Book Blog Bonanza 10/13/10

I have recently looked at the Fast Forward Quilts, a friend has a copy. This book is amazing.

I am almost always motivated to start a project by a picture of some sort. Often it is a finished quilt that has been posted to a blog or Facebook. Sometimes I see a fabric collection that I like, but I'm still very new to quilting and definitely don't have the skills to start a project totally from scratch. It would be awesome to win a book. Thanks so much!

I haven't seen this quilting book before, but it looks like a good one, and not being an experienced quilter, I would definitely love to learn from someone that is. I absolutely love fabrics - the look, the feel. That's what sparks my desire to make something. I can remember, when I was young, going into fabric stores with my mom and then going around and feeling all the fabrics. My mind would race with ideas of what to do with it. That hasn't changed.

A new project usually starts with a "feeling" that I need to make ... (fill in the blank) and then I find a pattern. Sometimes I go through all my fabrics that are too "special" to use, and think of what I could make from them. Then I just have to let go and cut. I'm most reluctant to start quilting or home decor projects, so these books would be great resources for me!

Ooooooohhhh I so need these books! Just started quilting and have very little resources!

Well, I have never quilted before, but I recently came across an incredibly awesome collection of fabric and bought a jelly roll of it so that I can attempt my first quilt for my daughter. I have no idea what I am doing, but this quilting book would definitely fix that!

I am motivated by what I see in books, on blogs, in stores, and in nature.

I am usually motivated by my cheapness! I see something I want and typically think "I can do that. Not only can I do that, but wouldn't it be great if it had 'this or that'" Currently, i have more ideas floating in my head than the time to implement them. Maybe someday I'll work some of them out into reality!

Love scrappy quilts---have so much stash it's more than time to sew them up!Thanks!

Sometimes I will see a pattern that jumps out at me, and I will think that I need to make it. Other times I have a spot in the house that needs something, so I go on a search for a pattern that would look good there. I really like to make wall quilts. They are quick!

Fabric, fabric, fabric. I don't need an excuse to buy it. Then when I find a project to make I usually don't have the right fabric so have to buy some more.

Since i am fairly new to the world of fabrics-yarns-beads etc crafting, i usually start a project that i find exciting and fun, something that i would like to have made myself in the first place. So in the beginning i am trying to understand how the project is made, i am looking for information on the materials and the costs, and finally, if all the pieces fall into their place, i start the project with butterflies in my stomach... i am very eager to see how it will turn up, so in the beginning i am working on it for long hours... crochetting lace tablecloths helped me stay focused on a very difficult time of my life, during which i quit smoking as well, so for me, the whole crafting experience mean a lot!!!
thanks for sharing such wonderful gifts!!

I have never done any quilting but I really think I'm wanting to try it out. What usually makes me want to do a project is to see one on a blog or somewhere on the internet and then I have to go looking for the supplies to recreate it.

Everything inspires me. I see a fabric and wow, I know I want to make something with it. I get a lot of my ideas from nature in my garden and looking at all the flowers and colors. I live for quilting and sewing in general. Love all kinds of crafts. I love quilting books. I look at quilting books every night. It relaxes me and gets me even more motivated. I also dab in heirloom sewing. I get my best ideas about 2am in my sleep. The next morning I can't wait to get in my sewing room and put my ideas into fabric.

I can always use some new books and fabric. But I also never have what I need to complete a new project either.

When I see certain fabrics, I get very inspired. Seeing the magnificent work of others also inspires me. Since I am a new sewer/quilter, everything is exciting...especially my seam ripper.

What inspires me is normally a picture. I see something and try to figure out how to make it at home rather than buying it.

Everything inspires me from fabric, patterns, the web, displays in stores, to books, and clothing i see on someone. The plannins is also a great inspiration for me.

For me, it's seeing a project, or something for sale/made, etc and thinking..."I could do that!" It might not always be true...but that's usually how I get started, is with a project in mind, and then I find the perfect fabric, and then I get sidetracked...and then repeat...and the stash builds!

Definitely the fabric first for me. it inspires me to make something, and once I go project searching the fabric might change, but it's always what sets the wheels in motion!

Seeing finished projects that others have done inspires me to keep going or start a new project. I'm good with sewing "things" like purses, wallets, etc. But putting together blocks with nice seams is a struggle I'm still learning so when I see beautiful quilts it gives me the incentive to keep going. Right now the Spider Web quilts in Halloween fabric are getting to me. I don't even love Halloween, but I love those quilts!

Quilting -- my passion!!!!

My inspiration is a little of both. I'll see a fabric & think "that would make a nice skirt". Or I'll have a particular project in mind & search for the perfect fabric.

What inspires me is thinking about the person that I am doing the quilt for. Lately it has been my grandbabies. So I think of what they would like and go from there with the designs, colors, size, etc of the quilt.

My motto: You can never have too many shoes or too much fabric! Luv collecting quilting books/mags and getting ideas from them. I don't always have enough time for projects (finishing them, that is!), but it's always fun getting started! The second book looks interesting as I recently bought a new home and would love some ideas for decorating it 'my' way with things I can make myself.

I love quilt books, and even make some of them. I also have done a lot of home decor sewing, and have a few of those books also. Love new books.

Georgious fabric always tends to spark my imagination for a project. However quilt patterns and craft ideas gleaned from other sources like magazines and blogs will ultimatly turn into project that I actually finish. It's better if I know what I'm making when I look for the perfect fabric.

Usually it's a pattern or tutorial that gets me excited. Then I look for a great fabric to use!

It's definitely the fabric that starts me thinking about the project. Then I go looking for the patterns!

Sometimes I see a yarn that I just love, and try to think of a project to knit or crochet with it. I usually have a project in mind first, and then go looking for the perfect yarn for it.

I get inspired by fabric. I love seeing the finished product and then figuring how the pieces go together. These two books look like they have a ton or great ideas! Thank you for the contest!

There isn't one thing that gets me started on a project, it could be a gift I want to give, the fabric or the pattern. One thing for sure, I collect fabric "just in case" I might need to make something!

I usually come up with the project first, but occasionally fabric has sparked ideas.

Both of these books look fantastic!

Usually I see an inspiration piece either on television, the internet or a craft magazine. That is what usually gets the wheels in motion for me. Then I feel like I can't do anything else until I've given into the inspiration!

Sounds good--it's usually a picture in a magazine or book that jump-starts a new idea. I don't think I've ever gotten an idea just from a fabric alone. Although I do buy lots of fabric without an idea in mind, just liked the fabric and didn't want to lose the opportunity to get it.

Lately I have been motivated by both yarn & fabric with ideas for use in charity projects. I have been knitting sweaters for Knitforkids.org and hats for Children's Hospital in Seattle as well as quilts for Children's Hospital also.

I usually get inspiration by seeing a new pattern - either in books, online, or in magazines. There are so many great patterns out there that I would like to make!

I am so inspired from fabric! I see gorgeous fabric and the wheels just start spinning in my head on how to use it :)

I get ideas for new projects from books, or from our machine embroidery club that meets once a month. I also get ideas from seeing embroidery designs, then finding a complementing fabric - as if they were made for each other. Seems that I have way more ideas than time to stitch them up!

I'm usually sparked by fabric to start a project... or else it's my kids requesting something specific.

Most of the time the fabric sparks a project for me. Sometimes I get a quilt or other pattern and then go from there searching out the perfect fabric to complement it.

My inspirations is usually a combination of pattern and fabric - if I see a pattern that would look well done with some fabric I already have on hand than it appeals to me more because I do not have to spend more money! - Obviously I am in stash reduction mode right now.

First, I usually decide on something I want to knit or crochet, this is usually inspired by something I have seen, either on the rack or in a crafting mag or book. Then I dig thru my stash for the suggested yarn or I will adapt the pattern. My yarn stash contains colors & textures I luv, just waiting for the right pattern!

I love looking for patterns. They inspire me more than anything. I also like seeing the work others sew. That makes me want to sew.

I get tons of inspiration from catalogs - I always see things for my girls in fancy catalogs and think "hey, I could make that for so much less!" Guess that's the cheap engineer in me coming out. :)

It's never one thing that inspires me. Sometimes it's the fabric that I just have to use. Sometimes it's the project I want to attempt. And sometimes I just can't say no when it comes to the grandkids!

I usually find the fabric first before the project. I buy the fabric with a specific project in mind, then it goes into the stash. After some time, I forget what I bought it for. :D

I LOVE FABRIC, especially from fabric.com!!! Each fabric really does have it's own "calling", so to me the fabric usually inspires the project. I might find patterns that I like so I pick them up, but then I will find a fabric that screams to be made into a certain pattern. All fabrics should not be treated equal!

I generally DO NOT dream up a project and then go looking for fabric. That approach usually does not work for me. When I see fabrics that I like, I immediately buy them. Even though I usually have somewhat vague ideas of what I will do with them later, I always have suitable fabrics on hand whenever inspiration strikes! I do craft sewing (mostly 18" doll clothes) and I tend to purchase my fabrics based on price, appropriate print scale, and cuteness factors! Fabric.com offers all of the above!!

Both!!! sometimes a fabric screams out to me and i find a project to use it for but sometimes i go looking for the fabric but sometimes that just leads to frustration and the fabric sends me in a different direction.

Sometimes I'm inspired by a pattern, but usually it's a pretty piece of fabric, a nice wool yarn that gets my imagination going. I'm drawn to color and texture like nothing else.

I almost always start with a piece of fabric that I absolutely love but don`t have a clue what I`ll make.

A roll of vintage fabric inspirated my guest bedroom collection, comforter, shams, dust ruffle, curtains, throw pillows and even the lamp shade was covered in it.

I am just starting on my first quilt now - a patchwork quilt with old baby/toddler clothes for fabrics... would love some ideas and technique advice. Great timing!!!

Sometimes it's inspiration due to absolute necessity -- like my high school senior informing me that the ENTIRE senior class is dressing up as Star Wars characters on the 29th of October and he wants to be Darth Maul! Prices for decent already made costumes ranged, online, from $80 to over $700! You bet I'm off to the fabric store!!!

I get ideas by looking at sale stuff. I try to figure out how I can use the stuff and then the research starts. From there I go to seeing what other people are doing. Then so many new ideas come; it's uncontrollable.

I would love to own that quilt book!! My daughter would probably steal the Dewberry book if I won it. Maybe she would give me visitation rights!

Quilts, glorious quilts! Never too many books on the subject.

Hi,

I borrow quilting books from the library and always have to take them back before I finish my quilt. Once I was perusing a quilt book in the bathtub and ended up dropping it in and having to buy the book from the library. An expensive lesson for sure. At least I have one quilt book a little soggy but I still use it all the time.

I get ideas from the fabric. I usually fall in love with the fabric and think "oh, this would make a lovely (fill in the blank)". That's one reason why fabric.com is so dangerous. I want it all!!!

Very often inspired by a pattern/tutorial, then I go hunt for fabrics.

I am usually inspired by a picture or a product in a store, then I look for fabric.

I am split between dreaming up something and then finding fabric to make it and seeing a piece of fabric and knowing exactly what I plan for it. I live in a small town with very limited fabric options so now I tend to dream up something and look online for fabric options. It's not as much fun as feeling the fabric and seeing the actual colors and design size in person.

Sewing is a hobby, passion and therapy for me. Sometimes I would with a pattern and then pic fabrics. Other times - it's a fabric I want to work with and then I make the pattern work around it :)

Fabric really can get the wheels of creativity spinning for me: color, design. But patterns can too. Often I see a fabric that I have to have, and the pattern comes to mind immediately, it will be perfect (or I think so anyway, lol!) for a particular pattern. Other people's work is also very inspirational to me, and a great source of ideas.

I get inspiration from everything. Lots of ideas come to me as I'm drifting off to sleep. If I remember half of them, I'd still have more than enough projects to last a lifetime!

For me it certainly depends, sometimes it is the pattern that gets me super excited about a project. Most times however I see unique or beautiful fabric and I must have at least a half a yard. My Mom and I have a phrase about such fabric . . . "It could be an Astronaut" - a play on the childhood question "what do you want to be when you grow up, the fabric could be anything, it could be awesome. . . It could be an Astronaut"

New projects in my sewing room often come from desires of my grandchildren or my daughter-in-laws. I do a lot of home dec things for them. or I'll see an art quilt that really 'speaks' to me and I invision my own version of it.

Both! Sometimes I see a fabric and know EXACTLY what I want to do with it, other times I get an idea or see a tutorial or pattern and go from there!

omg i'm in love with joel dewberry fabrics!!! i would love love love this!!

I'm inspired by fabrics, books, blogs and websites. Sometimes I see something and get an entirely different idea for making a quilt. There is inspiration everywhere!

My inspiration comes from the fabric and putting the fabrics together. That's when the pattern begins to form in my minds eye and comes to life. Reading through books and magazines encourages my creative juices to flow. I love it all!!! Without creating and the friends I have made through my art, life would be dull!

I definitely choose fabrics and then make up a pattern for them.

I am new to sewing and LOVE books....I have a lot to learn but I have good machines and love love love sewing/quilting. xoxo M

I love new quilting books. My husband teases me about how I always want more.
I am working on a quilt for my daughter's friend.

In as much as I love creating my own designs; I love the inspiration I received from others - adding new looks to my own home decor, work space.....
I find inspiration in fabrics, objects, ideas and experieneces....and especially I am inspired by so many wonderful creative minds out there......
So happy to be a part of this big sewing/quilting family!

I'm inspired when I need to make gifts and try to make them unique to the giftee. I'm also inspired by patterns that grab me. I'm sure that there are patterns that will grab me in that book! LOL

I am often inspired by fabric that draws my attention and then I look for a book, pattern or inspiration from the internet for how to use the fabric.

Quilting is wonderful to refresh, release stress, and it is such fun to see other quilters ideals and to share with all. We are a special"family"

I am often inspired by fabric, or things I see out and about, depends on the project. Love the cover of the Sewn Spaces book! Thanks for the giveaway :)

I usually am drawn to a project either because I want to make something special for someone OR am trying something new. I usually get the idea first such as lap quilt for retired buddy then shop for fabric to suit the gift.

I usually fall in love with the fabric first, then dream up the best way to use it. I often make up my own patterns for my girls because I get bored with making the same thing twice - so almost all my projects are an adventure!

I'm usually inspired my fabric first - then go on the hunt for the perfect pattern for it - however, I am a quilter,sooooooooooo I can change my mind and go for the "gotta have it" pattern too!! Hee, hee - love it all. Some times I'm inspired by the season or occasion.

The easiest me to lure into doing projects...be it quilts or practical usable items....is picture...when I see a nice one..I will set myself to do it...and get the fabrics n do it...and when i see other beautiful fabrics...I will at least get them and keep them until I find a good project that will put them into good use...

Leena

I saw a table runner a friend made so today I got some Halloween fabric and made one. I guess others spur me on!

I tend to be inspired by the season. At the moment, I want sew everything in oranges, reds and yellows...soon I'll be thinking reds and greens and then snowy blues. I have a project in mind...then sort the stash and go shop to fill in.

Happy stitches to everyone. Love these books, look like fun!

i like to find the pattern and then search for the perfect fabric!

Thanks for a great giveaway. I love precuts, and the book looks to be just what I need to use the ones in my stash. I'm sure there's also many fabulous projects in Joel's book that I can't live without.

I get inspired by the most random things-- today I saw a very cool OLD window downtown, took a picture, and have been pulling fabrics from my stash to make a project based from that window. Other times, I find a cool fabric and work from there.
Thanks for the chance in this giveaway!

I enjoy following you on facebook and reading your blog. The amount of work you get done is inspiring. We just finished our bi-annual quilt show this past weekend, so I am taking a few days break before I dig out my UFO stack and attack. It's always fun to pick out what the next new project is going to be and I would really could use one of those fun books to choose it from!

I love contemporary fabrics and would love to see what Joel Dewberry is making! The other book looks awesome too!

I think of a project, like a lap quilt for my son or a pillow for my mom, then I look for a design, then go through my stash for fabric and finally buy what I don't have. I also tend to pick a quilt pattern and change it some before I am finished with the project.

I get inspired by looking through books, magazines, or websites.

I want to do it all that might be why i have so many projects.
I have not seen the book yet, but I like the idea of easy and fast quilts. I am not much into doing the harder quilts, not that i could not do them but i like to have them finished faster. don't get "bored" with them that way.
thanks for the chance to win

I'll just tell my most recent stitching tale. I'm a retired home ec (FACS) teacher, and my three neighbor girls have been coming to my house to learn to sew. The nine-patch pillow and the pajama pants went well. Then........they went to town and bought fabric and patterns for Halloween costumes. The patterns are difficult, and one girl bought shiny satin-like fabric that is hard to sew on. We're going to get them made.........I hope.......before Halloween. My advice to get patterns with the word "easy" fell on deaf ears. :-)

Inspiration comes at me all the time, from fabrics, from magazines/books, from something I see like the pattern of a tile. Then when I can't sleep, I forget about counting a bunch of boring sheep and design a quilt in my head. Doing the math usually knocks me out!

My inspiration is nature. I love bringing the outdoors in either through fabric, art, or a bouquet of flowers. Our world is such a beautiful place, how could it not be an inspiration? ;)

most of the time, I have something already in mind what i want to make and then I go on fabric.com and find these wonderful fabrics and then my wheels start working and I get new ideas. I recently started to make baby-quilts with little appliques I'm designing myself (like the bedding and nursery-stuff you find everywhere) So, for a very good friend of mine, she has a little boy, I made a pirate quilt. Mommy was more excited about it, than the little boy :)
My 4-year old cousins birthday is coming up and she adores horses. So I printed out a good size horse and appliqued it to a jacket, scarf, blanket, and her very own shower towels. It's too bad, that her birthday is just coming up in November and I have to wait sooooo long until I'm allowed to give it to her :)

I get inspiration from catalogs, magazine, patterns - everywhere. Sometimes I start with a pattern somebody has already done the fabric calculations for and zoom on from there. My 12 year old granddaughter and I sat down and designed a cat quilt based on a pattern in a quilt book I have and she is going to make it. It's true - sewing and quilting sometimes jumps a generation! My 13 year old grandson is making a quilt from a Fons and Porter magazine from 2006. Don't throw away those old magazines that have such great patterns! I end up buying fabric to suit the project and I have TONS of fabric. I may just have to make some "ugly" quilts and clothes to get rid of what I have so I can buy new fabric. LOL

Hello, I would LOVE this book as I am looking to redo my bedroom and need ideas to make it uniquely mine. Also I have grandchildren to sew for!The quilt book will help me in my goal of giving them each a quilt, I need fast and easy methods for sure.

Thanks for asking a question. It makes it so much easier to respond. I dream up projects, but they brew in the back of my mind until... the perfect fabric comes along, then I feel the urge to move ahead. It also happens the other way - I fall in love with a fabric and I buy it not knowing exactly what I will do. Then when the right project comes along, I am glad I already have the fabric.

I am enjoying all of these comments too! Thanks for a great blog.

As the seasons change, I'm drawn to fabrics,colors and designs for that season, mainly for quilting projects. The fall colors and designs in batiks, as well as in regular quilting fabrics are so gorgeous now.
Inspiration is from so many sources- catalogs, books, quilt shops, and, my favorite-on line!

I typically buy most of my fabric on shop hops so i look for fabrics that jump out and find others to blend with it.

These would be a big wonderful motivation for projects I always think I am going to do and never seem to get done.
psnowl

I am inspired to begin a new quilt or project usually by a photo online or in magazines or books. I have someone in mind to give the quilt to and I try to connect who they are with the colors and patterns. I love colorful quilts for kids and more subtle quilts for older relatives. I love the challenge of more complicated quilt patterns or applique, and to do piecework and applique together in a quilt is the best for me. Usually I design a quilt using parts of quilts that I especially like - so the center medallion might be a combination of applique motifs and then the border might be another combination of piecework or applique. I have many UFOs as a result, and I do finish most of them!

LOVE the cover of this book. I've always shied away from Jelly Rolls because it's "cheating" when you don't do it from scratch. But, I rarely grind my own wheat for bread anymore anyway. Looks like a good way to be introduced to pre-cut fabric and maybe I could actually get a project finished on time. Can I purchase it here?

I usually see a pattern that I like & than hunt for just the right fabric for it. The hunt is a big part of the fun of the project. I love magazines & usually get my ideas from them.

Hi,I would LOVE this book as I am looking to redo my bedroom and need ideas to make it uniquely mine. Also I have grandchildren to sew for!The quilt book will help me in my goal of giving them each a quilt, I need fast and easy methods for sure.
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