book review for The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

>I just received my copy of "The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt" by Laurie
> Aaron Hird. It is a combination of 42 historical letters and 110 quilt
> blocks much like books published in recent years by Rosemary Youngs,
> "Civil War Diaries" and "Civil War Love Letters". The new book
> contains letters received by the editors of "The Farmer's Wife"
> magazine to a question they posed of their readers in 1922: "If you
> had a daughter of marriageable age, would you, in the light of your
> own experience, want her to marry a farmer?" They received over 7000
> responses with 94% wanting their daughters to marry a farmer. The
> letters give insight into the women's lives at the time.
> The $27.99 book includes a CD of templates. The layout of the 8" by 8"
> square book first presents the letters with close-up photographs of
> individual blocks illustrating each letter. This part of the book can
> be enjoyed by non-quilters who experience or dream of the farm life.
> Next follows computer generated drawings of each block indicating
> which templates are needed to make that block. The CD is not tied to
> EQ as Rosemary Youngs did for the two Civil War books rather it is a
> collection of PDF drawings of the templates which print one per page.
> This means if you want to foundation piece any blocks you will have to
> redraft them in EQ or another quilt drafting program.
> The quilt created by designer Laura Aaron Hird uses 1800's
> reproduction fabrics. The 110 six inch blocks are set on point with
> dark sashing and contrasting light cornerstones. It does not repeat
> the background fabric in the blocks as Rosemary Youngs did so the
> total effect is different. Considering the date of the letters I am
> surprised the quilt is not made from feed sack fabrics.
> This is a lovely book. I plan to purchase one for my niece who was
> raised on a farm. She and her husband began farming their own land
> this summer. I do wish the publisher had consulted me before printing.
> I could have made several suggestions that would have improved the
> layout from a quilter's perspective. Among my suggestions would have
> been to add dimensions to the templates so you are certain your
> printer is providing exact sized pieces. Some printers need adjustment
> to print exact sizes. The book is useable but could have been so much
> better.
> Susan Price
>

>Thanks for the review, Susan, I have added it to my wish list.
>You inspired me to go look at the actual book, here is a link at amazon.com
>where you can see inside it :
>http://www.amazon.com/Farmers-Wife-Sampler-Quilt-Inspired/dp/0896898288
>Amazing how people keep coming up with more new block designs....
>Mickie
>>I just received my copy of "The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt" by Laurie
>> Aaron Hird. It is a combination of 42 historical letters and 110 quilt
>> blocks much like books published in recent years by Rosemary Youngs,
>> "Civil War Diaries" and "Civil War Love Letters". The new book
>> contains letters received by the editors of "The Farmer's Wife"
>> magazine to a question they posed of their readers in 1922: "If you
>> had a daughter of marriageable age, would you, in the light of your
>> own experience, want her to marry a farmer?" They received over 7000
>> responses with 94% wanting their daughters to marry a farmer. The
>> letters give insight into the women's lives at the time.
>> The $27.99 book includes a CD of templates. The layout of the 8" by 8"
>> square book first presents the letters with close-up photographs of
>> individual blocks illustrating each letter. This part of the book can
>> be enjoyed by non-quilters who experience or dream of the farm life.
>> Next follows computer generated drawings of each block indicating
>> which templates are needed to make that block. The CD is not tied to
>> EQ as Rosemary Youngs did for the two Civil War books rather it is a
>> collection of PDF drawings of the templates which print one per page.
>> This means if you want to foundation piece any blocks you will have to
>> redraft them in EQ or another quilt drafting program.
>> The quilt created by designer Laura Aaron Hird uses 1800's
>> reproduction fabrics. The 110 six inch blocks are set on point with
>> dark sashing and contrasting light cornerstones. It does not repeat
>> the background fabric in the blocks as Rosemary Youngs did so the
>> total effect is different. Considering the date of the letters I am
>> surprised the quilt is not made from feed sack fabrics.
>> This is a lovely book. I plan to purchase one for my niece who was
>> raised on a farm. She and her husband began farming their own land
>> this summer. I do wish the publisher had consulted me before printing.
>> I could have made several suggestions that would have improved the
>> layout from a quilter's perspective. Among my suggestions would have
>> been to add dimensions to the templates so you are certain your
>> printer is providing exact sized pieces. Some printers need adjustment
>> to print exact sizes. The book is useable but could have been so much
>> better.
>> Susan Price
>>