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The Philosophy of Film Noir (The Philosophy of Popular Culture #Ppcs)
by Mark T. ConardAn essay collection examining the philosophical elements of select films in noir cinema, as well as the genre’s legacy in film and culture.A drifter with no name and no past, driven purely by desire, is convinced by a beautiful woman to murder her husband. A hard-drinking detective down on his luck becomes involved with a gang of criminals in pursuit of a priceless artifact. The stories are at once romantic, pessimistic, filled with anxiety and a sense of alienation, and they define the essence of film noir. Noir emerged as a prominent American film genre in the early 1940s, distinguishable by its use of unusual lighting, sinister plots, mysterious characters, and dark themes. From The Maltese Falcon (1941) to Touch of Evil (1958), films from this classic period reflect an atmosphere of corruption and social decay that attracted such accomplished directors as John Huston, Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, and Orson Welles.The Philosophy of Film Noir is the first volume to focus exclusively on the philosophical underpinnings of these iconic films. Drawing on the work of diverse thinkers, from the French existentialist Albert Camus to the Frankurt school theorists Max Horkheimer and Theodor Adorno, the volume connects film noir to the philosophical questions of a modern, often nihilistic, world. Opening with an examination of what constitutes noir cinema, the book interprets the philosophical elements consistently present in the films—themes such as moral ambiguity, reason versus passion, and pessimism. The contributors to the volume also argue that the essence and elements of noir have fundamentally influenced movies outside of the traditional noir period. Neo-noir films such as Pulp Fiction (1994), Fight Club (1999), and Memento (2000) have reintroduced the genre to a contemporary audience. As they assess the concepts present in individual films, the contributors also illuminate and explore the philosophical themes that surface in popular culture.A close examination of one of the most significant artistic movements of the twentieth century, The Philosophy of Film Noir reinvigorates an intellectual discussion at the intersection of popular culture and philosophy.Praise for The Philosophy of Film Noir“The essays work both as solid primers into philosophy, stretching from Aristotle to Schopenhauer, and as lucid excursions into the genre’s dark, mean streets. . . . A fascinating, readable, and provocative book. . . . Highly recommended.” —Choice“Dense and intriguing, the book suggests noir is best perceived as a slightly warped mirror held up to contemporary society.” —Publishers Weekly
Crossing the River: A Novel (Kentucky Voices)
by Fenton JohnsonA spirited Southern woman upends the insular world of her small Kentucky town in this acclaimed debut novel by “a storyteller of distinction” (Publishers Weekly).Kentucky, 1944. Though she hails from a Fundamentalist Baptist family, there is nothing conventional about Martha Bragg Pickett Miracle. In her youth, she smoked cigarettes, rode motorcycles, and snuck across the Knob Fork River to buy beer from Catholics—and fall in love with one. Twenty years later, Martha has settled into marriage. But deep down, she’s just as rebellious as she ever was.The arrival of a smooth-talking Yankee contractor leads Martha to turn her life upside down—unaware that her son will follow suit. Both heartfelt and shrewdly humorous, this widely acclaimed first novel from author Fenton Johnson is an affecting look at one woman's reawakening and her son's coming of age in the American heartland.
Tales from Kentucky Funeral Homes
by William Lynwood Montell“A unique firsthand record of this history and culture of death in Kentucky relayed nearly word-for-word to preserve the language, style and emotion.” —Hardin Company Historical SocietyIn Tales from Kentucky Funeral Homes, William Lynwood Montell has collected stories and reminiscences from funeral home directors and embalmers across the state. These accounts provide a record of the business of death as it has been practiced in Kentucky over the past fifty years. The collection ranges from tales of old-time burial practices, to stories about funeral customs unique to the African American community, to tales of premonitions, mistakes, and even humorous occurrences. Other stories involve such unusual aspects of the business as snake-handling funerals, mistaken identities, and in-home embalming. Taken together, these firsthand narratives preserve an important aspect of Kentucky social life not likely to be collected elsewhere. Most of these funeral home stories involve the recent history of Kentucky funeral practices, but some descriptive accounts go back to the era when funeral directors used horse-drawn wagons to reach secluded areas. These accounts, including stories about fainting relatives, long-winded preachers, and pallbearers falling into graves, provide significant insights into the pivotal role morticians have played in local life and culture over the years.“A fascinating read . . . Some of the stories are thoughtful explanations of past funeral customs and ruminations on the needs of grieving, but many are also funny.” —Lexington-Herald Leader“Yes, they have humorous stories to tell, but they also have poignant tales that will move you.” —Bowling Green Daily News“[Montell’s] edited anecdotes preserve many of those traditions for readers interested in commonwealth customs related to ‘passing on.’” —Courier-Journal
Wendell Berry and Higher Education: Cultivating Virtues of Place (Culture of the Land)
by Jeffrey Bilbro Jack R. BakerWhy the university should focus on community: “An enlightening interpretation of Wendell Berry’s philosophy for the pursuit of a holistic higher education.” —Publishers WeeklyProminent author and cultural critic Wendell Berry is well known for his contributions to agrarianism and environmentalism, but his commentary on education has received comparatively little attention. Yet Berry has been eloquently unmasking America’s cultural obsession with restless mobility for decades, arguing that it causes damage to both the land and the character of our communities. The education system, he maintains, plays a central role in this obsession, inculcating in students’ minds the American dream of moving up and moving on.Drawing on Berry’s essays, fiction, and poetry, Jack R. Baker and Jeffrey Bilbro illuminate the influential thinker’s vision for higher education in this path-breaking study. Each chapter begins with an examination of one of Berry’s fictional narratives and then goes on to consider how the passage inspires new ways of thinking about the university’s mission. Throughout, Baker and Bilbro argue that instead of training students to live in their careers, universities should educate students to inhabit and serve their places. The authors also offer practical suggestions for how students, teachers, and administrators might begin implementing these ideas.Baker and Bilbro conclude that institutions guided by Berry’s vision might cultivate citizens who can begin the work of healing their communities—graduates who have been educated for responsible membership in a family, a community, or a polity.
Playful Little Paper-Pieced Projec: 37 Graphic Designs & Tips from Top Modern Quilters
by Tacha BruecherTop designers—including Joanna Wilczyncka, Daniel Rouse, and Ayumi Takahashi—share their valuable tips and fail-proof paper-piecing techniques.Playful Little Paper-Pieced Projects by Fat Quarterly Magazine cofounder Tacha Bruecher is a collection of paper-pieced projects featuring some of the best work from today’s most talented modern quilters. You can learn everything you need to know about foundation paper piecing, and then test your skills with 37 projects ranging in difficulty and complexity. Bursting with ideas and ingenuity, this book will inspire you to include paper piecing in all your sewing projects.Find designs from Ayumi Takahashi, Charise Randell, Lynne Goldsworthy, Cheryl Arkison, Amy Lobsiger, and many more.Includes 2 quilts, 17 small projects and a 12-block calendar quilt, plus a project from each of the monthly block patterns. There’s something for everyone, from quilts and aprons to a backgammon board and a camera bag.“Compilations are one of our favorite types of books because we get to see one thing presented in many different ways by some of the most talented peeps in our industry. And boy, do we love this one! . . . There are bags, a game board, home dec items and even a chair cushion!” —Generation Q Magazine
Beading Artistry for Quilts: Embellishments & Basic Stitches, Add Texture & Drama
by Thom Atkins“I love patchwork, beadwork, and I love handwork . . . The instructions are easy to follow and it’s nothing short of divine inspiration for me.” —Mark Lipinski, editor, Quilter’s Home magazineUse beads and simple stitches to create magnificent texture, dimension, and lifelike details on any quilt. Award-winning quilter, Thom Atkins, teaches you everything you need to know about the best supplies and techniques to get breathtaking results . . . plus there’s a bonus tutorial on how to create a beaded bezel. Dozens of show-stopping images throughout the book illustrate the unlimited possibilities for designing your own spectacular beaded quilt. Whether you like to make traditional or art quilts, this book will help you take your fabric embellishing to a whole new level.“I have always used a lot of beads and sequins in my work and this book is bead heaven! . . . This is a visual feast and certainly one book I will definitely include in my collection.” —Fabrications Quilting for You“Packed with lots of information to set you on your embellishing journey . . . Even if you don’t think beading is for you, the beautiful photos you see as you leaf through the pages will have you reaching for the book for color and design inspiration.” —Down Under Textiles“Will inspire you to create your own beaded masterpiece.” —Quilter’s Delight
The USS Flier: Death and Survival on a World War II Submarine
by Michael SturmaThe realities of WWII underwater warfare come to life in this chronicle of a submarine sunk in the Philippines—and the remarkable sailors who survived.The fate of the USS Flier is one of the most astonishing stories of the Second World War. On August 13, 1944, the submarine struck a mine and sank to the bottom of the Sulu Sea in less than one minute, leaving only fourteen of its crew of eighty-six hands alive. After enduring eighteen hours in the water, eight remaining survivors swam to a remote island controlled by the Japanese. Deep behind enemy lines and without food or drinking water, the crewmen realized that their struggle for survival had just begun.Those eight sailors became the first Americans of the Pacific war to escape from a sunken submarine and return safely to the United States. Their story of persistence and survival has all the elements of a classic World War II tale: sudden disaster, physical deprivation, a ruthless enemy, and a dramatic escape from behind enemy lines. In The USS Flier, noted historian Michael Sturma vividly recounts a harrowing story of brave men who lived to return to the service of their country.
Hat Shop: 25 Projects to Sew, from Practical to Fascinating
by Susanne Woods“Describes how to experiment with different materials, fabric, embellishments, and small accessories to create fabulous one-of-a-kind hats!” —ThreadsThe latest installment in our popular Design Collective series features over 25 hat projects from contemporary designers all over the world, each hand-selected for their freshly sewn flair and skilled millinery work. Ladies and gents, boys and girls . . . what will you tip from the top of your head? A bonnet, a cap, a cloche, a tam? Projects include other adornments for your crown, such as headbands, fascinators, and scarves. From playful to practical, sassy to sophisticated, there is something for everyone to make and wear any day, every day.“Provides the tools and the inspiration to create a hat for every season.” —Stitch Gifts
Next Door to the Dead: Poems (Kentucky Voices)
by Kathleen Driskell“A collection of poems that are bold, inviting, charming, different, humorous, and irreverent. Often, they slip the bonds of common expectation.” —Northern Kentucky TribuneWhen Kathleen Driskell tells her husband that she’s gone to visit the neighbors, she means something different than most. The noted poet—whose last book, Seed Across Snow, was twice listed as a national bestseller by the Poetry Foundation—lives in an old country church just outside Louisville, Kentucky. Next door is an old graveyard that she was told had fallen out of use. In this marvelous new collection, this turns out not to be the case as the poet’s fascination with the “neighbors” brings the burial ground back to life.Driskell frequently strolls the cemetery grounds, imagining the lives and loves of those buried beside her property. These “neighbors,” with burial dates as early as 1848, inspire poems that weave stories, real and imagined, from the epitaphs and unmarked graves. Shifting between perspectives, she embraces and inhabits the voices of those laid to rest while also describing the grounds, the man who mows around the markers, and even the flocks of black birds that hover above before settling amongst the gravestones.Next Door to the Dead transcends time and place, linking the often disconnected worlds of the living and the deceased. Just as examining the tombstones forces the author to look more closely at her own life, Driskell’s poems and their muses compel us to examine our own mortality, as well as how we impact the finite lives of those around us.“Driskell has written her path to the Kentuckian sublime.” —Shane McCrae, author of Sometimes I Never Suffered
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim: A Writer in Early Hollywood
by Frederica Sagor MaasA memoir of the rise and fall of one female screenwriter&’s career during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Freddie Maas&’s revealing memoir offers a unique perspective on the film industry and Hollywood culture in their early days and illuminates the plight of Hollywood writers working within the studio system. An ambitious twenty-three-year-old, Maas moved to Hollywood and launched her own writing career by drafting a screenplay of the bestselling novel The Plastic Age for &“It&” girl Clara Bow. With that script, she landed a staff position at powerhouse MGM studios. In the years to come, she worked with and befriended numerous actors and directors, including Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Eric von Stroheim, as well as such writers and producers as Thomas Mann and Louis B. Mayer. As a professional screenwriter, Frederica quickly learned that scripts and story ideas were frequently rewritten, and that screen credit was regularly given to the wrong person. Studio executives wanted well-worn plots, but it was the writer&’s job to develop the innovative situations and scintillating dialogue that would bring to picture to life. For over twenty years, Freddie and her friends struggled to survive in this incredibly competitive environment. Through it all, Freddie remained a passionate, outspoken woman in an industry run by powerful men, and her provocative, nonconformist ways brought her success, failure, wisdom, and a wealth of stories, opinions, and insight into a fascinating period in screen history.Praise for The Shocking Miss Pilgrim &“In this memorable tell-all, rise-and-fall memoir, Maas brings the gimlet hindsight of Julia Phillips&’s You&’ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again to early Hollywood, and the results are thoroughly captivating.&” —Publishers Weekly &“A bittersweet, extraordinarily detailed recollection of Maas&’s 30-year career in the motion picture industry. . . . Chockablock with anecdotes, and a blinding amount of star-wattage to boot.&” —Salon.com
The Manhattan Cocktail: A Modern Guide to the Whiskey Classic
by Albert W.A. SchmidHistory, lore, and over fifty recipes in a “compulsively readable book about a classic American cocktail” (Susan Reigler, author of Kentucky Bourbon Country).Alongside such classics as the Old Fashioned, Mint Julep, and Martini, the Manhattan has been a staple of the sophisticated bar scene since the nineteenth century. Never out of style, this iconic drink has seen a renaissance in the craft cocktail movement, with a boost from TV's Mad Men. In theory, the recipe is simple: a mixture of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters stirred with ice, strained, and presented in a cocktail glass garnished with a cherry. But the exact ingredients and proportions—as well as the drink’s true origins—inspire great debate.In this guide, Albert W. A. Schmid dispels myths, including the tale that the Manhattan was created in 1874 by bartenders at New York City's Manhattan Club to honor the newly elected Governor Tilden at Lady Randolph Churchill’s request. Schmid also explores places and people that have contributed to the drink’s popularity and inspired its lore, including J. P. Morgan, who enjoyed a Manhattan every day at the end of trading on Wall Street.The Manhattan Cocktail also examines the effects of various bourbons and whiskeys on the aroma and flavor, even answering the age-old question of “shaken or stirred?” With over fifty recipes as well as notes and anecdotes from personalities ranging from renowned mixologist Dale DeGroff to writer Sir Kingsley Amis, it will delight both the cocktail novice and the seasoned connoisseur.
Get Quilting with Angela & Cloe: 14 Projects for Kids to Sew
by Angela Walters Cloe WaltersThe author of Quilting is My Therapy teams up with her daughter in this beginner’s guide featuring 14 kid-friendly quilting projects.Angela Walters loves to quilt—and so does her daughter, Cloe. Now they teach the basics of quiltmaking to preteens and teens in Get Quilting with Angela & Cloe. The dynamic mother-daughter duo guides kids step by step through their very first quilt from prepping and planning to finishing touches. Readers can choose from 14 projects to keep or give as gifts, including stylish bedroom decor, such as pillow covers, rugs, and T-shirt quilts. Angela's eye for design and her approachable teaching style are the perfect complement to Cloe's kid-approved fabric choices and projects. With skill-builders and plenty of how-to photos, your kids can finally bring their imaginative creations to life!
Patchwork City: 75 Innovative Blocks for the Modern Quilter
by Elizabeth HartmanBored with sewing the same old blocks? Get a bonanza of 75 modern quilt blocks from a bestselling modern designer! You’ll love these fresh angular designs inspired by city life, and the mix-and-match possibilities are endless! Elizabeth Hartman gets you started with six complete sampler quilts to sew. Each block is shown in three different fabric palettes. The book includes easy-to-follow cutting charts and instructions for every block. Some have links to full-size freezer-paper templates. Change up blocks, sizes, or fabrics to embark on a limitless exploration of modern style.“The instructions are straightforward . . . an excellent choice for quilting collections.” —Library Journal
New Patchwork & Quilting Basics
by Jo AveryBuild your quilting skills with this beginner&’s guide featuring 12 modern projects using basic patchwork, appliqué, curves, and foundation paper piecing. Quilt designer Jo Avery has a wealth of experience teaching beginner and intermediate quilters at her popular workshops and retreats. In New Patchwork & Quilting Basics, she guides you through 12 quilt projects using basic pieced strips, squares, and triangles. Jo&’s easy-to-follow instructions make it easy to learn new skills while making your own stylish quilts and other projects. Before long, you&’ll have the confidence and expertise to tackle virtually any quilt pattern!
Lapham's Raiders: Guerrillas in the Philippines, 1942–1945
by Robert Lapham Bernard NorlingA US soldier recounts his extensive guerilla campaign against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in this thoroughly researched WWII memoir.On December 8th, 1941, the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded the Philippine Islands, catching American forces unprepared and forcing their eventual surrender. Among the American soldiers who managed to avoid capture was twenty-five-year-old Lieutenant Robert Lapham, who played a major role in the resistance to the brutal Japanese occupation.After emerging from the jungles of Bataan, Lapham built and commanded a devastating guerrilla force behind enemy lines. His Luzon Guerrilla Armed Forces evolved into an army of thirteen thousand men that eventually controlled the entire northern half of Luzon's great Central Plain, an area of several thousand square miles. In Lapham’s Raiders, Lapham and historian Bernard Norling reconstruct the drama of the LGAF through letters, records and the recollections of Lapham and others.Lapham’s Raiders sheds light on the clandestine activities of the LGAF and other guerrilla operations, assess the damages of war to the Filipino people, and discuss the United States' postwar treatment of the newly independent Philippine nation. It also examines Japan's wartime failures in the Philippines and elsewhere, and of America's postwar failure to fully realize opportunities there.
Tales from Kentucky Doctors
by William Lynwood Montell“The book lets us see the human side of physicians—the humorous, the heartwarming—the tradition of health care in Kentucky.” —The Harrodsburg HeraldFrom the laughable to the laudable, Tales from Kentucky Doctors present illuminating portraits of doctors and patients, drawing stories from physicians with lifetimes of experience serving Kentucky families. Doctors recall the successes and failures that shaped their early careers. For Dr. Baretta R. Casey of Hazard, becoming a doctor was a difficult journey. Already married and with a child, Casey enrolled in college at age thirty, later completed medical school, and began a successful career as a family practitioner in the 1990s. Though patient visitations and doctors’ prescriptions are recorded on account ledgers, personal relationships and memories are not part of medical records. The section “Personal Practice” gives a glimpse of the intimate connection that doctors form with their communities. For many towns, family physicians were heroes. Dr. James S. Brashear relates the challenges of practicing in Central City, a coal mining town, recalling an incident in which he saved the lives of two miners. Handed down to Montell in the oral tradition, the tales presented in this collection represent every part of the state. Personal experiences, humorous anecdotes, and local legends make it a fascinating panorama of Kentucky physicians and of the communities they served.“Abounds with interesting and amusing anecdotes about life in rural Kentucky. For those of us who grew up during these times, it brings back fond memories of good times and bad.” —Bowling Green Daily News
Civil Rights in the Gateway to the South: Louisville, Kentucky, 1945–1980 (Civil Rights and the Struggle for Black Equality in the Twentieth Century)
by Tracy E. K'MeyerA noted civil rights historian examines Louisville as a cultural border city where the black freedom struggle combined northern and southern tactics.Situated on the banks of the Ohio River, Louisville, Kentucky, represents a cultural and geographical intersection of North and South. This border identity has shaped the city’s race relations throughout its history. Louisville's black citizens did not face entrenched restrictions against voting and civic engagement, yet the city still bore the marks of Jim Crow segregation in public accommodations.In response to Louisville's unique blend of racial problems, activists employed northern models of voter mobilization and lobbying, as well as methods of civil disobedience usually seen in the South. They also crossed traditional barriers between the movements for racial and economic justice to unite in common action.In Civil Rights in the Gateway to the South, Tracy E. K'Meyer provides a groundbreaking analysis of Louisville's uniquely hybrid approach to the civil rights movement. Defining a border as a space where historical patterns and social concerns overlap, K'Meyer argues that broad coalitions of Louisvillians waged long-term, interconnected battles for social justice.“The definitive book on the city’s civil rights history.” —Louisville Courier-Journal
The Philosophy of Michael Mann (The Philosophy of Popular Culture)
by Aeon J. Skoble R. Barton Palmer Steven SandersA collection of essays exploring the philosophical themes and aesthetic vision behind blockbuster film including The Insider, Public Enemies,and more.Known for his finely crafted crime thrillers, American filmmaker Michael Mann has long been regarded as a talented triple threat capable of moving effortlessly between television and feature films as a writer, director, and executive producer. His unique visual sense and thematic approach are evident in the Emmy Award-winning The Jericho Mile, the cult favorite The Keep, the American epic The Last of the Mohicans, and the Academy Award-nominated The Insider, as well as more recent works such as Ali, Miami Vice, and Public Enemies.The Philosophy of Michael Mann provides a comprehensive account of the work of this highly accomplished filmmaker, exploring the director's recognizable visual style and the various on-screen and philosophical elements he has tested in his thirty-five-year career. The essays in this wide-ranging book will appeal to fans of the revolutionary filmmaker and to philosophical scholars interested in the themes and conflicts that drive his movies.
Beneath Missouri Stars: A Quilting Cozy
by Carol Dean JonesSenior sleuth Sarah Miller takes center stage when quilting, country music, and murder combine in a crafty mystery that includes a bonus quilting pattern.When sixty-eight-year-old Sarah Miller moves into the Cunningham Village retirement community, she is mourning the loss of her husband and the place that has been home for forty-two years. But Sarah is a survivor. As she reaches out into the retirement community that is to become home, she finds friends, activities, new hobbies, and a love interest. The highly anticipated eleventh installment of this series of cozy mysteries begins with an appearance from Austin Bailey, renowned country singer—but before his concert can get off the ground, a young girl is murdered, and Sarah and her feisty cohort are hot on the case!
Sew Home: Learn Design Basics, Techniques, Fabrics & Supplies: 30+ Modern Projects to Turn a House into YOUR Home
by Erin Schlosser“Projects ranging from simple curtains and linens to professional-quality window treatments and decorative accessories . . . excellent.” —Library JournalWritten by a sewist with a background in interior design, this is an essential guide to home-décor sewing. Included are 31 functional projects—ranging from beginner to advanced—including DIY window treatments, bed linens, storage solutions, rugs, pillows, and custom accessories for every room in your home. Work with cording and zippers, blind hems, and home decor fabric, and discover interior design basics that help you customize any space.“The must-have guide for any home-decor sewist.” —Sew News
Becoming Native to This Place (Blazer Lectures)
by Wes JacksonIn this essay collection, one of the foremost voices in sustainable agriculture sets out a new approach to farming and community engagement.In these six compelling essays, Wes Jackson lays the foundation for a new farming economy grounded in nature's principles and located in dying small towns and rural communities. Exploding the tenets of industrial agriculture, Jackson seeks to integrate food production with nature in a way that sustains both.Jackson’s radical vision is directly at odds with a modern consumer culture that deprives us of any meaningful connection to our natural and social environments. His essays, anchored in his work with The Land Institute, offer an authentic and practical approach to topics that often fail to escape the realm of theory.
Stephen Rolfe Powell: Glassmaker
by Stephen Rolfe PowellThis definitive volume vividly chronicles the glass artist’s remarkable work and unique methods as they evolved over the course of his career.Internationally renowned glass artist Stephen Rolfe Powell created his work in a quiet outpost of rural Kentucky. The radiant murrini skins of his glass vessels have an old Italian pedigree, yet his techniques were radically American in their dramatic individuality. He stood among modern glass's most nuanced explorers of light and color.The stunning photographs in this book showcase Powell's work from different viewpoints, highlighting the unique interactions of transparent, opaque, and translucent glass and Powell's bold color combinations. Photographic close-ups detail the luminous murrini patterns that became Powell's signature, revealing new ways of appreciating the complex interplay of color and texture in his art.Biographical and analytical essays by Mark Lucas, Laurie Winters, and James Yood explore Powell's unique, team-based process; his teaching and learning experiences on the road, from the former Soviet Union to Salt Lake City during the Olympics; and the two freak injuries that deeply affected his approach to his work. Reflections by Kenn Holsten, Marvin Lipofsky, Dante Marioni, Bonnie Marx, John Roush, and Lino Tagliapietra further supplement the book.
Modern Blocks: 99 Quilt Blocks from Your Favorite Designers
by Susanne WoodsMeet the new kids on the block. “If you are looking for quilt block ideas, this is for you. From pinwheel to whimsical, you’ll find lots you like.” —yarnsandfabrics.co.ukToday’s most talented modern quilters put a fresh and fun spin on 99 traditional block designs. Chock full of step-by-step instructions, how-to photographs and helpful hints, this collection of inspiring projects makes it easy for any sewer—no matter what level of expertise—to quilt in a modern style with impressive results.Try something entirely new or put a twist on classic blocks—choose from pieced, appliquéd, and embroidered designsFresh and fun 12” blocks are beginner-friendly with complete cutting instructionsPerfect for using your novelty, designer, and solid fabricsGreat for block swapsFeaturing contributions by Bari J. Ackerman, John Q. Adams, Tine Andersen, Cheryl Arkison, Ellen Luckett Baker, Alethea Ballard, Briana Arlene Balsam, Mo Beldell, Natalia Bonner, Heather Bostic, Jessica Brown, Natasha Bruecher, Sonja Callaghan, Emily Cier, Leanne Cohen, Melissa Crow, Monique Dillard, Kirsten Duncan, Amy Ellis, Lara Finlayson, Krista Fleckenstein, Lynne Goldsworthy, Ann Haley, Natalie Hardin, Kate Henderson, Krista Hennebury, Wendy Hill, Solidia Hubbard, Faith Jones, Nicole Kaplan, Susan Brubaker Knapp, Wayne Kollinger, Laura West Kong, Penny Michelle Layman, Yvonne Malone, Sherri McConnell, Jamie Moilanen, Louise Papas, Angela Pingel, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, Rachel Roxburgh, Latifah Saafir, Amanda Sasikirana, Kim Schaefer, Elizabeth Scott, Amy Sinibaldi, Pat Sloan, Tiffany Stephens, Kristi Underwood, Kimberly Walus, Monika Wintermantel, Susanne Woods, Viv Wride, Angela Yosten
S is for Stitch: 52 Embroidered Alphabet Designs + Charming Projects for Little Ones
by Kristyne CzepurykEmbroidery and needlework projects you can make for little boys and girlsA is for angel, B is for baseball, and C is for cupcake! Stitch up lots of adorable projects from A to Z with these two sets of alphabet-themed embroidery patterns for little girls and boys. Projects include quilts, pillows, soft blocks, and wall art for the nursery to help your little ones learn the alphabet, or just to make them smile. Kristyne Czepuryk’s designs are wonderfully detailed, yet easy to try with any skill level. Learn basic stitches and tips for combining floss and fabrics, plus get ideas for embroidering on clothing and other store-bought items, too.Praise for S Is for Stitch“The motifs are sweet, and Czepuryk provides plenty of ideas for projects beyond the quilt, such as embellishing clothing or soft fabric blocks. Embroiderers who enjoy designs for children will appreciate Czepuryk’s cute motifs.” —Library Journal“This book is filled with delightful embroidery alphabet designs for children . . . and a variety of projects—from baby blocks to pillows to quilts—to use the embroidery designs in.” —Quilter's Connection Magazine“What’s not to love about a collection of 52 small embroidery designs along with loads of ideas on how to incorporate them into charming and useful gifts for little boys and girls? . . . There’s also a good introductory section on embroidery floss, fabric, transferring designs, trimming embroidered blocks and assembling a quilt.” —Australian Homespun Magazine“You’ll love Kristyne Czepuryk’s adorable alphabet-themed embroidery designs—one set for boys and one for girls—in S is for Stitch. The book includes embroidery basics and stitch directions, as well as 7 projects—from quilts to soft blocks. What a fun way to learn hand embroidery!” —Quiltmaker Magazine
Haunted Houses and Family Ghosts of Kentucky
by William Lynwood MontellA Kentucky native and folk studies scholar presents a collection of haunting legends and stories of spirits from across the Bluegrass State.William Lynwood Montell has spent years documenting Kentucky’s rich legacy of ghostly visitations. Many of the stories were collected from elders by younger generations and are recounted here exactly as they were gathered. This volume introduces spirits such as the Tan Man of Pike County, who trudges invisibly through a house accompanied by the smell of roses, and the famed Gray Lady of Liberty Hall in Frankfort, a houseguest who never left.Montell tells the story of the ghost of Daniel Boone calling upon the statesman Henry Clay shortly before his death. He also recounts the tale of ghouls that haunt the rehearsal house of the band The Kentucky Headhunters. Readers will find accounts of haunted libraries, mansions, log cabins, bathrooms, furniture, hotels, and distilleries, as well as reports of eerie visitations from passed-on grandmothers, husbands, daughters, uncles, cousins, babies, slaves, Civil War soldiers, dogs, sheep, and even wildcats.Almost every county in Kentucky is represented. Though the book emphasizes the stories themselves, Montell offers an introduction discussing how local history, and local character, are communicated across the generations in these colorful stories.