Feathered Friends: 18 Paper-Pieced Blocks for Bird Lovers [Paperback] Review

Paper piecing is not my favorite type of quilting mostly due to my dislike of the fabric waste.However, this book has excellent patterns / projects for birds that I think those who don't like to applique or want a faster way to achieve these designs will truly enjoy.Directions are easily understood and implemented.TIPS:(1) If you are new to paper piecing, try using BATIK fabrics that have no right or wrong side.This helps you to avoid using "Mr. Ripper" when you place your fabric the wrong way against the paper piecing pattern. (2) Use a two-ply thread like Aurifil Mako 50 wt (Aurifil 50 wt Taupe is my color preference for all piecing) and a thinner needle 75/11 or 70/10 sharps.These help eliminate bulk especially with the very small pieces.

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Product Description:
18 beautiful paper-pieced blocks for bird lovers feature chickadees, wrens, woodpeckers, swallows, swans, puffins, gulls, and many others.

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Landscapes & Illusions: Creating Scenic Imagery in Fabric [Paperback] Review

Landscapes and Illusions by Joen Wolfram is an excellent reference book for art quilters.As all her books are, it is an inspiration to anyone who reads it.

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Product Description:
Have you ever stood by the edge of the ocean watching the sun go down or breathed the damp, misty air before a storm and wondered how you could capture the essence of those experiences in your quilts or artwork? There are lessons and exercises for the beginner and the advanced craftsperson. 47-color plates.

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Instant Bargello (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] Review

I have always liked the Bargello pattern when I used it in needlepoint or plastic canvas patterns.I definitely do not like it in a quilt.This book shows picture quilts changed into the Bargello pattern.It makes them hard to look at, in my opinion, and difficult to see what the picture actually is.

The book itself has six pages on basic quilting.The patterns give the finished size and a color photo of the quilt.A materials and cutting list is provided.Assembly instructions follow these lists.There are no graphics to show what the written steps are talking about.There are no quilting suggestions and the only finishing instructions are lay the quilt top on batting and backing, baste and quilt.Not much help for a beginner.

There are six projects and a two photo gallery of other quilts.There is a short bio on the author.

This is not a book I would recommend purchasing unless you are extremely excited about the Bargello look and have enough quilting experience that you don't need finishing suggestions.

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Product Description:
Inspired by the style but intimidated by the methods for making beautiful Bargello quilts? With this ingenious technique, you can transform theme fabrics from nature prints to animal motifs into beautiful instant Bargello-style designs.

*Create six fast, fun quilts to show off your favorite fabrics with minimal effort

*Just strip, cut, stagger, and sew for one-of-a-kind results every time

*Feature fabrics with beach themes (such as grass, sand, shells, and oceans), country scenes (like pumpkins, wheat, rocks, and sky), and more

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The Quilting Arts Book: Techniques and Inspiration for Creating One-of-a-Kind Quilts [Paperback] Review

I am huge fan and subscriber of Quilting Arts Magazine.I have every issue and re-read them many times which is why I pre-ordered this book when it was announced.After reviewing it last night, I have to say that I was a bit disappointed because the articles and the techniques are the same ones that can be found in the magazine.This book is actually acompilation of all of their best articles and techniques over the past years.I would highly recommend this book if you have not been a subscriber to the magazine.

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Product Description:
Beginners and seasoned crafters alike will find inspiration andinstruction in this definitive quilting resource that combinesfoundational 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 asnew and freshmethods from today's most respected contemporary quilt artists. Hands-on workshopsintroduce craftersto each facet of theart-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.

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Fabric + Paint + Thread = Fabulous (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] Review

Pat Durbin creates amazing landscape quilts.This book gives you a peek into the techniques she uses to achieve her stunning results.There are step by step directions for each project as well as how to paint your background and create thread painted pieces to add to the painted background.I played with both the fabric painting and the thread painting with what I considered successful results for a new technique.It was a lot of fun and very gratifying.To see the 2 small pieces, go to:[...]

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Product Description:
Learn innovative new painting, free-motion quilting, and embellishing techniques for creating breathtaking art quilts. Are you ready to take your quilting to the next level? Then this is the book for you! Discover how to expand your artistic horizons and make breathtaking art quilts with these innovative techniques for painting, free-motion quilting, and embellishing, from award-winning quilter Pat Durbin. With five original projects to get you started and a stunning full-colour photo gallery to get the creative juices flowing, you'll never be without inspiration again.

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Art Glass Quilts: New Subtractive Appliqu Technique [Paperback] Review

I love this book. The instruction is so clear and very easy to follow. I was able to finish my quilt top in 8 hours (I have neither quilt or sew before). I hope for more of this kind of book. Highly recomended.
Amy

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Product Description:
Julie Hirota is known for her colorful, contemporary art-glass-style quilts-quilts where the dark lines around the shapes in the quilt replace the leading found in real stained glass. Now she shares the secrets of her Subtractive AppliqueTM technique-with start-to-finish instructions-so that other quilters can create their own beautiful version of art glass quilts. Four art glass projects are included with detailed lessons on color, design, adding borders, and more.
How quilters can go beyond stained glass quilts, all the way to art glass Easy machine construction--no tedious handiwork involvedJulie Hirota was trained as a mechanical engineer but now devotes herself full-time to fiber art. Her work has appeared in national exhibits and publications. She lives in Roseville, California.

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Simply Amazing Quilted Photography [Paperback] Review

Simply Amazing Quilted Photography by fashion industry expert and quilting authority Tammie Bowser is a detailed and thoroughly "user friendly" instructional manual for transforming fabric into photographs, and creating wonders and satisfying projects that will bring joy and amazement. Grids, step-by-step instructions, illustrations both in black-and-white and in color, and the occasional quotable quote help make this informative "how-to" guide as easy to follow as possible and is especially recommended for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in quilting and the do-it-yourself craft of making quilted photos.

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Product Description:
In my book you will learn how to transform ordinary fabric scraps in to unbelievably beautiful photographic quilts! The quilts look intricate and difficult to make, but it's easy to do even if you are a beginning sewer. Each quilted photo takes only a few hours to make and you'll learn a simple sewing technique that will reduce your sewing time by 85%. Your friends will gasp in amazement when they realize your quilt is really a photograph! As seen on HGTV's "Simply Quilts"

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Garden-Inspired Quilts: Design Journals for 12 Quilt Projects [Paperback] Review

I anticipated receiving this book because I was drawn to the photo on the cover - a flower represented in half photo, half quilt. I expected the quilts inside to be replicas of nature.Instead there are one or two like this and the rest are not "garden-inspired" at all, as far as I can tell.The first quilt is a basic log cabin quilt.The second is a folk heart type quilt.I was really hoping for more artistic, realistic quilts.The photos are so lovely...I wish the quilts compared!

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Product Description:
Mother-and-daughter team Jean and Valori Wells share beautiful garden photography, quilt patterns, and creative inspiration with these 12 quilt projects and a pillow. Quilters' journals take you step by step through the process of turning photos, memories, and ideas into finished quilts. Readers will also see how to design their own garden-inspired quilts with Jean and Valori right by their side!

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Design Explorations for the Creative Qui: Easy-to-Follow Lessons for Dynamic Art Quilts [Paperback] Review

I take classes from Katie, buy all her books and her dvd, love her work and can tell you this book is the best yet.Chock full of detailed information on how she creates not one, but all methods of her art quilts.Katie takes you from the first step, how to find an idea, to the finished product in detailed explanations and pictures.She explains how to create different type ofart quilts from your own photos,paintings, or sketches.From start to finish she shows, in easyto follow photos, how to design and actually construct the quilt in several methods.A must have primer for the beginning quilter who is ready to branch out, as well as the experienced art quilter who wants to try different techniques.I highly recommend this book as a reference tool that will have you re-reading it over and over for techniques as well as inspiration.

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Product Description:
Bring out your inner artist-explore 10 approaches to designing art quilts. Techniques work for everyone, beginner or advanced.

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Quilting With Japanese Fabrics [Paperback] Review

Kitty is a wonderful teacher and she has compressed some of herregular quilt show classes itto this book. Although I have taken many of her classes, I return again and again this book...Needless to say, the descriptions, photos and diagrams are clear and concise and eary for anyone to follow. Her designs and suggestions are a wonderful inspiration and will either greatly enhance any experienced quilter's library or entice a new, young quilter to the art.
I just started quilting...and have found in Kitty a great teacher and inspiration, not only for the dramatic Japanese quilting, design, and fabrics which she explores, but through her, the history of quilting in America, the great melting pot of art. I highly recommend this book to any who seek a personal rejuventation for American Art.

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Product Description:
Japanese-inspired textiles and fabrics are now more popular than ever, but their large-scale motifs can be challenging to use in quilts. Award-winning quiltmaker Kitty Pippen shares her expertise and enthusiasm for Japanese textiles with eight exquisite quilt designs and 40 glorious photos of quilts that showcase the beauty of these fine fabrics.
- Contains gorgeous patterns for quilters of all skill levels, from simple linked shapes and mosaics to Japanese octagonal designs and Crazy patchwork
- Get a comprehensive introduction to Japanese textiles, such as Indigo, Kasuri, Yukata, Shibori, and Aizome
- A special section on Sashiko quilting will add incredible richness to any pieced quilt
- Includes special adaptations for common quilting techniques, such as machine piecing, paper piecing, and applique

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A Bouquet of Quilts: Garden-Inspired Projects for the Home [Paperback] Review

This is a marvellous book of -- unfortunately -- too few patterns.Japanese quiltmakers combine "new" traditional blocks such as baskets and log cabin with vintage-looking fabrics and somehow create really fresh-looking quilts.Cutting directions are a little clunky and pure applique would seem to be a lot simpler than some of the patchwork piecing that's shown.Nonetheless, some smaller versions of the quilts in the book are going to make it to my short list of projects to try.

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Product Description:
All the joys of a summer bouquet can be yours year-round with unique designs from Quilts Japan magazine. Here's a new take on traditional western quilting as Japanese quilters share their fresh, unexpected vision and fabulous finishing touches with enchanting results. Nine projects offer lovely designs for floral and garden-themed quilts, pillows, and more. Suitable for all skill levels, techniques range from traditional piecing and applique to trapunto and paper piecing.

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The Quilts of Gee's Bend: Masterpieces from a Lost Place [Hardcover] Review

Congratulations!!!! A few of these women are my aunts and they have been working so hard at this all their lives, I am so happy that they are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. They used to make so many quilts when we were younger and just give them away to family members as Xmas gifts, now they are being hung in museums around the US and I have proudly displayed my childhood quilts so everyone will know just how proud I am of them!!! Now I know the Pettway woman will always be remembered for the proud and strong women they are.

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Quilt and Embellish in One Step! [Illustrated] [Paperback] Review

If you love hand quilting and decorative embellishment, you will find this book simply amazing!The techniques are fresh and exquisitely beautiful and surprisingly easy to do!In addition to the beautiful step-by-step projects, there is a fourteen page gallery of lovely quilts that will give you all the inspiration you'll need to use these techniques on your own quilts.Linda explains the concept of choosing a quilt pattern and deciding how to embellish.Gone are my days of being stuck not knowing how to quilt a top once it is pieced or appliqued!This book is a must have for every hand quilter's library!

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Product Description:
Inspired by the Japanese art of Sashiko and the decorative embroidered embellishments of crazy quilts, long-time hand quilter Linda Potter has developed fast and easy methods to make any quilt sparkle with gorgeous hand quilting, applique, and beading. Four projects feature colorful perle cotton quilting, embroidered applique, and intricate-looking beading. Full of tips on choosing threads, batting, embellishments, and more, this guide will enable quilters to accomplish beautiful hand quilting in much less time using traditional and fun new stitches.
Linda Potter has been quilting since 1981, earning awards for her work and sharing her needle magic methods with students and guilds around the country. Her love of hand quilting inspired her to develop techniques that deliver high design impact in less time. She lives in Overland Park, KS.

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Quilt Designs from the Thirties (Dover Needlework) [Paperback] Review

Sara Nephew has focused on the craft of the American woman and explained what our grandmothers were doing.This helped me identify old quilt designs that I had inherited.She also gave great directions on saving aquilt, identifying fabrics, and basic problems with some unfinished quilts.I will keep this book handy for future reference.

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Product Description:
Combines the nostalgic fun of a family album with an exciting full-color display of dozens of beautiful quilt designs. Includes a brief history of 1930's quilting designs; reliable information on how to identify, authenticate, clean and repair them; a special section highlighting 13 quilt makers of the 1930's, with examples of their work; and patterns for thirteen quilt blocks.


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The Nursery Rhyme Quilt [Paperback] Review

I received the book very quickly and it was in wonderful condition.The pattern had been removed (which was stated up front) but was all there and in good shape.

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Product Description:
Stitch up a delightful storybook quilt with appliqued nursery-rhyme scenes to share! Choose to make a decorative wall hanging for the nursery or a cuddly blanket for a special child. Create a small one-block quilt featuring a favorite rhyme--or relive childhood memories by making a full-size quilt to keep! The book includes:
* Nine charming blocks, featuring characters such as Little Miss Muffet, Jack and Jill, and Little Bo Peep
* A center block with a merry Mother Goose presiding over her nursery-rhyme stories
* Step-by-step instructions and full-size applique templates for each block

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Portraits from Nature: 35 Studies for Dimensional Quilts [Paperback] Review

I have enjoyed most of Jean's quilting books, especially her garden inspired ones. This book is no exception. I love the idea of these little quils to make bigger wall hangings, and wall art. Her directions are wonderful as always. These little art quilts make wonderful great gifts. I am finishing one for a wedding present. Can't wait to make the tree quilt for my home. I could not put this book down from the moment it arrived!!

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Product Description:
* Thirty-five full-size patterns for home-grown garden quilts
* Combines two favorite hobbies: gardening and quilting
* Create suitable-for-framing portraits of beloved plants and flowers

Portraits from the Garden combines two of today's favorite pastimes--gardening and quilting--into one stunning, practical book. Now quilters can select a favorite blossom or plant and create a beautiful stitched "portrait," using 25 convenient full-size patterns. Complete instructions for easy fusible applique, plus decorative machine techniques, make this the easiest way to keep blossoms fresh forever.

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Diane Phalen Quilts: 10 Projects to Celebrate the Seasons [Paperback] Review

Diane Phalen Quilts offers ten fun, original, and creative needlecraft projects (including quilts and pillows) in celebration of the four seasons. Each project in this outstanding quilting compendium provides the aspiring quilter with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions and is enhanced by Phalen's superbly original art. These pieced and applique designs are eminently suitable for beginners, very well illustrated with color photography of outdoor scenes and quaint old buildings, and will hold great interest for even the more experienced quilter.

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Product Description:
A glimpse into the life of a popular watercolor artist shows crafters how her charming paintings of rural landscapes inspire quilts that will appeal to needleworkers of all skill levels.This book contains ten projects, each with step-by-step instructions for both pieced and appliqud designs. Adapted from the lovely traditional quilts seen in the author's paintings, seasonal themes offer quilts for all year round.

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Quilts from Nature [Paperback] Review

I was thrilled to find Joan Colvin's book, Quilts from Nature, through Amazon.com. It really is a one of a kind book that is no longer being published done by an amazing artist who is now deceased. Joan takes you step by step through her thought processes as well as the construction of these amazing works of art, allowing you to either follow in her footsteps or veer off on your own path.

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Dazzling Quilts: Easy Glitz And Instant Glamour (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] Review

As a lover of small projects to keep my hands busy, and a lover of fabric, beads, glitter, markers, crayons, sparkling threads, well, you get the picture, this is one of the best books I have come across, and believe me I have been looking. The author takes you from the begining of her process to the wonderfully colored projects, and along the way encourages you to use all the wonderful fabrics in your stash.The instructions and process are easy to follow, and as I always say, if you've ever sewn or beaded anything before, all you need is the inspiration and the rest is easy.

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Product Description:
Take quilts from so-so to stunning with irresistible embellishments! Pair traditional quilt blocks with colorful floral applique; then add sparkling embellishments for a spritz of glitz and glamour.
-Create eight projects that look like art quilts but are amazingly easy to piece and applique
-Choose from embellishments including metallic threads, luminous beads, iron-on crystals, and more
-Find basic techniques for free-motion machine quilting, raw-edge applique, and finishing touches

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Bold and Beautiful: Artful Quilts from Just One Fabric (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] Review

Have you ever picked up a piece of hand dyed fabric or a batik and seen shapes in the way the color flows? Well, that is the key step in creating the projects in Judi Dains new book "Bold and Beautiful Artful Quilts From Just One Fabric". Judi's quilts, and the techniques she uses to create them, will captivate your imagination. The book covers everything you need to know about what to look for when purchasing the fabric, to marking out what designs you see in the fabric. After the piece is marked, you will need to quilt it and there is a terrific chapter on choosing thread. You will need several types of thread for outlining the design elements, quilting the design elements and quilting the background. My favorite lesson on machine quilting the elements was quilting inside the flowers and leaves. The results are stunning and the quilt patterns are well worth the price of the book. After this you will color the quilt using either fabric paints or inks. Just add a little bling with embellishments like rhinestones, beads, buttons and yoyo's and your project is finished. You will soon master Judi's techniques by working your way through the five projects included in the book.
Patti Ives
editor The Applique Society Newsletter

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Product Description:
Learn how to create stunning art quilts in just 3 easy steps - quilt, paint, embellish! Anyone can create these amazing quilts - all you need is a little imagination! In "Bold and Beautiful", award-winning quilter Judi Dains reveals the secrets for creating wonderful quilts from just one piece of fabric, and in just 3 easy steps - quilt, paint, and embellish. Featuring 5 contemporary projects and a colourful gallery, this is a must-have for anyone wanting to create beautiful art quilts.

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