At a recent quilt show I purchased Southern Quilts: Celebrating Traditions, History, and Designs by Mary Kerr ($30). Sherry Burkhalter, owner of Quilted Creations in Headland, Alabama introduced me to the book and I just love it. Sherry wrote one of the sections and several of her quilts, including those she collected through the years, are included.

The illustrations are beautiful and most of the quilts featured are antiques. The quilts were an inspiration – I wanted to try several of the patterns out. The abbreviated pattern histories provided interesting backstories to both familiar and unfamiliar works. I was particularly fascinated with several closeups of very old quilts. While gazing I imagined how each little scrap must have been used in a former life.

As the name suggests, many Southern states are included as the book is both educational and visually stimulating. Page after page resulted in vibrant, lovely quilts. However, I found myself admiring a quilt then looking at the caption only to see it was from the vast collection of one of the same few individuals. More often than not, the quilt provenance was unknown. Nevertheless, the book contained a great sampling of patterns from the South, including noted color schemes and materials.

My favorite section might be the one on the Alabama Pine Burr pattern. A 3-D kaleidoscopic quilt block, little pieces are arranged in such an intricate way that what may seem a bit messy looking to some is an awe-inspiring, sometimes gasping arrangement of quilting.

I hope you’ll give this book a look and share in the inspiration from other Southern quilters.