book review: Keiko Goke's lastest book is a must read

All My Thanks and Love to Quilts
Dear Readers: THIS POST WAS SHARED EARLIER ON MY BLOG. IT GOT DELETED. SORRY FOR THE REPEAT... BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THIS REVIEW.

Title: All My Thanks and Love to Quilts
Author: Keiko Goke
Publisher: Design Originals
Edition: English, paperback, 2012

The world of Keiko Goke is a world filled with bright colors and bold designs that are sometimes just a little bit of off-kilter enough to make them also quite funky. Keiko Goke's career as an artist and quilter spans 40 years and in her latest book, she shares a bit of that story with readers. Keiko lives in Japan and she is recognized for her work internationally.

If you are looking for something fresh to inspire you, this book is a must read. There are dozens of her quilts featured and the photography of each quilt is just stunning. These are not the same old quilt photos. Rather, these close-up images make you feel like you can reach out touch the fabric... and there is so much detail you can really see every beautiful stitch. The photography alone is enough to inspire you, but there is much more in this book.

There are instructions to make 7 quilts at the back of the book. Personally, I don't make very many patterns anymore, but that's just me. If you look at some of her quilts, you can't help but want to create them yourself, either in whole or in part. There are also tips on embroidery, bleaching fabric, and even quilted balloonsm and piecing.

Even though the author is too humble to point this out, many of the quilts featured in this book have been award winners at international competitions and have been shown in important museum exhibitions in Japan, the U.S. and Europe.

This book is a book to be treasured, both for the inspiration you'll absorb from her extraordinary use of color, and for the chance to flip through a life, and a 40-year professional, career, dedicated to quilting.