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Gwen Marston's
Liberated Quilting Page
Spontaneity in Medallion Quilts
45 Quilts from Liberated Medallion Quilts by Gwen Marston.
AQS is presenting two major exhibitions at their national shows in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Des Moines, Iowa. The quilts being shown in the exhibit were made by Gwen Marston and the talented quilters who attend her annual Beaver Island Quilt Retreat. This is the first time that AQS has mounted an exhibit of quilts featured in one book, so everyone included in the exhibit is very pleased to be a part of these two groundbreaking exhibits.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan show is August 22-25, 2012 and the Des Moines, Iowa show is Oct. 3-6, 2012
For information about these two shows contact: American Quilter or call 270-898-7903 and ask for the quilt show office.
Available Now!
Gwen's latest book!
Liberated Medallion Quilts
Published by AQS
If I do say so myself...this is a beautiful book! AQS did a great job on designing this book and I'm very pleased to have my name on it. Lots of quilts shown full page in great color. The photography is excellent too. For example you can see the individual little hand quilting stitches on the cover quilt.
This book includes quilts in a wide variety of styles, starting out with Martha Washington's medallion quilts and moving along to the "modern" quilts. I think there's something for everyone. There are 7 "how-to" projects written especially for liberated quilters (and those who are thinking about becoming liberated).
So, taking into consideration that this review is being written by the author of the book, I still think it's a very worthwhile book to have, and it's a fun read too.
This book will be 112 pages of fun reading, plus 62 stunning Liberated Medallion quilts. It is packaged in an 8 1/2" x 11" format.
Liberated Medallion Quilts is available now and can be ordered from Gwen Books
TWO NEW WORKSHOPS
Small Studies (intermediate to advanced) and Liberated Stars (intermediate to advanced)
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New book
37 Sketches
- It's a really beautiful book too! 37 Sketches is both an artfully designed and beautifully made book. It shows my new work built on the idea of exploring the elements of design by constructing small studies, which I quickly began to think of as sketches. I began to see these sketches in much the same way as a painter does in using sketches to explore technique and to work out color and composition ideas. These pieces are abstract compositions, worked primarily in solids. Constructing these 37 sketches provided me with a valuable and expedient way to explore new technique, color, and composition. I explain my process for making these small studies using my liberated, improvisational methods, of which many of you are very familiar, and discuss how the experience of making this series of sketches was like taking a crash course in design.
Pat Holly had this to say about 37 Sketches : "I am so excited about this book! You did a great job in the text also you explained your process very clearly and simply. This is not easy to do! Good job!"
The page layouts are done in such an artful way that the text on the left page and the quilt on the right interact in a supportive way, as you can see in the two sample page spreads shown here. Patricia Ensey expressed it well by saying "The layout of the pages added greatly to the text, tying it to the art."
37 Sketches is off to New Zealand: I will be teaching at the National Quilt Symposium in Taupo, New Zealand in 2013 and have been invited to present a one-woman, month-long exhibit of the work shown in 37 Sketches at the Taupo Museum during July.
This book is beautifully crafted in the classical style and with attention to every detail. 37 Sketches is published in a first edition of 2,000 copies. The 96 page hardcover book has a Smyth sewn binding, is printed on 120 lb Gallerie Art Silk, and includes 37 color plates and additional illustrations of quilt details. The book is published by award winning Six Mile Creek Press, Ithaca, NY; printed in the United States by Capital Offset, Inc., Concord, NH; and bound by Acme Bookbinding, Charlestown, MA.
37 Sketches is available now and can be ordered from Gwen Books
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Congratulations! It is our pleasure to inform you that your entry:37 Sketches, in the category of Special Trade General Book Under $75 , has won an award in the 2012 New York Book Show.
We are in the process of preparing individual award certificates. Due to the great number of people who attend the New York Book Show each year, the certificates are not distributed the evening of the event; rather, they are sent under separate cover to the winning entrants. In the very near future, the award for your winning entry will be mailed to you at the address you provided on your entry form.
You can view your winning entry on display, along with this year's other winners, at the 26th Annual New York Book Show, which will be held Tuesday evening, March 20, 2012, in the Grand Ballroom at The Manhattan Center (311 W 34 Street) in New York City.
Thank you very much for your support of this wonderful book-publishing event. We hope that you will join us and hundreds of our fellow publishing professionals as we meet to view the "Best of the Best." See you at the Show!
Sincerely,
The 2012 New York Book Show Committee
new
Gwen writes" Ok....fine! Michaele Pollan got first in our class and a book from the American Museum of Natural History got second. Still.....look how fabulous my little 37 Sketches looks sitting right there in 4th place! I'm happy with that, look at the company I'm keeping!
Click here to check this out.
NEW YORK BOOK SHOW
37 Sketches Book Reviews
Australian Homespun's magazine reviewed it in issue #104, calling it a "gorgeous little book," and one that is "Certain to become a collector's item." In describing the book they say "It is a generous sharing of ideas and an insight into how one of the legends of the modern quitmaking world works.
France's Quilt Mania reviewed it in their January/February issue: "This book, illustrated with thirty-seven studies (small quilts) is actually a foundation for a reflection and work about design and color in abstract composition."
Your last book is a book to love. Its straight forward and gets the reader focused on the form. I love everything about it.
Lee Pettigrew, Eugene, Oregon. 10/2011
Gwen has launched into a new way of creating. This book, illustrated with thirty-seven studies (small quilts), is actually the foundation for a reflection and work about design and colour in abstract compositions. It has even won an award which will be presented at the very prestigious 2012 New York Book Show in March!
Quiltmania, Issue 87, January/February 2012
Your book is over-the-top wonderful from the terrific quilts to the book's design! We're all in awe.
Julie Smith, Muir Beach, California. 2/7/2012
Links to 37 Sketches Book Reviews
The Little Red Hen
Book Plug
The Cozy Quilter
Working in a Series
Material Obsession
This is a picture taken at Gwen's recent Beaver Island Quilt Retreat showing the display of quilts from her new book: 37 Sketches.
Get 'em while they last!!
37 Sketches short sleeved Tee shirts available in limited numbers. Med, Large, XLarge, and one XXLarge. 75% cotton.$20.00 plus $3.00 shipping.
At Home With Gwen
Wrapping up 2012 and
moving forward to 2013.
I begin this review of 2012 thinking about all the travel I have done, actually for many years now. While it is true that I am tired of airports, my travels have enriched my life in many ways for which I'm grateful. I do get around...and to some very fun places as you can see in the picture of me at Martha's Vineyard this past April. Thanks again Phyllis and Howard! The next picture shows me in New Jersey in front of a charming old building where I was teaching classes. If you look at the sign above my head, you will see the initial G, which I assumed was somehow the reason I was brought to this building to teach. Thanks Carol.
And thanks to everyone else who took care of me while I was visiting guilds around the country! All of you were very gracious hosts, and are remembered fondly by this traveling quilt teacher.
2013...marks a new direction for me. Less travel (airline travel has gotten a lot, A LOT harder in the past number of years. I always love teaching, but I'm weary of dealing with the airlines. Therefore I have a new plan for Gwenny which involves less travel. I am taking a few jobs so you can find me by looking at my schedule right here on my webpage.
A number of years ago I began to wonder how long I should continue doing my annual quilt retreats. I finally hit on an easy way to make that decision about when I should pass it on: Living in Michigan as I do, I'm following the autoworkers retirement plan which is "30 years and out." 2013 will be the 30th year and my last year. Beginning in 2014, two good friends of mine, Sue Nickels and Pat Holly, will be taking over. I'm thrilled about handing it off to them, knowing the retreat, which I have loved doing, will continue in very capable hands. Sue and Pat are both fabulous quilt makers and teachers, and both have won many awards for their work, both in the States and Internationally. You could hardly have anyone nicer or better qualified that this sister-team.
The retreats will still be held at the lovely White Birch Lodge in adorable Elk Rapids, a charming little northern Michigan town. After the first of the year, you will find information about their retreats on Sue's webpage: Sue Nickels
And what will I be doing
once I'm not on the road all the time and running my quilt retreat. Hmmm, maybe I will stay home more and,
oh I don't know, make quilts! Also I
plan on doing some writing, (articles, maybe another book or two) continuing my
series of hand quilting discussions on my webpage, and a bit of teaching. But
now I'm making more time for Gwenny: I love my home and want to be here more. I
like being outside and taking care of my "grounds" (when it's 5 acres it isn't
a yard), and taking care of my apple orchard. And I am grandmother...need I say more?
Happy Holidays! Gwen
Here are some pictures of my grandsons,
Grady and Matty
...Gwen Marston Quilt Designs on Tile
- Now you can own permanent images of Gwen Marston's delightful
quilts in the form of art tiles with which to grace your home.
Visit New and Improved Gwen Quilt Tile web store at Loudeac Tile Studio
...Links
NEW Here is an article that was published this past November 2012 in a wonderful free (Yes I said FREE) monthly Online Quilt Magazine .
This article appears here with their blessing which is very nice.
Gwens article PDF
Lazy Gal Quilting blog
Working in a Series: Gwen Marston and 37 Sketches
Posted on January 27, 2012 by Darra Williamson
Gwens quilt showAlex Anderson and Ricky Timms posted a video of my quilt show at Back Porch on their blog page
Kyra Alex of Lily's House Weekend Quilt Workshop in Maine PDF
Gwen Marston
How to contact Gwen
I'm not wired up yet here on Beaver Island, but please feel free to contact me at:
Box 155
Beaver Island, MI 49782
231-448-2565
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