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

[Darlene]

I have a few children's quilts to make and these patterns are perfect for them.

[James]

I will also wonder and think about trying a new technique for years and then finally dive in....only to discover it isn't that hard after all. Hopefully the inspiration in this book will push me further. Thanks for the chance to win!

[Margaret Griffiths]

wonderful book thanks for the give away

[Becky T.]

Oh wow... this book just keeps looking better and better!

[Anita]

Awesome book, so bold and beautiful!

[Susan]

Your blog post about this book made me want to read it! I think I need to let loose on my so far structured quilting. Thanks.

[Marilyn R]

What an inspiration for me since I don't do well with straight lines...
the quilts are beautiful. I like you have many bold prints in my stash
just crying to be one of these beauties. Thanks for an opportunity to
have the book.

calash1@hotmail.com

[Margo]

Oh wow, that book looks amazing! I love your blocks. I had never heard of her before so I'm excited to discover a new quilter!

[Denniele]

Can't wait to own one! Your blocks look great!

[Nann]

Not only have a found a new design icon (Sujata), but I've also found quilt blogs that I had not known about. The tour has been great fun, and I hope I'm the lucky "random" winner on one of the blogs.

[Sarah]

I would really, really love this book; if I don't win it, I will have to save up money to buy it! sarah@forrussia.org

[chris]

Great review of an awesome book. And how cool that you tried her zig zag technique as part of your review! we learn by doing, don't we? Anyway, you have inspired me to give it a try also. Thank you!

[Jenny G.]

I, too, am very rigid in my quilting. A book like this might do me some good. I'll have to add it to my list of books to pickup. Thanks!

[Karen]

I need to be set free from my rulers and other OCD quilting behaviors. Love the quilts in this book. Perfect for all those solids in the stash.

[Cynthia Knapp]

I love Sujata's ideas and look forward to "letting loose" and trying them.

[Jenny]

i love Sujata's blog, so certain to love this book!

[Deborah]

Thanks for your approach to this bog tour---fun to see one of you actually do Sujata's techniques. Makes me realize that I "need" this book even more than I thought I did yesterday!!

[Kathie L]

Thanks for demoing what the book is preaching. Looks great.

[Ana Perna]

As I see some of the pages of this book, and the multiple possibilities, I really want to have it! Thanks for showing it!

[audrey]

Great review of the book! How fun for you to experience the approach with your own fabrics. I have been on a quilt book diet myself but I really, really want this book!:)

[Margaret]

I'm quite intrigued by this book and would love the chance to win a copy. Thanks!

[Cécile]

What a great post for a great book....!

[kathie]

oh yes this book is on my wish list, I want to learn how to let go and be more free with my piecing I have read her blog from the beginning too, always admired her style, her quilts and just how inspirational she has been to me with color/fabric choices
thanks for the chance
Kathie

[Gill]

This looks such a great book - I love the cover quilt too!

[Julierose]

Oh your description of this book is really inviting. I love the free form cutting idea a lot--Fingers and toes crossed that I will win--are you listening Santa of Random world choosing? LOL hugs and thanks Julierose

[Cherie in St Louis]

I've been following The Root Connection for years as well and can't wait to get a copy of Sujata's book. Your review does indeed make me believe it's the one chocolate I should not resist :)

[christine]

WOW...life changing! How often does one say that about a quilt book? It is wonderful freeing book of inspiration.

[Kat Scott]

Cannot wait to see this book in person.... thanks for your review and for hosting on the tour.

[Sarah Martin]

What a great post! I already wanted this book even though I rarely want quilting books anymore...Now, I am sure that I will LOVE IT!
And extra copies for Christmas to like-minded quilter friends who love a process approach to our craft. What a charming, inspiring and helpful book!
Thanks so much for the chance to win one!!

[Quilteuse Forever]

This post is a great demonstration of how Sujata's works are fun to make! And we'll never have exactly the same results!

[Lisa Littlefield]

I think she is going to be one of my favorite. This is a must own book.

[Kristen]

I love the idea of no templates and no rulers, what freedom! This looks like one book that I can go to for endless inspiration.

[patty]

Her quilts are stunning.

[Elaine]

Looks like a great book with some yummy quilts!

[karen in texas]

How fun! Very liberating.

[Lauren Suarez]

This book looks like so much fun!!! I love quilts like these, so unique and free!! I'm putting this book on my wish list! These are my favorite kind of quilts but sometimes I need a little inspiration to loosen up!!!

[Amy L]

I like what you've done with this pattern. The ones that I've seen are fascinating, and I need to let go and try one.

[Ruth Savoy]

Wonderful fun quilting! If you want to further your freedom fun to make quilts, try Hoochy Mama Quilts" by Mary lou Weidman 2004

[Sally]

Wow! Looks like a great book! Hope I win! (Meanwhile I'll buy a copy for our library's collection --I love my job!)

[Susan Zakanycz]

It is neat that you were inspired by this book!

[mjb]

I already have the book but I love to see how you were inspired!

[alis]

The book looks great...& I love your demo. Makes me want to go out & try it too!

[Tonya Ricucci]

yay, about time you tried some gentle curves!

[Phyllis]

This is really exciting!

[Janet M]

Interesting.

[Stephanie Weston]

Thanks for sharing your inspiration. Looks like a great book.

[Linda in NC]

You've got a great start to a very fun quilt which makes me want to run to the sewing room and get started on one of my own. Thanks for sharing your experiments from the book. It's at the top of my Christmas wish list!

[Rosemaree Barnwell]

I love it. I want it! Big smiley face!

[Denise]

I can't wait to see a copy of this book. If I can't win it I will surely buy it.

[kay]

i've looked through this book, and the designs are wonderful! I can't wait to try Sujata's free-form techniques!