| Quilting is a fabulous way to learn some of the basic | | | | makes quilts for all the poor people in the town. |
| skills in sewing. Although there are some very | | | | Everyone loves the lady, even the animals. One day |
| intricate and complicated quilts, there are also a huge | | | | a greedy king comes to town and sees the beautiful |
| amount of very simple patterns. Not only are they | | | | quilts. He wants one very badly, so he goes and |
| full of straight lines, the finished products are | | | | demands that she make him a quilt. The old lady tells |
| magnificent, and plentiful. | | | | the king that before she makes him a quilt he must |
| What we love the most is, despite the simplicity of | | | | learn to give to others. |
| some patterns, the finished products look quite | | | | Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quiltby Lisa |
| difficult. When my daughter started sewing, at the | | | | Campbell Ernst |
| age of 3, she completed several quilting projects. | | | | This book is about a man named Sam Johnson. Sam's |
| They truly are easy! Yes, straight lines are important | | | | sister goes once a week to a quilting club for all the |
| for quilting, BUT they are NOT critical at this point. If | | | | women in town. While his sister was in town quilting, |
| you look closely at the projects my daughter | | | | Sam found her fabric scrap basket, a needle, and |
| completed, you will see many imperfections. | | | | some thread and he starting sewing a quilt. When |
| However, we do not call them that - we call it | | | | Sam wasn't allowed to join the women's quilting club |
| character! | | | | he asked some of the men in town if they would like |
| We have used quilting to make pillows, purses, bags, | | | | to start their own. They said yes. |
| blankets, and are venturing into clothes. Today we | | | | The Josefina Story Quiltby Eleanor Coerr |
| saw book covers, wallets, and hats that were quilted. | | | | This book is about a little girl named Faith and her |
| The possibilities are unlimited. | | | | chicken, Josephina. Faith's family is going west, in a |
| The other great thing about quilting is that the | | | | covered wagon. Faith wanted to bring Josephina, but |
| history is fascinating and rich with stories of the past. | | | | her father said no because Josephina could not lay |
| To get you and your children even more excited | | | | eggs. Faith goes around asking all of her neighbors if |
| about the world of quilting I highly recommend | | | | they would take her hen, but nobody wanted a hen |
| reading stories to your kids about them. | | | | that couldn't lay eggs. Faith's father decided that Faith |
| We own all of the books that are listed at the | | | | could take her chicken, but if she caused any trouble |
| bottom of the page, and we have continued to | | | | she would be let out no matter where they were. |
| enjoy them over the years during our reading time. | | | | Along the way Faith sews quilt squares to remember |
| My oldest daughter has included a brief summary | | | | their journey. |
| under each one. They have all inspired my girls, and | | | | Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quiltby Deborah |
| me, to want to learn the art of quilting in order to | | | | Hopkinson |
| continue the quilting legacy. | | | | This book is about a girl named Clara that wants to |
| I encourage you and your child to try at least one | | | | run away from the plantation that she works at, so |
| quilting project; but be careful - it is addicting! | | | | that she can be free. She needs a map to get there, |
| Again, I highly recommend each of these books to | | | | so she asks some people around the plantation for |
| spark imagination and excitement! They will make | | | | directions. With scrap fabrics Clara makes a quilt with |
| great gifts for your kids. | | | | the map on it, to help others after she is gone. She |
| The Quilt Maker's Giftby Jeff Brumbeau | | | | then heads for freedom. Based on a true story. |
| This is an excellent book. It is about an old lady that | | | | |