Casablanca: Play it again, Sam!

It seems like everyone has heard of Casablanca. How much do you really know about this classic movie?

Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco, and it is the country's cosmopolitan, industrial and economic heart.

If you visit Casablanca, you can go to Rick's Cafe, which claims to have recreated the café of the same name from the movie.

The movie was released earlier than originally planned to take advantage of the publicity from the Allied Invasion of North Africa and the capture of Casablanca.

The film is based on an unpublished stage play called Everybody Comes to Rick's by Murray Burnett and Joan Allison.

European exiles and refugees comprised many of the extras and minor roles, which arguably added to the emotional impact of the film.

The entire movie was shot at the Warner Brothers studio in Burbank California, except for a few scenes shot at the Van Nuys Airport and some stock footage of Paris.

The song "As Time Goes By" by Herman Hupfeld was part of the original play.

Casablanca was nominated for eight Academy Awards in 1943, and won three: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Writing, Screenplay.

One of the lines most closely associated with the film—"Play it again, Sam"—is a misquotation. When Ilsa first enters the Café Americain, she spots Sam and asks him to "Play it once, Sam, for old times' sake." After he feigns ignorance, she responds, "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'." Later that night, alone with Sam, Rick says, "You played it for her, you can play it for me," and "If she can stand it, I can! Play it!"

Rick's toast to Ilsa, "Here's looking at you, kid", used several times, has been attributed to something Bogart said to Bergman as he taught her poker between takes. It was voted the 5th most memorable line in cinema in the American Film Institute's (AFI) 100 Years…100 Movie Quotes.

Six lines from Casablanca appeared in the AFI list, the most of any film (Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz tied for second with three each). The other five are:

•                "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."—20th

•                "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By'."—28th

•                "Round up the usual suspects."—32nd

•                "We'll always have Paris."—43^rd

•                "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."—67th

What is your favorite line or scene from the movie?

Trivia courtesy of Wikipedia.

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Drama…romance…intrigue…

We're setting a sultry scene here, both for one of the greatest movies of all time and our new fabric collection …

The main stars:

Humphrey Bogart. Ingrid Bergman.

Exotic flowers. Spicy colors. Trendy coordinates.

The setting:

Rick's Café in Casablanca, Morocco, during WWII

Your sewing room, filled with these rich prints on quality cottons.

The plot:

A love triangle takes place amongst war refugees trying to flee to safety

Inspiration abounds: Should you make a bag? A quilt? Throw pillows? Both?

Cheryl of Mississauga, Ontario, used the Casablanca swatches 

from Mr. B's Preview Pack Club to stitch this tote bag. 

Beautiful!

Stitched Together Studios created this quilt, 

appropriately titled, "As Time Goes By."

You can find the free pattern for this quilt here.

What will you make from the Casablanca collection?

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Sneak Peek and a Giveaway!

We've introduced you to Michele and a couple of her current lines, 

Urbanicity and Sun-Kissed. 

Now, how about a quick preview of what's to come? 

We're thinking:

Garden-fresh rose blooms

Inviting home dec color palettes

Coordinating stripes and dots

A gorgeous focal panel

And the final touch, pre-printed patchwork yardage with a modern twist

We're thinking: 

Interlude, Michele's upcoming line

A fresh twist on classic fabric patterns in decorator friendly hues

A sneak peek at Interlude by Michele D'Amore. Watch for it in quilt shops in April.

We're going to give away fat quarter bundles to two lucky blog readers!  One reader will win an Interlude fat quarter bundle and panel; the second will win a fat quarter bundle of Michele's Bold & Beautiful collection! 

Win this bundle and panel from Michele's upcoming collection, Interlude

Win this bundle of Michele's current line, Bold & Beautiful

Enter to win in one of three easy ways:
1. Sign up to follow the blog (see the Google Friend Connect button the right sidebar) and then leave a comment on this post, telling us that you have done so.
2. Sign up to follow the blog via email (see the button the right sidebar) and then leave a comment on this post, telling us that you have done so.
3. Like us on Facebook and then leave a comment on this post, telling us that you have done so. (If you already like us on Facebook, great! Just leave a comment HERE on the blog letting us know.)

The giveaway will be open until Friday, January 18th at 11:59 EST. On Monday, January 21, we'll announce the randomly drawn winner, here on the blog, so check back to see if it's you!

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Michele D'Amore: In her own words

We sat down with Michele at Quilt Market to hear what she thinks about the fabric lines she designed. And it turns out that she even made her first quilt, which you'll see at the end of the video!

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Sun-Kissed: How it all comes together

Sun-Kissed, another new line by Michele D'Amore, merges sophistication and fun to be cool, colorful and contemporary. The line includes tropical-style leaves, modern medallions, cheery flowers, and of course, a great stripe and playful dot. The collection comes in brights and in a soothing spa-colored palette as well. See what Michele has to say about this line, available now in quilt shops, and about her design process, below.

What was the starting point for Sun-Kissed?

The tropical leaves are a favorite and were the starting point for the collection. The leaves are the center and focus of the group. Once I have that, I know how to go forward. Whatever evolves from that will coordinate with the main pattern.

Sun-Kissed in tropical brights

Sun-Kissed in oceanside spa

Can you talk a bit about how you work?

I generally start with designs on paper, working with pencil, colored pencils, and paint. Then the designs get scanned into the computer.

I find myself working from collection to collection, rather than working on one line start to finish. For me, it's a never-ending process. On a typical day, I would start out thinking that I'm going to complete one line. But as the day goes on, I may find myself starting another line. Something from Sun-Kissed, for example, may develop into a piece for the next line. The next line starts out where the last one left off. It's sort of like an unfinished symphony. I just keep going. 

One common theme in all of your collections seems to be a feel for what colors work so well together. How do you develop color palettes?

My color sense, if I had to pinpoint something, it would come from a home dec. 

I look for a color look that I would live with in my own house. Home dec has played an enormous role in the quilting world. I think people look to those color looks. Particularly with my fabrics, people say 'I can't wait to make something from this for my home.' Now I always try to keep that in mind, that they want it for their home, and color accordingly. 

When I design a line, I'm usually focused on one color look and the color and design sort of go hand in hand for me. But then I do like to produce things in other color looks to give people more of a selection. 


What would you make with these Sun-Kissed fabrics? The possibilities are endless, especially considering the two totally different color palettes, but here are a few great ideas to get you started.

First, our friends over at Children's Corner Patterns knew these bright, happy prints would be perfect for little girls' dresses. 

Here's their sweet and frilly Madeline pattern:

Isn't the dot just the perfect trim?

And Lillian, the sleeveless shift dress:

See the rickrack on the pockets?!

You can also visit our website for free quilt patterns designed specifically for this collection. 

Jump on the hexie bandwagon with Lexi's Hexies by Audrey Page.

Or embrace the soothing calm of Seawall, a super-quick pattern, also by Audrey Page.

Look for Sun-Kissed in either colorway at your local quilt shop!

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Meet Michele, City Girl at Heart

If you've been a fabric lover for any time at all, chances are you've drooled over some of Michele D'Amore's work. A prolific designer, Michele has designed more than 18 collections for Benartex in just the last two years. She recently talked to us about her background and inspiration.

Where does your inspiration come from?

While still a student studying fabric design in the early 70s at the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now known as Philadelphia University), I discovered the iconic “pop” prints of Marimekko. Those huge, distinctive patterns and liberating colors would forever form the core of my design aesthetic.

Where did your art take you after graduation?

I dreamed of traveling to Finland where the Marimekko studio was located, but opted to come to New York City instead…and never left. I am a city girl, a “New York” city girl, and i cannot imagine living anywhere else in the world. New York is a visual feast and I am continually inspired by its textures and colors.

What do you try to share in your fabrics?

At heart, I am a homebody. It's an old-fashioned word for what people still seem to crave: comfort. I am comforted by elegance and simplicity. My wish is to share this with you, ultimately through my designs.

Michele's line, Urbanicity, is available in quilt shops now. The line combines dots, lines and textures with an stylized, urban feeling. See the entire line here.

Whetting your appetite: A sampling of the Urbanicity prints, in taupe, black, gray and cream.

Pre-printed blocks with a modern feel create fast projects!

What a neat double border print!

We love how some of our blogging friends have used Urbanicity.

Marny and Jill at Modern Quilt Relish recreated their Flatbread pattern using Urbanicity, using four prints with different values.

See the full quilt and their post about it here, plus get a great binding tip!

Marlene at Flare Fabrics chose Urbanicity fabrics to try out the San Clemente fat quarter tote designed by A Quilter's Dream. 

You can see her process and finished bag here. (She's also kitting the bag; click here.) Marlene is also putting together a kit for this quilt below, which is a variation of our free Tribeca Garden pattern:

Debbie at Esch House Quilts is using these fabrics and improv piecing to create a laptop bag. 

You can read Debbie's post about her bag in progress here. 

Are you feeling inspired? 

Check out free quilt patterns showcasing these fabrics here. 

We'll show you a peek at two of our favorites:

"Around the Blocks" by Janet Page Kessler

(using the pre-printed blocks)

"City Garden" by Stitched Together Studios

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Here's to 2013!

Just wanted to wish all of our friends a happy and healthy new year!

We'll see you back here soon for more inspiration, fabric highlights and even a few giveaways!

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