Book Review: Quilted Memories by Mary Lou Weidman

Forget scrapbooking, why not turn your life's stories into folk-art quilts? Think it's an impossible task? Well, Mary Lou Weidman thinks otherwise and shows you how in Quilted Memories. The author's enthusiasm for folk-art quilting is infectious and if you read this book you'll become infected with the desire to turn all your family's celebrations and stories into quilts that can be treasured.

Think you can't draw, so you can't possibly make a picture quilt? Weidman correctly points out that "with a little encouragement and coaxing, anyone can draw" and then goes on to make a good start in giving you this.

Also well worth reading early on are the 12 tips for increasing your 'creativity quotient'. My favourite is to let yourself start more than one project. Why set unreal time restraints and make yourself finish one project before starting another?

Quilted Memories covers creating an atmosphere of creativity, encouragement for getting drawing, how to create a folk-art look, themes and ideas, celebrations and events, how to get started, basic applique, creating strips for lettering, buttons and embellishments, and then has nine patterns to help you on your way to creating your own, original folk-art quilts. Throughout there are loads of fun and inspiring examples of quilts both by the author and other quilters.

The project section opens with a description of how the author works, some suggestions on fabric (it's impossible to specify yardage with this type of quilt), and basic pattern instructions (14 steps from deciding on a size to sewing embellishments). The nine projects each have a large colour photo of the finished quilt and a pattern to photocopy to the size you wish your quilt to be, plus a short personal statement by the author about the project. The pattern shows the order in which to piece the bits. That's all you need.

If looking at the photos of the finished quilts you're not convinced that these quilts are easy to make, the mere fact that the author can reduce the sewing instructions to less than half a page should convince you. If you can do basic applique and are willing to be adventurous and try new things, you can make any of these quilts!

Still need motivation? Here's some from the author's conclusion to her book: "All you need to do is begin. So, give yourself permission, let go, fill out your brainstorm list, put together a great stack of fabrics you love and start creating that celebration quilt. By doing so, you will certainly put a little more joy in this world that needs more joy and celebration." I would add a rider to this: if you're not feeling in a celebratory mood, there's a lot to be said for using the techniques in this book to create quilt of the story you're experiencing at the moment. The time you spend thinking and working on it will not be wasted. Think of the quilts created in response to the events of September 11th, the emotions they evoke when you view them.

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