Baltimore Beauties and Beyond by Elly Sienkiewicz (1989, Paperback)

At the time of this writing there are 6 copies of 'Baltimore Beauties and Beyond, Volume 1 - studies in album quilt applique' currently in either shops or on auction for prices ranging from 9.99 (and what is up with that? What's wrong with $10?) to $25.00. I say that this is Elly's overlooked book because I have seen copies for as low as $5.00 and I find myself asking this question, why does everyone kill themselves to get most of Elly's other books but this little jewel just seems to sit in auction unloved and unwanted time and again?
First of all, I find this book to be excellent as it is what it advertises itself as, 'studies' in classic applique. Study implies to learn and if you work through this book you WILL learn and your hand applique skills will improve vastly. There are also patterns galore (29, to be exact) and the book layout is perfect with all the patterns at the back and the text to the fore, as it should be. So why does it languish?
I think the answer to that lies in the book cover. There are sillouettes of Elly's three children and the level of expertise that it would require to applique such detail may be offputting to the casual or newly begun applique artist. Is Elly the master? Of course she is. You should not, though, be scared away or put off by that skill that she, through her many books, has so generously shared with all of us.
This book is laid out in lesson format and there are 12 lessons that build one upon the other as you progress through the book. They teach, in order, inlaid and onlaid cutwork, sharper points, layering, folded cutwork flowers, stuffed applique, ruching, needleturning without a marked seam (I actually do a lot of this but my granny called it "eyeballing a seam". Sort of a gruesome term but you should have seen her applique quilts!), superfine seams, stuffed berries, english paper method, spray basting applique, freezer paper applique, plastic template applique and basted reverse applique. Following these lessons but preceding the patterns is, of course, a stunning gallery of blocks and quilts.
If you love applique and you wish to bring those skills up into another strata in my opinion this is the book that will get you there. Don't overlook this one anymore! ~Aunt_Melvernia~