Log Cabins Today from House of White Birches, softback published by House of White Birches. ISBN 978-1-59217-331-0, price 14.99 GBP available in the UK from www.searchpress.co.uk
Log cabins have moved on. Learn 7 techniques to use in the 30 plus projects that are presented in this book. The methods are piecing with strips, paper piecing, free-form foundation piecing, quilt as you go, easy ragged edge, folding and pleating and paper piecing from the top. For each method, there is one project to hone your skills. More projects are provided under the subject headings: from scraps, by Monday, to carry, for baby, to celebrate, to vary. In this way, this book provides the techniques and instructions to make log cabin quilts for any purpose. This book presents an exciting array of projects for all skill levels. The projects include coasters, place mats, pillows, bags and quilts. They feature good designs and good choice of fabrics together with clear instructions and very good photography. Some projects are quite traditional and others are ultra modern and contemporary with a twist on the log cabin. This is an excellent look at log cabins of today, suitable for anyone who enjoys this style of quilting.
17 Nov 2011 at 15:58
Karen Platt
Crafts, Fibre arts
No Comments
Let’s Play With Walnut Ink for the creative artist
If you have ever wanted to play with walnut ink and didn’t know where to start, here’s a booklet that will help you immensely. Explore new and old techniques to get your creativity flowing. This booklet tells you about walnut ink and what to do with it. There are ideas for texture, adding colour, paper casts and experimentation. Try walnut ink on a variety of surfaces.
Let’s Play With The Flower Stitcher
This is a creative book showing how to use a flower stitcher. The flower stitcher is a foot attachment that fits most sewing machines. It’s a versatile attachment and Dale will show you how to use it. Dale creates some very exciting and interesting pieces as evidenced by the front cover of this booklet.
Surface Tension
This is the biggest booklet and is subtitled ‘Embellish and Stitch for the Creative Artist’. Explore the real possibilities of the embellisher machine. Dale plays with different materials and there’s lots of photos so that you can see all the experiments. There’s also a gallery of other artists’ work. It shows the basics of layering and meshing fabrics, felting, creating backgrounds, creating cloth, knitted fabric that is embellished, loops and using your embellished pieces.
All Dale’s work is highly creative and experimental. I have seen her wonderful wearable art pieces in Quilting Art magazine too. She never disappoints. I’m looking forward to more of her booklets. Dale runs The Thread Studio in Australia.
17 Nov 2011 at 13:22
Karen Platt
apple press, cooking
No Comments
The Golden Book of Chocolate, hardback published by Apple Press. ISBN 978-1-978-1845432676, price 19.99 available in the UK from www.apple-press.com
If you love chocolate like I love chocolate, you are in for a BIG treat. This book is delicious from cover to cover and a must for all chocaholics. I love this ‘golden’ series with its sumptuous golden slip cover and page ends – it makes you feel like a millionaire. The chocolate millefeuille are scrumptious, choc nut cupcakes to die for, my next make might be Irish cream cake. Whether you like your chocolate to drink, indulge or wallow in, there is enough here to keep you going forever and a day. I like choc marquise, Italian ricotta cake and so much more. Over 300 recipes, that’s almost one for every day of the year. Get your chocolate fix now.
Urban Country Quilts by Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks, softback published by Martingale. ISBN 978 -1- 6046-8068-3, price 16.99 in the UK, available USA from www.martingale-pub.com
This book has a striking cover, both colourful and bold. The authors look like two happy ladies and no wonder, they create good design and have great colour sense. This batch of 15 designs concentrates on flowers. The designs bring country into contemporary for a style that is as easy to use in the country as in the town house. I love the polka dot pillow. Clear instructions and photos make this easy to use. Includes large quilts, pillow cases, table runners and more.
16 Nov 2011 at 09:46
Karen Platt
Fair winds Press, cooking
No Comments
The 150 Healthiest Comfort Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden, softback published by Fair Winds. ISBN 978-1-59233-482-7, price 16.99 available from www.fairwindspress.com
Satisfy your cravings in a healthy way. Includes mains, side dishes, desserts, snacks and breakfasts to indulge without affecting your health adversely. Sound common sense from the man who wants to keep us all healthy. The recipes will help you cut back on sugar, increase fibre in the diet, boost nutrient intake, help with choosing the right fats and generally reduce calorie intake. We all know we need to do it, but often it looks so unappetising. Jonny has worked with nutritionist jeanette Bessinger to produce delicious meals. One downside – recipes with photos please, there are too few photos here.