The Big Book of Baby Quilts!

The library just received a gorgeous new quilting book!  The Big Book of Baby Quilts published by The Patchwork Place contains 87 cute and cuddly baby quilt patterns with patterns, color photos and easy to follow directions.  The patterns range from easy to hard, and from traditional to abstract patterns.  The full-color photographs make creating the quilts an easy process, and the detailed directions make it easy to figure how many different fabrics you need to buy and the amount of each fabric you need.  The book includes quilts that are pieced and appliqued and many different quilting techniques are explained in the book too.  This book would be a great read for any quilter, as the quilt patterns can be used for baby quilts and/or modified to make bigger quilts.  This book is currently housed on our new nonfiction book shelves and can be checked out for a three week period. 

Homestyle Quilts: Simple Patterns and Savory Recipes

I discovered a very delightful book today!  Being a quilter, I enjoy examining every new quilting book that arrives on the library's shelves.  Homestyle Quilts:  Simple Patterns and Savory Recipes by Kim Diehl and Laurie Baker is a wonderful addition to the library's collection.  The book is unique in that it pairs quilting patterns with recipes---for example, the "Bygone Baskets" is paired with a "Sante Fe Soup" Recipe that one of the author's quilting friends served the quilting group for lunch.  Both the quilting and the recipes are easy to follow, with detailed pictures and descriptions of the patterns and the quilting process.  The book is great for beginners as well as advance quilters.  My favorite aspect is that the authors show updated views of older quilt patterns, using contemporary fabrics.  There is also a great "Quiltmaking Basics" chapter listed at the end of the book which showcases illustrated techniques. 

Christmas in August???

You might have read this blog title and been a bit confused---but trust me it does make sense!!! We have all been complaining about the heat, so what's a better way to "beat it" than sitting inside your nice air-conditioned home and completing a craft project? I thought you'd see it my way :) Need some inspiration on what new creation to start? Try looking at these books:

Donna Kooler's Ecyclopedia of Quilting (746.46 K82eq)--This updated and revised book has a pattern gallery with 19 projects, basic techniques and hand and machine quilting instructions. It also includes a nifty history of quilting section. This book is perfect for the beginning quilter to dive in and have a quilt completed in a few short weeks.


Sew with Sara: PJs, Pillows, Bags & More by Sara Trail (646.2 T766s)--I absolutely love this accessible, easy, teen and tween-friendly book that teaches you how to sew! The projects are nine beginner-friendly ones and are perfect for the beginner sewer. This book can create some great "family time" with your kids, especially teen girls who think their summer is "boring-" and mom will have a great time teaching (or learning) right along with them.

Handcrafted Ornaments edited by Creative Publishing International (745.594 H236o)--I love creating handmade Christmas ornaments, but always feel so rushed during the holidays that I end up not being able to make as many as I want to, or that the finished products aren't as good as they could be. I have a solution you and I can both use---start your Christmas ornaments in the summer! This book gives you some great ideas on traditional Christmas ornaments you can make and the stories of each ornament's origin. With full color photos and illustrated steps, this book is sure to make you think about the cold air of Christmas.

If your creative juices have started following, don't stop making projects when you are done with these books. The library has many more craft books available for you to check out. The library would love to see your finished projects so stop by and give us a sneek peek when you are done!

Be Crafty with Martha Stewart!

I have been eagerly waiting for the publication of Martha Stewart's latest book, the Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts. The book includes basic techniques for sewing, applique', embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and printing, plus 150 inspired projects from A to Z. It also includes a CD featuring "print-at-home" patterns and templates! Being a quilter and craft lover, looking at this book made my fingers itch to start another project (just ignore the three half-finished quilts I have currently at my house). The book has beautiful pictures and great ideas for projects such as drawstring pants, box pillows and cases, duvet covers, sarongs, handkerchiefs, roman shades, and upholstered dining room chairs. The instructions are detailed and pictures illustrate many of the steps involved with each project. The book ends with a nice section (with colored picture examples) of tools and materials needed to complete the projects, and a buyer's guide, with phone numbers, for each of the projects. If you are thinking about a perfect gift for your crafty friend or relative (or your friendly local librarian), this book is a real winner!

Pretty Little Projects

Three really cute books just recently crossed my desk. Being a fan of quiliting, I was very intrigued by their covers and the sweet projects described in them! the three books are Pretty Little Patchwork, Pretty Little Potholders and Pretty Little Cozies. All three books were edited by Valerie VanArsdale Shrader and published by Lark Books. The books are a little smaller than your average non-fiction title, which makes them the perfect size to prop up on your table while you are completing several of the projects contained in the books! Pretty Little Patchwork contains 32 projects that are colorful and modern and have a twist of vintage chic. Projects include sachets, a fabric clock, a mini quilt or a handy bag, all made from piecing strips and pieces of fabric together. Pretty Little Potholders offers thirty imaginative designs to make cute potholders, using creative techniques such as applique' and felting. Beginners will appreciate the basic sewing and hand stitching instructions and seasoned sewers will enjoy learning new tips such as how to use digital photo transfer fabric. Pretty Little Cozies offers a new take on how to make cozies, those fabric covers that are used to protect all of our "can't-live-without" belongings such as cell phones, checkbooks, and mp3 players. This book details several cutting-edge projects that are colorful, modern, playful and feminine that are made with new and recycled fabrics and are packed full of clever design elements and intriguing details. Try out one of these books for a cute craft project that won't take up too much of your time!!