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 
Small Studies (intermediate to advanced) and Liberated Stars (intermediate to advanced)
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.
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
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
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.
These little guys are really really cute. I just forgot how adorable puppies are! So, we are all having fun and also having lots of conversations about what "we" are learning, and what we haven't quite learned yet.
As the disaster unfolded, Skeinz, a local yarn shop posted a knitting pattern for a penguin sweater on it's newsletter informing their knitters that wool sweaters could save the little penguins by keeping them warm, and safe from ingesting toxic oils until they could be properly cleaned. And, as you might guess, the knitters rose to the occasion. With the speed of only the Internet, little wool penguin-sized sweaters poured in by the boxload. Earth Justice showed a picture of one of the tiny penguins in a red stripped turtleneck sweater wearing mittens and little grey slippers and I'm not making this up either.
Alas, we have no technology to clean up a spill if it were to happen in the icy conditions in the Artic where plans move forward to drill next summer. All the little red sweaters in the world won't help there. Hmmmmm
NEW!
Book Reviews by Gwen
Here are some pictures of my grandsons,
Grady and Matty
updated 8 February 2012
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