Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Our Family Quilt- Giveaway

Happy Wednesday! 
Rhonda contacted me about trying to promote her new quilt novel and I love how her story turned into a book so I said 
Of course! Let's make it a giveaway! And she agreed.
If you are equally inspired to read it, please leave a comment and I'll announce a winner on Monday, February 13th. Rhonda will inscribe the book and send it to you. (Can I enter my own drawing?? LOL) 


What Inspired Me to Write Our Family Quilt

My family and friends, trips to the mountains, baking apple crisps, and quilting.  Everyday experiences nurtured and inspired me to write Our Family Quilt.
Whether I am quilting, writing a book, an article or a blog, it never just happens. It takes experiences, adventures, love, encouragement and support from family and friends.

Our Family Quilt didn’t begin when I sat at my laptop.  A tiny seed was planted in my writing soul when my mom, started me on my sewing journey. A box of scraps of material inspired my first try at putting bits and pieces together to create something new.  A Christmas sewing basket with little scissors, thread, pins and buttons is still treasured. My grandma, gave me her sewing machine she used since the 1930’s. I remember the moment she gave me the machine and tried to weave it into my book. On my thirteenth birthday, my parents gave me a Sears Kenmore that went forward and reverse (which I took with me when I got married, sewed little-boy blankets, and used until it would sew no more). It was those memories I put into words.

Once I was married my husband became my creative sounding board, patiently listening as I created with words, pins and thread. Supporting me with many adventures to fill up pages.

While I was raising children, teaching, and writing articles an idea for a book started brewing. My life supplied the inspiration.  I developed the prologue and the epilogue. I also knew from beginning to end the journey I wanted to take the characters on.  I knew how to sew but not quilt -which was critical in the story. 

I walked into my friend’s office, who quilted, and asked her to give me enough information so I could write my book.

With a happy heart, she took me into my first quilting class and I was off on another adventure.  I went to quilting shows learning everything I could. I joined a quilting guild, listening to all their inspiring speakers and meeting encouraging quilters. I bought quilting magazines and books. As we traveled we stopped at each quilting shop along the way.  As I absorbed new experiences, I became inspired to add a different dimension to both my quilting and my book.

I not only finished the book but fell in love with the art of quilting.  The needle became my pen and the thread my ink. As I wrote about Grace, a master quilter, -as she shared her creative gifts with her young granddaughter, Audrey. I was thinking about sewing with my mom.
As I wrote about their lives unfolding around their family quilt.  The love between grandmother and granddaughter was a mirror of my love for my grandmother.

Each memory you create today becomes a springboard for future creativity. 


As you read about Grace and Audrey, may it inspire a memory for you to use as your own creative springboard.  So you too, may piece together your own family quilt. 

THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Thanks for commenting!

71 comments:

  1. It sounds like a wonderful book! I'd love to read it. Thanks to both for the giveaway.

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  2. Each of our stories is different yet some common threads run through them all. I'd love to read this book. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

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  3. Sounds like a wonderful book I would love to read. Thanks for the chance at this giveaway ladies.
    Jennifer

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  4. I love giveaways and I love reading, especially about quilts.

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  5. I love the history of quilts, the stories behind them. . . This sounds like a lovely Read!

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  6. Sounds like a good read. Thanks for posting it.

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  8. I's love to read this. Thanks for the chance!!
    Monalynn2000@yahoo.com

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  9. Oh my.... "The needle became my pen and the thread my ink." I'm hooked!!

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  10. This books sounds really intriguing to me! It would be a book that I could read and pass on to all my "quilty" friends too.
    I will keep my fingers crossed....
    Thanks!
    nettiecrain@live.com

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  11. This book sounds wonderful, I want to read it.

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  12. I would love to read this book. I have recently started to teach my granddaughter to sew and share my love of sewing and quilting with her.
    maureeneh52@hotmail.com

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  13. I love books about quilting. Would love to read this one.

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  14. Sounds like an inspiring and comforting book to read and share with my Mom. Thank you for the chance.
    Blessings, Patti
    pgagliardi9@hotmail.com

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  15. The preview makes this book seem to be one my mother and I would like to read.

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  16. Since I started my love affair with a sewing machine at the age of eight (and I am now MUCH older!), I am intrigued by the subject of this novel.

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  17. I would be interested to read this book. Thanks.

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  18. Sounds like a lovely book : )

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  19. Sounds like a great book, and I am just about finished with the one I am reading so time for a new one. :)

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  20. The book sounds very interesting and I'd love to win it. Since it's about quilts will make it extra special.

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  21. Thanks for a chance to win this wonderful sounding book. I read every day. Helps to get me through the winter.

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  22. Your description of the book took me back many years remembering when in fourth grade I would walk up the canyon to my Grandparents cabin to learn the art of "Hand Stitching". For years I would shy away from hand stitching because my Grandmother was so exacting with the stitches and if they weren't uniform, out they came to be done correctly. Thank you so much for letting such a fond memory return to the forefront.

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  23. This sounds like a great book. Thank-you for the opportunity to win a copy.

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  24. books and quilts two of my favorite things. Thank you for organising the give away

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  25. sorry forgot to add my aubphg (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  26. This looks like a good an enjoyable read, thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  27. The book sounds like a wonderful read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

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  28. Love a good quilting read, thank you for the opportunity.

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  29. I had two grandmothers who sewed, and watching them as a young child played a huge part in my life today as a quilter. Thanks for the chance to win the book.

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  30. "The needle became my pen" . . . and "each memory you create today becomes a springboard for future creativity." I'd love to read more.

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  31. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

    Terry on So. Calif.

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  32. No, I don't think you can enter your own giveaway. But nice try!!
    Sounds like a great read!!

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  33. I love reading quilt stories, the old quilt magazines (1980-to when they quit telling the stories) were so much more fun to buy and read than the present ones. I would LOVE to win this give away! fletcher.jean@gmail.com

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  34. This sounds like a thoroughly enjoyable read! If you post outside the US, thanks for the chance to win a copy - otherwise, congratulations to Rhonda on her publication (Congratulations, regardless!).

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  35. Thanks for offering this to us. I would enjoy reading about my favorite craft.

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  36. It sounds like a great story. I would love to read it.

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  37. I would love to read it and I want to add my name to the drawing.
    Dblenickel@comcast.net

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  38. Ohh--this sounds like a delightful book and really want to read it--
    thanks for chance to win one--
    enjoy the moments, di

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  39. I love to read books about quilts! It's fun to put myself in the stories and see where it will take me. Thanks for the give away!

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  40. For me it was my great-aunt who inspired me to quilt teaching me hexies at 8 years old. Would LOVE to win this book!

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  41. The book outtake above could be from many quilters life story. I had to laugh when reading that she sewed on her Kenmore until it sewed no more. My sister and I did the same thing. However, I'm still sew everyday on Singer 301 and featherweight 221, both from my grandmother's sewing days. I can't wait to read this book. Thank you for offering this give away.

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  42. Love books about sewing and quilting!
    Ksmith8@emich.edu

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  43. What a lovely story. I would love to win a copy. Thank you both for the giveaway.

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  44. This book sounds like something I would enjoy. Thanks for the drawing.
    joyecox@yahoo.com

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  45. Thank you for the chance to win this book. In any case, if I don't win, I'm going to see if I can find it in a library and read it! sarah@forrussia.org

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  46. I absolutely LOVE quilt stories!! Thanks for a chance to win this book.

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  47. Looks like a good read. I'll look for it online. I need to read more, read on my vacation last November, devoured 3 books in no time. Just that quilting cuts into that so much!

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  48. Sounds like a fun book with a beautiful cover

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  49. Sounds like a terrific book. What could be better than quilting and reading about it?

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  50. Please, please pick me to win the book.

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  51. I think it's a nice book! Thanks for this opportunity to win!

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  52. I am intrigued! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
    Shirl~PA
    handquiltATyahooDOTcom

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  53. Quilting, mountains and even apple crisp. All the things I love best. I'm sure I will enjoy the book!

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  54. My email addy: peteDOTlaneATcomcast.net

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  55. It sounds interesting - thanks for the chance!

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  56. I would love a chance to win this book! It sounds great! If I am not working on a quilt, I am thinking about working on a quilt. Reading a book about a character for whom quilting is a big part of their life......sounds wonderful!

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  57. Thank you for the opportunity to win an interesting book.

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  58. I love these kinds of books - I'm an avid reader (70 last year) so would love to win this one!

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  59. Love the cover of this new book. I am currently reading "How to Make an American Quilt" by Whitney Otto.

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  60. It sounds like a great story, and the cover alone would make me want the book! Thank you so much for a chance to win the story to read myself. dezertsuz at gmail

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  61. I would love to read the book!

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  62. I would love to read this book.....thank you both for the opportunity.

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  63. I would love to read the book-sounds inviting!

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  64. I love books with a quilting theme!

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  65. I'd love a chance to win this book! Thank you Lori for featuring it.

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  66. Thanks for the chance to win - I love a good book, and a good quilty book is even better. And...today is my birthday, so you really should pick me!

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