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Friday, November 14, 2014

It's Not an Illusion!

I'm so happy to be able to introduce you to another new book, Optical Illusions:  Innovative Designs for the Modern Quilter published by Kansas City Star Quilts.  It's a unique concept and contains quilts from nine quilters, many of them from my Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild.  Can I say how proud am I?  I'm happy to be one little stop on this tour through the book.

The beautiful photographs throughout the book showcase the quilts and the scenery of Lawrence, Kansas.  This books makes me feel like home both in the location and the aesthetic of the quilts.  

 Jamie David's Aura quilt is my favorite in the book and I'm not surprised that it was chosen for the cover.  It's spectacular in both color and design.  I don't say this often about a quilt in a book, but I will make that quilt.
 I also love Mary Kay Fosnacht's Tangerine Tumbler.  I love the illusion that her quilt creates.  It's simple and complex all in one and has such a strong visual impact.
Take a look at Jessica Toye's Water Ripples quilt.  Isn't that a fantastic illusion of movement in this quilt?  Stunning, and constructed with only one simple block.

Optical Illusions contains just nine quilts and their instructions, but it is a tightly written, well curated set of quilts and I think for those of you who love graphic, interesting quilts, it's a book you would love as well.

Be sure to check out the whole tour and I have a Kona color card to giveaway to my readers today just for reading about this new book, so if you're interested, leave me a comment on your thoughts on this new book.  I'll choose a winner on Monday.  Enter by Sunday, midnight central time.

The winner was Anya!  Congrats!!

128 comments:

  1. Looks like a very interesting book, and the quilts are beautiful

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  2. I'm with you Jackie - I really love Aura and can see myself making it! Thanks for the chance to win the color card!

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  3. I've always loved quilts tha have this effect-I'll definitely be checking this out!

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  4. I would say that all the quilts are stunning, and they give a good impression of illusion in their own ways. This is a book that I definitely want to be checking out!

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  5. Love the ideas in this book. I'm a big fan of the tumbler quilt.

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  6. Those are some beautiful quilts!

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  7. That Water Ripples quilt is amazing! Thanks for the great giveaway ~ fingers crossed!!

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  8. There are some wonderful quilts in this book and I admire all the creative designers that contributed their talent to it.

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  9. Looks like a book filled with great designs. Thanks for the chance!

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  10. I really like the water ripples quilt. I hope the book talks about what makes an illusion and how to create one.

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  11. I love the quilts in this book. I've put in on my wish list.

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  12. It's been fascinating to see all the ways optical illusions can be created, especially in Jessica Toye's quilt--a single block did that?!

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  13. I love the quilts from the book I've seen so far. What a great idea!

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  14. Looks like a lovely book. Will have to check it out.

    Dianne

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  15. Gorgeous! Can't wait to look through this book all the way through.

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  16. This book is so inspiring. I can't wait to make one....ok several of these quilts.

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  17. Wow, the quilts you have chosen for your post are stunning. Will put this on my Christmas list.

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  18. You contributors are so creative! I love the photography.

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  19. I love books devoted to designs with solid colors!

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  20. Looks like a great book. thanks for the chance to win.

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  21. I would make the water ripple quilt
    the quilting with wavy lines adds to the motion.
    freehand wavy lines on a long arm would make this quilt easy and fast to complete

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  22. This book looks very intriguing. I'll definitely be checking it out.

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  23. That water ripples quilt is amazing! I think I need this book......yep, I most certainly do.

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  24. This book looks great! I love quilt books!!

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  25. that book looks amazing. can't wait to get a copy.

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  26. I love the use of solid fabric. It is so crisp and clean

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  27. I love that ripple quilt! The movement is so interesting.

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  28. This book looks amazing. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. Aura is amazing to me, truly an example of modern quilting.

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  30. This looks such a great book - impossible to choose a favourite, I'd make them all!!

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  31. It looks like this book needs to be on my Christmas Wish List.

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  32. This would be a fun book to own! Thank you for showing it!

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  33. Wow, what great quilts! Looks like a fun way to play with color.

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  34. What fun quilts -- really grabbed my attention. Would love to make one -- or two :-)

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  35. Great tumbler quilt. After the holidays will have to make one for myself.

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  36. I like Tangerine Tumbler, simple but still quite intriguing.

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  37. This book looks like great inspiration for us solids and geometric shapes lovers! I live rural and would love instant access to Kona colours. riley.lyn@gmail.com

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  38. Quilting and the concept of illusions just goes together. The book looks like it has many great examples. As someone who is coming to love working with solids more often I could sure use the color card.

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  39. This book looks great. I haven't seen a book like this yet. Thank you for the review and I can't wait to see more. Thank you for the chance to win a Kona Color Card. That is a wonderful tool to have. Take care and God bless, Cory

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  40. I've been following along on the book blog tour. Have enjoyed all the quilts and reviews.

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  41. Very inspiring! I just got a bundle of blue solids that would work for two of the three you've shown in the blog spotlight.

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  42. Ohh, lovely book. I'm glad you shared it. I can't wait to pour over it. And I'd love to have the color card. Thank you for the opportunity.

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  43. The Water Ripples quilt actually moves... quite the optical illusion! The book looks amazing!!

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  44. Can't wait to get my hands on this book

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  45. The Water Ripples Quilt still has my eyes swirling from looking at that design, Great job quilters, Looks like a fun book and I would need the color card to make those designs work, Kathy in Colo

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  46. It's neat to see a modern take on quilts like this. Playing with depth of field is something I'm getting more interested in, so I'm looking forward to seeing this one.

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  47. I do not own many books, but this is one that I think I willl be buying.

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  48. HI,this looks like a neat book!
    Thanks for sharing! Love to own a Kona card!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  49. That water ripples quilt has so much movement! I might need to get the book just to see how its made!

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  50. This looks like a great book, I just love quilts with movement. It's also making me want to make an all solids quilt.

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  51. This looks like a great book to add to not only add to my quilting library but make some of them. Thanks for the insight. kthurn@bektel.com

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  52. I love the optical illusions and think that is a new idea. I will definitely check it out!

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  53. All of these optical illusion quilts are beautiful. A great idea for a book. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

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  54. I love optical illusions, and quilts, so optical illusion quilts are just the best.
    Thanks for bringing this book to my attention.

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  55. Can't wait to get this book. It looks as inspiring as my modern "bible", Quilting Modern. Thanks for being an inspiration!

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  56. The quilts in this book are just amazing! I love optical illusions, but would have never thought to create an optical illusion on a quilt!

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  57. The quilts I've seen so far are fabulous.

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  58. This is a awesome book. it is on my Christmas list for me to get. love working with these quilts

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  59. Another book for the Wish list! Love the Ripples quilt.

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  60. I love the Aura quilt in blue. I will be making this quilt for a good friend going through some bad times right now.

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  61. Theses quilts are stunning. I haven't made many modern quilts but I like yours.

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  62. So cool I can't wait get my hands on this one. AMAZING cover indeed!

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  63. I luv this book! There are several patterns I'd like to try. A Kona color card would be great to have on hand when ordering fabric.

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  64. This book is absolutely inspiring. Have enjoyed the whole tour and hope to have a copy in my hands soon. Would love a Kona color card to go with it also.

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  65. I think the book looks amazing! I can't wait to look through it. It looks like just my style.

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  66. Wow I love optical illusion quilts, but I've never made one. Can't wait to get my hands on this!

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  67. I have one of these on my bucket list! Are you working on another new quilt now?

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  68. Love the idea of Illusions. Looks like an inspirational book.

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  69. These quilts are absolutely mesmerizing! Love the color choices!

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  70. I love the ripples quilt - fantastic movement!

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  71. The book looks fantastic! A Kona card is essential if you need to order online. There aren't any local fabric shops that I know of that carry all the colors.

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  72. I won a card at quilt market. So you can go to the next number if you pick me. I'm really curious what you decided to do with your brand/logo? I weighed in. Excited to see what you choose.

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  73. Ooooo, LOVE the cover quilt! Might have to do that one!!!
    A color card would be marvelous!! Thanks for the chance!!

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  74. I must have this book!!!! The artists who create them are amazing!

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  75. I love the aura quilt too, looks like a fun way to play with some solids. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  76. The water ripples quilt is beautiful, but I don't know how she quilted it without going cross-eyed :)

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  77. The ripples quilt is so nifty and dizzying! Optical illusions are just fascinating!

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  78. There are a couple of quilts from this book that I might make. Katie Larson's Curvilinear would head the list, but as is true for most of these quilts, I think that they would be best displayed as wall hangings rather than bed quilts. Looking at all these quilts, it really draws attention to the importance of a limited colour palette when designing an optical illusion quilt.

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  79. I'd be interested to read what the author says about the role of color (value, hue, uniformity, etc) in making an optical illusion quilt. Thanks for the peek at the quilts!

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  80. I can't wait to read the book. The quilts are all amazing and I want to try to make an optical illusion quilt too.
    lin dot web dot 28 at gmail dot com

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  81. Looks like a great book. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for the opportunity to win the color card!

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  82. Those quilts are amazing. Thanks for the review & giveaway.

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  83. This book piques my interest because it's another take on modern quilts. Very cool!

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  84. I think I will have to make quilt in this book. Thank you for a chance at the kona card

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  85. I think I will have to make quilt in this book. Thank you for a chance at the kona card

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  86. Love that someone has taken the time to translate optical illusions to quilts, AND wrote a book on it. So cool.

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  87. The quilts I've seen from this book look wonderful! Thanks for a chance at the Kona color card.

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  88. This book is on my Christmas wish list as it looks great. I'd love to win the Kona colour card as I use Kona fabrics all the time, but the card is impossible to get hold of in the UK.

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  89. I have been following the blog tour and if I am not lucky enough to win a copy of the book, I am definitely going to purchase one for myself!

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  90. The energy I feel from looking at this book is unbelievable.
    Perhaps its the stories behind the pattern or choice of Kona solids . Regardless it's truly inspiring and I love all the graphic and interesting quilts. Orange always speaks to me!

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  91. sounds like an awesome book I'd love to win thanks

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  92. I've been enjoying reading about this book, all the quilts seem lovely. And I would sure use that colour card, thank you for a chance to win it.

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  93. I love books like this! 'Practical' eye candy PLUS a visit to another part of the country. I'll definitely check this out!

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  94. As both a modern quilter and a KU alum living on the East Coast, I'm quite excited about this book! Yeah, Lawrence, and Yeah Modern quilts!!

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  95. Very creative! I have yet to make a solids quilt. If I win the card, I will have some help!

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  96. I can't get over the Water Ripples quilt! As I scroll down the page, it really looks like waves!

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  97. The tangerine tumbler is fantastic. The water ripples is amazing

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  98. Water ripples is my favorite in terms of illusion! The movement makes me crazy!

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  99. wow I'm with you about Jamie David's quilt - love the colours in it and the water ripple quilt has amazing movement - looks like a great book !

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  100. I never cease to wonder at all the amazing ways that pieces of fabric can create such amazing designs! Infinite possibilities!

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  101. I love the ripple quilt. Awesome that it is just the one block. These quilters certainly have an eye. Email is colemansharon@me.com

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  102. I love optical illusions and this book piques my interest. Kona cottons are great, too.

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  103. The quilts you showed are beautiful--such simple designs but complex visual images. Hmmm. I was just wishing I had a Kona color card this week...

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  105. The book looks interesting. I'll need to add it to my Christmas list.

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  106. The book looks interesting. The Kona color card would be incredibly welcome at my house.

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  107. This book is more fascinating to me all the time - at each blog-stop, I get to see more of the quilts, and, WOW - so great! I have it on my wishlist for Christmas!!

    Thanks,
    Liz
    boltonia55@yahoo.com

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  108. I've always been intrigued by optical illusions so this book is right up my alley. The 3 quilts you show are amazing - the colors are so clear and the movement is amazing. Thanks for the chance.

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  109. Amazing quilts! Love Aura but am a bit entranced with Ripples...I think I need this book :) Thanks for the chance to win!

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  110. I've already pre-ordered this book based on the cover and artists contained within. Can't wait to get it!

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  111. I can't wait until my LQS has this book in stock. Very cool quilts! The Water Ripples actually had me feeling a little woozy, lol! Thanks for the chance at the color card.

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  112. Looks like a neat book. I like the Tangerine Tumbler quilt. Thanks!

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  113. I really like all the quilts in this book - I'd love to make them all!!!

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  114. The Tangerine Tumbler is awesome, but it seams the setting of the photos is just as stunning. I wonder where the quilts were photographed.

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  115. A Kona card would be wonderful. Thanks for participating in the hop and the giveaway.

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  116. What a cool book concept. :) I love optical illusions, and never considered turning them into quilts. That one-block design really moves when you scroll through your blog post. Wow!

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  117. Thanks for the review! Can't wait to get a look at the book.

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  118. I'll need to give this book a good look when I find it in real life! I've been buying optical illusion coloring books, but I'm not sure how to translate into quilt blocks. A Kona color card would be wonderful!

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  119. Beautiful quilts. Thanks for the give away.

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  120. Love the book. Think I'll need to buy a copy! veeveebug@aol.com

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  121. I completely agree - the colors in Aura are spectacular!

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  122. Hmm optical illusions sounds like a novel idea to interpret in fabric. Reminds me of all the MC Escher prints I have seen over the years.

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  123. The quilts in the book are fabulous.

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  124. I have a soft spot in my heart for illusion quilts and I love this book!!

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  125. Whoa, those quilts are amazing! That last one, Jessica Toye's Water Ripples quilt, is such an amazing illusion! It's so crazy what people can do with fabric, and so inspirational too! Thanks so much for introducing this book! Going on my amazon wish list, FOR SURE!!!

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So, what are you thinking? (please don't put links in your comments...the spam police like to grab them and hide them away! if you want to share a link, feel free to email me.