Have you seen late bloomers in batiks?

Hi Jean, we're so sorry but we're not sure what you're referring to. Can you please email us at service@shopmartingale.com with a few more details? Thank you!

Kim Diehl's new book is simply spectacular. Patchwork combined with Kim's beautiful applique designs and wonderfully detailed instructions inspire the quilter to create beautiful works for their homes.

Kim Diehl and book publishers Martingale have put together a rather pleasing publication called 14 Patchwork and Appliqué projects for Everyday Living. I recently received a complimentary eBook to review from the publishers.

In the introduction, Kim mentions that she has been surrounded by traditional quilts all of her life and is very familiar with the traditional way of piecing and appliqué.

Thankfully, Kim has taken 17 pages at the back of the book to take the reader through all of the techniques mentioned in the book including piecing with machine and needle turn appliqué and other appliqué techniques. These generic instructions are clear and concisely written and extremely well supported by diagrams and graphics.

The 14 projects collected for this publication include full sized quilts, baby and smaller quilts, pincushions, table toppers, wall hangings, and pretty frame able fabric pictures.

The genre of appliqué in this publication is country naïve, without being too primitive.

Very traditional blocks are coordinated with simple appliqué shapes that make for very pleasing quilts. The quilts are not hugely difficult to construct, but some will pose a challenge for the less experienced quilter.

I am very impressed with the “Pin Points” that Kim has included along the way. Pin Points are little boxes containing pointers or hints that will be most helpful to all readers of this publication – from novice quilter’s right up to advanced master artists.

Some of the hints mentioned in Pin Points include portable patchwork viewers; transporting blocks; piecing units with stitched points; creative storage containers; and perfectly prepared appliqué points.

If country naïve is your kind of appliqué and traditional patterns are what you are looking for, this book is for you.

Kim is a favorite-her patterns and choice of colors are always pleasing.