Monday, November 3, 2014

Who's Holding Up Those Quilts?

Welcome to the Blog Party for Optical Illusions, a newly released KC Star Quilts Modern book.


We shot the location photos for this book in the downtown alleys of my beloved hometown, Lawrence, Kansas. My husband and I scouted the scenes one summer evening, took photos of possible shot sites and ran them by our book team. They liked what they saw.

Look carefully just above the ladder - notice the feet? Surprise!
Larry Billings, the antique mall owner, opened the door as this shot happened.

Sara Kirpes 
The day of the photo shoot, we had some lovely surprises. Some locals came upon the shoot on their way to a nearby coffee shop, The Bourgeois Pig. They loved the quilts. We invited them to be in some shots - you'll find them on pages 28, 36, and 72. If you happen by the Pig, you might find Ryan and Alicia behind the counter ...

Old editors don't like to call too much attention to themselves but that is me holding up the quilt in the photo above (that shot is on page 22). I'm also holding up the quilt on page 66. How fun is that.

The other model - dare we call him the cover guy? - also lives in Lawrence now. Abe Dick is now a freshman at KU. He also holds up quilts on pages 16  and 50.

I'd just like to mention what total fun it was to work with this talented group of designers. Their energy and excitement are contagious. We are really enjoying putting together these collaboration books for modern audiences. When a book this fun happens, all you can think is LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

GIVEAWAYS!
Because this is on a blog tour, you can get a free book. Comment about Optical Illusions and I'll pick a winner. Runnerup wins a Moda Layer Cake of Union Blues, classic reproduction fabrics by Barbara Brackman (aka, the neighbor).
Comment away!

and be sure to follow all the fun of this blog tour, check out these posts in upcoming days (or peek now if you can't wait ...):

Nov. 3
My Stars – Kick Off www.mystarsblog.com (book)
Deb Rowden www.debrowden.blogspot.com (BB FQ bundle)

Nov. 4
Angela Walters www.quiltingismytherapy.com (Athena bundle)

Nov. 5
Penny Layman www.sewtakeahike.typepad.com (book)

Nov. 6
My Stars www.mystarsblog.com  (book)
Melissa Corry www.happyquiltingmelissa.com (Oakshott FQ Bundle)
Lily’s Quilts www.lilysquilts.blogspot.com (3 - 5" Oakshott charm pack)
Fat Quarter Shop www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com (Naptime Bella FQ bundle)

Nov. 7
My Stars on behalf of Mary Kay Fosnacht/Karen Hansen www.mystarsblog.com (book AND Kona color card)

Nov. 10
My Stars www.mystarsblog.com (book)
Jamie David www.patchworkarchitect.blogspot.com (3 packs of charm squares from RK)

Nov. 11
Elizabeth Timmons www.andpins.wordpress.com (3 packs of skinny rolls from Robert Kaufman)
Tammie Schaffer www.craftytammie.com (book)

Nov. 12
Katie Larson www.thecraftingshell.blogspot.com (book)

Nov. 13
Jenifer Dick www.42quilts.com (book)
Trisch Price www.hadleystreetquilts.com (Kona color card)

Nov. 14
Jacquie Gering www.tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com (Kona color card)
Shea Henderson www.emptybobbinsewing.com  (A large and small Kaleido-Ruler set by Marti Michell)

66 comments:

  1. What fun! Love the photos, and look forward to seeing more of the book.
    I always enjoy your blog.

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  2. Sounds like your photo shoot was a hoot! Looks like a great book!

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  3. Great photos, and even more wonderful are the quilts! Looking forward to this unique book. Thanks for the chance!!

    Liz
    boltonia55@yahoo.com

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  4. Excited about the myriad and sometimes intense quilting that goes into modern quilts. The American Made Brand Challenge quilts at the International Quilt Festival in Houston this past week really showcased talent and creativity in quilting modern quilts with lots of solid color. I am eager to expand my repertoire of quilting designs past meandering!

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  5. awesome quilts. This is a must have book for me. I have done 1 illusion quilt very and can't wait to do others.

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  6. I like the idea of modern quilting. I can only imagine the fun and creativity that went into this book. I feel fortunate to be able to have a chance at winning this book as well as exciting fabric.

    Sandi Timmons
    sandit1@sbcglobal.net

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  7. I have always loved optical illusions. The way you can see different things, in different lighting or by turning them. Love the effect they have. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  8. How fun!! I love the behind the scenes secrets on the mystery feet. I love optical illusions, to put them in quilts is awesome!!!

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  9. The feet thing is hilarious. I love the photographing in this book and I've only seen so little of it. I've also loved the quilts! I'm a follower of Melissa Corry and I'm so excited to see what had to offer to this project.

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  10. This looks like such a fun book and it sounds like you had a blast photographing your quilts.

    nkadenver at yahoo dot com

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  11. What a great photo shoot - can't wait to see (win) the book!

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  12. I have only just learned about this book and I love the concept! Can't wait to see more of the quilts!

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  13. Wow what a great book. The photo shoot pics are amazing what a fun idea for the backgrounds. I am thinking this book may be a bit advanced for me but I would love to give it a try.

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    1. Jo - lots of these quilts are very simple to make! Give it a try -

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  14. I've been looking forward to this blog hop and am so glad it's here. I love books like this and can't wait to see a copy live.

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  15. Thanks for sharing how you shot the pics for the book. I love to take my quilts on photo shoots do I love to hear others processes!

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  16. Saw some of the quilts at Schoolhouse. They do fool the eye. I can't wait to see how they were constructed. Thanks.

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  17. I absolutely love patterns that are illusions.. My color selections are not as spot on as it needs to be to recreate them yet..

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  18. The quilts are wonderful, and the stories of the photo shoot are amusing.Sometimes the behind the scenes info is as interesting as the quilts. Thanks.

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  19. I'm fairly new to all sewing and I love what I've been seeing on quilting. I really love the optical illusion quilts and I would love to win a copy! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  20. Love the quilts I see so far!! Love the cute stories behind the photo shoots!

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  21. Love the story of the holders, who are so often the anonymously important crew!

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  22. What a fun story about your photo shoot. And the quilts are great. Wonderful job!
    Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

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  23. So much fun to read about the shoot! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  24. Loving the quilts in this book, so fresh and a breath of fresh air. CDahlgren at live dot com

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  25. I love the Optical Illusion created by feet and hands in all the pictures. Pictures are beautiful! LOVE the quilts!

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  26. What a great idea for a book and the pics are going to be sew much fun to see throughout the blog hop - thanks!

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  27. I love these optical illusion quilts! Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  28. I'm glad I found out about this book - I love illusion quilts!

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  29. I have been reading all the posts about Optical Illusions, and have been looking forward to learning even more about it through this blog tour. Thanks for explaining about the dangling feet!

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  30. I really like this type of quilt. It takes a lot of talent to figure them out and put together. Thank you for book.

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  31. Excited about this blog tour and the book!

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  32. I rarely want a quilt book as I prefer to design my own quilts. But this is very intriguing and I do want this book!

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  33. What a fun photo shoot. I'm always looking for new spots to photograph my quilts.

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  34. I am really intrigued by optical illusions and have made 2 of them so far. I would like to add this book to my collection for new ideas. Thanks!

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  35. I will be sewing all night long to get these quilts done.

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  36. This book looks the coolest! My husband is trying to get me to design a spherical quilt of sorts...hoping this book would help me out!!

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  37. Loved your photos and look forward to a look in your "BOOK"

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  38. I like reading about your photo shoot.

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  39. Thanks for the tour of Your town. I've been to Kansas, but not Lawrence. Can't wait to see more of the BOOK and the people who held them up.

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  40. Lovely photos, and it looks like a gorgeous book!

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  41. Hi!!!! Beautiful Quilts!!!!! Beautiful location and photos!!!! Sounds like a fun book!!!!! Thank You

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  42. This is the kind of book I've been looking for! I love everything I've seen in it.

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  43. I've really liked all the quilts I've seen from the book so far. I've noticed that I definitely lean to the "modern" style of quilting.
    Thanks for all your hard work on this project!

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  44. These quilts are so cool! Thanks for a chance to win!

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  45. What a fun blog tour! Can't wait to check out the book! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  46. Loving these quilts!!! Always wanted to make one...now I guess I need to hunt down the book!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  47. The photography composition you've sampled is outstanding! I'm looking forward to seeing more of this cool modern quilting book! I love the black, white, red & gray quilt which Sara Kirpes is holding!

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  48. Wow what a cool book! The quilts are amazing!

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  49. This looks like a fantastic book. And, will be a great addition to my library. Thanks

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  50. The quilts are wonderful to look at. Thank you for the chance to win the book.

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  51. I love that story about quilt models. Can't wait to read this book. Thanks!

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  52. I love optical illusions...and then, to incorporate it into quilting is awesome. To win this book would be great!!

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  53. Looks like a fantastic book! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  54. I love optical illusions and games so I'm thankful for a chance to win this great book to add to my quilting library. If I win, will you also include some time so I can make them all!! Thanks. kthurn@bektel.com

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    1. good idea! if i could guarantee that time, i would like to win! thanks for making me chuckle.

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  55. I've always been intrigued by optical illusions; kaleidoscopes as a kid could entertain me for hours. Thus, I'm looking forward to this publication!

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  56. In my other life as a fifth grade science teacher, I always included optical illusions in my light and color units. Such fun to see them in fabric.

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  57. I think this would be a great book to work from.

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  58. This book looks wonderful. It's going on my Christmas wishlist for sure.

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  59. Wow! I can't wait to start working on one of the quilts. But which one? They're all so awesome.

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  60. This book looks awesome just for the eye candy alone, love the areas of the photo shoot.

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  61. What a fun approach to quilts, I'd love to try one of these.

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  62. Love the history behind the locations, such a nice touch.

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  63. Thank you ALL for your comments and for reading the post.
    Winners have been notified and prizes are heading their way.
    enjoy!

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