Saturday, May 1, 2010

Whip Up Mini Quilts - Book Review and Giveaway

Created by Kathreen Ricketson, 'Whip Up Mini Quilts' is a book showcasing 24 contemporary small quilt patterns.

A few weeks ago, Kathreen took some time out of motherhood and Whip Up to answer a few questions about the book.

Can you tell us a little bit about your creative background, what inspired you to start crafting?
I had a very crafty childhood, my mother is very much all about handmade - everything from making clothes to bottling fruit and even raising our chickens for food. My grandmother lived with us throughout my childhood and I learned a lot from her, she was an amazing seamstress and cook. I inherited her sewing machine which I recently passed onto my daughter.

How did you come up with the idea behind the 'Mini Quilt' book?
The idea for the book 'Mini Quilts' was a collaboration between Chronicle books and me, they wanted me to something with them and I proposed a few different ideas - that's the one that they like the best. I think the idea of a curated quilt book really appealed.

Kathreen has done a fantastic job in selecting the contributor's and as such the book caters to all contemporary tasted and skill levels. The book is perfect for the novice but equally suitable for the more experienced quilter looking for challenge, there really is something for everyone.

Did the contributors have a design brief to work within?
The contributors in the book, artists, makers and quilters were given a very loose creative brief. I wanted them to be able to fully explore what a Mini Quilt meant to them. I am glad I let them have free reign as the results are so diverse, exploring many themes and using many different traditional techniques.

The patterns are grouped into the following categories: Romantic, Playful, Modern Folk, Modern Elegance, Geometric, Punk - Pop - Politics, Memorial - Storytelling.

The wonderful thing about the mini quilts in the book is that it gives readers a chance to try different techniques such as shibori dyeing, piecing concentric circles and incorporating photos into a quilt, to name just a few. More traditional methods like paper piecing and applique are also used.

The book has many inspiring quilts; do you have a favourite?
It is so difficult for me to answer that question because they are all so different. My daughters favourite is the 'Grasshoper in my gardern', and my husbands favourite is the 'two heads are better than one', my brother (father of 2 little boys) loves the Road transport quilted pillow and my son adores the TREGR map. I love them all for so many different reasons.

I know them all so intimately, having looked at them and edited the instructions for months on end. Nicole's Granny's delight really appeals to my cheeky sense of humour, the circus quilt is so clever an colourful. Concentric circles looks simple and zen but has these hidden layers. Imagine by Jude Hill is very special and shows how one image can tell a whole story, the layers of stitching and applique is so heartfelt.


Along with the quilt patterns, the book touches on the 'history of the quilt', 'selecting fabrics' as well as the various tools and equipment required when making a quilt. There is also a comprehensive section on quilt construction, basic block types, machine and hand piecing, embroidery stitches, quilting and binding a quilt.

In short, the 'Whip Up Mini Quilt' book is a great addition to a quilter's library.

We have one copy of the 'Whip Up Mini Quilt' book to giveaway, please leave a comment on this post and tell us a little about your idea for a mini quilt - winner will be drawn on Saturday 8th May!

106 comments:

  1. hello i´m from Germany and ma english is so bad that i hope you understand me. I love miniquilts so much, because you can decorate your home everywhere and you can made everything with them, sets for kitchen, wallhanging, booklets etc.
    have a nice day Danni

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  2. Oh I saw this book the other day and nearly bought it. I have it in my wishlist just in case I am not the lucky winner.
    Speaking of which you have a winner of a magazine. I can't wait for the next issue.

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  3. So cool! I'd love to make a mini robot quilt to hang in my son's room.

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  4. The book looks really lovely & inspiring and although I've hardly done any applique it's got me thinking about a set of mini quilts with a tea party theme. A teapot, vintage teacups (little strips of liberty on an oatmeal linen background), doilies (embroidery in a lace pattern)in lavender, crimson and linen colours. Almost like collage but in fabrics. I'd make them into placemats or a table runner to use for afternoon tea.
    Am loving the ezine & blog so far, thanks for the inspiration!

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  5. I've been following Whip Up's Mini Quilt Month and would love a copy of the book. I'm feeling inspired to make a mini quilt for my son to hang in his bedroom.

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  6. Love mini quilts! I'm appliquilting one today! Thanks for the book review.

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  7. After having participated in a doll quilt swap - I love mini quilts. It's like painting with fabric - let your imagination have a blast!

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  8. Mini Quilts rock, you can explore new designs and techniques, love them!

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  9. I have plans to make a new mini that has a woman hitting the beach with a giant inner tube over her arm. I would love to win this book, thanks for the chance!

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  10. Mini quilts are the cutest things ever! I've only made a few but my next one planned is one for my daughter involving peace signs. She loves them :)

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  11. I would love to make my Mom a mini photo quilt for her birthday! Trying to decide between using photos of her dogs or her grandkids ;0)

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  12. I found my old 4-H pins the other day and am thinking about how to showcase them on a little quilt.

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  13. I am dreaming about a mini quilt using all the fabrics in all the quilts I've made so far as tiny nine patches!

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  14. I am planning on doing a mini quilt for my dog. Yes, I know. YOUR DOG?! You see, he's a miniature Dachshund and when I'm gone he likes to cuddle up in a blanket. :)

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  15. what a great looking book! thanks for the chance to win it!

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  16. I had so much fun in DQS8 and it has inspired me to start a series of minis incorporating my love of cartography and topographic maps I used to use for work. I plan to try using quilting lines to represent elevation and make topographic quilts with a little twist that I'm keeping to myself until I figure it out!

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  17. I'd like to make a mini quilt for all the women in my soup group - we meet once a month for soup, bread and wine. A mini quilt it really do-able as a gift for a group of people.

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  18. I love mini quilts and the ones in this book look gorgeous. Thanks for a great giveaway.

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  19. I've been thinking about a mini quilt using some manipulated printed fabric images of my family members.
    Kind of a family portrait in fabric!
    Andi :-)

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  20. I've been thinking of making a mini quilt of "plus" signs or crosses similar to some I've seen on blog sites and sewmamasew .... just to get my feet wet on improvisational style of piecing and using charcoal kona solid --- or a gees bend style house block.

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  21. My mini quilt is for a baby and will use a multitude of different fabrics and colors--cotton, flannel, chenille, terry, and different minky textures with the wee ones name spelled out within it.

    The book looks great!

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  22. Book looks amazing. I'm obsessed with books and quilts and would love to create a mini-quilt about books!

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  23. Neat book. I'd like to make a mini quilt to keep. So far I've only made them for swap and have never kept one that I've made myself.

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  24. I am getting ready to start my FIRST quilt for my daughter's first birthday present. I think a mini quilt would be a great keepsake gift for her!

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  25. I've been wanting to try some applique - I'd like to make a wall hanging for the nursery. something with a little birdie - that's sort of the theme in there. i've enjoyed her mini quilt month on whipup!

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  26. I am just learning to quilt. a mini-quilt would be a good start on trying out a something new on my own. I just made two quilts for kids quilts and sent them off last week. I want to jump in, but not with such a huge project. I am enjoying the blog, by the way.

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  27. I want to make a mini quilt for my son, to hang above his crib. He likes books so I think a stack of books with one standing in front would be nice... as long as it's mini, I think I can handle it!

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  28. I've always wanted to make a mini quilt for a wall hanging and i was thinking of doing a country scene with a tree and house. Not very imaginative, but its something I would enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway! I hope I win! Corky at PiecefulDays(dot)SquareSpace(dot)com

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  29. Ooooh, throw my name in the hat too please! I've seen this book featured on several blogs lately and would love to have a copy of it. I'd love to learn quilting techniques on something small so I could translate them someday to something big :)

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  30. Ooo mini quilts are so cute! The Book looks really interesting too! I would like to make a mini quilt with a big tree on it with the leaves made from all my favourite bright and colourful fabrics and with the roots of the tree included too ( if that makes any sense?). I also read of an idea where the theme for the quilt is something like- what you would look like if you were a quilt, so I would also like to make a mini quilt using that theme as inspiration. The quilt would probably be very colourful and I would include all my favouite fabrics and things and inspirations, maybe like a collage! I would have to include the liberty print miranda somewhere in it too because my name is Miranda, I was born in London and the product code is the year I was born, so it is a bit spooky. Thanks for the giveaway, loving the ezine and blog :)

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  31. With four boys, two of them still pretty small, I'm thinking a wall quilt featuring trains. Lots and lots of trains.

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  32. Little mini quilts are ideal to try out blocks for a bigger quilt or practice applique skills etc. Equally, when small enough, they can be used as the front of a bag or the like.

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  33. I would be doing fairie tails for grand children.

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  34. It looks like a very interesting and fascinating book. I would love to win a copy!
    Keep up the great work FQ.

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  35. I love my Spring flowering plants so would incorporate them into a mini!

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  36. I'm intrigued by the idea of mini quilts! I would love to make some and experiment with some different styles on a "small scale."

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  37. Love the book,I am planning on making a Spring mini quilt. I just love gardening. Happy days.
    Bev.xoxo

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  38. Oh I'm especially excited about the shibori dyeing! That has always been something I wanted to try.
    I have only done a couple simple, patchwork mini quilts but I have always had an idea that I've never been able to put together. I wanted to do a woman in a long dress. The dress would be made up of several types of fabric and textures and would also include things like lace and ribbon. It would be placed in such a way to make it look like a collage of sorts.
    Ever since I've started sewing, this image has been lurking about in my mind... Maybe one day I will get to it! lol

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  39. I think this is a very exciting book. I would love to win it. I have a series of mini quilts I would like to do involving dragons. My DD is a wonderful artist and I would love to translate some of her art into some mini quilts for her.

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  40. This book looks amazing! I didn't even know about it.

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  41. This book looks like it has some great projects in it.

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  42. I like the miniquilt vehicle for making art/decoration. Easy size to work out ideas for ... and, if you don't want to keep it, donate it to Ami Simms and the Alzheimer's Quilt project.

    :) Linda

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  43. I would love to make a mini quilt with some spring flowers and birds on it to brighten up my kitchen!

    Thanks for the great give away

    SheilaC

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  44. What a perfect way to use the leftovers from some of my favorite fabrics!~

    Mini Quilts...I LOVE IT!

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  45. I love making mini quilts! I love to make doll quilts to give as gifts to the doll lovers in my family. They are also great to make as a "sample" quilt to test out a pattern.

    I am getting ready to make a mini quilt to test a quilt pattern I just designed using pinwheel blocks. My cousin will be celebrating her 4th birthday soon and loves dolls, so if this pattern works out, it will be one of her birthday gifts.

    I would love to add this book to my quilting library. Thanks so much for the giveaway and for the new magazine!

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  46. I would love to win a copy of this book! I'm thinking of several ides to make some mini quilts for my daughter to play with. She is always wrapping her dolls up in washcloths and scraps of fabric, so I've been thinking of making some small scrappy quilts that look like dresses!

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  47. This book looks wonderful! I think my next mini quilt will be an earthy table runner for our kitchen table...

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  48. I would love to have this book! Being a busy, working mom, it would be so fun to have some great ideas that I can make use of in my limited time!
    Thanks! :)

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  49. The book looks really interesting!! I'm planning to make a mini quilt of a silhouette of my dog.

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  50. I don't have a mini quilt to hang on a wall, but I do want to make one. I am inspired by Kathryn's versions.

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  51. Oh, how I would love a copy of this great book!!!! Thanks for the chance!

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  52. I like mini quilts, a mini coin quilt comes to mind, or maybe a modified log cabin.

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  53. Would love to win this book. Thank you.

    Holly Schwartz
    hollyanna66@gmail.com

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  54. This book would give me the info and inspiration to make a mini-quilt! I'd start with one of the patterns and then make a folk style quilt of my family.

    Stephanie

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  55. I have an empty spot on my living room wall that is dying to house a mini-quilt wall hanging :)

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  56. I would love to win this book. I made my first mini-quilt as part of the DQS* Swap and am hooked!! I would like to finish my rainbow circle quilt - its 22 inches in diameter. I would also like to make a mini portrait of our dog Softie for my son to hang in his room. Thanks for the chance to win - the book has really wonderful ideas! from some super talented quilters!!

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  57. I would love to win a copy - im in need of help and advice! I just started to quilt and think doing some mini quilts would be a better start - i cant get to classes and am relying on reading quilting blogs etc. I find libraries near me dont really have current info on quilting.....or more modern quilting methods/looks/designs to be exact.

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  58. I'd love to make a quilt that looks like a monet painting with gentle color changes. I think a mini-quilt is the way to go as it will take little tiny pieces of fabric!

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  59. Hi, thanks for a great giveaway! I am cutting tiny, tiny squares for a mini, like a postage stamp quilt with the pieces in actual stamp size. Each square (or two, haven't decided) will be from clothes from baby O's first year. This is also good practice in color/texture matching to use the same in a larger throw for her.

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  60. Ohhh, this book looks awesome and I'd love to get my hands on it! I really want to make a little mini quilt for the kitchen emphasizing our love of coffee, but without using any of those fabrics that say things like coffee, latte, etc on them - I have some ideas already from a watercolour I made, so we'll see if I can accomplish the same thing in fabric!

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  61. I've never actually made a mini-quilt! I might make my first one for Mothers Day this year.

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  62. I'd like to try doing some abstract images in a mini-quilt format.

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  63. I'm wanting to make a leafy mini quilt inspired from some leaves I collected on a Quilt retreat hike back in (gasp!) November!

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  64. I love the idea of making mini quilts since my sewing time is limited. I hope to get really great at quilt making so that I can make baby quilts for every new baby in my extended family. I did my first a year ago!

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  65. I love using my scraps from other projects to make mini-quilts! I would love this book!

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  66. What a great idea. I have tons of scraps that would work great for mini quilts.

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  67. I've been so excited to play with this book - thanks for the piece on it!

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  68. Mini quilts are great for a practice run before you undertake the real thing, specially when trying a new technique that looks a little difficult. There have been a few occasions where i haven't progressed past the mini quilt as it's proved too much of a challenge, having said that the dollies don't mind new quilts for their beds from the minis.

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  69. I follow the whip up blog now almost half a year (as a silent reader) and really like it --> especially this new book from Kathreen, which is very inspiring, because of the amount of ideas for the mini quilts.

    Thanks for this giveaway!

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  70. I love the grasshopper quilt - absolutely gorgeous. I would like to try my hand at a turtle mini quilt. The book is full of inspiration - as are a lot of the blogs out there. Everyone keep up the good work!

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  71. I didn't realise that you can make such versatile mini quilts! My husband's dear grandmother passed away and left behind a huge stash of fabrics which nobody wants. What a shame. I've asked for a portion of them and now I have an idea to make mini quilts with them. I'm planning to make the "Fu" (Chinese character) or "Fuku" (Japanese Kanji), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_character. The character means blessings or good fortune and are usually displayed in homes. These mini quilts will be given out to each of her children's family and will signify a legacy of blessings from her.

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  72. I'm thinking of some wonky log cabin style totally off square pieces - a bit of fun with some scraps. Not neatly bound off either, just sorta raggedy. The cats will end up sleeping on them anyway :-)
    Looks like a very interesting book - thanks for the giveaway.

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  73. I'd love to get a copy of this book... For me a mini quilt would mean a miniature quilt - where i would do everything i'd normally do for a larger quilt, just on a smaller scale... Something like a 0.25" postage stamp quilt!!!

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  74. I'd love to have this book also. I'm a beginner in quiting for the moment but since it became a real drug to me I'm learning fast and am sure that this book would help me make some pretty stuff! :)))

    Ana

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  75. Would love to have this book! It looks beautiful.

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  76. would love to enter the giveaway. Fabulous magazine too, just downloaded it today - congratulations!

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  77. I am needing something small and groovy for my living room wall.

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  78. I am decorating my 4 month old daughter's room and I thought it would be fun to make a small series (3) mini quilts to hang above her crib in bright greens and pinks!

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  79. This is so interestingly beautiful! I have always wanted to try to make a mini quilt.

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  80. i've never made a mini quilt but i love the idea!!

    gill

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  81. This is such a cuuute book! I´d like to do a mini with solids - like a rainbow!

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  82. I just added this book to my "wish list" but how much better to win it!!! I have been wanting to make a little table runner for the top of my wine fridge as it sits in my living room and needs to look prettier!!

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  83. Mini quilts are my favourite thing to make! I'd really like to try my hand at making a tiny miniature of a traditional quilt block. With tiny little pieces, carefully pieced together.

    When I pluck up the courage!

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  84. What a fun book! I love mini quilts and how doable they are. :) Hmm...an idea for a quilt? I love scrappy quilts - how about a scrappy quilt with all the scraps from your first yr of sewing? :)

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  85. This book looks so tempting! I'd like to make a mini quilt using tiny hexagons - should be a challenge :)

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  86. Holy moly, it's like you knew I wanted to make a mini-quilt!!! I'm thinking of one with a lighthouse on it for my in-laws.

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  87. I've only made one mini quilt: it was the first quilt I ever made when I was a kid and I did it all by hand! (I'd piece it by machine now, though :o) I love the leaf pattern in the mini-quilt book; I might try to make that. There is a star pattern (I'm not sure what it's called) that I think would look beautiful in blue and white too!

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  88. I need this book. We are doing a mini quilt swap at our next meeting for the LAMQG. I need inspirations!!

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  89. I want to try to do a boys style "road construction" or cars themed quilt for my son :)

    The book looks great so many gorgeous little quilts!

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  90. I've never made one for myself (although have participated in DQS7 and 8), but I think I'd chose a nature-inspired design. I'm thinking leaves, or branches etc with birds maybe??

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  91. Hi, great giveaway. I have just discovered mini quilts and love how quick they are!

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  92. i've only made big quilts and cushion covers, but would love to make a mini quilt showing The Very Hungry Catapillar story. I can imagine all those applique fruits and cakes!

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  93. I am working on my first mini quilt now. It is two 13x15 wonky star squares and corresponding solid squares of the same size with a contrasting border. I didn't get too fancy for my first effort but I'm hoping that with some inspiration, I will get more creative. Winning the book would be a great step in that direction.

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  94. I've been playing around with a mini Dresden plate, from a Dollies Online quilt, in Kona solids and think a mini quilt of them would be spectacular.

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  95. I've never made mini quilts before but I really like the idea of them. Small, fast, and packed with love and creativity! I would love to win the book and start exploring mini quilts, and finally make one myself! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  96. I would like to try mini quilts. This books like fun.

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  97. I've done several and they are some of my favorite because they don't take a ton of supplies and they are finished in a short period of time. I am hoping to work on a few in for my mother to hang in the hallway between her duplex to help deaden the noise and increase the attractiveness of the ranch house.

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  98. I've been thinking about doing some mini quilts depicting our neighborhood and giving them to the neighbors. No one around me sews, so it would be something unique to bond our little community more (hopefully).

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  99. Ooh, lovely book! I'm about to start a mini quilt with some mini ticker tape raindrops with a big umbrella.

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  100. I have this idea for a color wheel quilt made of concentric squares. It's all in my head and I need to get it out! LOL.

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  101. Ohh my - the quilt with the leaves. Nice!

    Would love to win the book. Thanks for giving me the chance.

    puk @ bakblog . dk

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  102. Lovely book! I'm planning a mini quilt using dresden plates! :)

    jenib320@yahoo.com

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  103. my idea would be a mini quilt wall hanging for each of my daughter's bedrooms. Thanks for the chance to win this inspiring book!

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  104. I like the idea of 'scenes looking out a window' in a mini quilt - book looks fabulous!

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  105. I love all the hand stitching on your Remnant piece. Nice work!

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  106. I love the leaf quilt on the cover of your book. Amazing!

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