Quilt Channel

Goddess of the Last Minute

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Goddess of the Last Minute: Laughter and Lessons from an Uncommon Quilter
By Robbi Joy Eklow
Voyageur Press, 2009
Hardbound, 224 pages
Retail: $18.00

Reviewed by Lynn Holland

First, let me say that I have been reading things written by Robbi Joy Eklow for probably fifteen years now. She used to amuse those of us on the Quiltnet maillist back in the mid-90s, in the day when the internet was not yet in every household and iPhones were only seen in sci-fi movies. I can still recall her tales of her husband’s Toronado and her adventures with art quilting. I remember my delight seeing her name on her nametag (along with Robbi herself) one of the years we both attended Paducah. Certainly I have been a fan of hers for quite some time, and although I haven’t read any of her columns for Quilting Arts, I know she has quite a following.

However, I have to admit: I was prepared not to be thrilled with Robbi Joy’s new book “Goddess of the Last Minute.” Not for any substantive reasons, of course. My negativity was provoked more by the title, since I have instant doubts about anyone who self-proclaims as a goddess. Yes, I realize many women do this. No, I am not required to refrain from gagging when they do it.

So, with this unfortunate mindset, I began reading her latest book. I whipped through two or three essays, then tossed the book into my car when I needed to clean up the bedroom for my cleaning lady. About a week later, (since I had not yet needed to clean up the car for the car wash), I found myself getting out of the same car to go to a doctor’s appointment. In the past, I have taken knitting or handquilting with me into the waiting room, but since my physician’s office has become increasingly efficient, it has hardly been worth getting out my equipment, finding my place in the pattern, and then having to stuff it all back in my bag when my name gets called. Furthermore, more than a few stitches have been dropped when, in my hurry, point protectors did not get put on firmly enough. As a hedge against boredom if I had to wait more than two minutes, I grabbed up Robbi’s book and took it with.

Thank goodness.

That day, the doctor’s was not doing its usual clockwork routine. An hour past my appointment time, someone came “just to let you know we are running behind.” Really. Since I do not wait well, things could have been beyond tense. Thankfully, I had brought someone with me to pass the time: Robbi. Her two hundred entertaining pages were almost as good as having an old friend with me. She is a very entertaining author who is as honest about her shortcomings as she is about her talents. Her detailed though not laborious descriptions of everyday things provide visuals that are almost as good as YouTube productions. You may experience self-recognition in her essays, too. Multiple drawers of rotary cutters? Yup. Manic single color-obsessions? Uh-huh. Collections of things that don’t have major purpose? Well… Buying strange stuff on sale because it’s such a great deal? Surely I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Many of her essays are about topics other than quilting. She covers diverse issues such as working at home, the writing process, airplane etiquette, technology competencies (and lack thereof), fashion attire, waffle making and care and feeding of spouses.

Of course, this is not meant to be serious literature. It is meant to give the readers a break, maybe a sense of belonging to a group of people like you, people who have finally figured out that being perfect isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and really isn’t much fun. This book is a wonderful present for a friend, a relative or even for someone who’s hard to buy for but needs to lighten up.

And I owe Robbi some serious thanks. Normally, if I had to spend multiple hours in the doctor’s waiting room, building security would be called. However, I was able to stay controlled and keep my problematic blood pressure in check thanks to her amusing prose. Serious unbroken time gave me a chance to really spend time with her book and indirectly with Robbi herself. Next time I see her in Paducah, I will ask her to autograph my book. Although I have to admit it’s hard to think of someone who spends all day in her pajamas as a goddess, to me, Robbi Joy is the Goddess of the Long Wait.

Insider’s Guide to Quilting Careers

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Insider’s Guide to Quilting Careers
By Merry May and Linda J. Hahn
Quiltwoman.com, 2009
Paperbound, 168 pages
Retail price: $19.95

Merry May and Linda Hahn have worked in a large number of different areas of the quilting industry: together (and separately) they have been teachers, inventors, long-arm quilters, pattern designers, cruise and retreat organizers, retailers, commission quilters, consultants, and now, authors! Collaborating on their first book together, they have brought all their varied experiences to bear on the subject of making a career in quilting.

This practical and down-to-earth guide fills a serious void in the universe of quilting how-to books. Most of us have heard quilters express the fervent wish that they could “quilt for a living,” or open a quilt store and “do what I love.” Without throwing too much cold water, Merry and Linda provide a needed antidote to unrealistic expectations. Truth is, the quilting “industry” is not a place one is likely to get rich, and even if successful, those in the business put in long hours and do a great many things that they may or may not “love.”

A quick glance at the table of contents reveals a wide range of quilting activities covered in the book, including shop owner, teacher, retreat/cruise organizer, longarm quilter, author/publisher, appraiser, quilt restorer, professional exhibitor, fabric designer, quilt show judge, quilt show manager, and vendor. In fact, many serious quilting professionals do more than one of these things to, among other things, realize several different streams of income. And each of these activities comes with its own set of beginner questions that the authors set out to answer: how do I price my work? How do I become known as a teacher? How much money will I need to open a quilt store?

All of these issues are discussed plainly and in detail, with plentiful examples and concrete advice. In addition, Merry and Linda share their insights into the things that can commonly go wrong and how to prevent them, or recover from them after they have happened. They address such issues as whether a traveling teacher is obligated to stay at a guild member’s house to save the guild money, and the pros and cons of making “charitable” contributions of door prizes to guilds.

Supplementing all of their great common-sense advice are generous samples of resumes, class descriptions, order forms, program flyers, expense statements and various other useful documents. There is also a directory of supplemental resources, such as lists of insurance companies and quilting supply distributors, complete with web addresses. The book also emphasizes the importance of having a website, no matter what kind of business you are in, with instructions on setting up a simple site for yourself.

While the Insider’s Guide to Quilting Careers doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of the quilting business (and it is a business if you’re going to do it right), the overall tone and approach of this book is one of encouragement and support. It has long been a tradition among quilters to support one another in their endeavors, and that spirit also informs much of what goes on in the business of quilting. If you’re contemplating moving to the next level with your quilting by turning it or some aspect of it into a livelihood, or looking for a way to increase your success with a business you already run, reading this book can save you not only money but also a lot of potential heartache. Take the plunge, but do it with your eyes open!

November Book Briefs

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:38:00 +0000

Rectangle Pizzazz: Fast, Fun & Finished in a Day
By Judy Sisneros
C&T Publishing, 2008
Paperbound, 48 pages
Retail price: $16.95

This slim little volume is fat with good ideas. We all suspect rectangles are boring, but you'd never know it from Judy Sisneros's designs, which truly do generate pizzazz by the way she uses fabric and juxtaposes shape and color. Many of her designs use a panel or fussy cut motif as the centerpiece, bordered by an amazing variety of block arrangements made from the basic rectangle. While these medallion style designs are impressive, the most interesting ones to me are the straight rows and columns of rectangles that make dazzling patterns through the juxtaposition of colors. “Garden Party” and “More than Lavender” in the book's gallery section are examples of these. Best of all, because of their simple construction, most of these quilts can be completed quickly – in a day or less.

Quilter's Happy Hour: 11 Quilts with Cocktail Recipes
By Lori Buhler
Martingale Press, 2008
Paperbound, 80 pages
Retail Price: $24.95

I've seen quilts married with wine, ice cream, chocolate and a variety of other foodstuffs, so it's not surprising someone would eventually use colorful cocktails as inspiration. Lori Buhler does it quite cleverly, and beautifully, in this collection of 11 designs loosely based on exotic mixologies. The drinks are familiar, and mostly what some might call “lady” cocktails (except for the Stinger, which looks like it might pack a wallop), but the quilts look intimidating. They're full of applique motifs and precisely positioned points that look like they might cause a quilter to pull her hair out. Lori is ready for our objections, however, as she introduces a technique for dealing with these quilter headaches that takes all the pain out of them. She calls it simply “The Interfacing Technique,” and it involves the use of lightweight non-fusible interfacing for tracing the applique patterns. She then joins this up to paper piecing techniques to drive away the boogeymen of curved piecing. Of the drinks, I like the Tequila Sunrise; of the quilts, the Raspberry Kiss. It's not as hard as it looks . . . really!

Snuggle-and-Learn Qu ilts for Kids
By Chris Lynn Kirsch
Martingale Press, 2008
Paperbound, 80 pages
Retail price: $21.95

Those familiar with Chris Kirsch's work will remember her 2001 book from Martingale called Replique Quilts: Applique Designs from Favorite Photos. Chris reprises her method in this book and, inspired by the birth of her granddaughter Hanna, employs it in a series of colorful kids' quilts that double as learning templates. For example, a placemat pattern shows us where the basic eating utensils go at a civilized table, and a lap quilt helps associate the right word with the right color. This is a very clever idea, and the designs are big and blocky to accommodate both easier sewing and toddler perception. My favorite is one called “Touch Me, Feel Me, Read Me,” which adds a tactile dimension to the lesson with such words as “soft,” “bumpy,” and “fluffy” done in different fabric textures. Also very clever is a portable roll-up chalkboard which uses a special fabric available at quilt stores for the chalkboard portion of the design. You can actually write on it. This is a great, fun book for grandmas to create something unique for the little ones that keep appearing in their lives.

Holiday Wrappings: Quilts to Welcome the Season
By Loraine Manwaring and Susan Nelson
Martingale Press, 2008
Paperbound, 32 pages
Retail prices: $16.95

Holiday quilts are a great addition to the seasonal decorating we all do, hung on a wall or draped over the back of a chair, the center of attention or as an accent. And each year quilters come up with great new variations on the familiar themes. Loraine Manwaring and Susan Nelson give us a half dozen original designs that pick up on some of the lesser-known themes and images of the season. For example, opening the book is a delightful quilt called “Merry Mail,” which uses a Christmas card and envelope theme. Christmas candy is another theme, with quilts called “Peppermint Dish” and “Candy Sticks” to tempt our tastebuds and feast our eyes. There is also a more traditional table-topper pattern with a Christmas tree skirt variation provided as well. The most different design, complete with button embellishiments, is “Hand Warmers,” which juxtaposes snowflakes with brightly colored children's mittens. All quilts are accompanied by complete instructions and good diagrams.

Warm and Cozy/Merry and Bright: Christmas Quilts from Hopscotch
By Heather Willms and Elissa Willms
Martingale Press, 2008
Paperbound, 72 pages
Retail price: $24.95

This holiday pattern book is really two books in one. When I picked it up, I looked at the Warm and Cozy cover and prepared for the primitive country style of Christmas, with earth-tones and gingerbread men. Then I noticed instructions to flip the book over, and on the back was the cover for “Merry and Bright,” featuring bright, appealing colors. Both halves of the book are primitive country, but the difference in color schemes makes for a dramatic contrast in the overall feel of the designs. There are seven designs in each style, for a total of 14 in all, which include tree skirts, wall-hangings, advent calendars, and charming country cloth balls, among other designs. A variety of techniques are employed, including applique and paper-piecing.

Ro lling Along: Easy Q uiilts from 2 ½ – Inch Strips (Jelly Roll Friendly)
By Nancy J. Martin
Martingale Press, 2008
Paperbound, 80 pages
Retail price: $24.95

Like all producers of goods, fabric makers are driven by an eternal quest for the new. New lines of fabric are introduced twice a year, to great fanfare, and the companies compete for the shelf space of quilt stores around the world. New fabric designs are not the only way to crack the market, however. Increasingly, clever packaging and marketing have put fabric in new containers or new forms – e.g. the “jelly roll” introduced by Moda last year. These packages, which contain 40 2 ½-inch strips, are popular both because they look cool and because they give you a good variety of coordinated fabric in a convenient form. Nancy Martin, ever the one to take advantage of a quilting fad, has now come out with a baker's dozen of “jelly roll friendly” quick strip quilts that express her elegant and charming design sense. Nancy has always been the queen of the quick quilt, and the coordinated colors of the jelly rolls add another speed dimension to these quilts by eliminating the need to agonize over fabric selection. Add the speed of strip piecing, and you might just be finished before you even begin. Some of these designs add applique grace notes and other embellishments, but my favorites remain the traditional pieced designs, especially “Boxing Day” and “Strip Pinwheel.” For reproduction fabrics freaks, “Forties Four-Patch” is a stunner.

Report from Quilt Market

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:18:00 +0000

Given the economy and the recent hurricane in Houston, expectations were somewhat lowered for Quilt Market this year. We went anyway, as did thousands of others, and it looks like quilting may help us get through hard times. See our review of the quilts and new products on display at the 2008 market.

Crazy Quilts: History, Techniques, Embroidery Motifs

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:18:00 +0000

Crazy Quilts: History, Techniques, Embroidery Techniques
By Cindy Brick
Voyageur Press, 2008
Hardcover, 160 pages
MSRP: $29.95

While researching this book, Cindy Brick came across the following assertion in the catalogue for Joseph Doyle & Co., from about 1900:

It may interest many to know that the first 'crazy quilt' was made at Tewkesbury (Mass.) almshouse by a demented but gentle inmate, who delighted to sew together, in hap-hazard fashion, all the odd pieces given her. One day a lady visitor was shown the quilt as a sample of poor Martha's crazy work. The conglomeration of color, light and dark, of every conceivable shape and size, caught the visitor's fancy, and within a week she, herself, was making a crazy quilt. And thence the furor spread.

Whether this passage is a true account or simply an early example of urban folklore, it captures something of the mystique and widespread appeal of that most unique of art forms, the crazy quilt. Exuberant, seemingly random, yet highly formal and ordered, crazy quilts celebrate all needlework at once in a riot of patches and stitches. This comprehensive and loving look at the crazy quilt undertakes the difficult task of determining provenance and origins, and celebrates the persistence of the form with a high degree of historical integrity and grace.

Part one of the book is the history of the crazy, and it is fascinating. Not only does it present and analyze outstanding examples of the form, both historical and contemporary, but it has many interesting and instructive digressions on other emerging styles, such as the Grandmother's Flower Garden and the Log Cabin. Particularly noteworthy are the section on the growing influence of Asian art in American textiles and a sidebar on the commercial response of manufacturers to the craze, which resulted in a flood of tools, threads, fabrics and embellishments aimed directly at the crazy quilter market. Cigarette silks of course have a prominent presence in the embellishments category.

Crazy Quilts contains many beautiful color photos of significant examples of the style from its heyday in the 1890s, but equally significant is the coverage of the legacy of the crazy style into the present day. Stunning quilts by Judith Baker Montano and Terrie Mangat, among others, are generously represented in large photos. My favorite is the double-truck of Mangat's “Cleveland Fireworks,” a dramatic expressionist work commissioned by the Cleveland University Hospital for display in their entrance foyer. It absolutely takes your breath away.

Part 2 of the book is the inevitable and indispensable section on how to make your own crazy quilt. It addresses piecing, stitching and embellishing the quilt, including three different construction methods, traditional hand-piecing, paper foundation piecing, and a Cindy Brick technique called “shadow crazy piecing,” billed as the fastest of the methods, using either hand or machine piecing. An appendix includes a large collection of elaborate embroidery motifs with lots of birds, flowers, and an Art Deco alphabet, among other designs.

This handsome volume belongs on the shelf of any quilter touched by this rich tradition. Which in all likelihood includes all of us.

Beautiful and useful

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:33:00 +0000

Contemporary Quilt Art: An Introduction and Guide, by Kate Lenkowsky

Indiana University Press, 2008

Hardbound, 288 pages

Retail price: $34.95

Contemporary Quilt Art is a big, erudite, and beautifully produced book in the style done so well by university presses. In Part I, it provides us the 30,000-foot view of the development of the art quilt, drawing in the social milieu and economic factors, the role of quilting organizations and adventurous museums in promoting the craft, the place that textile art takes for itself in contemporary art, and the hardships the medium has had to overcome to be accepted by the larger art community. We've heard many of these before -- quilting's origins in folk and domestic arts, its long association with women artists, its populist serialization in newspapers and magazines. This recounting of the trials and tribulations of quilting to find its true place in art is no doubt accurate, but it has a curious defensive quality that underscores the inferiority complex that quilters have had for so long with regard to acceptance as a "true" art form.

If anything belies the need for another apologetic for art quilts, it is Part II of this book, "Artists." This section features, with biographies, aesthetic musings, and lush photography, the work of 19 prominent quilt artists from around the world. Well-known names such as Nancy Crow and Michael James are mixed in with lesser-known talents such as Marilyn Henrion of New York, Korean Kyoung Ae Cho, and Britain's Pauline Burbidge. You will want to linger over these brilliantly original works of art and steal ideas and styles shamelessly in the great visual art tradition. The variety of approaches, media, and style are a stunning testament to the power of the individual vision as it melds a profusion of influences into a unique expression of self and the world. It is clear that the art quilt movement has come to a rich maturity.

After this riveting survey of the current scene, Contemporary Quilt Art succumbs to what seems to be the inevitable need for quilt books to be useful as well as beautiful. In its final third section, "A Guide for Buyers and Collectors," there is much valuable information about how to evaluate quilts, insure them, hang, store and preserve them. Aimed at educating a collecting public and thus encouraging the growth of the high-end quilt art market, this excursion will no doubt assist the struggling quilt artist in getting a better price. Somehow, though, it seems once again unnecessarily to validate the second-class citizenship of quilts in the world of art. Which is too bad.

Nevertheless, this book is a must for any private or guild quilt library. The inspiration to be gained from the hundreds of quilts represented here is invaluable, and should encourage many a young would-be quilter to follow her eye and mind to creations which lead contemporary art into new territory.

A Fat, Full Thing

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:30:00 +0000

The Quilter’s Catalogue: A Comprehensive Resource Guide
By Meg Cox
Workman Publishing, 2008
Paperbound: 598 pages
Retail Price: $18.95

In her acknowledgments to this book, author Meg Cox starts by thanking her publisher, Workman Publishing of New York, for turning down her proposal for the book, twice. Their resistance, and her consequent persistence in improving the scope and quality of The Quilter's Catalogue, made it, as she says, “the fat, full thing” that it is. At nearly 600 pages, it is probably the biggest quilt book you’re ever going to find. You’re unlikely to find one more comprehensive or enthusiastic, either. There appears to be no quilt-related subject too obscure, no technique too arcane, no quilt tool too specialized for Meg’s voracious appetite.

As you have probably already gathered, this book departs significantly from the standard model quilt book. It is not primarily about technique or projects (though some are included, about which more later), and it is not a full-color book of instructions on how to make a quilt sandwich. Meg’s purpose is broader – nothing less than to create the comprehensive encyclopedia of quilting available. She wants to create a resource guide for the initiated and uninitiated alike, to the vast, complex universe that quilting has become.

Meg’s background is as a journalist (a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal), but she knows that quilters like it personal, so the book begins with what all quilters want to share, her personal quilting history. After recounting her family quilting tradition, she tells the story of finishing a complex appliqué quilt her mother left partly completed at her death. The quilt was being made for Meg’s niece, and though the technique was beyond her skill at the time, Meg promised to complete it (it took five years). After this personal introduction, which establishes her credentials as a quilter, Meg then takes us all for a roller-coaster ride. She debunks six quilt myths (beginning with “Like jazz, quilting is an American invention”) and gives us a fascinating survey of “Who Quilts Today and Why.” Along the way we get to meet a varied cast that includes the Gees Bend quilters, Calvin Cooledge, and Celia Eddy, among a gazillion others.

So what aspect of the craft are you interested in? Quilting and computers? Internet resources for quilters? Building a fabric stash? Using photos in your quilts? Fabric dying? No matter what your interest, Meg not only has it covered, but provides a wealth of further resources. One might think, with all the information now available on the internet, that a book of this type would be hard-pressed to add anything to the conversation. But what this book provides is an organizing intelligence, a sorting service, and a tour guide of the quilting galaxy.

I said at the beginning that The Quilter’s Catalogue departs from the standard model of quilting books, which are mostly about projects and techniques. But despite being crowded with factoids, tips, and encouraging words, the book makes room for twelve charming projects. My favorite is the Fruit Tart Pincushion, based on a design by Ami Simms, and which looks for all the world like a piece of finely shaped pastry. The instructions for this and the other projects are very detailed, and accompanied by great diagrams, templates, and technical tips. Although most of the book is printed in two colors to keep the cost reasonable, there is a full-color section covering the twelve projects.

On the back cover of The Quilter's Catalogue is a banner that says "The Bee-All and End-All." That's an excellent description of the most comprehensive quilting resource you're likely to find. And which can all be yours for less than twenty bucks.

Book Review: Blendable Curves

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Blendable Curves: Stack, Slice & Sew Unique Quilts in a Weekend

By Peggy J. Barkle
C&T Publishing, 2007
Paperbound, 64 pages
Retail: $19.95

I’m always a sucker for a clever new technique, and a set of designs that plays variations on the traditional. Blendable Curves is just that, a book that tries to break away from the traditional, but not too far, and with often stunning results. Barkle takes such old favorites as log cabins, nine patches, and stars, and by introducing curved piecing techniques brings them back to life as new quilts. The key to all of this is the “blendable curve” of the title. Most curved blocks contain a convex curve and a concave one, which fit into one another. This type of sewing is exacting, requiring careful pinning and precise sewing. The blendable curve contains both convex and concave elements in both pieces, which sounds more difficult, but according to the author is quite easy to deal with. I won’t give away the technique, but through a stacking, shuffling, and sewing process, you get quite unique results.

Book Review: Legends, by Laurel Burch

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:25:00 +0000

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.

Henry Ford Museum Features Improvisational Quilts

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:04:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:06:00 +0000

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.

Book Review: Paper-Pieced Mini Quilts

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:41:00 +0000

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.

Book Review: Young at Heart Quilts

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:10:00 +0000

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.

Book Review: Easy, Creative Quilt Backs

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:27:00 +0000

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.

Book Review: A New Twist on Strips and Curves

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:55:00 +0000

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.

Book Review: Sweet Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:54:00 +0000

Sweet Treats: 12 Delectable Quilts from 2 Easy Blocks
By Sandy Bonsib
C&T Publishing, 2007
Paperbound, 88 pages
Retail: $27.95

We all know quilters love food, though they may not always like to cook. It takes too much time away from the sewing machine! Sandy Bonsib’s newest book is a clever combination of sweet treats – 10 delicious dessert recipes and 12 quilts with scrumptious names and designs, such as Mud Pie, Apple Crisp, Blueberry Cobbler, and Caramel Sundae. The designs are elaborate repeats of mostly squares and triangles, strip-pieced and stunning when they all come together. Color selection is particularly good in this collection, with everything from light lemon chiffons to deep browns and oranges. The dessert recipes are great, too. This is indeed a double treat!

Innovative Fabric Imagery for Quilts

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:26:00 +0000

Book Review: Innovative Fabric Imagery for Quilts
By Cyndy Lyle Rymer with Lynn Koolish
C&T Publishing, 2007
Paperbound, 96 pages
Retail: $27.95

Technology has radically changed quilting, and no technology more than digital photography has the potential for revolutionizing both technique and content in the textile arts. Quilters started out modestly, printing family snaps on fabric and incorporating them into their work, but Cyndy Rymer in this book shows the way to far more ambitious undertakings.

Although photo editing software is always listed as an "optional" tool in the quilter's tote in this book, learning how to manipulate, combine, overlay, and distort digital images greatly widens her artistic options. Free copies of such simple programs as Photoshop Elements or Picasa (free from Google) are readily available and easy to learn. To get the full value out of this book, you need to venture into photo editing.

With or without the software, this book has plenty of ideas and techniques to try. It discusses the ins and outs of inkjet printers, printable fabrics, scanning, and putting together final designs made from many elements. Thirteen projects are included, with color photos and complete instructions, as well as an inspirational gallery of designs that will feed your imagination for original work. Time to go up to the next level with photo quilts.

Two Books by Kumiko Sudo

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:28:00 +0000

Book Review: Kake-Jiku: Images of Japan in Applique, Fabric Origami and Sashiko and

Wagashi: Handcrafted Fashion Art from Japan

By Kumiko Sudo
Breckling Press: 2006-2007
Paperbound: 140-150 pages
Retail $27.95 – 29.95

Kumiko Sudo has been one of the most prolific quilt artists and authors of recent years, producing book after book of exquisite Japanese designs and patterns for other quilters to savor and adapt to their own artistic purposes. Recently Sudo has been publishing with Breckling Press, which continues to publish some of the finest new quilting titles. Her latest two books, Kake-Jiku and Wagashi, translate traditional Japanese art into the realm of quilting and fabric arts. Kake-Jiku refers to traditional Japanese scroll work made of paper and silk, with calligraphy or images on it. These typically 24 X 60-inch artworks are often changed with the seasons in Japanese homes. The similarity to wall quilts springs to mind, and this is what Sudo gives us in this book – designs for 15 wall quilts based on Kake-Jiku scroll motifs. She blends in the personal through the thematic treatment of her own memories of her life in Japan (she now lives in the U.S.), including such images as spinning tops, bamboo blinds, and packets of incense. As always, she provides plenty of instruction on techniques – in this case a combination of appliqué, fabric origami, and sashiko. The designs are completely captivating and the renderings in the book are superb.

In Wagashi, Sudo turns her attention to Japanese fashion. Wagashi are highly wrought fancy candies made for Japanese tea parties and ceremonies, and represent “art in miniature” for Sudo. The twenty-two projects presented in this book are inspired by this idea, using a variety of techniques to demonstrate the making of fabric jewelry, small handbags, pin cushions, and other charming items.

These two books, in a smallish square format, are also pieces of art in themselves. They make great coffee table books for browsing by visitors (that is, if you haven’t dog-eared them too badly in doing the projects!)

The Uncommon Quilter by Jeanne Williamson

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 13:00:00 +0000

The Uncommon Quilter: Small Art Quilts Created with Paper, Plastic, Fiber, and Surface Design

By Jeanne Williamson

New York, Potter Craft, 2007

Paperbound, 160 pages

Suggested retail: $25.00

Seed pods; dryer lint; plastic net bag; colored glass; coins; corrugated cardboard; ticket stubs; bar codes; -- about the only thing that Jeanne Williamson didn’t use in making these provocative small art quilts is barbed wire, and if she had thought of it I’m sure she would have used that, too. The premise of this book is uncommon, as its title implies. It doesn’t look to teach you perfect technique or how to construct the quilt sandwich. What it really wants you to do is forget about all of that stuff and just let yourself go creatively. The intimidating thing about making a large quilt is that it is an extended project to which you will devote a great amount of time and significant money. Because of the investment, you tend to become conservative in your design and color choices. Williamson’s solution is to make small – really small – quilts, about 8” X 10” and make them quickly (and somewhat carelessly). Starting in 1999, she made a quilt a day – ambitious and requiring a good deal of letting go. Later, this idea was picked up by Karey Bresenhan of the International Quilting Association, and became the basis for the Journal Quilt Project. Karey has written the Foreword to The Uncommon Quilter.

This book is the bible of the small, intuitive, super-personal quilt, the quilt that speaks to your mood on a particular day, at a particular moment, and with the use of unusual materials. All of the quilts used as examples are whole cloth quilts, so you’ll learn a huge amount about appliqué techniques, fabric painting, drawing with thread, and specialized surface design. Try it, you just might like it.

Book Review: The 1776 Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:31:00 +0000

The 1776 Quilt, Heartache, Heritage, and Happiness
By Pam Holland
Breckling Press, 2007
Paperbound, 164 pages
Retail: $29.95

The formula for quilting books is well-established. There is discussion of the designs and the inspiration for them, there are lots of pretty photos, and there are instructions for replicating the work presented in the book. Quilting is one of the only art forms I know that insists upon this practical element – the how-to part, the templates and diagrams. Yet it is amazing how much perennial variety there is within this formula, and how much originality is inspired by what sometimes looks like slavish copying.

Australian author Pam Holland (no relation), caught in the throes of grief at the loss of a daughter, fell in love with a quilt she encountered in a book while traveling in England. It was an antique quilt made by European soldiers in 1776, the original of which was in a small museum in a small town in East Germany. Slowly, and despite the fact that she had had no previous interest in or experience with quilting, Pam became obsessed with the quilt, and eventually decided to replicate it. The rest of the book is the story of that journey – of the trials and joys of the actual work, the pain of criticism and the pleasure of acceptance as her quilt made its way into the world. It is a heartwarming story.

For the more practical-minded among us, the book is rich in how-to advice, technique, and has a whole section devoted to ideas that spun off from work on the primary quilt. It is in many ways a study of the creative process, and of how influences and sometimes even outright copying can produce great art. At the back you will also find templates for the many appliqué figures that make up this complex and beautiful quilt.

New Quilt Competition Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:27:00 +0000

Inaugural contest seeks works of rural and urban inspiration
International Quilt Festival announces new annual competition, “The Festival Gallery of Quilt Art”

HOUSTON—July 13, 2007—Quilts, Inc. announces the debut of a new annual international juried and judged contest for art quilts, “The Festival Gallery of Quilt Art.”

Each year will feature a different theme, and the first contest’s is “Town and Country.” Landscape, cityscapes, realistic or abstract views of life, and other interpretations of rural or urban life will be accepted. Also, any techniques can be used as long as they are appropriate for the quilt and theme.

First place includes a $2,500 cash prize, and round trip airfare, hotel accommodations, and other perks at the 2008 International Quilt Festival/Houston (Oct. 30-Nov. 2) at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The Runner-up will receive $1,000 and the same other arrangements. Both cash prizes are non-purchase, meaning that the quilter gets to keep their work. Quilts, Inc. produces several trade and consumer shows, including three annual editions of Festival.

All of the winners and finalists will be on display at venues including the 2008 International Quilt Festival/Houston, 2009 International Quilt Festival/Chicago, and 2009 International Quilt Festival/Long Beach.

“We have been thinking for some time about launching a major international competition that focuses on art quilts, something that will really give artists a challenge and get our attendees talking,” says Karey Bresenhan, president of Quilts, Inc. and director of Festival. “And we’ve done it! I can’t wait to see what kind of fabulous quilts that will be submitted!”

The Gallery will surely be a highlight exhibit at Festival, with finalists hung in a hard-wall, museum-like gallery setting with special lighting.

Complete rules and entry forms are available at www.quilts.com under “Contests.” Or you can request a printed copy by e-mailing shows@quilts.com, calling 713-781-6864, or writing “Festival Gallery rules, c/o Quilts, Inc., 7660 Woodway, Suite 550, Houston, TX 77063.

Gees Bend Quilter Sues Promoter

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 14:53:00 +0000

Mobile, AL, June 6, 2007 -- A Newhouse News Service story published today in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Gees Bend, Alabama, quilter Annie Mae Young is suing Atlanta-based Tinwood Ventures and its owners, William Arnett and sons, for a larger share of profits generated by commercial use of her work. The Gees Bend quilts gained national recognition partly through the promotional efforts of Tinwood, and have been displayed in major art museums across the U.S., including Houston and Atlanta.

Young, suing in federal court in Selma, Alabama, claims that despite promises of royalties, she "never received a penny" from a wide variety of enterprises which used designs from the quilts for everything from postage stamps to $5,000 rugs. An attorney for Tinwood Ventures stated that the quilters were "fairly compensated" for the rights to the work, which are retained by Tinwood and leased out in turn to a variety of manufacturers, among them Kathy Ireland Worldwide Corp.

Young claims not to have been aware the designs would be used in anything other than a book, and is suing for compensatory and punitive damages for "commercial misappropriation" of her work and likeness. Tinwood's Arnett has been a long-time promoter of outsider art, and has previously been involved in disputes with artists he has brought to public attention. He was unavailable for comment.

Book Review: Visual Coloring, by Joen Wolfrom

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:35:00 +0000

Visual Coloring: A Foolproof Approach to Color-rich Quilts
By Joen Wolfrom
C&T Publishing, 2007
Paperbound, 96 pages, $27.95 retail
Click on the title for a discounted price!

We have observed previously in our reviews that one of the most intimidating aspects of quilting for many people is the selection and coordination of colors. Many quilters have no color training, often do not trust their own eye, and have no practical rules of thumb to guide them.

Joen Wolfrom, known for her ravishing quilts and innovative techniques, is offering a solution in her new book, Visual Coloring. Her method has the great advantage of being very simple and automatically adapted to your personality and color preferences. Explore the world around you for color combinations that please you (nature is a great place to do this, as well as printed matter), put the images you collect (by your own photography, easier all the time with digital cameras, or by clipping magazines, books, calendars, greeting cards . . . the list is endless.) Save these images in folders keyed to different color combinations -- desert earthtones, for instance, or sky and water blues. The process of compiling these collections serves several purposes -- to make you more comfortable with color, to help you identify the colors you are drawn to, and to provide you a baseline from which to choose fabric colors for your quilts.

So why, to explain such a simple idea, do you need a 96-page book? Well, if you didn't have the book you wouldn't see the many colorful examples Wolfrom provides, and the technique by which you apply this color system to fabric (and quilt design) selection. You would also be missing out on the stunning quilt gallery that demonstrates how the technique works, and the detailed instructions for applying it to five included quilt projects.

Joen Wolfrom has proven her credentials as a master of color in her art and in her previous books, such as Color Play. In this book she cements that reputation, with an amazing color tour de force and an elegant, thoughtful approach that at once challenges quilters and puts them at ease with color.

Review of The Quilt Show with Ricky & Alex

noreply@blogger.com (meg cox) — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:53:00 +0000

“It’s a new day” is the slogan for “The Quilt Show,” the much-anticipated online television show co-hosted by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson that premiered on April 2.

Now that I’ve had a chance to see both the first and second episodes of The Quilt Show for myself, I think the slogan fits. For twenty-first century quilters, this show represents a whole new way of looking at the quilt world. A new day indeed.

Certainly, the new show has provoked some grumbling. People used to watching Alex Anderson free on HGTV’s long-running show Simply Quilts don’t see why they should have to pay to watch her on their computers. Quilters who don’t have the requisite software or high-speed connections are miffed they can’t watch her at all. And a certain number of those who have viewed the initial shows gripe that there isn’t nearly as much emphasis on tricks, tips and new techniques as Simply Quilts.

But I found both shows refreshing, amusing and inspiring. They made me feel good to be a quilter, and they did provide some useful tips and concrete how-tos. In the five years I’ve spent researching a new book on the quilt world (The Quilter’s Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource Guide, due out in the fall from Workman Publishing), what has amazed me most is the breadth, depth and sophistication of today’s quilt world, and that’s part of what this show captures.

I love the personalities in the quilt world, not just the quilts, and The Quilt Show gives a different kind of close-up showing not just what Ricky and Alex can do with a sewing machine, but also their senses of humor and personal passions. Alex’s natural goofiness and warmth never got fully communicated during Simply Quilts: this format unleashes her. Ricky, of course, is always effusive and informative, but this show gives him another venue for reaching thousands of quilters at once and using his multiple gifts simultaneously.

I love the diversity of guests and activities, with quilter Joe Cunningham demonstrating his basting techniques, then picking up his guitar for a duet with Ricky on piano. I like the sense of being taken behind the scenes, as when Ricky toured the offices of Quilter’s Newsletter magazine in episode 2. And I like that audience members get a chance to ask questions of the guests.

Like Mark Lipinski’s new magazine, Quilter’s Home, The Quilt Show is about quilting as a lifestyle and not just the fine points of tools and technique. For most quilters I know, it’s the allness of quilting that keeps them satisfied, not just the craft and the fabric, but also all the relationships and associations, the history of quilting and the story behind a particular quilt. I hope that quilt history will be among the future topics of this promising show.

Finally, although there are still some bugs being worked out technically, I love the technology used by The Quilt Show. It’s wonderful to be able to watch the show whenever I’ve got the time, and to pause it when the phone rings, or fast forward if I want.

I’m excited to watch Episode 3, which debuts soon (April 23).
If you go to the show’s website, www.thequiltshow.com, you can get all the specific details of how to subscribe to the show and when various episodes air.
signed, Meg Cox

In Memoriam Carol Schiaffino

noreply@blogger.com (Rob) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:54:00 +0000

We were quite dismayed over the weekend to receive an e-mail from a reader in New Orleans informing us that Carol Schiaffino, proprietor of The Quilt Cottage quilt store in New Orleans, passed away March 28. (Carol is the one on the left in this photo).

We always tried to visit Carol in her store, the last surviving quilt store in New Orleans proper (at the corner of Magazine and Nashville Streets). She was full of news about the quilting scene not just in Louisiana but along the whole Gulf Coast, and filled us in on the latest successes and calamities, including the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on the quilting community in the area. Her own business closed for a good while after the storm, and was just getting back to a semblance of regular hours when we last visited in January of this year. During that visit she was as enthusiastic as always, and her store was bursting with the distinctive fabrics and New Orleans flavor that she made sure it had. We swapped ideas about new products we liked and she steered us to some great quilt shops in Baton Rouge, where we were headed the next day for a brief tour.

Running a quilt store is often a labor of love, and it was clear that she still loved it despite the hardships of Katrina and the relentless demands of a small business. Her little store on the corner was an oasis for quilters in the area, many of whom had lost everything, including their sewing machines and fabric stashes, to the flooding and chaos that engulfed the city in August 2005. We don't know what will happen to the business. Quilt shops are fragile enterprises, and without the commitment and energy Carol brought to it, we don't know if The Quilt Cottage will survive. We hope it does, but we will have to wait and see. In the meantime we mourn the loss of one of the people in New Orleans who seemed indispensable to us, and a good friend. We wish her farewell with the traditional New Orleans blessing: Laissez les bontemps roulez.