Quilts – Quilt Patterns

Reviews

"Going Green" is such an overused phrase, but Eleanor's new book deserves the phrase on several fronts. Who wouldn't want to replace some of those ghastly generic plastic-y totes with some of these colorful and personal totes? Plus this is first in "make it green series" of books by Eleanor using a US green printer. And there is a helpful section about "going green" in fabric choices for totes. I would recommend the book in any case as it doesn't waste your time with a lot of frou-frou, but tells and shows you how to make 20 totes that are both beautiful (or snazzy) and practical. The book accommodates those who want an exact design to follow and those who just need a good sensible tote bag pattern, but want to personalize it with their own fabrics and ideas. And, as other reviewers have mentioned, you don't even need to sew your own tote bag to make a personalized tote. The photography is engaging and the profiles of "celebrity" quilters are a nice touch. There is a Resource section detailing where to order pre-made totes and a "Bag Basic" section that has very useful tips about straps, handles, and other details that do make a difference. Useful, practical, beautiful and green. All in one package? It's an easy 5 stars.

If you like applying your creative urges to practical, useful projects, you will love this book. Author Eleanor Levie shows you how to make your own beautiful supermarket tote bag following one of the many patterns provided. You can even simply paint over a tote bag you already own, replacing a corporate logo with your own creation. Levie makes you want to pull out the sewing machine (or the fabric paints) and get right to work! The designs in this book range from handsome, traditional quilting styles to charming and whimsical contemporary pieces. Levie's own design, her Fourteen-Carrot Gold Bag (yes, you guessed it--seven carrots on each side!) is a great example of both her wit and her artistic talent. The directions provided with each bag are simple and clearly written, with how-to photos showing you the steps. The projects range from simple to complex, with plenty of opportunities to personalize the designs. This book gives you a great way to go green and have fun doing it. Unforgettable Tote Bags

On first look, you may think this book is about making decorative tote bags. But anyone who's been a fan of the celebrities and legends in the quilting community will quickly see that this is an opportunity to have many of their favorite quilters, designers, artists -- in one book. Not only do you see tote bags made by Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy, Karen Eckmeier, Virginia Avery, Diane Gaudynski, Jean Ray Laury, Susan Shie.... You get to see these experts at play, having fun designing and decorating a tote bag with their own techniques and personality. And then giving you directions to recreate it! This is like taking classes from 11 creative teachers, tops in the fabric arts and quilting community, legends -- all in one book. No, you won't become an expert machine quilter like Diane Gaudynski nor maybe be able to handle an air brush with the finesse of Susan Shie, but you can take the first steps. And you'll have a make-you-smile tote bag to help you lessen your carbon footprint. If you don't want to sew the bag -- directions show you how to take a blank already made bag and turn it into a work of art. The author, Eleanor Levie, includes a couple of her own creations along with directions for deconstructing a ready made bag to allow embellishments. The colorful book with a pleasing balance between white space and text offers step by step instructions, color photographs, and most of all, a few moments with your quilting heroes. Who could ask more of a book than that?! I can hope that this is the beginning of a series of books focused on celebrities gone wild!

This book has delightful patterns for tote bags we all need to use and use again. The book is fun to read, the instructions are clear, and the pictures are wonderful. The book would make a good holiday gift for anyone who enjoys sewing. The bags would make wonderful gifts too!

Reviews

this is in response to the previous reviewer. The book is correct, matches the cover with many more things to make inside, clear, easy instructions, great pictures, great designs & use of materials, lots of new ideas, things I've never thought of.

The book details and the look inside relate to another book entirely-one about quilts for babies.