Utility Quilting
Carolyn Forster
Landauer Publishing; $27.95

With all the interest in longarm quilting, it’s easy to forget lots of quilters are still hand quilting. And those new to quilting may be interested in giving it a try. Carolyn Forster takes the approach that utility quilting is the perfect solution for the modern quilter. Utility quilting uses bigger stitches and thicker thread. It makes the job go faster and the results are bolder. She offers 25 different quilting designs, 12 knots and stitches, and four finishing techniques that can be applied to any of the 11 projects in the book, or used on your own quilts. I liked the section on creating design templates, e.g., Baptist fan, and then how to mark the design on the quilt.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

In the current issue of The Professional Quilter, Gloria Hansen, our regular technology columnist, deals with the challenge of taking the best photos possible for gallery, print and show submissions. Here are five tips from her article:

1. If you are shopping for a new camera, look for one with the ability to shoot  RAW images. This allows you to alter the image after you’ve taken the picture.

2. Use the correct white balance setting on your camera. This removes unwanted color casts by considering the “color temperature” of the light source.

3. If you use additional lighting, add two lights, one from each side at a 45-degree angle to your work.

4. Use a tripod, center the camera lens on your work and keep it perpendicular to the work.

5. Read the manual and experiment. Remember the only way to get good is to practice.

Please share your experiences taking photos below.

If you want to know more about taking good photos, Gloria’s comprehensive article is available in the Winter 2012 issue of The Professional Quilter. This journal is a benefit of membership in the International Association of Professional Quilters. To learn more and join, click here.

Create Your Own Dream Feathers
Peggy Holt
AQS Publishing; $26.95

Feathers. Everyone appreciates the elaborate look of feathers across their quilt. Peggy Holt’s take on feathers goes a step further than the standard feather and it did come to her in a dream. The dream feather builds upon itself or another shape and is independent of a spine. They are not as formal as the standard feather, but they are just as elegant. In her book, Peggy covers three concepts: the standard feather, the dream feather and using base shapes to help unify your quilting designs. Once you have all the concepts, she shows you how to embellish them with furls and flourishes, borders and swags, folded paper applications, medallions, and butterflies and hearts. While Peggy is a longarmer, the designs can be used for domestic machine and hand quilters.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Beautiful Botanicals
Deborah Kemball
C&T Publishing; $29.95

Are you looking for a way to add more beautiful flowers into your life this time of year? I know for many of us the only place we see fresh flowers this time of year is at the florist. Deborah Kemball offers a wonderful way to bring more beauty into your life. Her book offers 14 sophisticated floral appliqué projects, varying in size from pillows to quilts. She includes templates for 45 different appliqué flowers, two butterflies and five borders. The book is also filed with wonderful tips to make your work a success, e.g., fussy-cutting fabrics for some of the flowers. You’ll enjoy mixing the various flowers to create your own individual project.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

America’s Quilted Garden Blocks
Fay Labanaris
American Quilter’s Society; $24.95

I’ve always liked the books that linked quilt blocks to states. Having lived in close to a dozen states, I’ve thought about creating a sampler style quilt to include each. That still unstarted project got another push when I looked at Fay’s newest book. She designed 55 unique flower blocks, one for each of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and four territories. The bordered blocks range in size from 20-24 inches and incorporate a variety of basic appliqué, embroidery and ribbon work. The patterns are included on a CD, which also includes additional information on each state or territory. I did look at the blocks for each of the states where I’ve lived and was partial to the wreath of black-eyed Susans on the Maryland block.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

The Best of Quilting Arts
ed. Pokey Bolton
Interweave; $24.95

Are you a fan of Quilting Arts magazine? Ten years ago Pokey Bolton happened upon a craft store, the fabric beckoned, and long story short, when she couldn’t find a magazine dedicated to art quilting, she decided to start her own. Over the last 10 years, the magazine has provided resources, techniques and inspiration for thousands of quilt artists. In this collection, Pokey has compiled the most popular articles from the magazine. I am particularly drawn to books that teach a variety of techniques, and this won’t disappoint if you are looking to try new techniques or expand your horizons. Some of what you’ll find: free-motion quilting, stitch-resist shibori, thermofax printing, batik with soy wax, embellishment, and fabric painting. A bonus is the five articles written by Jane Dávila with the professional artist in mind.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Australian Spirit
ed. Sham Lohani and Barbara Macey
M&S Textiles Australia; $34.95

We often hear that the quilting makes the quilt. In this case, it’s the fabric. More specifically it’s the unique design and bold coloration of the Australian Aboriginal artists as seen in this collection of projects from eight designers. The book features 10 projects of varying sizes and complexity that showcases the fabrics. In addition to the projects, the book includes a gallery of 21 additional quilts and 90 color shots of the Aboriginal fabric collections. What I most enjoyed was reading about the Aboriginal artists and learning about the traditional aboriginal symbols and motifs.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Taupe Inspirations
Kylie Irvine
Kansas City Star Quilts; $24.95

When I shop the vendor malls at quilt shows, I’m often drawn to the booths with the Japanese taupe fabrics. In striking contrast to brightly colored quilts, these simple, often naive, quilts have a calming quality. If you are drawn to these fabrics, Kylie Irvine’s book offers her modern take on using Japanese taupes. She offers patterns for two quilts (one is actually shown in two different sizes, one with a softer palate) and nine projects ranging from a notebook cover to a pillow cover to a handbag. If you’ve been collecting taupe-inspired fabrics, you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this collection.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Wonky One-Block Quilts
Marlous Carter
C&T Publishing; $21.95

If you or your students are looking for a way to add another level of interest to your quilts, give the wonky technique a try. The basics are simple: traditional blocks are created and then cut at a new angle. Once the blocks are all cut, they are pieced into a quilt. Sometimes you can easily find the original block; sometimes it’s difficult. Once you’ve got the technique down, Marlous Carter offers you eight projects plus a variety of creative borders. This would be a fun way to use a stack of blocks you’ve not put into a quilt yet.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon  if you would like to learn more about the book.

Orange Peel: New Quilts From Old Favorites
Linda Baxter Lasco, ed.
AQS Publishing; $26.95

I always look forward to each year’s release of the book showcasing the winning quilts in The National Quilt Museum’s annual New Quilts From Old Favorites Contest. The contest features creativity and innovation of individual quilters as they interpret a traditional block with their own design, this year being the year of the Orange Peel block. Each of the 18 winning and finalist quilts is featured in full color along with comments from the quiltmaker. What I like best about the book is that you learn about the quiltmaker’s design decisions, inspiration and techniques in constructing the quilt. I would not have thought about an Orange Peel block incorporating stained glass or Mola techniques. A terrific inspirational and learning resource.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt shop or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon  if you would like to learn more about the book.