Judy Martin (1)

Judy Martin has put together a very thorough and well-organized book on the log cabin pattern. While she touches on traditional, she really is all about the creative interpretation of the pattern and the use of modern techniques in construction. She includes 5 pages of log cabin "setting plans" or arrangements (66 plans, total). The book includes the usual basics, choosing fabrics, working with light/dark values, organization and her method of machine piecing. Quilters of all abilities will show more find something in this book and she rates each pattern for "ease of understanding" with three different symbols (related to cutting, sewing and thinking) explained early in the book.

Of the sixteen patterns she features in the book, several have a simplified modern look, others have a more updated traditional look, and still others have a more complex, creative that employ the suggestion of curves. Her directions are easy to follow and thorough and include all the technical know-how you might need. She also further includes at the end of the book a useful general charts of yardage and specifications to encourage quilters to "go off on your own creative direction." show less

[a:Judy Martin|21616|Ann M. Martin|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1208461887p2/21616.jpg] is one of my favorite block designers. She is prolific, supports herself with her own business and doesn’t condescend to her readers. Sense a trend here? The blocks she designs are classic with a twist. She also seems to want people to try out odd shapes and teaches how to create them. Her book, [b:Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts|1591756|Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts|Judy show more Martin|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1185577078s/1591756.jpg|1584777] has an amazing number of new block designs and quilt layouts to try. It is, however, a bit of a disappointment. Note: definitely still worth purchasing! The designs are great, extremely creative and fresh, but there are no actual fabric quilts shown in the book. It looks like all the quilts pictured are computer generated. I can appreciate the speed with which one can create computer generated designs and, thus, produce a book, but I want to see actual fabric quilts made with the patterns. I would love to see an update of this book, or a companion book with actual fabric quilts shown. I bet Judy could find fans to create blocks and quilts that could be used in the updated version of the book, if she doesn’t have time to do all the sewing. I’ll sign up for a block or two! If you like blocks, this book is still a wonderful resource. show less

Two stars for the recipes, which are useless to me, but five for the quilt patterns, which are spectacular and workable. Several are also in another of her books, which I own, but hey, they are good 'uns.

I love Judy Martin's work and her style. I do wish she would get back to producing block books instead of pattern and project books. [b:Cookies and Quilts|2207036|Cookies 'n' Quilts Recipes & Patterns for America's Ultimate Comforts|Judy Martin|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NP58TKJDL._SL75_.jpg|2212808] is also a Judy Martin book which combines quilt patterns with decadent chocolate recipes. This book has lots of photos of quilts. Not all of them are star quilts. It is primarly a show more pattern book and there are no sections with blocks only. I haven’t tried any of the cookie recipes, but the photos of the cookies look delicious. show less