Allie Aller's Crazy Quilting: Modern Piecing & Embellishing Techniques for Joyful Stitching
Review Source: Sew4HomeReview Date: 5/17/11In today's world of art and crafting, 'mixed media' is all the rage. Sometimes called 'collage' or 'assemblage,' the finished creations combine textures, dimension and types of media into multi-layered masterpieces. As usual, our modern-day discovery is actually a new spin on a time-honored tradition. In this case, the Crazy Quilt is the fore-bearer of today's mixed media. And although it can look beautifully nostalgic, there is nothing old-fashioned about this very creative quilting technique. This fact is brought into amazing focus in a new book from Allie Aller: Crazy Quilting - Modern Piecing & Embellishing Techniques for Joyful Stitching. Allie took some time at a recent event to show us her book, give us a glimpse into her inspiration, and generously provide us with a copy to giveaway to a lucky Sew4Home fan. We met Allie during a quilting event at Fabric Depot right here in Portland, Oregon. Turns out Allie lives just 'up the river' (as we say in the Northwest) in Washougal, Washington, a quaint town that sits at the mouth of the famous Columbia River Gorge. We started talking about living in the country, segued into quilting-speak, and then... she brought out her brand new book. This volume is not only a wonderful primer with great step-by-step tutorials, tips, tricks and tools... it is also filled with eye-popping close-ups of Allie's amazing collages. I do not fancy myself a quilter, but I am a friend and fan of quilters everywhere, and I never cease to be amazed by the sheer artistry that goes into even the simplest quilt. So when I saw Allie's handiwork, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the intricacy and dimensional drama. I was also a little bit jealous, but I'm workin' on that! Her book is very thorough when it comes to showing and explaining the best supplies to use. And, Allie describes not just one, but a number of methods for various techniques, such as block design and piecing or image transfer. I do not fancy myself a quilter, but I am a friend and fan of quilters everywhere, and I never cease to be amazed by the sheer artistry that goes into even the simplest quilt. So when I saw Allie's handiwork, I was stopped dead in my tracks by the intricacy and dimensional drama. I was also a little bit jealous, but I'm workin' on that! Her book is very thorough when it comes to showing and explaining the best supplies to use. And, Allie describes not just one, but a number of methods for various techniques, such as block design and piecing or image transfer.Are you crazy for Crazy Quilting? If so then you must pick up a copy of Allison Aller’s new book “Crazy Quilting – Modern Piecing & Embellishing Techniques for Joyful Stitching”. Allie Aller’s work has a contemporary spin due to her use of new techniques, fibers, fabrics, and imagery. Allison says working with these materials “really give crazy quilts an updated, contemporary look and feel, taking Crazy Quilting out of the traditional Victorian mold for good!” The book has an in-depth section on materials and tools. Learn image transfer and stenciling methods while creating your own fabrics. There are four ways to create a crazy quilt block presented in the book. The directions are easy to understand and clearly illustrated. What would a crazy quilt be without embellishment through embroidery, beading, lace and dimensional flowers? Allison’s tips on working with these materials are invaluable. The gallery section provides inspiration that will have you jumping right in on one of the seven projects found in the book and thanks to Allison’s expertise you will soon be ready to work on your own crazy quilt.Review Source: The Appliqué SocietyReview Date: 5/1/11