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Wanderlust Quilts Book Review + a Giveaway

November 15, 2015 35 Comments

Welcome to my stop on the Wanderlust Quilts blog hop! It is an honor to share this incredibly special book with you. I hope you enjoy my review. At the end, you'll have a chance to win your very own copy, courtesy of C&T and Stash Books.

Courtesy of Stash Books. Photo by Nissa Brehmer

I am not a world traveller. I've had many dreams of jetsetting around the world and visiting places like Greece, Rome and France. In high school and college, I studied French and came quite close to taking a magical trip to Paris. In college, I filled general education requirements with as many non-western civilation classes that my schedule would allow. Classical art, architecture and literature inspired and intrigued me. I found myself always wanting to know more about the stories of those that created such works. For one semester, I even considered changing my major to anthropology or archeology. Even though I didn't change my magor, my deep love for classical art and architecture remain.

Wanderlust Quilts by Amanda Leins reignited my love for the beauty and ingenuity classic art and architecture and how design principles like proportion and balance influence us all today. Amanda (whom I lovingly call Mandy) is a classically trained archeologist turned artist and quilter. In her book, she expertly translates her work with classical designs into fresh and exciting designs for quilters to create and enjoy. Plus, she passes on her technical knowledge as she guides quilters through each beautiful project. As a quilter and teacher, I know you'll enjoy and appreciate Mandy's attention to detail in her clear and thoughtful instructions.

Wanderlust Quilts is a not-to-be-missed. Through any of Mandy's inspiring 10 projects, you'll learn techniques and tips that will help you uncover the depth of your own quilting skills. You'll find techniques for joining Y-seams, turned-edge applique, improv quilting and much more. Mandy also includes wonderful images of the art and architecture that inspired her designs and shows how she translated them into her designs.

One of my favorite projects from Wanderlust Quilts is Aquaducts. The bright colors and the various scale of the arches bring this piece of ingenuity to life in a whole new way.

While I haven't traveled to far off lands, I do find inspiration from places that are very special to me. There are many, and you might find me taking random pictures of the floors, walls or small details that inspire my quilting. One of my favorite places is Disneyland. Besides being The Happiest Place on Earth, it is inspiring and has clearly been inspired by patterns, art and architecture from our collective past. For Mandy's blog hop, she asked that we incorporate her book in a picture of a place or quilt that inspires us. It may be no surprise that I chose the center of the Disneyland, where each magial land awaits you. From the simple herringbone design in the bricks, to the details of Sleeping Beauty's castle, it's clear that classical design has and always will guide and inspire us all. (photo note: all photos of Disneyland were taken by me)

This image of Sleeping Beauty's castle is perfection to me. The colors (aqua, pink and gray) make my heart smile. The shapes in the brick, and the scrolling iron on the castle wall are inspiring. I see so many ways to use the patterns and designs to create unique quilts and quilting designs.

It's a Small World is full of inspiration from the simple patterns and shapes, to the incorporation of subtle and bright color.

As I was looking for pictures to share with you, I found this one of Molly and Aaron as they prepare to battle Darth Vader in the Jedi Training Academy. The wall just beyond the sign for the Jedi Training Academy is a fabulous inspiration for a quilt! I think I need to pull out my graph paper and pencils and get to sketching! Plus that floor!! The floor is a quilt just waiting to happen.

I'd love to know what place, near or far, that inspires you. C&T and Stash Books, the publisher of Wanderlust Quilts, is giving away a copy to a lucky winner at each stop on the blog hop. To enter to win here, leave a comment telling me about a place that inspires you. I can't wait to hear about each one! Entries will end at midnight November 18th. I'll choose a winner on November 19th.

Be sure to visit all of the stops. Each one is inspiring!

November 2: Kickoff with Maddie Kertay at Bad Ass Quilters Society (official link available now!)
Mandy's podcast interview with Sandi of Crafty Planner (official link available now!)
November 3: Stephanie Palmer the Late Night Quilter
November 4: Christa Watson of Christa Quilts
November 5: Gen Q
November 6: Casey York Designs
November 7: Bill Volckening
November 8: Angela Walters
November 9: Kitty Wilkin, the Night Quilter
November 10: Lynn Harris of the Little Red Hen - you are here!
November 11: Latifah Saafir Studios
November 12: Rose Hughes
November 13: Rossie Hutchison of Rossie Crafts
November 14: Sam Hunter of Hunter’s Design Studio
November 15: Cristy Fincher of Purple Daisies Quilting
November 16: Wrap-up with Mandy Leins

If you'd like to purchase your own copy of Wanderlust Quilts, you can find it in my shop. Remember, you can always use the code Inspiring for 15% off any order. Mandy has autographed copies available {here}. If you'd like to shop local, ask your local quilt shop about carrying Wanderlust Quilts in their shop.

Thank you for joining me!

Happy Quilting!!
~Cristy

10 Responses

Jessica

January 22, 2016

When I worked from home while also parenting my baby, I often felt as you described: as if I wasn’t succeeding or “thriving” with any of my “jobs” (home care, mothering and my job). At the time, I had to stop and create my vision for my life according to my priorities. I decided that my first priority was my role as mother and that all other priorities were there to support that role. I worked for the income and I cared for my home as part of the way that I envisioned myself caring for my family. In this way, I felt that I could “justify” my time spent for each role because it all was ultimately supportive of my first priority.

In this way, I also see women “justifying” self- care when they’d otherwise succumb to mommy-guilt and they’re right to justify it. As parents and individuals, it is good to lead a balanced life.

Brenda

November 19, 2015

The Nebraska State Capitol building is an amazing source of inspiration. The floors are pictorial mosaics, same for lots of walls. Themes from evolution to the history of agriculture. The detail is amazing for a building built without borrowing and finished during the Great Depression.

Bethany

November 18, 2015

Locally, we have the home of the Ball Brothers – the place where they built homes for each of their families when they came here to build their factory and establish headquarters for the Ball Jar company. It is an inspiring place with seasonally changing gardens, outdoor concerts, sculptures, a river, fields, and old homes that reflect each brother’s personality with beautiful differences in architecture and materials. We visit weekly to walk the trails, attend concerts, and visit exhibits. There is always something inspiring inside and outside at Minnetrista.

pam w

November 18, 2015

i don’t get to travel much so i would say most of my inspirations comes from walking out my back door or being able to go out to our farm by the mountains

Shasta Matova

November 17, 2015

I love traveling, so any place is inspirational, even places close by. The places that are most inspirational are the ones that are the most different from my normal. The elaborate designs from India, Africa, the middle east, Scandinavia, Australia appeal to me most.

Becca

November 17, 2015

I traveled to Italy this spring and found the mosaics and frescoes really inspiring.

Jane V.

November 17, 2015

My amish rural farm country inspires me.

Barbara Allen

November 17, 2015

I have to be honest and admit that EVERYTHING inspires me, but I am repeatedly drawn to the way light and dark change architecture. Simple structures, like in Wyeth paintings, all the way to complex edifices, like a cathedral, share the drama of the movement of light. I love zooming in on a detail in something complicated, as well as backing away from something simple – I am always drawn in to the perfection of moment where light and dark meet, and the stories on either side of that moment. I enjoyed your review immensely!

Sylvia

November 16, 2015

One of my favorite places in the world is Yosemite National Park. Definitely an inspiring and rejuvenating place!

Diane

November 16, 2015

I am inspired by the beautiful landscapes of the National and State parks we visited over summer vacation. Thanks!

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Wanderlust Quilts Book Review + a Giveaway

10 Responses

Jessica

Brenda

Bethany

pam w

Shasta Matova

Becca

Jane V.

Barbara Allen

Sylvia

Diane

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