Harmonies & Hurricanes : Color and Line in Japanese Quilts [Paperback]

Kumiko Sudo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 1998

The 24 sensational quilts demonstrate Kumiko's incredible range. Her brilliant, bold colors--reminiscent of the striking colors found in a Japanese kimono--capture the spirit of imperial Japan, while her use of delicate shades and intricate patterns remind the reader of the tranquillity of Japanese gardens. She describes how she uses color and line to explore themes, to create context, and, ultimately, to jolt a response from her viewers. Features include 10 all-new quilt patterns with step-by-step instructions and guidance on color choices and fabric analysis.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Uniting the riotous colors of kimono silks with age-old Japanese motifs, acclaimed quilt artist Kumiko Sudo adds her own unique way with design to produce exceptional, eye-catching quilts. Inspired by such traditional themes as the sea, Kabuki and Noh theatre, cherry blossoms, and the imperial court, Sudo's explosive quilts are at once dynamic and serene, imbued with a paradoxical balance of tranquility and chaos, calmness and vibrancy--harmony and hurricanes. The artist meditates on the imaginative origins of each quilt, and along with color photos of her creations, she treats us to pattern diagrams, templates, and brief instructions for seven of her extraordinary quilts. --Amy Handy

About the Author

Kumiko Sudo is an internationally acclaimed quilt and fiber artist whose work is in several public and private quilt collections throughout the United States, including the Museum of American Folk Art, New York. She is the author of four quilting bestsellers: East Quilts West, East Quilts West II, Fabled Flowers, and Circles of the East.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (August 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844226610
• ISBN-13: 978-0844226613
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring..., June 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Harmonies & Hurricanes : Color and Line in Japanese Quilts (Paperback)

The small quilts in this book are inspiring because of their uniqueness. All of her designs are done using applique techniques and she uses silks for most of her quilts. Each of her quilts has a poem or story that she's written or referenced that adds to the beauty of the design. That said, this book is not for the beginning quilter since directions are somewhat vague. There is a gallery quilts, in addition to a section of patterns for small (ie 15 x 17") wallhangings. It is not at all a book for one interested in new techniques. However it would still be great addition to any quilter or fiber artists library as a reference and inspiration.

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting but disappointing, December 29, 2010

By 

Caroline Lamb (Santa Cruz, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harmonies & Hurricanes : Color and Line in Japanese Quilts (Paperback)

Quilt publishers have decided on a single format--the books should all be the same number of pages and should include patterns. This format doesn't work here. The patterns are included, but to make a quilt like Kumiko Sodo's you'd need the vintage kimono fabrics she uses. Also, the instructions assume that you already know what you're doing.
I have no doubt that she makes much more interesting quilts when she doesn't have to supply a pattern for others to make the same quilt. I enjoy seeing her quilts, which are truly unique, but I would much rather have had her simply show off her quilts and discuss color and line in Japanese quilts, as the title suggested. Instead, there is very little information on how she makes her color decisions. I can learn something from looking at her quilts, but less than I had hoped. In short, this could have been a much better book if it had not been squeezed into an inappropriate format.