three april giveaways!
By Patricia Belyea
This month’s giveaway features three Japanese quilting books—translated by Priscilla Knoble and published by her company, Stitch Publications. Each book is valued at $23 to $32.
In Houses, Houses, Houses!, world-famous quilter Yoko Saito shows you how to create a quilted house—from one-dimensional designs to fully dimensional projects. Once you design your own house block, there are 34 projects for you to explore. These span handbags, pouches, carry-all, tissue case, pencil case and wall quilts—with pattern sheets included.
Yoko Saito’s Woolwork book focuses on quilts, bags and other projects made primarily of wool and yarn-dyed homespuns. Instructions are included for rug hooking, needle-felting, piecework and appliqué. The projects, practical with a touch of whimsy, encourage the use of used woolen clothing.
In her book Story Quilts, teacher, designer and shop owner Yukari Takahara introduces her own story and shares a gallery of 37 quilts and vignettes based on depictions of her life. With 14 pages of pattern ideas as well as step-by-step directions for her techniques and approach to choosing materials, Yukari inspires everyone to represent special times and people in their own lives through the medium of quilting.
To participate in the April giveaways, answer this question in the Comment Box below: Which of these books appeals to you most and why?
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. The winners are Linda F of San Jose CA, Kris K of Seattle WA and Veronica H of Anchorage AK.
Thank you Priscilla Knoble and Stitch Publications for the donation of these books.
To visit Williow Lane Quilting Company where you can buy Stitch Publications books +click here
To read about Priscilla Knoble, founder of Stitch Publications +click here
HOW THIS GIVEAWAY WORKS: The April 2016 giveaway drawing will be held at midnight PST on April 30, 2016. Giveaway is open to US residents (sorry to my Canadian and international friends), 18 and older, void where prohibited. One entry per person. Three lucky winners will be chosen with a random number drawing. Winners will be notified within 24 hours. Winners must respond within one week of notification or their giveaway will be forfeited. A list of winners can be obtained at any time from Okan Arts. Thanks for participating!
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78 comments to “three april giveaways!”
I would love to use Story Quilts as a resource. Many years ago I started out as a kindergarten teacher and now that I work in textiles, I love to appliqué!
Story Quilts, because I treasure the Hmong story quilts that I have and would like to see more of them. Our library has Houses, Houses, Houses, albeit in Japanese and I love the book.
How is it that the Japanese can be so whimsical without being ‘cute’. I love these designs
Houses, Houses, Houses appeals to me the most as I might attempt to do one of these projects. However all the books are beautiful.
Story Quilts Through the Seasons most interests me. I often quilt for children and talk to them about the fabrics and designs, the stories that involve other quilts, other children, and the designs in the quilting. I’m eager to learn from a master quilter!
I have a hard time picking a favorite, but probably the Houses, Houses, Houses for their timeless theme, imagining making the houses and making up stories to go with each stitch.
the Story Quilts are charming…..love the figures, but also the composition of the backgrounds.
Houses……I have used this theme over and over in my quilting…..I love to give house quilts as wedding gifts…..
Wool Work seems to talk to me! There is something about the touch of wool, it is dense and has a forgivness that other fabrics may not.
would love to spend time with these books . So beautiful
I love the concept of the Story Quilt Book. I am exploring that concept in a stitch class on line with Djiane Cevaal from Australia. Janet Wright
houses, houses,houses…I saw a show at ‘The Quilt Show’ about those houses…love it then, love it now…thank you…marta
Houses, houses, houses, interested in the 3D idea of creating something….never done that! Thank you for this chance!
My favorite is Yoko Saito’s Woolwork, because I have a collection of rescued wool skirts, just waiting to be used. I’ve made several small wool quilts, and could use some new ideas!
Story Quilts through the seasons really captures my imagination. I’ve loved collecting children’s books of the seasons since I was a young girl. The beauty of our natural world reflects the highlights of our life journey and appeals to me on many levels. What a fabulous book!
I love the houses,houses, houses book. I want to make a village. My grandkids will love playing with them.
All of them intrigue me for different reasons. I love applique, so Story Quilts jumped out at me and would love to learn her techniques. Yet the other two have projects I would actually make. I love houses, and the projects shown in Houses, Houses, Houses are very inspiring. I also have a large collection of felted wool that I would like to dig into and make some of the projects in Woolwork.
All of these books would be wonderful to have!
My choice would be House, Houses, Houses! I’d love to work on many of its beautiful projects.
I would say all of them are a great choice but if I had to choose I would say Wool Work. I have a collection of wool that would be fun to use.
I would have to say WOOL WORKS because I have so little experience with wool and would love to fine tune my skills…. Yoko Saito is a long time fav of mine….
thanks for the giveaway!
I am researching story quilts as I prepare to design one with a very personal story. So I would find the story quilts book most useful.
Such a hard hard choice. I just bought a book yesterday and had the chance to have it autographed by its Japanese author — Log Cabin Restructured by Shizuka Kuroha. I have some of Juko Saito’s books, but I’d love to have Houses, Houses, Houses as I’ve always loved house blocks. That said, I love the whimsy of her creations in Woolwork, and the fact that she uses wool clothing to make them much of the time. And, I would particularly find Story Quilts interesting, as I have not seen anything by Yukari Takahara. I think they may be listed in order, but can’t be sure I wouldn’t do it differently in an hour or a day. There is so much to learn from the Japanese aesthetic, and I find it a fascinating journey. Thanks to Priscilla Knoble and Stitch Publications for both the translations and the donation of these books for your giveaway. Wonderful.
The book Woolworks would be the most interesting to me…i am a big fan of recycling
wool clothing…sweaters, blankets, men’s woolen garments…all. Love the texture
of felted wool. Any one of the books would be a treasure.
The Story Quilts Through the Seasons would be the book I would pick. When I make a quilt I make it to signify a special event. I want the quilt as it is being viewed, to bring back wonderful memory. I make all styles of quilts, but have never done one using the mixed techniques in this book. It would be fun to learn Yukari’s technique of creating these charming quilts which speak of special times to be remembered. I don’t know if I will ever get the opportunity to take a class for Yukari, and the book would be the next best thing. Thank you very much for hosting this wonderful give away.
The Story Quilts Through the Seasons looks like it would be an amazing book. I love applique and a quilt that tells a story is fascinating to be able to find the story while you look at the quilters work.
Story Quilts!! I have led a diverse and storied life that I do not look over adequately. A Story Quilt would lead to such an examination. It would cause me sadness, but lots of joy and the opportunity to share with others. What FUN! Quilting is opening many doors.
I think I like the book about Wool work, because I like making purses and that is included in the book. I have done some needle felting, and I love working with wool.
Thank you. Edna
Story Quilts interests me because the idea of a narrative in a quilt Is fascinating.
New ideas! How exciting. A fabulous opportunity.
Story Quilts Is my choice. What a beautiful way to share her quilts.
“Story Quilts” interests me most because I find these quilts so very enchanting. I would love to learn more about how Takahara approaches her work. I would also simply enjoy loosing myself in the details of her fabulous quilts!
All the books look wonderful, but Story Quilts,would give me some tools to create original pieces telling about my journey and family,
Susan (@susansquiltstudio)
Great giveaway! So hard to choose but Story Quilts really resonates with me. My elementary school aged daughter is learning to sew and I can see us working on quilts that represent special times for us.
I would love Yoko Saito’s Wool work book. I have been an admirer of hers for a lot of years, and I have just started to incorporate wool techniques in my quilting. Thank you for a great selection of books in this months giveaway.
I LOVE the Story Quilts book! What a wonderful way to leave a legacy, commemorate a significant event or enchant a child with their own unique story. I already own Yoko’s Wool Work book and it’s fabulous and inspiring. But, since I love all things Yoko Saito, that house book looks very appealing, too. Thank you, Stitch Publications!!
Any one of these books would be a wonderful addition to my library. You are very generous to donate such a treasured collection!
I am fascinated by the detail in the story quilts and reminded of quilts I saw in the Tokyo International Quilt Show.
I would love any of the three. I’m just learning wool applique but I love the houses and I have been thinking about a story quilt for ages. Impossible to choose one.
Yukari Takahara’s book is so appealing because, very much like an oil painting, a story quilt captures a moment in time. When a quilter can capture one memorable moment in time, you can relive that moment over and over again, as you make the quilt and as you look at it everyday. What a treasure!
all the books are lovely…I have the woolwork one which I will get out again tonight…would love the houses one!
“Houses, houses, houses” is the one I love most!! I used to be an architect that’s why I love to quilt houses 🙂
Woolwork would be my 1st choice as that is what I want to try next. Have been collecting wool in many colors so “Woolwork” would help me get started.
Wool Work appeals to me most. I’m part family intp its 5th generation of raising sheep. I’ve been learning to embroider on appliqued wool lately and working up to a quilt.
wool works appeals to me, I like touches of wool embroidery on my quilts. Adds just enough more color to brighten up a quilt.
The Story Quilts book looks wonderful. Creating these quilts would be like stepping into your own fairy tale.
I’ve long admired Yoko Saito’s work, and her book, Houses, Houses, Houses! is on my wish list. She offers a wide variety of projects and her unique style is so lovely to look at. Her work inspires me to slow down and enjoy the fabrics and the entire process of making. I wish that Taupe fabrics were more widely available here in the states.
Houses appeals to me, I have seen pictures of her quilts online, and would love to try some myself, thanks!
Wool works for sure. I work with a lot of wool and dye my own. This book would be a wonderful resource .
Houses looks so interesting. I have been collecting wools and ultra suede pieces for a long time which I can see used in these houses. Your offering made it hard to pick just one book. Thank you
Story Quilts has such a different look to it. It is unusual to see applique people and I find that very intriguing.
Houses, houses, houses! I love houses and quilts with houses. I also love Yoko Saito’s work–delicate, charming, beguiling all together.
Even though I live in a warm climate,I love wool and especially like hand stitching small things. The Japanese aesthetic never disappoints. The woodwork book interest s me the most.
I just found one of her books at the library, wonderful book
I would like to try Story Quilts and try to capture some images from my childhood on our farm.
Either Houses or Woolwork appeal to me. Houses I’m sure would offer quilting challenges. I do a lot with felting and would love to see what Yoko does with wool.
I would love to win the Houses Houses book. I love all the tiny details. I am going to the QuiltMania show in Nantes in 2 weeks, and actually get to take a class from Yoko Saito. As I learn more about her, I am amazed by all her work.
love all of them. all the books are exciting to explore. thank you for the opportunity..
My imitial reaction was to answer “Woolwork”, but after seeing the photos I have to say the “Houses, Houses, Houses” is my answer. Who doesn’t love houses…they are ( or should be) our places of live, comfort and refuge…. and with Yoko Saito’s creativity? Anything is possible
Thanks to you both for this opportunity!
I love the storybook characters the very best – they are delightful!
The houses and boxes look are enticing.
I would LOVE to have Yoko Saito’s “Houses, Houses, Houses.” I have several of Yoko’s books (including “Woolwork”) in English and Japanese and I love her aesthetic. “Houses, Houses, Houses” would find a welcome place next to the other titles in my bookcase. Thanks!
Houses, houses, houses will let my mind run wild.
At first I thought my choice would have to be one of the Yako Saito books, but then I saw the Story Quilts by Yukari Takahara and I am so drawn to this book and those sweet quilts, Such work!
‘Houses, Houses, Houses’ appeals to me. I am fond of the subtle colored fabrics and fine details that Yoko Saito incorporates into her work. Plus I like little houses.
The three books are beautiful. The one that stands on top is “Houses, houses, houses”. Housing is a theme that spans the entire earth and the entire human history. The finesse and subtlety of the designs invite to observe attentively and to make. The expressive layering connects the maker, the viewer and the designer on different levels. Some projects seem very playful.
I would love to own Houses, Houses, Houses by Yoko Saito. Houses in artwork have always attracted my attention, are they homey, warm, abandoned, loved or neglected. I myself have a collection of my homes over the years which I have drawn to keep the memories. Log Cabin is my favorite quilt block, Schoolhouse quilts, and I am currently doing a designer block of the month which features the buildings of a town, one in each block. This book would add to my quilt dreaming and add to my skills of homes in art.
Love the little houses!
Both the Story Quilt book and Houses Houses Houses book would be inspirational. Every quilt should have a story!
Houses, Houses, Houses “speaks to me.” I am currently trying to create a village border for a Christmas quilt I’m making. I will admit, Story Quilts has great appeal for me as well–stories to tell, would love to read Takahara-san’s book for inspiration and guidance!
Yoko Sarto books in English! What could be better!
Can’t believe I misspelled her name. So sorry. I’m in Tokyo fresh off a flight
I love so much the book story quilts.
It´s amazing what you are able to do whith the fabrics , I´d like to make them all.
thank you.!!!!
They are all adorable. The book with houses is a treasure as we are selling my childhood home as my parents move and I’d like to create a fabric version of their beautiful home.
I love Takahara’s work so Story Quilts would be wonderful to win.
Wool work is my favorite of the three. I like wool and felted wool and would enjoy exploring the projects. The other 2 look wonderful as well. Thank you!
I am a huge fan of Yoko Saito and have actually been fortunate enough to meet her in Houston during Quilt Festival. But “Story Quilts” intrigues me-I have always been put off from depicting human figures in my quilts but I love the sparse detail in Yukari’s figures-instead of detailed facial features, she expresses movement with the position of her people and emotion with the fabric choices-imagine plaid hair! I simply love what I have seen of this book! Thank you!
I would love to add Story Quilts Through the Seasons to my library
Creating little scenes using paint or fabric makes me happy. I will include more people in my quilts and make them more interesting.
I love story quilts and admire the animation of the characters. Mine are static and need some inspiration. Looks interesting…..