Do you ever wonder if you can actually have zero emails in your in-box?

I do know some people who have empty inboxes. I will admit I never have. I fully expect my inbox, virtual and not virtual, to be full when I die.

If you are trying to move in the direction of a less full inbox, here are eight tips, plus a bonus reflection, that might just help.

Send less email

Doesn’t that seem obvious? If you send less, you will get less.

Consider whether you need to start an email chain or if a simple phone call might answer your questions.

Sweet and SimpleSewing
Jessi Jung, Carrie Jung and Lauren Jung
Martingale; $24.99

Do you have spring fever? I certainly do and a look at this book by a mother-and-two- daughters team certainly has lots of inspiration to get thinking spring. The book includes 13 simple and cheery projects. I thought the luggage tag was charming, and the “Celebrations Quilt,” with its ice cream cones, balloons, candy apples and pinwheels is perfect for a child’s birthday party. You’ll find some unexpected projects, including the appliqué dragonfly mounted on canvas and the hand-bound journal.

Animal Parade
Cheri Leffler
Martingale; $26.99

The first baby quilts I made as gifts both featured animals. One was a bear with a honey pot; the other was an elephant that had a yarn tail. I made them in the 1970s, and both recipients took them to college. I was impressed they held up that long. I’ve always liked animals as subjects for baby quilts, and Cheri Leffler offers some delightfully whimsical designs that can be completed in your choice of appliqué technique. Cheri includes instructions for needleturn and fusible web appliqué. The 10 patterns feature a mix of patchwork with the appliquéd animals. I was taken with “Penguin Playdate.” Think Sunbonnet Sue in a variety of escapades only as a penguin. You’ll also find rollicking foxes, happy frogs and tree-hugging koalas. This is a fun group of baby quilts.

Look for this book at your favorite quilt or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

Country Elegance: Cotton and Wool Projects from the Quilted Crow Girls
Leonie Bateman and Deirdre Bond-Abel
Martingale; $26.99

Today, just about anything goes when it comes to the fabrics you choose to go in a quilt. Australian shop owners Leonie Bateman and Deirdre Bond-Abel specialize in combining felted wool and reproduction fabrics in their work. I loved the extra dimension that the appliquéd wool pieces added to the work. You will find 12 projects in a variety of sizes for all skill levels. They also include a tutorial for an easy way to cut and appliqué a dogtooth border. I particularly liked “Rhubarb and Custard” with its positive/negative image and the pillow “A Little Bird Told Me” with its bird and flower appliqué on top of a half-square triangle background.

Look for the book at your favorite quilt or book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.

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WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?

Please do! Just use it in its entirety and be sure to include the blurb below:

Morna McEver is the founder and CEO of the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals where creative arts entrepreneurs craft business success. Her weekly e-zine offers tips, techniques and inspiration to help you craft business success from your creative arts passion. You can sign up for a FREE subscription at http://www.creativeartsprofessional.com.

Painted Appliqué
Linda M. Poole
AQS; $24.95

Creativity — photography, writing, painting, sewing — has been the mainstay of Linda Poole’s life, so it is no wonder that she took the opportunity to combine those loves in Painted Appliqué. Linda teaches you both her glue stick appliqué method and her painted appliqué technique using the same patterns; i.e., you see the same pattern completed in both mediums. By reproducing Linda’s patterns or creating your own, you have the option of using either or both techniques. You will learn how a variety of paints, mediums and ink pencils work on fabric. I really liked the close-up, step-by-step instructions. If you are looking to add painting to your fiber toolbox, this resource will answer many of your questions.

This book can be found on Amazon.com; leave a reply below to tell me what technique Linda taught you.

Simple Circles and Quick Curves
Nancy Mahoney
Martingale; $24.99

Do you want to make a quilt filed with curved pieces only you feel intimated at the thought of the piecing. Nancy Mahoney offers you a different solution. Using her starch appliqué method with heat-resistant plastic templates and a small blanket stitch on your sewing machine, you can get the effect you desire. After teaching you the technique, Nancy lets you put your skills to the test in eight quilts.

Tending the Garden
Barb Adams and Alma Allen
Kansas City Star Quilts; $27.95

If you love large floral appliqué, you won’t be disappointed with the lastest book from Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs. The featured quilt includes nine different 28″ blocks and is shown in three distinct colorways and finishes. In addition to this quilt, you’ll find nine additional projects, including hooked rugs, cross-stitch pieces and quilts.

Impressionist Appliqué
Grace Errea and Meridith Osterfeld
C&T Publishing; $29.95

Grace Errea is known for her “value-based” realistic appliqué work. In this book she, with the help of Meridith Osterfeld, shares her technique for creating her quilts. Her technique is systematized and features lots of color values to get the desired effect. For those unfamiliar with working with color, she offers a primer on its components: hue, saturation and value. She also discusses the basics of line, shape, form and texture in your work. Before working on any of the five projects in the book, Grace has you do exercises to understand the value of your fabrics, including making both a Periodic Table of Value in Color and a Color/Value Fan.

Regardless of the appliqué technique you choose, the exercises in value will enhance your work.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to www.Amazon.com if you would like to learn more about the book.

‘Tis The Autumn Season
Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks
Martingale; $24.99

In this follow-up to their top-selling ‘Tis the Season, Jeanne Large and Shelley Wicks head into autumn with a collection of 12 projects. The owners of The Quilt Patch in Saskatchewan, Canada, are know for their “urban country” look that features chunky appliqué, easy piecing and earth tones. Instructions are included for a variety of appliqué techniques, including fusible-web and fusible-interfacing appliqué. Since the designers love to use hand-dyed felted wools in their work, they offer tips for working with wools. The book also includes a bonus online pattern. I was taken by the large thistle flowers in their “Reunion” quilt and loved the use of rick-rack in several of the quilts. And, since most quilters I know also enjoy a culinary treat or two, Jeanne and Shelley have included a few recipes to enjoy.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to www.Amazon.com if you would like to learn more about the book.

Back Basting Appliqué Step by Step by Hand or Machine

Long arm appliqué fan, Barbara Eikmeier, found teaching needle-turn to others a challenge. That was until she discovered back-basting appliqué. With this needle-turn technique, you baste the fabric in place from the back side, then trim and then appliqué. Barbara covers three methods of back-basting appliqué: baste by hand, appliqué by hand; baste by machine, appliqué by hand; and baste by machine, appliqué by machine. She also includes step-by-step illustrations of techniques such as layering motifs, reverse appliqué and broderie perse. Once you have the technique down, you can progress through a series of wall hangings, table runners and a banner to perfect the technique or venture out on your own.

Look for the book at your favorite book retailer. Here’s a link to Amazon if you would like to learn more about the book.