Do you love to quilt AND love to read? I invite you to join the free, online Quilters' Book Club. Each month, we read a book, discuss it through comments on my blog posts, and then make a quilt block to represent that book. I research several potential blocks to go with the book's themes, setting, main characters, and events. And I find the patterns free on the internet, making it easy for everyone to access. Each member can choose the block or blocks they'd like to make. I am making a quilt I call my Curl Up with a Good Book Quilt. I have long admired red and white quilts so decided to keep it simple and go with just two fabrics, Kona Snow and Kona Rich Red, for my blocks. Feel free to use whatever fabrics you'd like. If you shop from your stash, it won't cost you a thing!
To join, become a follower of my blog so you won't miss any blog post. To make it super convenient, you can also sign up for my posts to be delivered right to you via email. If you love to quilt and read, please join us! It's easy to jump in anytime. Check out the Quilters' Book Club Schedule right here.
Our book to read and discuss during February 2014 is Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini. It's her first, stand-alone historical novel. Get the book from your local library or bookstore and join us! If you want to read it on your Kindle, you can get it here.
On this day that we celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birth 205 years ago, I was reminded of a passage in Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker:
Mr. Lincoln had just come from the War Department where he said there was
"'plenty of news, but no good news. It is dark, dark everywhere.'
"Mrs. Lincoln sighed softly, and Elizabeth's heart went out to the president. When she tried to imagine what it must be like to bear his burdens, she did not know how one man could carry so much upon his shoulders. . .
"Mr. Lincoln stretched out one of his long arms, took a small Bible from a stand near the head of the sofa, opened it, and leafed through the pages almost idly until a passage caught his eye. Soon he was engrossed in reading, and after about fifteen minutes had passed in near silence, Elizabeth glanced his way and observed that his expression seemed greatly changed, almost cheerful. The dejected frown had vanished, and a new resolution and hope lit up his countenance. Curious, Elizabeth wondered what he had read to have discovered so much comfort so quickly. . . She discovered that the president was reading from the Book of Job. . . The sublimity of witnessing the ruler of a mighty nation turning to Holy Scripture for comfort and courage, and finding both in his darkest hour, brought tears to her eyes." Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker, from pages 134-135
Which president or other national leader do you most admire? Inquiring minds want to know! Answer in the comment section below for a chance to win a copy of Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker. Plume Books is generously offering two copies of the book. If you are reading this via email, you must click on the title of my blog post to be able to comment and read the comments of others.
