By Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins

I was lucky enough to have the mailman deliver me a very special present this week – Piece O’ Cake’s new book, Applique Outside the Lines, direct from Linda’s house in Colorado!

I have been anxiously awating this book for a few months now, and as with all Piece O’ Cake’s books, it did not disappoint!



I have all of the Piece O’ Cake books. In fact, I think that one of the first proper quilting books I ever bought for myself was Welcome to the North Pole. This quilt is still on my list of favourite quilts ever. Prior to that all I had were magazines and books that belonged to my mother!



My other favourites would include Quilts With a Spin and Flowering Favourites. The quilts in there are just to die for!

 

The latest book is a bit of a departure for the Piece O’ Cake team. Where in the past their appliqué designs have been quite structured and focussed heavily on accuracy and symmetry, the quilts in this book are very free form.

Quilters are encouraged to be inventive and free with the patterns, interpreting them in your own way. Also encouraged is putting away your ruler and cutting more flowing lines to relax the linear aspects of your quilts and create organic blocks.



The front of the book has interesting tips on choosing your fabrics and creating contrast, using a design wall, and how to break the rules! Although as Becky points out, it’s not about being sloppy, it’s about making more interesting lines.



There are so many beautiful projects to choose from in this book. I think though that I have to head straight for Leaves in the Breeze. Something about these wonderful  angled stems and textured backgrounds, (and the green drawer in my stash!) is calling me. Hmmm, I wonder when I can fit this in the project list….



Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins have a wonderful website, www.pieceocake.com, where you can see and buy more of their books, and purchase their fabrics and kits. They also have a blog, www.pieceocake.typepad.com where Becky tells of her travels in quilting and her lovely family.

Becky will be travelling in Australia in 2010 and teaching. For more information on where she will be teaching, you can contact Addicted to Fabric

Make sure and read our interview with Becky for SEWN this month!