On My Bookshelf

On My Bookshelf I have been collecting more 'modern' quilt books. quilting modern by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen showcases contemporary  graphic quilts but is more 'improvisational'. Yes there are patterns to follow but the authors encourage you to 'release your inner artist' as you make the projects your own.  They encourage you to 'embrace serendipity' - to me that means there are no mistakes!  I love that idea. The book includes excellent information about tools and basic quilting and finishing techniques, something that I have found lacking in recent books. I was drawn to the 'curves' techniques and their 'sardines' blocks.  Here is my test block.  Think this has possibilities to showcase some fun prints in the centers. The book is published by Interweave.

On My Bookshelf

Have you heard about the Modern Quilt movement? A new generation is discovering the joys of quilting and making it their own!  Characteristics of these quilts often include bold graphic design and use solid fabrics. I have been curious about the 'movement' and when one of my students shared her excitement about a book she recently bought I decided I needed my own copy to review it in more detail.

Modern Minimal, 20 Bold & Graphic Quilts is written by Alissa Haight Carlton, one of the founders of the ModernQuilt Guild. Publisher is StashBooks.

A variety of project sizes are patterned, from Baby Quilts to full size bed quilts. A wide range of colours are used in the projects, many using monochromatic colour schemes. It would be easy to choose your favourite colours for these designs.

Each project is beautifully photographed in a room or environment setting and a full page flat photograph of each quilt is included too.

The first thing I noticed is nearly all the quilts are made with solid fabrics; only 5 designs use print fabrics - and then only 1 square or rectangle in the design or the binding for the project. This certainly makes fabric selection easier; no need to audition a variety of prints to see if they 'play well together'.

I particularly liked the section on Improvisational Piecing, including the Cobblestones pattern. The contrast between the vertical strips and randomly arranged squares is appealing to me.

  

The author also presents two quilting options for each design. I'm glad the statement 'quilt as desired' is NOT in this book!

  

Although the book appears to be written for beginners I feel some of the general How to Make a Quilt instructions are lacking. The steps for cutting large pieces of fabric to make these projects are not described in detail. Attending a class to learn rotary cutting techniques will help beginners with these projects.

The rest of the steps are covered fairly thoroughly with excellent graphics or photographs. The binding steps are particularly well-described with easy-to-follow diagrams.

All in all, if you have basic quilting skills, this book is an excellent addition to your library.

Printing on Fabric - Recommended Reading

When I first started printing on fabric there were very few references available. Now there are many books and online sources for information. 

A few books on my bookshelf that I use as references:

Blending Photos with Fabric 2 by Mary Ellen Kranz, The Electric Quilt Company.

Artisitic Photo Quilts by Charlott Ziebarth, C&T Publishing.

Secrets of Digital quilting - From Camera to Quilt by Lura Schwarz Smith and Kerby C. Smith, C&T Publishing

Quilted Memories by Lesley Riley, Stirling Publishing.

Fabric Memory Books by Lesley Riley, Lark Books.

Gloria Hansen has been using digital images in her quilts for a long time and in 2008 she published Digital Essentials - the quilt maker's must-have guide to images, files and more!

Gloria includes information about printing and scanning, about photography and how to edit your digital photographs, how to include your photos on your website and in presentations. It is an excellent sourcebook with real examples and step-by-step instructions for working with your photographs.

I have 2 copies of her book left in my Patchworks Studio store. I am offering you the opportunity to have this excellent reference in YOUR library for $25.00. Remember I only have 2 copies left so don't wait too long or you'll miss your chance to have one of the best books to help you print on fabric!

On my Bookshelf

On my bookshelf, or rather close to my sewing machine, is my sewing machine manual.

Do you know where yours is?  Did you refer to it when you first bought your machine? Perhaps it is time to have a look through it again, particularly the sections  about your built-in decorative stitches. If there are step-by-step instructions, make a sample and see what you can learn about using these stitches in your work.

Let me know what you discover. I'd love to hear from you!

On My Bookshelf

Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth by Rayna Gillman

My review this time is about the book I bought in Portland last month. I have done many of the techniques in the book but it is an excellent reference text with instructions and inspiration for many surface design processes all in one place. Rayna begins with detailed descriptions of the fabrics and equipment to gather. You probably have many of these items already if you have an interest in creating your own fabrics. Rayna suggests checking your junk drawer (yes, we all have them) and the hardware store for things to use in your work.

The book is 'picture rich'. Each technique is well illustrated so you can see exactly how to get started. Each chapter also has finished work for inspiration. I'm sure I'll spend some time looking at the pictures first and then it will be fun to dive in and create some new cloth.

The first chapter talks about stamping with found objects. One of my fun workshops is "Creative Stamp Making - Easy & Cheap". This is what I will be demonstrating at the Mixed Media Miscellany event at International Quilt Festival in Houston this fall. You can see a total of 19 teachers demonstrating techniques and methods in one room!  Details are on the Festival Website. Hope to see you in Houston!

On My Bookshelf

Inuitive Color & Design - Adventures in Art Quilting
by Jean Wells

I attended Jean's lecture and PowerPoint presentation at the APWQ show in Tacoma recently. I already had this book and I have been doing some more spontaneous work in the last few years. It was wonderful to hear Jean talk about the process and techniques she used to create the art quilts in her book.

One of the main suggestions she has is to use a sketchbook to record ideas. As I get older I find ideas can be 'fleeting' and it is good practice to record them or they become lost in the hubub of everyday life!

This book will take your use of color, design, and piecing in dramatic new directions. See how to use photographs to inspire your work and techniques for piecing that will have you putting away your ruler and learning soft curve piecing. Innovative finishing techniques are also included.

I like books that include exercises and Jean gives assignments to help reinforce the topics throughout the book. You can tell that Jean is an excellent teacher by the way the book is laid out.

Jean had two quilts in the APWQ show. This is After the Rain , inspired by stones in the high Cascades. Jean's 'portrait' style finish is unique way to keep the uneven edges on the main quilt.

If you want to try some spontaneous work, this is an excellent book to get you started.  The book is published by C&T Publishing and autographed copies are available directly from Jean Wells.

On My Bookshelf

Machine Quilting Made Easy 
by Maurine Noble

I have been teaching machine quilting classes for over 15 years. And this is the book that consistently tops the bibliography list for my students. No, it's not a brand new book but I think it is the best one for anyone wanting to learn about machine quilting.

This book 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 - I refer to these frequently and the charts include brand names to make it easier for decision-making. 
• Find guidelines for planning quilts and basic techniques for finishing quilts.

If this is a book you would like on YOUR bookshelf, it is now available through the Patchworks Studio website. Place your order here.  I know you will use this book often!

On my Bookshelf

The most recent addition to my book collection is Create with Transfer Artist Paper by Lesley Riley. I first met Lesley in Houston, at International Quilt Festival, when I took a 'fabric photo books' workshop with her. I loved how her images were vibrant and seemed to be integrated right into the fabrics - even unusual ones that I knew I could not put through my printer. The answer was TAP (Transfer Artist Paper). I have been using it ever since for many of my photo collage pieces.

The book describes WHAT you can transfer with TAP (photographs, your own drawings with felt pens, stamped images and more). And all the different surfaces you can transfer TO (fabric, paper, wood, glass, metal and more). I have tried fabric - all sorts, from quilting cottons to heavy upholstery to t-shirts; a variety of papers and wood. Glass and metal are next on my list of 'things to try'. If you are looking for a way to use images in your work you'll learn how to use TAP and be inspired by the 15 unique projects included in the book.

Look for it at your local quilt shop or book store. And if you want to try TAP with me, I will be teaching a workshop this fall at Calico Cupboard Quilt Shop in Victoria on Friday, October 7. Check out the full Fall Workshop schedule online.

On my Bookshelf

I went to the first shelf in my studio and pulled out one of my favorite books, Creative Quilting: The Journal Quilt Project, Karey Patterson Bresenhan, Ed.

If you are a traditional quilter you may not think this book is for you. But it IS! Let me tell you why.

Color - each small quilt is an example of a color recipe. You may not love every one but I can guarantee you will see some that will 'knock your socks off'! You can start building an idea for a new project just by going to your stash and pulling out fabrics in a color scheme you like. Perhaps these will work in a project you were thinking of making.

Technique - some of the artists use techniques that I know you already do. Things like patchwork (with squares, triangles, rectangles), appliqué  (all shapes - real and imagined), quilting stitches (both machine and hand stitching), embellishment (embroidery, thread painting, beads, buttons and on and on).  You will find many new technique combinations that will inspire you in your work. You may even want to try something 'new to you'.  

Subject - there are flowers, plants, trees, landscapes,  quilts with faces and entire people. There are abstract interpretations and realistic pictures. One or more of these subjects might be the spark for one of your new works.

One of my Journal Quilts was included in the book. I was learning about stamping in 2005 and created this small piece using a wide range of fabrics to test results. I have since done a lot more surface design with stamps.

If you want an enjoyable book to look at, with potential for lots of creative ideas, I recommend you check out this book. It is available online through the major booksellers. Or see if your guild or public library has a copy.

This article first appeared in my FREE e-zine. If you would like to receive in your inbox bi-monthly, please sign up using the box on the right.  Daphne