Quilted One Block Marvels
Carolyn Sullivan
American Quilters’ Society; $22.95

The book’s title does not do justice to the actual marvels inside. Australian Carolyn Sullivan teaches you how to design your own block from elements in architecture or nature and then turn repeats of that block into quilts. She focuses on three types of symmetry – repetitions, rotations and reflections – to create the seemingly endless quilt design variations. Once you understand the concepts, you are free to make your own quilt or make one of the 12 that the book includes.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library.

Flora Botanica
Barbara Brackman
Kansas City Star Books; $24.95

The Spencer Museum of Art at The University of Kansas maintains an extensive collection of art, including about 180 quilts. In 2008 Barbara Brackman curated the exhibit Quilts: Flora Botanica. This book showcases the 27 quilts in that exhibit and examines the source and symbolism of each. The exhibit also included reproductions of quilts made by the Kaw Valley Quilters’ Guild. The book includes directions for making five of those quilts.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library:  http://tinyurl.com/FloraBotanicaBook

StrataVarious Quilts

 Barbara Persing and Mary Hoover
C&T Publishing; 21.95

Longarm quilter Barbara Persing and her sister Mary Hoover, a shop owner, found that making strata (panels of various width fabric strips sewn together in a random manner) was the solution to designing with the large collection of fabric they wanted to use. The unique blended strata they create are then cut into squares and half-square triangles and reassembled into a dynamic quilt. The book includes directions for nine quilts, three of which incorporate appliqué. It’s a fun addition to your tecnhnique toolbox.

Crossroads: Construction, Markings, and Structure
Nancy Crows
Breckling Press; $22.95

Fans of Nancy Crow will want to devour this showcase of her recent work created during 2003-2007. The collection of 25 improvisational quilts represents work from three distinct series of quilts and marks a turning point in her work. Constructions began in 1995 and features quilts that are improvised with strong architectural elements. The series now numbers 90 quilts. Markings explores calligraphic mark making applied to quiltmaking. This series grows into Structures, which features silk-screened wholecloth work with little or no piecing. The works in this catalog debuted in a solo exhibit at The Snyderman Gallery in Philadelphia in the fall of 2007, and David Hornung, painter, former quiltmaker and chairman of the department of art and art history at Adelphi University, wrote the forward. The quilts are complimented by copies of Nancy’s sketchbooks and photos of work in progress. Here’s a link to Amazon. if you’re interested in adding this book to your library.

“Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth”
Rayna Gillman
C&T Publishing; $27.95

If your New Year’s resolution includes expanding your quilting or fiber tool box, then this book will do the trick. Rayna Gillman takes ordinary objects, such as corrugated cardboard, leftover fencing, yesterday’s newspaper or bubble wrap, and shows you how to create your own fabric using eight different techniques. Techniques include stamping, gelatin plate printing, soy wax batik, discharge printing and more. Her directions are easy-to-follow and accompanied by excellent up-close photographs. A wonderful resource for expanding your horizons at surface design.

Here’s an Amazon link if you’d like to add this book to your library.

“The Tale of Alice’s Quilt”
Jennifer Blomgren
Martingale & Co.
$14.95

Mother Earth’s ABC
Sieglinde Schoen Smith
Breckling Press; $15.95

Fans of the award-winning quilt “Mother Earth and Her Children” will love this charming tale of the coming of spring and the transformation of a seedling into a zinnia. The book includes instructions for transferring each letter onto your own sewing project as well as the embroidery instructions. A wonderful gift for the holidays.

Here’s a link to order the book through Amazon.