Quilting: Quotations Celebrating an American Legacy is a fun gift for the quilt lover in your life.


What the Book Looks Like

This is a small hardcover book, only 2 3/4" wide by 3 1/4" long and 1/2" deep. The colorful dust-jacket pictures quilt blocks. The word “Quilting” on the jacket is embossed in black lettering. Inside the book, the paper is stiff, white and good quality. Over 40 color photographs accompany the 50 quotes, which are written in a large easy-to-read font. Three of the pages are of thicker paper and fold open to reveal larger quilt photos. A built-in bookmark features a silver thimble hanging from a red ribbon.

Since this is a mini book, the quotes flow from one page to another, each page having a maximum of eleven lines of text. Other than the quotes and photographs, the page only lists a page number at the bottom.


Table of Contents

Each chapter focuses on quotes pertaining to different areas of how quilts influence our lives.

Introduction (pages 6 - 10)
Why quilts were made and how mention of them has filtered into our language.

Sunshine and Shadow (pages 11- 48)
How quilts offer hope and inspiration.

Heart and Hand (pages 49 - 92)
Quilts as relating to weddings, family and society.

Heritage (pages 93 - 131)
Quilts through history and their tradition.

Page 132 begins the Acknowledgment pages, which are written in small print.


Book Excerpts

Quilting: Quotations Celebrating an American Legacy is filled with short excerpts from literature. Most of the quotes fit on one or two pages; some are longer. Here is a sample:

I’m glad I never threw them
away;
my scraps of yore are my
quilts today.

From: Sandra L. O’Brien / Great American Quilts, 1988

Here is another excerpt:

... One thinks after a week fairly swarming with quilt bees, “Now every housewife in the place must be well supplied; there will be no need to make more quilts for six months at least.” Then, the next morning a nice little becurled girl in a clean pinafore knocks at the door and repeats demurely in her well-conned lesson: “Mother sends her compliments, and would be happy to have you come to her quilting bee this afternoon.”

From: Mary E. Wikins Freeman / “A Quilting Bee in Our Village”


My Impressions

My friends know I love to quilt. The book sits beside my sewing area where I can leaf through it at leisure. Though the book is tiny, it shares inspirational moments, wisdom and comfort of quilts reaching from the past into our present.

Would I buy this book for myself? Probably not. It’s just not something I would think to purchase for myself. And that’s what makes this such a great gift. Plus the price is right at $4.95.


Likes

* The quotes touch my sentimental side
* The quilt photographs are varied and detailed, especially for their size
* Since the quotes list their source, I have a new list of books to read


Dislikes

The only thing I can mention is that I want to read more quotes. But if I wished this a larger book, then it wouldn’t be the book it is, a mini book for a quick glimpse into the shared experiences of quilters.


Summary

If looking for a little something extra to give a quilter or quilt-lover, then Quilting: Quotations Celebrating an American Legacy is a thoughtful gift. The book is well crafted and fun to read. It’s not a book to pick up often to read from cover to cover. It’s the type of book to read a snippet now and then. It’s a way to feel connected to quilters from times gone by. As this quote from Linda Otto Lipsett says, “...she signed her name in friendship onto cloth, and, in her own way, cried out, Remember me.”

I hope you have found this review useful.

This review is part of the Lean-n-Mean-Two write off. You can view the rules and other participants here: Lean-n-Mean-Two Write Off.

Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com

Book Specifications

Hardcover
144 pages
Publisher: Running Press
ISBN # 1561384186
Price: $4.95


Please read my other reviews:

Keepsake Quilting Store

QuiltPro Software

Janome Jem Sewing Machine

Black & Decker Pro Finish Iron

Mighty Bright Light

Lifetime Utility Table

Fiskar’s Pinking Shears

Betty Crocker Catalog



Copyright 2003 Dawn L. Stewart

Recommended: Yes