Book Report: Lacemakers of Glenmara

This week I read The Lacemakers of Glenmara, by Heather Barbieri. What a good, quick read. Girl with broken heart wanders to Ireland, her parents' homeland, finds group of women in obscure coastal Irish village (aren't they all?) who make lace, heals.

Very much like Persian Pickle Club, only with lace, and no one murders their husband, not that some of them didn't deserve a little scaring. I love that this group passed on a long tradition of creativity passed down through women. So already I was interested. Throw in a few Rourke's, Sullivan's, Colleen's and Rosheen's and I'm hooked. (Secretly I wish I could name a son Declan.)The group of women were developed just enough. This is her own special version of Maeve Binchy, the diet version.

The first two pages were the best. Barbieri lists items in your average seamstress's box, and attaches emotional as well as utilitarian uses to each item in list form. Draws you right in.

Utah Heritage Quilt

My quilt group is doing a quilt showcasing Utah's great history (minus BYU vs. UofU). Most of us are chosing a theme that means something to our family personally. One is doing canning jars, one is doing ocean waves for her emigrant family, one is doing a horn for her pioneer ancestory who bugled the wake up call on the trail, one is stitching a scripture or quote. You get the idea.

Since I'm still enjoying doing the letter thing, I'm putting in this LDS block. I know not everyone here is Mormon now, but Latter-Day Saints, my family, started this state and I'd like to honor them.

In order to get us to a round number, which is easier to work into a quilt top, I'm doing a second set. I decided to do an outline of the state of Utah, in blue for the Great Salt Lake, and add this fabric with the sandpipers. Our family enjoys Salt Lake so much, especially to check out the cool birds that migrate or nest here. It looks kind of plain, so if I get time I'll stitch a little star where Salt Lake City would be on the map.

And then we heard one of our friends can't do this one, which happens to all of us, so I'm covering hers too. She had chosen the Relief Society, and I think it's too important to skip. The Relief Society is all women members of our church 18 and older, who work together worldwide to strengthen families. I chose to use the block Sister's Choice, and did it in navy and gold, the colors traditionally attached to the Relief Society emblem, Charity Never Faileth.

Nauvoo the Planet?

My church does a worldwide General Conference twice a year where our leaders speak to us about the issues they feel we could be encouraged by. It's always very, very uplifting for me and I'm glad they do it.

However, it's always a challenge to get my young kids to settle down and listen to any of it. This time it went better than usual. They all picked up on a few things here and there, giving me hope. During one of the talks, the speaker mentioned Nauvoo, a city in Illinois our pioneers started; a very important place in our history. Apparently we don't discuss historical landmarks enough at the dinner table, because here's what happened: (my formatting isn't working, sorry)

Son: Did he just say Nauvoo? Me: Yes, we'll take you there someday honey. Son: Like in Star Wars? Me: (what is he talking about?) Paul: No, Amidala's planet was called Naboo, not Nauvoo