Book Reviews, Giveaways and More :)

Is everyone having fun on the Famore Cutlery Blog Hop?  I sure hope you get to visit each of the 5 blogs and leave a comment for your chance to win !  Tomorrow is my day....so you know I'll be up late writing that post.

Do you recognize this guy?

I know many of you know exactly who he is....and I'm telling you I'm feeling more and more akin to Uncle Martin every day.  I now have an Apple I-Phone 4 (as if I know what the 4 relates to...it might as well be 4000) and I'm working on accepting the change from my "old" phone.  I guess this is just another "sign of the times" where old folks like me have to work hard to get their old mouse traps to work again.  For 2 days I didn't know how to answer the phone...that's pretty bad.  I have only today realized this gizmo is not a phone...it is like an I-Pad with a phone in it.  That's sort of like riding a bike with jet propellers on it.

If I had PhotoShop and knew how to use it, I would put a propeller on this jobbie.

So any of you have one of these gizmos...and if you do....can you clue me in to what aps a person should/might need?  Aps, in my vocabulary means appetizers....obviously I waited tables for years while in college.  Now an Ap is a virtual piece of air that you pay for and expect it to do things for you that you couldn't do with a piece of paper and pencil?  I guess I'll be finding out.

On to Quilty Related Subjects :)
I have a big stack of books here on my desk to review and give away.  Today I've chosen two books that have been published by Clotilde.  The first is, "Learn to MAKE A QUILT from start to finish" by Carolyn S. Vagts.  

I know most of you don't want nor need a book on Learning to Make A Quilt....however....this isn't just any beginners book!  Learn To MAKE A QUILT from start to finish is an excellent reference book for new and experienced quilters.  Carolyn covers patterns and fabric selections, notions, how to use a rotary cutter (properly...lol) construction AND documenting your quilt.   I don't think there is anything she left out.  This book would also make an excellent gift to anyone you wanted to inspire to begin quilting. 

Carolyn has used lots of great photos and her explanations are clear and I can understand them...which says a lot! 

Learning to MAKE A QUILT from start to finish is such a "modern" book ...Carolyn even recommends using Wonder Clips.  You know my eyes were locked on that page...I love my Wonder Clips and if you have not tried them yet....well....I'm thinking it is time you did.  Everyone I know who has tried them has loved them.  They order 10 then re-order the 50 pack....they are sort of like Lays Potato Chips...one (10) just won't do...ya want more.

The next book is GARDEN PARTY Stitchery by Pearl Louise Krush.

Pearl has included 27 Redwork designs and that are featured in 7 projects including, Floral Bouquet Wall quilt, Garden Party Sampler, Set of 7 Seed Packet Hand Towels, Good Morning Sunshine Pillow and Wall Quilt, Bouquet in a Jar Table Runner and Place Mats.

GARDEN PARTY Stitchery has all the individual patterns that can be used in the projects Pearl has included or in any project you like.  The designs are cheerful and fun.  One of my favorites is Good Morning Sunshine....it a pattern for a wall quilt but I'd love to see this design on place mats for breakfast.  Wouldn't you like to sit down to the breakfast table with a place mat that read, Good Morning Sunshine?  I know I would.

If you have never done Redwork...there are basic instructions in the front of the book.

I really like both of these books a great deal....however, I also want to share them with two of my blog followers.  So, if you would like to win one of these wonderful books, leave a comment on this post telling me which book you would like to win and why.  I'll let the "Evil Mr Random Number Generator" select two winners, one for each book, on Monday, Jan. 13th.

Smiles,
Kelly