When Patricia Belyea of Okan Arts first approached us about a collaboration, we were honored. We’d worked with her on a number of giveaways and had always admired her designs with Yukata Cottons. She shared news of her book deal and we started to hatch a plan. It’s been a long time coming and we are now delighted to share news of Patricia’s book in partner with Abrams, East-Meets-West Quilts.
The book is a stunning celebration of improv quilts made with Japanese or Japanese-inspired fabrics. It heralds color, showcases a variety of traditional Japanese Cottons, shares insight into Patricia’s process, and drops little nuggets of knowledge, all wrapped up into the titles and inspiration for the feature quilts. Patricia covers it all, from embracing the improv quilting process to working with Yukata cottons, from piecing to quilting to finishing… It is a marvelous and beautiful guide for anyone looking to get started on a Japanese inspired quilting journey.
We are particularly taken with the photography, done by Kate Baldwin Photography.
Patricia’s coordinating thread set includes three hues of indigo plus a selection of seven vivid colors. We are in love!
We’ll have more news on the thread set next month, including an interview with Patricia to learn more about the book, her inspirations, her creative journey, and her new found love for Aurifil threads. Today, we’re thrilled to have an opportunity to show you a bit of the book… and of course, there is a giveaway!
“The Japanese flock to see cherry blossoms, known as sakura, in early spring. They adore the clouds of delicate pink overhead and see the season as a new beginning– a time for optimism and hope.” [from East-Meets-West Quilts by Patricia Belyea published by Abrams ©2017]
[from East-Meets-West Quilts by Patricia Belyea published by Abrams ©2017]
“Off the beaten path, you can encounter many strange attractions in Japan. How about the Parasite Museum, an island inhabited by cats, a town with more life-size dolls than residents, and a nightclub made totally of ice?”
[from East-Meets-West Quilts by Patricia Belyea published by Abrams ©2017]
“Teenage pop singer Nori-P (Noriko Sakai) exploded onto the JApanese music scene in 1986. At that time, many novelty yukata cotton designs featured her autograph– a cartoonish little man with three haris on his head.”
[from East-Meets-West Quilts by Patricia Belyea published by Abrams ©2017]
“Kabuki, a classical Japanese dance-drama, was first performed in 1603 by a shrine maiden in a dry riverbed of Kyoto. The dramatic style became popular, first with all-women troupes and later with men laying the male and female roles.”
[from East-Meets-West Quilts by Patricia Belyea published by Abrams ©2017]
These are just a few in the gorgeous lineup of quilts and we so adore the bits of information that Patricia has collected to inspire and accompany her quilts. We can’t recommend this book enough!
GIVEAWAY!
We are thrilled to offer a pretty awesome giveaway in celebration of East-Meets-West. To enter to win 1 copy of East-Meets-West by Patricia Belyea for Abrams, 1 yard of Yukata Cotton from Patricia Belyea, and 1 Small East-Meets-West Thread Collection by Patricia Belyea for Aurifil, please leave us a comment on this post answering the following question:
Have you ever made an improv quilt?
Entry is open until 11:59pm on Wednesday, November 1. We’ll pull a random winner and announce here on Thursday, November 2. Giveaway is open to all, including all of our International friends. Book + fabric ship from the US, Threads ship from Italy — so the winner will receive two separate packages. Good luck!
East-Meets-West Giveaway Tour!
There is an amazing group of industry influencers involved in a series of giveaways for East-Meets-West. So many chances to win — so many fabulous designers!!
Pat Sloan (giveaway closes Nov. 1)
The Quilt Show (giveaway closes Nov. 1)
The Crafty Planner (giveaway closes today, Oct. 20, at 12pmPST)
Modern Sewciety (giveaway closes Nov. 1)
Victoria Findlay Wolfe (giveaway coming!)
Denyse Schmidt (giveaway coming!)
Heather Jones (giveaway closes Nov. 1)
Blair Stocker, Wise Craft Quilts (giveaway closes Nov. 1)
Susan Briscoe (giveaway coming!)
Jane Sassaman (giveaway closed)
Lovely designers, we salute you! Thank you for your help and participation! To Patricia, Congratulations!! <3
I have not made an improv quilt intentionally, but some of my quilts look like I did. 🙂
I have not, but think I would take to it like a duck to water!
I have not made a improv quilt, but I do have the material to make one. Just waiting on Patricia’s book & thread. lol
I have made many blocks but not a quilt! Mostly potholders get made from them
Hi, haven’t used this line in quilting! Thanks for sharing!!!
I have not made an improv quilt but would love to give it a go. This book looks like inspiration.
I have never made an improve quilt, but would like to try one some day.
No I haven’t made a full quilt, I did make a mini.
I’ve made a few improv wall hangings and quilts. They’re a lot of fun.
I have done some pretty Reginald designs but I don’t think that qualifies as improv. I’m always pushing myself to try new things though and I think this book would be very inspirational
Improv quilting is intimidating to me. Maybe this book is what I need!
I have never done improv piecing, I tend to be a pattern person. Never to late to learn! Thanks for the giveaways!
cork@pa.rr.com
I guess you could call a few of my own design quilts improv, though most are based at least loosely on traditional patterns. This is an amazing giveaway, that book is a winner! I’ve loved yukata fabrics for a long time and it would be such fun to actually have a chance to work with some.
I love improv quilting, as it allows me to be creative throughout the quilting process, not just in the planning and the final quilting itself.
I have tried Improv on a small scale. A pillow and a table runner. It was fun.
I have never made an inprov quilt and am curious about them they are everywhere online now. I would love to win the giveaway.
I have only pieced improv for a quilt back!!
I ‘m game!!
Thank you!
Hi There, Never made an improv quilt. Not sure I have the confidence yet to attempt this? LOL
Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Haven’t made one yet. I’m always scared to start. But I’m sure this book would help! Great give-away!
Yes! And I’m happiest if there’s some improv/random element in every quilt I sew…
Only some string piecing if that counts! These quilts look lovely!
I have not made an improv quilt, but this book will inspire me to do so! And what lovely thread!
I’ve only made one improv quilt so far. I had a gorgeous panel with a peacock on it and I surrounded it with Japanese lanterns & I used pebbles on the bottom to make it look like an Oriental Garden. It came out beautiful!! I love the Asian Fabrics & would love to win a copy of Patricia’s book with the threads & fabric. Thank you for the chance to win!
I belong to a small group of ladies that experiment with techniques. We have made improv quilts in our journey and it is quite a wonderful experience, I love mine.
No, I haven’t made an improv quilt per se, but I do respond to my muse as I work. Does that count?
The closest I have come to an improv quilt was a round robin that evolved far bigger than originally planned.
No I have never made one, I will put it on my to do list.
No. but would like to try.
Not yet, but it’s on my rather long bucket list!
I’ve made more than one improv quilt. I have a piece of Patricia’s fabric that I plan to use for same. Lots of ideas in my head to move this forward. Thanks for the giveaway.
I haven’t made an improv quilt. This book and all are cool! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom
Well….. many of my quilted pieces turn into improvs!! Lol The book, fabric, and thread are awesome❤️❤️❤️
Yes, I have made an improve quilt. One day I just decided to close my eyes and open my mind when reaching for fabrics……..just to see what may show up. Sometimes I think your muse or subconscious just wants to have fun. Let it loose.
No, I have never made an improv quilt. But it looks interesting, and I am thinking it might be something for me to try.
I have made an improv table runner. Japan is on my bucket travel list, and I have been collecting Oriental fabrics for about 10 years! This book would give the push to -gasp!- use them. I took a class from Pepper Cory on Sashiko at Cincinnati IQF…do you see how enamored I am?
I love improve. I have made several wallhangings. I have used hand dyed, Indigo and commercial fabrics in my pieces.
No I’ve never made an improv quilt but I think I would like to try, I think it would help stretch quilting muscles.
No, I have never made an improv quilt but the concept sounds like something I am really keen to try. Thank you for a great giveaway!!!
I have not made a whole improv quilt, but I have played around a lot trying out different improv styles. I would love to have this book (and the lovely fabric & thread) because I have a stash of Japanese fabrics and I’d love to experiment with them!
Yes I’ve made several improv quilts and I have a
Large collection of Japanese fabrics that I can never figure out how to use. The book is beautiful an$ I’d love to win it.
I haven’t made an improv quilt. I would love to win the book and learn more about it.
I haven’t done any improve sewing yet.
Improv quilting seems out of my comfort zone. I would love to try it someday.
Possibly by accident! But I’d love to learn more about it…
No, I have never made an improv quilt!
I’ve recently completed an improve circle quilt – I think it turned out spectacularly!
I admire inprov quilts, but I’ve never made one. I think it would be fun to try though!
I have not made an improv quilt. I am a little too OCD to try it, too! 🙂
Haven’t made one, but they sure look interesting. I would like to learn more about them.
I made an improv log cabin quilt recently and really enjoyed it!
I haven’t made an improv quilt before but I am intrigued! Congratulations on the new book!
I have not made an improv quilt but am interested in learning more about them.
No I haven’t made an Improve quilt. They look like fun so I will have to add it to my quilt bucket list!
I haven’t made an Improv quilt yet but I have been admiring them. I know I will soon.
I’ve never made an improv quilt but I think it would be fun. Maybe I have one in my future!
This is inspiring, but I haven’t made an improv quilt yet. I would love to try, as her fabrics are lovely. Thanks.
I’ve done a few improv projects which evolved when the right fabric wasn’t to be found in my stash and have generally “broken out of the mold” in terms of colours and mixing fabrics to do something new and exciting – just to surprise my friends at our show and tells!
I’ve experimented with some improv blocks, but I have not made an improv quilt…yet.
I haven’t made an improve quilt yet but it is on my list for next year. Interestingly, I recently pulled out some Japanese kimono fabric that I have had for more than 30 years. Some of these are samples. Trying to figure out something to do with them that preserves their beauty.
Beautiful book! My improv has been limited to using left over fabric pieces and block mistakes from the front of the quilt I made for for my sister’s grandson and using them in a totem-pole I designed on the back.
I occasionally make an improv quilt to use up scraps. It’s always fun! Thanks for the great giveaway!
I have but it was a long time ago. I think it is time for another one.
I’ve been working with improv more and more. Back in the ‘90’s I made two quilted jacket that were improv but I’d didn’t realize that’s what it was called. I just used pieces of fabric and arranged and cut them to fit together using what I had. It’s fun if you don’t get too wound up in perfection.
I have not made an improve quilt. Love the photos from the book!
I have never tried an improv quilt, but it is definitely a style that I would love to learn. It would be a perfect addition to my journey to build my business with art quilts!
The only time I’ve attempted an improv quilt was at a retreat. I had terrible back pain and didn’t finish it. Everytime I look at the pieces it brings back painful memories 😞
I have made a few improv blocks, but not an entire quilt. Making one is on my list of projects for 2018.
No, but I’d love to try one.
No I have not made one this is the first time I even heard about one but would love to try make one.
Nope, I’ve never made an improv quilt.
Yes, I have made improv quilts before.
I have never made a improve quilt. There is always a first time.
I have not actually made an improv quilt but have done so in my mind.
Yes! For my daughter’s 40th birthday, I made 5 large quilt blocks, each designed for an important part of her life. The rest of the quilt I added fabrics in her favorite colors and I free motion quilted each area with no preplanning, just inspiration from the fabrics! Lots of fun!
I have not yet made an improv quilt but I believe I am ready to bust out of my traditional painting, sewing and quilting. I have begun adding unusual elements to my sewing and begun a mixed media project including painting. Quilting must be my next improv breakout!
One time, I made an improv quilt, it was a middle quilt but it was beautiful 🙂 Thanks for a chance to win
Yes! I love improv. It looks cool to slide a couple of traditional blocks into the mix to add interest.
I have made several improv quilts. I am constantly being told that I quilt “outside the box” that is because I don’t know what the box is. I’ll get an idea in my head about an idea or try to figure out how to use fabric I love. And off I go!
I love the creative aspect of quilting…making art through fabric.
I haven’t made one yet but I’ll have to add it to my list of techniques to try!
Not really, though I’d like to. I’ve started out with improv a couple of times but ended up with more traditional structure.
I have never made an improv quilt, I welcome the challenge!!
I have played with making 2 small improv quilts which was quite fun. I want to try more. Thanks for adding inspiration!
I love the yukata cottons and am very excited about the thread collection.
I have made a few improv quilts, but I wish I would be more brave and make quilts out of the box more often.
No, I haven’t made one yet.
I made an improv mini quilt to work through the technique. I will certainly give improv a try again to work on making a quilt.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I love improv! So much fun!
No until now I never did! but I would love to!
Yes, I have! A wall hanging using Japanese fabrics…so much fun!
I’ve never made an improv quilt, but I once used the small leftover pieces of a quilt to piece improv blocks for the backing. To this day, the backing is still my favourite part of that quilt!
No, not so far. But I am inspired by the glimpses published from Patricia Belyea’s book.
Yes, I have made an improv quilt and enjoyed the process and the results. AND I’ve been lucky enough to take a class from Patricia, surrounding by bolts of beautiful yukata cottons. She’s a great teacher! So happy to see she’s published this book.
I have made an improv block but not a whole improv quilt.
I have never made an improve quilt, but would like to try one some day.
I haven’t made an improve quilt yet, but I do like the look of them. Thanks!
Until I saw this I had never heard of an “improv quilt”, but the definition of the word it implys freedom of expression. What a fascinating idea, I wonder if I have that ability? I would love the opportunity to learn something new.
Yes, it is my favorite way of working. I have not worked with Yukata fabrics however.6
I have made a few Improv blocks, but have not done enough to put into a quilt. It is a fun technique!
I have never made an Improv Quilt. I think it would be fun to try though. I tend to lean towards traditional quilts which are my main comfort zone. This book and give away look wonderful. Thank you for offering the giveaway!
I have never made an improv quilt, but this is very interesting. I will have to try this.
Do it all the time. I appreciate the freedom.
I had the opportunity to learn curved piecing from Patricia a couple years ago. I think many of my quilts are improv!
Not until today but always wanted to. Thank you for the lovely giveaway!
Well a lot of my work seems improv as I am not sure how it will turn out , but I really have not made a start to finish improv quilt.
For me improv is the best way to make a quilt, especially with Japanese themed fabrics.
Oh that book and fabric look gorgeous. No, I havent made a full imptov but Pats book would give me the push I need to get started.
No, I have not made an Improv quilt, but would go to the ends of the earth to learn how.
Yes I have done improv quilting but mostly to make the backs of my quilts more interesting. This looks like a lovely book to inspire!!
Not yet but love the ideas in your book.
I’ve recently made 2 improv quilts in response to my quilt group’s paint chip challenge. Well, actually only the tops so far as I have to decide on the quilting. I only make my own designs and quite a number of them have included improv-style elments.
I have not made an improv quilt but just finished a watching a craftsy class on improve quilting and am sure going to give it a try!
Yes I am just working on an improv quilt made of scraps of Yukata cotton from Okan Arts and some cotton prints from my own stash. The center focus is a turquoise slice of Yukata with dragonflies. This central piece is surrounded by print on print combos of scrap yukata cotton squares with a path of creamy brown cotton followed by 3.5 inch x 1.5 combos of the remaining scrap around perimeter topped with a light gray floral. The intention it to finish the perimeter of the quilt with Garden fence blocks. The back will be the creamy brown cotton with a large scale Japanese inspired garden gate. Taking my time and deciding whether to start the machine quilting of the top and back separately to highlight the central focus ( dragonfly panel and garden gate.) The thread set would match perfectly!!
https://www.facebook.com/315115594727/photos/pcb.10156015689749728/10156015684999728/?type=3
No improv quilting as of yet, Pat’s supply of Yukata cottons and her new book are inspiring. I have some of the cottons hanging in the studio from a visit to Seattle last year, they haunt me to be used but are so beautiful as long lengths.
Never made an improve quilt
I’ve never made an entire quilt using improv, but I’ve tried with smaller pieces. The Okanarts and all the big, bold fabrics that carry. Would love to win one of the books. Thanks
I have not yet made an improv quilt.
Since I discovered this “technique” I have only done improvisational quilts. I am now making the 3rd one. I am in love with it. Thanks for letting me participate.
I’ve never made an improv quilt bit I would be willing to try.
Congratulations!!! You are our winner for this giveaway 🙂 I’ll email you directly to coordinate shipping!
No improve quilting yet but it does appeal to me.
Yes I have made 2 improve quilts ! Used some yukata fabric! Very Asian/Japanese . It would be so wonderful to win! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take part in the contest!
Yes, I have dabbled a little.
I have not made an improvisational quilt but am looking forward to broadening my skill set.
I’ve made slab blocks/quilts which are a form of scrappy improv but would love to explore it more.
I have not made an improv Quilt.
I’ve made several improv quilts although there is always room for improvement in my technique!! LOL
Mine are all improv. They start out traditionally and after one or two blocks I wander off and do my own thing…
Yes, if looking at a picture of an improv quilt and randomly sewing scraps together until there is a resemblance can still be considered an improv quilt!
Lovely article. My quilts to date have been patterns. I reconnected with my sewing machine just over a year ago and have been diligently storing scraps for improv purposes. Will be fun!
I’ve admired improv quilts, but have to fight my perfectionist tendencies and my love for order to attempt them!
I made a table runner once which was great fun. Haven’t made a quilt yet but some of my quilts change from my original plan halfway through. Book looks great
I have done some improv piecing for bee blocks, a tote bag, and also made slab blocks (the missing “u” pattern) for a charity quilt.
I have not done an improv quilt, it kind of scares me.
I have made blocks for an improv quilt, but have not finished it. For. A guild block swap I made a few blocks.
I am currently in the process of making two improv quilts; one I’ve decided needs to be a bit bigger and the other is in pieces on my design wall after taking an improv class.
I haven’t made an improv quilt yet but ideas are swimming in my mind. Maybe a book with Japanese ideas would help as I love Japanese fabrics and ideas. thanks for the opportunity to win this book
I have never made an improv quilt, yet.
I have not done an improv quilt. I worry that future generations would just view it as bad quilting.
No, haven´t done an Improv quilt but would definitely start one with this book!!
I have made several blocks but not yet a quilt. Thank you again for the opportunity given to international readers