Finally, after almost three weeks, I feel well enough to get behind my sewing machine. First project up was completing my project for book review Tuesday (yes, it’s now Saturday). Better late than never!!
Review
Title: “Quilting Line + Color: Techniques and Designs for abstract quilts”
Author: Yoshiko Jinzenji
Publisher: Interweave Press, Incorporated
ISBN: 978-1-59668-333-4
There are quilting books/craft books that I really enjoy and love, as the projects or blocks that they have in the book are so much fun to do and create. Books like Patchwork please, Pillow Pop, or Vintage Quilt Revival are great examples of this.
This book, Quilting Line + Color, I found extraordinary. It is not so much a book to follow along, but a book that creates inspiration and opens the imagination on what could be. After flicking through the first pages, I had so many ideas on new projects and what I can try, giving me a new direction or extending where I want to go with quilting.
(image from: A Sewing Journal)
The book has two parts; the gallery, instructions and patterns. The gallery is made up with quilt images of the most fantastic photography. Yes, I caressed the pages, oohed and ahhed. The images above are two of my favorite quilts in the book. I liked that:
- The projects varied a lot
- Most of them are appliqué based projects, an area I want to try out this year.
- I loved the use of negative space in the projects
- How fabric can be used, as we would similar do in framing an image for drawing/painting.
(image from: A Sewing Journal)
The instruction section was detailed with photos, but not in a typical quilting/project way, I have got used too. It does have a technique section for appliqué, however I think you could apply any technique you are used to using.
I have to say, I loved this book. It is definitely my favorite so far.
Project
It was easy and difficult deciding on a project. I had so many ideas on where to start but I also knew instantly what I would love to try. I have been playing around with several ideas and this project pulled those all together:
- Borders and Line year-long project – what does that topic mean to me.
- The Pantone Quilt challenge using Radiant Orchid
- Obviously, the project for this book review.
I wanted to do something similar to left quilt in this image:
(image from: A Sewing Journal)
This is my finished quilt top – “Hothouse of Orchids” (I think). I used appliqué for the complete top. The fabrics for the squares is Alison Glass Clover Sunshine (purchased from Westwood Acres), and the sashing is Kona Violet.
I think I am leaving it like this, as I like the white space. Yes, I think it is finished.
The original idea, however, was also to add thicker sashing around the edges. In this image I like the increase of color the thicker sashing offers.
Let me know which one you prefer….I am being indecisive at this point. I still have time to add the thicker sashing before I quilt, or go on and leave it as in the first image :-). Thanks for all the feedback on the post and on instagram…I am sticking with the thin lines and not using the thick sashing. Have a great weekend.
Give-away
One brand new copy of Quilting Line + Color will be given away, all you need to do is leave a comment on what recently has inspired you in your craft/quilting world and where would you want to take it. There is a second chance to win if you are a follower, just leave a second comment. A winner will be chosen at random and announced after 6pm next Friday.
A disclaimer, all reviews and opinions of the books reviewed will be mine, unless otherwise stated. Please note, I may not respond to all comments due to volume and bandwidth.
Linking up with Amanda Jean @ Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.
Factotum of Arts 
1. I love your design – my vote is for the wider strips!
This looks a fantastic book – it’s going on my amazon wishlist!
The author is new to me – does she/he have a blog?? have they written any other books???
2. I also like the wider strips. I have been visiting this book at my LQS–it looks wonderful. Blogs and pinterest have become my greatest inspiration this year.
3. I follow with Bloglovin.
4. I love this design!! Right now I’m inspired by flowers. In order for color schemes 🙂 this book looks awesome.
5. Duh, I’m a follower.
6. Follower!
7. Following with wordpress
8. Sometimes a quilt design just gets in my imagination and I am happy when I have a piece of paper and pen nearby.
9. I’ve never heard of this book and it looks super cool. Definitely going on my wish list. I have been inspired by blogs and Instagram lately and have jumped on the economy block wagon. For your quilt I would pick all the same width sashing, but I’m sure it will look cool either way.
Glad you are feeling better!
10. I’m a follower
11. I really prefer the more open look without additional borders. The book looks very interesting. I’ve been inspired recently by foundation paper piecing and want to give designing some blocks a try.
12. Two part reply: firstly, I like it better without the additional sashing. The colours sing better when they float in the white rather than being framed. Secondly, I’d like to add the book to the other Yoshiko Jinzenji book I already own: Quilt Artistry, which is extraordinary. She takes textile art to a completely new level of detail, her work is impeccable and inspired. I love that she is now working with more colour, and would be really happy to own a copy of this book.
13. Oh, and I’m a follower!
14. I like the borders! Lately i’ve been finding a lot of inspiration on instagram
15. I’m a follower via BL
16. I love the white space! No thick sashing!
I’ve been inspired by the use of gradation in large areas, and I’m hoping to achieve that affect with my mosaic tiles project.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway, and I’m SO SO SO glad you’re feeling better!!!
17. Following with the feedly!
18. swoon blocks have inspired me, thanks
19. I love the first way (without the wider border) – all that white space makes me giddy!!! I have not encountered this book before and the pictures you have shown are drawing me in!!!
20. I am an email follower 🙂
21. 3 birds with one stone! Nice work. 🙂 I do really like the quilt too! And it’s so fun to see your inspiration for it.
22. via wordpress
23. I follow on bloglovin.
24. I forgot what I was supposed to blog about. I love the quilt with the narrow lines best! Love the bright colors too! i am loving this book! It looks so cool! Ok, went back up and looked to see what I was supposed to write about. What has inspired me lately are modern quillts with bright colors, like you just made. Where have I gone with this? Absolutely nowhere, because I don’t know where to start or where to go from there. It really looks like I need this book, LOL.
25. THis looks like a fascinating book – so much inspiration. I love the thinner stripes – it looks less planned and more eye catching to me 🙂
26. I am a follower!
I have this book – it’s very inspiring. I like the thinner one best. The original idea with thicker sashing looks too busy to me.
27. I like the thick sashing, but I’d like it more with a lot of white around the outside of it (so if you didn’t want it any bigger, I’d say leave out the thicker sashing so that all that white can serve its purpose).
That one sounds like such an interesting book – I’m sure I’ve heard/read people talking about it before, but I can’t remember anything about it anyway. The pictures you shared look interesting, anyway – different from the average book, certainly.
28. Via wordpress.
29. This book has been on my wish list for a while, but I think it is now a ‘must buy’! This week I’ve been inspired by Swedish design, especially the work of Ingela P Arrhenius. I’ve been working on my own designs for applique in this style.
30. I follow this blog on wordpress.
31. I was recently inspired by the colored stripes on my socks, it’s definitely turning into a quilt.
32. I am a follower. I do think the thin dashing looks better. Would love to have this book.
33. Holy moly!! I’ve been looking for the designer of the first quilt. I saw it at a show a few years ago. The lady told me the name. I, of course, forgot it and never could find the right search string to grab it. Thanks for spending my money, I’ll be getting one of these!
34. via wordpress
35. Love your quilt, the colors are gorgeous, I prefer it without the wider sashing the colors pop more. Lately my inspiration comes from blogs , so many talented people sharing ideas.
36. I follow with Bloglovin.
37. Gorgeous quilt, i really like the Clover Sunshine fabrics as I love colour. I really like to see the white spaces too as it make sit more interesting and breaks it up a little. I have been inspired by the book Quilt Improv recently and trying a little more free quilting rather than lots of measuring of points etc. It is quite liberating. Thanks for a fun giveaway too.
38. I love your vibrant color choices. I am making a Layer Cake quilt for a friends birthday…it’s colors reflect Hawaii, it’s a place we both love.Be well…
39. I follow on bloglovin’!
40. I love that book- so amazing. It’s on my wish list. I prefer the 1st quilt-unframed with lots of white. Bloglovin follower.
41. Inspired by other quilters, color, shapes and patterns in nature.
42. this takes me in a whole new direction of quilting. More virbant splashes of color. Brings me out of my shell. I prefer the first design without the purple “border”. Very chic.
thanks for sharing
Rita
43. Great idea getting your Pantone quilt underway. Lately I’ve been inspired by the Vintage Revival quilt book that just got publish. One night I let myself look at it before bed time and seriously couldn’t go to sleep because so many ideas were in my head. Thanks for reviewing this fun book too 🙂
44. Oh my! Love your little quilt. What a beautiful exercise in minimalism and color!
45. gorgeous quilt! I find your question hard to answer as I’m not an artist like you, more of a beginner quilter, I’m inspired by blackwork embrodiery but I’m not sure what to do with that!
46. I’m a follower on your blog – I’d love to follow on Instagram too if you could tell me your username?
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