Medical Records - Part One

This gorgeous picture of my late Mum and the post about Medical Records can be found over at the In Memory of Quilt ~ A Memorial Project

Official Launch of The In Memory of Quilt

We have just had the first bank holiday since Christmas and the New Year here in England. Since December much has happened; it has been quite an emotional roller coaster.

Today though, regardless of being Easter Monday marks a special day in our family calendar. It is the day that my beloved Grandmother passed away in 1995, aged 82 years, having been a widow since 1974.

It therefore seems fitting that the launch of The In Memory of Quilt should happen on the anniversary of the day that we lost my Grandmother.

Two incredibly amazing women who were without question tremendously influential in my life. They are missed each day, more than they or I ever thought possible.

So what is this all about? 

Please hop over to the official site making sure you read the various tabs at the top of the page as that will explain more, the background, the ideas and how to take part.

As the project progresses, all the details about the quilt, and the squares will appear on the official site. I will also share other updates related to the project there.

Please share the project with friend and family. Sadly death is a fact of life and we have all lost someone we love. What a wonderful way to share their story.

Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini

From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini, a powerful and dramatic Prohibition-era story that follows the fortunes of Rosa Diaz Barclay, a woman who plunges into the unknown for the safety of her children and the love of a good but flawed man.

As the nation grapples with the strictures of Prohibition, Rosa Barclay lives on a Southern California rye farm with her volatile husband, John, who has lately found another source of income far outside the federal purview.

Mother to eight children, Rosa mourns the loss of four who succumbed to the mysterious wasting disease that is now afflicting young Ana and Miguel. Two daughters born of another father are in perfect health. When an act of violence shatters Rosa’s resolve to maintain her increasingly dangerous existence, she flees with the children and her precious heirloom quilts to the mesa where she last saw her beloved mother alive.

As a flash flood traps them in a treacherous canyon, only one man is brave—or foolhardy—enough to come to their rescue: Lars Jorgenson, Rosa’s first love and the father of her healthy daughters. Together they escape to Berkeley, where a leading specialist offers their only hope of saving Ana and Miguel. Here in northern California, they create new identities to protect themselves from Rosa’s vengeful husband, the police who seek her for questioning, and the gangsters Lars reported to Prohibition agents—officers representing a department often as corrupt as the Mob itself. Ever mindful that his youthful alcoholism provoked Rosa to spurn him, Lars nevertheless supports Rosa’s daring plan to stake their futures on a struggling Sonoma Valley vineyard—despite the recent hardships of local winemakers whose honest labors at viticulture have, through no fault of their own, become illegal.

About Jennifer Chiaverini

JENNIFER CHIAVERINI is the author of the New York Times bestselling Elm Creek Quilt series, as well as five collections of quilt projects inspired by the novels.  A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago, she lives with her husband and sons in Madison, Wisconsin.

Connect with Jennifer at her website, Elm Creek Quilts Online.

I have been a fan of the Elm Creek Series since a fellow book reader alerted me to the series about 7 years ago. So, as soon as I saw this book was available to review I enthusiastically raised my hand and awaited for the book to cross the Atlantic.

Initially, I could not see how this fitted with the theme of Elm Creek, but a few pages in and I recognised a name from an earlier book. This latest addition to the series is set as Prohibition rages; this book delves deeper than just a great storyline. It brings to life events and hardships that would have happened. The struggle for survival by those who lives were turned upset down by the impact of Prohibition.

It is also the story of the relationships.

Firstly between the main character Rosa and her brute and bully of a husband. I could feel Rosa's fear, not just for herself but for her children and the circumstances that she finds herself in and how she copes with those circumstances. It is also the story of her husband John, who struggles and fails with acceptance that he is second best for Rosa's love. John has tried to isolate Rosa. He tried hard to restrict her relationship with her parents and when her mother dies, Rosa is devastated. Later Rose contemplates if John is responsible.

The second relationship is between Rosa and her first love, Lars, who is the father of two of four children. The characters are bought to life as we delve within the pages and it is very easy to get caught up with their lives. To feel their anguish, fear, worry, despair and love.

Rosa should have left her husband long ago. The final straw is that he returns and sees her with a female friend. He is insistent that Lars is hiding and goes looking for him. Before he leaves he severely beats Rosa and hurts her friend. The friend drives off to warn Lars and Rosa gathers her children and some basic belongings and leaves. Just before she leaves one of her daughters tells her mother that there is something hidden in the barn. A quick explore and Rosa discovers that there is a stash of money hidden in the barn. Rosa takes some of the cash and subsequently takes the strong box with the deeds for the farm so that John can not sell it from under her. I applauded her quick thinking.

Rosa takes her children and hides in a local cave; wrapping the children for warmth in the heirloom quilts made by her mother. Lars arrives and rescues her and the children, and they are fearful that John will catch up with them. John does not; he is arrested for his part in a bootlegging organisation.

Rosa and Lars do get away. They take the children and Rosa to a local hospital. Although Rosa has four children, she has also had four children who have passed away. She is desperate to ensure that that two of her children, who are poorly are treated and to establish what is wrong with them.

Rosa and Lars with the children have a new start, although it is not without it's problems and worries, but I do believe that they are as happy as they deserve to be. Perhaps the lives of Rosa and Lars will feature in a future book?

This was another fabulous book in the Elm Creek series. The characters are rich in description and emotion, which is a theme carried across the entire series. The storyline was interesting and it is clear to see that the author has done lots of research to explore the wider issues around Prohibition and the medical issues involving the children. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next instalment in the series.

Disclaimer - I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not paid for my review and the review is my genuine opinion of the book.

The author's website is HERE

TLC Book Tours

Sonoma Rose Tour Stops:

Monday, February 13th:  Peeking Between the Pages

Tuesday, February 14th:  2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews

Wednesday, February 15th:  Unabridged Chick

Thursday, February 16th:  Christian Historical Fiction

Monday, February 20th:  Angler’s Rest

Wednesday, February 22nd:  All Grown Up?

Thursday, February 23rd:  Brimful Curiosities

Friday, February 24th:  Amused by Books

Monday, February 27th:  Col Reads

Tuesday, February 28th:  Life in Review

Wednesday, February 29th:  Reflections of a Bookaholic

Thursday, March 1st:  Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Monday, March 5th:  A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, March 6th:  Joyfully Retired

Wednesday, March 7th:  Colloquium 

Monday, March 12th:  Book Dilettante

Wednesday, March 14th:  A Cozy Reader’s Corner

Masters: Art Quilts, Vol. 2 Curated by Martha Sielman

Published by Lark Crafts September 2011. ISBN - 978-1-60059-599-8. Curated by Martha Sielman.

This is a beautiful collection of photographs illustrating the amazing talent by 40 creators across the globe. As I sat and viewed each picture I had to really remind myself that this was not simply a painting that had been photographed for the purpose of the publication. Each one was a quilt that had been made to produce the overall effect. This is truly a collection of works by some very talented individuals.

Each chapter starts with some details of the artist involved. The pages that follow are filled with wonderful examples of that individuals work. Beneath each illustration is the sizes of the original, along with the materials used to create what can only be described as a work of art. 

The collections within the book are truly inspirational.

Small print - I received a copy from the publisher. I was not paid for the review and the review is my genuine opinion of the book.

Wordless Wednesday - Quilts

Taking part in Wordless Wednesday

Killerton House, Devon - Part Four - Quilts

I particularly liked the Quilt on display, so much so, that I am going to share with you the photo yet again!

There was simply something about this quilt that I enjoyed, so I was delighted to see when we got to the gift shop at the exit that there was a selection of jigsaw puzzles showing this quilt. How could I resist?

 Here the pieces are, simply tipped out of the box.

A few particular shapes, I love the little rabbit & the tree!

And here it is, the completed project. This was a 40 piece puzzle which cost £6. The bigger one with 250 pieces cost £25. From looking at the puzzle it is quality and well worth the money!

National Trust - Killerton House - Part One

Yesterday, making the most of the Autumn heatwave we headed over to Killerton House, owned by the National Trust. We have been there before, but a long while ago. The house looked smaller than I remember.

There was some wonderful embroidery and cross stitch examples. This photo was taken through a glass cabinet, in one of the exhibition rooms.

There was also an example of an incomplete quilt, which really caught my eye.

We then wandered through the gardens, enjoying the sunshine and then walked up to the chapel which sits at the back of the estate.

Set within the grounds is a chapel that was used by the family who owned and donated the estate to the National Trust. More on that a little later.

NaBloPoMo - Return - Day Three

My mum has been working on a quilt for several years and has recently returned to it to finish it, before it makes it's new home in my spare room. Over the course of the last few weeks, inspired by an article in one of the UK quilting magazines we saw an advertisement for a local patchwork & quilting shop.

Serendipty is a local shop, originally situated in the Dartmoor border town of Bovey Tracy it has recently changed hands and then moved venues to just outside of Newton Abbot. Although quite small, the stock offered, along with friendliness and the class facilities is very good and as I left yesterday I picked up a brochure of the classes offered. We didn't manage to leave though without buying a few items!

Taking part in NaBloPoMo for Septmber. NaBloPoMo stands for National Blog Posting Month. The Goal is for participants to write a post each day for a month. To help inspire bloggers, NaBloPoMo allocates a theme for each month. The theme for September is Return.

Blogging A-Z - April Challenge - Q is for .....

 

Q is for.....Quilt

When I was a child at school, my Mum worked for a fabric and clothing company in Guildford in the packing department. She was allowed to buy the remnants of the fabrics and often did and stored them. Some thirty years on she still has some of those fabric swatches and has used them to make a quilt or two. 

I still have one that she made for me as a child, Made for a single bed, occassionally we have it on our double just for a snuggle quilt. I admire such talent and patience. The following are three quilts Mum is currently working on. 

What surprised me is that, the two quilt pictures below are for different quilts. Fabric selected at random, yet the similarities of the design.

Sunday Salon - Books & Quilts

I have not written a fuller Sunday Salon post for over two weeks, although I did write last week about the situation in New Zealand.

The last few weeks have been busy, with work and proof reading the final days of the Family History Writing Challenge. I did manage to return my library books last Monday without incurring a fine - hooray! and collect a few more. I cannot resist, but I did try....honest. I also collected my stash of books for World Book Night, but more about that later.

My latest book review was the latest in the Lindsay Boxer series by James Patterson - 9th Judgement.

A few weeks ago I dropped a note on a blog hosted at Dizzy-C Book Blog of the strangest food eaten. My comment was that I had eaten, even the smallest, minuscule bit of snake. I promise a blog post on it, which I finally did yesterday and you can read about it HERE, the result was my comment won me a lovely signed copy of the latest book by Christina Courtenay called The Scarlet Kimono, which looks at first glance to be a great book, more when I have read it.

One of my favourite author's is Marie Bostwick, who writes a great series called the Cobbled Court Series, which is essentially about quilting. I highly recommend the series and have read books one and two, have book three on the bedside table and yesterday I have received an email advising that book 4 is due to be published later in the Spring.

Also mentioned in the newsletter was a great link to a website called Jo's Library Quilt and you can also join the Face Book page which accompanies the web page. There are a few link to follow if you are interested, but it appears that the original concept was a patten created by Christine Thresh. The whole purpose is to raise money for a new library in Coalville in Utah USA, and what a wonderful way to raise it. I am planning to purchase the patten from Christine Thresh's website for a project of my own.

A couple of weeks ago I spotted on a well known auction site a rather amazing scrapbook relating to a distant branch of my family. I watched the item for a week, daring to read each day what the current bid was at. Last Sunday evening was the finish line and I placed my bid, and waiting to see if anyone else was planning to bid. Thankfully no one did, and yesterday the scrapbook arrived. It spans the entire political career of my distant ancestor from 1868 - 1874. I sat yesterday morning and looked through the book wondering just who had collected the items, was it a Victorian fan, or perhaps a family member? Maybe even the individual himself. I think I have now worked it out, but more on that later. In the meantime, a little glimpse at the scrapbook!