Another Free Kindle Book! (And a Taste of Tennessee!))

I came across this one last night and it looks good…I downloaded it right away. I just checked and it’s still showing as free so hurry over and get it while you can!

It’s called Immigrants by Howard Fast.

Description:

In this sweeping journey of love and fortune, master storyteller Howard Fast recounts the rise and fall of a family of roughneck immigrants determined to make their way in America at the turn of the century. Quick to ascend from the tragic depths of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Dan Lavette becomes the head of a powerful shipping empire and establishes himself among the city's cultural elite. But when he finds himself caught in a loveless marriage to the daughter of San Francisco's richest family, a scandalous love affair threatens to destroy the empire Dan has built for himself.

The first of a compelling family saga, The Immigrants is a fast-paced, emotional novel that captures the wide range of relationships among immigrant families during the tumultuous events that defined the early twentieth century in America.

Yes, I’m not opposed to a little bit of romance tucked into the drama, I just prefer not to have anything really blatant..leave SOMETHING to my imagination please! I haven’t read this author before, but I’m going to give it a try :c) I do like historical novels that teach me something about the past as well as pull me into the story.

I awoke early on Saturday morning in Jackson TN…I’ve had a hard time getting my body sleep routine back to normal…it seems as it is edging in the right direction…for a while I was up at 3am…then the next day it moved to 4am…..Saturday morning I was obliged to “sleep in” til 4:40am! What’s a girl to do at this hour in a hotel by herself? I got up and sewed in my room!

At 6am I headed down to the fitness room and did 3 miles on the treadmill. It was raining outside, and a bit chilly so there was no way I was going to go do that outside….but I am aching to be pounding some pavement, even for long power walks…OUTSIDE!

A quick shower, and I was down stairs to set up for my lecture at 8am….because it started at 9. I was amazed at how they had arranged the ballroom to accommodate so many chairs…and members had brought quilts to display all along the back and the side of the room! Tables were draped with quilts, it was a gorgeous display of quilty color! It really touched my heart to see so many familiar quilts made in other people’s fabric and color choices. It felt like a welcome hug!

Karen sent me some “in action” shots she took while I was setting up:

It was so great to meet ladies ((and Gentlemen!)) who had driven hours through the rain to come spend a Saturday with us!

Karen also sent me pics of the quilts from around the room…..they are fabulous! What a bunch of talented quilters!

		Piece By Piece Quilters, Jackson TN 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

It is always fun to speak to so many and to watch them nod their heads at things I say or to raise their hands to ask a question. It also tickles me when people sit so seriously taking notes as if there will be an exam after! We all have so much fabric that we want to put to the best use possible…how to manage it all! One look at all these quilts above and you can tell that these ladies Love their scrap quilts and are doing a great job of it!

Don’t we just look SO dapper?! I’m talking about what things to look for when recycling fabric from clothing for quilting….I’m not sure this hospital gown is quite my style, but the print on it is darling….remember! Once you cut it up, it’s JUST FABRIC!! Thanks to the gals who so willingly participated in my fashion show! ((to the left is Micheline, and to the right is BoBo!))

By the end of the lecture, I was getting worried that this table was going to fall FLAT under the weight of the quilts!

After a delicious lunch at Coyote Blue, we went back for an Afternoon Pineapple Blossom Workshop! 41 crazy women in one room with machines going! The room was large enough that we had ample room for everyone to spread out and use the surrounding floor and stage areas for laying out blocks. I just get so INSPIRED to see what people are putting together! I think this is why I love teaching classes that do not involve kits. If everyone made the same thing….what would the surprise be? We’d have 41 identical quilts? This is much more fun, and I love hearing the stories about how long they have had this fabric, or that one, and what other quilts it went in….Scraps tell stories!

Here are the pics from the workshop! If you peek close you will also see a few other things sneak in, like Dixie’s Roll Roll Cotton Boll blocks that she brought to show me

		Pineapple Blossom, Jackson TN 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I drove to Knoxville yesterday and picked my Dad up at the airport! The weather is a bit chilly, but today it is supposed to “ALMOST” reach 60…I think it’s a good day for a drive to some scenic overlook areas. We found the best place for BBQ last night, and then did a father-daughter movie night and went and saw “The Adjustment Bureau” and found it very entertaining!

Tomorrow QuiltFest activities start happening! It’s going to be a fun week!