We Love Color, published by Stash Books – an imprint of C&T Publishing, features 16 quilts created by 16 designers known for their original style and use of colour:
- Lisa Call
- Emily Cier
- Alisa Haight Carlton
- Malka Dubrawsky
- Amy Ellis
- Jacqui Gering
- Elizabeth Hartman
- Australia’s very own Rita Hodge.
- Cherri House
- Kathy Mack
- Weeks Ringle & Bill Kerr
- Jennifer Sampou
- Jean Wells
- Valori Wells
- Betz White
- Kajsa Wikman
The book is beautifully presented with modern fonts, clean design, clear diagrams and lots of white space. Interestingly, the term “modern quilting” is not used although many of the projects fit within that aesthetic. Rather the focus is squarely on showcasing Kona Cotton solids by Robert Kaufman that come in a range of more than 200 colours.
Every time I open the book, a different design catches my eye. Orbit (scroll down to third photo) by Jennifer Sampou incorporates freecut, raw edge circles to dramatic painterly effect. Think Big by Jacquie Gering, shown on the book cover, creates the optical illusion of floating windows from simple shapes. Stepping Stones by Lisa Call features a more muted palette inspired by the floor pattern in an outdoor yoga studio in Costa Rica and the photos highlight Lisa’s expert intense linear quilting.
I didn’t get the book for the patterns (I prefer to make my own designs) but there is plenty to inspire. There is also a three page Quiltmaking Basics section on how to finish a quilt. It may be short but I was pleased to see that it includes clear instructions on Completing a Binding with an Invisible Seam that I consider is the best way to achieve Binding without Bulges (see my tutorial).
The book finishes off with an interview with Denyse Schmidt, commenting on improvisational piecing and the role of solids in quiltmaking, and a double “Resources” page of coloured squares showing the number and name of all the Kona Cotton Solids featured in the book.
As good as the book is, the Resources page is no substitute for a Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Colour Card that comes with actual fabric swatches. Every time I open my colour card it makes me happy:
Other fabrics may come and go but Kona Cotton Solids are timeless and versatile. In Australia, Robert Kaufmann Kona Solids are distributed by 2 Green Zebras and available from many stores including Hobbysew.
Related posts:
- Creating with Solids #3:Shapes & Negative Space
- Creating with Solids #2: It’s All About Colour!
- Creating with Solids #1:Lines of Expression
Look out for my forthcoming Quilters Companion DVD – Modern Quilts: Improvising Using Stacks of Solids. Out on 12 December!
