Customer Reviews

Cutting Garden Quilts: Fabulous Fusible Flowers (That Patchwork Place)

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4 star:		(3)
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I notice that fusible web is being used more and more to make quilts. CUTTING GARDEN QUILTS is no exception. This book makes beautiful flower quilts using fusible web. They are extremely detailed and use thread painting to detail the flowers even further.

Melinda describes her working area and I can only wish I had something similar. A 6' x 4" cutting table is a dream of mine, right down to the 15 drawers to keep things organized and the ability to raise and lower the sewing tables. She also describes what tools/supplies you will need She is very detailed about how to get from a photograph to a quilt with the descriptions of making an outline drawing, enlarging it and choosing colors for the fabric. She includes information on painting with thread to make your quilts pop.

There are five quilts in the book, complete with the outline drawings ready for you to enlarge. Each project has a descriptive paragraph about the quilt subject. Then there is a materials list, assembling instructions, thread detail instructions and how to finish the quilt. A fabric key is also given which shows which color fabric and how much of that fabric is needed.

These are quilts that will take you more than a weekend to complete but will be a beautiful wall hanging when done.

On the dreariest February day you can imagine, I came across Melinda Bula's "Cutting-Garden Quilts" - and she reminded me that spring is just around the corner! Although I don't have a green thumb - and only dream of the gardens that inspire her quilts - she shows you how to create them out of fabric - with breathtaking results!

Melinda wrote this book for two different audiences. For those of you who have an artistic eye and are perfectly comfortable designing your own garden, she leads you through the process that she uses to create these quilts. The instructions are written in such a conversational style that she has taken all of the intimidation out of the projects! I felt like I was sitting at her kitchen table as she talked me through the process.

But, honestly, I really belong to a different audience! For those of us who need more support, she has included patterns for five projects that are created out of fabric - like Paint by Number sets. And, once you are comfortable with the techniques, you will have the confidence to design your own pieces.

Melinda has included photographs of many of her pieces for inspiration and has shown her journey through the creative process. Each piece is dated so you can see how her techniques have evolved - and how quickly you can "grow" as an artist too.

This is a great addition to most boring fusible applique. The detailing she helps you create is astonishing. I have had the book for about 3 weeks and I am on my second one. The Corn Flower on the cover is amazingly simple once you actually get brave enough to start cutting the fabric. Then it became more like making paper dolls with layers of clothes being placed on the doll. You just keep adding layers of fabric until you feel like your done. Or do it the simple way and just trace her designs and start layering. I would suggest using the Steam a seam 2 as she recommends and not the light variety. Some of the pieces are small and the regular Steam a Seam 2 keeps everything in place much more securely. Hope you all have as much fun with this book as I have already.

If you ever have wanted to take a flower picture and make it into a quilt, then this is the book for you. I took Melinda Bula's 5-day-class at Quilt Camp in the Desert in Phoenix January 2009 and found the creative experience both challenging and fun. Melinda's quilts are spectacular in person having seen them at Houston Quilt Festival 2007 where she won awards. She is very entertaining and helpful. Copy one of her fabric charts in the book and glue on your own fabrics to make it easier to chart your design to match colors in your photo. This technique is a bit time consuming to paint using cut pieces of fabric, so choose a simple flower to do first. Even your first attempt will look like a masterpiece. Another way to get your feet wet with this book is to enlarge one of Melinda's designs and use this to create a quilt. The thread play was so much fun and Sulky 30 weight's thickness added a nice dimension. Loosen top tension on your machine and use the right needle. Vicki

This book is well written. The pictures are beautiful, and the directions understandable. The color key provided with each pattern helps you see the range of colors needed, and will help you with fabric selection when you are ready to design your own quilt from a photo of your garden. I'm looking forward to more books from Melinda in the future. Peggy Clark, Folsom, CA

This is the best book on fusible applique that I've seen. I'm actually inspired to try one of the projects because the author has broken down the process of choosing fabrics so well.

Even if you never try one of the projects, the descriptions and pictures make this a really nice "coffee table" book. I think I'm going to have to purchase copies for my mother and sister.

This book explains in detail a unique approach to garden quilts. The directions seem clear and easy to follow. The author has a great eye for fabric and colors. I am enjoying this book

This is a very well written "how-to" manual for those interested in learning to do fused and machine appliqued art quilts. While the book is about creating floral art work, the information given in the book will allow you to translate the techniques in to different venues - such as doing landscape or contemporary art, people, animals, etc. It sets out very clear, concise step-by-step instructions, gives useful tips and suggestions, and has excellent photography - especially the close-ups that really show off the placement of fabrics and the thread work. Each of the projects includes pictures of fabric color "swatches" so you can see each of the colors used in each pattern included in the book, and identifies each by letter or number so that you can match your fabrics to the ones (batiks) Melinda used. It identifies which fabric piece to cut out of each color, and exactly where to place that color shape on your design. Between the written information and the photography you get enough of the basics of this technique to use doing your own designs. If you can't take a class, this is the next best thing.

This is such a great book for beginner applique quilters like myself. I found it easy to follw, very useful and full of great tips and product ideas. I am inspired to get sewing...

I can hardly wait to get going on this one. This is not your mothers or grandmothers quilt.