Sunday, October 20, 2013

Quilters' Book Club - Looking Ahead to November


In November, we're going to be doing something a bit different.  We'll be reading Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall, written in 1898.  It comes highly recommended by author Sandra Dallas.  A community of volunteers converted the book to digital format.  If you have a Kindle or a Kindle app, you can get it from Amazon.com here.  (Thank you so much to member Mary Ann for this link!)  If you want to read it directly from your computer, you can do so here, courtesy of Project Gutenberg.  It's a public domain book so is available free in either format. 

Aunt Jane of Kentucky, a woman who made many quilts, once gave a poignant reason for her love of quilting: ". . . when I'm dead and gone there ain't anybody goin' to think o' the floors I've swept, and the tables I've scrubbed, and the old clothes I've patched . . . but when one of my grandchildren sees one o' these quilts, they'll think about Aunt Jane, and wherever I am, I'll know I ain't forgotten." Backwoods Home Magazine

If you'd like to make a Spool Quilt block, here's a fun tutorial you might want to try.  Here's another pattern you can check out.


We have another wonderful surprise for November.  Plume Books is offering a giveaway of two copies of Jennifer Chiaverini's latest book, An Elm Creek Quilts Companion, which isn't being released until the end of this month.  For those of you who are avid fans of Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts Series, I think you will love this book!      

“Over the course of the bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series, readers have expressed a longing to visit Elm Creek Manor, meet the quilters themselves, and admire their beautiful creations. Jennifer Chiaverini’s An Elm Creek Quilts Companion is the next best thing to a guided tour. Inside, readers will discover a treasure trove of delights, including the Bergstrom family tree, character biographies, quilt block illustrations, full-color photographs of quilts featured in the novels, and 'Behind the Scenes at Elm Creek Quilt Camp,' an exclusive short story inspired by questions from real readers. No Elm Creek Quilts fan will want to be without this indispensable guide to the cherished series." jenniferchiaverini.com
 
The 320-page book includes the following chapters:
1.  Introduction (background information on the series)
2.  The Elm Creek Quilts Library - summaries of each book in the series
3.  Timeline - of the Bergstrom Family over the years
4.  Residents and Visitors - brief description of each resident and visitor of the    Elm Creek Manor   
5.  The Bergstrom Family Tree - to help you keep track of everyone!
6.  Places - a brief description of each place mentioned in the books
7.  Elm Creek Manor - a helpful floor plan of the manor
8.  Artifacts, Souvenirs, and Associations - a brief description of artifacts, souvenirs, and associations found in the books
9.  Quilt Blocks - quilt block illustrations and descriptions as well as full-color photographs of quilts featured in the novels
10.  A Stitch in Time: Behind the Scenes at Elm Creek Quilt Camp - a short story 

Are you a fan of Jennifer Chiaverini and her Elm Creek Quilts series?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Answer in the comment section below.  If you are reading via email, you must first click on the blog title to be able to comment and read the comments of others.  By commenting, you are entering your name in a giveaway for a $20 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop!  The more times you comment throughout the month, the greater your chances of winning!  A big thank you to Fat Quarter Shop for this wonderful giveaway!

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.
 
 

19 comments:

  1. Your spool block is so cute....looks like real thread. I haven't read Jennifer's books, but started the Bridal Sampler a long time ago. It's now among some of my many UFOs.....grin.....some day I'll get back around to it.

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  2. I began reading the Elm Creek series when they first came out and tried to buy the next one each time I visited the states. I think I am a bit behind but I have most of the older ones. My son is getting me the books for the next few months as a birthday present. How lucky is that?

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  3. OMG. I love this series and am reading it at the moment. My daughter has just ordered the last 4 books available for my Xmas present. I have made some of the blocks from the quilt patterns. I cannot wait until the "companion" is released.
    I go to quilt camp with my group and look so forward to it each year.
    I just love it.

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  4. I have already downloaded this onto my kindle ready for November....

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  5. I just downloaded Aunt Jane to my kindle. Thank you for searching for books that can be either bought at a store, online, or in e-formats. It is really great to have those options.

    I have read a couple of the Elm Creek books and love them. I lent them to a quilter friend who was undergoing surgery and somehow they never got returned. I'm just glad that she liked them too. I also have one of the quilting books which shows the patterns in it (can't remember what it is called). I will get more of the books eventually. The Companion book sounds like it would be wonderful to have!

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  6. Looking forward to reading Aunt Jane!! Great choice, Susan!!

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Jennifer Chiaverini series!!

    Have a great day!

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  7. I just downloaded it--looks interesting.

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  8. I have located and read most of the Elm Creek books, they keep getting better and better

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  9. Thanks for the download link! I've read many of Jennifer Chiaverini books and have enjoyed all of them.

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  10. I'm going to give Aunt Jane of Kentucky a try. And I enjoy Jennifer Chiaverini books very much!

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  11. I have read one of her books so far and it was "The Giving Quilt." I very much enjoyed it too and want to read more of her stuff.

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  12. Oh, yes, I love Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek series--I think I have read most of them.

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  13. I tried to d/l the computer one and got no where :(

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  14. finally got it to work thanks so much :)

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  15. Love Elm Creek Quilt books! I haven't read them all, yet, but have a good start on that goal. I truly enjoy your blog.

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  16. I just saved the bookmark to the book. I've read the first 10 or so Jennifer C books, but, I haven't read the ones from the last few years. I'm behind.

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  17. I have most of her books. I remember her announcing that the first one was to be published on an online quilt group we both belonged to. I also was at a lecture she gave at a quilt show and highly recommend the experience.
    Mary Anne

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  18. I love the Elm Creek series. I love her two new books--Mrs Lincoln's Dressmaker and SpyMistress.

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