Did you ever admire a whimsical, colorful quilt that told a story, but thought it would be impossible to make your own story quilt? Mary Lou Weidman's book, Out of the Box, provides page after page of tools and inspiration to help you create your own one-of-a-kind story quilt.
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Mary Lou explains the process for making wonderful story quilts, including how to find the inspiration for your quilt, how to choose fabrics, and how to draw and create your own design. She encourages you to play, daydream, and have fun, and reinforces the idea that there's no "right way" to do it.
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I enjoyed reading Mary Lou's chapter on the personality of fabrics and each fabric's job in the quilt. In addition to the gallery of quilts, every page in this book is "decorated" with the most interesting and colorful applique' shapes and pieced blocks. And I'm fascinated by the "Hoochy Mama" blocks that make up the borders of so many of these quilts. I would love to make an entire quilt using only the Hoochy Mama blocks.
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Here are little snippets of just a few of the quilts in the gallery. There are too many to include here! Each quilter tells the story of the inspiration for the quilt.
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This one is so sweet. Wouldn't it be fun to make a quilt that tells a story about someone you know? Or an event in your life? My head is spinning with all the possibilities.
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To visit Mary Lou and see more fantastic quilts made by her and her students, scooch on over to Mary Lou's blog. I promise it'll make you smile.
And if you'd like to find your inner artist, just leave a comment here. I'll be announcing the winner of Out of the Box on Thursday. Have a great week!
Kim
35 comments:
I would LOVE to fine my innter artist Kim! That looks like such a great book.
my inner artist is pretty well hidden so I could definitely use the help :-) Love the pic of the sunflowers and Eifel Tower.
Great book review! Thanks for sharing it and for the chance to win a book too!
I have an inner artist? I think this book would be great fun! Thanks for the chance! :-)
Well, I certainly would like to find my inner artist, sometimes, it's really hard for me to mix colors, when I'm working in a quilt, even quilting!!!, the book looks really cute, and I'm sure will be really helpful with our inner artists ;), l<3ve the colors of the projects!!!
my inner artist needs a bit of help some days, so I'd love that book. I've taken a peek at it, and I read a story about her story quilts and the Hoochy Mama blocks in a recent quilt mag....can't remember which one right now.
Love this book. Excellent review too!
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
That looks like such a fun book! I just love all the bright colors! ☺
What fun fabrics and what a fun idea...just love the colors and cheer....thanks for the info.
What a fantastic book. I'd really love to learn how to make quilts that tell a story.
The book looks like great fun. I don't think I have that much artistic talent, to tell a story so boldly and cleverly, but it would be worth a try. Thanks for sharing this author and book.
I definitely need guidance to find my inner artist - but I'm thinking she could be interesting! Thanks for the review on this book!
What a creative and imaginative book! I always need help taking a step 'away' from traditional quilting...
What a great looking book. Thanks for the chance to find my inner artist.
This looks like a wonderful book, and perhaps this is what I need to go a step further with my quilting. To create more out from my fantasy :)
Love books, love quilting, ate my inner artist years ago. She needs a day out !~!
well it would be fun to read this book just to learn about her color and fabric picking ways! Ah yes the inner artist needs to come out and play, what fun!
thanks for the opportunity to win this book
Kathie
Mary Lou has such a unique, fun and colorful style. I visit her blog on occasion. I can really identify with Grandma's kitchen as that's where I spent lots of wonderful times in my childhood.
We had Mary Lou at our guild recently...fun, fun teacher! And a terrific lecture, too!
That looks like a great book. I'd love to read it.
I saw a show and tell with Mary Lou at Sisters one year and was so inspired!! I made my dd a story quilt for her graduation. I'd love a chance to win this book.
That book looks fantastic to me too.
Looks amazing. I could definitely do with a helping hand for quilts like this!
Mary Lou is my favorite quilt artist. I took classes from her and some day hope to create something as beautiful and artistic as she does.
Now that looks fun!! I enjoyed my visit to Mary Lou's blog and think it would be awesome to be able to take a class from her.
he he! I could be such a bad girl with a copy of this book! What fun!
Oh yes I would love a copy of that book--what fun!!!
What a brilliant giveaway! Any help on learning to quilt 'outside the box' would be fantastic.
wendzneil [at] googlemail [dot] com
I love this type of quilt but have never had the nerve to try to make one...please put me in for the draw
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Mary Lou's book. I'd love the opportunity to explore my inner artist.
Love it! Looks like a LOT of fun! Could be a great challenge group, too, no?
I'd love to have you stop by and enter my giveaway. I don't have these often, and get very few sign ups. But you have a good chance! It's for kids! A nice book. Thanks!
http://nikisbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/another-giveawayoh-my.html
Wow! I NEED a copy of this book!!! PLEEZ!!!!
Hi Kim, thank you for showing off my book on your lovely blog! I hope some of the girls who commented will do their very own story in a wonderful and colorful way. It is my wish that every quilter will tell their story in a quilt-then in 100 years there will be loads of great stories out there
I would so love to find my inner artist. Thank you for the chance.
I love Mary Lou's whimsy. Her book looks fabulous.
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