Another little round-up of newsy bits from the stitchy side of the world (which if you pay attention, is growing fast and furiously).
C & T Publishing Celebrates 30th Anniversary With (What Else?) A New Book
CONCORD, CA—But not just any book. C & T Publishing, one of the powerhouses in the quilt and soft craft publishing world, is honoring its three decades of success by publishing a new version of its very first book. Back in 1983, quilt-shop owners Carolie and Tony Hensley became publishers with the glib promise to quilter Roberta Horton that they would publish her book on Amish quilts. An Amish Adventure (now in its second printing) became their sole catalog item, but it launched a business that is now in its second generation of leadership and that has produced thousands of books for quilters, sewists and crafters.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, C & T will publish a new book of 30 Amish and Amish-inspired quilt designs, and the company has opened up the call for submissions to its most intimate friends and colleagues: All of you. To submit a design for the anniversary book, go to www.ctpubentry.com for all the info. Submissions will be accepted until Sept. 20, 2012, and quilts of all sizes are welcome.
The company is now run by Hensley sons Todd and Tony, and employs more than 50. Its catalog currently has more than 400 titles and products for fabric artists of all types, and through its PatternSpot.com site, it helps designers publish downloadable pdf patterns.
GenQ Scores Ink!
SIMI VALLEY, CA– “Local girl makes good” is always a great story line, even if that local girl is a journalist herself. GenQ publisher Jake Finch found herself on the other side of the lens and reporter’s notebook recently when the Ventura County Star interviewed her about Generation Q Magazine, and watched her and GenQ volunteers in action during a Test Drive for an upcoming article.
Jake, who often freelances for the Star when she’s not calculating postage for shipping issues to another hemisphere, or writing for the mag, says it was odd to be the story subject, for a change, instead of the story conduit. But Star reporter Lisa McKinnon did a fine job, Jake says, and the whole magazine staff appreciates the publicity.
Lisa and her photog staff got to witness firsthand GenQ Test Drivers as they put several quilting aids and products through their paces. You can read about that Test drive in November, when our Winter 2013 issue hits the stands, but you can read the Star’s story now. Just click here!
Quilt Alliance Installs New Board Members
ASHEVILLE, NC–The nonprofit Quilt Alliance welcomes three new board members to its leadership team: Lisa Ellis, Brenda Groelz and Steve Nabity. The newly elected members join a group of 20 volunteers that includes quiltmakers, historians, archivists, academic and museum professionals, media specialists and industry representatives.
Lisa Brehm Ellis is a quilt artist, teacher, and head of the non-profit organization Sacred Threads, which curates and sponsors a biennial exhibition focusing on sharing our most personal quilts with themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, healing, grief and peace/brotherhood. She also founded Giving Back Technology, a company that provides information technology services to non-profit museums, galleries and other art organizations.
Brenda Groelz is director of marketing and education for Handi Quilter, Inc. She has more than 25 years experience in various aspects of the quilting industry, including pattern and book publishing, magazine publishing, teaching, lecturing and product development.
Steve Nabity is “chief energizing officer” at AccuQuilt, and has been in the business of innovative cutting since 1990, when he founded AccuCut, a family of stores offering innovative cutting solutions to the quilt, education and craft markets. AccuQuilt spun off in 2008, catering exclusively to quilters.
Stitcher Upcycles Curtains to Win Bernina Challenge
AURORA, IL—Mary B, a stitcher from La Plata, Maryland, has won the second WeAllSew Challenge sponsored by BERNINA of America for her upcycled window curtain project. Mary’s efforts—creating a slipcover for an old wingback chair from discarded curtains—earned her a $1,000 BERNINA gift card and coverage on the company’s WeAllSew blog.
Mary B's challenge-winning design
The challenge, specifically themed “Make Yourself at Home,” asked participants to upcycle any item into reinvented home décor. It was the second in a series of challenges BERNINA is sponsoring. Entries are judged by a panel of company experts based on three criteria: the number of votes each project received on Facebook, the project description, and the finished project.
The first challenge had a Wedding Dress Makeover” theme. The final contest in the WeAllSew Challenge takes place in September, and requires participants to upcycle discarded wardrobe items into a “shockingly chic costume” for Halloween. Check out this link or visit the WeAllSew Facebook page for more details.
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Congratulations to C&T Publishing on 30 years in the biz! If I had solids in my stash, I’d try to put something together for them. ;^)
I read the Star article on Jake & GenQ – WOOHOOOOooOOOO!!!!
And congrats also to the new QA Board members & to Mary B – that wingback chair looks great!