I love reading about as much as quilting so what better thing to do than read about quilting. I just finished reading A Thread So Fine by Marie Bostwick, The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini and State Fair by Earlene Fowler. I would recommend all three.

Now I am reading Quilts of the Oregon Trail by Mary Bywater Cross which is a history of women (and their quilts) who went west on the Oregon Trail. I just got it yesterday so haven't read much but so far it is a very interesting read.

I could start a library with the books I've got! There's just something about books and magazines that is irresistible to me. And getting my husband to take a vacation is like pulling teeth, so I just went on a tear and bought a "book vacation." Gloria Loughman's new book, Quilted Symphony, absolutely yummy (she's going to be on a TQS episode shortly). Quilting Art by Spike Gillespie is great reading - it interviews 20 well-known quilt artists about how they got into quilting, how they've developed their work, lots of great photos and each one has a piece of advice for you. A really interesting read. 500 Art Quilts published by Lark Books is 500 pages of pure inspiration - it's just quilt after quilt after quilt, no words - but it generates so many ideas. My current "lust" book is Judith Baker Montano's Fiber Montage. I, too, love Jean Wells' latest book and Lyric Kinard's (from my previous book vacation!). It seems I go on a tear, buy a bunch, and then that feeds me for a while. I probably won't buy another book for months. Unless, of course, I hear a tiny whisper while I'm in the quilt store.

Is "State Fair" a quilt block name? (Can't find it in Beyer's book.) I was under the impression that Fowler's books in that series were named after quilt blocks -- not that she can't step outside the box.

Earlene Fowler's new book, "State Fair", just came out last month and our library has it already. Put in a request and brought it home yesterday. I really get a kick out of Benni and Dove !

I'm reading Elaine Waldschmidt's "Appli-curves" and a fun quilt related novel "A Thread So Thin" by Marie Bostwick that just came out. This is the 3rd in her quilting series and a great summer read.

Shirley in Shreveport

Right now I'm reading Jean Wells' Intuitive Color & Design: Adventures in Art Quilting. It's pretty interesting - and it has a couple of Alex's quilts in it! Art quilter Alex. Look at her go!

It came with my copy of Morimoto's The New Art of Japanese Cooking. I was almost more excited about Morimoto's cookbook. Good stuff. And it has exciting color palette and design inspiration!

I'm a self-confessed quilt magazine junkie. I just love magazines (any type, from any country, even if I don't understand the language).

And books: I'm slowly ploughing through Sarah Ann Smith's book. If you are interested in thread and what to do with them, then it's quite amazing. This lady really has done a lot of research and testing.

Lorchen

I have Lyric's book as well. I haven't started any of the exercises yet.
eileenkny

Reading ( craft and Q/R) I am enjoying... What are YOU reading?
CRAFTER's COMPANION...Edited by Anna Torborg Recommended on one of the pod cast ( sorry do not remember which one) Whimsical Projects and crafts. Short essays on why the various crafters create and craft.

Art and Quilt: Design Principals adn Creativity Exercises by LYRIC KINARD.
I have been picking up a number of books on techniques, creativity, design and color. This book has some great excerscise that I actually understand and can do. She suggest putting your completed excerscises in a portfolio or binder. I am finding it a great inspiration and am working my way through this book. I can also see myself repeating the excerscises as they are so much fun. Added benifit I am using the book with my great- neice ( 10 years old ) who had been spending weekends with me. Her mom says she is becoming very interested in crafting on her own.

MARTHA STEWART's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SEWING AND FABRIC CRAFTS.

I recognize some of the projects from her magazine but there are a lot of them brand new. I like the NEW ENGLAND styling of many of the projects. My daughter loves the contempory colors used. Most are simple enough a novice sewer can accomplish them. cD of patterns and templates are included at the back of the book. This was the most expensive of my recent purchases but I had a 40% and 10% total off coupon from JoAnn's so I am enjoying it without guilt. I have collected many of her previous books on Housekeeping, Gardening, cooking and crafting. I find the information from her OMNIMEDIA group to be pretty accurate and reliable.