Someday we will be nothing but a glorious ruin, best live it up now. – Me
Today I am tickled pink to be reviewing (and giving away a copy) Amanda Leins new book WanderLust Quilts.
One of the best parts of having a dear friend write a book is watching the process close up, warts and all. The worst part is watching what your sweet friend goes through to birth that book ( people it is blood, sweat and tears!). Oh, that and keeping your own mouth firmly shut as to not let the cat out of the bag!
In this case the pain was so worth it! A quilt book written by a classical, architectural loving nerd with a penchant for quilting and quilt design makes for something very different and something way-special. But honestly I did not expect anything less from my firecracker of a friend.
Mandy Leins has been a true bright spot in my walk through the quilting world so being the first stop on her Blog Tour is very special to me. ( Love you Mandy!!!)
Now, ironically the first stop is with what might be the biggest homebody on the planet. I have just about zero personal wanderlust. I really love being home and all the things it entails so it does feel a bit funny to be the one kicking this shindig off but let’s dig a little further – shall we?
Mandy’s book is such a breath of fresh air -from the beautiful front cover to all the stunning photos of her locations of inspiration. It is indeed it’s own little world tour from the comfort of your arm chair.
And while all of the quilts are stunning I have been a fan of the red cover quilt from the moment Mandy showed me the sketches. Such a modern take on the classical draping of fabric and yet so useful as well as graceful.
Beautifully written, photographed and detailed I think this book has a place in the collection of every serious quilt maker who feels the need to go where we ( as a people) have gone before but to look at it with new eyes and translate what we see to our fabric creations.
Learn more about Mandy here on her Blog —Mandalei Quilts
Find her book here – Wanderlust Quilts by Amanda Leins
How about a brand spanking new interview with the woman herself?? Check out the CraftyPlanner for that!
Win her new book by leaving a comment. Answer this question – Are you a homebody or do you have a yearn to roam? If so, where do you want to go?
I’m a homebody until a friend calls and says “let’s go.” And out the door I happily go. It seems to happen most everyday.
I seriously love being at home and have to land there regularly to recharge. But I would love to travel more…. go somewhere for a month… come home and digest all the new stuff, then go again.
I did my roaming when i was younger, and have become a serious hibernating homebody.
I love being home and have lots to keep me busy here, but I suspect this book would stir the wanderlust in me.
I’d like to visit the Christmas Markets on a riverboat.
I’d love to travel to see new places even if it is just in my local area.
I’m both. I love to explore the world, especially Europe, but I also love being home. I think coming home from a trip is the best feeling
Can I be both? 😉 I’m perfectly happy at home where I can stitch up the quilts I have in mind, but I also love to travel! Next on my list of “wants” for places to visit are Japan and Australia, although I’m not sure yet when I’ll get to either of them. In the meantime, there are still lots of places in Europe (where I live) that I would happily visit!
I’m definitively a homebody.
Odd as it may sound, I’m a homebody who longs to roam. I want to drift down the canals in Venice, stand in the center of the piazza in Vatican City. I long to buy a book on the Left Bank, and go to Mass in the Cathedral de Notre Dame.
I would love to cruise down the Rhine and the Danube, wander in Salzburg.
One last place-I want to climb the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia!
I already have a copy, so let someone else win the giveaway if my name happens to come up. I just wanted to stop by, say hi, and say what an awesome book Mandy wrote!
Take me away to the Kashbah….. no make that downtown Istanbul!!! 🙂
I’m a homebody, through and through. I get anxious and unhappy just thinking about traveling, and look forward to coming home every day. I “travel” through books and blogs, and of course vicariously through friends and family, but am happy to keep my self at home!
I am a home body who like to think they would love to wonder. 🙂
I like to stay home a lot, mostly so that I can sew more, but there are many places in the world that I’d like to see at some point in my life…Hawaii, Italy, France, plus we are looking forward to returning to China and Vietnam in the next few years to show our kids their birth countries.
Total homebody–much to my husband’s disappointment. I used to travel a lot, so now that I don’t have to, I just don’t!
I am a professional homebody!…Seriously.
I recently quit my job that I had worked for 15 years. The last 8 years of it I worked at home. The advantage was getting to somewhat feel like I was a homemaker rather than a working mom. The disadvantage was that I got extremely comfortable with being home that I became perfectly ok with not going anywhere.
Now that I finally get to be a homemaker and no longer a working mom, I find it sometimes hard to force myself to do things outside of the home. Not really sure if this is good or bad but I am certainly comfortable acc happy with it. 🙂
I used to love to travel, but now I am such a homebody that I get homesick before I leave home! Once I arrive at my destination I’m fine, but leaving is terrible.
When I do travel, I tend to visit friends and family, and mostly now I go “home”. So, put me down as a homebody. There are still a lot of quilting inspirations to be found here.
I love to roam. I love learning languages, and I love traveling to use them!
I am currently a homebody but once the kids are grown, I long to roam. I want to see Italy, Greece, Ireland, Scotland and anywhere tropical. I can’t wait to get a peek at this book!
I retired after working 37 years…..I’m enjoying being a home body. My needs are simple…A few good friends, sewing machine and material and lots of good books!
I love to ROAM!! So many places to go, first an RV with my machine and fabric and see all 50 states – have to leave the RV landside for Hawaii! Once the states are done, then we will tackle overseas! I love to see new places!
For the most part, I love being at home with my dogs! But every now and then I love a good adventure!
I am a homebody, but do roam once in a while. Lately roaming between my house and my daughter’s & grandson’s house.
I am a homebody, but yearn to roam! Easter Island is on my bucket list.
I want to stay home BY MYSELF. No kids, no one needing me. Can’t wait to see this book!
I love to roam. Always keep a suitcase ready to pack in a big hurry. Where do I want to go next? Florida soon and then Geneva, Switzerland.
I have a gypsy soul to blame.
I yearn to roam. I love going on vacation to new and exciting places. I just hate that I have to work so hard to make enough money to support my flights! Next is Berlin for a study abroad for grad school, with Italy on the list for a real vacation.
A little bit of both. Love to travel and explore but I also love coming home.
I am a nester and content to be in my own space. Alone or shared, I am happy to be home. Perhaps that’s part of why I love quilts and quilting. Feathering my nest !!!
Such a homebody! Although I do love to travel. It’s leaving my house to go stores that’s the problem …..
Soon I’d love to go to Ireland and Scotland … or just a hot beach somewhere at an all-inclusive resort just baking in the sun and drinking all day.
I’m a Rambling Rose; I yearn to roam. There are so many places to go, things to see and experiences to live. If I could, I’d never stay home.
Basically I’m a homebody, burrowing into a book or rooting through my fabric stash wondering “what if?”. I’ve been to Canada, Mexico and Ireland (love Ireland!) and probably half of the continental states, but my heart is right here in Northwest Georgia. However, I would love to visit the Northwest – probably Washington and Oregon….just because.
I was born to roam! I love seeing all places and have been to Greece with my daughter who is also an Archaeologist! So would love to win this just to see the places Mandy has gone with her archaeological finds.
After 35 yrs in the same state, we recently moved for hubby’s job. Now, I’m mostly a homebody who now travels to several states to visit family and explore our new home state.
I used to be filled with wanderlust and traveled quite a bit. Enjoyed it all. Now is a very different story. I LOVE being home with all my little four legged babies all around me.
I love to roam! I would travel far more if time, money, and responsibilities allowed, and one of my greatest ambitions is to take my family (we have two daughters) to spend a summer in France.
I am a homebody who tends to roam close to where family is. Without a doubt I have been called a traveler, as family lives all over the place. Yet, each place has been on my way to visit family, visiting family, or on my way home. Still, I do want to go to see new places…
I am more of a homebody although I’ve been to some pretty nice places. I went to Hawaii for my birthday and to San Francisco for another birthday. It’s lots of fun to visit the local quilt shops while vacationing.
I started out as a roamer, but lately I seem to be turning into my grandma and am becoming a home body. The travel itch will always be there though. I would like to visit more of the States and get into Canada in the near future…. Long drive…taking our time to explore. 🙂
I’m a roamer whenever possible! I enjoy the beautiful nature of Colorado, the history and architecture of Europe, and the endless explorations of Australia. Wish I could afford to make the road my home!
I love my new home with my basement studio, but like to be on the go. Italy or Mediterranean cruise, Australia, New Zealand, and Lake Louise are on my bucket list.
I am retired and ready to roam…Norway, Italy, across the US.
I am a homebody at heart but have spurts of wonderlust. Santorini, Greece is at the top of my list because it combines two of my favorite things; the mountains and the ocean.
I love my home and tend to want to stay here. My husband, on the other hand, loves to travel, so he pulls me out of my shell and takes me to faraway places. Once I’m away, I’m OK, it’s just getting there that tears my heart out. Coming back always feels so good to me. I do have wonderful memories and keepsakes of traveling though! This looks like a wonderful book and well worth the blood, sweat and tears that went into making it.
I love being a homebody! I’ve worked at home for 35 years. I am now getting the urge to see other parts of the world. Going to Spain and Portugal this year!
I yearn to roam. But with staff to help with the kids (traveling with kids is no joke)! So therefore I stay at home! 😉