I am super excited to share Deborah Boschert’s first book Art Quilt Collage: A Creative Journey in Fabric, Paint and Stitch. This is Deborah.
And this is her book.
I have always admired Deborah’s work. I love the layering, the symbols, the handmade stitches, the color, and the texture. It all works as far as I am concerned.
Deborah and I met at the International Quilt Festival in Houston through our mutual support of SAQA. Since then, we’ve been email pals and even though we live three time zones apart, we’ve even managed to have dinner together on occasion. Last spring at the SAQA Philadelphia conference, the Texas and Alaska contingencies along with a few Oregon interlopers met for a fabulous meal.
This is all to say that I was delighted to be invited to participate in the blog hop celebrating this new book. What are my top ten reasons for loving this book?
1. The visuals are amazing. You truly get an up close and personal look at Deborah’s work.
2. The book is comprehensive. Deborah walks you through all the steps from generating ideas to applying the finishing touches to your work.
3. The information is broken down into bite size chunks that make it all seem do-able.
4. Deborah shares some great ways to get creative. She calls them “See What Happens” and they work!
5. Deborah’s hand work is exquisite, and you know how I feel about fine craftsmanship.
6. We both like chairs.
7. Deborah and I both graduated from the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism. That means the book is honest and well-written because that is how we do it in Kansas.
8. Deborah made a video chat with each of the bloggers in her hop. Here is the video talk we had about the book.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGac-AJ8dag&w=560&h=315]
9. The chapter on Design and Composition is worth the price of the entire book. I loved it!
10. You can win a copy of this book right here. Yes. That is right. Leave a comment here sharing what interests you most about Deborah’s work. I will randomly select one lucky winner when the hop is over. That means you have until midnight Alaska time on September 30th to leave a comment. If you live in the states, C&T Publishing will send you a hard copy. If you are international, they will send you an electronic version of the book.
If you can’t wait one more day, you can get a signed copy of the book on Deborah’s Etsy Shop, or purchase a copy via C&T Publishing , or Amazon.
This blog hop still has several more stops. I hope you will visit all the blogs to read what they had to say about Deborah’s fabulous book and listen to their videos. Here is the schedule.
Art Quilt Collage: A Creative Journey in Fabric, Paint and Stitch
Book Release Blog Hop with Video Chats!
September 19: C&T Publishing and Editor Lynn Koolish
September 20: Teri Lucas, Generation Q Magazine
September 21: Susan Brubaker Knapp
September 22: Sue Bleiweiss
September 23: Lyric Kinard
September 26: Lori Kennedy
September 27: Maria Shell
September 28: Jane LaFazio
September 29: Judy Coates Perez
September 30: Melanie Testa
What interestes me most about Deborah’s work is that it is wildly original, incredibly heartfelt, and impeccably handcrafted.
END NOTE– Thank you all for commenting. I think it is the most comments I have ever had on a blog post! I used an online random number selector to choose the winner. The number was 18 and Pam Rocco was the 18th comment, so she is the lucky winner! Thank you all!
Reading the blog entries, watching the videos and all the comments really have me interested in turning an inclination into reality by making my own art quilt.
Stacy- Deborah does really make it seem possible to do your own original work. I think you are right!
Can’t wait to read Deborah’s book! Would be lovely to win a copy!
It is a great book Geneen!
I love doing collage pieces, but I really like how Deborah uses motifs to create stories within the collage. Mine have been mostly completely abstract, so this looks like a fun direction to play with in my own work!
Heidi- I agree. I find Deborah’s motifs to be so inspiring!
I am just dipping my toes into collage work and this book looks like a great resource! Breaking it down into simple units would probably help alot – too much too fast means I usually end up with lots of UFOs!! LOL Thanks for the chance!!
Allison, the way Deborah breaks it down makes me think that even I can do it!
Nice job. Thank you for yesterday. Hope you are please with Paul’s work. Your family is so handsome… spelling sucks.
Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
Love you Grandma Patt! It was great to see you and Paul!
I like how she incorporates her personal symbols. And from your description, it sounds like I could make art quilts using my own voice.
YES. I think that is exactly what the book does!
I guess what interests me in Deborah’s work is that I have a hard time straying from the realistic art quilt. I have tons of stuff saved for a collage but I have a hard time doing it. Maybe this would loosen me up a bit.
I have just ordered my own hard copy. I am hoping that it works for me to Jo!
The colors that she uses are colors that i choose to work with in my quilting & crocheting projects. I am ready to add a different dimension to my pieces which I think that this book will fulfill! Thank you for sharing Deborah’s work and book.
Susie- that sounds like a great idea!
Your comment on the chapter of Deborah Boschert’s book called Design and Composition, prompted my comment. I want a chance to win the book!!
It is a great chapter!
It is the nature in Deborah’s work that calls to me.
Yes! I love how Deborah is inspired by nature and then translates it into her work.
I have followed all of her video chats. Each person has given me a nugget of what is in her book. I like how she approaches her designs. Taking one aspect of a photo and elaborating on it. Leaving just enough elements is very inspiring to me.
How very cool that you have listened to all the videos. It was Deborah’s ideas to share her book that–genius!
As you said, her work is so different from my own that I admire it greatly. Perhaps if I read the book I could give it a try, and who knows what I might come up with. Layering sounds intriguing….
I know, I am intrigued by the layering too!
I’m great at doodling (esp in meetings at work) but would love to use this book as inspiration for small art pieces. Love the idea of personal symbols. It really has started me thinking. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Great ideas Diane. I hope you they lead you to making some cool art quilts!
Love to have it for the chapter on design and composition!
It’s a good one!
I met Deborah a couple of years ago through SAQA and the word that comes to mind, both for Deborah and her work is “authentic”. I love her symbolism and attention to design principles!
I totally agree! If you know Deborah and her work you know they go together.
I really like the way Deborah creates layering. This comprehensive book needs to be on my book shelf as it seems that it is more reader friendly than some I have read.
I agree. This book is very readable.
I find Deborah’s work very interesting and I’d like to read what she has to say about layering, color and composition because there is always something new to learn!
And she likes beads like you!
Looks intriguing, Maria. If you can learn from her book, I’m sure I can, too. Would love to see what you make that’s inspired by Deborah but expressed by you.
That is a great idea. Once I get my book written, I’m goig to do it!
The things that interest me most are the way she combines such a wide variety of fabrics (cottons, sheers, home dec, etc.) and machine and hand stitching. Also her tips on composition. Thanks for the chance to win the book.
I am afraid of layering like Deborah does. I feel like my brain doesn’t work that way, but I am going to try it!
I have only recently started down the path on the journey toward creating art quilts.. This looks like just the help and inspiration I need!
I think so Tweela. This book is good!
I’ve been following Deborah’s blog for quite awhile since I discovered her on another blog. Her quilts are appealing because I see so much in them, even though the compositions appear to be simple. Her stitching adds a special layer to the motifs that catch my eye, whether a chair, fish or bowl. I’d love to learn from Deborah’s book.
I agree. The layering works.
I like Deborah’s way of designing/composition, things that I have always struggled with. She makes it very do-able.
I think you would really like this book. She breaks things down in a way that is creative but also do-able.
You are both from the University of Kansas?!! So am I. That must be why both of your work appeals to me! Deborah’s book has been on my list since I first heard about it.
ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!
I love the simplicity of Deborah’s work, simple but interesting.
That is it exactly–a lot of the beauty of Deborah’s work comes from the elegant cleanness of it all.
I was first attracted to Deborah’s work when I purchased the 12×12 book. Her work immediately appealed to me. I would love to have this book.
I have to check that 12 x 12 book out. I have heard good things.
I’ve been intrigued by Deborah’s style because it is spare and elegant…not a jumble like collage quilts can be. They are very carefully thought out and every element necessary.
Marjorie that is a great description of Deborah’s work. Perfect!
Yes, she is so down to earth seeming, so of course I can do that too…very approachable
Thanks, caltexgal@aol.com
Deborah is like her work–REAL.
I like a lot of things about Deborah’s work, but I’m especially interested in her use of hand stitching.
I am very intimidated by hand stitching and Deborah’s is lovely!
I have really enjoyed the video chats on this blog hop as each artist has shared a different aspect of the book. Look forward to getting one soon.
The videos are a fun new way to launch a book.
Just doing my first collage quilt…. would love to absorb Deborah’s wisdom and insight at the beginning of this journey.
I agree. Having Deborah’s book will make the learning process easier.
I would like to read especially er chapter on design and composition.
It is a great chapter!
I love the way Deborah incorporates different techniques into her collages-stamping, stenciling, hand stitching, machine stitching and MORE!!!! Looking forward to her book and maybe, just maybe…….
I love how she does that too. Just enough and not too much.
I am really intrigued by her use of collage and mixed media in art quilting. I want to learn some of her edge finishing techniques also.
Good point about the finishing techniques. She has a great chapter on that.
What most captivated me after a quick look at the book on the Amazon site was Deborah’s comment on the back cover, “When you create artwork, you bring your whole self to the process.” That just set my mind reflecting on my own process and approach to creating art quilts. I love to read others’ points of view and techniques, and I am looking forward, after listening to Maria’s blog chat, to the “See what happens” exercises as well as Deborah’s take on design and composition. One final comment: that long-lost piece of burlap and the hunt to find it. Welcome to my world!.
I am currently hunting for a 1/2 of rayon challis that I was going to make a scarf out of. Where is it? It is a good thing to have collections especially of fiber!
I love the approach that anything goes and see what comes out of it. I’ve made a landscape quilt and used every technique I could think of of that I had never tried before and I am still in awe of that quilt.
Yes. I think Deborah does a great job of cultivating openess and then manifesting it in her work. I think that is my favorite thing about it. How does she combine all of those different elements and still create beautiful composed work? I don’t know exactly, but it works!
I’m interested in all of it! I’ve made a few art quilts, but want to improve on getting depth and texture involved. I want my work to look more dimensional and I think this book could help me accomplish that!
Yes! That sounds great.
I’m very interested in the personal symbol aspect of her work. Hope to get my hands on a copy and explore it for myself.
Yes. It will be really interesting to see the work that comes out of being inspired by Deborah’s book!
I like Deborah’s style. The combination of collage, stitches and layers is very interesting. I’d love to learn more.
I like her style too!
I love the simplicity and meaning/symbolism in Deborah’s quilts. I also like her variety of techniques and elements in each piece, none overwhelming the others.
Rebecca you are right about the balance. She achieves it on all levels–the images, the layering, and the stitching.
This book looks great. I’m especially interested in her chapter on design. Her work is so clean and pleasing.
Those are both adjectives for Deborah’s work–clean and pleasing.
From just looking at a few images of her work-I like the simplicity mixed with the depth of symbolism.
The images are great!
I enjoy how she combines machine and handwork techniques in a unique way to communicate an idea. This is definitely going to be on my bookshelf.
Of all the aspect about Deborah’s work, the hand stitching gets me every time!
This type of work really interests me as a designer. I’d love to read her take on design and composition as well as her way to express ideas. Exciting!
I can see how it would inspire a designer. She does such a lovely job of composing–both the images and the layering.
I’m interested in doing more collage work and having it look layered and meaningful, not just a mishmash of stuff. I love the simplicity of her stitching. This book intrigues me because the collage is actually aimed at fabric artists, not mixed media.
Great comments Julie! Thank you for joining the conversation.
I’m interesting in learning more about using a focus fabric and photos for inspiration. I’m also intrigued by her approach to using the elements and principals of design. This looks like a very inspiring book.
Vicki- It is inspiring! You will like it.
This looks like a perfect book for inspiring me to do my own collage quilts. The way Deborah incorporates different techniques and mixed media into her pieces of art make them more interesting.
Anita- I see so many collages that are overkill when they combine techniques, but not Deborah. She balances the techniques in the same way she balances the objects. Both are composed, and it is very cool to see.
The thing that strikes me is how she can use the same element and it can look so different in each piece.
I am always a big fan of repetition and Deborah really nails it.
“Green, how I want you green”, by Federico Garcia Lorca, came to mind when I saw the lovely and luscious greens in Deborah’s photo. I sense a kindred spirit. I’m drawn to the symbols in her work.
Yes. Her use of color is lovely!
I love the fact that she can use common items and display them in a fresh manner that is artful.
I have always loved that about Deborah’s work–creating meaning out of every day objects is truly wonderful.
Thought I’d commented, but I’m not seeing it…apologies if this is a repeat. I love that Deborah’s sweet spirit shines through in all of her work! Thanks, Maria!
Deborah- You have officially commented. And yes. Deborah’s essence is glows in her work!
I have enjoyed reading Deborah’s blog for several years and watching her style and confidence blossom. Bravo for putting it all together into a book to inspire us further!
Alexandra- You are so right. It has been great fun watching Debra grow as an artist.