CONGRATULATIONS TO DIANE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!
Here is the last of three Monday giveaways of books: Vibrant Quilt Collage – a spontaneous approach to fused art quilts by Bethan Ash published by Interweave.

From the Publisher:
Explore this groundbreaking book that will teach you how to create unique and expressive quilts by going beyond conventional patchwork using improvisational collage techniques and fusing.
In Vibrant Quilt Collage, author Bethan Ash, known for her rich and colorful quilt designs, shows you how to use hand and machine stitching as a final embellishment to the quilted piece. Learn to instinctively cut fabric shapes without the use of rulers or templates, layer them on a prepared background, and attach them with fusible web. Once the fabrics are secured by fusing, you’re free to use more or less stitching as a final embellishment.
In clear, easy-to-follow text, discover invaluable information on methods, materials, techniques, and composition. Illustrated with many of Bethan’s quilts and additional examples of state-of-the-art fused quilts from around the world, this book is a visual feast of color and pattern. Artistic influences are evident throughout, from Matisse’s bright paper cutouts to pop art and mid-century design.
Bethan starts the book by encouraging the reader to throw away templates and use his/her imagination to create art quilts. “Don’t let traditional concepts and ideals hold you back from real discoveries and new possibilities – take a step forward and choose a way of working in which everything can be done but nothing is ‘wrong.'” I like that!!

The author divided the book in six sections:
- Before We Begin (which included information on working with fabric, surface design techniques and finishing)
- Instinctive Abstracts
- Inspiration and Intuition
- Color, Composition, and Surface Effects
- Design and Creative Play
- Disregarding the Rules
Within these chapters she provides interesting exercises including using simple shapes, vertical lines, solid and painted fabrics, skeletal shapes, poem, text or words as imagery, and shape and stitch.


Even though there are exercises in this book, I don’t see this as a how-to-book. This book is meant to inspire the reader to create. She definitely has accomplished that goal with pages chocked full of beautiful, colorful art quilts. I found most of her art absolutely beautiful and fun, although a few pieces were way too wild for my taste. But all in all, this is a great book for that art quilt maker who wants to be inspired and pushed out of his/her comfort zone.
Vibrant Quilt Collage contains 128 pages, retails for $26.95 and available through your favorite bookseller or direct from Interweave.
Now for the giveaway. You can win this book just by commenting on this blog post. Commenting via email, on Open Salon or Facebook will NOT enter you in this contest. You must comment to this blog post on the Bloombakecreate blog to be entered in the giveaway. The deadline for this giveaway is Monday, December 10, 2012 at 8 a.m. CST. Due to postage costs, if you are not a US resident and would be willing to pay the cost of postage over US cost, please feel free to join in on this giveaway. Good Luck!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review and received no monetary compensation. The giveaway prize being offered is the review copy I received.
This looks like a wonderful book for someone who wants to branch out from traditional quilt making…I like the whole idea of lessons on composition and the like. Nice book!
(Hope you are feeling better today.)
kathy recently posted..Published!
Hi Lynda,
Looks like an interesting book and so much color!
Lynda, I sent you a voice message, never done that before! I love making art quilts after many years making traditional style quilts. I study the history of quilts and do presentations at local schools regarding the history of quilts. I’m on the board of the NH Quilt Documentation Project, Phase II and we have documented probably over 2,000 quilts. At this time we are working on publishing a book. Lots of work!
The book you’re offering looks “delicious”!
Happy Holiday to you and yours,
Diane
This look like a wonderful book with lots of information to try something new and different in quilting. Would love to try something new.
My entire career has been based on fused quilts and this book looks like the perfect answer to all the questions I get about fusing. I would love to see what Bethan Ash has made and I’m hoping I am the winner of this book. Thanks for making it available.
Melody Johnson
Melody Johnson recently posted..Back on my Feet
This book looks terrific!
Lynda: this looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for reviewing it and doing the giveaway. Can’t wait to play some more with fabric. It’s marked on my calendar for Sunday. Can’t wait!
Denny recently posted..A Bear in Charlie’s Cabin–A Quilt to Honor a Special Man
I DEFINITELY don’t want to do traditional quilting – I want to go out of the box and this looks like a great book!!!!!
Love the bright colors…….looks like a great project book.
This book looks interesting. I would love to win it
This looks like a great book! I have done fused art and landscape quilts, but have mostly learned by the seat of my pants. It would be great to have a book that taught me new and better ways to use fusing in my creations… please add me to your drawing!
This is my kind of quilting!….free, spontaneous, and colorful! Thanks for sharing!
looks like a great book. I especially need the section titled Disregarding the Rules. Boy do I need that help.
This looks like a fabulous book, thank you for offering this wonderful give-away!
So exciting! I actually see a give away and I’m able to enter before the deadline has already passed! I love your blog and check back often for new things! This books looks very interesting and I’m sure would help any art quilter! Thanks for the offer and I sure hope that I win!