256: Blue Nickel Archival post #2…

256: Blue Nickel Archival post #2…

So let me preface this by saying ….since my last post…life has been very full of sewing up quilts for Fall Quilt Market and absolute crazy times at the Day Job…so this post that was started in early October as part of my “archival” series of posts…..well, it sat in the cobwebs even longer than I expected. … I think it is still a decent post, but it’s just later than late….I’m just sayin’…..

Last May when I was at Quilt Market, I came back with a bunch of books…all authored by friends of mine.  I was going to “review” them all and give the low down on them all, but to be honest, I just haven’t had the time to do a very thorough review, but I did look at them all quite a bit, and have some things to share about each of  them. 

   

  I don’t even know where to start….I guess I will just start.   First there is City Quilts by Cherri House. I have looked over this one the  most I think because it is the only one of two strictly quilting books that I picked up.  And Cherri pretty much works only in solids, which I find interesting.  What I love about this book are all the quilts that Cherri has come up with that are inspired by everyday things and places.  The world is FULL of inspiration, and Cherri really gets that!  Also City Quilts is one of the first books out under the new fresh division of C&T Publishing called Stash Books.  They really have a great line up of all sorts of sewing books that aren’t just for quilting but for all sorts of sewing projects.  Stash has a great blog to follow along too….check it out, and tell Susanne that I sent you!!  🙂

Okay the next book is by my friend Sheri Howard. Titled Not Your Grandmother’s Quilt,  this book is very traditional with pieced blocks that are simple to make and then Sheri through some of her great applique on top giving a fairly simple pieced quilt a little zing!  Plus she has added some great recipes to go with each quilt, as well as some great little “lifestyle” photos and domestic eye candy.  I met Sheri here on my blog a few years ago, and then in person at Pittsburgh Quilt Market 2009, and really you couldn’t meet a nicer lady.  She is such a sweetheart.  If you like applique and need something quicker than a Baltimore album quilt, go pick up Sheri’s book!

Okay next on the list is Sewn Spaces, by Joel Dewberry, who is a quiet, but very genuinely artistic fellow!  This book has a lot of different projects, not many quilts, but great photographic vignettes that will inspire you if you are into the Eclectic Modern look and numerous creative projects of really quite a variety.  My favorite project I think would have to be the little birds that Joel and his wife Laurie designed.  I haven’t made one yet…but they are so on my To-Do list!!  We’ll see when that happens!  Oh, and I just read on Joel’s blog as I am writing this, that he is coming out with a new line this spring!   I can hardly stand that!  I remember when I first saw this print I had to have some….and I said to Linda…I don’t know who this Joel guy is, but I sure love this print!!  And now I know him, and have even chatted with him at two different Quilt Markets (and he remembers me!! even better!!)

Next up…..Small Stash Sewing by Melissa Averinos.  Lots of very creative little projects that, like Melissa’s outlook on life, give a different twist on things.  Nothing looks too complicated, (again I haven’t done more than a cursory look) but many things look fun to add color and help use up some of your stash!   Melissa’s blog was one of the very first “quilty” blogs I discovered…and she isn’t even really a “quilter” so to speak, but her love of color, fabric, design, and among other things, rust, have delighted me from the moment we met online.   And I was doubly blessed with meeting her at this Spring Market in person along with her filmography co-hort, the very accomplished Miss Beth Dunn. 

  

 I particularly like the Shoestring project and the Unicorn and Moon embroidery patterns. 

I also very much want to make the Owlie McPillowpants project shown here…the “stuffy” and its name just crack me up!  

        

 And the last book in this post, but certainly not least is Sandi Henderson’s Sewing Bits and Pieces.   Sandi has a great eye for the details, and it is quite apparent in this her first book.  

    

She has got a TON of little projects thrown in here, some that look quick and easy and others that take more time, but look well written.  Sandi also has an owl of her own that I think would be fun to make….in my spare time! HA! 

Speaking of Owls….they were all over at Spring Market….and according to Charlie, he seemed to think they were big at Houston Quilt Market this fall too!

 

Oh, and back to Sandi Henderson again…you should check out this video she has on her blog about the Michael Miller gang setting up at Market….Very Fun!!  This book of her also has a ton of great photography to inspire you in many ways.

And last, and oh so very late to tell you about … I had a quilt in Quilter’s Home back in May, that I didn’t even know was going in there!  It was my Sundae’s Best quilt that I designed for Free Spirit featuring Heather Bailey‘s Nicey Jane line.  It was in an article about the Modern Quilt Movement or whatever we are calling it these days.  Very nicely written article!  Thanks Jake!

      

Okay, so THAT was my VERY late post about Spring Market 2010….at least I got it posted before next Spring, if not before all the great fall Market posts going on out there right now….and I swear I am exhausted just finishing this post up with all the links and pix…sheesh….that was a lot of work….hope you all enjoy it!! 

And seriously think about getting any and/or all of those books….I don’t get any commissions telling you that, so you can know I mean it!  

Peace out, Peeps!   S.