Aspiring quilters will love this practical, aesthetic, and magnificently photographed introduction to the craft. Every page showcases the most beautiful pieces to illustrate the various facets of this ever-popular art, including color, pattern, and texture. Color--from the bright blues and pinks of Amish designs to the subtle transition from light to dark in Log Cabin motifs--has always been one of the most exciting aspects of quilting, and you'll be inspired to play with different combinations. See how to create gorgeous patterns on the quilt itself, and how a mix of quilts can enhance your décor. Try new fabric textures, and learn about tied quilting, quilting stitches, and breaking the boundaries of tradition. Twenty projects, including an Evening Star and a Jewel-Bright Mosaic.

Any home anywhere can achieve that cozy cottage feel. Just look at these color photos, brimming with surprising and inspiring ideas, and you'll see the possibilities. This magnificent guide to cottage style salutes both traditional takes and fresh twists on this enduring look, and highlights those elements that truly make a room cottage style. The sheer number of variations on this laid-back approach is simply amazing, ranging from a California bungalow furnished in flea market finds to a New York apartment that seems straight out of the English countryside. Flip through the pages of images. Then use them as blueprints to copy precisely or as an idea manual of clever ways to apply unique colors, work with wallpaper patterns, or display collections. “Lavishly illustrated with full-color photographs throughout.”--Publishers Weekly.

With themes such as garden, cottage, seaside, farmhouse, and mountain cabin, quilters who love the inviting look of cottage style will find the 14 bed and lap quilt projects in this book just right. Full color.

Crafts.

From practical storage to gorgeous display, nothing beats a basket--or Country Living's wonderfully imaginative ideas for using them throughout the home. The attractive photos tell the story, as they show off an array of different basket styles, all cleverly coordinated with overall decor. A large woven basket serves as a planter, and it harmonizes perfectly with a twill-weave trunk that doubles as an end table. For a breathtaking home gallery, install a shelf above a doorway and arrange a variety of richly patterned Venezuelan coiled baskets for all to admire. Pile fruit high atop willow pedestal baskets and place them on the kitchen table. Fill a deep rectangular basket with towels and keep it tubside. Every look is lovely, classic, and country beautiful.

Florke, a "Country Living" contributor who has been featured in "The New York Times" and on "Today," explores what he calls the "three muses" of design: comfort, economy, and color.

A guide to country living features photographs, illustrations, instructions and tips for living off the land, covering such topics as canning and preserving, soap-making, and building a dog house.

Pattern is an easy way to add country style to a room. This book showcases inviting homes filled with combinations of all kinds of materials, to bring new life into your home.