Reviews
Well known quilt historian and author Barbara Brackman has teamed with talented Karla Menaugh to gather information on premiere quilters during the 20's, 30's and 40's from Emporia, Kansas. Three women's names rose to the surface and their work is what inspired the designs in this book. The book spotlights the lives of these women as well as their work. Vintage photos just add to the charm. Barbara designed her quilt "Emporia Rose Sampler" based on several of the Emporia quilts. The sampler alternates five floral blocks with four identical wreaths and is bordered with the "Pride of Emporia" border. The book contains all the patterns found in this project as well as six other projects based on these motifs. The block designs feature traditional applique which can be stitched using your favorite applique technique. You will find a nice section on construction techniques covering piecing Sawteeth, Applique, Mitered Border Corners and quilting suggestions. You are encouraged to create your own quilt design based on these tricks. This is a lovely book and anyone that loves applique will want to add this to their book collection., A group of women in Emporia, Kansas, in the 1920s, '30s and '40s made a unique group of quilts known for their design and workmanship. This book celebrates these women and their work, with a look at their lives, their historic quilts and 10 applique designs inspired by them. The timeless designs work with any applique technique and there are seven projects included., Quilt historian Brackman (Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler) teams up with machine appliqué expert Menaugh in this collection of appliqué projects inspired by quilts made in Emporia, KS, between 1920 and 1950. Emporia was a hotbed of quilting activity during this era, and Brackman profiles three of the city's most prominent quilters, providing context for their work. Samples of the original creations--many now located in museums--are paired with projects that are influenced by these originals. The centerpiece of the book is the titular Emporia Rose sampler, a full-size bed quilt that draws from a number of individual quilts profiled, but smaller projects are also included. The use of machine appliqué may surprise traditionalists, but hand appliqué techniques can be implemented, too. Appliqué templates are provided on pull-out sheets for easy use. Verdict: Brackman's skill at combining history and artistry shines again in this collection. The author's many fans who follow her work online and in print will be pleased with this latest book., Brackman (Quilts from the Civil War) and Menaugh, a quilt teacher, present seven new projects inspired by the still astonishing quilts made from the 1920s through the 1940s in Emporia, Kansas. The projects celebrate the unique work of a group of Kansas quilt makers whose quilts are world-renowned for their design and workmanship. The women included Rose Good Kretsinger and Charlotte Whitehill. Kresinger's appliqued "New Rose Tree" inspired Brackman's center block of the nine-block "Emporia Rose Sampler;" Whitehill's "Calendula" shares commonalities with the "Spice Pink" block used in the sampler and a table runner. Brackman and Menaugh discuss the stunning original quilts and their makers in the first half of the book; the second half explores the modernized projects--bedcovers, pillows and pincushions--plus so-called "bonus" ideas, as well as advice for the advanced quilter. Although the book is more history than how-to, the techniques include the rudiments of appliqueing, piecing, sawtooth, and mitering corners. The modern interpretations are especially appealing for their golden yellows and warm reds.
