Have you met Heather Jones? I, as a fellow Heather, am so incredibly proud of my dear friend HBJ (Heather Braunlin Jones) as she created one of the most delightfully inspired collections of quilts in her new book titled Quilt Local : Finding Inspiration in the Everyday.  Her cohesive, minimal, recognizable style takes courage and design skill.  I, as a former high school art teacher, always admire art that is minimal and leaves breathing room for the viewer to fall into the work.  Heather Jones creates the most beautiful breathing room in her premiere book Quilt Local.

We were fortunate enough to have HBJ at Crimson Tate recently for a book signing and a full day workshop instructed by Heather in our fabric store Downtown Indianapolis.  We are never lack of conversation (as an aside riding together in the car for a weekend trip that lasted 9+ hours both directions and we were both hoarse by the time it was over), Heather and I, and that evening of nacho bar and buckets of beer was no exception.  I love that Heather is a delightful combination of studious and goofy, all at once.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that she’s real.  She’s a real girl doing exceptional work. Her approach to writing this book gives the viewer multiple ways to look at the projects. One quilt is rendered in solids and the next it’s peppered with printed fabrics.  How brilliant?! And to think that Heather created each of those patterns twice, taking on the monumental task of not only piecing, quilting, and finishing them on her own but also fully inspiring all of us to take a closer look at our surroundings in a more authentically inspired way.  We as quilters GET IT.  It’s a monumental task.  She gets it.  She’s good.

It was a pleasure and an honor to get periodical phone calls from my friend during her process of writing the book.  Finding inspiration in everyday is a creed I have adhered to as a life philosophy, myself.  But to step into Heather Jones’s inspiration leaves me with wonderment.  And the first time she saw the photos I happened to be with her at an event where we all stood around the laptop and cried because the photography of her creations truly captured the beauty of her.  And of her work.

When I knew that Heather Jones and I could be friends was when she started playing with color using Josef Albers theories on color.  She’s a girl after my own heart.  Eureka! This thing is brilliant.  And then here is her quilt in a repetitive fashion.

Heather encourages us to take note of our surroundings. For instance, I am inspired by the beautiful architecture of this Coca-Cola plant that is found right across the street from Crimson Tate.

I also suuuuuuuuper find inspiration when I am standing in front Lake Superior as I visit my family in northern Minnesota.  

Wouldn’t this Parson Gray bundle be a great jumping point to compliment Gitchi-Gami?

So tell me, where do you feel inspired? Leave a note, and one lucky person will receive an autographed copy of Heather Jones’s beautiful book.  I can’t wait to hear what inspires you.  And a big ol’ congratulations to HBJ on a job well done. xoxo.  Drawing will take place at end of blog tour November 13, 2015.  Each stop is offering a free book.