Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Giveaway- My Friends Wrote a Book!


{{giveaway now closed, winner is comment #7, Allison C. Thank you!}}



You guys, I know a couple of quilting rock stars.

Andie and Kelly's brand new book is called Modern Designs for Classic Quilts and it's truly a gorgeous book. Now it is true that they are two lovely and hilarious people that I love to hang out with, but aside from that, if this book was crap I wouldn't be posting about it :)



I've only had this book a very short time and I've already been inspired to make two of the quilts- and pseudo started on them. That cover quilt by Kelly absolutely breathtaking, don't you think? This is the stack I've picked out to make the quilt for someone special who loves these kind of bright and tropical colors. I've still never made an all log-cabin quilt, and as soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew this was the one I've been waiting for. Just need to pick out my two solids and I'm ready to cut!

One thing I love about the this book is that there is no shortage of photos and diagrams of every single quilt. Plus clear illustrations of each construction step. The 12 large quilt projects cover all the traditional-gone-modern blocks and styles you could want to learn as a quilter- log cabins, dresdens, New York beauty, flying geese, postage stamps, hexies, and even wonky improv. And while the quilt patterns are beautiful and clear to follow, the projects are each presented in a way that make it easy for you to make it your own. Learn the basic block from the book, then make their quilt or make your own riff on it. I love that kind of freedom in a quilting book!



The second project I've already been inspired by is Andie's simple flying geese quilt. This is my month to pick the design for our charity quilt in the Harmony Circle of Do Good Stitches. I loved the idea of geese floating in all that beautiful negative space, so I told the girls in my group to make strips of 12 flying geese in a gray, aqua, navy, and citron yellow color scheme on a white background. I'm so excited to start getting their strips and put this quilt together!



The book is set up to have a smaller project that goes along with the skill learned in each big quilt project- stuff like table runners, pillows, and wall hangings. Projects with smaller time commitments are always great in a craft book. And I LOVE the little notes on each project that give tips starting with "Andie says..." or "Kelly says..." I can tell you that these are written exactly how the girls would talk. They are hilarious and totally make you feel like you are just quilting with some favorite friends.




You know how every quilting book has that part in the beginning that teaches you really basic stuff like rotary cutting and binding? Most of the time, these sections are kind of just a throw away and you can skim past them. But I think this instructional section is one of the most valuable reasons you should own this book. The picture tutorials go way beyond the basics and cover so much skill. They teach you how to do foundation paper piecing, English paper piecing, piecing curves, installing a pillow zipper, making ruffles, appliqués, and all kinds of things. It's so valuable to have all those tutorials in one place on your bookshelf. Sometimes the two of them even share different ways of doing things. (Spoiler alert: Andie presses seams open and Kelly doesn't. Gasp!)



This is just about the cutest picture of Andie and Kelly and it makes me so proud of them! It's very cool that the book is written by just a couple of friends who love to quilt. You can really hear both their voices and styles in the book. In the intro, they share their thoughts about traditional and modern quilting in a way that really sums up beautifully what the two styles mean to each other and what the modern movement is all about. 

So have I gushed enough to sell you on this book yet? The quilts are absolutely beautiful, but even if you aren't one to follow tons of patterns in books, the basic instruction and general inspiration is priceless. I'm super lucky that I get to see all the quilts in person at the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild meeting tonight. 

You should go buy it now!


Also be sure to check out these other fantastic stops on the blog tour:

Monday, Nov. 5         (Andie and Kelly, AndieJohnsonSews and Stitchy Quilt Stuff)
Tuesday, Nov. 6       (Lindsay, CraftBuds)
Wed., Nov. 7             (Jill, Darling Jill Quilts)
Thursday, Nov. 8      (Faith, Fresh Lemons)
Friday, Nov. 9            (Tracy, Generation Q)
Saturday, Nov. 10    (Angela, Quilting is my Therapy)
Sunday, Nov. 11       (Shannon, Stitch Craft Create)
Monday, Nov. 12      (Laurie, Scarlet Fig)
Tuesday, Nov. 13     (Lindsay, The Cottage Mama)
Wed., Nov. 14           (Jessica, A Little Gray)
Thursday, Nov. 15   (Mary, The Tulip Patch)
Friday, Nov. 16         (Deborah, Whipstitch)
Saturday, Nov. 17    (Kaysie, KZJo’s Studio)
Sunday, Nov. 18       (Jenny, Sew Kind of Wonderful)
Monday, Nov. 19      (Carla, LollyQuiltz)
Tuesday, Nov. 20     (Thomas, Thomas Knauer Sews)

Wed., Nov. 21           (Brenda, Pink Castle Fabrics)

Thursday, Nov. 22    (Lindsay & Liz Rea, CraftBudsInspire Me Grey)

Friday, Nov. 23            (Sarah, The Last Piece)

Saturday, Nov. 24        (Andie and Kelly, AndieJohnsonSews and Stitchy Quilt Stuff)



Ok, ready for the chance to win your own copy? Just leave me a comment here about which type of quilt block or design you've always wanted to try but haven't gotten around to yet. Make sure to include your email in the comment! (Sorry, U.S. entries only please.)







85 comments:

  1. Great review, Jessica! Myself, I've wanted to do an all log cabin quilt as well. Someday!

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  2. I've always wanted to do a log cabin quilt or a bear paw quilt!

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  3. wow, this book looks cool! I didn't really notice the other reviews much. Cool that you're all friends. :)))

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  4. HI! BOOK LOOKS SO NEAT!
    LOVE TO DO AN ALL LOG CABIN QUILT TOO!
    HAPPY STITCHING!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

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  5. This looks like a wonderful book!
    fooshe1@yahoo.com

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  6. I, too, have always wanted to do a log cabin quilt. I just never seem to get to it!

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  7. I haven't tried hexies and log cabins, but it is on the list!

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  8. I have never made a log cabin and I love the look of the modern ones.

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  9. Looks like an awesome book! Beautiful quilts. I really want to make the "Swoon" quilt. Is that block called the Swoon block? hehe, well that is the one I'm really wanting to make.

    Thank you, Kellie and Andie for a great giveaway and a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. I have only made one log cabin block (didn't get past that) but the one I'd really like to do is a flock of geese quilt.

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  11. Looks like an amazing book! Adding it to my Christmas list! I've never attempted flying geese blocks - maybe someday :-)

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  12. This book looks beautiful! I'd love to make hexies or flying geese! Jones.Anna.k@gmail.com

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  13. This book looks beautiful! I'd love to make hexies or flying geese! Jones.Anna.k@gmail.com

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  14. I am loving your Christmas Movie theme crafts! And The Birds baby is hilarious! Came by way of Andie, a blog friend for awhile now. jealous that you get to hang with her... rockstar that she is.

    My fave quilt is the New York Beauty style one.

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  15. Wow! This book looks incredible!!! I'd really love to try paper piecing. :)

    mrsrachelsbooth at gmail dot com

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  16. I've never made a Log Cabin...one day...seems never to arrive.
    But I would so very much Like to make a Log Cabin Quilt.

    sowingstitches [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  17. Log cabin - seems too easy, so I don't go there! I must put this on my bucket list.

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  18. What a great book! As for a block I would like to try that I haven't is the Churn Dash...it looks so simple but I've been seeing it done up so many different ways now - curved, stripped pieced, etc. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  19. I have always wanted to try some type of Tumbler block in a quilt... just haven't got there yet ;-)

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  20. Wow! nice giveaway! I LOOOVE the quilt on the cover. As for a type of quilt I'd like to sew, I've only made one so far... i'm pretty new to that world. I'm sure any one in that book would make me drool! (I DO want to make one next for my boy though...does "truck quilt" count?)

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  21. ok, what do you call those stacked books quilts? (like the table runner you pictured) they are so simple, but i love every one i see. someday i will make stack of books.

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  22. I love the look of the flying geese that you showed! I made a quilt out of them ages ago, but they didn't look anywhere that cool!

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  23. This book looks awesome! I love the projects from it you share-- I have to admit, I'm jealous you get to see all those quilts in person :) I've been wanting to try paper piecing some blocks-- can't quite wrap my mind around it yet, but someday I'll take the plunge!

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  24. i've always wanted to make a drunkard's path quilt. thanks for the giveaway!

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  25. Curved piecing. New York Beauty block. More complicated paper piecing. Could use inspiration and help for all of these!

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  26. I've only ever made one log cabin block and it happened to be for my very first quilt...saw the quilt on the cover and almost died...I have to make this!

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  27. I want to make a wonky log cabin and haven't gotten around to it yet. We are lucky enough to have Kelly in our Modern Quilt Guild now. She is a lot of fun.

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  28. I'm just learning to quilt, but someday would like to be able to do Grandmothers Cross
    sdjg@pacbell.net

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  29. Not sure if I would really consider myself a quilter. I've only made one appliqued throw for my son and it was so simple anyone could do it. But I really enjoyed the process and am planning to make quilts for my daughter and my four nephews. I would really love a copy of this book. I like the Flying Geese quilt that you mentioned above. It looks so lovely. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of the book. It's definitely going on my Amazon wishlist!

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  30. I have always wanted to make a Celtic Knot quilt!
    susan.stitch@sbcglobal.net

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  31. I have always loved double wedding ring and I spotted one the other day on another blog that was so modern and beautiful!! Dark gray instead of a white background, and some of my favorite prints on the rings....someday I might be brave enough to cut out all those tiny pieces :)

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    1. I forgot to add my email: katiep39932 at gmail.com

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  32. One that was on my list for a long time was a dresden plate and I recently did that thanks to an online QAL. Now I'm thinking I need to try a double wedding ring.
    jklmengland (at) windstream (dot) net

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  33. I'm still a novice quilter, but I have a lot of fabric strips that I aim to make into a quilt as a gift some a special couple.

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  34. I am totally new to quilting but I am in love with the Swoon quilt and would love to try it some day!

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  35. I've always wanted to make a dresden plate but I've never done it.

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  36. I want to make ANY quilt... I never have and It is on my "to be accomplished in 2013" list.

    Desi
    weeshareblog@gmail.com

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  37. I love the log cabins, especially from the cover quilt on this book, but I also have hopes of doing a bear claw block in really modern fabrics and colors! So excited to get my hands on this book! Thanks!!

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  38. This book looks fabulous! I would love to win a copy. I have always wanted to make a red white and blue log cabin quilt. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.

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  39. I would like to do the flying geese quilt.

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  40. I don't know why, but I haven't tried the flying geese pattern yet. Seems I always gravitate to the rectangular designs. Great review!

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  41. I'm very new to quilting so I haven't made many blocks, but I really like the table runner in the book. Thanks for the fun giveaway.

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  42. I need to learn paper piecing - always so amazed by those types of designs but I'm tooootally clueless how to actually do it. This book looks awesome!!

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  43. I have been wanting to make a flying geese quilt! Love the pieces they have put together!
    alyssabpittman at gmail dot com

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  44. I love a flying geese block. there was one a while back that was flying geese in a circle which I thought was an awesome modern twist on a very traditional block. Its on my list to make one day! whatshequilts at gmail dot come

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  45. Double wedding ring and cathedral windows. Thank you .

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  46. Cathedral windows intrigue me. And I want to make a herringbone quilt someday

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  47. hmmm, i have flying geese on my to-do list ... that flying geese quilt would get me a nice taste of flying geese! i do love that simplistic look of of flying geese pattern in the book.

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  48. I know the log cabin is pretty elementary, but I've never tackled it and will one of these days.

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  49. I am jealous that you got to see them all in person.

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  50. Pieced. I want to try it, but it looks difficult. All those tiny pieces.

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  51. I love the one that looks like a bunch of books stacked on their side. I don't even know what you call it!

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  52. I also want to try Flying Geese panels in a quilt. I also want to do a scrappy Churn Dash quilt. Thanks for the sneak peek and for the chance to win!

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  53. I plan to make a Courthouse Steps quilt, but haven't done it yet. Soon, soon...

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  54. I really want to make a modern log cabin like the one on the book cover!

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  55. Oh I so hope to win! A Dresden or Hexie quilt would be cool to explore. Ps. Is there an easy way to cut out Hexie pieces?
    Lisa.edmisson@gmail.com

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  56. I just want to make a modern quilt so I can play with the longarm quilting designs!!! I love the way they use traditional patterns with a twist!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this awesome book!

    wild_blue_farm@yahoo.com

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  57. I would love to try Flying Geese. It looks so inticate, but when I read the directions, I think wow, that's not so bad. I love the Flying Geese in this book! I could do that!

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  58. what great quilts!!! that flying geese with the dark background and the log cabin with neutral and brights?! fabulous!

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  59. You are so cute. I love your spoiler alert. ;) The book sounds fun! I really, really, REALLY, want to make a Lone Star quilt. (really).

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  60. Love the pictures you shared! I would like to try doing some hexies.

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  61. I also love the Flying Geese Pattern. I have made numerous Flying Geese, but never thought to make them with that lovely dark background.
    I am also in love with the Dresden Plate Pattern!

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  62. Maybe the traditional log cabin?
    :) maryjowyse at yahoo dot com

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  63. I really, really admire NY Beauty, but have never dared to try it. Thanks so much!

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  64. I want to make a Mariner's Compass. But I think I'll go for the wonderful flying geese for now.

    Kristin
    kamerrigan at hotmail dot com

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  65. Log Cabin.

    melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com

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  66. dresden plates is what I want to make and never have. Oh, and a hexagon quilt.

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  67. log cabin quilt - and I love the cover quilt mlwright29(at)hotmail(dot)com is alternate email

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  68. I'm a new quilted so the number of blocks I want to try is enormous! I would like to have a project that includes bias cuts be successful for once, so think flying geese. Thanks for sharing about the instructional portion of the book. I've been looking for something to go to for techniques and it sounds like this would be a good option.

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  69. I've never made a quilt before - I just barely started sewing last year, but quilts are on my list of things to learn. Hopefully this book could give me the instruction I need to start completely from step one!

    treen1026@hotmail.com

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  70. I've always wanted to do a flying geese quilt....all over flying geese just like the one you showed. And I love the cover log cabin quilt, too! I REALLY NEED to win!!! debgiro at wildblue dot net

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  71. Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book. I wanna make the spider web quilt!

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  72. I've always love the pineapples quilts but have never made one. Looks like a great quilt book

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  73. I have always wanted to do Pickle Dish - maybe someday. Thanks for sharing.

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  74. Dresden is my "want to make" design/block!
    lisamcgriff(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  75. I'd like one day to do a New York Beauty, and know I will someday.

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  76. Great review! Sounds like an awesome book to have. I'm wanting to make a New York Beauty. Someday!

    Thank you, Kelly and Andie for a super giveaway and a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  77. This looks like a fabulous book! I love the look of that flying geese quilt.

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  78. I would like to try the hexagon quilt block.

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  79. Wow, great book review, good work. Ihave a list about a mile long of whaat I want to try to learn some day. Believe it or not I have done a number of log cabin projects, they are a lot of fun, and so versital. I will say I want to do a hexy quilt, and a dresden plate and learnn how to do those port hole blocks.

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  80. I would like to make an applique quilt someday but just can't jump into it yet!
    hulseybg at gmail dot com

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Thanks so much for your comments-I LOVE to hear from you, so speak up! And I usually reply in email to your questions, so make sure your profile has your email.