The book that may have changed my quilting life

Today I'm delighted to be Stop #11 on the blog tour for Sujata Shah's new book, Cultural Fusion Quilts.  When Sujata emailed me in November and asked me to participate, I didn't hesitate.  I've been following her blog, The Root Connection, for years and have long been a fan of her personal, dynamic quilts.  If you're new to Sujata's work, you're in for a treat!

In this, her first book, Sujata has drawn from a variety of experiences and inspirations ~ her childhood in India, her graphic design education and her long interest in patterns and folk art and crafts ~ to develop a quilt style of her own.  As she says in the book, "What inspires me is everything handmade. Irregularities, organic lines and imperfections in handmade things make me wonder about the maker's life and mind-set during the making of the craft.  I feel connected to my quilts because my life lives in them."  

The layout of Cultural Fusion Quilts is thoughtful and useful.  Sujata starts by discussing her journey as a quilter and what brought her from her early disdain of stitching to thoroughly embracing its expressive possibilities. Several short chapters follow in which she explains her methods of free form piecing and offers her thoughts on fabric selection.  Then come the project pages, featuring 15 of Sujata's joyful creations.  While most of these quilts are based on recognizable traditional patterns, her easy approach and vibrant fabric choices transform them into something special.  These chapters each feature one of her quilts, a photo and short description of her inspiration, cutting and assembly instructions and a list of *possibilities* ~ suggestions for ways to further explore the design.

If you're a regular visitor here, you know that my favorite quilts are often offbeat, individual pieces, quilts that make you wonder, "What the heck was she thinking?".  Yet most of my quilts are pretty "tight" in design and execution. I seem to be hard-wired that way!  So I decided to take a more hands-on approach in my review and try some of Sujata's suggestions to see if I could loosen up a bit. I've always loved a zig-zag quilt and the cover quilt is a zinger, so it seemed like a good start. I flipped to its project page. Look ~ no templates, no rulers! Can I do this?  

As instructed, I layered two fabrics and, freehand, sliced a gentle curve down their length.  Check!

Two pairs, sewn together ~ hmmm, that was easy.  I know, some of you are laughing ~ go ahead!  Although I've spent time with the Gee's Bend quilters and own most of Gwen Marston's liberated quilting books, I never quite believed you could really sew neat curves without clipping or rippling along the seam. Time to push the envelope.  How about something more pronounced?

I tried another set and to my surprise, even this more exaggerated wavy curve, stitched with a 1/4" seam, set in smooth as could be.  A revelation!  (A personal tip ~ don't wonder about something for years, give it a try!)  The top piece is the wrong side view so you can see that pretty seam, flat as can be.  Once this 15 minute exercise was complete, there was no stopping me.

After my recent projects (tiny appliqué, 2" squares, bright, small prints), it was so much fun to start pulling beautiful, bold fabrics from my stash, prints that I had purchased for their exciting visual patterns and luscious colors but never could seem to make work in my fussy pieces because of scale or busy-ness. Before I knew it, I had pulled out quite a pile ~ richly colored Anna Maria Horner and Tula Pink prints, Kaffe Fassett florals and text prints I'd hauled home from trips to Japan.  Only the tug of our Christmas decorations, still sitting boxed by our bare tree, made me finally put down my rotary cutter after 6 blocks' worth of fun.

Before I pulled myself away, I had to quickly try rearranging the smaller squares into a different version. I have so many ideas for quilts I want to make from this book next year that my mind is reeling!  The ease and speed with which these blocks went together tells me that I might just achieve that goal.  What fun designs to balance out my more time-intensive projects!

Have I convinced you that you need to consider this book for your quilt library?  I'll share that yes, I did receive an e-copy of Cultural Fusion Quilts to review, but after flipping through only the first few pages, I immediately clicked over to Amazon and moved it from my wish list to *order now*!  I've been on a quilt book diet this year but Sujata's book is the equivalent of that one chocolate that you can't resist!

The good news is that you can have a chance to win a copy by leaving a comment on this post.  (Book for U.S. winner, E-book for international winner)  Comments will be open for 5 days at which time a winner will be chosen at random and announced in a post.  Even better news is that if you haven't visited previous stops on the book tour, several from the past few days are still accepting comments so that means even more chances to win.  (And more beautiful photos to see from the book!)  

Following is the list of remaining stops on the Cultural Fusion Quilts tour as well as those still accepting comments.  Congratulations, Sujata, on a wonderful book!

*    *    *    *    * 

Monday December 8 Malka Dubrawsky @ A Stitch in Dye

Tuesday December 9 Sherri Lynn Wood @ daintytime

Wednesday December10 Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville's Quips and Snips

Thursday December 11 Jake Finch @ Generation Q

Friday December 12 Jan Burgwinkle @ Be*mused

Saturday December 13 Janet Treen @ Quiltsalott

Sunday December 14 Lindsay Conner @ Lindsay Sews 

Comments

[Jane]

I am so inspired by Sujata's quilts and was thrilled when I heard about her book! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Thanks for the chance!

[Deb]

I love following tours and reading artists blogs that I am unfamiliar with. Someone will be very lucky to win this great book!

[carol]

What a wonderfully written review! I am so excited for the entire quilting world to finally experience Sujata's inspiration and techniques through her new book and after reading this post, I imagine everyone will be ordering it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

[quiltdivajulie]

Great post about a great book! I've followed The Root Connection for a very long time now and SO appreciate Sujata's work.

I'd love to win a copy of the book so that I can gift it to my quilting friend who wants to be less dependent on precise measurements but isn't quite sure how to loosen up. I love my copy and I'm sure it would become a favorite for my friend!

[roberta]

Imalways loved sujata's style....her own...we should all try out to loosen up a bit !
Love from venice, itally

[quiltmom anna]

what a fun book of great improv techniques- I would love to win a copy- thanks for the chance.
I am interested in that Ticket to Ride- I have a friend who loves games- I will have to check that one out.
Regards from Alberta,
Anna

[Elizabeth]

I too have put off curves but you make it look inviting! Thanks for sharing and look forward to trying some of Sujata's patterns

[quiltmom anna]

Looks like a great book- thanks for the chance to win such a nice book.
Regards from Alberta,
Anna

[Dinah]

This looks like a fantastic book! I would love to win it!

[Pat Hanna]

What an inspiring book. This is definitely on my "must have" list.

[Ruth]

I especially like the quilt on the cover of the book! Please add me to the drawing!

[Kimberly Brandt]

Oh thanks so much for the chance to win! this book looks like so much fun and it would be great to learn a more relax way to quilt too.

Happy Sewing and Merry Christmas

[Debbie Miller]

Love the vibrant color and freedom piecing-a great book to win-thanks for the chance!

[Melissa]

I agree this book is a must have and is on my wish list but maybe I can get lucky and win it.

[Karen]

This book would be a wonderful opportunity for me to change my quilt making techniques, which is something I've been wanting to do. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win the book.

[Gunilla]

The book looks sooo inspiring! Love the quilt on the cover, a must make for me!

[Ellee]

Sujata's approach to design is so different from what I've learned. I'd like to study this book to tap into my creativity potential.

[Pam cope]

Hi Jan! Thanks for the great post and review. This sounds like a great book to add to my library. Always trying to find ways to use some of those "special" fabrics. Hope you have a merry stress-free Chistmas. How nice to have Molly close enough to spend some time at home. Take care.

[jodi]

Hoping that this time's a charm!

[Dale Bolton]

I do love her style of quilting and would enjoy a copy of her book. Thanks for giving me a chance to win it.

[Mary]

Looks very interesting?

[DebV]

I think this book would be just what I need to set me free from the perfect patterns and cutting I follow. Although that is what my family likes, I would love to do some improv.

[Penny]

Excellent advice:"don't wonder about something for years, give it a try".

[Ruth]

I love the quilt on the cover of this book! Please add me to the drawing.

[lynn]

the book looks amazing!
the colors, design….
i make scrap quilts then donate them
to kidzquilts through our local guild….
i'd love to win!

[Charleen]

I would love this, although I admit it's on my Christmas wishlist!! By the way, I used your crockpot mashed potato recipe for Thanksgiving this year and it was a huge hit!! Thank you!!

[Denise]

This book looks exciting & I's looking for some new inspiratrion & techniques.
Merry Christmas to you & your family