Create Your Family Quilt: Using State Blocks and Symbols

Rating:
Summary: recommended by the accidental quilter
Review: I love a quilt that tells a personal story. I also love quilt books that come with CD software to help with design and pattern.
Although Barbara Brackman focuses on states to build a family story quilt--it can be the foundation for so much more.
The book itself is gorgeous, filled with facts and art from all fifty states. The software loads easily and is the same format as Electric Quilt which let me use it immediately.
I grew up in central east Florida in a neighborhood called Palm Bay Point. It's a small peninsula that juts into the Indian River. Hibiscus and orange trees decorate front lawns. Giant oaks hold heron nests and palms sway in the salt breeze of the Indian River. Pelicans and dolphins are plentiful.
I designed a Palm Bay Point quilt as a test. Here is what I found. The applique designs as well as the state blocks were interchangeable. I was able to use hibiscus from Hawaii and Pelicans from Lousiana as well as Orange Blossoms from Florida.
Since the point is surrounded by water and sailboats are a frequent sight--I borrowed the Mayflower block from one of the New England states. The end product was a quilt that told a visual story of my childhood neighborhood.
I particularly liked the attention given to border(applique) design as well as the body of the quilt.
I can imagine designing many personal story quilts using this software and book.
I'm a fan of Barbara Brackman (although I have never met her.)
She researches her material well, her writing voice is easily read and understood. She has been on many quilting journeys of history and design and she is generous to share the highlights with others in a beautifully designed format.
I'm already having fun with this book. So far, it's my favorite book this year.
:)

Rating:
Summary: How to incorporate state quilt blocks and symbols
Review: Use the CDROM packaged with Barbara Brackman's Create Your Family Quilt to blend the goals of celebrating family heritage with making a family quilt. From quilt blocks which represent states to vintage pictures, state facts, and regional flavor, this tells how to incorporate state quilt blocks and symbols to create a unique family portrait. Access to a CDROM drive is essential, here.