wouldn’t it be nice to hear from quilt store owners that yes, they do charge more, but not because what you buy on the Web or at discount stores is inferior, but rather because their working condition are totally different from those of the big chains, and on the other hand, they are offering services and possibilities that are way beyond what you get in a chain store?

One more thought re quality – Thirties quilts were made from feed sacks – a low quality, low thread count fabric. I have a Thirties quilt as well as quite a few blocks, and as an avid surfer on Ebay and a lover of depression quilts, have got the distinct impression that Depression quilts have fared rather well over the years, despite low quality, cheap fabrics and hard use. Most of the ones you see are still fresh and quite well preserved.

Lastly, if I may be permitted to digress a little, have any of you noticed that fabric is no longer 44″-45″ wide? It is closer to 40-42″, which first of all creates problems when fabric requirements in books and magazines are based on 44-45 widths, and nets a huge profit for the manufacturers? A 2″ difference may not seem like a lot, but double it by 25 yards per bolt, and the hundreds or thousands (or even more) of bolts printed in each line, and you end up with a huge “saving” for the company. And yet the customer is still paying the same price she’s paid for the 44-45″ wide fabric, and having to buy more of it to cover the difference.

Happy holidays,

Ady in Israel

From: Laura Fisher

This movie opens today, and from all the exposure of its stars on every TV show you would think this is the greatest film opus since citizen Kane. Anyhoo, I think I spotted–over Matt Damon;s head, as Roberty deNiro is talking to him about the plan to create this post-OSS type organization — MY framed Centennial kerchief with George Washington at the center, and the Phila Exhibition Buildings around the perimeter! So, maybe this will be one film in which the stuff rented makes it to the final film, not the cutting room floor. They rented samplers, framed flags, needlework, rugs, NO quilts unfortunately, to make the home of Damon and Jolie look like how the white gentry lived mid-century. Let’s see. Its always fun to try to spot the stuff. Laura Fisher

From: Mitzioakes

So I am not crazy! I bought some fabric (high quality!) and found it to be about 42.5″ in width. Thought I just mis-measured. Thanks for making me sane. It is the same with buying a ‘pound of coffee’ here in the US – how many users are aware that this is no longer true? Oh well, not much we can do about it. Hope you all enjoy happy holidays – here in Vermont we are hoping for snow! Just isn’t right to see green grass in last December. Mitzi

From: Karen Evans

Take a gander at what my friend Yolanda just sent me – !

http://www.babenberg.de/kunstkarten/lc_gross/1513_01.jpg