Quilt local Finding inspiration in the everyday (with 40 projects)

Jones, founder of the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild, translates architecture into quilt patterns that have "a strong visual component." She designs quilts from the places she encounters in her local community in Ohio. For example, "West Chester" takes after the roof patterns in barns nearby, and "Third Street" graphs the asymmetrical grid painted on the outside of an abandoned building in Dayton. The designs are stark and simple, though often far removed from the source structure. Jones's intent is to inspire others to create, based either on her designs or on their own. She teaches first about basic construction and color; then, for each project, she explains how to construct the quilt and why she picked the coordinated colors for each of the two colorways per design. She presents 18 projects, including bedcovers, wall-hangings, and pillows. The simplicity of her designs is well suited for beginners, while the modern aesthetic will attract more experienced quilters. Color photos. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Jones's minimalist quilts are well known in the modern quilting community and have exhibited at a variety of quilt shows, including QuiltCon and the International Quilt Festival. In her first book, the author takes quilters inside her studio for a firsthand look at her process for designing and piecing. The quilts in this collection were inspired by Jones's native Ohio, drawing from sources as disparate as the tile in a fast-food restaurant bathroom in Kent, a stone cross inlay on the outer wall of a church in Dayton, and architectural details from buildings in Cincinnati. Each design is accompanied by a brief essay describing her inspiration, as well as piecing directions. Unlike other minimalist modern quilters, Jones doesn't use the negative space in her quilts to highlight elaborate machine quilting; rather, her machine quilting is as minimal as the designs themselves, causing the viewer to reflect on the interplay of color and piecing. VERDICT Modern quilters who enjoy a minimalist style are likely familiar with Jones's work and will appreciate the insights into her process. The presentation is reminiscent of -Denyse Schmidt's Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration, but Jones is more narrowly focused on minimalism. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.