Quilt Improv:: Lucie Summers

Ok, I can't just reappear in this space without acknowledging my absence.
No doubt about it, I've been away. But, just from this space. I've been designing and creating and re-working. And, soon enough, you all will see the fruits of that labor.
Today, however, I wanted to take a minute to introduce you to someone fabulous:

Everyone, this is Lucie Summers.
Lucie, this is everyone.
Lucie has just written an amazing book, Quilt Improv: Incredible Quilts from Everyday Inspirations.
I love so many things about this book: the wonderful, earthy way she describes and defines improv, her fresh takes on traditional blocks and, most of all the wonderful eye-candy quilts she features.
It may seem a bit over the top to say this book has everything you need to get inspired and started in your own improv adventure...but...it does.
It's divided into 4 sections: introduction, building blocks, quilt, and a general sewing/quilting section.

After a brief intro to her process as well as her take on improvisational quiltmaking, Lucie walks us through 13 basic building blocks, from chevrons, to half-square to triangle to, my personal favorite, log cabin.

Lucie encourages the reader to make these blocks either as stand alone mini quilts or as part of larger constructions.
They are all rendered in bright, fresh fabrics that really communicate the joy of working improvisationally.
The third section of the book focuses on 12 beautiful quilt that are just as beautifully photographed. It really gets you jazzed up to make the quilt when it's pictured in wonderful lighting and set in a lovely space.

Add to that, each of the quilts is accompanied by a sort of process map. Lucie includes sketches, inspiration photos, and other tidbits to help guide you in making your version as well as applying her overall process to crafting your own improv quilt, be they based on these blocks or not. 

In its final section, Quilt Improv features general sewing/quilting info and an extensive resource section. 

I think this book is great. Really, really, really.

The previous link takes you to the UK page, but, because I like you, each and everyone of you, I'm including the amazon link for those of us who live on this side of the pond and spell the word color without that superfluous U.