By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

Sewing School Quilts offers a fun take on the classic art of quilting. Amie Petronis Plumley and Andria Lisle explain the steps of designing, sewing, and putting together fifteen quilts in easy-to-understand, informative text. The projects in this book span both traditional quilts, including a patchwork dog, a family crest, and Pocket Tic-Tac-Toe, and a spin on the classics with the Selfie Quilt, the I Spy Quilt, and the Say Anything Quilt. And for those who want something to snuggle up in, the Waterfall Quilt offers a cool project with a classic quilt look. Crafters are also encouraged to experiment on their own, and suggestions follow each project to help make the finished product even more original and fun.

Whether or not you know how to sew, Sewing School Quilts introduces you to the age-old art of quilting with modern twists. With skill builders, introductory lessons, and step-by-step instructions, Sewing School Quilts teaches crafters to successfully create impressive projects while having a good time.
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Disclosure note: Thank you to Storey Publishing for sending us this book to review!

By Piranha T. and Super Kitty

If you’ve ever wanted to learn fun and creative crafting skills, Stitch Camp is for you. It covers basic sewing, knitting, crocheting, felting, weaving, and embroidery skills. It is ideal for those just learning because of its step-by-step approach, wide range of projects and characteristically beautiful photos (which is one of the reasons we love craft books published by Storey Publishing), but the projects are also engaging for more experienced crafters. One thing which we particularly like about this book is that the projects featured are practical as well as fun, encouraging crafters to be creative and resourceful (what do you do with your drier lint and felt scraps?) Also, we really like  that the authors encourage readers to have a good time and enjoy the process of crafting, not just the finished product, thereby taking the focus off feeling like you need to get a “perfect” piece.

We are experienced crafters with some baseline knowledge of the skills covered in this book, and we found lots to enjoy here. It also provides a great resource for us to share with friends who are learning, as it teaches from a basic level without being boring. Additionally, this book teaches useful related skills, such as tying knots, winding balls of yarn, and making pom-poms with a fork.

Lots of pictures, step by step instructions, and a fun voice make this a craft book that we would highly recommend to crafters of all ages.

Disclosure note: Thank you to Storey Publishing for sending us this book to review!

By Super Kitty and Piranha T.

Have you ever wondered if there’s anything to do with all your empty milk jugs and shoe boxes? If so, Recycled Crafts Box is the book for you! Make Corrugated Castles, Foil Fish Mobiles, Bottle Bugs and more! Complete with recycling timelines, tips, and interviews with recycling artists, Laura C. Martin gives a new twist on recycling—and having fun, too.
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We have made several projects from this book, and have enjoyed them all—some of our particular favorites are the Corrugated Castle, Rag Bowls, and Bottle Bugs. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for earth-friendly craft projects that result in great decorations, toys, and gifts. Happy Recycling!