Hi, all!
I woke up this morning with the urge to start something new! So, to avoid getting yet another WIP going, I decided that it was time to take a good hard look at my bookshelves full of quilting and crafty books and see what was going on there. I discovered a whole lot of great books, both new and old, and decided to share them with you. Maybe they'll be old friends to you, or maybe something new you want to look at. I promise that I will only review books that are still available, so you won't get the urge to buy a book only to find that it's gone! And I'll invite you to join in the fun! You've probably got some great books on your bookshelf too - so feel free to grab the logo above and add your own thoughts to the party on your blog!
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My very first book review here is going to be a book that is very special to me. For my birthday in 2009, my lovely daughter Nancy gave me a book....
...and started me down a road that I never expected to take! Inside the covers of this book, I found evidence that people all over the world were using their creativity not just to make gifts for those they knew and loved, but to help people in need. From people making sleeping bags for the homeless or cage comforters for animal shelters, to others making quilts for children in hospitals, soft stuffed animals for local children in need, and emergency snuggle quilts for firefighters to give to traumatized children - all of this opened my eyes to a whole new arena for sewing and crafting.
After reading about Quilts For Kids, I send off for a kit and made a quilt. Easy-peasy! They send you a pre-cut quilt, you piece the top, quilt and bind it, and mail it back to them. They take care of finding a recipient for the quilt you made.
After that, I guess it was only natural to think of making a quilt for a young woman in our church who was diagnosed with cancer. One time shot, right? But no - the women who helped me wanted to make more quilts - so we ordered more kits from Quilts For Kids and made nine quilts to send to them. Then our pastor asked for a quilt for another member with cancer. And so a quilt ministry was born!
So I can tell you from experience that this book will change the way you look at quilting and sewing. And here's a few teasers of the lovely patterns that are contained within its 136 pages...
This one is a Quilts For Kids preemie quilt pattern.
This adorable softie is named Mirabel the Owl, designed for the Softies for Mirabel charity.
This is an emergency snuggle quilt provided by a firefighter.
This is a great example of a charity quilt you can make (and FINISH) quickly, so it can get into the hands of a person in need.
And this is an example of a quilt by the HeartStrings Quilt Project, which is an online group devoted entirely to making string quilts for people in need.
The stories in this book are a wonderful accompaniment to the lovely and varied patterns. Twenty-five inspiring essays, and fifteen charity projects - all sure to get your creative and charitable juices flowing!
And that's what's on my bookshelf today! Have you looked at yours lately?
Hugs!
Sarah
Be sure to come back next week, when I'll be reviewing a new-to-me FMQ book!
That's a pretty important book, Sarah - the book that helped launch your quilt ministry. I like this what's on the bookshelf idea! Makes me think I need to actually READ some of the many quilt books I have bought, and MAKE the quilts! What's is on my other-than-quilting bookshelf at the moment is David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. I'm listening while I quilt, so that counts, right? ;) Enjoying some of the classics I hadn't read but should have this summer. Thanks for the reminder about Heartstrings. I have been intending to make another string quilt for them "one of these days."
ReplyDeleteWarning, Will Robinson! Reading books on your shelf can lead to inspiration and activity and growing piles of strings and messes as all the projects pile up, and ...... Ask me how I know!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great book! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful book and so special since it led you to your path. Just reading this post may help people find their passion, it makes quilting so much more special. I like your new idea, it reminds me of Sharon's "Let Book It" linky party.
ReplyDeleteI often get lost in my bookshelves, with the hundreds of quilting, crafting, sewing, beading and stamping inspirations, sometimes I get so wrapped up I lose the time to actually create, LOL! Two quilting books out of print (but can be found on used book sites) that were so helpful to me are Quilting Makes the Quilt, and The Value of Value.
ReplyDeleteOur bookshelves are full of treasures and this is a great idea to regularly feature favorite books. Sarah, Quilting for Peace sounds so inspiring! How wonderful that this book was the seed that grew into your Quilt Ministry! That alone, makes me want to read it.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed reading how your Quilt Ministry was developed! Love this idea of your weekly book highlight...esp. as my bookshelf is NOT very full...I'll have to control myself reading your weekly posts I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI have that book. It also inspired me to start our baby quilt ministry at Church. A powerful book.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to read Quilt for Peace. I've never seen it. Unless it's available in paperback however, it will remain unavailable to me. I have to have my quilt/craft books taken apart and the pages put in archival sleeves in order to read them due to my chemical sensitivities.
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