Open Thread – Quilt Part III
3 11 2009Here is part 3 of 5 in our tour around the amazing Mudflats quilt that was created by our cyber quilting group on the Forum. Definitely the most unique and unexpected gift I have ever gotten! If you’ve missed the first installments, you can check back to recent previous open threads.
Here are today’s four blocks!
First is the Netroots block! This one commemorates my odyssey from Anchorage to Pittsburgh (via Houston!) for the 2009 Netroots Nation convention, where I got to meet lots of other blogger types and share a weekend of ideas, and cameraderie. Your generosity made it possible for both me and Shannyn Moore to win a scholarship and your further generosity got us there to enjoy it! I am forever grateful for that. The quilt has a very cool circuitboard pattern in the background, and a boot full of computer screens, and other pieces have interesting metallic patterns. Perfect.
The next square memorializes the famous and infamous New York City Mudstock! Here’s what Quince had to say in her letter:
This was an enormously collaborative effort. Forty Watt and futurexpat? brought muslin to the big city, where they gathered many signatures. Forty Forty Watt reports that the muslin itself still may bear the faintest patina of a spilled adult beverage (to wit, a gin & tonic).
The background is a sparkling NYC skyline, and on the boots can be found the names of Bubbles and FortyWatt. Others represented are Futurexpat, Memphis NY Judy, PrisonerNumber6, Ripley in CT Karen, Mona Lisa, JHop, Karin in CT, and Dr. Chill of Photoshop fame. There is also a little shrimp to represent the inflatable shrimp sent to the soiree by AustinTX. And two teeny little green tickets that say “Hartford CT” commemorate the stalwart Connecticutters (?) who made the pilgrimage to the Big Apple.
Next we come to the “I Can See Russia” square! Adorned with onion domes, starry skies, snowy pine trees and decorative horses. The frosty blue center square has a pair of red boots, a little airplane and the words “I can see Russia from my airspace!”
And the fourth square in the group has lovely flannel boots sprinkled with evergreens. The background has a flannel pine forest, bears, and of course Brian and Brenda the Mudflats moose. And best of all it’s signed by Hamlets Mill, mastermind of the Pittsburgh Mudstock.
That’s it for this installment! Two more to go. Just incredible…
And before I forget, I have learned the identity of two more of our awesome quilters! Annie M. is responsible for the beautiful Arizona square with those frungy beaded boots. And Quince’s daughter can take credit for the very cute and creative Mudpuppy square! She has convinced the family to adopt 2 beagles, and wants some day to work in animal rescue law enforcement.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 AM
The Quilt is beautiful, and without a doubt one of the most detailed and creative things I have ever seen! AKM, you must be absolutely thrilled to have something like that given to you. What a gift, and in more ways in one! I’m in awe of all the details. I’ve done a lot of crafts in my time, but never learned how to quilt in spite of wanting to learn for years. (I’m not very talented in the seamstress department, to put it mildly.) To those who created this; you are so talented! Also very unique are the stories behind each block, just amazing. Thanks for sharing them!
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:17 AM
SKY, I checked out your blog. Keep up the good work. I left a comment there.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 AM
{{{{NewfieDR}}}}}} – Totally understand your ordeal – been at Vanderbilt this past week and I have come to HATE the thought of needles, let alone see them. We will all be pulling for you that they soon decide what the problem is and fix it quickly for you! Glad to hear the pups are thriving. Go back to bed, you can always catch up on your reading another day.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 AM
encouraging artice in TP
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/11/03/cali-special-election/
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:46 AM
this not so good
Police called in to NY-23 polling stations because of voter intimidation by teabaggers!
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/police-called-ny-23-polling-stations-be
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 PM
If it wasn’t bad enough that Sarah and her ‘ X-ian Following ‘ are against
Health care reform … the Catholic Church has decided to weigh in and get involved in Politics. { isn’t it time for a separation of Church & State..?}
I sure hope these Bishops are willing to help pay for the Healthcare of the people who attend their Churches….. caring for the poor and all.
Wasn’t THAT sort of a theme…. to be preaching..?
And they are passing out the materials IN Church… Hmmm….
If Church attendance is down….this MIGHT be a reason why. Would you continue to go to a Church that acts like this..?
“This past weekend the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops instructed pastors at parishes across the country to distribute material urging Catholics to oppose the health reform bills making their way through Congress for allowing public funding of abortions. ” { Which is NOT in the Bill }
“Priests were to insert the Bishops Conference pdf leaflets and letters into parish news bulletins, distribute them at church doors or place them in pews. They were also directed to read a statement at mass to reinforce the message.”
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/catholic-pastors-directed_n_343458.html
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:20 PM
I believe good folks from CT are referred to as Nutmeggers.
NY’ers call them something else, but I won’t get into that heah.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:21 PM
I started getting a little perturbed with huffpo a little while back when Arianna got on the “Joe Biden” should resign crapola. The fact of the matter is I always am somewhat sceptical of anyone that can flip flop so radically regarding their politically leanings. I’ve always had the same problem with Ed Schultz after reading that he used to be conservative. Something just doesn’t feel right about that scenario. I suppose it can happen just as sinning heathens become “born again” and middle-aged housewives wake up one day and realize they’re lesbians. I just find it hard to believe that you could ever make such a strong turn about…but who am I to say, jmho.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:29 PM
Each quilt square says so much! I can imagine an intriguing book centered around the making of this most spectacular quilt, wonderful co-conspirators and deserving recipient.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:41 PM
well there must have been some backlash over at HP because they changed there frontage to make it look a bit more balanced
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 PM
“skeptical”, damn spellcheck. I thought it looked wrong….
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 PM
WHEN???…in God’s name…will the pundits (and politicians) STOP taking the bait that palin puts out to keep her name in the news every freakin’ week??? Everyone else is aware of this being a tactic! …come on people! ENOUGH! Until this salivating interest ceases to exist, palin will win with her desired publicity…even Paris Hilton peetered out of the daily limelight. I’m waiting for ‘them’ to notice evidence of her crow’s feet…maybe then? …it’s certainly not her wisdom keeping them gawking! Levi…help us! …spill it now!
I’M SICK OF HER!!!
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:06 PM
Lainey…I couldn’t agree with you more!
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:16 PM
Newfoundland Dogs Rule, I hope you are not reading this right now, and that you are resting- the best medicine after PUPPY BREATH!!!
The quilt squares are beautiful AKM, what thoughtfulness in each one.
Political sabbatical for me today…
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:29 PM
@OMG….thank you. one person at a time and maybe this palin era will end…finally! this blog doesn’t need the likes of HER to continue…there are plenty of more important topics out there!
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:48 PM
newfoundland w/pups glad you made it home safely to your 9 pups and hope you are feeling better……. quince! what can i say! you are a priceless treasure. thank you for all you did.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Here is an article from Sam Stein at Huff
The last three paragraphs say it all.
http://tiny.cc/Qd0iS
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:08 PM
OFF TOPIC:
I just wrote to MSNBC and asked them to give you AKM your own show….
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:15 PM
DinkyP~ awww breaks my heart! (not)
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Well… Huffman and his Staff did learn ONE thing from $arah…
WHINE early and whine often. They are complaining about illegal things and ACORN is involved… etc… etc… and this. ‘Someone’ in the opposition is slashing someones tires…. BUT…what is the real story..?
——————
“Update: Anton Troianovski of the Wall Street Journal followed up with the Plattsburgh police on this, and was told that the volunteer actually damaged his tire on a broken bottle. I asked Hoffman campaign manager Dan Tripp about this–he said he had no comment because the campaign had not heard this yet.”
http://washingtonindependent.com/66380/ny-23-hoffman-accuses-democrats-of-stealing-the-election
——————-
Like Faux news… why let the ‘ facts ‘ interfere with the Story though.
I wonder if Beck cried over this…?
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Star:
NOT, NEVER, NADA Winky Queen!!!!!
The North Country should be friendly ground for her and if she can’t make it there it’s hard to see how she can make it anywhere.”
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 PM
These squares are like having kids…….how could you ever choose your favourite, as kids always ask, “who do you love the most?”
Fortunately they are all stitched together…..lol…..like families.
Absolutely remarkable!
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:25 PM
SKY I ‘m with you and your rant. I have been sayint the same things(just abou)on HP and McClatchy and some NJ papers I looked up.Who knows if they are ever published.I never go back and check??
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:34 PM
with 19% in Bill Owens leads 50%-44% over Hoffman
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:46 PM
@twain, Greatgranny2c and cynamen
I just had a conversation with one of my coworkers about the negative tone of HuffingtonPost articles towards President Obama and his policies. Arianna is getting full of herself. What a change of opinion, in less than 12 months. Thanks for pointing out Think Progress, I will give it a try. I can hardly stand going to HP. If I wanted to indulge myself with POTUS negativity I would visit T e a m S a r a h.
On a positive note: the quilt is beautiful, I didn’t know anything about it. I guess I missed the memo…(what else is new
)))
November 3rd, 2009 at 7:24 PM
colibrimoon @75 – Arianna certainly has switched sides. I’ve seen her on various talk shows and it’s hard to believe she was such an Obama supporter at one time. I had begun to think it was my imagine that HP was changing direction. One of the more reliable writers that I still follow is Sam Stein.
Another website that is fairly accurate and *just the facts, ma’am* is http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
We liberals/progressives have a real shortage of media outlets. As a group, we don’t seem to be as vocal as the righties and our voices simply aren’t heard. I read an article recently that stated talk radio is 95% rightwing.
MSNBC evening is the only time we really have a voice with Keith and Rachel. Ed Schultz does make some good points, but he gets rather mouthy and cynical and is a bit hard to listen to. I can’t bear to listen to Morning Joe and that crew. Matthews is so obviously a Republican and does negative lead-ins like he wants to start some controversy, when there really isn’t (or shouldn’t) be one.
Those on the right put Olbermann down because of his continual battle with O’Reilly, and Rachel is demeaned because of her sexual preferences. Both are extremely bright, research their topics, admit and apologize for any errors they might make, and give their guests a fair and uninterrupted opportunity to air their own viewpoints. They also cover topics that most of the other commentators don’t want to touch – such as the religious nutters and C Street.
I think both are vastly underestimated and undervalued. I wish there were more like them to give us a louder voice. We don’t have the political action groups like the right has with Freedom Works, etc.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:33 PM
I wondered what was up with HP I just stopped reading and just glanced thru it now. Thanks for the link to TPM.Tight race in NJ and for mayor of NY. also very tight on the main ballot about Gay marriage.
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 PM
GreatGranny2C @76, thanks for the website, I will check it out.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Arianna Huffington used to be a stalwart conservative.
With so-called “liberals” like Arianna, who needs Republicans for critics…..
Like water eroding away the shoreline….so does Arianna and her ilk erode the support for PO.
They don’t seem to understand that building a power base takes longer than a few months. It’s done with one step forward and two steps back…..Arianna et al seem to focus only on the two steps back by PO.
Well, keep it up…..and the Dems will surely lose their momentum and the ability to make greater changes down the timeline of our history.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Irish Girl, thank you for the comment. I really needed it. Tonight is not a good night for me and my husband. I just feel like my freedom is being taken away.
I think I have seen a lot, to the point that I am hesitant to post certain things. Especially that we have the bullies in Trenton.
But I promise, He is not going to have it easy either. I am so happy the Repugs won. Now I would like to see their candidate, cut taxes in NJ in 2 months, just like they expected President Obama to fix the economy in one month after 8 years of GOP destruction.
I am gearing up to defend my freedom as a human being. Repugs are already saying we should give Chris Christie 2 years to clean up NJ. Oh year, when they did not give President Obama even a month? The only problem is Democrats like to flipflop.
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 PM
Irish Girl, thank you for the comment. I really needed it. Tonight is not a good night for me and my husband. I just feel like my freedom is being taken away.
I think I have seen a lot, to the point that I am hesitant to post certain things. Especially that we have the bullies elected.
But I promise, He is not going to have it easy either. I am so happy the Repugs won. Now I would like to see their candidate, cut taxes in NJ in 2 months, just like they expected President Obama to fix the economy in one month after 8 years of GOP destruction.
I am gearing up to defend my freedom as a human being. Repugs are already saying we should give Chris Christie 2 years to clean up NJ. Oh yeah, when they did not give President Obama even a month?
November 4th, 2009 at 12:41 AM
Correction on my comment # 79…..”Two steps forward and one step back” not the reverse. Must be getting too late for my brain :>)