I was invited to review a copy of Heather Jones' new book Quilt Local; Finding Inspiration in the Everyday. I have always enjoyed Heather's clean, modern aesthetic and was excited to see a collection of her style and designs together in one book.
The premise of Quilt Local is finding inspiration in the places and things around you in your travels or everyday life and expressing that inspiration in your quilting. This concept rings SO TRUE for me because I do find inspiration constantly - whether it's looking at tile, or brick or woodwork, flags, patterns in nature or construction, even in colors in the seasons or decor that make me think, "I want to make that into a quilt."
Even on our most recent trip to Arizona and Southern Utah, there was so much inspiration in our surroundings. I was feeling lots of inspiration in the Native American motifs and colors.
There's so much inspiration in the unique landscape of that area - clearly that was the inspiration to the Native Americans themselves. It's so interesting to see how all artists are affected by and draw inspiration from their surroundings.
I love that Heather explores this concept so thoroughly in her book. Seeing Heather's quilts always inspires me to experiment more with simple, clean lines and colors.
One of my favorite quilts in the book is this one called Central Parkway. It's now on my official "to-do" list. If you love a clean, modern style and aesthetic, I think you will really enjoy Quilt Local. Not only are there 40 projects to make for yourself, but Heather's writing and photographs will inspire you to create your own interpretations from the inspiration around you. The book is a beautiful, hard-bound 150+ page book with stunning photography and lots of inspiration.
If you'd like to read more about Quilt Local, visit these other sites. I love reading about what inspires other quilters.
10/6: STC Craft Blog
10/8: Robert Kaufman
10/9: Melanie Falick
10/11: Creative Bug
10/12: Plaid Portico
10/14: Modern Sewciety
10/16: Pellon
10/19: The Tattooed Quilter
10/21: Amy’s Creative Side
10/23: Diary of a Quilter
10/26: Film in the Fridge
10/28: Tall Grass Prairie Studio
10/29: Okan Arts
10/30: Kara Sews
11/2: Crimson Tate
11/4: Dainty Time
11/6: Nap Time Quilter
11/9: Spoonflower
11/11: Aurifil
11/13: A Gathering of Stitches
And STC Publishing is giving away a copy of the book to one of you. If you'd like to enter, leave me a comment telling me about a place that inspires you! Giveaway open until Tuesday, October 28.
WINNER:
Love this concept! Looks like a great book. I’m inspired at my home here in the mountains of Pennsylvania and by science. Have been thinking of making a mushroom quilt!
laura
I'm always seeing quilt inspiration in tile or stone walkways. Thanks for the chance!
Summer
In Houston, I am inspired by the sky. I love seeing the colors at sunset, the sunlight streaking around a cloud, or morning dawn through winter branches. The wide-open sky of Texas is something I miss when I go back where I grew up - to northeast Alabama - where there are lots of trees and mountain ridges, and well, stuff in the way! I think that's why I love the western part of the US; the views are just incredible!
Amy L
Right now Autumn is coming into full color in Virginia. Walking the dog in our neighborhood is providing me lovely inspiration and he has more time to sniff.
MaryAnn
I just returned from a quilting retreat, and am inspired by the creativity and projects from a very talented group of women.
HeatherK
I love the beach. I really want to make a quilt that reflects the rocks at a local beach, I also love looking at pictures from hiking in the mountains--there are so many colors that mix together seamlessly that I would never put together myself.
Jenny
I'm inspired by architectural features, among lots of other things. Thanks for this review and a chance at the book!
Jamie
I already have the book. I like that it's hard cover and feels like an art book not a quilt pattern book.
Anne Marie
The different seasons with their beauty inspires me.
Sandra
I'd love to win this book! --I'm inspired by my fabric collection. But I am also inspired by things in my home--vertical blinds, wooden floors, the shape of furniture, food colors, knobs, and so on.
Barbara
Sometimes I am inspired by the color combinations in the packaging of the groceries I buy. Other times I'm inspired by the shapes I see in nature.
Andrea franklin
This sounds/looks like my kind of book. More minimal than most. I am always inspired by being near the blue-green ocean or the green mountains. I got really inspired by a visit to gorgeous Lake Tahoe!
Beth T.
Tile floors, brick floors, wooden floors--pretty much any floor makes me think of a quilt. When we were in D.C, I brought home so many pictures of floors that I was very glad I had gotten in the habit of taking an entryway shot because I knew I'd wind up shooting the floor and would later want to know where I had seen "that great tile".
Vicki Gensini
Vermont is inspiration.
Anna
Architecture inspires me. All those lovely lines and angles that change as the day progresses.
Colleen
My grandchildren playing or swimming the sound of their laughing is like seeing rainbows
janet moilanen
The Sleeping Bear Dunes has been my favorite Michigan beauty spot for many, many years. I am thinking of a quilt inspired by her sky, water, dunes and driftwood.
Terry
The different seasons colors inspire me. I find myself drawn to pastels in the spring and rich warm autumn colors in the fall in my quilts. Thanks for the chance to win this interesting book.
Christine N
Modern art has been inspiring me lately, but still trying to build my quilting skills so free styling like the masters is a bit beyond me. I love the idea of a to-do list, I definitely have a few years worth of to dos! Thanks!
Paige
I currently live in Africa where there are hundreds of brightly covered batik fabrics at markets around the city. I am inspired by those to make a sort of fusion quilt, incorporating the very bright African fabrics in with more subtle colors and designs.
Pam D
One of the places that inspires me is my own backyard: We see various types of bees, butterflies, songbirds, hawks, chipmunks and squirrels, garden snakes, toads and frogs, many deer, and the occasional fox. So many beautiful colors.
Merrilee
Love this concept! Looks like a great book. I'm inspired at my home here in the mountains of Pennsylvania and by science. Have been thinking of making a mushroom quilt!
Caitlin T
I'm so excited for this book! I find quilt inspiration in tile patterns.
Shannon
I always get inspired when I travel! I love to take phase of everything new I am seeing!
This book looks amazing!
Shannon
PHOTOS! not Phase- Dumb auto correct!
Charlotte scott
A year ago we moved onto a boat and now live on the sea. I'm constantly drawn to the reflections and ripples and plan quilts around those images in my head.
This looks like a beautiful book.
Becca
This book looks so interesting to me! I've always been really interested in trying to quilt based on local inspiration because I love travel and travel photography. It seems like a great way to incorporate that into my quilting.0
Janie
The Pacific Ocean coast with its changing colors and moods is one of my favorite inspirations.
Karen
I live in Maine and inspiration is everywhere--the mountains, the coast, the woods, the blueberry fields, the fields covered with grantie. Glorious!
Anne
I walk to the bus every morning. My inspirations come from the early morning sky. Sunrises, silouetted trees, thunderheads, etc. I love your desert pix.
Hebe
Vivo en La Pampa, Argentina, y no hay inspiración mejor que la de los cielos del amanecer y la inmensidad del paisaje
Brenda
The mosaics in our Nebraska State Capitol Building are awesome. Everything from a history of agriculture, to a complete evolutionary circle grace every floor and flat surface, it seems. And they all link to the ideas and things that surround us all every day.
DANNELL
Balboa Park in San Diego, the tile work, gardens, architecture and multitude of museums therehave given me inspiration in my quilting and photography!
Lyn
I'm inspired when I go for walks in local parks, and in San Antonio we have some nice hiking parks, like Eisenhower, Friedrich Wilderness, and Hardberger Parks. I've started taking closeups of leaves (rather than pick the leaves themselves, which dry out quickly) to do an appliqued leaf pillow--and eventually a quilt. And pictures of wildflowers for wildflower quilt blocks. I've done a coneflower block from a picture and it came out well.
Gloria
The piney woods particular to North Carolina are inspiring me at present --- cool, rich greens and warm browns are so peaceful and lush regardless of the season.
teri
I'm always inspired by the light-play on the foothills of the nearby mountains.
Tamie
I live at the coast which is always inspiring.
Thunder
My mother's house! ! It is old, and has some great tile designs, wonderful wood work. Very interesting heat vents. I take pictures whenever I visit.
Jen S.
Architectural details never fail to inspire me!
Paige A.
Right now with all the fall colors, a walk in the woods is very inspirational.
Heather
I find inspiration in the changing colors and shapes of nature. I love to watch the skies at night as well as the forest change color (and seeing the forest's structure revealed as the leaves fall) as fall settles in.
L
These days, I'm inspired by all the fall colors in my own yard
Nancy A
Old buildings and city skylines inspire me. Heather's book looks FABULOUS! Thanks!
Aubrey
I'm inspired by clouds and stars in the sky!
Lorraine
I grew up in Southern California near the beach, so I'm still inspired by ocean colors and forms. However, after living in Utah for so many years, I also find the fall colors and the mountains inspiring.
michelle
I am a nurse and I find inspiration every time I work. My patients inspire me because of their brave fight against heir illness. I know it seems like a cliche but it is true
Jen C
I find inspiration from Instagram. Not necessarily pictures of quilts, but of art that people post, or pictures of buildings and places.
Anne
Thank you for the post! I am inspired by the fall leaves in Western NC and Upstate SC.
Diane
I am inspired by many things - lately it has been the cloud formations in the sky as well as carpet tiles I've been seeing everywhere.
Kim
The grand canyon is my favorite inspiration for quilting. I have hiked all over the place including rim to rim, the colors are constantly changing...... Thank you for the opportunity, I have been fortunate enough to take a class from Heather Jones!
Alison
I always feel inspired when I go home to the West of Ireland. The dry stone walls are like improv patchwork to me.
Anne
My gardens inspire my sewing. Thanks!
JillB
I'm not sure I have a favorite place to get inspiration from! Sometimes inspiration just comes after seeing something interesting somewhere. However, inspiration is fickle and shy, so this book would definitely be helpful!
Wanda
I am inspired by the stone work on houses, also the dry stack stone walls.
bee
i love finding quilt designs in tile or buildings. what a great book to inspire
Noreen Trotsky
I'm inspired by architecture!
Sinta
Pie Making Day is my favorite fabric line... Dinky Doo has it in a layer cake too! I am about to work on a project using Parairie by Little Miss Shabby. I love your quilt in that line.
Chris
Inspiration comes from anywhere, a bird, a bug, a flower, butter melting in a skillet when it's swirled around. The tiles in a hardware store or a museum, a church, a courthouse, a tree, a child's drawing, all of you in blog land are so creative. Even my migraine auras can spark some creativity but I can live without those.