Synopses & Reviews
Denyse Schmidt is one of the leading quilters of the 21st century. Known as a andldquo;modernandrdquo; quilter, she actually draws much of her creative vision from quilts of the past. In
Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration, Schmidt pays homage to the quilters and quilts that came before her. Each of the 20 traditional quilt designs she has reinterpreted here (among them are Irish Chain, Marinerandrsquo;s Compass, and Orange Peel, to name a few) is introduced with a lively overview of the patternandrsquo;s history. Instructions are illustrated, templates are provided at full size on a pullout pattern sheet, and a complete techniques section is included at the back of the book.
Praise for Denyse Schmidt: Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration:
andquot;Denyse Schmidt's contemporary art quilts are things of enduring style and beauty, but few fans realize her 16-year career as a textile artist began when Schmidt fell in love with tried-and-true, centuries-old traditional quilt patterns . . . Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration is the artistandrsquo;s return to this fertile terrain, featuring her colorful and updated take on 20 time-tested designs. Full-page photos of gorgeous quilts full of those bold geometric shapes that first inspired her provide ample motivation, while detailed instructions, a pull-out book of templates, and a section detailing tools and techniques offer plenty of how-to support, even for novice makers.andquot; andmdash;American Craft Magazine
andquot;The book contains 20 traditional quilt styles that look exceptionally modern, hip, and fresh, with limited color palettes and minimal use of prints. To me, it is the best of both worldsandmdash;tried-and-true patterns with stories to tell, interpreted by this talented woman who helped define modern quilting. The modern/traditional debate is moot here, which is refreshing and wonderful.andquot; andmdash;Sew Mama Sew!
andldquo;It's been 7 years since Denyse Schmidt's first book, and believe me, this new volume was well worth the wait...Whether you consider yourself a traditional or modern quilter, there is plenty of inspiration here, in projects that play with the tantalizing pairing of vintage patterns and contemporary colors. Although Denyse explains the origins and alternate names of many of the patterns, she rarely offers them straight: she riffs off old patterns like Mariner's Compass and Wagon Wheel and strips them down to stark basics.andquot; --Meg Cox, Journalist, Author, and President of the Alliance for American Quilts
andquot;Denyse Schmidt never ceases to inspire us . . . We are very excited to announce her latest book, the simply breathtaking Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration. Delving back to the traditional styles that first sparked her passion for quilting, Denyse gives these twenty quilt patterns a modern spin with bold, beautiful fabric choices.andquot; andmdash;The Purl Bee
andquot;In this book, [Denyse] shows off a new gamut of wonderful quilts . . . She writes in such a quiet and contemplative way, reminding me that quilting at its best isn't meant to be done in a hurry to crank something out.andquot; andmdash;Spoonflower.com
Review
andldquo;Wood offers a series of techniques, guidelines and lessons on color choice for those ready to explore improvisational quilting. Her book is loaded with full-color photos and examples to inspire.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Forget step-by-step instructions and copycat designs. In The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters, Sherri Lynn Wood presents a flexible approach to quilting that breaks free of old paradigms. Instead of traditional instructions, she presents 10 frameworks (or scores) that create a guiding, but not limiting, structure. To help quilters gain confidence, Wood also offers detailed lessons for stitching techniques key to improvisation, design and spontaneity exercises, and lessons on color. Every quilt made from one of Woodandrsquo;s scores will have common threads, but each one will look different because it reflects the makerandrsquo;s unique interpretation. Featured throughout the book are Woodandrsquo;s own quilts and a gallery of contributor works chosen from among the hundreds submitted when she invited volunteers to test her scores during the making of this groundbreaking work.
Synopsis
In
Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts, world-renowned quilter Kaffe Fassett demonstrates how basic geometric formsand#151;squares, rectangles, triangles, diamonds, circles, and quarter-circlesand#151;foundand#160;in natural and manmade environments inspireand#160;his quilt designs. Twenty-three of his magnificent, inventive quiltsand#151;ranging from the relatively simple Tilt, ideal for beginners, to the more complex Circle of Stars, for more advanced stitchersand#151;are showcased in the book, along with step-by-step instructions for making each one.
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Along the way,and#160;Fassett alsoand#160;offers over a hundred photosand#160;of geometric inspiration from around the worldand#151;everything from triangular watermelon slices, to rectangular sheets of metal on African scrap dwellings, to lollipop-shaped topiary trees in Japan. In the accompanying text,and#160;Fassett reveals how he experiences the colors and basic shapes around him, how we can train our own eyes to see this rewarding source of creativity, and how we can, just as he does, combine striking fabrics with simple shapes to create our own spectacular quilt designs.
Synopsis
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.and#160;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 craftand#151;and to express their own creative spirits while theyand#8217;re at it.
Synopsis
More than just a pair of days, a weekend is also a state of mindand#151;a feeling of relaxation and freedom to immerse ourselves fully in a favorite activity. In
Weekend Sewing, designer Heather Ross presents creative projects for clothing, accessories, and home items that can be made in a weekend or less. Some, like the Quick Garden Gloves and Rubyand#8217;s Bloomers, take a few hours; others, like the Weekend-Away Travel Bag and Trapeze Sundress, require a day or twoand#151;but all of them capture that weekend feeling.and#160;
And because weekends are often the most fun when theyand#8217;re social, Ross features ideas that encourage us to share our stitching and our time, such as a recipe for soup to simmer while sewing, then serve to guests later in the day, and tips for transporting a sewing machine to a friendand#8217;s house for an afternoon of social stitching.
The sewing instructions are beautifully illustrated, and patterns for the projects are included on pullout sheets.
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Synopsis
For Heather Jones, inspiration can be anywhere. For her debut book,
Quilt Local, she designed a collection of 20 quilts, each inspired by objects and places close to homeandmdash;country roads, cityscapes, street signsandmdash;the landscape of her existence. Then, in a fascinating exercise in color theory and design play, she reworked each one in a second palette to show what a striking difference just a few basic changes can make.
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Pattern by pattern, Jones takes readers behind the scenes of her process, sharing photographs of her sources of inspiration, sketchbook pages, and the finished quilts. In addition, she offers an accessible lesson in color theory as it applies to quiltmaking.
About the Author
Kaffe Fassett, an accomplished painter and designer of textiles, is widely acknowledged as a visionary in the use of color. In 1988 he was the first living textile designer to be given a one-person show at the VandA in London, where he lives. He is a fabric designer for Rowan Patchwork and Quilting and the primary knitwear designer for Rowan Yarns. Thisand#160;is his fourteenth book. Liza Prior Lucy is an expert quiltmaker and the owner of Glorious Color, a source for fabrics designed by Kaffe Fassett and friends.