I can imagine doing a quilt like this and adding a word into one of those blocks.And look at this quilt (Nine Patch circa 1920, Kalona, Iowa. 62" x 74"). Isn't it luminous? I used to resist grayed out colors, but now I can appreciate how they make the stronger colors shine.
These quilts come from the book Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown. I love it, love it, love it.
I have eight other books and catalogs specifically about Amish quilts, and yet this book has some stunners that I don't have photos of in any other book. To get an idea of what kinds of quilts the Browns collect, you can peek at the photos here just know that not all of their quilts are in the book. There are 74 full page photos of quilts as well as many detail shots in the book. I've got the calendar as well (which, uh oh, shows a vet appointment for Lily today - she's going to be quite irate).
Kathie also loves the book and wrote about it here. I love that star quilt too.
The book publisher, Pomegranate, has kindly offered up a giveaway copy of the book Amish Abstractions. But since it's my giveaway, I get to make the rules, mwa ha ha ha.
To enter to win, leave me a comment in this post. Make sure that you give me enough information so that I can contact you if you win. Someone named "Anonymous" is not going to be entered. (Or they will, and then I'll just keep it for myself. again a fiendish "mwa ha ha")
For a second chance to win, promise that you'll make a quilt using one of the quilts in the book as your inspiration.
For a third chance to win, promise that you'll make the blocks in the liberated style ala Gwen Marston.
For yet another chance to win, promise to include Liberated Letters ala me (need to know how? Links in the sidebar) in that quilt top.
The quilt top must be completed by June and you must send me a photo of the quilt (or a link). Obviously we're on the honor system here, I'm not going to come to your house to get the book back.
Okay, so I will enter your name up to four times. In your comment, include contact info and whichever/all of the following words (if you're game): book, quilt, liberated, words.
I think that sounds fun anyway. I will close the drawing on Jan 25th and pick a name then.
Speaking of giveaways and Gwen Marston, Bumble Beans is very kindly offering up her second copy of Liberated Quiltmaking II. Click over here and leave a comment by 8:15am est on the 22nd.
I adore Amish quilts! This book looks like it has some beauties in it! I agree to all your contest requirements! Let's see if Pokey draws my name...
ReplyDeleteOh that is so lovely! I will make a quilt inspired by the book, and will do it in the liberated style. I can't make a promise about the letters though--I'm not sure where my inspiration will lead me!
ReplyDeleteOh yes!
ReplyDeleteI agree to all of it. I would be happy to take on the callenge. Even happier to have the beautiful book.Thanks
oops, my email is Jenkevtan@aol.com
ReplyDeleteThat nine patch is calling to me! I love them. Yes, I promise to make a quilt, and will do it liberated style. I swear on the Liberated Quilting Book. I have not made letters, yet, but I can see the word "Hope" somewhere in that nine patch!
ReplyDeleteI would love to own this book. I can't promise to make a top by June, but I really would try. My life is too unpredictable to make that kind of commitment. Thanks for the chance to play.
ReplyDeleteIf I am lucky and win this amazing book i will try very hard to make a liberated quilt with words. Can't promise king size! :D
ReplyDeleteyes, yes yes and yes! Did I answer all those challenges? YES!
ReplyDeleteI'm up of making a quilt all wonky with a word or two! I may have that in my wall right now!! ;-)
I also added you to my post! Great idea Tonya!
I'm up for all four -- funny you should offer that, since Amish quilts were on my brain. I'm itching to play with solids for a it. And if I recall, that quilt I made you meets all the criteria.
ReplyDeleteok, so you said nothing about the size :-)
ReplyDeleteso please enter me with book, quilt, liberated, words
Heidi
( having an US-address, so you wouldn't be ruined if I won :-) )
Hi! I just found your blog through Bumble Beans. I love it and your quilts and your cats. Lily looks just like my cat Chet. I agree to all of your challenges. Count me in times 4. I have been wanting to make a quilt with mostly solids and Gwen's style is on my list of styles to try. A friend of mine was showing me some liberated letter piecing so I will do that too. Thanks for the giveaway, now I gotta go look at the rest of your blog!!
ReplyDeleteI solemny promise yes to the book, yes to the quilt, yes to liberated and yes to words! I am glad you are talking June timeline for a quilt top. Thank you for your give away and good luck at the vet.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win a copy of this BOOK–unfortunately for me, unemployment has kept me from buying quilt books in about forever.
ReplyDeleteBut lack of employment and liquidity wouldn't stop me from making an AMISH-INSPIRED QUILT, and I have a lovely stack of solids (coincidentally purchased in Amish country) in my stash that have been lately calling my name.
I'm definitely up for something in the LIBERATED style including some LETTERS. All the blocks for my Block Lotto group this year will be of the liberated variety and I'm already fully entrenched making samples and writing directions for the future months ... and having a blast doing so (even if I can't share any of it until the appropriate month ;-)
Enter me and I will do my best to follow the rules and try liberated letter making!
ReplyDeleteI ADORE amish quilts, and am always looking for a new project. I will follow your rules to your contest...all of them :)
ReplyDeleteFor my month in one of the VQBs I'm in, I'm only sending out solids. I'm kind of hoping to get an Amish-quilt vibe from the resulting blocks. :)
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I get my studio up and running (very, very soon I hope), I promise to try everything in the book except letters. I'm afraid letters are not my thing, but I always appreciate yours. Now that all of the solids and hand-dyed fabrics are washed and re-washed (let's hope no more bleeding), I am so ready to sew SOMETHING! And almost wish there were kitties as cute as yours in my house to help out. But since I'm a dog person, maybe there will be a puppy to show off soon. Does that about cover it?
ReplyDeleteP.S. I really need this book!
I love amish quilts, I grew up in Pennsylvania and remember trips to my grandparents through lancaster seeing the quilts on the line. beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI can promise to love this book but I can't promise to make a quilt (although I can promise that I want to!)
:)
I've been collecting solids for an Amish quilt for awhile now, so this book would be the perfect inspiration for me! I noticed that you didn't mention quilt size, so if size doesn't matter, then I might be able to produce a small top before June! ;o) Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI would really, really love to win the Amish Abstractions book. It wold really jump start my liberated quilting.
ReplyDeleteI promise that I will make a quilt using one of the quilts in the book as my inspiration.
I promise that I will make the blocks in the liberated style ala Gwen Marston.
I promise to include Liberated Letters ala Tonya, in the quilt top.
Also I promise that I will finish the quilt by June and send a picture to Tonya as soon as it is finished!
Please put me down for one entry in your giveaway!
ReplyDeleteAnd tell Pokey I like her choices. lol
Have always been a fan of Amish quilts/quilting. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHello onya, please enter me, I would love this book and I am working on a wonky block quilt right now!
ReplyDeleteyes to all--book, quilt, liberated, letters. I have a roll of Amish solids a secret pal from Indiana sent to me from the Shipshewana area years ago and had no clue what to do with them. I have done lots of the string blocks but never thought about using the Amish fabrics for that. And Gwen Marston's books are wonderful.....am waiting on the postman as I type with her newest book.....was supposed to come yesterday so it better be here today! Love the liberated style, both in piecing and in hand quilting.
ReplyDeleteI'm in for the book. There might be a quilt, even a fairly liberated one - but I doubt it will be by June. Thank you for an entertaining blog :o)
ReplyDeleteoh my... I am a wanna be. I read, look, touch, and admire all aspects of quilting. I am definetly not in the same league with you, Gwen, or Bonnie so I guess I will only have one chance for possibly winning the beautiful book. I consider myself a rookie in the quilting world and I am trying to "find" me and just where I might belong. I try to experiement and reach outside my box when I can.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter lives in SF within walking distance of the DeYoung Museum, so I plan to see this exhibit on our annual trip to see her. Having the book would be a bonus.
ReplyDeleteKathie L from Allentown
I would love to win this book! And I know I will challenge myself to follow your rules about making a quilt from this book, certainly in Gwen's style and definitely with freestyle letters---but I don't know when I will get to it.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kathleen C.
villagequilter@gmail.com
(I, state your name) I, Teresa, (do solemnly swear), do solemnly swear, (to complete all four of these challenges), to complete all of these challenges, (and anything else Tonya asks....grovel, grovel), and anything else, (to get this fantastic-looking book), to get this kick-ass looking book. With liberated and just finished for all. Amen.
ReplyDeleteI think I would make a crumb quilt, similar to the first one in the post, with the liberated words "lost," "in," "the," "shadows" in four of the crumbs, sprinkled through the top. Yum...Amish crumbs!!
Thanks for the fun challenge...I'll do it even if I don't win. (and I do love a studious kitty...Pokey has great taste in quilts!)
In stitches,
Teresa :o)
Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes! How many times does this get me entered? This is a great givaway! I have the calender already but I'd luv the book! Happy quilting!
ReplyDeleteOh what fun! But there is no way I would have the quilt done by June, at least not June 2010! Ha. But I would love to win the book and dream awhile before I commit. Yes I am slow to commit. Mwa ha ha-- cough cough hack hack-- humph.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way Pokey's blue eyes are gorgeous!
Yes, to all 4 questions. I LOVE the look of these, and i have just recently purchased a variety of Kona cottons... I'm ready!!
ReplyDeleteKat
Your offer came just in time! I have recently started a small collection of solids and have been looking at ideas for using them. I have been on a roll this year and am sure I could finish a liberated quilt containing words and inspired by the book.
ReplyDeletePick me Pokey! I just found a box from 15 years ago filled with solids of every shade and what would be better than to use them in a fab liberated amish project! You have my info and my promise to all 4 requests, now let's put those paws to work Pokey dear.
ReplyDeleteI would love to be so lucky to win this great book. It would remind me of a wonderful week spent driving round Lancaster County some years ago. Thanks for offering such a great give-away, very generous of you.
ReplyDeleteKind regards from Down Under
I love Amish quilts, and would love to win a copy of the book! Please enter me into your drawing. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBook
mrsmoen@yahoo.no
I would LOVE to win the book! I have been collecting solids for a while and been playing around with what kind of block design to do with them. I promise to make it by June, make it using Gwen's techinque, and make liberated letters. I can not wait until your book comes out so I can buy it!!
ReplyDeleteI want in...but June sounds scary. Maybe by September...?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to play along.
I'm dittoing 'V' which is cheating cos you know I've got it on order :-).
ReplyDeletePokey knows her Mum's taste and colours in quilts. I was looking out of the kitchen window this morning and there was Magic tearing across the field chasing after mice. Unfortunately it was one of Podge's daughters from next door.
Give Pokey and Lily a tummy rub from me.
Tonya, count me in!!! I agree to ALL the conditions. I just this minute received my Quilts of Gee's Bend book and Liberated Quiltmaking II books!!! Awesome. I've only had a chance to flip through them but saw your Alphabet Sampler featured. How cool!!! Can't wait to get quilting. Are you participating in the Virtual Quilt Retreat next week?
ReplyDeleteOk Tonya,nothing like a challenge especially when it involves both Amish and Liberated Quilting. This is certainly a very skilled way of piecing but dont tell that to everyone.Would be great to win the book I would definitely include your lettering in the quilt after all this makes it!
ReplyDeleteOooh, this is fun! I agree to all four of your conditions. Please count me in! If your kitties like the book, that's good enough for me.
ReplyDeletePokey does have excellent taste. Is there some kind of quiltharmonic convergeance going on or something? I just got Liberated II, and the next thing I am dreaming of is an Amish, liberated design...possibly with letters!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, oops...and my email is PhabPhanNYC@aol.com. Now, can I do this by June, hmmmmm.... well, since I sort of promised the LQS that I'd teach a liberated-inspired class this summer, I guess so!
ReplyDeletebook, quilt, liberated, words.
ReplyDeleteLet's see-a new book to make a new liberated quilt using new words to describe---Yeah!!!
oh, i loudly answer Yes, Oui, Si, absoulutely...you betcha! Ill answer yes to all your challenges, would love this book! thanks for a chance.
ReplyDeleteI would love a copy of this book! Amish quilts are wonderful and very close to my heart. I can promise I will make a quilt from this book. I think that gives me 2 entries. The June deadline is tough so I'll pass on that one. Although, I just love liberated/free piecing, have Gwen's and Freddie's books, I just don't know if I could do that to an Amish quilt design and do it justice. I guess I am chicken on that one too. But I will be looking forward to seeing other interpretations.
ReplyDeleteAdd me to the list of folks who REALLY want that fabulous book. Yes, I accept your challenge (June is sooooo close in terms of completion but I'll give it a go) and yes, I'll share a photo and link and all that (and liberated letters too)... we lived in Indiana Amish country for 12 years. IF ONLY I had been a quilter then (Shipshewana, Yoder's fabric store, and all)!
ReplyDeleteHUGS ... "the box" should be "there" in only another day or so ...
My love of the Amish is why I started quilting.
ReplyDeletebook, quilt, liberated, words why not!
Thanks for the give away,
Deborah
Tonya,
ReplyDeleteI have always admired Amish quilts- though I really have never worked with Solids.
Life is during the school year makes is difficult to commit to making a quilt perhaps one entry will be enough.:O) You are going to make someone very happy when they receive this lovely book.
Nice to see that your kitties are so much improved health wise. Cats do keep life interesting.
Warmest regards from Western Canada,
Anna
I would love to try a quilt like these, in the liberated style of Gwen Marston, and yes, I'd like to add letters to it. Sounds like a fun challenge! Louise
ReplyDeleteHi Tonya,
ReplyDeleteI have been looking at that book ... sigh ... so many quilts so little time!! After the Solids retreat with Gwen I am itching to get started, so definitely book, quilt, liberated and letters! Have to catch up in an email!
Mary Elizabeth
Oh, yes! Thank you for this opportunity. Book, quilt, liberated and words. I'll play with all of them....
ReplyDeletePokey knows a good quilt when she sees one - she learning from the best,
; )
I have never made amish quilts but wo0uld like to start one soon...i promise to keep all rules and send tonya a pic of the quilt by june..
ReplyDeleteHoly Comments, Batman!
ReplyDeleteCount me in - book, quilt, liberated, and words!!!
Count me in 4 times: book, quilt, liberated and letters! I need a new quilting challenge.
ReplyDeleteKathy in FL
I'd love to win the book. And yes, I'm game to make a quilt inspired by the book, especially liberated style, but I don't know about the words. I haven't tried your liberated letters yet...though I've wanted to, this would be just the push I need!
ReplyDeleteWell, I kind of a newbie at all of this but I can promise to try all of the requirements! I've played with the liberated piecing a little and I like it:) Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to win this book and would probably make one of the quilts even without the incentive of extra chances. I often include words in my quilts so that also would be a given. Fingers crossed...
ReplyDeleteBook, quilt, liberated, words. Oh, yes! This is a wonderful giveaway. I do solemnly promise to fulfill #2-4 since all three involve things already on my This Year's List of Things to Try. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for Amish quilts and have not seen most of the quilts pictured. Qnique settings and take-offs of common patterns on so many of them.
ReplyDeleteI'm up for all 4 chances ... would be such fun! I've been collecting solids for a long while and need an excuse to use from them again.
Karen/FL
I would love to have the BOOK to make a QUILT in a LIBERATED fashion that includes a WORD! LOL Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love the book! I would pledge to meet the challenge of making a quilt inspired by a quilt in the book. The blocks would be pieced in the liberated style a la Gwen....with a few words pieced in the liberated style a la Tonya..by June 2010.
ReplyDeleteGirl Scout's honor...
Sally in SC
jspwarren at aol.com
I would love this book! I absolutely agree to make a quilt inspired by quilt in the book, use Gwen Marston's liberated method AND use free-pieced lettering. I'm already inspired to use the liberated quilting method by Gwen's new book which I received Friday and haven't stopped flipping through.
ReplyDeleteYowza, Ton...those quilts are superb! I especially love the crazy quilt, and thing your idea of putting in some liberated letters here and there is an excellent one. Especially if they were really subtle, so they were almost hidden...you'd suddenly come upon a word and it would leap out at you!
ReplyDeleteCan't guarantee a finished quilt top by June, though...still finishing up Hugo's Wheels, my absolute LAST paper-pieced quilt. Fun, but WAY too fiddly!
Oh, I am up for a challenge. Awesome. I've been collecting solids waiting for a push. I accept the terms and agree to try letters, liberated piecing and inspired by the book. I already have some ideas!
ReplyDeletePatti
pfawcett66@yahoo.com
Tanya,
ReplyDeleteI would love to win the Amish Abstractions book. I need all the inspiration I can get. By the way I made your liberated letters method for the name on the top of a Christmas Stocking I made for a soldier (a guy I do not even know) who is serving in Afganistan and had lots of fun.
art19552001@yahoo.com
The biggest challenge I would have is working with solids, it's not in nature. But I promise, I promise, I promise.
ReplyDeleteWould love to explore this book! I would agree to all but the letters, but I couldn't start it until mid June.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your quilting and your kitties. I like Howler.
Tonya,
ReplyDeletePick me! Pick me! Through you, Gwen, Freddie, Bumble Beans, etc I have liberated myself in the last year! My last several quilts have been liberated and 75% of them have had letters incoporated in them!
Although you have liberated me I have yet to ever use solids in any of my quilts as a whole.
So....should Pokey draw my name I am going to challenge myself to make a quilt by June, in the liberated style with letters and I will use SOLIDS drawing inspiration from the book AMISH ABSTRACTIONS.
Thank you for the offer and your generosity,
Rondi
You have the best quilt models on the internet. Your cats always make me smile. I love the pallet of the quilt from Arthur, IL.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me for one chance to win. Thanks! Chris
P.S. The Amish community is still very prevalent in Arthur. We stopped there on our way to Paducah last year. See the pictures of the Amish parking garage in this post:
http://shadygrovestudios.blogspot.com/2009/05/quilt-show-winners-and-car-park.html
I would love to win! But due to my schedule, I will have to try with just the one entry. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletehere's hoping i can enter this from the uk!!!
ReplyDeletei agree to all your requests!
gill
Dear Tonya,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input!
I’m just 3 days ahead of my big move back to Germany from Poland, but
I’ll grab the chance and promise to work on an Amish, liberated style quilt with words like you teached us until June! I travelled to 3 different Amish counties in 2oo8 and fell in love with a 9patch in Shipshewana/Indiana ( at http://www.mennohof.org ) – there will be my start. I would be thrilled if I’m the lucky winner. Hugs
Brigitte at baierl-home dot de
Yep I can make a quilt from that book, actually I would make more than 1. I would probally create a prayer with the liberated letters and I would have time for all of this becuase I would stop trying to manipulate my husband into buying me that book. Thank you for the give away
ReplyDeletesucked me right in Ton..so..book,quilt,liberated and words it is..by June..even if I don't win it will be such a fun quilt to make!
ReplyDeleteYum. I would love to win the book. I will even attempt to finish a quilt by June . YOu didn't specify which year. So far any words I have made are horrendous and not fit for viewing. But if you want liberated I would even do the 70's bra burning thing if you want. Picture upon request. lol
ReplyDeleteOkay, I wasn't going to join in, not because of the rules, but because of the time frame. Then I went back and saw you said a quilt TOP. I think I can do that, and of course, yes to all four! Might have to do it anyway even if I don't win the book!
ReplyDeleteHow fun is this! Okay so even if I don't win this sounds like a great fun project to try!
ReplyDeletebut hey: words
liberated
quilt
book
What could be more inspirational!!!
Thanks Ton for a chance to win :0)
Happy Sewing and kitty time
Super great book! I can promise to make a quilt top by June using one of the quilts in the book as my inspiration, with the blocks in the liberated style of Gwen Marston, and will also put a few words in the liberated letter style on the front. (beautiful kitties...)
ReplyDeleteThat book looks to die for! I love Amish quilts and I love your liberated letters! So, I'm game. Please enter me for the book, I'll make a quilt, liberated, with words. Does that cover everything? lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for this wonderful chance.
OOoooo...I would love to win that beautiful book. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteI have been making letters GALORE since taking Bonnie's class in Indy, so YES, I'd be thrilled to make a liberated and lettered quilt, likely using that ninepatch as inspiration (WOW, that is gorgeous!). And, liberated is coming easier and easier because of your blog (thank you MUCH for that, BTW) so, yes to ALL. By, June. Yes to ALL. OH, I hope I win!
Lucy (in IN)
After thinking about some of the quilts I've made, i can promise to make a quilt by June! It will be a small wall quilt, maybe to hang in my kitchen (right now I have one in teal and red/orange based on mini Exquisite blocks from Gwen's LQ1). I will definitely used Gwen's liberated style, which I love. And getting my inspiration from a quilt in this wonderful book would make my project special. I've never put my name or initials in a quilt top so I'm ready to try that.
ReplyDeleteI'm in on this project.!
Kathleen C
villagequilter@gmail.com
This book looks so inspirational - thanks for a chance at winning it!
ReplyDeleteTonya, Yes please enter me in your Amish Abstractions book giveaway! We lived for about 15 years in northern Indiana's Amish country, an experience I will always cherish. To live in such close proximity to such an interesting culture. It amazes me they can maintain their religion and simple life in the midst of the 21st century. It would definitley require faith to do so. I will make a liberated Amish quilt, with words as a tribute to my years in Amish land. Thanks! BTW, your kitties are great!
ReplyDeleteCount me in. I just got Liberated Quiltmaking and read it cover to cover. Now I'm jazzed about trying some things out. I think that I would like to work through the book, learn the process, use the Amish Abstractions book for color/design inspiration, add some of Tonya's letters and end up with a sampler of sorts. Hope I win the book but will buy it if not.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea!!! These Amish quilts are so beautiful and simple and timeless/modern all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteCount me in, I will say YES to all 4 of the criteria. I have had an idea for a quilt brewing in my head for a while and this might just be the perfect project to explore that.
It's so nice that your kitties are well read on the subject of quilts. That way their input can be so much better appreciated. ;-)
ReplyDeletePokey, I would love to win this book. It looks absolutely beautiful. It is not hard to promise to make a quilt from the book and to make it in a liberated style. I think incorporating a word is a great idea!I would love the challenge of that.
ReplyDeleteChris in NJ
dvontish@comcast.net
Thank you for sharing the link to the quilt site. Those quilts are so striking! The use and placement of color is inspiring. and Pokey, you are so beautiful :-)thanks for posing for the photos. I know you must get weary of your fans always asking for more glam shots but we can't help it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the online photos. I will no doubt be inspired by one or more of the quilts, and will no doubt make a quilt liberated style (just got my copy of Gwen's LQII), but I certainly don't expect to win. If I do win I will definitely make a quilt!
ReplyDeleteI think you know how to find me ;- )
Me Too. I promise to the four promises. Gwen Marsten liberated me years ago. (Congratulations on getting your quilt in her new book). I have used your letters on many a quilt, including two quilts this week with them. Believe me W gave me a bunch of trouble. I hope your book is about your letter technique.Pattie
ReplyDeletesdpattie@cox.net
I promise to make a top by June with your letters and Gwen's liberated style. This will be a jouney out of my comfort level. It is good to grow!
ReplyDeleteSubee
I would love to win the book. And I promise I would make a quilt, and I would try to do it in the liberated style, and I would most definitely enjoy putting some kind of words in the border.
ReplyDeleteI know I'm past the Jan. 25 deadline, but the comment box was still open!
would love to be in the drawing for your book. I have a new blog that I am just toying with at the present called Journey Of Quilting Sure would like to win that book and I agree to all your guidelines.
ReplyDelete