It's been awhile since I've quilted anything, but when I did, I always went the "traditional" route - rotary cutting fabric pieces and sewing them together into shapes or designs. I never branched out into art quilts, but I have to admit, they are one of my favorite kinds of designs to look at. So how does one get into making an art quilt? The Uncommon Quilter may help you figure that out!

Most of the time when I think of art quilts - I think of paints, threads, beads, etc. all combined to make some sort of painting that embellishes fabric. Jeanne Williamson, takes the art quilts one step further - she uses recycled materials (paper, plastic, fiber) and, at times, household materials (crayons, flowers, fabric paints) to create her original designs. Not only does she discuss how to get started, but she also includes over 50 projects on how to work with each type of material. And there's no excuse not to try one (or two or all!) either - each quilt measures approximately 4" x 6" (some are a bit larger but I didn't find one that was bigger than 8" x 10")!

I found that this book really inspired me to think more outside the box - not just in creating quilts, but also contemplating how I can create my own fabrics using items that I already have on hand. Although I appreciate the small quilt photos, detail instructions, and many projects included in the book, my only desire after finishing The Uncommon Quilter was wanting to look at more large scale quilts and how these techniques could be incorporated together, not just as individual projects. If you're thinking about delving into the world of art quilts, especially using recycled materials, then this book is a must to check out.