Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II
Eleanor Levie
Martingale & Co.; $26.99

If you liked Skinny Quilts and Table Runners, you’ll love Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II. This collection of 15 designs lets you try out a signature style from a collection of celebrated quilters. You’ll tackle “tops” and “tails,” Judy Hooworth’s method of creating two blocks from the same strip set; Sue Benner’s circular petal designs; Melinda Bula’s raw-edge appliqué; and Sue Spargo’s folk art inspired by an Asian rug, colors of the African bushveld and the rolling hills of England. The skinny quilts are a great way to do a test run of a new technique.

If you’d like to add this to your library or purchase it as a gift, here’s a link.

One-Yard Wonders
Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins
Storey Publishing; $20.95

This fall in Houston I met the authors of One-Yard Wonders at their book signing in the booth across from mine. Rebecca Yaker operates her design business, Hazel and Melvin’s Room, creating one-of-kind baby bedding and apparel in her Minneapolis design studio. Patricia Hoskins is the cofounder of Crafty Planet, a retail fabric and needlework store and craft workshop in Minneapolis. And, when my review copy arrived, I loved the clever marketing approach. The book had been wrapped in one yard of fabric, perfect for me to try out one of the projects in the book. To promote the book, the publisher is also sponsoring a contest to win a yard of fabric a month for a year.

On to the book. I loved the concept of starting with a yard of fabric – and who among us doesn’t have an extra yard – and making a variety of projects. The book includes 101 projects, ranging from a few you could figure out yourself (tacking fabric on a bulletin board or lining a bookcase) to those that require a pattern (a sundress). And, for those who think you might be able to figure out, for example, the grocery bag, it’s nice not to have to think about how to do it. You just cut and sew. For every project you’ll find either full-size pattern pieces and/or illustrations with step-by step instructions.

The book is divided into ten pattern sections based on use, including, Dwell Redux (patterns for the home), Household Affairs (aprons, casserole covers), Craft Organization (artist brushes case, notions box), On the Go (lunch bags, yoga bags), From Head to Toe (clothing), Carry It All (totes, grocery bags), Outfit Your Small Wonder (toddler clothes), Accessorize Your Little One (toddler’s art apron, bright patchwork blankie), Playtime (kites, stuffed animals) and Your Furry Friends (animal patterns). The patterns were solicited through a global online campaign.

The book also includes a section on sewing fundamentals, perfect for those new to sewing and nice for quilters who could use a refresher on regular sewing techniques. The book is hard bound with a concealed wire binding, making it perfect to open flat. I found several projects I’d like to try; unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll do much to diminish my stash!

Here’s a link to Amazon to learn more about the book.

Artful Bras: Hooters, Melons and Boobs, Oh My!
Quilters of South Carolina
Kansas City Star Books; $24.95

Art bras – bras that have been decorated – have become popular the last few years and this surge in popularity spurred the Quilters Guild of South Carolina to sponsor a statewide challenge to its 650-person membership. Their goal was to raise awareness of breast cancer, and 41 members took up the call creating 50 artful bras. Each art bra is showcased on a full page in this book and is accompanied by the artist’s summary of her inspiration and how she created her bra as well as any specific connection she might have to breast cancer. I had a blast looking at the bras and choosing a favorite is impossible. I laughed at Monkey Business (the bra decorated with the sock monkey), marveled at the ingenious application of boas and feathers and chuckled at the titles. Several of the bras went onto greater fame, including two that became cover girls for the American Journal of Nursing. The bras were exhibited throughout most of 2009 and are currently on auction. All proceeds from the exhibit, book and auction go to Second Chance Network, a South Carolina program that helps women without insurance pay for breast-cancer screening. Here’s a link to Amazon to learn more about the book  and a link to the Quilters of South Carolina if you are interested in bidding on an art bra.

The Best of Sew Simple Magazine: Over 50 Quick Projects
Leisure Arts; $18.95

I don’t know about you, but I often pick up Sew Simple on the newsstand. It either has a project I want to try or something that I think would be good for my nieces who are relatively new to sewing and quilting. This book includes projects ranging from totes to quilts to home dec with a few fun things included. I think the fabric drink umbrellas will be perfect for next summer’s barbeque, the funky pillowcase will be great for several on my holiday gift list, and the java jacket is bound to find its way into a stocking or two. If you’re looking for some quick and fun projects, this is a good source. And, a bonus for those new to sewing is the supplies and techniques section.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library.

Fuse It and Be Done!
Barbara Campbell and Yolanda Fundora
Krause; $24.99

Who knew you could find so many fusible products? Barbara Campbell and Yolanda Fundora tested an exhaustive list of 20 fusibles from fusible web to Angelina® fibers. This project-oriented book features more than two dozen “no-sew” projects and ideas. A plus is the disk with 47 design templates for 16 of the projects. If you have questions about which fusible to use and how to use it, this is a good place to start.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library.

Valori Wells & Carolyn Spencer
C&T Publishing; $22.95

In keeping with my organizing theme of the month, Oh Sew Easy Life Style has some terrific ideas to help you organize your life and personalize your home. Several organizers feature a hanging background fabric with large pockets handy for storage. One is geared to recipes, one to office papers and one to kids. Baskets are popular for organizing and Valori Wells and Carolyn Spencer show you how to make basket liners for square, rectangular and round baskets. On the functional side, you’ll find sassy aprons and a picnic cloth. And what life style book would be complete without a few tote patterns? Valori and Carolyn include a diaper bag and a slumber party backpack. In total the book offers ideas and patterns for 20 fun and stylish projects, as well as basic sewing techniques. You’re sure to find something to make for yourself or give as a gift.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library.

Quilt Challenge
Sharyn Craig and Pamela Mostek
Martingale & Co.; $21.95

Everyone loves a challenge, and that’s the premise that started Sharyn Craig and Pam Mostek on this book. Pam made a set of Wonky Log Cabin blocks and challenged Sharyn to see what she could do. And, the magic began. From there they set up eight challenges and each completed a block with specific design and color guidelines. They were joined by other quilters in each challenge. Some of the challenges include Black, White, and Red Allover, which uses black, white and red as the color and the basic Nine Patch as the block; and The Color Purple, which uses the same purple fabric in all the quilts and the Rail Fence block. The variety of quilts is wonderful. Pam and Sharyn also include tips and techniques.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library.

Storm at Sea Quilts
Wendy Mathson
C&T Publishing; $24.95

I’ve always been drawn to the Storm at Sea block and the optical illusion of waves it creates. While the traditional coloration is most often blue, the block lends itself to endless design possibilities. Wendy Mathson offers her unique piecing technique to produce accurate units for the three pieced units used to create the Storm at Sea block: a diamond-in-a-rectangle unit; a large square-in-a-square unit and a small square-in-a-square unit. Wendy calls the square-in-a-square units Big SIS and Little SIS and has created a set of acrylic tools called Quilters’ TRIMplates (short for trimming templates) to accurately cut the units. While it is possible to cut and sew the units without using the templates, they offer advantages for producing accurate block units. The book includes six Storm at Sea projects, a gallery of inspiring quilts, options for border treatments and design grids to copy to work on your own designs. You’ll have fun creating your own designs.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library.

When I go to my local yoga studio, Follow Your Heart Yoga in Germantown, Md., I see a tile hanging by the door. It says Just Be! I’ve seen it for years now and never really gave it a lot of thought. What does it mean to “just be”? On one level it means to be present in the moment, without distraction, still. And, that’s probably what we’re supposed to consider when we see the tile and begin our practice in the studio. But who is it that you want to be?

I don’t know if you are familiar with the Be-Do-Have principle. I think I first heard of it years ago, probably on a Tony Robbins audio program. It got a lot of play recently with the movie The Secret and the Law of Attraction principle. Early on most of us learn that if we do whatever, we will have whatever and then we’ll be whatever. That’s DO-HAVE-BE; it really should be BE-DO-HAVE. You first need to figure out what kind of person you want to be. Being is how you create the life that you want.

This past Sunday my husband and I went to church in Connecticut, and, in her sermon, the deacon asked, “Who Are You?” Most of us say, “I’m a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a quilter, a writer, a cook, etc.” But who are we really and who do we want to be? It can take some listening to figure it out.

Spend some time thinking about who you are and who you want to be. For me, I want to be a person of integrity, filled with joy and gratitude. I want to be generous and open and spirited. Since I know the person I want to be, it makes it easier for me to do things in accord with that. My actions are based on who I want to “be” and what a person of that “being” would do.

So, who do you want to be? You need to listen to your inner voice to find out. And, to do that you need to Just Be!

Here are two quotes on being that I like:

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
e.e. cummings

I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I’ve written for myself, and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part.
Shirley MacLaine

The Professional Quilter includes articles to help you create success with your quilt business. If your subscription is not current and you need to renew, or you want to start a new subscription, here’s a link to our order page

Quilting Your Style
Leah Fehr
Martingale & Co.; $26.99

A prom dress adventure in a dressing room – you’ll have to read the book to learn the story – led to Leah Fehr’s understanding of trying out different sewing techniques and evaluating options. In Quilting With Style, she shares a variety of embellishing techniques, including ruffling, beading, yo-yos and couching, on five-inch blocks. You can use the individual blocks in a sampler quilt as she did in the “The Dressing-Room Sampler” or use the techniques in the nine included projects or a project of your own design.

Here’s a link if you’d like to add it to your library.