Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top toge Blocks complete. Now it's time to sew the top together. Look for this fun new quilt pattern coming soon from @sewhookedontreasures!

#holidaytrimmingsquilt #quiltpatterntester #patchworksampler
Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmin Fun fabric pull to test the lovely #holidaytrimmingsquilt by Shereece @sewhookedontreasures. 

Does the new Hustle and Bustle fabric by @official_basicgrey on a Grunge Hits the Spot background put you in the holiday spirit?
This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last This is my most recent finish. I stitched the last bit of binding just about a half hour ago! I love the fabrics in this quilt and they were just random fabrics from my stash. The pattern is #theellaquilt by @kitchentablequilting. I may have to hang this in my family room until it finds a new home.

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day14 #patchworksampler
Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat bl Today's prompt is pressing matters. I love flat blocks and these three items are my essentials for achieving that: white fluffy bath towel, cheap Black & Decker iron that steams like crazy, and a Jackson's Woodworks square clapper.

I have a wool pressing mat, but I like the bath towel better. It has enough nap to "grab" the fabrics for a super flat press and it can be tossed in the washer and dryer. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day12 #patchworksampler
One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. T One of my cherished quilts is one I didn't make. This album quilt was made by members of a club I ran for many years when I had a brick and mortar shop. Several members continued to meet in my home monthly until COVID hit. 

It is special to me because it is a reminder of what is important; the friendships, camaraderie, and encouragement that developed within the group. 

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day9 #patchworksampler
This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites fo This super scrappy quilt is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons. First it is proof that any fabric works when you cut it small enough and second I pieced it on a little mini retreat with a couple of friends. The pattern is Rectangle Wrangle by Bonnie Hunter.

I love, love, love scrap quilts, the more fabrics the better, and that's how I justify buying all the fabric I do.

This particular quilt was chosen for today's prompt because tomorrow it will be on its way to Poland along with nine others from my "quilt room" (see day 3 prompt).

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day8 #patchworksampler #scrapquilt
Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the th Lesson learned. I could write a book on all the things I've learned through quilting, but one I can't seem to get through my head is that I don't like foundation piecing, paper piecing, or hand piecing.  Slow stitching is a concept I can't wrap my head around.

This String Spiderweb was started at a retreat so I jumped on the bandwagon without thinking it through. I have a bunch of these units made but no interest in continuing. As I was snapping the photo though, I had an idea. Stay tuned.

Are there quilting techniques or methods you don't enjoy?

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day7 #patchworksampler
I'm not really sure what to say about my quilting I'm not really sure what to say about my quilting origins. No one else in my family was or is a quilter. For some reason my Grandma Ruby had this old quilt top, had it finished, and gave it to me. She didn't make it and I don't know who did, but I still cherish it.

As for me, I walked into a quilt shop in 1988 and the rest is history. My heart still races when I walk into a shop!!

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfest2022day6 #patchworksampler
Why I quilt: 1) Fabric. It is so fun to cut littl Why I quilt: 
1) Fabric. It is so fun to cut little pieces of fabric only to sew them back together and see how the colors and texture work together. 

2) To fill a need. I enjoy donating pretty quilts to those who need them. 

3) Community. Early in my marriage we moved every three years or so. I always found new friends in guilds and classes. It's even easier to connect with other quilters with the internet.

There are many other reasons like fun and creativity, but those are my top three.

#igquiltfest2022 #igquiltfestday5 #patchworksampler
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Patchwork Sampler

Make quilts. Use fabric. Have fun.

books · February 6, 2021

Book Review: The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

On Saturdays I will have some “sampler” posts that are not necessarily about quilting. It may be a recipe, what I’m currently watching or listening to, general musing, or like today, a book review. Today’s review is for A Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd.

I looked forward to reading this book since I read and liked two of Sue Monk Kidd’s other books; The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings. When I got The Book of Longings, I didn’t know what it was about. When I discovered the subject matter, admittedly, I was a little hesitant to read it. Essentially, the book is a fictional account of the narrator, Ana, who lived in the first century and was Jesus’s wife. Whoa! What a risk to write a book like this. In all my Bible reading I have never read anything about Jesus having a wife, but then again, I have never read that he didn’t.

However, this book isn’t really about Jesus or his relationship with Ana. In fact, Jesus, is a minor character in the story. The Book of Longings generally follows the timeline of the gospels and we all know how the story ends and will recognize many of the male characters. This, though, is Ana’s story. Ana is a bright young woman who lived during a time when women were treated as chattel. Women’s thoughts were not usually recognized. Ana longs to learn to read and write. She is a free spirit who is trying to come to terms with her dreams and ambitions.

This book will definitely make you think. It is a very brave and sensitive subject to tackle and I think Sue Monk Kidd handled it brilliantly. It is very respectful of stories told in the Bible and these familiar stories are what make this book so compelling. We are all familiar with the backstory, but women are woefully underrepresented in the Bible. The book is well researched and Ana’s story, as well as those of other female characters in the novel, are compelling and very believable.

I love historical fiction and found her portrayal of women during biblical times interesting. As with all of Sue Monk Kidd’s books, this one is very well written. At times, the prose is a little wordy and a bit too lyrical at times, but overall it was a joy to read. If you enjoy historical fiction I highly recommend The Book of Longings. Have you read this book? If so, let me know what you thought of it.

This book has a 4.5/5.0 rating on Amazon and is available here. It has a 4.4/5.0 rating on Barnes and Noble and is available here. Goodreads readers rate this book as 4.25/5.0.

In just a little bit of quilty news, I ripped out the quilting, then un-sewed this block.

The picture is a little wonky but the block has been turned and sewn correctly. Generally, I think it is faster and easier to start over than to fix something this far along, but I’m not a quitter. Now I can FINALLY get back to quilting it after about an 18 year hiatus!!!

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In: books · Tagged: book review, the book of longings, UFO

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