Learn About the 7 Continents! Exploring the 7 Continents has never been more exciting! It’s a Small World Continent Study is filled with over 35 activities to help your students gain a greater understanding of the seven continents. This 130+ page unit is filled with great resources, posters, printables, activities, and projects that will open […]
TIG | This Is Glamorous - A Digital Publication est. 2007 - An intelligent guide to the best of the internets for the aesthetically inclined
Learn About the 7 Continents! Exploring the 7 Continents has never been more exciting! It’s a Small World Continent Study is filled with over 35 activities to help your students gain a greater understanding of the seven continents. This 130+ page unit is filled with great resources, posters, printables, activities, and projects that will open […]
Welcome to the start of the My Small World Quilt-along. Hopefully your supplies have arrived or are only days away and you can start your preparation. This is an introductory post with the schedule and a few ideas to help you prepare for the construction of part one and making the rest of the quilt. You can check out the rest of the host teams' thoughts at Cindys, John's, Megan's, Danielle's and Lisa's blogs and IG feeds for progress hints, and tips-please allow for different time zones for these posts. The Instagram hashtag #mysmallworldqal will take you to these too! Errarta I recommend having a thorough read of the instructions before you start- note the diagram error on page 61. Originally Quiltmania magazine created a PDF file with corrections for this but they have now withdrawn it. You can see some details on this blog post from John/QuiltDad. Jen Kingwell published the corrected pattern herself and it available on her website. Another minor error to note is on page 74, the larger semi circle template is missing it's label- it is BF. Note the size of the quilt too, 33" x 52" and many of the pieces are very small. I'm getting zip lock bags labelled as I cut out different sections for later construction. There's more info and links further down this post for those wishing to increase the size. Low Volume and Sky The sky area features in parts 1-5 of the construction sections so you may want to at least get your fabrics out to plan and maybe get cutting too, there are a lot of little squares involved! I added a little aqua and yellow to my palette but kept it very light and low contrast. I know a few participants are interested in having a blue sky. Charise of Charise Creates has already started hers and the Blue Skies picture below shows how pretty the aqua and cream low volume fabric look together. I would also recommend a look at the hashtag #mysmallworldqal on instagram to see how other skies look as a few people have already started sewing. You will find @vickidjl (of Sew Inspired) photo which is another very pretty cream and aqua sky. Photo kindly supplied by Charise Randall Templates Most people will be machine sewing this quilt. It is template based, and could also be hand pieced if that is your preference. For templates, I used a mix of template plastic, old Paperchase notebook covers- these make for thicker templates, great for drawing around and freezer paper. I used freezer paper for some of the curved templates that only have one piece to cut out and I will use it for making lots of the AE/iorange peel templates to appliqué on. Remember to chose either imperial inch (pink outlined templates) templates or metric (black outlined templates)- don't mix together, plus there are also templates are suitable for both measurement systems also shown in black. I use a ¼" quilter's wheel to create the seam allowance on fabric with the curved templates. Incompetech allows you to print a range of shapes- hexagons, 60 degree triangles etc at specific sizes for free e.g. for English paper pieced hexagons in part 5. I use Karen Buckley's Perfect Circles for appliquéing circles. Areas to think about during the QAL During the construction, there are some decisions to be made especially around hand piecing choices. Here are some areas to think about: Appliqué circles, curved pieces and orange peel in most of the sections Clamshells in part 4 English Paper Pieced hexagons in part 5 Arcs in part 5 Dresden piecing in part 5 Triangle arcs in piece 5 Embroidery- buildings in part 4 Lots of small green squares need in part 5 and 6 I am going to make a start on some of these early on-I think the clamshells are something I will start preparing sooner rather than later. EPP takes me ages and hurts my hands- even the preparation of those hexagons takes some time. I think I will hand sew these together but along the seam lines and without papers. Sue of Jersey-Scraper has offered pre cut hexagons for the price of postage- contact her for this and also for a low volume strip swap for the sky. As different hosts cover their section of the quilt along, they will share some of their methods and decisions. So far, I have decided not to include embroidery and I will be using needle turn appliqué for all appliqué shapes. Palette and Fabric Choices I am not a huge fan of planning quilts which is the reason Jen Kingwell's quilts appeal to me. The scrappy palette means I won't have to buy new fabrics, scraps and stash will suffice beautifully. I am thinking about how much contrast I want to create. Viewing Jen's quilt through a black and white filter shows the contrast levels amongst the scrappiness and they are relatively low. I am thinking of a sightly stronger contrast although I am guessing it will evolve as I sew. I photographed some fabric pulls as an aide memoire when I come to cut buildings and roof tops so I can recall the colours I liked. Sizing Up Sizing up is something I know has come up on Instagram discussions. I will be sticking to the standard size as this quilt is going on my sofa so is just the right size. There are a number of options for increasing the size. Lisa is considering this so you might want to read what she says and Cindy is also looking at this option. Jo of a Life in Lists is expanding the quilt by repeating chunks of sections and adding a lot more sky- you can see her plans in her sketch below. She is also following this up with a detailed post on her blog. Photo kindly supplied by Jo Greene This method means that the size of the pieces remains the same- there's just a lot more of them. Another alternative is to double the size of the pieces by reproducing the templates at 200% and resize the rotary cut pieces- remember the size for these in the pattern includes seam allowances consider this in your calculations! For example, a rotary cut 2 ½" square will double up to become a 4½" square including the seam allowances. A few thoughts about the quilt along in general. As it is Jen Kingwell's pattern for Quiltmania we cannot give chunks of the pattern away- i.e. details about the size of each piece so posts will concentrate on skills involved e.g. appliqué or alternatives to sections you might want to change e.g English paper pieced hexagons. Jen and Quiltmania are following the progress of the quilt-along and looking forward to seeing your versions of My Small World! All the hosts agreed that the emphasis is on a community quilt along so we have not sought sponsors, prizes or a commercial aspect to the quilt-along so if you see anything along these lines on social media, it is not linked to us but to the individuals offering a giveaway, kits to buy etc. Instead, we wanted to host a fun, community quilt-along over the next few months and provide the motivation and a little help that we all need to get something we really want to do done! There is a Flickr group for those not on Instagram or still like the old style Flickr groups. Please continue to share on #mysmallworldqal on Instagram, Twitter and Flickr. There's no compulsion. This quilt along is to help and encourage not lay down the law. If you want to do something different, share it as others may want to do what you have done! The construction posts are timed during specific weeks rather than named dates so they may not be there early on Monday morning of that week but later in the week instead. I hope that helps. Any quilt-along questions will be answered in the comments. I'll write a mini blog post with a link to each part of the quilt-along over the next few months as well as showing my progress. Here's the schedule: 18th May Intro post - All hosts will be posting! Week beginning 25th May -Part 1 - John Adams - Quiltdad Week beg. 15th June -Part 2- Kerry Green- verykerryberry Week beg. 6th July - Part 3 - Megan- LucyandNorman Week beg. 27th July - Part 4 - Lisa- Vintagemodernquilts Week beg 17th August- Part 5- Danielle - Mespetitelefants Week beg. 7th Sept - Part 6 - Cindy- Liveacolorfullife Week beg. 28th Sept - Finish - All hosts will be posting!
Small towns are a classic literary setting, making appearances in all types of genres and forms. Maycomb County from To Kill a Mockingbird, Bedford Falls from It’s a Wonderful Life, Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls – all dreamy little towns that have become staples of the American image. You coul
Not only is Bevis Marks the oldest synagogue in the United Kingdom, it also has a moving history.The synagogue used to be a central office for congregational and individual Jewish problems across the world. For example, they helped 7-year-old Moses de Paz, after he escaped from Gibraltar in 1777 to avoid a forced conversion. It was the heart of the Sephardic Jewish community in London for over a century, and their services and traditions are still carried out today.
"Eileen in Green" Think I have finally sorted out the mystery of this painting, after another query. The painting, called "The First Irish Pilot" is of Lavery's daughter Eileen who was married to the Master of Sempill, he a pilot she often his enthusiastic passenger (see "Sir John Lavery" by Kenneth McConkey, page 162). Another painting "'The First Flight to Dublin" also dates from this period (1926); the Irish Free State had bought five planes from the British and one of these was flown to Dublin by the Sempills. Sir John made a quick sketch of the five planes in England before they took off. The Lavery portrait of Lady Mary shows her in her ambulance driver's uniform standing beside a car. It was painted by Lavery when he was on war artist duties in France and remains in the house of a distant relative in Co Limerick. * Here is a painting by Sir John Lavery of a much younger Eileen. It's called "Eileen in Green". From the Hugh Lane Art Gallery Website: John Lavery An Irish Pilot This wonderful painting by one of Ireland’s best loved portrait painters John Lavery features the fascinating Lady Heath, born Sophie Pierce Evans in Limerick. For a five-year period from the mid-1920s, pilot Lady Mary Heath was one of the best-known women in the world. It was an era when everyone had gone aviation mad, she was the first woman to parachute and the first woman to gain a commercial pilot’s licence. In 1928 Lady Heath made front-page news worldwide as the first pilot ever, male or female, to fly a small, open cockpit plane solo from Cape Town to London. Back home in Ireland in the 1930s, she was reputed to have landed her plane on every flat field in the country. This fine portrait is in good condition, but its valuable, ornate frame is suffering from extensive flaking of the gilding. This requires urgent attention from a gilding conservator before it can be displayed. Intriguingly, the portrait appears to have been painted over a different composition and we hope to investigate this fascinating possibility by x-raying the painting. Conservation costs €3000
Of all the world cuisines, Indian is unquestionably my favourite. With its extraordinary layers of flavour and culinary complexity of aromatic spices, fresh herbs, and dazzling array of vegetarian dishes, daals and curries, India's range of cuisine delights and amazes most palates. Different regions in India offer their own specialties with their own unique taste, subtlety and aroma. A popular dish in the Punjab and Rajasthan region of northern-western India, is Eggplant Bharta, also known as Baingan Bharta, which was traditionally made by gently roasting eggplants in the ashes of a fire. An unlikely cooking method for modern day cooks, many choose to roast them in the oven instead, until they become wonderfully soft and tender. Sautéed with chopped onion, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cumin and green chilis, many recipes call for fresh chopped tomatoes, but I prefer using tomato paste instead, as it adds a more robust flavour to the final dish. Some cooks also discard the skin from the eggplant, but I think that the taste and presentation is greatly enhanced by coarsely chopping the whole eggplant, rather than mashing it, as with a traditional Bharta. A nutritional powerhouse, eggplant is also low in fat and sodium, and high in dietary fibre and vitamins. Add to that the tomato, green chillies, onion and aromatic blend of spices, you also have a classic and delicious Indian dish — and vegetarian too. Indian Eggplant Bharta Serves 6-8 Modified from a recipe by Madhur Jaffrey 2 large eggplant 1 medium onion, peeled and coarsely chopped 2 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped 4 tbsp vegetable oil 1/2 tsp ground turmeric 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 fresh hot green chili, seeded and finely chopped 3 tbsp cilantro, coarsely chopped 1 small can tomato paste 1 tsp salt 2 tsp lemon juice 1 tbsp ghee (optional) 2 tsp garam masala Preheat oven to 375°F. Trim the ends off the eggplant and cut lengthwise into eighths. Place skin side down on a baking sheet and roast for 1 hour, until the flesh is browned. Remove the cooked eggplant from the oven and place on a sheet of tin foil, overlapping the slices into a mound. Seal the packet tightly, and set aside. Using a small food processor, blend the onion, ginger and garlic into a smooth paste. Add 3 tablespoons of water and continue to blend for one minute. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in the paste from the blender and add the turmeric. Sauté this mixture stirring frequently for about 20-30 minutes. The paste will not brown but will reduce slightly. Add the green chili and cilantro and stir for 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and continue to cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove the eggplant from the foil. It will be very soft and tender. and coarsely chop into bite size pieces. Add the chopped eggplant to the sauce and cook for 10-15 minutes, seasoning with lemon juice, salt, garam masala and dollop of ghee for flavour. To serve, transfer the Eggplant Bharta to a warm dish and garnish with chopped cilantro. The Eggplant Bharta can also be kept warm over a very low heat until required.
Type: Warm-Up, Break Out of Shell Purpose: A simple way to get some of even the shiest kids acting bold in front of the group. Procedure: 1. Players stand in a circle. 2. One player starts a small gesture. 3. The next player takes it over and makes it even bigger. 4. This continues all the...
We've adored the bunnies for as long as we've had children. Beginning with a little ballerina rattle and their first childhood companion in the form of a loveable bunny, and then growing up alongside their creative designs and ever so adorable characters...most recently falling in love with a certain fox! Each year the collection goes from strength to strength as does the size of the collection we bring together here in the boutique. We just can't help it. You see its not just our children who adore it and spend countless hours in their little worlds with these bunnies, we adore it too and love to get pulled into the games where we live behind a little hilltop and every miniature piece is a delight. Every day is a wonderful day for these bunnies and their families. There a cradles, beds, and cots, stoves, tables and chairs and of course a high chair for the smallest of them all. There are vintage styled cafe tables and chairs, changing tables and cabinets, swimsuits, bags, dresses and pyjamas. There are sisters and brothers, nephews, cousins, a whole family and all with that exquisite traditional Scandinavian style. With the biggest online collection of Maileg there is a whole world to discover and a constant flurry of new pieces arriving. Perhaps you'll discover a new childhood companion, some new furniture for a bunnies home or a new outfit for a bunny to play in. View the bunny collection, furniture and accessories, or view the entire Maileg collection This is part of our Wednesday Woo collection. We also have other stories and features including our 'Monday Makery', 'I Spy' and 'The art of living'. If you'd like to receive our weekly newsletter to receive offers and news and find out the about our new collections sign up below. www.sistersguild.co.uk Sign up for future news and offers:
Kristin’s The Amazing Staircase is not only one of our favourite AT posts of all time, it’s a glowing example of utilizing limited space efficiently. Staircases are often overlooked for their storage space potential, but the interior architecture feature can often be converted by using the space ontop, inside, under or over the stairs themselves.
my experience with lens ball photography: tips, hints, and photos to share
These 10 tiny homes are a reminder that bigger isn't always better.
We're never disappointed with the photos from the Nikon Small World contest, and the top 20 judges picks contained in this gallery suggest that the photographers just keep getting better. This year's winners include images of a dinosaur bone, a microchip, a mouse nerve and HeLa cells.
The intelligent reader will judge for himself. Without examining the facts fully and fairly, there is no way of knowing whether vox populi is really vox dei, or merely vox asinorum. — Cyrus H. Gordon Voynich Manuscript Written in Central Europe at the end of the 15th or during the 16th century, the origin, language, […]
When designer Ann Boyd downsized to a tiny flat she used every trick in the book
Starting out in the art business can feel like a mix of emotions, right? It's thrilling but, let’s be honest, sometimes a little overwhelming. There are those moments you're buzzing with ideas and then there are times you're wondering, "Where do I even begin?" I've been there too. Feeling like you're at a crossroads,
Margaret Mead lived a Legacy Life. Margaret Mead was an anthropologist... and a rebel. Quite a combination, huh? She lived between 1901 and 1978 and worked ...
Mainz is Frankfurt's little sibling that has a much more historic and charming feel. Spend 1 weekend in Mainz, the home of Gutenberg, and enjoy the culture!
Since Europeans have mastered the art of living small and Parisians are some of the most stylish people in the world, it stands to reason that Paris would be a bountiful source for small space inspiration. And it is. Hardly a week goes by where I don’t find another impossibly beautiful tiny space, chock full of clever and elegant solutions for living well with less. Here are four of my favorites. Want to see more of these spaces? Click the links in the descriptions!
July 20, 1969
Really cool facts and impressive images that make you think.
An enormous braided loaf, scented with nutmeg and lemon, peppered with almonds and plump golden raisins
Even the most urbane Londoners like to get out of the city once in a while. Follow the locals to these eight attractions, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, ancient ruins, and destinations for riverside relaxation.
The Mystery Of Queen Nefertiti's Lost Tomb May Finally Have Been Solved
The Tiny House Movement is all about living small, but it’s growing in popularity. Here are ten of our favourites.
Happy World Book Day, voracious readers and #shelfie-takers! If you're a kid, congratulations! This day is especially for you! Grab a voucher from National Book Tokens Ltd and get a free book from your local bookseller! If you're an adult, and…
Learn about the Chinese erhu: its roots, how it's made, and what it sounds like. Plus coloring pages of world instruments!
"It is what it is. You, me."
Turns out you can judge a book by its cover.
An oversupply of consumables actually has a nasty tendency to sneak up behind us and pop out in the form of effort we need to expend.
In the spirit of contraptions, I bring you the most extreme one ever – a solar-powered Do Nothing Machine. Yes, that’s right, this intricate contraption does absolutely nothing, except…
Creating multiple streams of income for your teacher business is one of the smartest decisions you can make as a teacher entrepreneur, and...
