Click Here To Purchase From Amazon Creative Quilts: Inspiration, Texture, & Stitch

Author: Sandra Meech

Publisher:  Batsford, an imprint of Anova Books Co. Ltd.; distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Sterling Publishing

ISBN: 978-0-7134-9006-0

Knowing where you want to go but not having a map to get there is a frustrating predicament. Fortunately, Sandra Meech has provided a detailed map for the new quilt artist striving to begin the creative journey. Her book Creative Quilts: Inspiration, Texture, & Stitch, is a thorough guide, lavishly enhanced with photos and drawings.

            This second book of Meech’s (the first being Contemporary Quilts: Design, Surface, and Stitch, Batsford, 2003), seems to be more focused on the serious artist vs. quilt art in general. Although some of the same topics are discussed, she illustrates with new examples. The two books complement one another rather than repeat the content.

            Ms. Meech serves as an experienced guide through the myriad paths of creativity, providing tools (mind mapping, creating a sketchbook); principles (design, composition, color theory); techniques (stitching, collage, photography) and plenty of ideas. She explores texture, including the technique called wireform, a method of stitching and manipulating fabric to render it in three dimensions.

            The book is best digested in small bites because of the richness of its content. It would be difficult to absorb all the chapters at once, as the burst of creativity each topic evokes is enough to keep an artist busy for weeks.    

            This book should be in the library of anyone who is serious about working with cloth as art, if for no other reason than as a visual treat. Any artist struggling to get started or looking for a breakthrough would find ample stimulation here.

The above review was contributed by: Beth Burke who is freelance editor, a fiber artist, and a stay-at-home mom. Previous hats she has worn include procedure and proposal writer for government, commercial nuclear, and environmental services concerns; advertising copywriter; newspaper reporter; and college-level writing instructor.