Book excerpt: For every beginner who's eyed today's fabrics and yearned to make an eye-catching quilt--this is the book! Novice and experienced quilters alike will find oodles of inspiration in the contemporary colors and fresh designs of these 11 exciting projects. Discover the secrets of color, value, and fabric selection for creating quilts with visual impact Learn a variety of easy methods for cutting, piecing, and applique Enjoy whimsical applique motifs that include a giant birthday cake, a bird, jumbo circles, and more