Customer Reviews

Ideas and Inspirations: Abstract Quilts in Solids

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is, as Gwen points out in the introduction, a book for adult quilters. There are no instructions, just beautiful photographs of quilts. Many are made by Gwen and she mentions the things and quilts that inspired her. Not many people quilt with solid colors anymore, so it is a real treat to see how beautiful and striking these colors can be. You will not be disappointed in this book, it is a dazzler! It has been printed on high quality paper which really allows the reader to appreciate the depth of the colors and designs. Apparently if ordered from some sites, you will receive a copy printed on cheaper, matte paper. I would recommend going to Gwen's web page and ordering from her to make sure you get the properly printed copy of this gem.

Amazon price at this time is $21.79. 8.2 inches by 8.2 inches and only 68 pages!! (This count includes the flyleaves.) Feels like a children's book, or a pretty class handout for a week-long class. Each quilt appears in two photos on facing pages--one is a detail, not very close up, but about the same size, which doesn't really add information--so we could have seen twice as many quilts! The brief text is anecdotal, contributing not much more than the pure pictorial. The attractive quilts are largely variations on a theme.
For a much richer experience, try Intuitive Color and Design by Jean Wells (currently available from Amazon for $18.45) which has a similar aesthetic and 96 larger pages sized 10.7 by 8.4 inches. This artist uses many solid color, or almost-solid-color fabrics. She discusses in detail the design process. Her many ideas in this area should be very helpful as you design your own quilts. I am spending hours with this book already, and feel I have not yet mastered the content and the helpful suggestions. There is a variety and richness to the quilts, which have a similar free-form and abstract quality to the smaller, more expensive, less useful book.

For the first time ever, I am really disappointed in a book. Most have redeeming values somewhere. Not this one.

To begin with, it is 8.5 x 8.5 inches square. Little

It is short -- so short, the editor decided to not include page numbers nor a table of contents, and I will not take the time to count the pages, but it is less than 30, I'll bet.

There are less than 8 pages of copy -- maybe, and I'm including boilerplate pages, title page, the titles and two line explanations of the quilts, and the font size is large, too.

It is expensive -- $21 for this?!

I'm sorry to say it is a rip off.

I was surprised to read some of the reviews of this book until I saw the Amazon edition during a recent class. The original printing of Abstract Quilts in Solids is done on wonderful thick paper so you can appreciate the quilts right down to the tiny quilting stitches. That is what this book is about right? Photos of amazing quilts to inspire you.

Unfortunately the printing done by Amazon doesn't quilt fit the bill. The paper is lighter weight and not as glossy which dulls the colors and loses much of the detail that makes the original so exciting.

Generally I love Amazon but this time I recommend you spent the extra time and money to go for the original. It is well worth it!

This is truly an inspiring book....I am a big Gwen fan and this one delivers.
Not a how-to book, just beautiful photos. If you have any of her previous books, you'll have the info you need to create these abstract beauties!

I have 2 different ratings for this book. I love the content, however, this book is a "copy" of the original book and printed on a lesser grade, matte finish paper. This past week I saw an original copy of the book. Wow, what a difference in color. Mine is quite faded out while the original is very vibrant. I agree with the other review that your money is better spent by going to the author directly.

I bought one of these delightful books directly from the author as a gift for a quilter friend who loved it, and found inspiration to further her art. When I wanted one for my library, I ordered from amazon ... and much to my surprise, the printing job was different! The books that the author sells directly from her publisher are on a nice glossy stock which show off the superb photography. On the ones amazon sells, the stock is flimsier and matte finish, which substantiall diminishes the rich and colorful experience of seeing Gwen's quilts. I would recommend you order it from her website or buy one directly from the author, rather than the reprints which amazon does.