A Slice of Christmas from Piece O'Cake Designs [Paperback] Review

This is a beautiful book about appliqueing and their designs for Christmas.They cover everything from quilts, wall hangings to table runners, stockings and Christmas tree rounds.You can mix and match the ideas here and make everything you need for Christmas.
The nice parts are that the directions are complete for both hand piecing and machine (called fusible in the book) sewing & that most of the designs require small amounts (1/2 yard; 5/8 yard there) of fabric so if you have leftovers you can find places to use them here.Also nice is the ability to copy the designs for your own use.A nice present in itself.
The downside?You should be near a copier and have sharp scissors.
All in all, a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.It's a real joy to view and look at.I wish some of the designs were shown bigger in colour but it's a minor quibble.

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Product Description:
A celebration of Christmas with "Piece O'Cake Designs". There are seven Christmas projects, including applique quilts, stockings, tree skirts, and a table runner. Designs feature a retro '50s Santa, Christmas tree, and Santa sampler from past favourites "A Piece O'Cake Christmas" and "A Sampling of Santas", as well as a new poinsettia design. Quilters should also be able to mix and match patterns to create even more projects.

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Simple Fabric Folding for Halloween: 12 Fun Quilts and Projects [Illustrated] [Paperback] Review

I've made the lollipop holder and it's adorable! I bought it for the patterns, but her general instructions are wonderful. I find myself referring to it over and over for tips on binding and invisible borders.

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Product Description:
No tricks, just treats with these 12 super spooky projects to make Halloween go with a scream!Make the most of Halloween with these 12 'spooktacular' projects for decorating your home.Learn how to create silly spiders, haunted houses, ghastly ghouls, and more with 11 new fabric folding techniques that are sure to delight young and old trick-or-treaters everywhere.

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Laurel Burch Christmas - A: Color the Season Beautiful with 25 Quilts & Crafts [Paperback] Review

I gave this as a gift to my wife.She loved it.The book covers her two favorite things, Cats and Quilts.

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Product Description:
Crafters join celebrated artist Laurel Burch for an enchanting Christmas filled with beautiful quilt and craft projects. These fun, imaginative projects range from very easy to more challenging. Ideal holiday designs for beginners include projects using hand applique; no-sew; and fast, easy fusible web options. Secrets and shortcuts for creating festive Christmas quilts and crafts include embroidery, painting, stamping, and beading.

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Christmas Cats and Dogs: Quilts to Celebrate the Season (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] Review

I was looking for this book when I saw a quilt made from one the patterns.The lady is the quilt shop told me she could no longer get the pattern and had given hers away.She also told me that Amazon had the pattern for $150.I checked out your used book dealers and found one for about $21.50 or so.It is exactly what I was looking for and in great shape when I received it.Thanks again for greast service!

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Product Description:
Dress up a dozen cute cats and five jolly dogs for the holidays! Best-loved author Janet Kime is back with all-new projects that feature cats and dogs as adorable angels, pudgy snowmen, and even Santa.
-Choose from 14 whimsical quilts, plus a wreath, a garland, a stocking, and holiday ornaments.
-Use easy techniques such as speed piecing, hand applique, and redwork embroidery.
-Make any of these projects in a snap for gifts or just for fun--even if you've never quilted before!
From the bestselling author of It's Raining Cats and Dogs and The Cat's Meow.

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Nancy J. Martin's 365 Quilt Blocks a Year: Perpetual Calendar (That Patchwork Place) [Calendar] Review

This perpetual calendar with a majority of pieced patterns for rotary cutting will delight any quilter.Inspiration for new projects, Block of the Month, and just a lovely place to rest your eyes.The paper and spiralare good quality and should last many years.

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Product Description:
With this perpetual calendar of quilting Nancy J. Martin includes an almost infinite collection of quilt designs to keep the most avid quilter busy for many years. Each design is accompanied by a full-colour illustration.'

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Simple Seasons: Stunning Quilts and Savory Recipes (That Patchwork Place) [Paperback] Review

I wrote a review recently about SIMPLE SEASON RECIPE BOX by Ms. Diehl.Now I have the book that goes with that box.(I still like my idea of using the box to cross-reference my quilt patterns as I don't like cooking as much as I LOVE quilting!).My point is that the book has recipes to put in the box as well as wonderful quilt patterns.

The book starts with a sixteen page section on quilting basics and fabric selection.Ms. Diehl gives lots of tips for making your quilt easier.There are graphics to help visualize what is explained.The book is divided into the Seasons with three or four quilts per Season and then recipes to go with each Season as well.

The quilts run from lap to table runners to bed to doll and of course, wall hangings so there are a wide variety of project sizes.The techniques include piecing, yo-yo's and appliqué.Each project begins with a paragraph about the project.Then a materials list is provided with a cutting list following that.Next are the assembly instructions.This includes lots of graphics to demonstrate the sewing instructions.Finally, adding the borders and suggestions on finishing --- how to quilt --- are given.Templates are included.

The recipes are the kind that make me think of grandma and home cooking.Quick Cherry Crisp-- yummmmmmy - homemade rolls, split pea soup just to name a few.All good eating and they go perfectly with quilts.

The final page holds three paragraphs about Ms. Diehl.I always like to learn about the designers and how they got where they are today.All in all, this is a great book for all year round.Food and quilts --- what could be a better combination?

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Product Description:
Bestselling author Kim Diehl is back with an all-new collection of quilts--plus her very own homestyle recipes--inspired by the seasons. Bring the special meaning of each season alive in your home with Kim's signature tradition-with-a-twist style.
*Thirteen projects with a seasonal flair include bed, lap, and wall quilts, plus a doll quilt and table runner
*Simple patchwork and applique designs feature spring tulips, summer gardens, autumn jack-o'-lanterns, and winter mittens
*Over a dozen tried-and-true recipes spotlight Kim's homestyle approach to cooking--findhearty salads, soups, and breads, plus luscious desserts

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Quilts Through the Seasons: A Quilt for Each Month of the Year (Quilt in a Day) (Quilt in a Day Series) [Spiral-bound] Review

This is going to be one of my favorites from our friendly laid-back quilting instructor.If you've been longing for something a bit more meaty and advanced from Eleanor, this is the book for you.She will show you how to make things look more advanced than they really are by implementing her clever techniques.

Although I have always learned something new from her prior books (in her elegantly simple manner), I found the older patterns to be too elemental and chunky.There were not enough color changes or pattern varieties, and the blocks always seemed too large and too few; everything had that "very first quilt" look to it. Hence I shied away from her most recent publications and even sold or gave away a few of the old ones.

THIS book, however, is a very pleasant surprise.There are 13 designs, presented in order of the four seasons. You will find blocks based on crazy hearts, "log cabin" pine trees with appliqued cardinals, stars intermingled with 4-patch blocks, fish, flower baskets, and a Twin Sisters block based on a pattern from 1845.I'll save the rest so you can be (pleasantly) surprised!!

In typical fashion, Eleanor uses a range of simple-to-clever techniques: foundations, embellishments, folded borders, curved seams, fusible applique, equilateral finished triangles, and fussy cutting.She also includes her clever method for Flying Geese/Star Points which guarantees a perfect piece, and her fusible applique technique replaces the usual paper-piecing to create a fabulous Lady Liberty circular crown block.

As I mentioned earlier, Eleanor breaks away from her usual huge/chunky block size; most of the blocks are under 9 inches with one as small as 5 inches.She just had to include a block that measures 17 by 22 inches (in a cute fish pattern), but I'll allow her that!

As in her prior books, most projects feature her own fabric lines, but there is a wee bit less emphasis on floral here.And some projects are shown done up in batiks and tone-on-tones, demonstrating how you can personally tailor her simple patterns to your own fabric preferences.Directions are provided for a variety of quilt-top sizes, plus table runners and pillow cases.

Just a few less than positive things to note:The very first design is for a crazy Valentine, and she instructs you to use foundation piecing!!To me, it seems somewhat oxymoronic to call this "crazy" when the exact same foundation is used for every block.When I make this one, I will skip the paper-piecing and do it up in true "crazy quilt" fashion.Also, the publication is in a spiral ring binder; great idea but bad execution for clutzes like me.Once you have spiraled the front or back cover it never seems to go back into place correctly without you having to re-leaf all the pages.Small thing, but a possible minor pain for folks with MS or arthritis.And you will probably find yourself buying yet another rotary ruler (don't we have enough??!!) to take the best advantage of her technique.Finally, I would love to have seen the publisher put a photo of each project on the table of contents page.I've seen this done before and it really saves you from constantly flipping through the pages to find that one design you thought you saw but can't remember where.This would have been especially helpful given that there are 13 different projects here.

Now, so that I can leave on a positive note, let me end by saying there truely is something here for every one, regardless of you preference for fabrics, pattern styles, or block sizes.If you want to add a publication that is sure to become a classic, this is the one to buy!

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Product Description:
Offers a whole year of patterns in various skill levels and quilt sizes. Some patterns are designed to be quick and easy while others offer a challenge as skills develop. Autumn is harvest time with cool, crisp air offering welcome relief from hot summer days. Winter brings to mind a time of gathering with family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Spring is a rebirth of barren trees and frozen ground . Summer delivers warm sunshine and dreams of lazy afternoons.

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Mother Earth's Quilt Sampler: Applique Patterns Inspired by Mother Earth and Her Children [Paperback] Review

This book is absolutely beautiful! For those of you who had already cherished the original book The Story of the Root-Children, this a definite must have. The appliqued scenes are wonderful, and there is one mini quilt for each season - how beautiful they would look hanging above a nature, or seasonal, table. I just got my copy and can't wait to get started on the Spring panel!

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Product Description:

Four delightful quilts-one each for spring, summer, fall, and winter-celebrate the changing of the seasons. With each quilt featuring little children enjoying the pleasures of the season, this unique combination of applique and embroidery is showcasedin each pattern with colorful, close-up photography, so that they can be seen in amazing detail. Step-by-step instructions accompany each quilt, and extensive introductory chapters examine the artist's thoughts on technique.A template pack, shrink-wrapped with the book, is included as are full-size patterns for each quilt,which can be directly transferred to fabric.



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