Legends: 9 Quilts Inspired by the Earth, Sea, and Sky

By Laurel Burch
C&T Publishing, 2007
Paperbound, 64 pages
Retail: $29.95

Laurel Burch has an unmistakable folkloric style in all of her work, whether it be jewelry, wearables, or quilt design. I must admit to being charmed by each of her new collections. But a really distinctive style is a double-edged sword. As much as I’m charmed by her work, it has begun to look all the same to me, and become a bit cloying. There is a lot of free-form (or template) cutting, appliqué, and surface embellishment in the quilts in this book, and it comes with a set of templates to help you out. If you’re primarily a traditional piecer, this book will present a challenge. On the other hand, if you’re already using fabric markers and other embellishments, there are some good new ideas and techniques here. Ever tried sponging paint on a quilt? If you’re not in the mood for the mess, Legends is great eye candy.

The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, will display an exhibit of nearly 30 improvisational quilts by Susana Allen Hunter of Wilcox County, Alabama. The exhibit, entitled "Quilting Genius 2: The Improvisational Quilts of Susana Hunter," begins on February 15 and will run through April 27, 2008.

Hunter is from the same region that created the well-known "Gee's Bend" African-American quilts, and shares a similar style. Dating from the 1930s to the 1970s, Hunter's quilts partake of the humble materials and syncopated rhythms of rural southern African-American quilts.

Susana and her husband Julius farmed most of their lives and raised their children in a 2-room house without running water or electricity. The quilts, made from leftover materials such as worn clothing and feedsacks, were made for the practical purpose of keeping the family warm. They are also extraordinarily beautiful.

One of the events associated with this 10-week exhibit will be an "Ideas and Innovations Forum" all day on March 15 at the museum. More information is available by calling (313) 982-6001 or on the web at http://www.thehenryford.org

Ricky Tims’ Rhapsody Quilts
By Ricky Tims
C&T Publishing, 2007
Paperbound, 96 pages
Retail: $27.95

If you’re going to undertake to make one of Ricky Tims’ Rhapsody Quilt designs, you’re going to need to make a real commitment. A Rhapsody Quilt, as invented by Ricky, is “a medallion-style quilt that utilizes a symmetrical design in a reversed and mirror-imaged arrangement.” Got that? Well even if the words don’t convey it, the end result is stunning, if a lot of work. These highly decorative, baroque designs use templates, appliqué, and curved piecing to dramatic elaborated effects. A blend of Hawaiian medallions, Lone Star, and reverse appliqué styles, these quilts will no doubt try your patience in the making, but will reward you handsomely with a bold, dramatic style that will be the centerpiece of whatever room it is hung in.

Paper-Pieced Mini Quilts
By Wendy Vosters
That Patchwork Place, 2007
Paperbound, 80 pages
Retail: $24.95

Mini-quilts are such a great way to get a sense of accomplishment without having to take six months out of your life to do it. They’re also a great way to experiment with new techniques, or to perfect some old ones. Wendy Vosters’ Paper-Pieced Mini Quilts use a modified form of foundation piecing that involves strips. You get the same great precise results with a good bit less tedium. This book contains instructions and illustrations for 17 charming traditional mini-quilts, including pineapple, scrappy, and crazy style designs.

Young at Heart Quilts: 15 Designs With Color and Style
By Julie Popa
That Patchwork Place, 2007
Paperbound, 96 pages
Retail: $24.95

A visit to any quilt show will probably convince you that the average age of a quilter is somewhere north of 50. It’s true that the demographics of quilters suggest an older crowd, but according to the folks at this year’s International Quilt Festival, attendance by younger people was markedly up. This book of bright, lively, and simple quilts with such names as “Flirtation” and “Electric Attitude” was designed to appeal to a younger crowd, and its author is certainly a Gen-X quilter. But you don’t have to be a teenager to appreciate the charms of these 15 colorful and easy-to-make quilts. If this sprightly and easy-to-make group of quilts doesn’t motivate a young quilter, then nothing will.

Over Easy: Creative Ideas for Pieced Quilt Backs
By Lerlene Nevaril
Martingale Publishing, 2006
Paperbound, 64 pages
Retail: $19.95

Here’s a book for that neglected side of your quilts, the back side. Most quilters, having spent their creative energies on the top, try to keep the back as simple as possible. Lerlene Nevaril makes the case for giving more attention to the backsides of quilts, and provides a plethora of ideas for doing so, including backs done with fat quarters, panels, diagonals, scraps, flags, and more. Complete with instructions and lots of color photos demonstrating how the back of your quilt can be as rewarding (for both you and others) as the top.

A New Twist on Strips ‘n Curves
By Louisa L. Smith
C&T Publishing, 2007
Paperbound, 88 pages
Retail: $26.95

Louisa Smith’s first book, Strips ‘n Curves, published in 2001, was enormously popular. The reception it got among quilters was an indication of the appeal of these unusual and marvelous designs, based on a concept she calls “strata” or large strip sets cut into Drunkard’s Path shapes. This new book will be welcome to all of Louisa’s fans, as it builds on the earlier book with new techniques, designs, and styles. Some of these quilts resemble kaleidoscopes, some look more like otherworldly landscapes, undersea vistas, or magical gardens. Beyond the quilts there are designs for wonderful reversible jackets and handbags as well.