How to Make an American Quilt
19 journalers for this copy...
Story revolving around a women's quilting group in contemporary California.
Postal release to LyzzyBee in the U.K.
Journal Entry 3 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, September 30, 2004
Received in the post from OldBroad in trade for one of mine...
Thankyou so much for this OldBroad! it looks brilliant and such a lovely edition too. I will journal again when I've read it
Thankyou so much for this OldBroad! it looks brilliant and such a lovely edition too. I will journal again when I've read it
Journal Entry 4 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, November 22, 2004
This was an absolutely beautiful book - I loved it and will reread and reread. Also makes me want to learn to quilt!
I'm going to offer this out on a ring so others can enjoy but I get it back eventually!
Thanks again for this Oldbroad, glad I've read it at last
I'm going to offer this out on a ring so others can enjoy but I get it back eventually!
Thanks again for this Oldbroad, glad I've read it at last
Journal Entry 5 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 24, 2004
BOOKRING PLANS
So far...
Sterile - UK (anywhere)
Tantan - Australia
Scarlett17 - Cardiff (UK)
AnglersRest - UK (UK)
nice-cup-of-tea - Switzerland
Winterson UK (UK)
Bookfrogster UK (UK)
Heaven-Ali UK (UK)
cambridgelass UK (anywhere)
pookledo UK (UK/EU)
scotsbookie UK (anywhere)
spiderchic UK (anywhere)
esq228 US NJ (US only) -- asked to be skipped
mysteryfan03 US MI (anywhere)
loveamystery Canada BC (anywhere)
aussieangel2 Australia (Australia/NZ) -- asked to be skipped
magicjessnrach Australia (anywhere)
merimag UK (UK)
patchworkperson UK (anywhere)
and it's now ... back with me!
So far...
Sterile - UK (anywhere)
Tantan - Australia
Scarlett17 - Cardiff (UK)
AnglersRest - UK (UK)
nice-cup-of-tea - Switzerland
Winterson UK (UK)
Bookfrogster UK (UK)
Heaven-Ali UK (UK)
cambridgelass UK (anywhere)
pookledo UK (UK/EU)
scotsbookie UK (anywhere)
spiderchic UK (anywhere)
esq228 US NJ (US only) -- asked to be skipped
mysteryfan03 US MI (anywhere)
loveamystery Canada BC (anywhere)
aussieangel2 Australia (Australia/NZ) -- asked to be skipped
magicjessnrach Australia (anywhere)
merimag UK (UK)
patchworkperson UK (anywhere)
and it's now ... back with me!
Released on Tuesday, January 04, 2005 at about 6:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Sent to a fellow BookCrosser in Controlled release, England United Kingdom.
RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to sterile Tuesday Jan 04
RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to sterile Tuesday Jan 04
Will try to read asap and pass on to Australia, pity I can't take it personally! Looking forward to reading, will pass on asap.
Released 19 yrs ago (1/17/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Posted airmail to Tantan, Australia, as the next in the ring.
Posted airmail to Tantan, Australia, as the next in the ring.
I received this in the mail today, and what a lovely little book this is, too! It even has that nice 'bookish' smell about it. Hopefully I'll be able to get to this reasonably soon - it's a few down on the pile.
I loved this! Such a beautiful story. I always like hearing stories from different perspectives, and this was a wonderful example of that in literature. My mother is a big quilter, and I know one day I'll have to try my hand at it myself. I'm looking forward to creating something beautiful! Thanks to LyzzyBee for sharing this on the bookring. It will be heading off to Scarlett17 as soon as I have an address.
Posted to Scarlett17 today via Surface Mail.
Arrived today. Not bad for surface mail! I finished my last book this afternoon, and since I know there are other bookrings heading my way, I shall start this one straight away!
This was a quick read. I took a while to get into it but by the end I found I'd enjoyed it. I particularly enjoyed Anna's story and found her the strongest and most believable of the characters for me.
Many thanks, Book arrived yesterday (31st March).
Will be started during the next two weeks.
Will be started during the next two weeks.
This was a fascinating book, so much so that I bought my own copy.
The whole concept of making a quilt and passing it on to future generations has a real charm about it.
I made a comment similar to a friend of mine when we were in a museum that had a tremendous collection of Samplers on display, and my wedding present was a beautiful cross stitch with our names and the date of our happy event on.
This is a wonderful book and I am glad that I managed to get a copy of the book, although it is not such a nice copy as LyzzyBee's!
I have PM'ed nice-cup-of-tea and as soon as I have the address It will be on its way to Switzerland.
The whole concept of making a quilt and passing it on to future generations has a real charm about it.
I made a comment similar to a friend of mine when we were in a museum that had a tremendous collection of Samplers on display, and my wedding present was a beautiful cross stitch with our names and the date of our happy event on.
This is a wonderful book and I am glad that I managed to get a copy of the book, although it is not such a nice copy as LyzzyBee's!
I have PM'ed nice-cup-of-tea and as soon as I have the address It will be on its way to Switzerland.
I have now got nice-cup-of-tea's email and this will be on its way to Switzerland 19th April 2005.
Enjoy the book; its brilliant!
Enjoy the book; its brilliant!
Received this from Anglersrest - thanks.
Will read and journal as soon as I can.
Will read and journal as soon as I can.
I liked this book, but really wanted to love it more, if that makes sense! I liked the individual stories of the women - I think I liked the Constance / Howell storyline most. I liked the fact that the novel really explored all aspects of women's lives, and didn't flinch from the dark sides! I didn't "get" the instructions between each chapter, ie on how to make an american quilt. Didn't really get the writing style, and sort of felt they were trying to be too clever! I also felt the novel could have been wrapped up more, perhaps by telling us more about the first narrator, Finn. I was also expecting more narrative about the quilting group as whole, ie their meetings and relationships in the here and now.
Having said all this, I was fascinated by the quilt making process. The mum of my "Sister in Law to Be" is a huge quilter, and made Jenn (her daughter) a quilt to celebrate becoming a doctor. This quilt hangs on a wall in my brother's house and it is amazing! I know Jenn's Mum is now busy making a quilt to celebrate their wedding. I like the sense that the quilt contains a story and a history. Makes me want to complete my godmother's half finished patchwork quilt :-)
Will post to Winterson tomorrow or Friday.
Having said all this, I was fascinated by the quilt making process. The mum of my "Sister in Law to Be" is a huge quilter, and made Jenn (her daughter) a quilt to celebrate becoming a doctor. This quilt hangs on a wall in my brother's house and it is amazing! I know Jenn's Mum is now busy making a quilt to celebrate their wedding. I like the sense that the quilt contains a story and a history. Makes me want to complete my godmother's half finished patchwork quilt :-)
Will post to Winterson tomorrow or Friday.
Posted to Winterson April 28th, economy post
Journal Entry 21 by Winterson from Peacehaven , East Sussex United Kingdom on Saturday, May 14, 2005
Received this morning, thanks nice-cup-of-tea. Will add it to the pile and get to it asap :)
Have to agree with nice-cup-of-tea here. I liked the book, and liked the individual stories - especially the stories of Constance and Anna. There were elements and ideas I really liked - the making of the mosaic wall, the development of Constance's character and her eventual friendship... but I found that the instructions grated. I see what Otto was trying to do but why make it so obvious? Why did she insist on being so explicit in her comparisons of quilting and marriage? Why not let it appear itself and let the reader make their own comparisons?
I would've liked to see a bit more of Finn, so we could compare the generations a bit more, but thought the ending worked well.
This sounds quite negative and I don't mean it to, because I did really enjoy the book and it was quite thought provoking at times, but I did find myself thinking 'if only...' at a few points.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read this, on to BookFrogster...
I would've liked to see a bit more of Finn, so we could compare the generations a bit more, but thought the ending worked well.
This sounds quite negative and I don't mean it to, because I did really enjoy the book and it was quite thought provoking at times, but I did find myself thinking 'if only...' at a few points.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read this, on to BookFrogster...
Really cheered me up to come home from work yesterday to find this waiting for me, as I'd had a pretty rotten day at work. I'll give you a laugh though, thought I was going to have to PM Winterson for the BCID as the one I'd written down didn't work, then realised I was trying to "catch" a DHL package I'd had couriered earlier in the week. I'd written the number down to track the parcel and got confused which was which. Will read and pass on as soon as possible.
Really enjoyed this. I noticed some previous readers were a bit annoyed by her writing style, but I thought it was okay. Always interesting to see what other people think of a book you've read. I'd seen the movie of this book and Finn had a more central role (and also an extra love interest). I think I prefer her role as the observer here. Thanks for sharing this one LyzzyBee. Off to Heaven-Ali when I have an address.
Journal Entry 25 by bookfrogster at South Clerk Street Post Office in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (6/28/2005 UTC) at South Clerk Street Post Office in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
On it's way to Heaven-Ali as the next on the list. Happy reading.
On it's way to Heaven-Ali as the next on the list. Happy reading.
Journal Entry 26 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, June 30, 2005
Arrived this morning will read as soon as possible. Thanks Bookfrogster
Journal Entry 27 by Heaven-Ali from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 5, 2005
An unusual and beautiful book. I loved all the womens stories, but probably liked the Constance, Howell and Dean and Em stories the best. I wanted to know more about the women though, it was like being briefly introduced to a bunch of facinating women with so much to teach you, and then having to leave early. I was ever so slightly irritated by the "instructions" but it didn't spoil my enjoyment at all.
Will be on its way to Cambridgelass tomorrow.
Will be on its way to Cambridgelass tomorrow.
Journal Entry 28 by cambridgelass from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Thursday, July 7, 2005
thanks for the book really looking forward to reading it, thanks again :)
Journal Entry 29 by Pookledo from Loughborough, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, August 5, 2005
Received in the post this morning. Thankyou!
Journal Entry 30 by cambridgelass from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, August 9, 2005
Sorry for the late journal entry. I fell in love with this book. it's a wonderful story about friendship and how it is the most important thing available. The quilt group symbolises different walks of life coming together. An amazing story.
Journal Entry 31 by Pookledo from Loughborough, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Sunday, August 28, 2005
So many different stories crammed into one book with so many narratives, characters and ideas.
One of them that stood out was,
"Once you love, you cannot take it back, cannot undo it; what you feel may have slightly changed, shifted slightly, yet still remains love. You still feel - though very small - the not-althogether unpleasant shock of soul recognition for that person. To your dismay. To your embarrassment. This, you keep to yourself."
I think this happens with friends as well as lovers. Some part of a person, not sure what it could be described as, maybe their soul?, is exchanged with each relationship. Sort of experience karma? Mutter, mutter, mumble, mumble. That'd be one reason why I feel an attachment to people I have known in the past even though I have no idea where they are now, or even if they remember me, or if they would even want to.
Also, the idea of a quilting group also sounds so appealing. I used to love going to sewing club when I was at secondary school and sixth form. I've never thought of it before, but it gave me an amazing sense of belonging. A group of people brought together through a sense of wanting to learn from each other and to create something unique for themselves and other people. A sense of achievement with the help of a group of friends.
Ah. I guess this book did a good job if it was written to make people think. :o)
All parcelled up to go to scotsbookie on Tuesday when the Post Office reopens.
One of them that stood out was,
"Once you love, you cannot take it back, cannot undo it; what you feel may have slightly changed, shifted slightly, yet still remains love. You still feel - though very small - the not-althogether unpleasant shock of soul recognition for that person. To your dismay. To your embarrassment. This, you keep to yourself."
I think this happens with friends as well as lovers. Some part of a person, not sure what it could be described as, maybe their soul?, is exchanged with each relationship. Sort of experience karma? Mutter, mutter, mumble, mumble. That'd be one reason why I feel an attachment to people I have known in the past even though I have no idea where they are now, or even if they remember me, or if they would even want to.
Also, the idea of a quilting group also sounds so appealing. I used to love going to sewing club when I was at secondary school and sixth form. I've never thought of it before, but it gave me an amazing sense of belonging. A group of people brought together through a sense of wanting to learn from each other and to create something unique for themselves and other people. A sense of achievement with the help of a group of friends.
Ah. I guess this book did a good job if it was written to make people think. :o)
All parcelled up to go to scotsbookie on Tuesday when the Post Office reopens.
Thank you Pookledoo, it arrived this morning. Looking forward to reading it.
Journal Entry 33 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Saturday, September 10, 2005
I loved this book & it really made me want to make an attempt at quilting.
As someone else commented I enjoyed Anna's story the best, the descriptions of the quilts she made made me wish there were illustrations in the book. Maybe I'll get a copy of the film & see if they made an attempt there to show them.
Thanks LyzzyBee for ringing this book.
Already on its way to spiderchic.
As someone else commented I enjoyed Anna's story the best, the descriptions of the quilts she made made me wish there were illustrations in the book. Maybe I'll get a copy of the film & see if they made an attempt there to show them.
Thanks LyzzyBee for ringing this book.
Already on its way to spiderchic.
Journal Entry 34 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Received have started it today thank you
Journal Entry 35 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Monday, September 26, 2005
Finished this over the weekend. I found it rather enjoyable although found myself skirting over the actual instructions bits.
Thanks for sharing. Have pm'd esq228 for their address.
esq228 has asked to be skipped, waiting to hear back from mysteryfan03.
Thanks for sharing. Have pm'd esq228 for their address.
esq228 has asked to be skipped, waiting to hear back from mysteryfan03.
Journal Entry 36 by spiderchic from Droylsden, Greater Manchester United Kingdom on Monday, October 3, 2005
Sent to mysteryfan03 today
This arrived today! I have a couple of rings in front of it. Thanks!!
I was one of those who were annoyed by the style of writing. Within the quilt instructions, however, were little nuggets that were fascinating and too short. After a while, it became annoying to "find" the nuggets! It was like that commercial for ADHD in which everything keeps changeing channels so fast that you really could not get into anything. Thanks so much for sharing the book!
Journal Entry 39 by loveamystery from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Thursday, January 12, 2006
This arrived in yesterday's mail. Am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for sending it to me, mysteryfan03.
Journal Entry 40 by loveamystery from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, January 31, 2006
I found this to be a very creative and well written book in that the stories are interwoven with each other, with quilting, with deep sadness and with great beauty. It is very unique. It is truly a story about women.
This book is still in very good condition after travelling so much. i will send it on as soon as I receive an address.
This book is still in very good condition after travelling so much. i will send it on as soon as I receive an address.
Journal Entry 41 by loveamystery from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Monday, February 6, 2006
This book is now on its way to magicjessnrach by surface mail ($7.20). I wanted to send it airmail, but that would have been twice as much. It will likely take about six to eight weeks to arrive. Enjoy! Thank you again LyzzyBee for sharing this book.
Journal Entry 42 by magicjessnrach from Flagstaff Hill, South Australia Australia on Sunday, February 19, 2006
Thanks for this :) I will get to it as soon as I get a chance. I am really looking forward to reading it after reading everyone's reviews.
Journal Entry 43 by magicjessnrach from Flagstaff Hill, South Australia Australia on Sunday, March 12, 2006
I really enjoyed the unusual structure of this book though I felt the instructions did get a tad tiresome at times. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the women's stories but especially liked Anna's and Sophia Darling's (I wanted more of Sophia). I would have also liked to have seen more of Finn.
Anyway, thanks for allowing me to take part in this ring. I have pmed the next person on the list for their address and will get it in the mail soon.
Anyway, thanks for allowing me to take part in this ring. I have pmed the next person on the list for their address and will get it in the mail soon.
Just to say that this has arrived from Australia and I will be able to get to it within the next week- just one book to read before this! I am not only looking forward to reading it but to all the journal entries that have come before me. It is a real treat to be near the end of a bookring!
I really loved the book and loved learning something about the history and meaning of quilting in the instructions. I used to quilt and loved doing it but stopped after I had made dozens of cushion covers and realised that I needed to move onto something bigger or find a different hobby. This book made me regret my decision! I didn't find the writing annoying. sometimes I can enter a book and lose any awareness that I am actually reading and this happened for me with this book. I love that feeling.
I will be sending it to patchworkperson who is last on the list before it goes home to LyzzyBee and how appropriate a person is that to end with for a book that has quiltilting at its heart!
I will be sending it to patchworkperson who is last on the list before it goes home to LyzzyBee and how appropriate a person is that to end with for a book that has quiltilting at its heart!
into the post today!
Journal Entry 47 by PatchworkPerson from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Oops! Forgot to say this arrived safely yesterday. Loved the film & am looking forward to reading the book.
Journal Entry 48 by PatchworkPerson from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 28, 2006
As a quilter, I read this book with interest. I saw the film years ago, enjoyed it & kept meaning to get the book.
This is a gentle, easy read with tales of the characters lives interwoven with the quilts they make. I would like to have known more about the women though. The instructions are not what I would call instructions, more like hints & tips.
Our lives are a quilt of many experiences pieced together & held by the quilting stitches of our emotions. When making a quilt, you really do sew a little bit of you into it.
I do think this is a book I could re-read so I shall have to find my own copy.
Now I must sew something.
This is a gentle, easy read with tales of the characters lives interwoven with the quilts they make. I would like to have known more about the women though. The instructions are not what I would call instructions, more like hints & tips.
Our lives are a quilt of many experiences pieced together & held by the quilting stitches of our emotions. When making a quilt, you really do sew a little bit of you into it.
I do think this is a book I could re-read so I shall have to find my own copy.
Now I must sew something.
Journal Entry 49 by PatchworkPerson from Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire United Kingdom on Friday, April 28, 2006
Winging it's way home to LyzzyBee. A little battered on the corners but otherwise in pretty good shape considering the miles this book has done. And yes, between this & my previous JE I did indeed sew something.
Journal Entry 50 by LyzzyBee from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, April 29, 2006
IT'S BACK!!!!
And in remarkably good condition, too!
When I sent it off on its journey, almost a year and a half ago, and kept getting requests to join the ring, I did wonder if I'd ever see the book again - nothing to do with all you lovely careful people who looked after it so well, and everything to do with the vagaries of the international postal systems. After all, this book has been all the way to Australia - twice! But here it is, a little more loved, but not in a bad condition at all!
Special thanks to whoever left the bookmark in there, and to Patchworkperson - turns out the patchwork she did between JE's was a patchwork piece with an "L" in the middle, for ME! Thank you so much for that and the card!
The book will be resting with me for a while now, recovering from its big adventure. Then, when I find a copy of my own... who knows where it will go!
And in remarkably good condition, too!
When I sent it off on its journey, almost a year and a half ago, and kept getting requests to join the ring, I did wonder if I'd ever see the book again - nothing to do with all you lovely careful people who looked after it so well, and everything to do with the vagaries of the international postal systems. After all, this book has been all the way to Australia - twice! But here it is, a little more loved, but not in a bad condition at all!
Special thanks to whoever left the bookmark in there, and to Patchworkperson - turns out the patchwork she did between JE's was a patchwork piece with an "L" in the middle, for ME! Thank you so much for that and the card!
The book will be resting with me for a while now, recovering from its big adventure. Then, when I find a copy of my own... who knows where it will go!
