I remember how excited I was when my first book, MISS PATCH'S LEARN-TO-SEW BOOK, was published more than 40 years ago. I've written more than fifty books since then, and I had nearly forgotten about Miss Patch, until I got this e-mail:
I'm so glad I found a site where I can contact you! My name is Yvonne and I'm a 46 year old mother to 4 year old girl. When I was about nine years old my school library in Los Angeles had a copy of your book, Miss Patch's Learn to Sew. I remember I was so excited to find your book at the school library. I was enthralled with the pictures and even though I'd 'officially' stopped playing with dolls, I could not wait to make the Barbie dresses, and doll quilt. I loved the book. I kept renewing the book, and even did my book report on it. I spent hours playing with my fabrics, reading my books and dreaming and imagining all the projects I wanted to make.
Then my arch enemy, Nancy, decided she wanted to check out the book. She complained I'd had it too long so I had to turn it over to her. I was so sad. I'd managed to make the Barbie dresses but never got to the quilt. Nancy kept the book the entire rest of the year.
Fast forward to adulthood. I finally have a daughter I want to sew for. But where to start? I remembered how much I'd loved my little Miss Patches book. I did ebay and Amazon searches and found a beautiful copy with the original cover still! I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have this darling book back in my hands again. I've had the book now for a couple of years, I'd bought it when Dahlia was still a baby.
Yesterday I picked up my mom's Kenmore sewing machine, and I am going to teach Dahlia how to sew. I can't wait. We have the book...and this time, I don't have to worry about returning it.
Thank you, Yvonne. You can't imagine what it's like to get a fan letter like yours! And I wonder whatever happened to Nancy....is she still grabbing other people's library books?
I'm so glad I found a site where I can contact you! My name is Yvonne and I'm a 46 year old mother to 4 year old girl. When I was about nine years old my school library in Los Angeles had a copy of your book, Miss Patch's Learn to Sew. I remember I was so excited to find your book at the school library. I was enthralled with the pictures and even though I'd 'officially' stopped playing with dolls, I could not wait to make the Barbie dresses, and doll quilt. I loved the book. I kept renewing the book, and even did my book report on it. I spent hours playing with my fabrics, reading my books and dreaming and imagining all the projects I wanted to make.
Then my arch enemy, Nancy, decided she wanted to check out the book. She complained I'd had it too long so I had to turn it over to her. I was so sad. I'd managed to make the Barbie dresses but never got to the quilt. Nancy kept the book the entire rest of the year.
Fast forward to adulthood. I finally have a daughter I want to sew for. But where to start? I remembered how much I'd loved my little Miss Patches book. I did ebay and Amazon searches and found a beautiful copy with the original cover still! I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have this darling book back in my hands again. I've had the book now for a couple of years, I'd bought it when Dahlia was still a baby.
Yesterday I picked up my mom's Kenmore sewing machine, and I am going to teach Dahlia how to sew. I can't wait. We have the book...and this time, I don't have to worry about returning it.
Thank you, Yvonne. You can't imagine what it's like to get a fan letter like yours! And I wonder whatever happened to Nancy....is she still grabbing other people's library books?