Quilters who love Maine, applique and lighthouses will find those three elements combined in two new books: “Lighthouses of New England” with designs by Connie Rand of Lincoln, published by House of White Birches; and “Lighthouse Designs for Quilters” by Patricia Aho of Lincolnville, published by Down East Books.

Don’t for one minute think you can get out of owning only one of these books. You can’t, because even though both books have designs based on West Quoddy Head Light and Dice Head Light, Rand’s other designs are based on lighthouses at Prospect Harbor, Pumpkin Island, Owls Head, Bear Island, Bass Harbor, Pemaquid, Portland, Fort Point and Eagle Island. Aho’s other designs are based on lighthouses at Boon Island, Burnt Island, Cuckold’s Light, Goose Rocks, Grindle Point, Kennebec River Range Lights, Marshall Point, Rockland Breakwater and Seguin Island.

The books differ in other ways, too. In Rand’s book, the applique blocks are designed to be the pieces that make up a quilt with a mariner’s compass block in the center, or made into the Eagle Island Wall Quilt. Her book includes factual information about when each lighthouse was built, automated and its height. The Fort Point light, for example, was built in 1857, is operated by the state of Maine and is 31 feet high. The text of the book is printed on glossy paper with color photos of each block.

Aho’s lighthouse designs can be combined to make the Maine Lighthouse Throw, or used individually or in other combinations to create pillows, wall hangings or a tote bag. Her book includes short histories of each lighthouse and we learn, for example, that the “Boon Island light is located on perhaps the most dangerous outcropping of rocks along this country’s eastern seaboard.” A center section of 16 pages in Aho’s book contains color photos on glossy paper of each quilt block. Her book also includes hand-quilting designs in a nautical theme – shells, dories, anchor, oars, sailing ship, waves and stars. These designs could be traced and used for embroidered quilt blocks if one were so inclined.

Both books give full-size patterns for assembling blocks, quilts and other projects. Each book contains ample, detailed instructions. The projects on both books are designed for quilters of all skill levels.

Rand traveled to each of the lighthouses featured in her book and made photographs from which she worked to generate her designs. Her work has been featured in Quilter’s World magazine and in other books on quilting published by House of White Birches. Rand’s book is available only online by visiting www.lincolnmaine.us.

Aho was raised on the Maine coast and is descended from seafaring people. She has been a teacher of quilting for 25 years. Visit www.downeastbooks.com or call your local bookstore to find out how to obtain a copy of her book.

Snippets

. Quilter and author Connie Rand will sign copies of her book “Lighthouses of New England” 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Lincoln Maine Federal Credit Union conference building in Lincoln. She also will raffle a wall hanging, “Eagle Island Light,” featured in the book. Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Special Olympics.

. “Seaweeds,” a quilt designed and made by Liane Giambalvo of Hampden was voted by viewers the most popular quilt of the quilt annual show Nov. 18 at All Souls Church in Bangor.

. ‘Tis the season for church Christmas fairs, ’tis the place to find handmade items and other wonderful things. I made fair rounds on Nov. 18 and bought a hot dish mat made of felted, recycled wool, a vintage glass toy soldier tree ornament, four vintage embroidered handkerchiefs and handmade glittery soap imprinted with an angel. Christmas fairs are on the agenda into December in many towns – and well worth the trip.

. Visit www.fancy.org.za to view embroidered greeting cards, tapestries and other items created by women in the Fancy Stitch group in South Africa. Created in 2001, the group was formed to combat poverty complicated by the social problems of HIV, teen pregnancy and alcoholism. The group’s goals are to create jobs for local people to alleviate poverty, to raise awareness of HIV and encourage positive living.

. Those who sew or are learning to sew may enjoy a visit to www.simplicity.com where the Simplicity Classroom gives how-tos for making pillows, a place mat purse, a ruffled jean skirt, a Regency-era bonnet, a Santa bandana for a dog and other sewing projects.

. Spinners of yarn may find it fun to participate in the Interweave Press Handspun Secret Pals Swap. Deadline to register is Dec. 1. Visit www.spintoknit.com for details.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net