Tag Archives: Books

The Art Quilt Workbook

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I just posted this review to the QuiltArt list, but I thought I’d  post it here too:

Last week I ordered a copy of “The Art Quilt Workbook” by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston — I ordered it directly from Jane, and want to thank her for the quick service.

artqui1.thumbnail The Art Quilt Workbook

I got it yesterday and skimmed through it. I can’t wait to dig in and really use this wonderful book. There are a lot of beautiful quilts to be inspired by and many exercises that I’m going to enjoy challenging myself with.

One of the best parts of the book, and the part I am most grateful for is the page at the end of each chapter that lists websites of quilt artists, books for further study, as well as artists that work in other mediums (media?), all of which have some relation to the topic that was discussed in the chapter.

As a traditional quilter who is looking to expand her horizons, I’ve been floundering a bit. I would like to learn about art and art history, but have been at a bit of a loss as to where to start. I know there is no magic fairy dust that is going to make it all easy, but I think this book is going to a valuable guide on my journey.

Thank you Jane and Elin.

Thanks also to the QuiltArt list, which is an education in and of itself. I have been reading the list for about a year and have learned about all kinds of books to read, websites to visit, techniques to try, and most of all: artwork to view.

Gratefully,

Suzanne

(I ordered some other books last week, too, but those are coming from Amazon.com, so I’ll post about those when they arrive).

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Monday wrap-up

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So here it is the last day of April, and I’m still behind on the Quilt Studio 12x12x12 challenge.

But now, I’m only 1 month behind, instead of 2. Click to view this larger:

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I was so tickled with my rainbow idea for the ABC Round Robin book (see yesterday’s post), that I did it again as a 12×12 quilt for myself.

It’s the same but different. It’s a 6 by 6 square of inchies, rather than the 6 by 7 rectangle for the book. You’ll also notice the addition of some buttons. And beads — the buttons on the inchies each have a black bead on top of them, in addition to the beads in the fringe. I love beaded fringe. I think I need to do more things with beads and buttons and fringe.

The funny thing is that my theme is supposed to be the Alphabet, with the idea that I will incorporate text on my quilts. Um yeah. Well, I forgot today. I had an idea that I was going to try, but I didn’t remember that I was going to try this idea until….the quilt was completely done. Oops. I still have a few ideas that I may play with, but for now, this is good enough. *I* know it is supposed to be a representation of “R is for Rainbow.”

Learned a few things from it. Still need to work on my satin stitch technique. I was brainstorming about why it is so messy, and it occurred to me that changing my needle might have helped. Any tips on how to do a clean satin stitch around the outside edge of a piece? The inchies are made of fabric fused to Timtex.

My next 12x12x12 is in progress. It’s covered with beads and buttons too. It’s taking me some time to do, but I hope to be done in a few days. And then I need to get going on something for May!

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On a completely unrelated note, as I was looking through pictures, I realized that I never showed a picture of this little book I made. I saw these on Lisa‘s blog last week. She also provided a link to the tutorial where she learned how to make them, which is here.
dsc01882 Monday wrap up

I learned from this project that I am a very messy gluer. Actually, I knew that already, it was just driven home to me with this project. No matter how hard, I try I get glue allover the place. I’m not sure what my problem is. Maybe I need to go back to Kindergarten for some gluing lessons.

Last, but not least, I thought I’d show off a picture of my athletes. I didn’t get very many decent pictures at the soccer game on Saturday, but was glad that at least one of them had both boys in the same shot.

dsc01930 Monday wrap up

I think that’s all from me for today. I need to go sew on some more buttons and then go to bed.

TTFN!

Suzanne

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Hit by a Farm

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I just read a very fun and funny book.  It’s called Hit by a Farm and was written by Catherine Friend.  I just checked out her website and apparently she also has a blog that she keeps updated on a fairly regular basis that is also very funny.  http://hitbyafarm.com/farm-tales.html

It is a memoir about Friend’s experiences as she starts farming with her partner Melissa.  Friend is not the outdoors-type, but wants to help Melissa fulfill her lifelong dreams.  The book is very funny, informative, and times is also very sad, as Friend confronts the fact that much of farm life actually revolves around death.

The book was particularly funny to me as a mostly city girl who finds herself living in small-town Iowa married to a man who wants to take over his family’s farm some day. There isn’t any livestock involved in our experience, but there’s so much about farming and small town life that I didn’t even know existed.  Mark has a nearly photographic memory, and I’m sure that every time I ask him the same questions he adds another tick mark to the counter of "Stupid Questions Suzanne Asks."

pixel Hit by a Farm
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