When my dear friend, Sharon Holland invited me to join the blog tour for her first quilt book Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living (Landauer 2017) I was so excited, and today I have the pleasure of sharing a bit about this beautiful book with all of you!
The friendship Sharon and I share is so special! I'm fairly certain we text each other at least once a day. Mostly to share our creative plans and to ask for or offer one another advice, which I've come to both treasure and depend on. Our friendship gave me quite the behind the scenes look at the process and work Sharon poured into Utility-Style. I learned just how talented Sharon is, she's incredible, truly. The end product is proof, Utility-Style is an amazing collection of quilts that are meant to be used and loved. Sharon is just as conscious about how she envisions using each project, as she is to creating amazing quality patterns, furthering the quality of this book. She shares not just sewing patterns, but inspiration with beautiful photography of how to use each project throughout your home. To me, Utility-Style feels more like a lifestyle book and I love that!
Before I share the pretty Flower Child quilt Sharon made using the Goose Chase pattern from Utility-Style, I chose two favorite images from the book to showcase just what I mean above about the way Sharon presents each project with stunning, creative photography. I find each page of her book enchanting, down to every last detail. What is particularly special is how this book shares such a sense of Sharon's warmth and personal handmade style, that's both inspiring and attainable for any quilter.
One of the things I love most about the patterns that Sharon created for Utility-Style is that I'm reminded of the infinite possibilities of just one pattern. The quilt I'm showcasing today is the perfect testimony to how many ways one quilt pattern can be translated to something completely new by a change of prints and color. In her book the Goose Chase pattern is made using a combination of vintage and new fabrics to create a timeless quilt.
For my Flower Child Quilt Market booth Sharon used several prints from the collection and this same pattern to create a quilt that became one of the star projects in my display. The large HSTs and placing of bright solids present so perfectly the colors and a few of my favorite prints in this next collection of mine, due out in April 2018. It was exciting to see how the Goose Chase pattern worked equally well for the vintage style of the original quilt and for my brand new collection that's more trendy and modern.
I'm so in love with this quilt!
Signed copies of Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living can be purchased by US residents directly from Sharon in her new STORE and you can also get the book through Amazon!
Before I end with a special Utility-Style for Everyday Living GIVEAWAY, I want to share and invite you all to follow the rest of the tour for more project inspiration and chances to win this amazing book!
Monday 12/4 Heidi Staples - Fabric Mutt
Tuesday 12/5 Amy Friend - During Quiet Time
Wednesday 12/6 Maureen Cracknell - Maureen Cracknell Handmade
Thursday 12/7 Amber Johnson - Gigi's Thimble
Friday 12/8 Karen O'Connor - Lady K Quilts Designs
Saturday 12/9 Kori Turner-Goodhart - Olive Grace Studios
Sunday 12/10 Silvia Sutters - A Stranger View
Monday 12/11 Sarah Maxwell - Designs by Sarah J
Tuesday 12/12 Jessica Swift - Jessica Swift
Wednesday 12/13 Lisa Ruble - Love to Color My World
Thursday 12/14 Cindy Wiens - Live a Colorfullife
Friday 12/15 Eleri Kerian - Sew and Tell Project
Saturday 12/16 Anjeanette Klinder - Anjeanette K
Sunday 12/17 Stephanie Kendron - Modern Sewciety
Monday 12/18 Christopher Thompson - The Tattooed Quilter
Tuesday 12/19 Susan Playsted - Hopewood Home
And now, I'm so thrilled to be able to offer a copy of this book in a special GIVEAWAY to one of my readers!
Enter to Win!
Here's how,
Just leave a comment below and you'll be entered into the drawing! This giveaway is only available to US residents due to shipping costs. (So sorry international readers -- you know we love you!) I'll choose a random winner on Friday, December 8th!
A big thanks to all who stopped by and to those of you who entered my Giveaway! The lucky winner is commenter, Linda Williamson! Please check your email for a message from me!
Thank you, Sharon. Thank you for creating such a beautiful book, for your endless inspiration and encouragement, for your continued friendship and for trusting me to share with while on your journey.
Enter to Win!
Here's how,
Just leave a comment below and you'll be entered into the drawing! This giveaway is only available to US residents due to shipping costs. (So sorry international readers -- you know we love you!) I'll choose a random winner on Friday, December 8th!
A big thanks to all who stopped by and to those of you who entered my Giveaway! The lucky winner is commenter, Linda Williamson! Please check your email for a message from me!
Thank you, Sharon. Thank you for creating such a beautiful book, for your endless inspiration and encouragement, for your continued friendship and for trusting me to share with while on your journey.
xo Maureen
