You'll Flip for Flip Flop Block Quilts!

Sometimes the simplest design yields the most amazing results.

One inspired day, quilt landscape artist Kathie Alyce, proprietor of Waterfall Quilts and familiar face at merchant malls throughout quiltland, created The Flip Flop Block, a gently curved, tessellated acrylic template. At her first International Quilt Market, she sold out of her simple yet clever device, and voila -- a tool inventor and truly amazing quilting device were born!

No matter how you turn The Flip Flop Block, you get amazing designs. The pieces are so easy to sew, you don't need pins. Follow her directions to add or change the marking lines on her template, and presto! More design possibilities!

Now how smart is that -- take a basic template, add or change lines and develop an unlimited number of new designs? Simple, right? Amazing, also right!


Kathie's patterns have been popular for several years. In her first book she presents exciting, brand new designs, including the slickest Wedding Ring quilt ever. Fans of curves will love her book. Quilters who see themselves as too traditional to play with artistic concepts will appreciate how she gently guides them towards a more contemporary look without all the design angst.

Flip Flop Block Quilts is truly a great technique-plus-pattern-plus-project book, and it is one that will not only yield projects of Kathie's designs but will also set you on your way to a new approach to curves, tessellation and contemporary, more artistic design. Now that's value in a book! Call 1-800-626-5420 to order.

Men and the Art of Quiltmaking

Long before Europeans colonized America and brought quilting as a textile tradition with them, men were the professional quiltmakers, not women. So begins Joe Cunningham's new book, Men and the Art of Quiltmaking. 

AQS is honored to be the publisher for this book, which profiles 30 of today's male quiltmakers. What they do, why they do it and how they do it are discussed. Photos of their work are included along with nine patterns.

You'll recognize some names but others will not be familiar. Men aren't quite the oddity in quiltmaking in 2010 that they were even five years ago, but are still worth understanding, because they add a certain dimension to the art of quiltmaking.

Joe is a great writer and clearly enjoyed his interviews with his fellow artists. As he writes, "...I began to feel like we were brothers of the quilt." It's a brotherhood with a huge spectrum of tastes and style, from traditional to contemporary to art quilt. Their methods and approaches vary tremendously, too.

For those attending the AQS Des Moines quilt show this October 6 - 9, a bonus is a special exhibit by 24 of the book's quilters, curated by Joe. There have been exhibits of quilts made by men, and male quiltmakers are no longer rare participants in shows and exhibits, but this is the first all-male quilter exhibit to come from a single book on the subject.

Joe will be teaching quilt classes and lecturing in Des Moines, and giving a performance of his musical, "Joe the Quilter." And, he will be signing his book in the AQS booth, so this is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in quilts made by men and talk with a male quilter. Click here to learn more about the show: www.americanquilter.com

Joe's fondest wish is to write more about male quilters. Read his first book on them by ordering AQS item #8243 at 1-800-626-5420, or at the link above. See if anything Joe discovered surprises you, and let him know about it by commenting here.

Inchie Quilts Are in the House!

What started as a "just between friends" trading card-like pasttime has been turned into a hot new quilting trend. Leading the way is AQS author Nadine Ruggles with her book, Inchie Quilts.

Inchie quilts really are just that - tiny, one-inch square quilts. They are adorable, addictive, and oh-so-fun to embellish! You can make inchies the star of the quilt or use them as accents. They are equally at home on traditional, contemporary and art quilts.

And because Nadine explains how to attach the inchies in a semi-permanent way, you can move them around! She even gives you an Inchies Chess quilt pattern!

You will have hours of fun creating inchies and hours more thinking of creative ways to use them. Enjoy!

Call 1-800-626-5420 to order. Ask for item # 8021.

AQS Quilt Expo Nashville

Time does fly when you're having fun, and it was all fun in Nashville last week. With more than 500 quilts on display and so many vendors to visit along with potential authors, the week was over quickly.

Back in Paducah, we're pleased to announce the release of three great books: Ribbon Treasures from Celia's Garden by Faye Labanaris; 100 Tips from Award Winning Quilters by Ann Hazelwood; and Hooked on Feathers by Sally Terry.

Ribbon Treasures is another fount of inspiration based on Celia Thaxter's marvelous garden on White Island off the New Hampshire coast. This beautiful book will surely help you enhance any item you can think of with Faye's lovely ribbon flowers.

Even if you have no desire to enter quilts in a contest or show, the tips Ann has corralled from 100 award-winning quilters will improve your quilting life. Some are advisory, some are technical, but all are smart ways to think about your quilting.

Whether you quilt by hand or machine, and whether your machine is a home sewing machine or a longarm, Sally's clever no backtracking quilting designs will have you, too, hooked on feathers. Every design is charming and has a place in your next quilt.

Nashville or Bust

Two weeks from today we'll be putting the finishing touches on the Quilt Expo in Nashville. Doors will open Wednesday at 9 am to welcome an expected 25,000 people eager to view more than 300 of the world's best quilts, shop with vendors and meet old friends.

AQSpublishing is looking forward to making new friends, especially authors and quilters thinking about writing a quilting book. Please stop by the Admissions desk and ask for me, Andi Reynolds, so we can meet!

Have a book in mind? Check out our proposal guidelines at www.amercianquilter.com under the "Authors" tab. Have a finished proposal ready to submit? Bring it with you to Nashville!

Hope to see you there!

Seeking authors for these book ideas

American Quilter's Society (AQS) publishing seeks authors to query us about writing these books:

A how-to-quilt book for beginners. Very basic, covering hand and machine techniques from concept through binding. We're looking for a fresh, complete approach to well-covered territory.

A home dec project book whose designs are contemporary art quilt style. Kitchen, dining and living area projects should appeal to masculine and feminine tastes.

Your query should identify which book you're interested in proposing and why, and your qualifications. Only experienced quilters need apply; no third party authors. We will work with first time authors. Send your query via email to andi@AQSquilt.com. Use either "beginner query" or "home dec query" in the subject line.