Quilting with a Modern Slant: People, Patterns, and Techniques Inspiring the Modern Quilt Community
May, a founder of the Boston Modern Quilt Guild, has created an  encyclopedia of modern quilting. So-called “modern” quilting labels the  latest category of quilting, following “traditional” and “art.” Modern  quilting—admittedly hard to pin down, but proudly inclusive—is a hybrid  of the other two, resulting in quilts that “perform both a design and  functional purpose.” May divides her book into seven sections with  titles that reflect the whimsy and experimentation that help define  modern quilting, including “A Sense of Play,” “Improv,” and “For the  Love of Color.” Within those chapters, she presents modern quilters  (“Meet”), such as Angela Walters, David Butler, and Caro Sheridan;  offers directions (“Project”) for techniques like paper piecing and for  quilts, like Sherri Lynn Wood’s modern t-shirt quilt; and covers history  and museums. Sidebars cite quilters’ blogs and places to donate quilts,  among other information. Crawls at the bottom of pages define words  (“Quilt Lingo”) and blurbed quotes from quilters and their blogs are  scattered throughout for encouragement. Like a good host, May serves as  an enthusiastic introducer, teacher, and cheerleader. (Feb.)