Hello, my dears!

Have you had a chance to listen to Diary of a Mad Quilter yet? As the story continues, we’ll be spending more time with Marnie and her best friend Sheila in conversation. Sheila is a true blue best friend, down to earth as they come, but she’s got a lot of family drama. As someone whose best friend lives on the other side of the country and who resides in a house full of males (and very little drama), I love writing about Marnie and Sheila’s friendship, and Sheila’s family. The great thing about being a writer is you get to live lots of different lives–just as long as you’re willing to play make-believe all day, which clearly I am.

In this week’s episode of Friendship Album: Forget Me Not … Well, I don’t want to give too much away, so I’m going to be circumspect here. This week’s episode centers on Florence and a recent (before the wedding) conversation had with Arthur Purefory about what her administrative assistant Nettie should be paid. And that’s all I’m going to tell you–but suffice to say, it was a discussion that made Florence wonder if she’s just too modern for the times she lives in.

Maybe Florence is a bit on the modern side, but a woman running her own business in 1934, while not exactly common, wasn’t completely unheard of, either. Madam C.J. Walker founded the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company in 1910, selling African American cosmetics and hair products. By 1929, Elizabeth Arden had opened 150 beauty salons all over the world. Florence’s story was partly inspired by Marie Webster, who formed her mail order company, The Practical Patchwork Company in 1921. Along with quilting kits and patterns, the company also marketed partially completed quilts designed by Webster.

It should be noted that Marie Webster was married and had one child. Interesting that she didn’t have more, isn’t it? Maybe she couldn’t have another child after the first one–or maybe business was keeping her too busy. Everyone makes choices and compromises in their lives, and who more than the working mother?

Clearly, if you want to know what happens in Episode 3, you’re going to have to listen to the podcast.

Thanks as always for being a Story Guild subscriber. It’s your support that keeps the stories coming!

Yours truly,

Frances D.

P.S. Just a reminder, registration for first ever Friendship Album Quilt-Along begins on Monday with the release of our fabulous pattern, “Loves Me, Loves Me Not.” We’ll send you a special email so you’ll be able to take advantage of your Story Guild member discount. If you’d like to know more in the meantime, we’ve created a Quilt-Along page on the Quilt Fiction site. You can always find the latest information there.