Are you wearing green? If not, I’ll send my minions over to pinch you. I’ve already been pinched today. When I pointed out that there is green in one of my tattoos, the pinch was not retracted. Not even an apology. But I also got a St. Patrick’s Day kiss from the same person. Forgive and forget, I say.
Got plans for the day? Please add a blog hop to your calendar for the day and visit the other blogs celebrating the book, Tour Ireland with Pat Sloan!
Oh, indeed, I would love to tour Ireland some day. When Pat’s book arrived, I sat down and pored over it and honestly felt like it was the next best thing to being there! Beautiful photos, lovely narrative about the cities and towns the group visited, interesting facts and great travel tips provided by Jim West, the tour’s organizer! Pat’s book is really like sitting down with an old friend and going through the scrapbook of her trip to Ireland. Very well done!
And then there are the quilt projects — 12 projects inspired by the trip. It is, of course, wonderful to read the inspiration behind each quilt. My favorite is Pat’s Irish chain quilt in all its traditional goodness!
There are 12 projects in the book — some are pieced, some are appliqued in Pat’s trademark unfussy and FUN style.
Among the envious stops on the trip, the group stopped at the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. When I saw that, I thought of Guinness cake. Mmmm…. So, I’ve included a link to Nigella Lawson’s chocolate Guinness cake recipe. Mmmmmmmm…. doesn’t that sound mighty tasty?
All in all, Pat’s book is wonderful and makes the trip so vivid. I love that it also puts the quilts in a context and makes it more than just a pattern book.
Pat has two wonderful videos talking about the book. Take a look:
Be sure to visit the other stops on the Tour of Ireland blog hop:
If, sadly, you don’t win a copy, you can purchase a copy at Leisure Arts’ web site — the book will be 25% off through the end of March. So, if you want a little vacation without leaving your chair, grab yourself a copy!
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts 