Well, hello there! *shoos away the moths and cleans up the cobwebs* Dusting off the blog here. It's been SO long that I'm surprised that I even remember how to compose a post!
I've been wildly busy with the newness in my life that is known as Cotton+Steel, that it seems that there just isn't any time for blogging anymore. Why are you posting now you ask?
Well, Thomas Knauer asked me to! Haha! He asked if I'd like to participate in the blog tour for his new book, Modern Quilt Perspectives, how could I not crank up the old blog for my friend?? Yaaaaaay, Happy New Book Day(month?)!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO excited and honored to be the 2nd to last stop on the blog tour train! Woot woot!
I'm so proud of Thomas for what he has accomplished in such a short time and I was eager to see what he would bring to the table when he finally wrote a book. In typical Thomas fashion, he does not disappoint. Modern Quilt Perspectives is not your typical quilt book. It's as much cerebral and emotional, as it is chock full of design eye candy and his words draw you in as he explains his thought process behind each quilt which he garnishes with much food for thought. I simply love it.
The variety of quilt projects are equally pleasing to me, a little something for everyone. Soft and subtle to bold and daring, there's a balance that is hard to accomplish when one is creating several designs in this way. Perhaps it's because these quilts weren't designed just to be pretty, but to enrich our lives in some way, as well as make a statement!
One of my favorite in the series is 'Ampersand'. He tells the story of snuggling with his little under the quilt, choosing one of the illustrated prints, and beginning a story. "When we need fresh inspiration, one of us says “and,” points to another of many prints within the ampersand itself, and the story continues." Such a fun and simple idea to enjoy with your wee ones!
'Answer Key' is a favorite for me because of the Japanese vibes that it lends. The linen, combined with the blacks, greys, and blues reminds me of a vintage panel you might find in a traditional Japanese home. The splash of color here and there, as well the clever quilting, add dimension where the quilt could have ended up appearing flat without it.
The quilting takes on big meaning here. Thomas writes, "As a thought experiment, Answer Key is a reminder of the wonder in the details, the pleasure of just sitting around the table and talking. The questions and answers are merely the starting points; the true connections between people happen in the tangents, in the spaces between the answers, between the dots. Answer Key exhorts us to follow the overlapping threads that intertwine to produce the profound texture of our lives together."
Speaking of our lives together, 'Split Personality' is one that caught my eye. The story behind this quilt speaks to the differences between us, but yet there are commonalities that we share. I truly love the thought of this and the design behind it. A gentle nod to our traditional roots, but with this brilliant negative space that makes the quilt balanced.
It's sort of like Quilt Market. So many walks of life, with different aesthetics, some holding steadfast onto quilting traditions, others pushing bounderies, and some hanging out somewhere in the middle. But at the end of the day, we're all there for the same purpose, because we love to sew, right? :)
My absolute favorite of all is 'Excess'. I loved this one right away because of how busy it is. Traditional with a "modern twist". The story behind it made me love it more and I actually got a little teary eyed while reading it. (Since having children I can cry at the drop of a hat. Don't judge me.) The quilt is a memorial quilt that's 13' long and is designed to pool on the floor when hung from a wall. I'd love to have a quilt this size one day and I would display it the same way.
I loved this book. It really resonated with me. As a designer, it's so wonderful when you can be inspired by your peers and this is definitely one of those times. I'll definitely be looking at things with a different perspective when I sit down at my worktable tomorrow.
One quote that I love, "I have come to really love the idea of quilt patterns, the idea of these quilts being made and remade in untold variations, and the ways in which these quilts will become parts of people’s lives." Well said my friend. :)
Want to win a copy of this grand book??? Has there been anything lately that's inspired you to rethink how you do your art/crafts/sewing/quilting? Leave a comment below!
Don't forget to go to Thomas' blog for the last stop tomorrow!
