14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marvelous Miniatures is MARVELOUS !!, December 27, 2007
This review is from: Marvelous Miniatures (Rodale's Successful Quilting Library) (Hardcover)
After peeking inside (don't you just love it when quilt book publishers have enough faith in their contents to let you see first, before purchase?) I was sure I'd like the book, even though it is a hard-cover.
Okay, I prefer paperback's but for this one, I'll make an exception -- at least until they print a pb version. The book is superb, and that's a word I don't use frequently, especially when referring to my quilt books.
Frankly, over the years I've bought way too many that turned out to be "not for me" or plain old boring. I'll admit to preferring the newer books with lots of color photographs -- and I do have a partiality to decent paper, well-bound books that won't have pages falling out if I sneeze in the vicinity, et al.
So, I'm "selective" (that's a nice way to say picky, er, nit-picky) ...
And, I like little things -- so this book
Marvelous Miniatures (Rodale's Successful Quilting Library) had appeal from the get-go.
From the beginning to the very end, this book is a pure delight.
Open the book, and the end pages (normally blank) show an "Anatomy of a Quilt" so right away even a novice will have a clear understanding of terminology.
Inside the illustrations are profuse, in color, clearly explained, and *helpful* -- plus the tools are so cool! Okay, I'm a gizmo-holic, and these appeal to my sense of "ooh, I need that too" though truth to tell, there aren't *that* many toys, er, tools that I don't have already!
Aside: the author does not promote one brand either -- you've all see the books no doubt that are so clearly trumped by ruler companies, that double as "informative" but really leave a feeling of "I paid perfectly good money to be spammed"?! Ugh. Marvelous Miniatures doesn't fall into that trap... I just opened the book (pages 40-41) and see scissors, a 1"x6" generic ruler, a rotary cutter, Mini Cut & Press cutting board/iron pad, one of those miniature irons, and a green cutting mat -- the 8x12" one.
Advice: sniff your cutting pad before purchase. If it stinks in the store it'll stink at home MUCH WORSE. Ask me how I know that! And no amount of fresh air will cure it either. (mutters at self for going cheap/and getting exactly what I paid for)
But I digress... and back to Marvelous Miniatures... the pages explain/show, give measurements for, patterns, and thorough instructions for success. It explains how to mini the full sized quilts we may have. The book offers specifics -- not just a shrink this to these dimensions. There are tips too ... little things that we'd learn in practice anyway, but definitely of the nice to know first variety.
Included are sections on Foundation Piecing and English Paper Piecing for those that are so inclined. Not my thing, but I mention it anyway for those that do prefer that. One thing I liked is that there is so much variety and information within these pages, and frankly, my biggest problem will be where to start. They are all that good. Everything from string quilts to mini crazy quilts, Baltimore Albums and more. Gosh, there are lots to chose from. Fun, fun, fun!!!
There's even a section of what to do with our miniature blocks -- everything from needle cases to dollhouse chair cushions, rugs, eyeglass cases, and sachets... any of which would make a great gift. Note to readers: I likes presents! (wink)
Just prior to the index is a section entitled Miniatures Glossary, and it's a nice idea/good thing to have, especially if you're drawing a blank or just beginning. Frankly I could easily see a doll house enthusiast buying this book -- it's not just for quilters. The list of suppliers (everything from Clotilde to Sudberry House and Thangles -- and lots in between) is conveniently located near the index. As for the index and it is thorough.
The final end pages show quilting styles -- everything from fans to in the ditch, meandering, one reminds me of Cathedral windows, some feathers, echo quilting and more.
I'd definitely buy Marvelous Miniatures again. It's MARVELOUS.
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