1000 Quilt Inspirations - a book review

I recently had the opportunity to review a book being released soon, April 1st according to Amazon.

The book is 1000 Quilt Inspirations by Sandra Sider.

I didn't know what to expect when I received this book so I had no preconceived notions of what it might contain between its covers other than it would be inspiring.

This book is a compilation of pictures of a vast variety of quilters' works. For those looking for patterns/instructions for making your own version of the quilts featured, this book doesn't provide any of that.  It is simply pictures with the makers names listed.

The pictures are divided up into general sections based on overall theme.  Here are a few examples from the Traditional Designs chapter.

(All pictures are shared with the permission from the publisher, Quarry Books)

 by Mark Markworth, USA

by Robbie Payne, USA

These are a couple of examples from the Modern Designs chapter.

 by Geri deGruy, USA

by B J Adams, USA

The Pictorial Art Quilt Designs chapter has some fun quilts featured including this one.

by Tonya A Brown, USA

by Martha Ressler, USA

And lastly the final chapter is Abstract and Conceptual Art Quilt Designs.

by Marianne R Williamson, USA

by Carolyn McMillan, Canada

In conclusion, if you are looking for a lot of inspiration, both on block or overall quilt layout and creative color groupings, this book certainly has a boatload of that.  There are some color combinations I want to explore myself inspired by the quilts in this book.

This books is available for pre-order so if it is one that you just must have on your bookshelf, you can place your order and it will soon arrive in your hands.

Thank you to Quarry Books for the chance to view and review this book.  It definitely has opened my eyes to some very interesting and out-of-the-box ideas that I look forward to testing out on my own.

Daily Craft TV Review and Giveaway

Just prior to Labor Day weekend, I was contacted by the online media coordinator for Fons and Porter and asked if I'd like to review any class of my choice on Daily Craft TV.

He didn't have to ask twice. Of course, of course I'd love to take a class and write a review. Unfortunately due to our trip to visit my BFF and her family over that weekend and the start of school for the kids over the following week and a half, I didn't even get a chance then to look at the options. I finally got the time in recent days.

Let me first say that picking which class to take and review was hard. Really hard, not because I wasn't interested in the options, it was because I was interested in many of the options and actually choosing just one was difficult. I looked at the list of offerings not one, not two but four times before I finally committed to one. I chose this one.

This class is comprised of a number of topics:

• Positive—Negative Appliqué
• Machine Quilting with Variegated Threads
• A Little Hanky Panky
• Designs with Metals
• Every Quilt Has Two Sides: Choosing an Iron that Fits Your Needs
• Strippy Landscapes
• Working with Monochromatic Fabrics
• Add-Enough 

The total run time for these topics was just over 1 1/2 hours.

The 1st class, the one on Applique, was very informative and well done. Since I haven't ventured into that technique yet, I learned a great deal and now can't wait to try it myself. Quilting results was surprising based on the samples showcased in the Machine Quilting with Variegated Threads. Before taking this class, I had never heard of a Hanky Panky quilt nor would I have ever considered making a quilt from old handkerchiefs but I know how to do it now and and curious to see what types of antique hankies I can find at thrift stores and estate sales this fall. Designs with Metals was enlightening and though I'm not sure I would ever add metals to my quilts, it was cool to see the results. 

Every Quilt Has Two Sides was about the different choices two friends use in their types of irons, their methods of ironing and their use (or not) of various fusible products. Now I know how to create my own Strippy Landscape quilt thanks to the segment of the same name and I just might have to recreate my favorite beach scene one day. Working with Monochromatic Fabrics discussed exactly what the title states and the last topic, Add-Enough, is a product highlight .

All in all, I am happy with the presentation of the topics and the subject matter. Did I enjoy some of the topics more than others? Sure I did. But in choosing this class, I purposely picked one with a vast variety to get a good overall experience. I certainly learned a lot and definitely have interest to try some new things. If there is anything negative to say about my class is that with young kids, I wasn't able to watch the entire thing all in one sitting and had to come back to the class a couple of times. While each time I noted the time stamp when I logged out and attempted to scroll to that spot when I logged back in, doing so was tough. Being able to restart where I had left off in an easier manner would have been very helpful.

The Daily Craft TV classes are very reasonably priced, within everyone's budget and they don't just have classes on quilting. There are also classes on: other Sewing topics, Knitting, Crocheting, Scrapbooking and Papercraft. They have something of interest to everyone. I'm sure that you will find one and likely many more classes that you want to explore yourself.

The folks at Daily Craft TV are generously offering one of my readers the chance to take a free class of your choosing.

To be entered in the giveaway, hop over to Daily Craft TV and tell me which class you would pick if you win. You won't be held to that choice if you win. You can choose a different one if you so decide but I'm curious as to which one catches your interest.

My followers get a 2nd chance to enter, just tell me how you follow (and don't forget to also follow with Google Friend Connect if you don't already). 

That's it. 2 chances to win.

The entries will close at Midnight on Friday and the winner will be announced on Saturday.

 

McCalls E-book review-Modern Quilt Patterns

A month ago I was again contacted by Fons & Porter's Media Coordinator and asked if I'd like to review another E-Book, this time from their sister publication, McCall's Quilting. You had to know that I'd say yes immediately but I am ashamed to write that is as far as it went. Life happened and the email got buried amongst a ton of other things going on around here.

Since I did promise to review the e-book and write about it plus the fact that it is likely that some of you may not be aware of this e-book yet, I'm here now to give you my 2 cents about this publication.

This is honestly a great little e-book. There are only 3 quilts showcased but each of them interested me a great deal.

First up is Baubles and Beads. Such a simple design and because it was done in bright colors, you know that I love it. I love it in fact so much that I actually already have this pattern saved in my pattern binders from when it was first published in McCalls Quilting.

This pattern would look terrific in any variety of prints or even just solids. How about one done in Christmas fabrics? The pieces between the blocks might look like ribbons connecting the packages. If you made this quilt, what fabrics would you choose?

Next up is the Rainbow Rhythm quilt. Again this quilt caught my attention. Why? Because it is a rainbow hued project of course. I'm always attracted to those. This one is done with Half Square Triangles so the piecing is easy but it is the block/color placement that is critical for this quilt's design.  

 I can see me making one of these quilts but to be totally honest, I would likely use white instead of the black. That would be more Me.

The last quilt featured in this e-book is Lemon Squeezy, a really fun and colorful quilt. They discuss it made in two ways, the first with all the strips cut to the same width and the second, as the quilt maker did, with strips of varying widths. Though I do like both versions, I prefer the varying width one more. The unexpected look of it is more appealing to me.

This design is a terrific way to use up long strips of leftover fabric or you could make a "planned" version with specific fabrics or color way. No matter which you would choose I hope that this one is now on your "To Make" list like it is now on mine.

You can get your own free copy of this e-book here. Again I have to thank the folks at Fons & Porter for requesting that I to review this e-book. I am honored to be asked and hope that this is just a small step to bigger and better things ahead.

Book Review

Just over a week ago I was contacted by Fons & Porter and asked if I'd like to review their new ebook Build Your Best Log Cabin. It is available for free download on their website. My first thought was "I have absolutely no time for this at the moment" but after looking at my To Do list and seeing that it wasn't too bad, I emailed back that I'd love to review their book as long as I didn't have a deadline to work with. Thankfully they obliged and since I'm home again today with a feverish little girl (those nasty infection filled tonsils can't come out soon enough), I have plenty of time today to thoroughly lookd this over and get this review completed.

I truly love the Log Cabin block and was very interested to see what this ebook has to offer. Upon first glance, I saw that it details all the steps in making Log Cabin blocks but the best part is that is has a handy chart for all the lengths and quantities of strips you'll need to make a variety of different sized blocks. They have this wealth of information listed for a Traditional block, a Courthouse Steps block and a Chevron block. Love that and I'll definitely be referring to it in the future!

There are also a number of interesting projects made using these blocks. By far my favorite is the Linked Chevrons quilt. I can just imagine this quilt in a totally different colorway making itself onto my Must Make list. And since I've been hunting for just the prefect pattern for some special quilts for family members, I'm thinking that I just found one that will work very well indeed.

The ebook showcases a bunch of different layout options.

Plus there are a number of complete patterns for you.

I really like this Woven Log Cabin one and it is another that will be added to my To Make list. Can't you just imagine it done in either pastels or brights with a white background? 

All in all I think this a great little addition to every quilter's library, especially if you are a lover of the Log Cabin block. Thank you to Fons & Porter for giving me the opportunity to review this ebook. Now head right on over and download a copy of it for yourself.