Google Inc. and the ministry of culture of Italy have agreed about scanning of ancient books of national library of the country, informs The Wall Street Journal.
The Italian agreement
The corporation will be engaged in scanning of books in library of Rome and Florence. The agreement between the international corporation and the European country — the 1st for Italy. Google has similar agreements are available with the several large educational centres, for example: Oxford University, the Bavarian state museum and Madrid's Complutense University. All scanned materials will take places on web hosting by Google.
According to the representative of the ministry of culture of Italy Mario Resca, thanks to scanning of old books, access to knowledge which contain in these books, will become simpler for many people.
There is also one more benefit for Italy: the corporation has promised to incur all expenses on scanning of books and to construct in the country the special centre. It means, that the project will give hundreds workplaces. Besides it, corporation Google intends to invest in building of a new webhosting in suburb of Rome.
I love craft books...the pictures are so pretty and the projects look so fun. This makes the books so hard to resist. I really have to fight the urge not to buy them because I have a wee confession. I never have made a project from a single one...until now!!!
I recently bought this book because i was seeing it everywhere in blogland and it looked like it was going to be really good. It is!!!
This is my version of the Folklore Bag. My wonderful friend Allison helped me since this is the first time i have really made a bag the way you should make a bag. Not to mention that this is the first time i have used a pattern in ages, they scare me. Her specialty is several different kinds of totes and purses that incorporate BDU material(camouflage).
She taught me some of her tips and tricks and helped me with pinning and cutting and construction...what a great friend. In return i help her with quilts...it is fun for both of us. I used several different prints from the Ginger Blossoms line of fabric...to include that ginger blossom corduroy i got on clearance at Hobby Lobby a month or so ago.
next i think i am going to try one of the pillows in the book....hope Allison is available to help again.
**i was hoping to have something else to share for sew and tell this week,but i did not quite finish so i am linking back to this post from just a couple days ago. Also a finish for the week! I have been looking at what everyone else has made this week and i am very inspired. There are so many amazing sewers and quilters out there. Go over to Amylouwho's here or click the button on my sidebar to see what everyone else has made.**
The United States on Tuesday officially returned 25 artifacts looted over the decades from Italy, including Etruscan vases, 1st-century frescoes and precious books that ended up in U.S. museums, universities and private collections.A third century B.C. terracotta head, left, and a second century Roman bronze figure representing Mars, are shown during a press conference in Rome, Tuesday, May 26, 2015 [Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino]
Italy has been on a campaign to recover looted artifacts, using the courts and public shaming to compel museums and collectors to return them, and has won back several important pieces.
A first century B.C. fresco taken from Pompeii is displayed during a press conference in Rome, Tuesday, May 26, 2015 [Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino]
The items returned Tuesday were either spontaneously turned over to U.S. authorities or seized by police after investigators noticed them in Christie's and Sotheby's auction catalogues, gallery listings, or as a result of customs searches, court cases or tips. One 17th-century Venetian cannon was seized by Boston border patrol agents as it was being smuggled from Egypt to the U.S. inside construction equipment, police said.
A Carabinieri Italian paramilitary police officer stands next to ancient artifacts returned to Italy by The United States, on display in a Rome Carabinieri barracks, Tuesday, May 26, 2015 [Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino]
U.S. Ambassador John Phillips joined Italy's carabinieri art police to show off the haul. It included Etruscan vases from the Toledo Museum of Art and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 17th-century botany books from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and a manuscript from the 1500s stolen from the Turin archdiocese in 1990 that ended up listed in the University of South Florida's special collections.
"Italy is blessed with a rich cultural legacy and therefore cursed to suffer the pillaging of important cultural artifacts," Phillips said, adding that Interpol estimates the illicit trade in cultural heritage produces more than $9 billion in profits each year.
An ancient Etruscan 'Kalpis', a vase dated 500 B.C., right, is displayed during a press conference in Rome, Tuesday, May 26, 2015 [Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino]
Police said several of the items were allegedly sold by Italian dealers Giacomo Medici and Gianfranco Becchina, both convicted of trafficking in plundered Roman artifacts. After the objects were recovered, Italian authorities confirmed their provenance.
A detail of the lid of a second century Roman marble sarcophagus, representing a woman, is seen as it's displayed during a press conference in Rome, Tuesday, May 26, 2015 [Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino]
Police stressed that most collectors and museums willingly gave up the artifacts after learning they had been stolen. The Minneapolis museum director contacted the Italian culture ministry after reading an article about one suspect piece, police said.
An Italian Carabiniere paramilitary police officer stands next to an uncredited first century fresco, displayed during a press conference in Rome, Tuesday, May 26, 2015 [Credit: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino]
Phillips praised the collaboration between Italy's police and U.S. Homeland Security and border patrol agents. He also said the U.S. had returned more than 7,600 objects to over 30 countries and foreign citizens since 2007.
My sweet husband was ordering on Amazon, not that long ago, and asked if there was anything i wanted...."anything?" I asked.
My running wish list was consulted and we picked a few quilty books. Among them was Block Party, by Alissa Haight Carlton and Krisitin Lejnieks.
This book is ridiculous good. So good you have to go get yourself a copy. I think i have read it cover to cover now several times..studied it even. That good!!! It is so full of great patterns and amazing inspiration. I loved reading every woman's quilt story.
There are many wonderful projects to choose from but these are some of my favorites. Ones i hope to make sometime. After all that is what i buy these books for right.....they aren't just for eye candy, are they? Ok, mostly they are...but this one makes me want to sew!!!!!
As an avid blog reader i have seen this quilting bee and that quilting bee pop up...and they all look amazing, but documenting this one the way they did was genius! What a wonderful way to feel a little of that old fashioned comraderie that came with coming together with other quilters to make something beautiful.
How fun would it be to make a sampler quilt from all of these blocks?
**this is all just my humble opinion. I am getting nothing out of this!**
Ah I don’t know what has gotten into me lately – I have been blogging like a mad woman! At least two posts a day for the past weekish. There are stints when I find little to no movie news or reviews that interest me but lately... lately there has been tonnes. Dawn French tonnes. If there hasn’t been a new cinema-plex opening or a new movie worth reviewing, then there’s hordes of news which interests me and I want to write about it. I’m hoping this post will satisfy my insatiable urge to write blog posts at the moment and I intend to have at least a day break after this. But seriously, I just HAD to give you the run down on some up and coming new releases. I had a YouTube binge last night and caught up on a bunch of trailers I hadn’t seen and rewatched some I had. Anywho, here’s my selection of MUST SEE movies for the months of June and July.
Two Lovers
James Gray, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Nay, let me count the films; Little Odessa (digged), The Yards (blew my freakin' mind), We Own The Night (adored). Now we have his latest offering and Joaquin Phoenix’s alleged last foray in to acting, Two Lovers. The theme of love and the dark comedic elements are new features in a Gray film which has previously dealt with family relations and crime. However, Two Lovers does look like a splendid adult-drama with a juicy cast. It was released in Australia last week but won’t be screening on the Gold Coast until this Thursday (if we’re lucky).
The Hangover
Looks like this little gem from the director of Old School is shaping up to be the surprise comedy hit of the year, but it’s still early days. The trailer is hilarious and in the US it opened to a $46 – $53 million weekend ahead of the Will Ferrell blockbuster Land of the Lost. The critics are frothing for The Hangover too with the almighty Empire giving it four stars. Pretty impressive for a comedy-formula that seems tired. Apparently one of the many benefits here is instead of covering the dramas of a bachelor party, The Hangover starts once the party is over and the three mates have lost the groom (and their memories). Sounds a like a frat-pack version of Memento but the trailer is very appealing, plus Bradley Cooper is great in pretty much anything he’s in.
Bruno
Try and ignore the controversy if you can, but you simply cannot ignore the brilliance of the Bruno trailer. There are few times I have laughed so hard during a trailer. I enjoyed Borat but from the snippets of Bruno I’ve seen, I think Sacha Boren Cohen’s latest character will trump him. The best recommendation I can give this movie is the trailer, I particularly love the African American scenes.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Everytime I watch this trailer I get goosebumps. Whether that's because the trailer is actually good or because I'm a massive fan of the books, it's hard to know. I do know this, this movie begins to build towards the Harry Potter series climax which will come to life on screen in the from of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (to be released six months apart respectively). I’ve never been a huge fan of the films but the last two have certainly improved my expectations dramatically and this looks Potteriffic.
Drag Me To Hell
Easily the film I’m most excited about on this list. Long before director Sam Raimi did the Spiderman films he dominated the horror genre with his Evil Dead series (among others). Apparently Drag Me To Hell is a hilarious and horrific return to form for one of the genre’s heroes. It premiered at Cannes and since then has got rave reviews from every Tom Dick and Harry film critic. Horror is one of my favourite genres but recently there have been only a handful of decent films. Going off the trailer, Drag Me To Hell looks like an awesome ride and I can’t wait to be genuinely scared at the movies again. Its been too long.
My Sisters Keeper
I know, it’s hard to get past the vomit-inducing movie poster complete with Abigail Breslin and Cameron Diaz looking cute. My Sister’s Keeper has been a long awaited adaptation of Jodi Piccoult’s best selling novel. I heard great things about the book and was sincerely disappointed upon finishing it. The book was drawn out, self-indulgent and overly soppy. To my surprise, the trailer looks like its done a much better job of compacting the themes and storyline of the novel. Cameron Diaz looks like she’s about deliver a stellar performance but one of the major reasons to see this film has to be Sofia Vassilieva. Here she plays cancer-ridden Kate but most of you would recognise her from tv’s Medium. She’s a superb little actress and I look forward to seeing this movie despite the misleadingly happy poster (when really this is a film about cancer, death and family relations).
That Land of the Lost shiz is out this Thursday too and as much as I love Will Ferrell, I don’t think I can sit through two hours of him trying to do a Brendan Fraser in Journey to the Centre of the Earth. There’s this other movie you may or may not have heard of, Transformers something? Transformers 2, that’s it. The Bayhem hits screens on June 24 which is, like, so soon for the fanboys patiently waiting. Ew.
p.s. Mickey Rourke’s turn as Russian baddie Whiplash certainly makes Jack Sparrow look straight as a ruler. This, dear readers, is the latest image off the set of Iron Man 2, the sequel to the Robert Downey Jr hit of `08. Rourke stars as the thorn in Tony Stark’s metallic side for the sequel along with Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer. This is the first look at Rourke as Whiplash and was pointed to off Jon Favreau’s Twitter account. I must say, the get-up is a bit... erm... campe? With Scar-Jo in leather as Black Widow and Rourke rocking the bondage, it seems the sequel will be catering to all fetishes. Bunuel would be proud kinky has gone so mainstream.
I just got these books this weekend. I love getting stuff in the mail, but i think i have mentioned that before! I have been looking at all of these for a long time now, but never indulging and buying them for myself. I could wait no longer, so i went ahead and ordered them. I have my first sewing project planned, it is even all cut out and waiting to go. I hope it turns out. I should have pictures of it soon. Until that is made i think i am just going to keep pouring over these and dreaming of more projects to make.
Tucked away among northwestern New Mexico's sandstone cliffs and buttes are the remnants of an ancient civilization whose monumental architecture and cultural influences have been a source of mystery for years.Pueblo Bonito ruins, Chaco Canyon [Credit: Scott Haefner]
Scholars and curious visitors have spent more than a century trying to unravel those mysteries and more work needs to be done.
That's why nearly 30 top archaeologists from universities and organizations around the nation called on the U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday to protect the area surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park from oil and gas development.
In a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, they talked about the countless hours they've spent in the field, the dozens of books they've published about the Chaco society and their decades of collective experience studying its connection to modern Native American tribes in the Southwest. They call Chaco a distinct resource.
"Many of the features associated with this landscape — the communications and road systems that once linked the canyon to great house sites located as far away as southeast Utah and which are still being identified to this day — have been damaged by the construction of oil and gas roads, pipelines and well pads," the archaeologists said.
They're pushing for the agency to consider a master leasing plan that would take into account cultural resources beyond the boundaries of the national park. They're also looking for more coordination between federal land managers, tribes and archaeologists.
The Bureau of Land Management is revamping its resource management plan for the San Juan Basin and all new leasing within a 10-mile radius of Chaco park has been deferred until the plan is updated, likely in 2016.
Tourists cast their shadows on the ancient Anasazi ruins of Chaco Canyon [Credit: AP/Eric Draper]
Wally Drangmeister, a spokesman for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, said the BLM's existing plan already takes into account cultural resources. He said there has been a push by environmentalists to tie Chaco to development in the Mancos shale more than 10 miles from the park.
Environmentalists have been calling for protections for the greater Chaco area, and Drangmeister said that expansive definition could put the whole San Juan Basin off limits.
The basin is one of the largest natural gas fields in the U.S. and has been in production for more than 60 years. More development is expected in some areas since technology is making it easier for energy companies to tap the region's oil resources.
Some archaeologists have theorized that Chaco's influence spread far and wide from its remote desert location. A World Heritage site, Chaco includes a series of great houses, or massive multistory stone buildings, some of which were oriented to solar and lunar directions and offered lines of sight between buildings to allow for communication.
Steve Lekson, a professor and curator at the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, has spent years studying Chaco and its influence over the Southwest. He likened the process to learning how to play baseball after discovering home base and the pitcher's mound.
"You keep poking around and find more bases and the warning tracks and all that stuff. You need the whole picture to understand how the game is played," he said. "Of course, Chaco being a political system or major regional system is much more complicated than baseball. You need enough of the package intact so you can actually understand the structure of the thing."
Chris Farthing of England takes a picture of the Chaco Canyon ruins [Credit: Jeff Geissler/Associated Press]
Lekson and others said the hope that there's more to be discovered doesn't mean energy development should come to a halt.
"I don't think anybody is saying that, but we need to pay a lot of attention to how that's done and be cognizant of the larger issue," he said. "It shouldn't be a site-by-site thing."
The archaeologists' letter comes on the heels of a tour of the Chaco area by U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, and Interior Deputy Secretary Mike Connor. The two met with land managers and others after the tour.
Connor said there are Navajo allottees who want to develop their resources and other Native Americans who want to protect those resources.
"It's a balancing act throughout all of BLM's lands and I think Chaco is particularly unique," he said. "The more I learn about it, the more I was struck by the more we all have to learn."
Author: Susan Montoya Bryan | Source: The Associated Press [July 01, 2015]
On Saturday, May 28, 2011, the Hardcore history books will have to be written after the Black N Blue Bowl (formerly the Superbowl of Hardcore) takes over Webster Hall once again with a ridiculous lineup! These year's headliners are Gorilla Biscuits and Agnostic Front. Joining them will be Terror, Absolution, Antidote, Maximum Penalty, Backtrack, Down To Nothing, Take Offense, No Turning Back, Bottom Out and special guest SICK OF IT ALL. They still have tickets left so get there early! "It's probably the most amazing mix of the old school Hardcore guys and the young guys! There's so much fucking talent out there right now, its unbelievable! The 2011 Black N Blue Bowl is going to knock everybody out! You're never going to see a lineup like this ever again in your life! We promise!" - Black N Blue Productions
Related links: Black N Blue Productions TICKETS Gorilla Biscuits Agnostic Front Sick Of It All Terror Absolution Antidote Maximum Penalty Backtrack Down To Nothing Take Offense No Turning Back Bottom Out
Jeremy Wagner has been dubbed as the creator of a new genre of fiction: "Heavy Metal Thriller"! With the release of his brand new novel titled "The Armageddon Chord" (August 22, 2011 via kNight Romance Publishing), Jeremy is reinventing himself once again and he is ready for a new challenge. The inspiration behind "The Armageddon Chord" came from his two passions: playing guitar and writing novels. So what is the Armageddon Chord? "The Armageddon Chord in my novel, is the final chord that is played from this ancient evil song that was written in hieroglyphics. It was transcribed thousands of years later by this guitar player who is duped into making this song a reality." - Jeremy Wagner Wagner has had quiet a journey through his career that has kept him happy and very busy. Not only has he written more than 70 published songs, recorded more albums, and has had two MTV videos, but he has also toured 16 countries with his bands Broken Hope and Lupara. And has been published in RIP Magazine, Terrorizer, Metal Edge, Microhorror and also on short fiction published works through Perseus Books, St. Martin’s Press, and Ravenous Romance Publishers. Here are some of Wagner's other works: - Romance Ain’t Dead, short story that appears as the first story in the zombie-romance anthology: Hungry For Your Love (St. Martin’s Press). - The Creatures From Craigslist in the anthology, Fangbangers: An Erotic Anthology of Fangs, Claws, Sex and Love (Ravenous Romance Publishing). He has already written two brand new novels, which are being revised as we speak! We had the priviledge of interviewing Jeremy about his upcoming novel "The Armageddon Chord" (August 22, 2011 via kNight Romance Publishing), as well as his musical career. Here is what went down:
OFFICIAL trailer:
Related links: Jeremy Wagner's Official Site The Armageddon Chord Order The Armageddon Chord
I’ve just finished a colossal feature article on John Cameron Mitchell for my newspaper’s weekend magazine and, if possible, writing that story has made me love him more. More than Tiger blood even. I will post an online version of said feature once its run in print, but in the meantime, here’s an update on his next project – an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s How To Talk To Girls At Parties.
Seriously, Cameron Mitchell and Gaiman collaborating? I haven't heard of a duo this awesome since... well, lets just say I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. How To Talk To Girls At Parties is an award-winning sci-fi short story written by Gaiman in 2006 and is set in 70s Britain, when two teenage boys go to a party to meet girls and find out they’re actually aliens. I quizzed Cameron Mitchell about the project at the end of our interview, so he only limited time to talk about it. Alas, here’s what he had to say:
Jane Storm: Now, I heard you're directing Neil Gaiman's short story, How To Talk To Girls At Parties. What can you tell me about that? John Cameron Mitchell: I’m on the verge of starting the script with Neil (Gaiman). We’ve been talking about it a lot and we’re on the same page. It’s like British with aliens and that goes back to my roots of sci-fi and B movies as a kid.
Jane Storm: It's an awesome lil' story. Were you a fan of Gaiman's work before coming onboard this? John Cameron Mitchell: I’ve always been aware of him, but not his work. It’s fun to get to know it and I’ve been a fan of comic books as a kid but dropped it when Reagan came in. It’s fun to see that adult comic underground he exemplifies, you know, along with Alan Moore and Frank Miller. They use the comic book super hero themes but it has these different ideas and adult humour.
This is pretty different territory for Cameron Mitchell but as he proved with Rabbit Hole, he’s a director who’s willing to try new things. I mean, after a film about a transgender rock singer and another which pushed the boundaries of explicit sex in mainstream cinema, who would have picked him for a muted drama about parental loss and love? Then to follow that up with a B-movie-esque teen sci-fi... the man is versatile. How To Talk To Girls At Parties hasn’t been tagged with a release date yet (even the basic dets aren’t on IMDB Pro) and with rumours still swirling around about whether it will be live-action or animated, it’s clear we will have a long wait before we get any more solid info on how the project is progressing. The bottom line is, stay tuned.
Note: The second image is a limited edition poster by Camilla d'Errico based on Gaiman's short story.
They were everywhere, I tell you! I didn't stand a chance. Especially because I've been on the hunt for some new button-downs since I saw these great looks over at Amber's Notebook. Needless to say, I got little carried away...But, I NEEDED these, right? A work investment or something. Plus, I have a presentation on Tuesday, so I was thinking I would go classic with a white button-down, tan wide-leg pants, and a brown skinny belt.
Ok, I have to admit I'm pretty domestically challenged (I had to ask my brother how to thread my sewing machine), but something about the fashion-blogging community has inspired me to take my wardrobe into my own hands. Ever since I saw this post over at This Time Tomorrow, I've been looking for a black, floral-print strapless dress. I haven't had much luck finding exactly what I wanted, so when I saw the long skirt on this vintage dress, I decided that I could make my own. Seems simple enough, right? (It helps to look with your imagination.)
It might be a week or so until I get to show you the results because I'm currently facing 10 hellish days of finals, presentations, essays, and case write-ups before I get to graduate. Not to mention, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing and are completely a legit distraction. (Got to go to Game 1 Pens vs. Senators btw!) I've also made some good healthy eating progress! Ahh... soo many updates to share, so little time.
I Just Made My $200 Tunic Go On Sale!
Turns out I’m pretty much shit outta luck on locating the cream tunic that I mentioned below, which naturally only makes me want it more. (I’m troubled like that.) I even mathematically justified the purchase by returning a winter-weather shirt that had yet to be worn. And, being the economics guru that I am (thanks college), I decided that it only made sense to consider the money I got back for the shirt a sunk cost and just pretend that it was orignally put towards the tunic. So, since sunk costs don't really count, I am now FORCED (by the rules of economics, of course) to recognize the true cost of the tunic as the purchase price minus the money I got back on the previous t-shirt. And, TADA!
But either way, it was all for nothing… well, at least until I cross-paths with something else that preys on my materialistic side. Note: Jammer cannot be held responsible for any flaws in the previous reasoning. Blame the system. In the mean time, I think I’m going to make a quick run to Forever 21...
And, this means I get to share 7 little fun facts about what makes me, me:
1. When I was little I wanted to grow up to be Marika and Barbie. Hey, we all had dreams... 2. I can't sit still. No seriously, I'm the annoying girl in class who is always tapping her pen. (Sorry about that.) 3. I'm about to become the annoying girl at work who is always tapping her pen. I'm graduating with a job in accounting. Looking back, it's not at all what I wished I would've done, which is a bummer, but then I remember I'm only 22 and still can go after what I want. 4. I have a fear of snakes and possibly commitment. (My longest relationship ws 3ish months, but I'm trying to stretch it to 4.) 5. I'm a total Star Wars geek. In fact, I think Jedi Knights and all superheroes alike are pretty badass. 6. I would take watching the game at a bar with a group of friends over some flashy nightclub any day of the week. 7. Never seen an episode of the Jersey Shore. Believe it.
Also, thank you for all of the cooking advice! I can't wait to check out all of the websites, books, and recipes! Don't worry, I'll have a fire extinguisher on hand at all times.
I'm having a hard time staying focused on one project at the moment. I could start any number of projects floating around in my head but can't seem to start anything in particular. It feels a bit like writers block as I keep finding other things that have to be done right away. You know boring houseworky things like ironing, washing etc... I pulled the above fabrics together ready to start a quilt for my parents but can't decide whether I've got enough different fabrics for the slightly scrappy look I'm hoping for. I have been looking for a layer cake of one of the fabric collections but after much searching on Etsy the only one I could find was twice the original price so I shall have to re-think my design again. Luckily I like a challenge like this :-)
Here's another collection of fabrics that I pulled together for a simple girly quilt to make for my etsy shop. It is an eclectic mix of fabrics as they are not all from any particular designers collection but just nice soft pretty colours that look good together. I have a design in my head for this quilt, just need to start really or perhaps at least sketch the design down so I don't forget it.
And then there is always designs that I have found in magazines and books that I want to try some day... just need to pick some fabrics...
Then there are these little triangles left over from this quilt which are taunting me as they lay on my sewing table. I keep fiddling with them trying to come up with a design I like. They were sitting happily in a wee basket next to other baskets of fabric but I just got the urge to have a play with them the other day.
Then one afternoon last week when I probably could have been sewing I got the urge to make some marshmallow, mainly because I had forgotten to buy some at the supermarket the day before. We like marshmallows melting on our hot chocolates in our house and had run out after a couple of somewhat cooler days earlier in the week where hot chocolates were called for as part of the girls after school snack.
So making marshmallows reminded me of this marshmallow shortcake that my Mother used to make us when we were kids so I had to make some.
I did however knuckled down late yesterday afternoon and well into the evening to come up with a couple of designs for pillows using these fabrics and the pretty tea towels I bought recently. I have everything cut out and ready to sew....just need to stay focused and I might have something to show you :-)
This post is not nearly as dramatic as i made the title sound!!!
However, i have a confession, i have somewhat of a quilt book addiction, hence i hoard them. So many are new, thanks to my wonderful husband who surprises me with books from my amazon list all of the time. Sweet , wonderful man! There are so many amazing quilts to oogle in these!
It is my grand plan to go through these this weekend and pick some things to make. There are a few i know for sure, from Jelly Babies and Block Party....and a few that are already in the works from Simplicity.
I have also recently overcome my mental block with free motion quilting. I will likely save it for the small more manageable things while i get better at it, but i tried it out...just went for it and loved it.
I had a ah-ha moment when i was getting this table runner ready to quilt. I realized that when i had tried FMQ before i did not set my stitch length to the shortest i could. Man did that make a difference.
These little bags are the completion of my first money making sewing endeavor. I am relieved that they all are off to their new homes. It felt a little strange to get money for my work!!! But cool too!
After four years of restoration, the Thousand-Hand Goddess of Mercy statue, which is regarded as the jewel of the Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing, will reopen to the public next month.An 800-year-old Buddhist statue will go on public display next month after being restored to its former glory [Credit: Imaginechina]
A team of heritage preservation experts inspected the work on Wednesday and announced that the project was complete.
"This repair work has tackled a series of technical challenges to preserve the cultural relic with modern scientific technologies and new materials to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the statue," said Huang Kezhong, the leader of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage Inspection Team.
The UNESCO-listed Guanyin statue, also known as the 'Goddess of Mercy', was carved some 800 years ago [Credit: Imaginechina]
The team has also suggested the local government should repair the Great Mercy Pavilion, which houses the statue, as soon as possible.
The Dazu Rock Carvings, 60 kilometers west of Chongqing, date to the Song (960-1279) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties and comprise more than 5,000 statues. They were opened to Chinese visitors in 1961 and foreign visitors in 1980. The carvings were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.
Experts gathered in Dazu to see the statue's grand unveiling after a four-year restoration project [Credit: Imaginechina]
"They are remarkable for their aesthetic quality, their rich diversity of subject matter, secular and religious, and the light that they shed on everyday life during this period. They provide outstanding evidence of the harmonious synthesis of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism," the citation said.
The statue of Kwan-yin in Baoding Mountain was carved about 800 years ago during the South Song Dynasty (1127-1276), with 830 hands in an area of 88 square meters in the hillside. It is 7.7 meters tall and 12.5 meters wide, featuring color painting and gold foil. It is the largest of its kind in China.
The Dazu Thousand-hand Bodhisattva was carved during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 to 1279) [Credit: Imaginechina]
Water seepage and weather damage caused the statue to deteriorate, and a conservation project began in April 2011. It was listed as the top restoration project by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.
The work was led by the China Cultural Heritage Protection Research Institute. Experts from Dunhuang Research Academy, the Academy of Dazu Rock Carving, Peking University, Tsinghua University and China University of Geosciences also participated.
The colour of the golden statue, pictured during restoration, had faded after centuries of deterioration [Credit: Imaginechina]
Three phases
The project went through three phases from inspection, planning and the actual repair work. The team used X-ray and 3-D laser scanning to collect information needed to effect the restoration.
"We found 34 kinds of viruses on the sculpture that have greatly damaged the historical and artistic value of the carving," said Zhan Changfa, the chief scientist of the restoration project.
By 2007, one of the statue's many fingers had partly broken off and it had developed moisture on the surface [Credit: Imaginechina]
They also found that 283 of the statue's 830 hands and arms were damaged. To respect the religious history, the team consulted reference books and pictures to ensure the restoration was accurate.
The major part of the restoration involved attaching a new layer of gold foil to the statue. The original foil was between 83 percent and 92 percent gold. In some parts the statue had six layers of gold foil as a result of restoration work in the past.
The most comprehensive restoration of the 7.7m high and 12.5m wide statue took four years to complete [Credit: Imaginechina]
An ancient technique from the Song Dynasty was applied. The gold foil was first separated from the statue, washed in pure water and alcohol before being reapplied. Once in place, it was painted with three coats of lacquer.
The statue is due to reopen to the public on June 13, which is China's Cultural Heritage Day.
Author: Tan Yingzi | Source: China Daily [May 30, 2015]
According to the representative of the ministry of culture of Italy Mario Resca, thanks to scanning of old books, access to knowledge which contain in these books, will become simpler for many people.
