Customer Reviews

Quilts from Europe: Projects & Inspiration

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
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With one glance, I was pulled in and fascinated by this unique book that features a variety of contemporary European quiltmakers. Each quiltmaker is profiled and a gallery of exciting work is displayed. In addition, each artist shares a project. Each project is well-illustrated and many detail interesting techniques as well as insights into how other quilts were constructed. The layout of the book is stunning--beautiful, rich color and crisp, clear photographs. It's a joy to look at as well as to read. Quilts from Europe is a wonderful addition to any quiltmaker's library.

I purchased this book unseen and was bissfully enthralled when I finally viewed it. WOW! The work showcased is diverse and thrillingly divine. Use of colour is totally inspiring - exquisite - a colour "hit" (for you colour junkies out there). For me this book evokes a great feeling of spontaneity, but also respect for true craftwomenship in colour and design - the artists make it look sooo easy!

The photos through out the book are very clear so the quilting can also be seen well on most pieces. Some of the photos could have been bigger (where there is more than one quilt per page), but generally the photo size has been chosen with great skill balancing maximum number of pictures per artist with maximum detail.

All the quilts are DEFINITELY contemporary ie not traditional, although I would have called Rennee Gosse's (France) "boutis" pieces more traditional. I have seen a similar technique called French trapunto.

It was the most wonderful surprise to discover that each artist provides a project and shares their secrets to recreate that fabulous project. All the projects are a joy to look at and are crying out to be started. In particular, Anne Woringer (France), Dorle Stern-Straeter (Germany) and Odile Texiers (France) projects are truly sensational and I thank them for being so generous in sharing techniques that can only be considered as THEIR OWN as they are the trademarks of each of the mentioned artists work. So, so amazingly exciting!!!

Beginners or unconfident sewers/quilters may not find the projects easy or detailed enough as the directions are brief, although, I consider them precise enough, enabling me to reproduce the particular technique I'm interested in. Personally I really like the layout with minimal, to the point text supported with diagrams. Again the spontaneity of the works shines through as many of the artists improvise as the work is created.

This "treasure" has not left my bedside all year and has been like a key opening creative floodgates. Numerous blocks and quilt designs have gushed forth from reading this fantastic book and realising the unending possibilities for the techniques demonstrated.

Anyone who likes contemporary works, consider this a MUST for your bookshelf. A true delight, a visual feast and high powered fuel for creativity. I can't wait for the next book in the series (yep, that IS a hint! - please I beg you!)

Contemporary quilt look some times to difficult to do, but this book tells you how those artist achieve those amazing results.

I had seen this book at a friends house and really wanted one of my own. Amazon was the only place I could find it. It is a wonderful book for creative ideas! I recomend it highly for the artist and creative quilter.

I am an experienced quilt maker dabbling into art quilting and I found this book very inspirational. Great photos of a wide variety of styles of art quilts not typically seen in the US. Although they do give detailed directions for making several of the quilts in the book, I would likely just use the book for ideas in developing my own designs. Not at all good for beginners, but worth it if you have experience and want to expand your ideas.