The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives [Hardcover]

EllynAnne Geisel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2009

Gather 'round! The endearing follow-up to The Apron Book is now served. EllynAnne Geisel graces us with her new treasure, The Kitchen Linens Book. It's a lovely treat.

Family kitchens are where our days begin and end. And one constant is threaded among the people, the stories, and the moments: America's kitchen linens. If only these prized pieces could talk.

The Kitchen Linens Book invites women of all ages to visit with the past. In this book, Geisel gives us an up-close look at tablecloths, dishtowels, and napkins with details and histories as fine as the stories themselves. Embroidered or hemstitched, linens or oilcloths--these are the fabrics and the memories of our mothers and grandmothers. And each one has an endearing story and a vivid history.

*The book features over 20 projects and 8 recipes.

* The book includes a classic Butterick transfer pattern for a vintage kitchen towel motif, circa 1945.

* Rich photography highlighting every detail accompanies stories passed from generation to generation.

* EllynAnne's passion for finding and saving linens from flea markets, estate sales, and antique stores will inspire you to dig through your own closets and cupboards.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

EllynAnne Geisel, who lives at Pueblo, CO, is the author of The Apron Book and the creator of Apron Chronicles, the traveling exhibit. Her apron designs have appeared in Vogue and have been worn by Bree in Desperate Housewives. She's been a guest on both NPR's All Things Considered and CBS News' Sunday Morning. She continues to make nationwide appearances to promote her books and exhibit.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 152 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (March 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740777637
• ISBN-13: 978-0740777639
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Kitchenware
  • #34 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Children

More About the Author

In 1999, I wondered if anyone else felt a connection to aprons. That curiosity led me to embark on an apron journey that unexpectedly and quite delightfully has resulted in the publication of my first book, THE APRON BOOK: Making, Wearing and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort; a national touring exhibit, APRON CHRONICLES: a Patchwork of American Recollections; and Apron Memories', my very own company of vintage inspired aprons that I design.

As a further outlet for my love of aprons, I created Tie One On Day. Annually recognized by Chase's Calendar of Events on Thanksgiving Eve, the 4th Wednesday of November (11/22/06 this year), the designated day celebrates the humble apron and the spirit of women of earlier generations who donned the universal symbol of home, family and mothering as the uniform of their daily wardrobe and helped make America the great country it is today.

The process by which I turn the apron memories of others into evocative narratives is one I presented at the 2006 International Obituary Writers' Conference. I've never met a happier group of writers, and I'm already at work with Carolyn Gilbert, the Conference organizer, on next year's live-ly presentation.

No one is more surprised than I that the apron has brought into my life the most amazing bounty of friend-ship, storytelling and joy. Aprons! Who would have imagined?

At the first writer's conference I attended in 2000, I was inspired by Jack Canfield, co-creator of the Soup for the Soul empire, that "Going for it is the only way to go." Serendipi-tously, my very first writing sale was 2 years later to Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul. A second essay (and tribute to my mama)- I Never Saw My Mother Do a Sit Up - appears in Chicken Soup To Inspire a Woman's Soul. And my vignette on the book that influenced my life appears in Jack's (!!) latest, You've Got To Read This Book! 55 People Tell the story of the Book that Changed Their Life. While I doubt other contribu-tors like Malachy McCourt, John Gray, Dave Barry, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, eBay COO Maynard Webb,and Jacquelyn Mitchard (Oprah's first Book Club author)are excited I'm one of the 55, I am ecstatic to be included.

I live in Pueblo, Colorado, with my prince charming, Hank. My sons, Noah and Gideon, have flown the coop. Like their Dad, they are excellent husband material, and will one day be someone's prince charming.

September 1, I'll celebrate a 31st wedding anniversary. Last year, we toasted one another in China; this year, we'll be clinking champagne glasses and swatting mosquitoes out back on the patio.

Truffles, our departed pet, was so beloved, we had her memorialized in a life-size portrait. Framed in faux gold, the painting hangs in our dining room, her favorite spot. Years since her puttin' down, we still can't talk about her without tearing up.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Brilliant Book From EllynAnne, March 23, 2009

By 

Lesli Peterson (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives (Hardcover)

The Kitchen Linens Book is a tribute to the past - to the women who made, used and loved their linens. EllynAnne encourages her readers to embrace the memories these linens hold, appreciate their handiwork, and "go green by going vintage." This is a beautiful book, worthy of sitting on anyone's coffee table. Don't, however, gloss over the stories in light of the stunning photography - they are a must read.

Being from the South myself, I have to tip my bonnet to EllynAnn. I felt like I was sitting in her kitchen and listening to her tell stories of her family (and others). The writing is so warm and friendly, you almost forget you are reading a book and not in her company. Additionally, I love the stories written by other women that she has woven throughout the pages. There are also tips, tricks, recipes and craft suggestion. But the heart and soul of this book, in my opinion, are the testimonies she gives about her tablecloths, napkins, dishtowels, aprons and more. Every word she writes drips with her love and admiration of the times in which the linens were made, the hard work that went into making them, and the lives their previous owners led.

To be fair, there was a disappointment. There were suggestions and ideas that she mention (like layering her linens) that sound amazing, but I could not picture how to do it (and I desperately want to know so I can recreate it) but there were no images of how this was done. It seems, considering how many lovely pictures this book contains, that there would be more pictures of the ideas she discusses.

Nevertheless, I adore this book. I am encouraged to pick up a little embroidery of my own. Maybe, a few generations from now, some woman will use my tea towel and honor my life the way EllynAnne has done for generations past.

This book is delightful and a must-have for your book collection.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweetly nostalgic trip through your Granny's cupboards, April 10, 2009

By 

Helen (Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives (Hardcover)

LibraryThing Book Review - The Kitchen Linens Book by EllynAnne Geisel
Note to readers: This book was received as part of the Early Reviewer's Group on LibraryThing. My thanks to LT and the publishers for a copy of the book. This review can also be found on LT.

This book is a celebration of the everyday textiles which are taken for granted, used, abused and often thrown out. Interspersed with memories from a range of people, a few recipes and ideas for using vintage linens, this is a sweetly nostalgic trip through the author's collection, and by extension, lifestyle. If you find the thought of entertaining friends with afternoon tea, dished up on a table dressed with hand-embroidered tablecloths and linen napkins, whilst wearing a 1950's apron completely alien, this is not the book for you. However, if you are interested in a celebration of an area of handwork that is often overlooked then this may well be of interest. This is not a serious text on textile history or sociology however.

The author gives a range of ideas for making use of vintage linens of all kinds, and many memories are shared of these pieces being used and loved over generations. One minor quibble - the author describes Scottish Terriers as being an English-bred dog. I think an entire nation of Scots may be offended by that one!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EllynAnne Geisel transforms old linen into fine art., February 11, 2009

By 

Jan L. Means "Jan Means" (Savannah, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives (Hardcover)

EllynAnne Geisel in an expert in the appreciation of vintage fabric and this new book is a great treasure. The Kitchen Linens Book, brings new life back to our old beautiful kitchen items. EllynAnne creates a style and art form, with color and texture from antique designs, that will send you hunting for old linens to spice up the elegance in your home. Her recipes will inspire you entertain with a fresh 1950's style and class, from picnics and tailgates to High Tea and Garden Parties. This book will make a lovely gift for a girlfriend, mother, sister, daughter: creating connections through the memories and the fabric of our lives we cherish. This book is a must have, if you love entertaining, very HIP.