I'm sure I'm probably the last person to make this particular discovery, but I'm writing this post just in case there's one other person out there who has yet to discover the amazing work of Jean Ray Laury. In particular, I've just snatched up several of her older books (published in the 60s and 70s) that have me completely bowled over. Although these books are long out of print, they are available used for nothing on Amazon or through eBay - I've linked to the Amazon pages...
Quilts & Coverlets: A Contemporary Approach is a fantastic book filled with great inspiration for modern quilt designs and techniques. Here are some of the color plates:
look at those cute apple, mushroom and whale blocks!
great 70s color scheme!
Applique Stitchery is also full of incredible projects. Some of these just make me squeal!
I can hardly stand this gorgeous color palette - I've always been a sucker for blue, green, and purple!
I particularly like the botanical style of the one on the right...
Finally, A Treasury of Needlecraft Gifts for the New Baby has some cute craft ideas for little ones - from quilts, to bibs, to carriers, etc. She has some great examples of childrens' artwork being adapted for quilt blocks (are you reading Amanda?!?):
I keep meaning to make a fun soft book for my nephew...
Sugar baby quilt!!!
I know that was a lot of pics, but I hope you found them worth it! I'm definitely going to check out some more of her books because I've found these to be incredibly inspiring...
Well you are right, there's at least one person who hasn't heard of her, me! Thanks for the pictures, they are lovely. I like the orange circles one. I'll have to keep my eye out for those books.
Posted by: Laural | August 17, 2005 at 05:42 PM
second person, right here! thanks for sharing your discovery, Kelly :)
Posted by: amanda | August 17, 2005 at 06:14 PM
third! i can't belive those quilts! thanks so much for posting about the artist and her work - it is brilliant and beautiful!!!
Posted by: sue | August 17, 2005 at 06:33 PM
fourth! this is becoming more like a roll call than a comments section. :) such wonderful stuff - thank you.
Posted by: Laurie | August 17, 2005 at 07:22 PM
wow. I suck,I'm #5. thank you!! (and you are bad for making want more books!) and you are double-bad for making me do the running thing! i'm in my first week and pete is doing it to! It's horrible!;)
Posted by: amy k. | August 17, 2005 at 09:01 PM
Very inspirational! Thanks for sharing :D
Posted by: jess | August 17, 2005 at 09:40 PM
#6 and I too thank you for sharing these. Look at those birds!! I've been wanting to do something like this for Max, but how many times have I said that? Too many. Very inspiring.
Posted by: Alison | August 17, 2005 at 09:41 PM
She has a web site www.jeanraylaury.com. My sister just bought that quilts and coverlets book at the Goodwill here in Portland the other day. Crazy cool stuff in there. I have her tote bag book. The baby book is a real find; I have been looking for it at the thrift stores forever. One day!
Posted by: Stephanie | August 17, 2005 at 09:42 PM
What number am I... about 7?! Thanks so much for sharing these amazing finds - yet another reason for me to try quilting! That apple & mushroom one and the floral one underneath it are so, so lovely.
Posted by: Fiona | August 18, 2005 at 02:23 AM
I love her! I found her by mistake once, from a library book and it has been true love ever since. I love the little drawings she has throughout the books...
Posted by: jenn | August 18, 2005 at 04:06 AM
I have got to check some of those out! I love the pics you posted. Thanks.
Posted by: amanda8 | August 18, 2005 at 04:56 AM
Okay, me too! Totally haven't heard of her, but am now amazed and blown away too at this wonderful work. And of course, the children's art into quilt project. So wonderful. I must look for more--thank you!!
Posted by: amanda | August 18, 2005 at 06:41 AM
I've seen her "child's quilt" somewhere before, but now I can't remember. A friend gave me several boxes of vintage quilt magazines earlier this year; maybe that's where I saw it. Thanks for giving me a name (and the wonderful other quilts) to go along with a quilt I already loved!
Posted by: Sarah | August 18, 2005 at 07:20 AM
Thanks for posting those pictures, they're beautiful!
Posted by: Amanda | August 18, 2005 at 07:47 AM
Wow I really like that quilt with the whales and apples. This is making me wanting to learn how to make a quilt =P
Posted by: Danwei | August 18, 2005 at 08:52 AM
Lovely visual post. I'm another who hadn't heard of her - but then news used to travel very slowly to England...
Posted by: Jane | August 18, 2005 at 09:47 AM
New to me as well-- awesome stuff here-- thanks so much for posting it!
Posted by: kristin | August 18, 2005 at 11:01 AM
I must be 1175348 and in my opinion every picture you post is worth. In fact you should put more of this! Really wonderful.
Posted by: filambulle | August 18, 2005 at 02:54 PM
What a gem of a book! I love it.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 18, 2005 at 03:56 PM
oh my gosh -- i've been working on a post about her for the past few days! i've been scanning like mad to get some images up. i've been collecting all of her books for a while now. i emailed her and she is so COOL! she's 77 and writing a quilting mystery among other things. you have to check out "handmade toys and games" -- that book is amazing, as is her dollmaking one. well, they ALL are. she just sent me a copy of "the creative woman's guide to getting it all together at home" and i loved that too. all of her books inspire me to try new things.
Posted by: mrspilkington | August 18, 2005 at 04:40 PM
Hello from Hong Kong! I'm a newbie and just so happened to receive a copy of her Quilts and Coverlets yesterday from a swap with Mrs. Pilkington who left the earlier comment! Her work is fabulous but there's just no way to get such books here. I'll go check the library.
Posted by: Siow Chin | August 18, 2005 at 07:30 PM
WOW! I'd never heard of her until just now and I'm just as psyched as you are! Thanks so much for sharing the links and pics!
Posted by: Sasha -a.k.a- The Paper Doll | August 19, 2005 at 01:15 AM
Oh yes! I saw the books in real life at a friend's (Mrs. Pilkington, actually, I see that she, of course, commented). I nearly fainted. Denyse has nothing on her. Well, now I rushed over to amazon.com and got all three ...
Posted by: Valentina | August 19, 2005 at 09:28 AM
I picked up Needlecraft for the New Baby a few weeks ago at a used bookstore and I love the designs in there. I hadn't heard about her other books - she put together such beautiful 70's stuff. Thanks for making me aware of her quilt and applique books!
Posted by: abbyjane | August 19, 2005 at 06:46 PM
Oh boy, the power of suggestion has struck again.
I just ordered two of the books you mentioned from
amazon!!
I read your bio and found that we don't live too far
from each other...I'm just a couple of hours north
of you. small world :)
Posted by: Toni | August 19, 2005 at 07:44 PM