Books for Quilters!
More than 200 Titles, Most at a Discount, in the Planet Patchwork Quilters' Bookstore!

Number Thirty-Two * May 15, 1999

Classifieds | Table of Contents

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BOOK REVIEWS: Perspectives on Quilt Design

Design Your Own Quilts: One-of-a-Kind Quilts

by Judy Hopkins
That Patchwork Place, 1998
96 pages, $23.95
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564772101/planetpatchworkA/

Surprising Designs from Traditional Quilt Blocks

by Carol M. Fure
That Patchwork Place, 1998
$19.95
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1564771555/planetpatchworkA/

Reviewed by Christina Holland

I've been curious recently about quilt design. My first full size quilt was a field of stars of varied types and sizes. I designed that quilt on paper at least five separate times, and then the final result used still a different layout. I've stuck to traditional projects since then, partially as training, and partially because I haven't been sure I could successfully replicate that flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants technique to quilt design.

Honestly, when I picked up these books, I thought it'd be difficult for books to impart much practical wisdom on the creative process. In these two books, Judy Hopkins' 'Design Your Own Quilts' and Carol Fure's 'Surprising Designs from Traditional Quilt Blocks,' I found a structure within which one can create original projects.

'Design Your Own Quilts' is a very structured approach to creativity. This can lend confidence to those of us who are just beginning. It's sort of like the art classes I took as a kid. The assignments were always very specific. Yet, within the framework of, for instance, a one panel cartoon drawn in pencil only, I could draw whatever I wanted. It's the same way with quilts.

The author, Judy Hopkins, provides blueprints for quilt layouts. The idea is that 25% of the quilt's surface area be filled with "theme" blocks. These can be almost any kind of block you can imagine. The rest of the quilt is filled with your choice of simple background blocks which are chosen to accentuate, not compete with, your theme block or blocks. She often reminds us, though, that there are many more possibilities for blueprints and themes than those shown. Then, you are encouraged to audition different layouts of the quilt on a design wall.

The text of 'Design Your Own Quilts' is very carefully and precisely written. It is a very text-based book; it'll be thirty-two pages before you see the first color photo. But then, her focus is on inspiration, not on providing designs for us to copy. A step-by-step description is provided for one project, "White Hemstitch," but it's really more of a play-by-play narrative of how the thought process works.

The recurring theme in this book is flexibility amid structure. As the author says, "Be flexible. If your quilt calls for a twenty-square theme area and your theme refuses to cover more than eighteen squares or insists on covering twenty-two, bend the rules to fit the quilt."

Judy Hopkins writes about creating a quilt the same way I've read novelists describe the process of devising a new character. The quilt is in control, not you. "By this time, the quilt may be totally out of your control. It may leave you no choice but to complete it with a particular Row 2 block, crafted from particular colors or fabrics. If it is very strong-willed, it might insist that you abandon your original plan."

She also recommends buying unusual fabrics whenever they catch your eye (as if we needed to be told that) but that "A 1/4-yard or 1/2-yard cut is plenty; I rarely buy more than 1/2 yard of any fabric. If you limit your purchases to small cuts, you can build a fabric collection that is rich in variety and both stimulating and challenging in its potential."

Twelve quilt blueprints are provided, with basic directions for each. For every blueprint, at least four suggested layouts of theme and background blocks are included. One example of each is shown, with a full page color photo and notes on the fabric and block choices made.

Following the blueprints are several pages discussing variations in design techniques, and then the gallery. Forty-two separate projects (in addition to the twelve previously used as blueprint examples) are showcased in large color photographs. Accompanying each is a short note on the blocks and fabrics used.

There is no shortage of inspiration here.

In contrast to 'Design Your Own Quilts,' 'Surprising Designs from Traditional Quilt Blocks' starts with a chapter on "Planning a Quilt." The layout is planned from the start; now it's the blocks that provide the flexibility. In this chapter, specific instructions and measurements are provided for borders and sashing and setting on point.

The next chapter is "Designing a Quilt," which invites the reader to choose from general types of block patterns. We haven't chosen a block to work with yet, but she has categorized types of block patterns that tend to arise from permutations on any on the blocks. Block patterns are variations on a traditional block made by moving and exchanging fabrics from the same basic set within the block.

Now it's time to choose a block. The author provides ten 12" square blocks, each containing between sixty and seventy-two pieces. We are told to cut enough of each fabric for every piece, and then just play with the combinations. As Carol M. Fure remarks, "the first step in learning to create is learning to play."

Eleven layouts of light, medium, and dark fabrics are provided as examples for each block. Of course, "These block patterns are not exhaustive. I hope that they will show you that there are many surprising possibilities for quilt designs that use only one kind of block." It sounds like fun to me.

There is a lovely gallery with color photos. Along with each photo is a brief discussion and a diagram of the original plan, and if different, the final plan. For example, Lissa's Pool (pages 58-59), started with a "strippy" pattern. The final quilt uses "center" (stand alone) fishy blocks. As the author says, "This quilt shows that plans are just that: 'plans', subject to change."

I like the tone of this book. She's clearly trying to get us to think creatively for ourselves. In the introduction to the gallery, she asks "Which design do you like best? What would you do differently?"

These two books provide very different approaches to quilt design. In 'Design Your Own Quilts,' we can vary the layout, given a theme and several simpler background blocks. Of course, once we get the layout the way we want it, we may end up having to change the theme blocks to make it work, as Judy Hopkins points out. In 'Surprising Designs from Traditional Quilt Blocks,' we keep a set layout and one specific block, and vary the fabric combinations. Again, Carol M. Fure reminds us that we may need to change the quilt layout at the end, as she did in Lissa's Pool.

So in both the key is to be flexible. Even the things that are held fixed at first may need to be modified. In reality, nothing is fixed; we can do whatever you want in our quilts. I think it helps, though, to deal with one thing at a time. If we tell ourselves the layout if fixed, then we can be totally free with the blocks without feeling overwhelmed. Or we can work the other way around.

I don't want to recommend either one of these books over the other. They are both excellent, well written and helpful without limiting the reader. Which you choose will depend on which approach appeals more to you personally.

Imagine the possibilities: work with one approach or the other, whichever suits your thinking best. Or make the possibilities endless by combining them!

Classifieds

MOTHER HEN'S QUILT EMBROIDERIES

Quick, easy, machine embroidered quilt blocks to embellish vests and jackets, towels, pillows, wallhangings or create a quilt. Come and visit Mother Hen's Quilt Embroideries and view the goodies! http://www.accn.org/~lildozer

BABY PLAY QUILT

Looking for an alternative to the playpen? A soft, quilty alternative? Then try the Baby Play Quilt, a 36" X 36" brightly-colored, polyester fiber-filled quilt with an 11" high quilted bumper. You can put your baby down in a soft secure place, gently restrained from crawling away. Makes a great baby shower gift!

Made by Annie Kaczmarek of Wilmington, North Carolina, the Baby Play Quilt is available for $95 plus $20 shipping and handling. Allow three to four weeks for delivery.

We also offer easy-to-assemble old-fashioned quilt frames with 3 tilt positions. They're 93 inches long and 31 inches wide. Only $130.00 INCLUDING shipping and handling. A smaller version, 58 inches long, is $100.00 including s&h.

E-mail us at tmankacz@wilmington.net about our 57" X 48" Nap scrap quilt and other items.

Send check or money order along with your order (USA only) to:

Annie Kaczmarek
609 Hunting Ridge Rd.
Wilmington, N.C. 28412

BREAKING TRADITIONS

Cathedral Windows Quick Method Quilt

This book will instruct even the novice sewer how to create an heirloom quality quilt, entirely by sewing machine, in a fraction of the time it would take to sew by hand. Full color cover, clear concise illustrations, yardage charts and many tips.

The possibilities are endless!

$8.95 per book plus $1.95 s&h
Please make check payable to 'Kimberly Nappier' and mail to: Kimberly Nappier
6827 Sparkman St. Dept. tvq
Tampa, FL 33616
E-mail inquiries to: Bountipres@aol.com

Greenhaven Enterprises

Quilt Retreats on the Olympic Peninsula

Visit Washington State and stay with a quilter, and her cat Oliver.

The Herbolds live just outside of Sunny Sequim. Their home, set in the tall trees, is warm, pleasant, and affordable.

Norma can direct you to quilt shops in the area, plus the natural wonders located on the Olympic Peninsula. For those in the Northwest, Norma can also plan a personal retreat for you and three quilting friends.

You are invited to visit the website for Greenhaven Enterprises, Quilt Retreats on the Olympic Peninsula, where you can check out Norma's quilts, learn more about Sequim, and of course, see Oliver. The address is: http://www.olypen.com/normah

You may email Norma at normah@olypen.com or call 360-681-0364 for more information.

MY FAVORITE THIMBLE

Would you like to improve your hand quilting stitch quality and quantity? Of course you would, and My Favorite Thimble can help! My Favorite Thimble's tough, colorful, rubbery surface grips the needle for wonderful stitch control, and control means more stitches to the inch.

My Favorite Thimble comes in two styles and five sizes. You can choose between the standard royal blue, and our embellished version on which we add colorful free-form designs.

Visit our web site at http://www.myfavoritethimble.com for pictures, more information and ordering. And, be sure to take a look at our newest product, Quilt-Fuse. If you are a watercolor quilter or want to be, this fantastic lightweight fusible layout grid will let you stitch a watercolor quilt top in ONE AFTERNOON!

Questions or comments? Contact us at:
Chris Hanner & Company
3687 Coldwater Lane
Snellville, GA 30039
Email: mailto:hanner@mindspring.com

http://www.myfavoritethimble.com

THE CRAFT CONNECTION

The Craft Connection ( http://www.craftconn.com/ ) is the most exciting place on the Internet if you want to make or sell handcrafts. We sell quality cotton fabric, Mettler and Sulky thread, and quilting notions, all at a discount. Fabrics are linked to coordinating fabrics, so you know your choices will look great together. We try to find fabrics you won't see anywhere else. And we'll package them into packets of fat eighths, fat quarters, or 5" squares, so you can get a good variety without a big cash outlay. Among our fabric categories are florals, pictorials, and guy stuff, and you should see the new Lost Fabrics of Atlantis collection.

Every month some items are for sale at 20 percent off our already discounted prices. You can use your credit card online on our secure server to safely purchase our fabrics and also our crafters' products. If you're a crafter, you can sell here and take credit cards without having your own credit card vendor account.

Check out our Free Stuff. Each month we offer a new pattern and a new lesson. We also have a Calendar of upcoming Quilt Shows. Come by our website at http://www.craftconn.com.

THE QUILT BLOCK

We are a cottage industry located just outside of Yosemite National Park. We specialize in clothing and patterns for quilters and for people who love quilts.

We offer t-shirts and sweatshirts in sizes from medium to xxx-large. All of our quilts are machine pieced. Most of our patterns are easy enough for beginning quilters. Come see what we have to offer at our website. We have a great sale page, and we now offer secure online shopping!

http://www.sierratel.com/thequiltblock/salepage1.htm

Or e-mail for more information to
mailto:gastinc@sierratel.com

The Quilt Block
P.O. Box 127
Midpines, CA 95345

(209) 742-5418
Fax: (209) 742-7662

HICKORY HILL QUILTS

The next QHL conference TEXTILES AND THEIR PLACE IN HISTORY will be held August 4-7 at the Hollowbrook Lodge in Greenville, New York. Learn while you relax in the Catskills. Comprehensive seminars from Rabbit Goody (wovens), Cindy Brick (Crazies), Jane Clark Stapel (feedsacks), Merikay Waldvogel (fabrics), more. Appraisals, behind scenes at Farmers Museum and more. For more information, see http://www.quilthistory.com/1999.htm.

SILVER DOLLAR SHEEP STATION

The MINI DUST-IT. Genuine sheepskin duster on a 6" stick that is perfect for picking up dust and lint from your sewing machine and serger. Soft, beautiful sheepskin won't scratch polished surfaces. Picks up the lint and tiny threads; doesn't spread them around. Prevents lint build-up. Inexpensive way to protect expensive sewing machines and sergers. Fun and handy to use. Also works great on the computer.

Price: $3.50 each including mailing.

To order send check to

Silver Dollar Sheep Station
5020 Winding Way
Sacramento, CA 95841.
800-887-8742.
E-mail: :Sheep50@aol.com.

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER: Because we manufacture the Mini Dust-it to a very high standard, we currently have a small supply of imperfects. They may be a little thinner and not as pretty or have some other defect, but they still work great!

And best of all we offer these to you for just $1, INCLUDING postage. You can order them at the address above and enjoy this wonderful product at a bargain price!

THE QUILTBROKER

TVQ TOOL TEMPTER! - (this is NOT offered on our web site!) Get a FREE Judy Martin *POINT TRIMMER when you purchase The Block Book from us at the discounted price of $19.98 + $3.00 S&H Mail your check (US funds only) for $22.98, made out to:

DESIGN PLUS
907 Columbia Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525-1838

FREE Judy Martin *POINT TRIMMER from
The QUILTBROKER http://www.quiltbroker.com

* Judy Martin's POINT TRIMMER is a $7.50 value

PINETREE QUILTWORKS

PineTree Quiltworks' online discount catalog and fabric store has its own URL for faster access. Visit PineTree at www.pinetree.quiltworks.com and bookmark the spot! The online fabric store now loads faster and much more reliably! Visitors are unlikely to get a TOO BUSY message!

Please visit the new fabric store! Quilters will find loads of new fabrics organized by "department" but also viewable by manufacturer and fabric line (designers and named lines). To view fabric, click on the dot at left of a category or manufacturer (or whatever) to activate that selection, then click on the VIEW FABRICS button at the right of the selection.

Look for the latest fabrics from Hoffman, RJR, Marcus Bros., Maywood, Clothworks, Hi Fashion, Timeless Treasures, Fit to Print, Rose & Hubble, Northcott, Benartex, Moda, Peter Pan, and more, all at 20% off retail prices.

Go to www.pinetree.quiltworks.com . When the main page comes up, click on Virtual Fabric Store, then select your fabric viewing options!

SCHOOLHOUSE ENTERPRISES

Amazing but true!

Gridded Geese(c) is a unique paper foundation method for mass-producing Flying Geese units up to 24 at once (no kidding!). Schoolhouse Enterprises, inventors and manufacturers of this revolutionary product, offers both a printed version of their catalog, and an on-line ( http://www.planetpatchwork.com/store/index.cfm?DID=21 ) shopping cart service in conjunction with Planet Patchwork. You can safely order online through Planet Patchwork's secure server with your credit card!

The folks at Schoolhouse Enterprises and Planet Patchwork search for items for quilters (and friends of quilters) which are unique and often overlooked by other catalogs you might connect with. Check out their on-line catalog, which offers such interesting items as Photos-to-Fabric(tm) photo transfer paper, Ott Lights, beautiful embossed note cards, kaleidoscope pendants, and much more! And while you're visiting, be sure to check out the current Monthly $pecial!!

Schoolhouse has recently begun carrying the complete line of Electric Quilt products, including EQ4 design software, and Sew Precise! and Sew Precise with Shirley Liby. RIGHT NOW THEY'RE OFFERING A SPECIAL LIMITED TIME DISCOUNT ON EQ 4 OF MORE THAN $20 OFF RETAIL.

They also offer a large selection of Merry Mayhem's Mystery Quilts. If you missed any of the Cases which were previously online, you'll find them here!

If you're not able to access the web page, just e-mail Schoolhouse Enterprises (mailto:cluesew@jerseycape.com) with your "snail mail" (post office) address for your FREE CATALOG and Sample of Gridded Geese(c)! (Sorry, but Samples are only available in the printed catalogs.)

PERFECT SQUARE

PERFECT SQUARE and PERFECT TRIANGLE are tools that help quilters make quiltpieces more easily and accurately. Patterns have been written especially for PERFECT SQUARE and the necessary sheets to make the quilt are included in the pattern.

The PERFECT SQUARE website has been updated to include information on all products and patterns complete with pictures. Credit cards are accepted.

Also included are pictures of Monica's art quilts and links to really cool quilt sites.

http://www.webworldinc.com/perfectsquare for details.

PCQuilt for Windows

PCQuilt for Windows is easy to learn and easy to use quilting software. The block and the quilt are on the same screen so you can see your quilt emerge as you design and color your blocks. Combine blocks in a variety of ways to see endless new designs. The program includes all the features that have always made PCQuilt easy and fun to use. Now with the new Windows version, PCQuilt will help you estimate your yardage, print templates, quilts and blocks, and has a friendly Windows interface with easy to use toolbars. PCQuilt comes with a extensive library of blocks, border, quilts, palettes and fabric patterns. PCQuilt is also available for the Macintosh. Look for PCQuilt at your local Husqvarna VIKING Dealer or visit our website at http://www.pcquilt.com .

Nina Antze
7061 Lynch Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707- 823-8494
1-800-731-8886

ADVERTISING WITH TVQ.

Our advertisers, both here in the newsletter and at the Planet Patchwork website, have found TVQ to be an effective and economical way to reach thousands of online quilters. Ads in the newsletter are only $5 each (up to 100 words, inquire about longer ads) or 3 for $10, and there are also attractive packages available which combine newsletter and website ads. For more information e-mail rholland@planetpatchwork.com or visit http://www.planetpatchwork.com/adcard.htm. We specialize in helping small quilting-related businesses gain exposure on the internet.

In This Issue:

Following is a list of the rest of the stories in this issue of TVQ. In order to read them, you must be a subscriber. Subscribing online here and following up with the small subscription fee will entitle you to eight issues of TVQ, including this one. You will receive TVQ every six weeks by e-mail, and will be issued a password to access it here at Planet Patchwork.

Subscribers: Please report any password problems to Rob Holland. Be sure to include your name & e-mail address. We will try to resolve all password problems within 24 hours. Thank you!

And here's what's inside!

• The Traveling Quilter: Houston Quilt Shops

Lynn Holland visits two high profile quilt stores in Houston.

• Quilting on the Web

Christina Holland surfs the web for new quilting adventures.

• Quilter Profile: Jo & Jos Hindriks

Find out how "The Dutch Quilting Couple in America" bring their talents and interests to the art of quilting, and create something quite new.

• Charms & Schnibbles

Quilts for Kosovo and Oklahoma, and more!

COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, NEWS, IDEAS, BRICKBATS?

Like any news publication, TVQ is always hungry for information about new developments in the area we are trying to cover. If you have an idea for a story, or want to tell the world about something you are doing which relates to computers and quilting, we'd like to hear about it.

We'd like news of new classes starting up to teach quilt design on computers, or new approaches to that teaching. New products, maillists, World Wide Web pages, etc., are all fair game, and we'd appreciate any tips you can provide. Send your tips by e-mail to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.

If you have a comment about an article, a complaint or a correction, we're glad to hear that, too, and may publish some comments as letters to the editor. Again, these may be sent to rholland@planetpatchwork.com.

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