by Nancy Rink
Away From Home is woven from the diaries and letters of Lowell, Massachusetts, Mill Girls and the history of the textile factories where they worked. The featured sampler quilt has an appliqued center depicting two of the Mill Girls surrounded by nine pieced and appliqued blocks. Eight more original projects include seven quilts of various sizes and a charming pinwheel pillow cover. All the projects feature fabrics designed and developed for Marcus Fabrics by Judie Rothermel in conjunction with Lowell’s American Textile History Museum. Nancy, an award-winning fiber artist, and Oliver, a history professor, combine their expertise to bring you stories as interesting and enjoyable as the quilts they inspired.

by Edie McGinnis
Oh those scrappy quilts with stories to tell and mysteries to solve. Look closely. See this bit of plaid in purple? Here it is again in green ... and yellow ... and red! One can't help but wonder where those bits and pieces came from. Edie McGinnis explores the origins of these delightful scraps: likely from one of the nation's Garment Districts. During the heyday of the Kansas City garment district, it was said that one in every seven women in the country wore a coat or suit made there. You'll learn about the locale and the players: immigrant workers who toiled the factories, designers whose splashy lives became the daily news, and the museum there today. AND where all those scraps went! You'll also find easy-to-follow directions to make eight spectacular scrap quilts - some from old designs, some new - and a handful of fun projects. Best of all: a portion of the proceeds from this book will go to support Kansas City's Garment District Museum

A goosebump moment of discovering her Aunt Anna's quilt in a book led Donna di Natale on a hunt for the quilt's origin. And the enduring freshness of the 1930s quilt design led to her recreating the quilt using modern techniques and materials. The templates for Anna's quilt are based on the original design. For the other projects, I simplified the daisy and morning glory templates. And because I love wool applique, I have included a wool applique wall hanging or table quilt and a small table topper. The templates for some of the projects have been reduced in size, and new designs were added to the wallhanging, but every project in this book contains the rose applique found in Anna's original quilt to demonstrate the timelessness of this design.

by Sheri Howard
It's the love of flowers, and the sketches they inspired, that grew into Sheri Howard's "Pretty Petals" quilt. "Pretty Petals" is a collection of whimsical flowers drawn from fond memories and a colorful imagination. The colors were taken from a box of watercolors and that first 24-count box of crayons Sheri had in grade school.
A delightful variation of "Pretty Petals" is the "Kaleidoscope" quilt. Sheri shows you how to take "Pretty Petals" blocks and turn them into a colorful kaleidoscope of flowers. The versatility of these floral designs is amazing! Then there's "Red Poppy Garden – a simple nine-block quilt with large appliqué pieces – something beginners will certainly appreciate. Accent pieces include the "Euro Pillow Sham," "Frilly Pillow Case," and "Red Throw Pillow." Sheri's signature style also adorns her must-have "Market Bag."
Take some time and stroll through the imaginative garden of Sheri Howard's "Pretty Petals."

by Betsey Langford & Carolyn Nixon
Celebrate the holiday season with this festive sampler quilt dressed in the classic yuletide colors of red and green. Based on traditional designs, each of the 12 sampler blocks features a Nine-Patch twist. Quilt designers Betsey Langford and Carolyn Nixon also created a stunning central medallion of Poinsettia and Nine-Patch blocks. As you make the feature quilt, travel back to a simpler time with Carolyn’s childhood memories of growing up in the Ozarks in the 1950s. Her 12 journal entries capture the joy of simple pleasures and handmade comforts. Searching for a creative holiday gift idea? Let Betsey and Carolyn ignite your imagination with their six smaller companion projects – a memories journal, a framed quilt block, a throw pillow, a star-studded table runner, a quick and easy quilt throw, and a dazzling embroidered snowflake design.

Story Time: Picture Quilts to Stir a Child’s Imagination by Kim Gaddy contains eight charming quilts and a project with instructions to use it in various ways that will enchant the special young child in your life. With each quilt, Kim presents the idea behind it. The rest ofthe story is up to you and your child. What is the puppy doing? Is the bunny getting ready for bed? Will the cat catch a fish? What are the animals in Old McDonald’s farm? What flavors of ice cream are the pigs eating? These and other friendly characters go about their lives in a series of simply-pieced picture blocks. Some appliqué and embroidery are used to enhance the quilts. Kim hopes you will make one of these quilts and use it to start a conversation, have a laugh, sing a song, or better yet, inspire you to make up your own stories. It will be that much better to snuggle in afterward. Put their favorite character on a bib or a shirt. Kim is a long-time sewer, and button maker who designs quilting and wool appliqué patterns. She also hand-dyes wool, has two teenagers, helps her husband with his hardware business and has just opened a quilt shop in Austin, Texas.

American Summer: Seaside-Inspired Rugs & Quilts by Polly Minick
Take a nostalgic trip seaside with Polly Minick. Her 12 gorgeous rug patterns bring back memories of summers at the shore – either in her home state of Michigan or the shores of Florida and Massachusetts. Good times, family times, lazy days – what is not to love? Polly also provides extensive instructions and tips about her beloved rug hooking. Also included are several stunning quilts from her talented sister Laurie Simpson and the coolest bag ever to take to the beach and back. You’ll also learn more about their support of a valuable project, The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

A Year of Cozy Comforts: Quilts and Projects for Every Season by Dawn Heese
Celebrate the four seasons with the casual charm of quilts and home accents by designer Dawn Heese. The author of Geese in the Rose Garden and Cottage Charm: Cozy Quilts and Cross Stitch Projects is back with a new collection of eight handmade comforts to warm your everyday surroundings throughout the year. Whether you love pieced or appliquéd quilts, wool appliqué or cross stitch, you will find a project to suit your style. For each season, Dawn also shares one of her family’s favorite quick and easy recipes.

A Bountiful Life: An adaptation of the Bird of Paradise quilt top in the American Folk Art Museum by Karen Mowery. More than 150 years ago, an anonymous quiltmaker somewhere in the vicinity of Albany, New York, designed and appliqued what is now regarded as one of the masterpieces of American Folk Art. Using paper ephemera, this master quilter created appliqué templates to fill her fabric canvas to the very edges with a bounty of delightful images. This quilt top, called the Bird of Paradise, can now be seen in the American Folk Art Museum in New York. Karen Mowery, a folk artist and quilter, presents her version of the Bird of Paradise quilt top. Karen’s version has been beautifully constructed to replicate the original quilt. The personal story of the original quilter remains a mystery. The blocks hold clues to the story, which Karen has attempted to unravel. What is the story behind this quilt? What do the objects and blocks say to you? “In the ongoing effort to preserve our ties to the past, Karen’s book, A Bountiful Life, recreates this fabulous piece of American Folk Art. Like the antique quilt top, it is not quilted but is backed, tied and used as a summer spread or wall hanging. I’m so pleased that the designs are full-size and ready to use; no trips to the copy center to enlarge them. Get ready to begin stitching!” — Jo Morton

If you’ve got quilts in every room of the house, it’s time to start on the kitchen! Sandy Klop of American Jane presents 13 designs — a Baker’s Dozen — to use throughout your kitchen: on the walls, and as tablerunners too. Many feature Sandy’s signature appliqué designs — several are pieced patterns. All are cheery, bright and just right for this favorite gathering place of every home.

For Gudrun Erla, gathering at the dinner table brings back special memories of friends and family in her native Iceland. These memories are the inspiration for her first Kansas City Star quilt book, "Table Talk." Included are 16 projects designed to grace your table and Gudrun's family recipes to share with yours. Six pieced projects can be done with simple sewing room staples. There are four quilt-as-you-go projects - excellent "quickies" to whip up for friends and family. There's also a collection of holiday projects, like the festive "Wrap It Up" runner, and three projects made from fabric leftovers, along with creative recipes for those dinner leftovers. It's all there to enjoy ... at the table.

Hallye Bone has planted a garden in fabric on her vibrant quilt, Flower Dance. With her 10 steps to No-fail Appliqué and 30 flower patterns, you can do all of them or just pick a few. Embroidery enhances this appliqué. By following Hallye’s steps you’ll learn how to master leaf points, put personality into each flower, embellish with embroidery, perfect circular appliqué shapes, make speedy stems, and use the blind-hem appliqué stitch. Additional projects include charming aprons, pillowcases, a table runner, a shopping tote, and a redwork throw. Hallye teaches and lectures about quilts, and repairs and appraises quilted heirlooms.

by C. DeArmond, E. Lang & K. Spitzli Christmas memories tug at everyone's heartstrings. Our talented trio, Of One Mind, is back with delightful new designs to create for your holiday traditions. They share their own heartland holiday memories -- and even some favorite recipes. Featured are two keepsake quilts that combine pieced blocks with embroidered blocks. Those embroidered patterns are also featured on two smaller projects with easy but striking piecing for lovely tree skirts or table toppers. You'll also find a striking Christmas tree wallhanging -- it could become your own virtual tree! Dress up your home with these rich quilts, table runners, and tree skirts -- you'll want to make them all.

Choose from 14 projects in various sizes including lap quilts, a table runner and a unique banner.