My New Quilt Books and Magazines

I was running some errands the other day, and not really in the mood for it, either.  Then I realized one of my stops was next to a bookstore, so I added that to my errand list.  Good call on my part!  It made the whole trip worthwhile.

Are you a fan of Jo Packham?  She brings us lots of books and magazines in the series "Where Women Create".  If you like cooking, she has another series related to that, too.  I've looked at most of her books through the library, but this one was new to me and so good I had to buy it.

I like Quilters: Their Quilts, Their Studios, Their Stories for three reasons:

1. The focus is on quilters.  Other "studio" magazines show other types of artists, but my favorite studios belong to quilters.
2. It not only has studios, but like the subtitle says, it has the quilts and stories of the quilters.
3. It's filled with lots of modern quilters: Amy Butler, Heather Grant, Alissa Haight Carlton, Tula Pink, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, and my favorite, Brigette Heitland.  And lots of others!!

I know Quilts from the House of Tula Pink isn't a new book.  I've been looking at it ever since it came out 3 years ago, and I even checked it out of the library twice.  Someone in my quilt guild made that cover quilt and it was so beautiful in person that it stuck in my subconscious.  When I found the book again the other day, I finally couldn't resist.

I like the Fall 2014 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited for three reasons:

1. It only cost $7.99.  I have a really hard time paying $12 or $15 for magazines like so many of them cost nowadays.
2. It has a large section on modern applique.
3. It has a paper-pieced feather pattern.

Regarding the feather pattern, you might be very familiar with Anna Maria Horner's beautiful (and free) feather pattern.  I put it on my to-do list for this year, but decided that it would be easier if I just drafted my own paper-pieced pattern that was similar.  With the paper-pieced pattern in this magazine, my life just got easier.  Granted, it's not the same as Anna's, but I can make it work.

This beautiful back cover of Modern Quilts Unlimited was a nice surprise when I got home.

I already own volumes 2 and 6 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  When I filled the envelopes on my To-Do List Quilt, I found lots of blocks that I liked in those two issues, and decided I needed more of this series.  When I found volume 10, I snatched it up.  These magazines are such a great value - 100 patterns for only $6.99.

I like the variety of techniques used to construct the blocks.  There's regular piecing, but also applique, paper piecing, and mixed technique.

So it's really, really cold this week, which means walks are shorter.  That's OK, because it leaves more time for sewing.  Off to it!