Quilt Improv

Modern quilts seem to me to use many bright and sometime discordant colors, asymmetrical piece placement, and a mixture of shapes.  The Incredible Modern Quilts from Everyday Inspirations: Quilt Improv by Lucie Summers uses all the above mentioned to create some very eye-catching designs. 

The book's first chapters illustrate methods on how to create 13 different quilt building blocks. Below are two of those quilt blocks.

The remainder of the book show how the author finds design idea from her world to create her quilts.  I liked how Summers organized her quilt idea.  She took pictures of the view she wanted to incorporate into her work, selected the various patterns and colors of fabric, and then made a detailed drawing of the plan. I particularly like the quilt Garden Wall.

What I take from this book is several great ways to piece together quilt blocks and how to organize my quilt ideas.

Crochet tips and tricks

I am having a great time with crocheting and have been researching how-to book.

A renowned knitter Lily Chin has published a basic crochet title. 

    

 It begins with describing hooks and yarns including charts showing US, metric and UK differences.  Basic stitches are described and illustrated in black and white drawings.  The book moves to making a swatch (boring but necessary) and how to adjust patterns to best fit your body.  The author includes all types of shorts cuts and tips to make your project easier.  This is the first book I have seen on crocheting that covers how to fix your mistakes, be they small or requiring major surgery.  Each tip or technique is described in detail and is accompanied with  black and white illustrations.  A great book to tuck into your project bag to refer to as needed.  Sorry no projects included.

The Encyclopedia of Greeting card Tools and Techniques

The book begins with a short history of greeting cards. In case you are curious Hallmart was started in 1910 by the Hall brothers. The techniques and tools are listed alphabetically with some some of the more popular methods having several examples included. Sprinkled throughout the book are artist profiles and step-by-step instructions. I thought some cool additions at the end were the list of holidays from around the world and for the poetically challenged quotations and sentiments for your card creations. The book is full of creative card ideas for beginners or the more seasoned card making enthusiast. I am personally not a card maker, I think lack of time is my problem.  But I have a friend who gets great pleasure out of creating all types of beautiful greeting cards. Best of all, for my birthday each year she gives me a stack of handmade cards to use for all types of occasions. This book was my gift to her for her birthday...she loves it!
 

The original Big-Ass Book of Crafts

 I reviewed book 2 a few months ago, it was full of zany off-the-wall ideas so I couldn't resist tracking down the first Big-A book by author Mark Montano. Yep, his first craft book has the same crazy, creative flair I expected. Many of his ideas bring to mind college apartment cheap deco. If you enjoy re-purposing everyday materials, or just letting your creative juices go wild--take a look at the original 150 projects in Montano's Big-Ass Book of Crafts.

I am really going to do this idea for luggage tags. It is a creative way to help me spot my luggage as it passes by on the luggage carousel at the airport. I have red luggage just like in the picture and just like a third of the traveling population of the world.

I included this picture because I too get air sick and  fly in a drugged stupor, but I have yet to walk off with an airline blanket. Now I am not suggesting you begin stuffing airline blankets into your carry-on to provide tablecloths for you apartment. I think I am going to use this idea to decorate big floor pillows.

 

Crochet long-legged friends.

I thought these creatures looked pretty cute.  The book give instructions for chickens, pigs, bears and rabbits in large and small sizes.  The instructions are printed and in picture format with crocheting in a circle. I made a bear from a soft, bumpy, purple blue yarn.  The fluffy yarn and working in a circle was a challenge for this inexperienced crocheter. I worked my way through with mixed results. The dark color of the yarn makes it hard to see the stitching for the eyes and nose.  The soft yarn does make a very cuddle friend. My two year old has no complaints.

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Baby mitten fix.

I haven't figured out why baby mittens are designed so lame. Yes they are easy to get on and off.  Most infants can get them off and lose one faster than you can get them in their car seat. Here is a quick, cheap way to fix the typical baby mitten so they will stay on longer and if baby goes out in the snow the mitten keeps their wrists warm.

 I used an old pair of big brother's socks. Cut off the tops of the sock.

 Turn the sock inside out and stuff it inside the mitten. Then I sewed the sock into the mitten with a zigzag stitch. I used my sewing machine but you can also do it by hand.

 Pull the sock out of the mitten and...

you have a mitten with an extension that helps it stay on and keeps your baby warmer.

Voila! 

I find that it works best to put on the mittens and then put on baby's coat, but you can put on her coat and pull the sock extension up over the coat sleeve.

Try your hand at appliqué. Here is a little help.

Wonder what to do with all the fabric scraps that accumulate from sewing projects?  Author Cynthia Shaffer gives 25 ideas for using some of your collection in her book Stash Happy Appliqué.  She does a nice job introducing the basics of appliqué. The book describes eight different methods of adding appliqué to embellish your next project. The projects included in the book are a fun way to try your hand at various types of appliqué.  I found this book at my local library, of course, it is available on Amazon.