Applique Masterpiece: Affairs of the Heart

I've had my eye on this book for quite awhile but had too many unfinished projects to contend with. But I bought it for myself as a late holiday gift and I'm in love with it. I own dozens of quilt books and patterns and this book is very thorough. It's not dimensional applique so there's really not a lot of instruction needed. It tells you a few different ways to do applique, then gives you a close-up color photo on one side and the full page pattern on the opposite page. It even has the full pattern for the borders. You can't miss with this book. That said, the blocks are 7" finished size so some pieces can get a little tiny on certain blocks. If you have arthritis, this handwork might be a little too small. I suppose you could simply enlarge a pattern too. The part I like is getting to use up my plastic bin of batik and colorful scraps. And I love love love bright applique on black fabric. Gorgeous.

I did receive this - excellent condition - looking forward to the applique designs

Every block has a heart in it and there is also gold embroidery to accent the design. I bought this book after I saw the finished quilt. If you like hearts and you do not mind working on black, you will love this book. I have thought of making this as on white and I think with the right colours it will be amazing. I also have thought of twisting both gold and silver together to make a richer affect. Break out the coloured pencils and see just how creative you can be.

Purchased item for a quilting bee project. Each lady purchased the book and we are each making our own quilt with this book. While the technique is fairly easy, the book isn't very descriptive when it comes to the applique technique. I have been quilting for 15 years so I already know how to applique so not an issue for me, but for a beginner there isn't enough info in the book to be easily understood.Also we are using the pattern as a raw edge applique using the pellon heat and bond product as well and then using stitching to cover the raw edge to finish the quilt patterns.Her pattern pics are very rudimentary while nice from a distance, when you look close at the pictures you can see she's not a very accomplished appliquer, which is surprising since she's published a book, at least to me. I would have been a bit more professional when it came to close up pics of my work. Some of the pieces of the pattern are very small and very difficult for beginners to applique - As I stated, we are using raw edge applique and it's difficult enough to get small machine stitches to make the pieces retain their shape and pattern, let alone trying to make small applique hand stitches and keep the pattern looking nice..Overall, I like the patterns but have put my own twist on them and will be happy once it's finished as I like the idea of the book and pattern, but felt that it could have been better presented. In my own opinion, I feel that I could have made this type of pattern, sold the idea to a book company and made the money she seems to be making from this idea and it's not that great a pattern.her fabric choices for the quilt in close up are not very cohesive but rather patchy-looking, which for some is nice, but as I have made quite a few of the blocks already, a more cohesive thought to what fabrics to use is needed i.e. batiks and coordinating fabrics with some thought put into how it will look when finished. Mine will not look like hers when finished as I'm adding "bling" to my blocks to enhance and bring out the designs, which is really what I think she should have done, but to each her own!I would tell others to purchase the book as the patterns leave you with ideas of how to make the pattern yours. Good for those who have done applique and understand how to do it, beginners will have problems with the smaller pieces and learning how to turn them under to make them correct when finished.

This book of hand embroidery supplements the design CD files and instructions for machine embroidery. I prefer hardcopy photos of the designs and instructions as I can read and flip through the colorful pages better than squinting on the computer. The fabric placement are clearly identified and and instructions are easy to follow. The only drawback is the author's technique to use and sizing the fabric background, stabilizer and batting. There is a lot of waste of background (black fabric) fabric as she starts with a 10" block size and it is cut down to a 7" block before piecing the blocks together. Just be aware that her approach is different than other machine embroidery approach to hooping and sandwiching the stabilizer, batting and background fabric. My plan is to cut the background fabric at 9" and placed it on top of the hooped stabilizer and 9" batting. Then I will square off the embroidered block down to 8" before piecing the blocks together.

The quiltingboard.com chose this book to be a block of the week project. It has beautiful blocks for hand applique but they can also be easily adapted to machine applique if you choose. We expect it will take us 14 months to do this quilt with the hand embroidery and borders. We are taking time off over the holidays. The blocks are so beautiful that I can't wait to finish mine. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to do hand applique.

I purchased this book to participate in a Block of the Month quilt along. After looking through the book, directions and photos, I opted not to participate. The blocks are somewhat repetitive, which is expected based on the title.....hearts. The blocks are tiny and the methods explained to create the blocks are awkward and difficult versus standard appliqué methods. Some of the blocks are pretty, just there was no wow factor.

This is a wonderful book, I took it to Office Depot and had spiral binding inserted so it can lay flat and also added a clear plastic sheet front and back so the book would stay clean. I can now lay it down flat to work on my quilting squares. We are making a quilt in my group at the library. It gives great patterns, instructions and colors for the squares. You can make just one maybe for a mug rug or make them all for a large quilt.

Years ago I saw this book and never forgot it. I am so glad to have it now. I don't know if I will ever manage to complete this detailed, rich, and varied quilt, but it will be an adventure to try. It is probably the most beautiful hand applique that I have ever seen. The instructions are complete and should be easy to follow. The theme of hearts is wonderful for a wedding quilt and as the book title claims, it will be an applique masterpiece.

When I saw a picture of the quilt I just had to have the book with the patterns. I'm a novice when it comes to applique but there are many tutorials on the internet so I thought I can do this. The book is gorgeous, all patterns are full size, the instructions are clear. It starts with general instructions like fabric selection, fabric requirements and supplies. It also describes how to assemble the blocks and how to finish the quilt.It's a time consuming quilt but when finished a masterpiece indeed. You can use up your scraps as you don't need large pieces of fabric.

Very pleased with reasonable price. Book is in perfect condition?

A wonderful book about a wonderful piece of applique, I am hoping to make the quilt. It may take a while but the finished article is beautiful

Great book .....fabulous