Cutting-Edge Art Quilts

Cutting-Edge Art Quilts
by Mary W. Kerr
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4313-1
Gifted by Schiffer Publishing
www.schifferbooks.com
 

Though quilting is a traditional form, it's changing every day. Just like other major creative outlets, the craft changes as more and more quilters discover their unique points of view. That's part of what makes Cutting-Edge Art Quilts by Mary W. Kerr such a fascinating book. Readers get a thorough look into some of the major movements in the world of art quilting, and learn about the designers who bring these amazing patterns to life.

Art quilting isn't the longest-running tradition within the world of quilts, but it certainly is one of the most fascinating and abstract. If you've never seen an art quilt, or have always wondered how the artists design them, there's no better resource than Cutting-Edge Art Quilts. The author took on the difficult task of organzining the very unique patterns included in the book into sections that will best give readers an idea of the consistent processes that quilters use when approaching art quilts.

The first three sections, "Color Play" (pg. 5), "Alternative Fibers" (pg. 37), and "Threadwork" (pg. 61) each cover a series of quilts that the artists design focusing on particular color schemes and ways of working with fabric. Even if you aren't planning on making your own art quilt, the series of statements, creative tips, and advice are invaluable to any quilter. You may find a new way to approach how you work with applique, or maybe a new way to try adding a new level of dimension to your quilt. Following these three sections are "Special Techniques" (pg. 85), "3-D Designs & Embellishments" (pg. 111), and "Art Quilts Inspired by Photographs". It's amazing to see how quilters are coming up with their own ways to use color, shapes, and textures to convey emotion, story, and a strong sense of indivuality and style.