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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

5 Responses

kbo

November 15, 2015

Being so close to many scenic state parks here in Northern California, the vistas are my inspiration.

Joanne moore

November 15, 2015

It’s a small world at Disneyland could inspire a gazillion quilts!!! I recently returned from walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I walked the last 200 miles of the Camino Francaise. Beauty was at every turn but what I took lots of photos of where the beautiful old shuttered Windows and doors. The beauty of slowing down and walking thru villages allowed me to observe so much…veggie gardens, cats on a wall, crazy mushrooms growing under trees, chestnuts with their crazy furry pods all over the ground and cows, horses, sheep(well yes smells too,lol) My knees hate me for that adventure and they are happy I am home and back to my quilting. I would love to be able to transfer these sights to a quilt…maybe someday…

Becca

November 15, 2015

I traveled to Italy in May this year and it was SO inspiring…the tile work, frescoes, mosaics, beautiful colors….so many things. I came home and just wanted to get sewing!

Eileen Keane

November 15, 2015

Cristy, one place that inspires me is an area not too far from me called “The Ridge”. It’s part of the Shawangunk Ridge State Forest-very rocky and so beautiful. I can just sit for hours watching birds flying overhead, colors changing when the sun goes behind a cloud. It’s so beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn so many colors.

Gill

November 15, 2015

This looks such a great book!
I’m inspired by a tiny island off the west coast of Ireland – my spiritual home!

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Wanderlust Quilts Book Review + a Giveaway

5 Responses

kbo

Joanne moore

Becca

Eileen Keane

Gill

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