1718 Coverlet Quiltalong March...

Here are my March blocks for the 1718 Coverlet Quiltalong. I've been changing my bulbs in the studio as they burn out with LEDs. While the energy saving is great, the quality of light is more of a spotlight rather than an even spread. My camera is also misbehaving so the colors and values are not quite right in these shots. Excuses aside, in life I'm enjoying the look of this top as it grows. It is a very absorbing project and you can join in at any time. The quiltalong is organized by Sarah and Amy and is based on the brilliant book about this quilt by Susan Briscoe. To participate, join the group on Facebook. You can see lots of beautiful images on Instagram too... #1718quiltalong

left side:

 

right side:

 

new york beauty...

Quiltmania is one of the best publishers of textile arts and specifically quilting out there. The magazine is superb and every book is a must have. One of their new spring 2015 releases documents the rarely seen but visually arresting New York Beauty pattern from the collection of the USA's Bill Volckening. Bill is one of my online quilt crushes. He voraciously acquires the most amazing quilts from many genres. He lectures, writes a great image-filled blog, self-publishes through Blurb his annual acquisitions and can be found on Instagram. This book documents his collection of NYB quilts from the 1850's to the present. I can't come up with an appropriate superlative to describe how gorgeous the pages are. The book is stuffed with lush photos of the most classically beautiful and quirky quilts. This book is truly inspiring and a great addition to your library...

 The early, 1850 Kentucky:

The odd and unloved, 1860-1920 USA:

 

and the recent, 2011 Jana Schmitt Iowa.

holiday goodness...

Will be spending the day making these beautiful Easter egg nests and the rest of the weekend trying not to eat them all. Tried to find some holiday inspired quilts but unlike Christmas ones they seem to be quite rare. I did find these exquisitely embroidered wool eggs. The web is filled with tutorials on how to make them...

If Passover is more your flavor, here is a gorgeous six-pointed star quilt reminiscent of the Star of David made by the ever talented Lesly .

Happy holidays!