Laurel Burch Quilts: Kindred Creatures

Rating:
Summary: Bold and colorful quilts
Review: Like Mary Engelbreit, Laurel Burch has a distinctive and immediately recognizable artistic style. I got familiar with her work when picking out whimsical ceramic cat earrings for my wife's birthdays or other occasions, and always felt cheered by the bright color and fanciful forms of her artistic universe. As with anything this assertive and unique, you can tire of it, but somehow you can always come back to Laurel Burch and recapture the magic you felt when you first encountered her. It's a delight, then, to see her expand her artistic media into fabric with this book, Kindred Creatures. Mythical, magical horses, dogs, cats, birds, and butterflies gather in myriad combinations to form these breathtaking designs. As you might expect, Laurel doesn't limit her effects to fabric alone. These quilts are appliquéd and embellished with paint, fabric stamps, wire, and any other material that comes to hand. Despite the very clear and detailed instructions, there is lots of room for individual expression as you work on these quilts. This isn't a book of pastels or tea-dyes but a bright, bold excursion into a fantastic dream world.

Rating:
Summary: Color galore
Review: Okay, it is another quilt book that I feel can easily cross into wearable art. I actually made a black denim jacket and on the back made the horses with the rainbow manes is book. I enlarged the original picture 200% and appliquéd it on the back of my jacket. I have been in love with Laurel's work for years... could it possibly be the 70's that I got my first Laurel Burch earrings? Well now I created one of her creatures into wearable art. Just a tip, I allowed the black denim of the jacket be my background and simply appliquéd the horse faces and manes right on the jacket. Try it with your favorite kindred creature. I think the cats are next!

Rating:
Summary: Color galore
Review: Okay, it is another quilt book that I feel can easily cross into wearable art. I actually made a black denim jacket and on the back made the horses with the rainbow manes is book. I enlarged the original picture 200% and appliquéd it on the back of my jacket. I have been in love with Laurel's work for years... could it possibly be the 70's that I got my first Laurel Burch earrings? Well now I created one of her creatures into wearable art. Just a tip, I allowed the black denim of the jacket be my background and simply appliquéd the horse faces and manes right on the jacket. Try it with your favorite kindred creature. I think the cats are next!

Rating:
Summary: Laurel Burch Quilts: Kindred Creatures
Review: This book has splendid colour illustrations that support the ideas in the text. I appreciate the author's attention to detail, in how to accomplish the complex and the simple tasks of design assembly of the quilts and wall hangings, plus her personal touch in making the projects attainable! She is a pro at her designs and in how she put this book together.
I'm equally eager to read and use her other book on cat quilts because I know it will be another exquisite contribution to the art of beautiful quilts, wall hangings and reading. Thank you Laurel Burch! I can hardly wait to get started on the projects she suggests in this book. BRAVO!

Rating:
Summary: Laurel Burch Style
Review: This inspiring book has excellent, clear patterns and directions that allow quilters to recreate the beautiful designs exactly. It also has suggestions that allow -- and indeed encourage -- you to use your own ideas. The instructions use a lot of fusing, painting, machine quilting, and even no-sew project ideas, so that you can get good results with speed. There are also ideas for beading and other extra embellishments. In short, the book offers maximum flexibility.
Projects focus on Laurel Burch's dynamic animal designs, with horses, cats, dogs, butterflies, birds, and bold flowers. There are wallhangings, bed quilts, and more, and the designs can be easily mixed and matched.
The general instructions are good and clear with attractive photographs. I think some previous quilting experience would help make these projects successful, but non-quilters might enjoy them too.
Laurel Burch fans will enjoy the book, even if they never make any of the projects.