Product Description Jelly rolls are the new fat quarter bundle! They consist of 2 ½ inch strips of color-coordinated fabric, rolled up to create a solid disk and tied with a ribbon. Jelly Roll Quilts is the first book to show quilters the best ways to use these desirable, laborsaving fabric packs. The author shows how to make 15 quilts; each perfectly suited to the color-coordinated jelly rolls and includes variations in color, style and size for each project. Jelly roll quilts are suitable for quilters of all skill levels, especially those quilters with a passion for a variety of fabrics. With names like Bars of Gold and Blue Lagoon, the quilts demonstrated in Jelly Roll Quilts are on the cutting edge of the craft.
Review by Judy Bailey:
This is one of the best quilt books I've purchased and I have about 25 of them. The book makes you want to buy a jelly roll and get started. Some quilts are more difficult than others, but for someone that's not experienced enough to take on a more complex quilt there lots of simple ones to choose from. The quilts are very attractive for how easy they are. In this book easy does not equal boring.
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A review of Wedding Ring A Novel by Emilie Richards
Reviewed by quiltersreview.com
Emilie Richards, a USA Today best-selling author, has written a novel based around quilts and quilters. As a matter of fact, Wedding Ring is the first of a series called the Shenandoah Album series.
I enjoyed reading Emilie's book so much that I had trouble putting it down. She has created wonderful characters that grow and change throughout the book. And each character is so real that it is easy for me to identify with them by putting myself or someone I know into each situation.
The story brings three generations of women together for the summer to work out problems and misunderstandings. Each woman not only improves her relationship with the others, she also learns about herself and her other relationships in the process.
Emily works information about quilting and caring for quilts into the story with more than just an occasional mention, which is about all that other novels do. She uses real quilting information that is not only encouraging, but helpful.
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Practically Painless Curves A review of Winding Ways Quilts A Practically Pinless Approach by Nancy Elliott MacDonald Reviewed by Sophie Littlefield quiltersreview.com
The quilts in Nancy MacDonald's new book, Winding Ways Quilts: A Practically Pinless Approach, will knock your socks off. This classic curved-seam block (also known as the Wheel of Mystery) creates beautiful secondary designs - circles that ebb and flow across the surface. We quilters are often intimidated by curved seams, especially when the design calls for perfectly matched points. But you'll be tempted to give Nancy's techniques a try - she has made the process truly easy and accurate! See It And Believe It I recently saw several quilts made by Nancy's students. Amazingly, nearly every intersection was perfect. This incredible success rate is explained by Nancy's well-illustrated, foolproof sewing method."I was drawn to [the Winding Ways Pattern] while still in horror of the dreaded curved seam...and the even more dreaded hand piecing concept," Nancy writes. "I soon moved to the sewing machine and gradually used fewer and fewer pins and no seam clipping until I developed the system you'll learn in this book - one pin." Ease Into It Practice following the system using the largest block variation. Soon you'll be confident enough to try the two-color "Flowers and Dots."In short order you'll be ready to create a more ambitious quilt. See the beautiful design gallery for inspiration; there is a true range of effects from muted neutrals to the stunning, bright "Fiesta!" - one of my all-time favorite quilts.I'm confident you'll enjoy this book as much as I do. Consider it for your next project - you'll create a winner.
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A review of More Reversible Quilts by Sharon Pederson
Reviewed by Sophie Littlefield quiltersreview.com
Sharon Pederson's reversible quilts are so much more than a pieced front joined to a pieced back. As she demonstrates in this follow-up to her popular book Reversible Quilts: Two at a Time, her methods make the quilting process integral to the piecing, so your quilt is perfectly quilted without ever having to wrestle a large mass of fabric into place under your sewing machine needle.
Some quilters have been known to become so addicted to Sharon's technique, they refuse to go back to conventional quilting!
REVERSIBLE BASICS
In its simplest form, reversible quilting involves stacking a square of batting on top of a square of backing, and then piecing a block on top using the stacked squares like a fabric foundation. The "back" of the quilt will be a checkerboard of sashed squares in a variety of fabrics.
As you piece, you are sewing through all the layers, quilting the project as you go. Finger-pressing each seam in place, you'll continue adding patches until the block is complete.
Joining the blocks is easy: narrow sashing strips are applied to the front and back. The final step is to stitch one edge of the sashing down by hand - a perfect project to complete while watching Desperate Housewives!
FUN VARIATIONS
You can modify the basic methods for a variety of effects. The "backing" squares can be pieced for more variety. Try special novelty fabrics, machine embroidery, even photo transfer to make plain blocks sparkle.
Another possibility is to modify the block shape, using rectangles, triangles, or hexagons.
This book is a must if you are looking for alternatives to whole-quilt machine quilting. Sharon's intriguing methods will inspire you to create your own two-in-one quilt!
A review of Stars By Magic by Nancy Johnson-Srebro
Reviewed by Sophie Littlefield quiltersreview.com
Anyone out there interested in learning innovative, easy, and time-saving methods to create favorite blocks? I thought so - and that's why I'm excited to share a very special discovery: Nancy Johnson-Srebro's new book, Stars by Magic.
With Nancy's help, you'll learn to make complex-looking eight-pointed star blocks so easily you'll swear there's alchemy involved. And her flexible quilt patterns will show your blocks to their best advantage.
Revolutionary Technique
In the bad old days, creating eight-pointed stars involved tricky Y-seams, holding your breath to see if your block would lie flat once all the diamonds were joined - and ample cursing if it didn't.
Nancy's method is amazingly simple to do. Each of eight block segments is creating by joining squares and rectangles, sewing some at 45-degree angles to create diamond, triangle, and parallelogram shapes. Trimming and joining the segments results in a perfect star every time.
Blocks A'Plenty - Patterns Too!
I would not have guessed there were thirty interesting variations on the eight-pointed star, but Nancy provides complete cutting and piecing directions for each and photographed examples that illustrate the different effects that can be achieved through fabric selection.
Readers familiar with Nancy's Quilt Maps - layouts you can use with your choice of any of the blocks in the book - will be glad to see that she hasn't skimped in Stars by Magic. The ten Quilt Maps comprise a gallery of projects ranging in style from whimsical to sophisticated.
I couldn't wait to try Nancy's tricks, and I've had a blast turning my star samples into pillows and using them to decorate labels. Making Nancy's stars, it seems, is addictive. I highly recommend this book - you won't be disappointed.
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Points of View: Landscape Quilts to Stitch and Embellish by Valerie Hearder
Product Description Step into your own gorgeous landscape scenes by using the incredible texture, color, and pattern that fabric provides. No tricky technical techniques here--simplicity is the goal in these artful, small-scale representations of nature's scenery.
* Nine step-by-step projects feature easy elements that focus on fabric--the "paint" for your textile landscapes
* Embellish scenes with beads, embroidery, appliqué, fabric paints, watercolor pencils, and more
* Includes full-sized patterns, plus advice on mounting and framing
About the Author Home: Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
The quilts of Valerie Hearder have been published in a dozen books and in over 35 magazines, including Quilter's Newsletter and American Quilter. She has served on the faculty of Houston's International Quilt Festival since 1987.
Use your own photo to make a landscape quilt, November 23, 2007
By
Barbara Rhoades "Jackie of all Trades" (O'Fallon, MO USA)
My love of fabric and landscapes can be satisfied with POINTS OF VIEW. This wonderful book walks you through the steps of how to create landscapes using fabrics in your stash.
The book begins with an explanation of how to look at fabric for things other than what is printed on it. For example, a fabric that has colorful fish on it can be cut so it looks like a wheat field on a rolling hill. You just need a viewfinder which is easy to make and the instructions for making and using it are included. A basic supply list allows you to have on hand all the things you need to make a landscape. And the first pattern starts with a basic landscape.
A materials list and instructions on how to create the landscape are well written with good graphics to show you what is explained. A template is included. Appliqué instructions --- needle turn, machine and fusible---are all covered. Technique Tips are found in colorful boxes throughout the book.
A section on how to color fabric, one on stitchery and one on mounting and framing your work are part of POINTS OF VIEW. The nine projects are all various sizes of wall hangings but you certainly could use one of them as a central panel and turn them into quilts. The book provides a great way to take one of your landscape photos and turn it into a fabric wall hanging. What a way to share your photos with family and friends.
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"Visual Coloring, a Foolproof Approach to Color-Rich Quilts" - by Joen Wolfrom
Overview of Joen Wolfrom's "Visual Coloring
By Janet Wickell, About.com
Ah, color, it's the one quilt ingredient we all seem to stress about, and no wonder, because a quilt stitched in colors that don't quite click rarely makes it to our list of favorites. Not to worry though, because Joen Wolfrom's Visual Coloring will erase any anxieties you might have about choosing colors for your quilts. There are several excellent color books out there, including other texts by this author, but none of those books approaches the subject in such an easy to understand manner. Introduction to Visual Coloring TechniquesMs. Wolfram explains how to use Visual Coloring techniques to find and explore the colors that move you. She shows you how to use photographs to translate the colors you see in nature to fabric. Numerous two-page spreads put her methods into practice by displaying a collage of illustrations: a photograph, swatches of fabric chosen from colors portrayed in the photo, and an example of a quilt made by combining the selected fabrics. Don't be fooled into thinking that the techniques are meant to help you choose colors and fabrics for landscape quilts -- they teach you how to design any quilt by encouraging you to expand your color horizons and helping you see color combinations in a different way. Quilt Patterns in "Visual Coloring"Visual Coloring includes five quilt patterns, all designed by using the colors in nature photographs. The patterns provide a wonderful exercise to help you put the book's methods into practice.Final Thoughts on "Visual Coloring"If you can only buy one book about color, put Visual Coloring at the top of the list of texts to explore. You needn't have any color experience at all to be successful, but this book isn't just for novices -- even experienced quilters will benefit from the techniques used in Visual Color. Don't limit yourself to coloring quilts, because the techniques in this book appear to be perfect for converting your entire home's decor into any type of setting you can imagine.
Empowerment is a strong strong word, but I wholeheartedly believe this book provides it. Following the author's advice will eliminate your color woes and increase your confidence by leaps and bounds.
Since Ed Ditto has written the novel, "Heart for a Hero," he has officially earned the title of author -- an author who is anxiously awaiting the release of his book on Jan. 15.
The avid adrenaline seeking sports fan said he never thought he would write a book about the craft of quilting but now that he has, he admits it has forever changed him in the most positive way. "I wrote the words but it was my cousin, Laura Patrick, who was -- what I call my spirit guide."
It was during a Christmas holiday when Patrick revealed to Ditto the adversities she had been living with. After a heart breaking miscarriage, missing her traveling husband, an infant who was suffering with medical problems and losing her mother to lung cancer, she found herself suffering with postpartum depression. Ditto was amazed his cousin was even able to come out on the other side with the hardships she was struggling with, but she did. "Today, she wants to let other postpartum depression sufferers know that they can too," said Ditto.
When Patrick told Ditto it was through a quilt she was able to live again, he had to know more. She told him she was sitting in a church pew on a Sunday morning, listening to her pastor explain to his congregation the funds were not there to repair the roof damage sustained from a tornado. Even though it had been some time since Patrick had enjoyed quilting, she had the idea to begin a quilt-based money raising project. In a unique sort of way, she found herself identifying with the damaged roof in need of repair
In a short time, she created a quilt the size of three garage doors and raised more than $30,000 for the roof reconstruction. But the most miraculous thing that occurred was the transformation which began with her. Through her helping, she began healing. "She thought she was working on the quilt, but she was also working on herself as her people skills were rechanneled and her project management too," explained Ditto. "She was able to put her creative impulses into this project and before long she regained her joy."
When the quilt was completed, Patrick came through a different person. Quilting brought out her smile again, gave her pleasure and created a feeling of excitement as she started to look forward to living.
"Even though I have never sewn a stitch, I wanted to tell her story," said Ditto. He pitched the idea to a dozen publishers and to his surprise, The American Quilter's Society, an independent and well-established publisher of quilting and craft books, liked it. He was asked him to create a fictional novel, which he did by taking his cousin's memoir and fictionalizing her experience.
According to Ditto, "Heart for a Hero" is a family-friendly book that will appeal to men and women. It is set in Chattanooga and includes a scene in Copper Hill.
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This is the book that I used when I learned how to do machine quilting, and I have recommended it over and over to people who sent in questions for my newsletter. I have seen books that were as good, but never a better one.
Product Description At last! Machine Quilting Made Easy makes learning to machine quilt easy and fun. Get familiar with the basics as you do the exercises; then use the samples you make as handy references.
• Learn to machine quilt with sixteen lessons in straight-line quilting with a walking foot, freehand quilting with a darning foot, quilting with decorative threads, and more
• Includes five comprehensive charts for selecting needles, thread, and batting
• Find guidelines for planning quilts and basic techniques for finishing quilts
About the Author Three-time That Patchwork Place author Maurine Noble teaches machine-quilting and applique classes nationwide. Machine Quilting Made Easy has sold more than 150,000 copies to date.
Do you buy a quilt calendar every year? I have, and I enjoy them very much. All of them have beautiful pictures of gorgeous quilts. Many of them have instructions on how to make the quilts. Some have daily blocks. Some have patchwork, some art quilts, some applique. How do you choose between them? Have a look at the article on Quilt Calendars to help you decide. Click here for the article on Quilt Calendars.
One of the best art quilt books I own, September 12, 2007
By
D. P. Hock (Healdsburg, CA)
There aren't many books that deliver so much information and inspiration in one book. In this book, Laura and Linda Kemshall show how to get from inspiration to original design, and how to execute it with amazing techniques. This may not be the best book for a rank beginner... but for anyone interested in trying paint and surface design techniques in innovative ways, this book will wow you.
What a Great Book !, September 13, 2007
By
ZQuilts "ZQuilts" (Washington State, USA)
Over the years I have collected a lot of quilting books, and honestly I don't get terribly excited about too many of them anymore. This book, however, is truly a find. Fantastic techniques, beautiful photographs. A book I will return to time and again I am sure. I only wish I could take the Kemshall's classes too !
Linda and Laura Kemshall are two British quilt and surface designers who have a regular column in "Quilting Arts" magazine. The subtitle of this book is "Paint and Print Techniques for Color on Quilts". It includes discussions about design, inspiration, drawing, collage, printing, oil pastels (rubbings and using pastels after quilting), health and safety, handling fabrics, immersion dyeing, painting with dyes, stencilling, block printing, screen printing, monoprinting, painting after quilting, rollering with a brayer, spraying, discharging, painting fusible web, gels and fabric pens, dimensional paints, adding text, pictorial and figurative images, ink-jet printing, photocopy transfers, fabric and acrylic paints and a number of series quilts that the authors have made.
The book is replete with lavish photographs that will provide inspiration for anyone who wants to work with these media. This is not a basic handbook, however, but there are a number of those that can be used for more information on the techniques that are included in this volume. This belongs in the library of anyone interested in surface design on fabric. Advertising on this website helps keep it free for your use. Please support our sponsors.
Kaffe Fassett presents 20 magnificent quilts bursting with floral themes and his trademark color combinations -- all luxuriously photographed against the stunning backdrop of lush English country gardens. Based on Fassett's signature line of Rowan fabrics, the pieces have been designed by some of the world's finest quilters, including Liza Prior-Lucy, Pauline Smith, and Robert Horton. And the gorgeous photography is just the start: Complete instructions for creating each museum-quality quilt are also included. Plus, Fassett draws from his 30 years of experience to offer tips and techniques that every quilter will treasure. This new collection from a master will be eagerly embraced by his fans worldwide.
Kaffe Fassett is a name every quilter knows. His work has been commissioned by the British monarchy, American fashion designers, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Fassett partnered with Rowan to create the Kaffe Fassett Collection, which debuts new fabrics every fall. He has written numerous quilt best-sellers, including Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Sun, Passionate Patchwork, Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts and Kaleidoscope of Quilts (all published by The Taunton Press).
Never Enough Kaffe, October 8, 2008 Kay K. Gardine (New YorkNY)
Although my taste can differ wildly from his, I never tire of looking at Kaffe Fassett's designs and getting a peek at how his mind works. I have all of his books, and this latest strikes me as a return to some of his strongest ideas. His multi-layered wall-of-color quilts are amazing. You think about color differently after seeing them (even if you think about color a lot). Old familiar pieced patterns have the power to surprise, when interpreted by Fassett.
As always, Brandon Mably and Liza Prior Lucy make beautiful contributions to this collection, and there is a beautiful quilt by newcomer (to KF's books) Jane Brocket. Fassett has an excellent eye for others' work, too.
If you would like a copy of the book, please click on the link below. Advertising on this site helps keep it free for your use.
Quilts from the Heart: Quick Projects for Generous Giving
Great book for Beginners and Experienced Alike, January 8, 2008S. Sholar "Quilter Extraordinaire" (Rock Springs, WYUSA) I fell in love with the cover quilt, but have found so many others inside that I like as well. I have dozens of quilting books, but this is one I reach for often for inspiration. The patterns are especially well suited for scrap quilts although most of the examples in this book are made with "bright" fabrics. This is a great book for beginners / children learning to quilt. It is also good for quilters with experience to use as chairty / gift quilts. They are interesting patterns, but quick to do.Simple illustrations and instructions with easy, satisfying projects.
Love it!, July 12, 2007 Rose M. Wheatley "sews 4 fun" (Indiana) The instructions are clear and easy. The patterns are interesting and versatile. The quilts are quick to make. After I bought this book so did 2 of my friends.
Great book for quilters, January 4, 2007 S. Dameron (Martinsburg, WVUnited States) I got this book because of the quilt on the cover that I found interesting enough to want to do. After getting the book and reading through it, I find there is much more I want to try my hand at, as well as the thoughts of making quilts for charities and hospitals. It was really a gift in a book! Great book for guilds to do as well!
Awsome!! March 4, 2006 A Kid's Review A great book for an Quilter, or beginner. She explains the patterns with clear instructions and fun pictures. For some who have never Quilted before or have some experience. If you are a hard core quilter, this is not for you. It is for beginner quilters. But all around, awesome!
Absolutey Wonderful!, February 27, 2006 Danielle R. Allen "Danielle" (Tacoma, WA) I am beginner quilter. This book explains perfectly how to make each design. She took time to go into detail in explaining everything about quilting. She showed step by step diagrams in how to make the quilts. I am enjoying this quilting book!!!!
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Like scrap quilts and applique? Then this should be in your library
Esther Schindler (Scottsdale, AZ USA) Many books of quilt patterns have one particular "mood," and the suitability of the book for your needs depends less on the quality of instruction than on the need of the reader. Kim Diehl's Simple Traditions is a good example. If you like to sew quilts with a lot of applique, in traditional old-fashioned patterns, using primarily scraps -- then you're going to *love* her book. If not... well, this one isn't for you.
I'm in the latter camp, mostly, but the book earns its five stars because it fulfills its promise extremely well.
Let me describe what you get, so that you can make a decision for yourself.
Only three of the fourteen quilts in the book are bed quilts. Most are much smaller: lap quilts and wall quilts. Every one of the quilts uses scraps, often in a multitude of fabrics (which, in my opinion, makes this an unsuitable book for a rank beginner; you simply won't have enough of a stash yet). For instance, one lap quilt uses 2 yards of cranberry, 1 1/8 yards of tan print, then 56 squares, 6.5"x6.5" of assorted homespun plaids and stripes. Oh, and "assorted green plaid scraps for stem and leaf appliques." She doesn't give options for those of us who like the design but would be happy to sew the quilt in, say, cranberry, tan, and *one* homespun plaid.
The quilts are definitely pretty, though! The book cover is an accurate clue to the contents: lots of flowers and baskets in applique, and designs appropriate for small "vintage" prints. Any of them would be suitable for a home decorated in a "country" or traditional style. My home is primarily Mission Style (Arts & Crafts), which may be why few of these make me itch to pull out the rotary cutter. However, I do have my eye on a simple "harvest heart wall quilt" that appears to be a weekend project that'd work for my first stab at applique. (I hope it's the applique being stabbed and not my sewing fingers.)
Diehl's instructions are both easy to understand and encouraging They need to be, because many of these designs are very busy! Beautiful, but busy. She doesn't skimp on teaching how to do applique, either; I think I'll be able to figure it out. Plus, Diehl includes advice about how to quilt the quilt; you aren't left with that vague suggestion, "Quilt as desired."
Overall, Diehl does an excellent job at delivering on the promise of "simple traditions." If you like scrap quilts and applique, you're going to wear out this book.
Another Collection of Beautiful Quilts!,
T.K.Petersen (MInneapolis, MN USA)
This book is by far the best of its kind! With wonderful information to get anyone started in quilt making (from the tools, techniques and supplies needed to finding fabrics that best fit your taste), anyone can learn this time-honored tradition. Author Kim Diehl not only shows how to re-create her stunning quilts, but also provides informational "Pin Points", a collection of tips and hints that even the most expert of quilters can find helpful. The quilts are photographed beautifully in a country setting throughout the book. It's taken my love for quilting to new levels of creativity. If you already have Kim Diehls' first book "Simple Traditions" you will not be dissapointed!
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Colleen Wise takes 3D quilt effects beyond the Attic Windows block by explaining how to give your work a dimensional appearance. She explains shape, color, and value of shadows and how these relate to making a quilt look more realistic. I found this discussion very informative.
If you aren't really interested in theory, you will still love this book because of all the techniques Colleen introduces and explains. She tells how to interpret each shadow in your pieced and appliqué work but she does much more. She gives projects and examples of discharged shadows, painted shadows and other techniques that give the appearance of shadows like quilting, stamping, couching.
I learned a lot from this book that will help me get the look I'm trying to create in my work. I hope she writes a book about reflections next.
By
Quilty Lady (Nebraska)
Casting Shadows is a well-written, user-friendly book that I thoroughly enjoyed! Colleen has a comfortable style of writing that kept me interested in learning more about her fascinating ideas of adding dimension to quilts. The illustrations and directions are clear, and the photographs are amazing. I was fortunate enough to see many of the quilts at one of her trunk shows, and she is truly an incredible quilt artist. I am looking forward to another book from her in the future!
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Karen Combs came up with another great method of making quilts that create illusions. This one came to her as an inspiration of the Celtic designs she observed during her travels to Scotland and England. Karen took this beautiful knot designs and created something fresh.
Unlike most Celtic designs that are appliquéd, Karen decided to find a way to piece intricate patterns quickly. The best part is that she did it by using just three simple blocks that look like the cords and knots are connected when sewn together.
I like Karen's method because I don't have to worry about creating lots of different types of blocks but I get to use my creativity to choose the colors and fabrics. Since the colors can vary so much from one quilt to another, it seams like I am making a different quilt every time. Because I make only three types of blocks, I get real good at piecing and make fewer mistakes.
If you are looking for a fun way to experiment with colors in a quilt, make Celtic Pieced Illusions your next quilt.
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By TOM MCCOAG Amherst Bureau Sun. Nov 16 - 4:46 AM thechronicleherald.ca
AMHERST — How does a quilt with links to Amherst, Houston and Montreal provide the creative spark for two women to write a book?
In 2001, Karen Neary, an avid quilt designer and maker in Amherst, made a quilt that she sent to a major show in Houston, Tex. There, it was seen by Diane Shink, a Montreal resident who is one of only five certified appraisers in Canada for the American Quilter’s Society.
"I was impressed," Ms. Shink, a native of River John, said in a telephone interview from her Montreal home.
"When I found out it was made by someone from Amherst, I figured I had to meet this person."
She contacted Ms. Neary and made arrangements to visit her the next time she was in Nova Scotia.
During that visit, the two women discovered they have a similar background in quilting. Both learned the art form from relatives as young children, and making quilts grew into a passion as they became adults. Ms. Shink became a quilt appraiser. Ms. Neary created Sew Karen-ly Created, a company that designs and sells quilt patterns.
Both published articles in various quilting magazines and each expressed a desire to write a book about their passion.
Shortly after meeting, they discussed the idea of co-authoring a book.
Those discussions blossomed into Canadian Heritage Quilting — Quick Creative Designs, a 128-page book that delves into 16 vintage Canadian quilts, many with a strong Maritime connection.
"We discuss things like when the pattern was popular, what materials were used, and how they were originally created," Ms. Neary said.
"We also provide the techniques that would allow the reader to reproduce those quilts today using modern techniques and equipment like sewing machines."
Ms. Shink researched and wrote the historical details for each quilt featured in the book. Ms. Neary created the modern patterns.
As an example, they pointed to the Log Cabin Quilt, a popular pattern in this region for over a century.
In the book, Ms. Shink explains how "quilters on England’s Isle of Man take credit for the design." She also details the materials — cotton, silk and wool — originally used to make it. Ms. Neary provides a step-by-step process, complete with diagrams, that would enable a reader to make the quilt.
Besides the history and patterns, the book features many colourful photographs.
"To me, the book has a real cosy feel to it," Ms. Neary said. "I think you will like this book whether you are an avid quilter or just a person interested in quilts."
"It appeals to anyone," Ms. Shink said.
The book, published by Formac Publishing of Halifax, sells for $22.95 at Chapters and Coles outlets and at several independent bookstores.
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The Waverly Friendship Quilters Guild will meet Thursday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church, located at 1400 W. Bremer Ave., Waverly. This meeting is open to the public.
Marybeth Stalp will speak on her recently published book, Quilting: The Fabric of Everyday Life.
Marybeth is a Friendship Quilters Guild member and also associate professor of sociology at the University of Northern Iowa.
Quilting, once regarded as a traditional craft, has broken through the barriers of history, art and commerce to become a global phenomenon, international multi-billion dollar industry and means of gendered cultural production. In Quilting, Stalp explores how and why women quilt.
This close ethnographic study illustrates that women's lives can be transformed in often surprising ways by the activity and art of quilting.
Some women who quilt as a leisure pastime are too afraid to admit to being a quilter for fear of ridicule, Stalp says. Others boldly identify themselves as quilters and regard it as part of their everyday lives.
The place of quilting in women's lives affects core family and personal identity issues such as marriage, childcare, friendship and aging.
The book's accessible and intimate portrayal of real quilters' lives provides a fabric for the sociology, anthropology and textile student to understand more about wider issues of cultural production and identity that stem from this very personal pastime.
This presentation will be of interest to anyone who enjoys quilting or is fascinated by quilting. All are welcome. To buy this book click on the link below. Advertisements help keep this website free for your use.
Open Your Heart with Quilting: Mastering Life through Love of the Patches
November 13, 7:25 AM
by Kelly Smith, Quilting Examiner www,examiner.com
I don't know about where you live, but here in Michigan, it's getting cold and we've already had a bit of snow. (It's melted again, thankfully, but still!) The cold weather and all the holiday festivals, craft shows, and the fact that I've already started wrapping gifts to mail back home for Christmas told me that it was the perfect time to let you know that you can buy a copy of my book, Open Your Heart with Quilting.
Are you looking for an inexpensive holiday gift for the quilter (or potential quilter) in your life? Get them an autographed copy of Open Your Heart with Quilting. This book is full of heart-opening, heart-warming stories from more than thirty quilters who talk about what inspires them, why they quilt, how they got started, and what keeps them in love with quilting.
The foreword was written by author and award-winning quilter Beth Ann Williams and the book features interviews with other well-known quilters including The Quilt Show's Alex Anderson, fabric designed and award-winning quilter Caryl Bryer Fallert, pattern designer M'Liss Rae Hawley, and Cathy Miller (the Singing Quilter). There is information on several quilt-related careers, a how-to chapter for new quilters and all kinds of resources and information for both novice and experienced quilters.
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Emilie Richards may just be the best author who writes books revolving around quilts and quilters. Her latest book, Touching Stars, is another shining example of her ability to craft wonderfully believable characters with real-life experiences. Once I get my nose in one of her books, nothing gets done until I’ve finished reading everything between the covers.
In Touching Stars, Emilie uses understanding and acceptance as the pathway to love. I like the way she weaves in all types of love into her novels from romantic love to mother love. In this book, she tackles difficult subjects like divorced parents wanting to care for their children and teenagers trying to find their way to adulthood. She handles the difficult relationships absent fathers have with their sons and shows a way that can be used to make it through this tough time for everyone concerned.
The quilt frame with the Touching Stars quilt figures into this novel as a special place where learning and understanding take place, both personally and of others. Even the quilters who are minor characters seem real and help to move the plot along.
Emilie sprinkles in romantic love and a struggle for Gayle Fortman, the protagonist. She keeps you guessing until the end of the book which choice of the two men will win Gayle’s heart. It’s no wonder Emilie Richards is a USA Today bestselling author.
This book is fantastic! Just what you expect from Joelle Hoverson and Stewart, Taboori, and Chang. The pictures are beautiful and the projects are varied and interesting. Like her Last Minute Knitted Gifts, this book is broken down by estimated time to make the project. The first projects are simple and take only and hour or two. The projects are all very original, and go from the simplicity of little quilted coasters to an heirloom-worthy log cabin quilt. There are gifts you could make for many different people, from babies to your grandma! The instructions are very clear, and even if you have been sewing for years you will learn new techniques. I cannot wait to try out the technique for applique- much easier than the needles turned and stitched method! I cannot wait to make the wonderful quilt with the birds in the tree. If you enjoy sewing, and making handmade gifts for people, then you will definitely get your money's worth from this book! Patti
In a word, Crazy Quiting is wonderful. But before I get into its content, let me say that I love the book's format. It has a hard cover with spiral binding, which means pages lie nice and flat no matter where you open the text, making it easy to keep instructions front and center as you work.
Crazy Quilting measures a little more than 5-1/2" x 7-1/2", so it doesn't take up a ton of work space. Not too big and not too small -- it's just right.
On to the content.
"Ten Ways to Patch a Crazy Quilt"
The author leads you through ten different methods that can be used to make a crazy quilt, and you'll find that there's something for every skill level and every purpose. Pay close attention to the introduction for each method, because she describes projects that are best suited to that particular technique, whether it's a good choice for beginners, how it relates to the other nine choices and its overall pros and cons.
Once you've chosen a technique, you'll work through it in a step-by-step manner, with lots of color photographs to help guide you.
Getting Ready to Crazy Quilt
You'll find the tools you need to choose fabrics, threads and foundations. The author discusses color and helps you gain inspiration from the things you see around you. She also helps you select tools and organize a handy workspace.
Stitches, Stitches and More Stitches
A nice chunk of the book is devoted to embroidery stitches, more than 100 of them. I like the illustrations at the beginning of the embroidery section -- they depict groups of threads, ribbons and other embellishments, making it easy to compare their scales. But it's more than photos, the author guides you through the selection and use of each material.
Stitch illustrations are much larger than I've seen in many other books, and are accompanied by descriptive text -- a helpful combination.
Other Embellishments
Appliqué, beads, buttons, tassels, cording, lace, punchneedle -- and much more. You'll find a chapter devoted to ribbonwork. The author shows you how to paint and stamp ribbons and fabrics for one-of-a-kind looks. She describes marbling, a subject dear to my heart. Couching and machine work are also covered.
Finishing Your Crazy Quilt
The author doesn't neglect finishing tasks -- you'll find a well written basics section with the information you need to add borders and complete your crazy quilt.
Final Words
Crazy Quilting is packed with all the information you need to make a quilt. You'll find helpful tips on every page of the book, load of encouragement, and a good dose of inspiration from continuous color photos.
Have I mentioned every topic covered in the book? No -- I would need way more space than is available here to do that. I'll sum it up by saying that beginners and experienced crazy patch fans won't be disappointed with J. Marsha Michler's guidance -- it's a must-have for your library.
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The Quilters Ultimate Visual Guide: From A to Z-- Hundreds of Tips and Techniques for Successful Quiltmaking (Paperback)
by Ellen Pahl (Editor)
"This comprehensive book will delight quiltmakers. Don't even file it on the bookshelf-- keep it out somewhere handy because you'll want to reach for it again and again."--Pepper Cory, author, designer, and internationally known quilting teacher"Reading this impressive encyclopedic reference for quilt lovers is like taking classes from 60 top-notch teachers, each offering different areas of expertise. The excellent illustrations make it remarkably easy to understand the many quiltmaking techniques described. The book is an invaluable resource for every quiltmaker!"--Bonnie Leman, founder of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine and Quiltmaker magazine.
Everything you ever wanted to know about quilting! You've hit the jackpot with this quilter's ultimate answer book. From A to Z you'll find combined wisdom from a star-studded cast of 60 expert quilters. Lavishly illustrated, this fun "look-and-learn" reference book covers every aspect of quiltmaking: * Basic quiltmaking techniques * Hard-to-find information on specialized techniques * Reviews of tolls and supplies * Basic quilt types explained and illustrated * Definitions of terms every quiltmaker should know * Creativity and inspiration
"This comprehensive book will delight quiltmakers. Don't even file it on the bookshelf-- keep it out somewhere handy because you'll want to reach for it again and again."--Pepper Cory, author, designer, and internationally known quilting teacher
"Reading this impressive encyclopedic reference for quilt lovers is like taking classes from 60 top-notch teachers, each offering different areas of expertise. The excellent illustrations make it remarkably easy to understand the many quiltmaking techniques described. The book is an invaluable resource for every quiltmaker!"--Bonnie Leman, founder of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine and Quiltmaker magazine.
Ellen Pahl has had a lifelong interest in quilting and sewing. She has been a quilt books editor at Rodale Press for the past six years and lives in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. Contributors includeDebbie Mumm, Lynette Jensen, Marsha McCloskey, Roberta Horton, Jean Wells, Debra Wagner, and Carol Doak.
This book has been one of my references for years, and I use it over and over. To buy your copy, click the link below. Advertising helps to keep this website free for your use.
The Quilting Arts Book: Techniques and Inspiration for Creating One-of-a-Kind Quilts by Patricia Bolton
Beginners and seasoned crafters alike will find inspiration and instruction in this definitive quilting resource that combines foundational techniques for quilting and fiber art with tips and tricks for creating one-of-a-kind works of art. Showcased here are some of the most popular topics, articles, and artists from past issues of Quilting Arts magazine, as well as new and fresh methods from today's most respected contemporary quilt artists. Hands-on workshops introduce crafters to each facet of the art-quilt trade—from creating abstract, pictorial, and landscape quilts to in-depth techniques on surface design and stitching applications. Each chapter showcases various art-quilting concepts and ends with quick creative exercises and tips guaranteed to get both quilters and mixed-media artists creating with cloth right away.
This book is on my wish list. You can buy it by clicking on the link below. Advertising on this site helps keep it free for your use.
review by By Sandy Amazeen Oct 10, 2008, 1:28 GMT www,monstersandcritics.com
In the tradition of Jennifer Chiaverini and Emilie Richards, a debut quilting mystery Nell Fitzgerald is thrilled when she receives a gorgeous handmade quilt in a lover's knot pattern from her grandmother Eleanor as an engagement gift. Her joy is short-lived, however, when her fiancé announces he's calling off the wedding. Heartbroken, 25-year-old Nell flees New York City for her grandmother's home in quaint Archers Rest. In this small town Eleanor's life revolves around her quilt shop, Someday Quilts, and the members of the shop's quilting circle.
When the body of a local handyman known for his flirting is found in the quilt shop, murdered with a pair of quilting scissors, Nell finds herself drawn into the case— and drawn to the handsome police chief. As a pattern of clues begins to emerge, one of the prime suspects is Nell's ex-fiancé, whose arrival in Archers Rest seems suspicious. The ladies of the quilting circle continue to piece together their quilts as Nell unravels the mystery. For quilters and mystery lovers alike, The Lover's Knot is a delightful and promising debut.
Nell Fitzgerald was delighted with the lovingly stitched wedding quilt she received from her grandmother, Eleanor Cassidy. Nell’s joy evaporated when Ryan, her fiancé dropped the bombshell that he wasn’t ready to get married yet. Broken hearted, Nell decided to leave New York City for a week at her grandmother’s house in the quiet town of Archers Rest.
Eleanor owned a successful quilt shop that hosted weekly meetings of the Friday Night Quilt Club, a group of close friends united by their love of quilts and quilting. The closure of the local diner offers Eleanor the opportunity to expand her shop with the aid of handyman Marc Reed. Marc has a checkered reputation around Archers Rest but nothing bad enough to warrant being murdered with a pair of scissors. Suspicion quickly falls on Ryan who admitted to beating Marc after witnessing him sharing a quiet moment with Nell. With Eleanor’s pragmatic advice in the background, Nell begins helping the local hunky police chief track down the killer which could prove an easier task then straightening out her relationship problems.
The first of O’Donohue’s Someday Quilts series starts slow as the storyline, setting and characters are established. Little exciting happens during the first third of the book although the detailed character development is engaging enough and certainly, quilts play a big part in the story. For a small town, Eleanor’s quilt shop does an amazing amount of business, certainly more then any quilt shop this reviewer has visited. The murderer won’t be much of a surprise to perceptive mystery readers but is still an enjoyable, folksy read.
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Quilter "The fabric can speak to you" By Heather J. Carlson
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
www.post bulletin.com
For Susan Kisro, it all begins with fabric.
An image of autumn leaves and a wind-swept shore can inspire a quilt that mimics the feel of Minnesota's north shore. A fabric swatch from a quaint country town can be paired with pictures of vegetables to create a fall harvest scene. For this Rochester quilter, it is all about mixing these images to tell a story.
"The fabric can speak to you," she said.
Now Kisro is sharing her scenic quilts in her first book called "Instant Bargello." The book features quilts made with a technique called "bargello," which involves using a series of stacked fabric strips in a staggered formation.
"Beginners can do it, or more advanced quilters if they just want to have fun," she said.
Kisro is the first to admit she never saw herself as a quilter. But that all changed 12 years ago.
"A friend of mine asked me if I would like to take a quilting class and I said, 'I can't learn to quilt.' But she talked me into it," she said.
That one class was all it took to get the Rochester woman hooked.
"It just grabs you. You start to create something, and you want to give everything away that you make. You want to show everybody that you can actually create something with your own hands," she said.
After 31 years working for a telephone company, Kisro retired with a new plan -- to open her own quilting shop. Five years later, The Quilting Cupboard is still a haven for Rochester's local quilters. It is also a family business, with Kisro's husband, Jim, responsible for the bookkeeping and making quilt racks. Her 23-year-old daughter, Ann, serves as the shop manager and merchandise buyer. She has also become an avid quilter, writing her own quilting book at the age of 21.
"It's fun. We both have our own books," Ann said on a recent weekday while working at the store.
To get her patterns published, Susan Kisro submitted her designs two years ago to Martingale & Company, a leading publisher of quilting and craft books. The book features six patterns and eight pictures of quilts. These patterns can be used to create quilts of all sizes, ranging from cribs to king-sized beds. Throughout the book, she focuses on nature-themed quilts. Her passion for the outdoors dates back to her days growing up in the country near Lyle.
Fellow quilter Melanie Allison is among the book's fans. A seasoned quilter, she said she enjoyed trying out the bargello technique.
"It's a very fun book and easy to follow," she said. "The quilts are quite striking."
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