Books, Libraries, and Minnie Mouse

Believe it or not, that title will make sense after a bit! I have some fun things to share with everyone. Where to start though??

Let’s start with this book. I just finished it today. It is such a great story. I enjoyed the audio version and have high praise for Julia Whelan’s reading of the book. It is a story of the Pack Horse Librarians in Kentucky during the Depression era. Jojo Moyes wrote a riveting story and I found myself listening to it almost non-stop. It was really hard to put it down. These women were brave and so determined to bring literacy to the poorest Kentucky families. For more information on these devoted librarians, check out this article.

Speaking of libraries, a few months ago I mentioned I was looking for some volunteer work within this new community I moved to. I joined the Friends of the Library for the Port Orchard library. So far, I have been working on Wednesday mornings sorting and shelving books in the Friends of the Library bookshop. I am throughly enjoying this and the group of women are very fun to work alongside. The group provides the funds for the children’s and teen programs in the library. I have long been a huge fan of public libraries and this is a good fit for me.

Shall we take a look at how Minnie Mouse might fit into the conversation here?

Several weeks ago, I was in JoAnn’s and came across this Minnie Mouse fusible appliqué. I didn’t know what I would make with it but I bought it anyway. My youngest grand daughter is currently obsessed with Minnie so I knew I would come up with something fun to make with Minnie. We are going to the kids’ house this weekend to celebrate A’s 3rd birthday. Now seemed to be a good time to put Minnie to use. I knew I had several remnants of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse fabric in the bin of novelty fabrics.

After a bit of thought, I decided to make a book bag for her. She goes to the library fairly often and this will be a fun way to carry her books back and forth. Before I constructed the bag, I fused the appliqué to some bright yellow fabric. Then that bit was fused to the outside of the bag and stitched down with a satin stitch on the machine. Before sewing the lining to the outside, I fused some batting scraps to the fabric and quilted a few straight lines to hold things in place. The straps are also filled with fusible batting.

I did get a bit carried away and made this book bag a little too big. If it is really filled, she may need Dad to help carry it. I think she will be excited when she sees her favorite mouse!

Now that my round robin quilt is finished, I have pulled out another project to work on.

RSC 2021 Blocks

These diamond blocks were made in 2021 as Rainbow Scrap challenge blocks. I love the blocks and finally have the time to finish this quilt. They are all going to be sashed with white and there will be six inch blocks of white separating the blocks in each column. I’ll share more on this soon. Makes me happy to be playing with these again!

As you all know, Julia is at her happiest when playing in the barns with the pigs. This photo just makes me laugh. Doesn’t this silly boar look like he wants to come out and play with Julia? Honestly, she takes the best pictures of these funny animals.

That’s it for now – Enjoy your day and I will do the same!

Linking up with a few favorites – check them out at the top of the page, under Link Ups.

26 thoughts on “Books, Libraries, and Minnie Mouse

  1. Wendy

    A is going to love that bag – perfect for those fun trips to the library. I haven’t read that book, so I might have to put that on my list. I seriously think you should make a print of that little pig and hang it somewhere, just to make you smile – it’s so cute!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Wendy – I keep looking at the bag and debating shortening the handle straps. It might help her a bit.
      The book is really a good one. Such a great story set around really troubling times in Kentucky – I bet you would also enjoy it. Glad you liked the pic of that silly pig. I thought it was super cute.

      Reply
  2. Karen

    I read that book a couple years ago – my daughter used to drive the Book Mobile before she got her next position at the library as the children’s librarian – she loved getting out there delivering books – it sure different back in the hill country in the early years.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Karen – Your comment made me think about the bookmobile that used to be available when I was a kid. It parked in a small shopping area two blocks from our house on Saturdays. My sisters and I used to walk to it. It was so cool to step up into that bus and choose books. We didn’t live in a rural area and there was a large library about 2 miles from our house so I am not sure why we were lucky enough to also have the bookmobile so close. It is a wonderful memory though.

      Reply
  3. Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl

    Oh, your granddaughter is going to love the bag and what a great way to encourage her to keep being excited about the library! Have fun working on your next WIP and I look forward to seeing it come together for you.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Oh my gosh – I am loving the way the quilt with the diamond blocks is coming together. It is nearly ready to be pressed and basted. Of course the next decision is how to quilt it – especially all of the white space. I really want to use this quilting time to practice and improve. So not just a meandering sort of quilt plan. Honestly, I plan to look at your quilts and see if I can find inspiration for a quilt motif. Have a lovely day Yvonne. (Has the snow melted off yet?)

      Reply
  4. Roseanne

    Hi Bernie! I think that boar is a nosey being and wants to know whattsup?!! He has such a friendly face – I would find myself talking to him like he could understand and answer back. Minnie Mouse!! That library bag is going to be so well loved. It will just enhance the weekly trip to the library with having a special bag to tote her books back and forth. That was an event I looked forward to as a child. Nice job! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

    Reply
  5. Cindy

    Your granddaughter is going to love that bag! I recently read a book about the women who delivered books in the mountains of the Carolinas. I wish I could remember the title.. hmm no memory problems here at all.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      You are not alone Cindy – my memory is just the same. Tho it comes in handy sometimes – like when reading a book I read a long while ago and it seems like new! Or the same with watching an old movie and I don’t remember the ending. Hahaha.

      Reply
  6. Dawn L Lunn

    Honestly, I could hear that little guy…..”hey Julia, over here. Come on open the gate and let’s go play”….

    Yes she takes the best piggy pictures!

    Love the Minnie Bag, perfect library bag. My twin great granddaughters love going to library; they are six this week.
    They used some allowance monies and bought the library tote bags for $1. I’m sure they would prefer Minnie Bags!! Ha ha

    Great to hear you are volunteering at library….great for you and the library! Blessings, Dawn

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Dawn, Love the story about the twins and saving their money for their library bag. H is also 6 and just starting to be aware of money. I think this started because of the tooth fairy. Pretty cute stuff!

      Reply
  7. Kathy

    I am always happy to hear how public libraries add funds to assist with programs as funding doesn’t cover all their expenses. So it’s a good gesture on your part to help out at the library and enjoy some good folks too! Your GD will love her book bag and we will look forward to hearing how her birthday went.
    I made a book bag for my son 45 years ago to keep his library books together rather than put them on his own bookshelf and the print was construction trucks and the fabric was corduroy. It was sturdy. I am sure you will be making another one for another little girl and that one might need a pocket for her library card.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      The library is much more than just checking out books these days – so many services and fun events are offered. So it is a treat to help raise funds for the ‘extras’. What a sweet story about your son’s library bag. When I had Julia (almost 22 years ago) I remember a volunteer came into the hospital room with a cloth bag filled with samples and information. Anyway, the bag was canvas and was meant to be a library bag for the child when she got older. Julia spent so much time in the library and we used the bag a great deal!

      Reply
  8. Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts

    I read your Round Robin post, but didn’t manage to leave a comment! It’s beautiful, Bernie! I love the colorful dots that inspired the rest of your fabric choices, and knowing that you turned an older project you weren’t enjoying into a fun finish. What a fun bag for your little grand girl, too! It’s such a wonderful thing to get kids to the library and help them love books.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Oh my gosh, the girls are great fans of books. I love encouraging it too. Libraries are really the best – such an important part of the community. Thank you Diann. Hope your mom continues to improve.

      Reply
  9. Hubblebird

    I really like the diamonds in a rectangle and looking forward to seeing how that turns out. I’m madly in love with Karen’s snail trail quilt mixed with diamond in rectangles. She’s commented above. I think I need to try a diamond quilt and have one in mind.

    Reply
  10. Kathleen McCormick

    What a fun bag for your granddaughter, and the title all makes perfect sense! Love the piggy photo, who is so interested in seeing Julia!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi – We had hoped to take the book bag to A this weekend but Ray and I (still) have these miserable colds so we are staying home and keeping our germs to ourselves. In another week or so, we are flying down to see Julia over her spring break. I am so excited. Hope we get to play with some little piglets too!

      Reply
  11. Alycia Quiltygirl

    Oh I LOVE that book bag!! what a great idea!!!!
    and the RSC blocks – they will be amazing… have fun and keep showing us your progress
    the pig… I think he was trying to win Julia over and get some extra snacks!!!

    Reply
  12. JanineMarie

    Oh, my, Bernie you are living my dream. I wanted to be a librarian when I was a kid. That plan did not get carried out, but I still get excited to go to the library. I love how you made a big bag for A, because now she can check out all the books, I hope forever. I read the Giver of Stars a couple of years ago–really enjoyed it for the story and for what I learned about some history I hadn’t known before. It’s fun to see a WIP from the past…and of course, always Julia’s piggies. I hope she is coping OK with CA crazy weather.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Crazy weather is correct! It has been nuts in CA. Julia has had some days where the campus had to close and she has dealt with some very muddy pigs but she fared well. My parents had a rough period without power for 12 days. That was nuts. Luckily they have a small generator but it was awful.
      I am totally enjoying my time in the library. I have always been a big fan of libraries – like fabric stores, there is always, always something of interest. So many book, so much fabric, but never enough time!

      Reply
  13. Linda

    Such a cute bag – she will adore it. Hard to believe she will be 3! I started a love of libraries when I was quite young. We had an enthusiastic librarian in our tiny town who asked me to volunteer when I was in my early teens, and I learned to shelve and “face” books. I wish I could tell her what an impact she made on my young life.
    Hope you are feeling much better by now.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Linda – We are finally feeling better and will get to see the girls this weekend! I’ll bring A’s birthday gifts, including her book bag. Aren’t libraries the best? Where else can you find a book on nearly any subject you like (well other than the internet) and they are free? It is an amazing institution. Have a great weekend. 🙂

      Reply

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