THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.
The publishers of Jennifer Chiaverini’s newest book, Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, asked if I would review her yet to be released novel. Of course my answer was, yes!, and that I would host a giveaway, too.
Here’s a quote from the publishers-
In a life that spanned nearly a century and witnessed some of the most momentous events in American history, Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley was born a slave. She earned her freedom by the skill of her needle, and won the friendship of First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln by her devotion. In her sweeping historical novel, Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini illuminates the extraordinary relationship the two women shared, beginning in the hallowed halls of the White House during the trials of the Civil War and enduring almost, but not quite, to the end of Mrs. Lincoln’s days.
You may notice that Jennifer Chiaverini has departed from her bestselling Elm Creek Quilts series to debut her first stand alone novel with Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker. As a fan of historical fiction, I’m looking forward to reading this. Stay tuned for my review!
Over the next 2 weeks, I will be posting excerpts from a terrific Q&A with Jennifer about her research and how she first came to learn of Elizabeth’s story. In the meantime, if you would like to win this advance copy of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker, leave a comment about your sewing or crafting journey, ( i.e. “were you a dressmaker before you were a quilt maker?” ) on this post before midnight CST January 14, 2013 and I will draw the winner by random generator January 15, 2013.
Thanks! 🙂 Linda
I would love to read her new book. I’m not a dressmaker, but I learned to sew at the age of 5 in 4-H making blouses & aprons out of feedsack material. After marriage, I sewed clothes for my 3 children out of necessity. Once the children were grown, my sewing took a turn to making tablerunners with the help from my mother and then that turned into quilts for gift giving for family and friends. As I’ve aged, I still quilt and sew but on a smaller scale along with tatting & knitting. New Patterns do inspire me and I love new challenges.
Thank you for this giveaway. I was a secretary before longarming full time. Quilting has given me application for math, but more importantly a greater respect for our country’s history. Happy New Year!
This book sounds really interesting! I’d Love to win it:-)
I learned to sew in HomeEc class in High School and for a time sewed most of my clothes. I have just picked up quilting in the last 5 yrs. My husband & I just went to see the movie Lincoln this past weekend. I would love to win this book and read it. Thanks for the opportunity.
I love Jennifer Chiaverini and am looking forward to this book. I was a sewer of clothing and home dec before I became a quilter in 1986. I am now a full time quilter and long armer, and the clothes making is mostly in the past. Occasionally the grandkids talk me into pjs or something for them that is not a quilt. I have taught my oldest grandson (now 16) to quilt and he has made several and quilted them as well. Love to see new people develop a love for quilting.
A long, long time ago, when I was in high school & college, I sewed most of my clothes (except for pants). After I started my career, my clothes making died out. It wasn’t until 6 years ago that I started quilting & I quickly became hooked. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this great new book.
I started sewing my own clothes in high school and then clothes for my kids. I didn’t start making quilts until I was invited to a retreat by my local quilt shop owner three years ago. She knew what she was doing. I now work for her when she needs me and I spend way too much of my pay check there.
I learned to sew in Home Ec in High School. I was a garment sewer for several years, but when I learned to quilt, garments went to the wayside. That’s been over 25 years ago. I have enjoyed reading Jennifers other books. I love this historical subject for her newest book. I would love to read it. Thanks!
I made all my clothing in my 20’s. Wouldn’t touch all that tailoring today. I just quilt now and love it.
I would love to get my hands on a copy of this book! I am very far down the wait list at my library. 😉 I am not a dressmaker but would like to learn. Right now, I just know how to quilt and knit. I would like to make my own skirts and eventually a dress. Thanks for the chance to win!
I would love to win a copy of Jennifer’s new book. I’m from the ‘Land of Lincoln’ and I’ve been sewing since I was a kid, first making clothing until I discovered quilting. A new direction for this novel sounds interesting!
I love Jennifer Chiaverini’s books and would love to read this one too. Before I was a quilter, I made clothes, curtains, and other home dec projects. I’ve always managed to have a sewing machine – even in the poorest of times – and now have a longarm machine in addition to my sewing machine. I’ve had quite a journey too.
I started sewing when I was about 10, then taking a home ec class in 9th grade. Most of my sewing was for my own clothes, including my wedding dress. Later sewed some for my daughter as well as for the home (curtains/drapes mostly). Quilting started when I took a class at a local independent sewing store about 3 years ago. And I have loved your other books…..thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this one.
I’m afraid I was one of those that came into learning sewing skills late. I was always pushed to take math, chemistry, and other non-home ec classes. I’d walk the halls and pick up attendance slips from the different classrooms in Jr. High and High School. I’d lingered in the doorways of the home ec classes or would find an excuse to go in to see what they were sewing or cooking. Wonderful things!! It wasn’t until I was married and working that a co-worker introduced me to cross-stitch, then sewing, then quilting. I’ve never been the same since. AM I GLAD!! I’ve met wonderful women through quilting. I can hardly wait to read Jennifer’s new book from her dressmakers perspective. Thank you for offering this give-away! Thank you, Allison
I would love to win this book as I was a dressmaker for years. My sewing passion started when I was about 9. I was making all my own clothes by age 11 and did my formals and wedding dress. I continued to sew formalwear and wedding wear for others and loved to sew for my kids! I started quilting after becoming a charter member of our guild 20 years ago. My daughters and 7 year old grand daughter are now quilters also. Loved the Elm Creek Series and would love to read this new book!
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
In high school I did some sewing but didn’t enjoy it at all. Then a year ago one of my daughters asked if I wanted to take a quilting class with her. Of course I said NO! because I didn’t like sewing when I did it in high school. But she finally persuaded me to just try it and maybe I would enjoy quilting. Well, to my surprise I did enjoy it and find it very relaxing. I only wish I had started earlier. I have read all of Jennifer’s Elm Creek books and am looking forward to reading her new book and the many more I hope she writes.
I have read several books about Mrs. Keckley’s relationship with Mrs. Lincoln. Another author’s perspective would be interesting to read. It is sad that some of us older people were never taught the human side of history. In order to understand the people, we must have some understanding of their personal lives.
As a child I wanted to ‘patchwork’ a black wool dress that was hanging in my closet; I only added one small green triangle to the hem and then stared at it lovingly for the rest of the time it hung there.
I started sewing clothes as a teenager because none of the clothes in the store fit my thicker, eastern European frame. Needless to say, under those circumstances, making clothes wasn’t something I considered fun.
I returned to my first love of patchwork about 8 years ago and can’t get enough; I even purchased my own longarm. Occasionally I’ll buy clothes making fabric, but I have yet to complete any of those projects. Making quilts is just too much fun, and now I can find clothes in the stores. Life is good!
How fun it would be to have an advance copy! Looking forward to great historical fiction. Thanks!