So far I'm hooked. My DH just got a Kindle for his anniversay/birthday gift. So maybe he'll let me download this series. Thanks for the info. Bobbi

whitewitchcrafts wrote:

I think you would enjoy any of his series. I think the first was "The Belgariad" and has five books, then came "The Malloreon" another five books, and then "The Ellenium" which has three books (Actually, I think this is my favorite).

The Elenium Series: Originally came out in 1998 in hard back)
Book 1: The Diamond Throne
Book 2: The Ruby Knight
Book 3: The Sapphire Rose

I would think you could get them at your local library or Amazon has this series (all three books) in one book for $12.89.

I actually read The Elenium series first and maybe that is why it is my favorite:

Here's a snippet of The Diamond Throne

"Slowly, Sparhawk raised his eyes to his Queen. She was beautiful. There was almost luminous perfection about her countenance. Her pale blond hair was long and loosely framed her face. She wore her state robes and the heavy gold crown of Elenia. Her slender hands lay upon the arms of her throne, and her eyes were closed. But now she was locked in the semblance of death, embedded in a transparent crystal hexahedron, like some bug frozen in clear amber.

Then her heard and felt it, a regular thudding sound, growing louder by the moment as it announced to any who might enter the throne room that her heart was still beating.

Sparhawk sand to one knee in a move of profound respect, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. "I am here now, Ehlana," he murmured. "Somehow, I'll make everything right again."

The heart beat grew louder, almost as if she had heard.

JoJo & Ann - I want to read those books. Which titles of David Eddings are you referring to? Bobbi

ladyquilter wrote:
I love those books!

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

Ann, you have been creative with a kit.

Lorchen

Thank you Amoret! John will have to wait. The doctor told me today it will be a couple of months and she is increasing my dosage. But she will have me well in time for my Quilt Seminar at Sea in Feb. I will work on my Ohio stars and do the buttonhole stitch on my wool applique BOM. All the cutting is done which is good until my body adjusts to the meds.

Barbara

ladyquilter wrote:



Barbara, a swift recovery to you!! :shock: You'll have to get off those meds soon, you had a date with John Flynn! A good excuse for a kit if ever there was one.

Oh to heck with it.... I'm jumping in. I'm on day five with an inflamed nerve in my head. The meds. are making me whoozy so you all have to cut me some slack. LOL

I like kits. Having said that I wouldn't want to drive 100 miles and see half the show be the same quilt. In Houston I go nuts for the kits because all those samples are hanging up and I just have to have *that* one. Exactly the same fabric. I have a throw that is done up in yellows and blues and I love it and it gives me good memories of IQF. I am in my first BOM, Charleston Harbor, and would never be doing it if I had to pick out and find all those different fabrics. I seriously doubt I will ever run into the rest of the group doing this quilt. I also joined a second BOM for a Baltimore album wool applique. Overdyed wool I would never have scored on my own. The wool is to die for! It's soooo beautiful.

I made a double wedding ring quilt a few years ago when I was a beginner, using John Flynn's method. Cutting the fabric using templates was not fun. Last year I jumped all over a pre-cut double wedding ring quilt kit Fons and Porter has. It will get done someday but in the mean time I smile knowing that half the work is already done and John Flynn is going to help me through the other half.

I don't know if we are suppose to mention brand names here but I guess they can delete me if not!

Barbara

I know that I have already said that I would not like to see a bunch of copy-cat quilts at a show, but I must admit that I would LOVE to see a room full of TQS BOMs!!! They are all turning out so different because of the colors that are being used. Not all from kits, but the products of different visions!

I occasionally use a quilt kit. Being for the colors in fabrics, or because I like that particular quilt, and I want to try to duplicate the quilt, without going to look for those particular fabrics, and end up with extra fabric. I do not like to see multiple quilts of the same fabric and block selection in a quilt show. I also agree that it is a great learning experience for beginners, as you can learn a lot not only about color, but also techniques.

Margarita in Auburn, CA

Amoret wrote:
Oh my gosh !!! I found a kindred soul in you because I thought I was the only person that has ever read this series and it was one of my all time favorites. In fact, I was sad to finish it knowing that it was over.

Couldn't resist commenting when I saw your post. I might just re-read that series because it was eons ago.

JoJo

Thank you for your thought provoking answers.

I am looking at kits differently... I had not thought of the learning aspect of using kits for first time quilters. Or even for the fast gift. I guess there are all kinds of useful circumstances I had never thought of..... probably cause I have a S.A.B.L.E of fabric to select from and just go into the bins to look for fabrics to work together.

To me the best part of the quilting process is the fabric selection.


I was just cheezed cause I drove 100 miles and paid $10 to get into the quilt show .... if I had known I probably would not have bothered going. My time off work is precious to me ... and I love attending quilt shows because of the creativity and ingenuity of quilters. I can understand taking a class and doing the same blocks but I do not understand having everyone use the same fabric in the classes.

I guess not all quilt shows are alike... I will know next time and Check the rules before going.

I’ve been thinking long about this. I think we all have the urge to be creative in some form. Kits can get you going and scratch that itch or start a path to somewhere.

Maybe the rub for Ladyrags is more the placement in the shows. Perhaps they should be in a class where they are welcomed and not put in against from scratchers. We’ve shown cars in Concours where you are up against 30 or so of the same marque, it is so much more hard work when you’re showing the same thing!!! And showing is certainly a way of pushing yourself and judging against others.

If you have a group of people and you give them five pieces of cloth, all the same, and tell them to use the same block you will have plenty of different results but the start has been dictated. Isn’t that a challenge?

I have been known to sit and sew with the hotel sewing kit when we are away just for something to do! I wondered if the Queen ever managed to make her grandchildren a knitted baby jacket or sew a cot quilt. Seeing as every moment of her life is dictated, I expect not and I feel sad for her for that. The Hollywood stars who can have everything, does Angelina or Victoria sit down and just time out to make something personal for their growing broods? Probably not.

The joy of just manipulating something from something else whether in a kit or not is what we are after perhaps. Sorry for the ramble, it's funny where your mind goes when you're enjoying yourself.

I remember a book I read a hundred years ago by David Eddings. In it was the most powerful sorceress Polgara. One night whilst sitting around a camp fire she was mending a shirt. Her grandson, Garion, asked why she did it. She tore the shirt and ran her finger up the tear and it mended. She then tore the shirt again and began sewing. “Just because I can,” was her answer.

I once was praised for a cake that I had baked. When I responded that it was made from a cake mix, the lady quickly responded that even a cake mix can be screwed up! I think the same way with a quilt kit!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois