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 Fassetts Caravan of Quilts (Patchwork & Quilting Book 6) [Paperback] Review

In my experience in using this book, I have never been unhappy with anything that I have quilted. But the this book takes the cake in being disgraceful. I'm talking about the big bang quilt on page 49.None of the directions are checked. The list of what you have to buy to make one of these is wrong and the author has you cutting pieces that you don't need or use in the quilt. I have never been so involved in a quilt before but now that I know that one set of direction is faulty. I should have known. Buyer beware. Quilter beware. I'm usually a great fan of Fasserr's fabric and patterns but this time I'm very disappointed in him.

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Product Description:
More irresistible quilt designs from Kaffe Fassett and other respected designers-including Liza Prior Lucy, Pauline Smith, Roberta Horton, Mary Mashuta, Sandy Donabed, Brandon Mably, Betsy Mennesson, Gill Turley, and Lisa Richardson-are profiled in this book. Quilters with little or no experience will appreciate the full-color photography, as well as the color piecing diagrams found with each of the 20 quilting projects. Complete instructions are accompanied by practical how-to sections.

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Material Obsession: Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots [Paperback] Review

First of all, I just want to say that it is a wonderful book, with lots of lovely and inspiring text and pictures. But I have to say I was a bit disappointed when I realised that it was exactly the same book as 'Material Obsession - Contemporary quilt designs', which I bought a year ago. I was so excited when a saw there was a new book coming, but when I got it - it was just a new publisher and front.

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Product Description:
Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke, owners of the popular quilting shop Material Obsession in Sydney, Australia, bring an unconventional spirit to a traditional craft. They encourage quilters to use bold patterns and unusual color combinations, and to trust their instincts rather than follow rigid rules. In Material Obsession, Doughty and Fielke present 23 vibrant quilt patterns that appear fresh and modern, but are often based on traditional designs. They explain how any quilter, novice or seasoned, can create striking variations of their own by seeking inspiration from both the fabric in front of them and the world around them. Patterns are arranged in order of difficulty, from easy to advanced, and a techniques section fully describes the basics of patchwork and quilting. Material Obsession provides quilters with everything they need to put a modern twist on an age-old craft-and to express their own creative spirits while they're at it.

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Black & White and Pieced all Over: Stress-free Foundation Quilts [Paperback] Review

This book claims to offer stress-free foundation quilts, and just looking at this beautiful book takes stress away.From the whimsical lines of the patterns to the elegant photography, this book is a joy to have. I have the author's first two books as well and have enjoyed broadening my quilting experiences.

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Product Description:
A black-and-white approach to easy paper-piecing--with a splash of color.
If you love the crisp, precise results of paper-piecing but stress over all the ripping and stitching, this book's for you! Black & White and Pieced All Over shows you how to use foundation piecing to stitch perfect quilts every time. Even if you've never tried this breakthrough technique, you'll pick it up right away following full-color photos and numbered steps that detail every stitch.
Open this guide and see for yourself. It's got everything you need to create an array of gorgeous quilts, including:

16 step-by-step quilting projects ranging from "easiest" to "not hard"
Clear patterns that take the guesswork out of color combinations and matching fabrics
A full-color "Getting Started" section that covers everything from choosing materials and tracing designs to stitching and finishing blocks
A CD containing printable templates for every project

Best of all, there are NO MISTAKES! A special "Opportunities" section at the end of the book shows you how to take an "oops"--like when you might have cut a strip too narrow--and transform it into a creative success. It's really that simple!
Black & White and Pieced All Over is the fun and easy approach to quilting you've been looking for. Put foundation piecing to work for you, and see how great (and stress-free) your quilts can become.

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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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300 Paper-pieced Quilt Blocks [Paperback] Review

Carol Doak is often called the Queen of paper-piecing, and "300 Paper-Pieced Quilt Blocks" is the most recent reason why.The introductory pages contain a list of tools and supplies, suggestions for choosing fabrics and charts for calculating how much you will need.There are clear instructions - with pictures - on how to paper-piece, and tips on putting the blocks together.
The blocks are letters and numbers, houses, hearts, baskets, flowers and flower-pots, trucks and ducks, geometrics and graphics, and many more kinds of things.Besides being in the books, they are on the included CD-Rom disk, so they can be printed in any desired size.And here's a first - the disk is available for either Windows or Mac OS X.

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Product Description:
The "Queen of Paper Piecing" is back with her most block-packed book ever! Find paper-pieced blocks for almost every theme, occasion, and style imaginable. Print patterns in minutes with the included easy-to-use CD-ROM!
·These 3" and 4" block patterns-over 300 of them!-feature traditional blocks, seasonal and holiday themes, alphabets, numbers, and much more
·You can print patterns on the spot using a home computer-even resize or make multiple patterns with the click of a mouse
·Beginners can create perfect patchwork; just follow along the lines for perfect results every time

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