Quilter’s Happy Hour by Lori
Buhler and published by That Patchwork Place truly will provide
you with a “happy hour”.
As I initially looked through this book at the eleven quilts
found in it, I thought that there were many attractive quilts. As
I looked closer, I realized that there was a lot of machine appliqué going
on. In the introduction to this book, Lori states that she basically
avoided appliqué and curved pieces but the technique of using
interfacing as part of the appliqué process opened a whole
new world to her. The interfacing technique is reviewed with
illustrations that easily show you how the technique works. This
technique gives one the opportunity to do quilts that one might not
try otherwise. The added bonus is that each quilt has a recipe
for liquid refreshment to reflect the name of the quilt. The
quilts are aptly titled Pina Colada, Tequila Sunrise, Stinger,
Golden Mimosa, Raspberry Kiss, Blue Canary and Strawberry Daiquiri. The
remaining five quilts have equally interesting names and recipes. I
do like the use of fabric and color in these quilts so there
is something for everyone from a little more traditional look
to a more contemporary feel. Stinger, Raspberry Kiss and Blue Canary are my
favorites.
Skinny Quilts and Table Runners is
edited by Eleanor Levie with the designs created “from today’s
top designers”. That Patchwork Place is the publisher.
I was fortunate enough to be in California for work
last week and on the day I was leaving there was a quilt show sponsored
by the Glendale Area Quilters in the hotel I stayed at. Wow,
what a bonus! I saw this cute book that needed to make the
trip home with me. I brought it in to show Jean and she was
a step ahead of me and already had the book. There are fifteen
runners or skinny quilts with a wide variety of “looks” for
you to choose from. I love anything by Kaffe Fassett and Rosy
Runner is very well done. He was joined by Liza Prior
Lucy in designing this special runner. Summer Picnic,
created by Laurie Shifrin, uses a classic rail fence with some wonderful
batik fabrics to create a truly beautiful runner. Terry Atkinson
has done a cute runner named Pinwheels. Marti Mitchell
thought she would be Astrological. I think the black
and white fabric with the pink and orange punches of color look
great. Churn Dash Stretch by Avis Shrier of Joined
at the Hip is another nice runner that adds a little dimension with
the leaves and berries done in felted wool. Barb Cribb of
Wild Thymes Pattern Company has created a true Garden of Seasons with
a floral wreath in felted wool. It is gorgeous! I like
the fact that these are small projects that can be completed in
a short amount of time which makes them great gifts for a Mom, a
sister or a new bride.
Heather Mulder Peterson has compiled a collection of Favorite
Quilts from Anka’s Treasures. That Patchwork Place
has also published this book.
Heather is a designer who does use machine appliqué in
many of her quilts. In this book she provides well written
directions to help you perfect your machine appliqué technique
if you haven’t already done so. The quilts that Heather
has selected to feature in this book are some of my favorites as
she uses both a light and dark palette for the quilts. One
thing that is nice about this book is that she shows one or two
different color ways for each quilt. Sweet Dreams is
just that…very sweet looking with the soft fabrics used and
the scalloped border. Tiddlywinks is a simple snowball
block with a touch of appliqué shown in both a rectangular
shape and a square. I liked the “look” of the
square version. Flower Boxes uses a log cabin block
for both the main portion of the quilt and for the pieced border
again with a touch of appliqué. For this quilt, the
options also include a very unique way to finish the quilt without
borders which give it a very contemporary look. I really like Christmas
Glow as it can be used for either a table topper or a Christmas
tree skirt. It is set on point so it creates a unique quilt. My
favorite quilt in the book is Scrappy Stars…it is
that diagonal chain that gives this quilt a “punch”. I
also love the fabric choices in this quilt. Maple Harvest,
April Showers, Sunny Morning and Lone Star Sensation (no set
in piecing) are also wonderful.
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Simple Things, Small Joys is
written by Brenda Riddle for the Acorn Quilt and Gift Company. This
book features some of the most wonderful fabric that has gorgeous
flowers. It would be fun to see these quilts done in
other fabrics. There are nine quilts, one table runner
and Baby Squishy Blocks that are pretty cute and perfect for
that new baby in your life. I like all of the quilts
in this book but my particular favorites are Nottingham (it
has the diagonal thing going), Dover Gardens and the Baby
Picnic Quilt. This is just a sweet book.
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A new designer that I was not familiar with is Jeri
Kelly. Jean has two of her books at the shop titled Every
Month and Motif.
Every Month has a table runner for each month while Motif has
fourteen small wall hangings for all the seasons, holidays
and even a birthday wall hanging. The shop has completed
some samples from Every Month that give you a
real flavor for how truly beautiful all the projects in both
books are. The use of fabric is excellent but the fine
detail of motifs is what makes these projects extra special. I
do plan to do some of these because they are all pretty “cool”.
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Jean has some new patterns in the shop from designers that
I am not familiar with but I like the look of the projects.
Fourth & Sixth
Designs have done both Habitat and A Walk in the Woods. Both
of the patterns are done in batiks which give them a special look. Both
are fat quarter friendly which makes it easier to select fabric
I think. The blocks in Habitat have an asymmetrical
look and the fabric selection is what will make this quilt truly
yours. A Walk in the Woods has some appliqué but
it is big so it would be easily done using any method of appliqué. Jean
has a vision for this quilt using colors that is a bit different
from the picture on the pattern. We all know Jean and what
an excellent job she does selecting fabric so I can’t wait
to see what she does with the quilt.
D. Hall Designs features Cornerstone and Ribbon
Dance both of which are table runners although Cornerstone also
includes place mats. Both of these patterns are quick
and easy so they would make great gifts or you could even make
them for yourself!
You’re Invited! Quilts and Homes to Inspire by
Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs. The
book is published by Kansas City Star Quilts.
The inspiration for this book is the three homes of friends
who embrace art - each in her own unique style. The photography
is very well done throughout the book to provide a clear picture
of the needlework and the quilts – both old and new – in
each home. The book contains twelve projects ranging from a Floral
Pincushion done very cutely in wool and fabric to my favorite
quilts of which there are many in this book. Charmingly
Yours is a wall hanging that uses a pieced border and an appliqué block
that only BarbAdams can do. Winter Holly is another
wall hanging that features both pieced blocks and appliqué with
a pieced border that resembles peppermint stripes. Chelsea
Cottage is a 60” x 76” quilt with a welcoming appliqué cottage
surrounded by log cabin blocks framed by three borders. The
inner and outer borders are pieced alike providing the “finishing” touch
for this lovely quilt. Country Sunshine is a 92” square
with nine appliqué blocks, a pieced inner and outer border
that frame the appliqué middle border. In Mollie’s
Garden is done in memory of designer Yelena Elliott’s
Gran. It consists of many signature blocks with one appliqué border
at the top only because “Gran’s garden was her pride
and joy”. For those of you who don’t like to work
with bias strips for vines when you appliqué, the Rick
Rack Garden is the quilt for you. All nine of the blocks
use rick rack for the vines and the very outer edge of the quilt. It
is very nicely done. I am always impressed with the quality
of the projects that Barb and Alma design and this book is no exception – it
is excellent.
Houses by Fig Tree Quilts is designed
and written by Joanna Figueroa and Lisa Quam. The book is
published by That Patchwork Place of Martingale and Company. This
is another book that is very well done from the fourteen projects
to the photography to the Schoolhouse Tips. If you
have a wonder floral fabric that you aren’t quite sure what
to do with, then Stonehouse in Summer will put that floral
fabric to good use. There are alternating strip pieced blocks
with a wonderful floral fabric block surrounding an appliqué house
medallion block. I love Village Square because it
is done in red and white but the red schoolhouses surround a unique
red and white fabric that just shouldn’t be cut into little
pieces. Jean has a rather lovely red and white fabric that
she used for a table topper that I think could work with the project. Family
Villa Sampler is a combination of embroidery and appliqué that
would look great in anyone’s home. Main Street in
Season is a four block quilt with a house and vine for each
season. This is another one that I particularly liked and
it would easy to do as the appliqué pieces are a bit larger
to work with. Maison du Paris Purse is pretty cute – not
everyone can have a purse that looks like a house. Under
the Tuscan Sun has its own villa with topiary trees and would
look great over a sofa or above a mantel. This book is a “keeper” and
has something for everyone in the “house” department.
Cabin Fever by Whimsicals is another
winner, in my view, that showcases the use of wool and fabric. Jean
is already selecting fabric for Cabin Fever, a quilt that
has houses, wool trees and flower framed very nicely by log cabin
blocks and is totally different from Chelsea Cottage by
Barb Adams even though the log cabin blocks frame the center of
the quilt. Many of the projects in this book are perfect for
winter like the Let It Snow wall hanging or the Peppermint
Anyone? mantel cover. The Company’s Coming table
runner and coasters can be used all year depending on the fabric
choice. The Sleigh Ride tree skirt is one of the
nicest ones that I have seen. Meowry Christmas is
a small wool appliqué picture featuring a sweet kitten with
a Santa hat. Holly Baskets can be used as either
a table topper or wall hanging. Now is the time to pick out
projects for next year to compliment your holiday décor or
make a winter project now.
Nine by Nine by Cyndi Hershey is
Published by That Patchwork Place of Martingale and Company. The
book has fourteen projects that – surprise – feature
the nine patch block. Now you may think a nine patch is a
nine patch block but this book does have some nine patch blocks
that I have never seen or envisioned before. Several of the
projects give us a unique perspective of the nine patch block as
it is amazing what can be done with the simple nine patch block. In
these quilts fabric choice can really enhance the quilts as shown
with Some Like It Hot. Diamonz may not look like
it but it really does use a nine patch as the key block. Sudoku
Sampler is a sampler that I really like. It is a nine
patch of nine patch blocks using Friendship Stars, Grecian Squares,
Nine Patch, Double-X, Ohio Star, Ribbon Star, Rail Fence and Spool
blocks. The only thing I would change in this quilt is the
type of fabric selected for the Spool block so that a print was
used for both the spool and the background. A very cool quilt
especially if you are drawn to samplers as I am. Picnic
Bouquet is a 42” x 42” table topper that has a
summery look and would look great in the Susan Branch fabric that
Jean has at Quilter’s Haven. Nine Patch Garden is
not your ordinary nine patch quilt as it uses curved piecing which
makes it more interesting. No strip piecing with this one!
Sew Fun, So Colorful Quilts from
Me and My Sister Designs by Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobson is
published by That Patchwork Place of Martingale and Company. These
quilts are just that – colorful – with
great names like Piranha, Feed Me Audrey, Busy Bees, Scardy
Cats, Along Came a Spider, String Beans, Lost, I Know What You Did
at Quilt Camp and Maui Waui. These are fun quilts which
make it a fun book. It is so bright visually that you really
need to take a look at it to see if you can guess what the quilts
look like based on their names. I liked this book as it is
well done with excellent photography.
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Heather hasn’t been busy just
doing quilt books but also has a new pattern out called Charming
Trios – The
Kitchen Collection. There is an apron
pattern with a pin wheel block border, a table runner and
two different potholders all designed around the 5’ charm squares. These
would make a great gift for your Mom or that new bride if you
are looking for gift ideas. You can never go wrong if
you make it for yourself – what a novel idea!
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Celine Perkins of Perkins Dry Goods has a new pattern
called Three for Tea that is 5” charm square
and Jelly Roll friendly. This pattern has a table
topper and two table runners that use nine patch and sixteen
patch blocks. The table topper has a more unusual edge
that makes it special.
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Spring Surprise by Edyta Sitar
of Laundry Basket Quilts has designed the perfect bunny sitting
under tulips surrounded by many eggs. The wall hanging
is 18” x 14” so it is a great size. In looking at
the appliqué pieces that are in the pattern, they are an
easy size to work with so the appliqué would not be difficult. Jean
is already looking at the perfect batik fabric to make this spring
bunny.
Comfort
and Joy is written by Brenda Riddle for Acorn
Quilt and Gift Company. As I looked through this
book, I found myself saying “Oh, I like this” over and over
again. There are ten projects in this book that range from
quilts and wall hangings to garland and pillows. The quilts
have an open feeling, for the most part, in that you do see the
background so the fabric and blocks are the focus. I particularly
liked the quilts named Simple Pleasures, For My Grandma’s,
Summer Breeze and Coventry. There is a really cute
penny rug called Grandma’s Woolie Flower Garden that
is a take-off on the Grandmother’s Flower Garden block but
it is done in wool so it is easy. The penny rug is shown
in a table runner, table square and candle mat or coaster. This
would be a great project to take on a trip to work on. Polka
Dot Garlands is sweet looking and has that cottage feel. You
just make yo-yos and stitch them end to end in the length that
works for you. I do have to mention the Kilt-y Cottage
Pillows as they rather charming due to their pleated edge. This
is another “must buy” for me even though I need another
book case for my quilt books.
Simply
Vintage is co-authored by Alma Allen and
Cherie Ralston for Blackbird Designs. I love their
books and this one is a keeper also. As with other books that
they have done, they each do their own version of the feature
quilt. I am not sure which one I like better. There
are nine 20 by 20 inch squares in each quilt with appliqué that
is not difficult and looks stunning. The additional projects
in the book include a wool Golden Pear pincushion, a
small Endless Song hooked rug, Homeward Bound needlepunch, Life’s
the Berries strawberry pincushion and three rather nice quilts. I
would like to make Coxcomb Stars quilt and Golden
Star Quilt. Dance With Me is also a rather
striking quilt. Something that I really haven’t seen
in other books is CD case covers. There are three versions
with two done in wool and one done in linen and wool. We
all know people who take along their CDs and what a neat way to
transport them or store them in a very attractive package. This
would make a quick yet easy Christmas gift. This is a very
nice book that I would recommend.
The
Best of Blended Quilts from In The Beginning
written by Marsha McCloskey and Sharon Evans Yenter contains
just what it says….the best of the blended quilts. I
am still captivated by the blended quilts and have a few blended
quilts to make. In this book, you will find Simple Gifts,
Fourpatch Strippy, Arabesque, Victoria’s Garden, Variable
Jacob’s Ladder and Northwind. Jean is working
on another blended quilt which will be a treat for all of us to
see. She is a master at this technique.
Joan Rockvoy
Quilter's Haven is located in Rosemount, Minnesota, about
1/2 mile north of County Road 42 (150th St.) on Highway 3 (South Robert
Trail). County Road 42 (150th St.) traveling west is accessible from
52 and 55, and Hwy 35W or 77 (Cedar Ave) to the East.