Fun Photo-Quilts & Crafts [Paperback]

Simms popularized photo-quilting with her first book on the subject, Creating Scrapbook Quilts (Mallery Press, 1993). Now she returns with its sequel, Fun Photo Quilts and Crafts, a chocked-full collection of tips and projects that enlarges her teaching sphere even wider.

Written in a comfortably conversational tone sure to set the most timid reader at ease, Fun Photo-Quilts takes the mystery out of this seemingly complicated technique. The book contains excellent construction directions accompanying each of the book's 28 quilts and projects. Many of the quilt patterns stand on a foundation of traditional quilted blocks, made more contemporary by including photographs transferred to fabric in eye-catching arrangements. I particularly applaud Simms' use of tiny cartoons to represent the photographs, first in the actual quilted block pattern and, then, in the arrangement of those blocks into a finished quilt designs. Also excellent were Simms' Cutting Charts directing each reader exactly how to cut each fabric.

Yet, let's be realistic. Quilters and crafters buy a book for its pictures. Only after they are thoroughly entranced with its visual images do they read the text, no matter now well done. Fun Photo-Quilts & Crafts will definitely capture their attention. The pictures are colorful, presented on quality paper, and inspiring to the most bashful of needlework artists. Simms' large "Gallery" section includes not only beautiful examples of the patterns found in the book but a running commentary on various innovative techniques for making each finished piece a one-of-a-kind art treasure. I found her work truly charming. And, as she enjoyed doing in some of her earlier books, Simms introduces lesser-known quilters by supplementing her own quilts with photographs of their work. Such generosity surely reveals a teacher not only confident of her own attempts but clearly delighted in revealing the efforts of her students.

Fun Photo-Quilts & Crafts is a truly remarkable booka "must-have" for every one's library. Use Simms' quick construction methods and fun-inspiring patterns to make your own memory quilt. Under Simms' direction you make something wonderful and have fun in the process. How can you resist? -- Reviewed by Louise McCormick Gibney, February 1999 (Quilter & free-lance writer for Traditional Quilter, American Quilter, ArtQuilt, Quilter's Gallery, Quilting International, New Zealand Quilter and Quiltmania.

Ami was first introduced to quiltmaking in 1975, while conducting research among the Old Order Amish of northern Indiana for her undergraduate thesis in anthropology. She made her first quilting stitches under the guidance of the Amish woman with whom she stayed.

Since that time Ami has made almost 100 quilts, of varying sizes, in both traditional and contemporary designs. Her work has been featured in several national magazines and other publications, and has been exhibited in juried competitions in California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Ami has been leading workshops and giving lectures on quilting since 1982. Prior to that time, and until 1983, she taught public school (second graders, then senior citizens). More recently she has been teaching and lecturing for quilting guilds throughout the United States. She has also taught quilting in Australia, Canada, England, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Ami has led quilting tours to Italy, The Netherlands, and Hong Kong.

Recently Ami has brought her talents to national television. She has been a featured guest four times on the Home & Family Show (The Family Channel) presenting segments on photo-transfer quilts, string piecing, the WORST Quilt In The World Contest and Photo Quilt Blocks. She has also appeared on Simply Quilts (show #215) with Alex Anderson on HGTV.

Ami also hosts a monthly chat for quilters on America On-line on the 4th Thursday of each month and writes The AfterChat Newsletter which is e-mailed to over 4,000 quilters each month.

Ami Simms lives in Flint, Michigan with her husband, Steve, and their daughter, Jennie.