These extraordinary quilt blocks explore themes and images never before encountered in quilts. Some celebrate typically American subjects like the Cadillac and the Charleston, the Indianapolis 500 and Radio City Music Hall. Others explore Japanese images like the rolling waves of a Hokusai ocean or the delicate rituals of the cherry blossom festival. All of them use surprising approaches to color, design, and fabric that will stimulate and inspire any quilter.
A dazzling collection of 14 Kake-jiku—traditional Japanese hand-painted scrolls often hung in entryways—is featured in this craft guide. Often created to celebrate the changing seasons and bestow good fortune on a household, these innovative Kake-jiku designs featured are made with contemporary fabrics. Each image is a picture-window into Japanese culture, and the accompanying text explains the symbolism of each design. All patterns can be constructed using a unique style of Japanese appliqué, and several are embellished with fabric-origami flowers. Several of the patterns included are enhanced by beautiful and intricate sashiko stitching, and a section on technique describes appliqué and stitching methods and provides instructions for making all-in-one wraparound borders. Glorious photography, step-by-step color drawings, and watercolor drawings enhance this art-inspired craft book, and a bound-in template pack—complete with full-size templates made from durable, reinforced paper—allows for multiple uses of individual template pieces.
Featuring 20 handcrafted project patterns, this guide focuses on creating exquisite fabric jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, using silks and cottons paired with decorative kumihimo cords. It introduces unique craft techniques like Japanese knotwork, Delica beading, and fabric origami, all accompanied by detailed instructions and color illustrations. Each chapter showcases original watercolors by the author and offers reflections on Japanese life and art, making it a visually appealing and culturally rich crafting experience.