Passionate Patchwork: Over 20 Original Quilt Designs [Hardcover] Review

If you're a color junkie, if the sight of a newly-opened six-row box of Crayolas leaves you breathless, and if you walk through fabric stores just for the color hit, then "Passionate Patchwork" is a book for you. Without a doubt, the projects in this book are made up in the most sophisticated and exciting palettes ever seen in a quilt book. And the quilts--all of which look eminently doable, even by a rank beginner--are photographed in such lush, visually sumptuous settings that you can happily spend hours simply "reading" the photos. The other thing I like about this book is that these quilts are quite possible. We are not talking about quilts with 75 differently shaped chunks of fabric that must be pieced into each block. These quilts are not exercises in perfectionistic anality, but are made of simple geometric shapes that let the fabric do the talking, and leave the quiltmaker with sanity intact. Admittedly, one of the authors does have a signature line of fabric, and many quilts photographed make extensive use of that line. But any quilter's fabric stash already contains many comparable textiles that could be put to more sophisticated use, in exciting new combinations shown in this book. Several of the quilts in this book make use of "orphan" blocks that are showcased by being re-set with imaginative new uses of color and fabric pattern. This seems a respectful use and transformation of handwork from earlier times: the newly-made quilts look fresh and exciting, even when they used segements of old cliche patterns such as wedding ring and grandmother's flower garden. But you don't have to be a quilter to love this book. Although it has simple, easy-to-follow diagrams and directions for each product, the book could just as well appeal to knitters, painters, weavers, decorators or anyone else with a love of and appetite for color used creatively. I have already picked out my next few quilting projects inspired by this book. (The "rice bowl" and "hatbox" quilts are particularly compelling). That I would use quilts in this book as a model is certainly something I could not say for nine out of every ten other quilting books published. But ``Passionate Patchwork" has sophistication and verve, appealing to both the traditional quilter and and the fans of the cutting-edge contemporary. Bottom line? I love this book.

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Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Sun: 20 Designs from Rowan for Patchwork and Quilting [Paperback] Review

This one is the nicest of Kaffe's quilting books yet so far.There are 20 quilt designs for all levels of technical ability and they all use Kaffe's fabrics in spectacular ways.

The photography and printing quality of the book allow this to be one of the most functionally usable quilt books I own.I am again inspired to take up my rotary cutting wheel and start piecing.

The graphics and instructions are clear and well diagrammed.I wouldn't have changed a thing.

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Product Description:
Kaffe Fassett is back. Gloriously photographed against the sun-kissed backdrop of Portugal, this sumptuous gallery boasts dazzling quilt creations from not only the world-famous Fassett himself, but also such elite designers as Liza Prior Lucy, Mary Mashuta, and Amy Butler, a contributing editor for Country Living. Crafted from both time-honored classics and exciting new fabrics from the Rowan collection, each of the 20 quilts are accompanied by a sparkling photograph of the finished piece, complete step-by-step instructions, full-color diagrams and templates, plus a flat shot of the quilt. So pack your passport, needles, and thread and join Kaffe Fassett on this first-class excursion to the pleasures of quilting.

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Kaffe Fassett's Country Garden Quilts [Paperback] Review

Although my taste can differ wildly from his, I never tire of looking at Kaffe Fassett's designs and getting a peek at how his mind works.I have all of his books, and this latest strikes me as a return to some of his strongest ideas.His multi-layered wall-of-color quilts are amazing.You think about color differently after seeing them (even if you think about color a lot).Old familiar pieced patterns have the power to surprise, when interpreted by Fassett.

As always, Brandon Mably and Liza Prior Lucy make beautiful contributions to this collection, and there is a beautiful quilt by newcomer (to KF's books) Jane Brocket.Fassett has an excellent eye for others' work, too.

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Product Description:
Kaffe Fassett presents 20 magnificent quilts bursting with floral themes and his trademark color combinations -- all luxuriously photographed against the stunning backdrop of lush English country gardens. Based on Fassett's signature line of Rowan fabrics, the pieces have been designed by some of the world's finest quilters, including Liza Prior-Lucy, Pauline Smith, and Robert Horton. And the gorgeous photography is just the start: Complete instructions for creating each museum-quality quilt are also included. Plus, Fassett draws from his 30 years of experience to offer tips and techniques that every quilter will treasure. This new collection from a master will be eagerly embraced by his fans worldwide.

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Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance: 20 Designs from Rowan for Patchwork and Quilting (Patchwork and Quilting) [Paperback] Review

I have a least 6 or 7 of the books in the Kaffe Fassett series, but this one is a notch off the better ones. The quilts are easy, and the fabrics, as always, are stunning. However, the quilt patterns are beginning to look a bit like ones in previous books. They show off the big patterns in the fabric, but they don't seem unique. If you are only going to get one or two books from this series - check out Quilt Road (my favorite) or Quilts in the Sun. You can use the patterns in those with the newer fabrics he has out now. Even if the quilt patterns are getting stale - the fabrics are as gorgeous as ever!

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Product Description:
Taking a journey back in time, Kaffe Fassett presents 20 glorious new quilts that feature all the romance of a time gone by. The eleventh in the series of bestselling quilt-pattern collections, Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Romance is a study in pastels and tradition set against the dramatic Italianate architecture of a tiny Welsh village. Based on Fassett's signature line of Rowan fabrics, the pieces have been designed by some of the world's finest quilters, including Liza Prior-Lucy, Pauline Smith, Robert Horton, and introducing Kim McClean, an Australian quilt designer and teacher. The stunning photos by Debbie Patterson are just the start: complete instructions for creating each museum-quality quilt are included along with tips and techniques that Fassett has gathered in his more than 30 years of experience. Every quilter will treasure this next book in the series from an international favorite.

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