Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Contrary Wife Quilt Block in The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini

Contrary Wife Quilt Block
 
 
In the book The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini, Mrs. Compson teaches Sarah McClure the fundamental skills of quilting by having her make a sampler quilt.  One of the blocks that Sarah chooses for her sampler is the Contrary Wife block.  The pattern can be found here.  (Sarah has a disagreement with her husband Matt and asks Mrs. Compson if there isn't also a Contrary Husband block!  Here is the pattern for that block.) 
 
If you are making a quilt block to go with each book that we read in the Quilters' Book Club, consider making a Contrary Wife block or one of the other eleven blocks from Sarah's Sampler Quilt.  Here is the author's version of this sampler quilt. 
 
In the book, Sarah and Matt argue about the wisdom of a conversation Sarah has after a job interview.  She confides to another applicant that she doesn't really want a job in accounting.  Matt tells her she shouldn't have said anything to him, and Sarah disagrees.  Sarah later realizes Matt is right.
 
What advice would you give Sarah about applying for a job?  What wisdom and insight have you gained from job interviews that went well and job interviews that went poorly?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Please respond in the comments section below.
 
By commenting, you are also entering your name in my giveaway of Marie Bostwick's latest book, From Heaven to Texas.  The winner will be announced May 1.  Just as a heads up, the Quilters' Book Club selection for May is Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas - historical fiction set in Iowa during the Civil War. 
                  
You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.

10 comments:

  1. I'd counsel Sarah to keep her cards close. Ask pertinent questions re: the job at hand and the possibilities to move lateraly in the company as opportunities arise.
    As an RN with E.R./trauma and ICU experience, interviewing for a job seemed very smooth, since more often than not they really needed my skillset.

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  2. The advice I would give Sarah would be to not be too chatty before, during, or after an interview. She needs to stay business like throughout the whole process.

    I am not reading the book you are reading but I am reading "The Giving Quilt" by the same author. Sarah and Matt are in this book too. This is my first book by this author and I am having troubles putting it down. It's a page turner.

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  3. I love the chicken fabric in the block. I do not have any advice about job interviews. I have worked in the same department for almost twenty years and went through one job interview. Since I have been looking for a job elsewhere I have had numerous job interviews but did not get any jobs....

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  4. Since my oldest will be applying for jobs now that he is graduating college, I'd say that 'less is more' when saying anything about yourself. Be very careful of what you say to anyone. I've also warned my kids about what they post anywhere, that it can and will come back to 'bite' them.

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  5. I agree with Cheryl - less is more in interviews. I'm just about to that part of the book as she has arranged for the interview when I left off.

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  6. I also concur with Cheryl on both points. Less is more and watch out for social media. You never know who knows whom. :)

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  7. I have never had a job interview. All my jobs came to me. I think If I were applying for a job, I would research the organization well and come up with a few questions of my own, just in case I am asked. I have also heard to beware of social media and wonder if young people today are really aware how far their silly comments fly from facebook.

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  8. She needs to know something about the company she is applying for work with - research is the key. Julie is right - folks need to watch what they say on facebook and blogs because it does get looked at by future employers and can lose folks a chance at a job.

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  9. I think like Julie and many of you. I would warn about comments made on social media. This is the equivalent of the mistake Sarah made in the book - before social media was popular. And that comment came back to bite her. I always consider that any comment made on social media can be read by anyone at anytime - now and in the future.

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  10. Sarah really needs to think about her chatty personality in interview situations, both in and out of the interview room. She didn't appear to consider the other interviewees as the opposition. Perhaps she should have omitted some of her details if she wanted to change career path. Facebook is definitely going to cause problems for some when applying for jobs. Too many people hang out their dirty washing for all to see.

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