Recreating Antique Quilts Giveaway ~ Reveal ~ Review!

Hi everyone and Welcome!!
I'm honored to be participating in a Blog Hop celebrating the release of Wendy Sheppard's new book:  
Recreating Antique Quilts

You're going to Love this book!  

Many thanks to Landauer Publishing for sponsoring this hop and giveaway!

Image Credit Landauer Publishing

I know, I know... I've been feeding you teasers about this book for weeks now - but the time has finally come to share some sweet projects from the book and show you a quilt that I made using
the Garden Lattice pattern.

First let me say that Wendy Sheppard is one of the most talented designers and domestic free motion quilters that I've had the pleasure to know.

If you've not already bookmarked Wendy's free motion quilting tips, Thread Talk, you really should!

Wendy not only provides a constant source of inspiration to fellow quilters (in 2014 alone her designs were published in 10 different magazines, 3 books (not including her own) and for multiple different fabric companies), she also encourages quilters to step outside of their comfort zone and try something new.  I'm so excited for her!  

You can learn more about Wendy in this blog post by Landauer Press and also in her recent interview with Pat Sloan!  Woot! Woot!

Recreating Antique Quilts Review:

Recreating Antique Quilts is all about re-interpreting antique quilts for the quilters of our time using contemporary fabrics and methods.  It's pretty neat to see antique quilt designs recreated with fun and modern fabrics in sizes that 

won't take forever to complete. 

Here is the book cover,
isn't it just beautiful?

Fresh colors, a beautiful bird, love!

Book Cover ~ Image Credit Landauer Publishing

The 96 page book contains patterns, complete instructions, full-color images, and full-size templates for 5 quilts, 2 table toppers/runners, 1 pillow, and 2 stunning wall hangings.   WOW!! 

In typical Wendy Sheppard style, the designs are fresh and unique and each pattern contains applicable cutting, piecing, applique and quilting tips including an awesome writeup sharing Wendy's machine applique methods.  Sweet!

In all, the book contains more than 27 full-color quilt images!   I love this because you can see full view images of the quilts that inspired Wendy's designs along side her updated design.

There are detail images that show you the beautiful piecing and applique along with the fantastic quilting stitched on Wendy's domestic machine.  

Wendy's Garden Lattice ~ Image Credit Landauer Publishing

You'll also love the detailed and helpful applique templates and quilting diagrams.  

The applique templates are full-size, color coded, reversed where applicable, and easy to follow.

The quilting tips, notes and diagrams are equally impressive.

I was excited to see a page dedicated to quilting an Off-Centered Feather Wreath.
I can see my FMQ skills improving already!

The Reveal - Karen's Garden Lattice (aka Feathered Garden Lattice)

I was thrilled and honored when Wendy invited a few of us to make projects from the book.

Of course I was drawn to this applique,  
Ivory Baltimore Wall Hanging. 
It was first on my list of things to make.  

Isn't it beautiful?  

Ivory Baltimore ~ Image Credit Landauer Publishing

Well it seems I wasn't the only one in love with Ivory Baltimore -- so for this Blog Hop you'll want to jump over to Cathi's blog (Quilt Obsession) and drool over her version of this beautiful wall hanging. 

Sometime after the first of the year I'll be sharing my rendition. 

Do you think I might work it up in wool?  

Just maybe?

My next choice, and one I was sure would place me outside of my comfort zone, was this beautiful quilt Wendy named:  

Garden Lattice.   

I envisioned it done in French General or Blackbird Design fabrics (more traditional than modern) and possibly highlighting some of my large stash of bird prints.  

But the piecing... ouch... You know me - never looking forward to too much piecing ;)

Image Credit Landauer Publishing

Well -- I'm happy to say that I sailed through this beautiful pattern with ease -- enjoying every step of the process;  fabric choice, cutting, piecing, and quilting on my domestic machine.  I decided to call my version "Feathered Garden Lattice". 

 I couldn't resist using one of my most beautiful bird print fabrics from  

Collections for a Cause - Heritage 

 by Howard Marcus for Moda (it's been in my stash forever!) along with another beautiful line by  Blackbird Designs for Moda Antique Fair. 

Seriously, I've been hoarding these fabrics for years.   

 It felt good to dig them out and use them to create Garden Lattice.  I made one small revision to the pattern as to avoid cutting my Heritage fabric (I just couldn't bring myself to cut those birds) and voila!!

I couldn't be more thrilled with how this pattern lent itself to this traditional fabrics and how easily this quilt went together using Wendy's extremely detailed instructions and tips.  

Even "Karen the non-piecing Quilter" was able to make this pattern -- sew much fun!

A quick shout-out and many thanks to Quilt Essential in Devils Lake, North Dakota for coming to my rescue and sending nearly 3 yards of Antique Fair - Antique Rose fabric.  I had about a 1/2 yard on hand but needed a bit more to make border # 4.  

Thank you Katie and Janet for your fine customer service and awesome stash of fabrics!

I was so excited about the fabrics, colorway, and pattern that I started auditioning Aurifil threads for quilting before the piecing was done.
I always look forward to the quilting on my domestic machine.

It's one of my favorite steps!

One fun thing about Garden Lattice is the 6 different borders around the lattice center - a perfect way to practice a variety of FMQ feathers.

  

Here are a few images of the quilted borders on Feathered Garden Lattice.

This was my first attempt at feathered borders -- they sure aren't perfect but I learned so much and love the way they turned out.

Paired with Quilters Dream 100% Wool batting, I used 5 different colors of Aurifil Mako Cotton 50Wt thread for the feathers and a background filler.

 Don't you just love the look and dimension it adds to the overall pattern?

Here is the background filler I used on the center fabric. I wanted to highlight the birds and flowers.

I could go on all day showing you pictures of my completed project, but I want to be sure you have time to get to all the blogs that are reviewing and giving-away Wendy's book today.

Use the image below to see Wendy's main blog post -- from there you'll see a list of the other wonderful blogging friends that you can hop to!

Image Credit Landauer Publishing

Now how about that Giveaway!

One last thing - the great folks at Landauer Publishing are giving away one copy of
Recreating Antique Quilts
at each blog hop stop today!

The book giveaway is open to United States and Canadian followers -- however, if an International follower is chosen, I would be happy to share a PDF copy of my Spring Basket pattern - so please everyone, join in the fun!

*** Giveaway Closed ***  To enter the giveaway, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought about the book review or the projects in the book -- just let me know whatever you like!

The Giveaway will close at 8pm EST on Thursday, November 13th.

In summary, I couldn't be more pleased with Wendy Sheppard's new book  
Recreating Antique Quilts.

The designs (and variety of designs), patterns, instructions, diagrams, layout, colors - jut everything about the book is beautifully done.

Here are a couple of helpful links:

You can order the book from Landauer Publishing by clicking here.

You can order a signed copy of the book from Wendy Sheppard by clicking here:

Thanks for stopping by today and have a blessed week!
Karen