The simple petal shape takes center stage in this charming book, Playful Petals by Corey Yoder. Each of the 18 appliqué projects employ simple piecing techniques; the appliqué is straightforward, eliminating the need for reverse templates, additional seam allowances, and time consuming methods. The techniques are well suited for sewists of all levels.

A compendium of floral wonder from botanical artist Adriana Picker, Petal: The World of Flowers Through an Artist's Eye reveals the colours, details and unique sculptural beauty of nature's most remarkable creations. Now in a special edition with a beautiful new cover. Adriana Picker has curated specimens from all over the world to celebrate through her stunning illustrations, accompanied by writer Nina Rousseau's words on the folklore, fame and meaning of both favourite blooms and herbaceous curiosities. Petal features over two hundred flowers from twenty-seven plant families - from elegant roses to otherworldly orchids and magnificent magnolias - as well as a dedicated chapter for unusual specimens.

Paper Flowers are Always in Season Make playful party decorations, luscious bouquets, and sophisticated floral centerpieces with inexpensive tissue and crepe paper. Paper to Petal walks you through the easy basics of transforming simple materials into a vibrant display of fanciful handmade blooms suitable for every occasion. Design experts Rebecca Thuss and Patrick Farrell inspire you to get creative with their time-tested techniques. Customize every petal, leaf or stem to go dramatic or delicate; mimic nature or fashion your blossoms in any color you can imagine to make something uniquely personal. You’ll be amazed how easy it is to produce these gorgeous flower projects. These exquisite blooms never wilt, are always in style, and are endlessly fun to create, share, and give to everyone you love.

Add a lively touch of nature to your quilting with this massive collection of realistic flora and fauna appliqué designs. Carol Armstrong's stunning garden quilts and true-to-life critters have changed the way we appliqué. Now her best work is featured together in a single volume—a treasure trove of appliqué delights! Sew one hundred and sixty patterns from blooming flowers and birds in flight to household pets as loveable as your own dog or cat. Learn how to trace designs using a lightbox, and practice with four projects to showcase any combination of designs.

Winner of the Local Legend Spiritual Writing Competition,this is unique among MBS books, a genuinely exciting page-turner.It is at once a murder mystery, a political thriller and a passionate love story, with truly human characters - complex, courageous and flawed. Beautifully written with acute attention to historical and cultural detail, this narrative is relevant to every one of us today, exploring the strength and the fallibility of the human spirit.

This comprehensive guide by Jenifer Dick, proves that appliqué is no longer an unattainable goal. Inside, the author reveals her signature Invisible Zigzag Appliqué method with in-depth information, troubleshooting tips, and plenty of helpful hints. In addition, visual step-by-step instructions show you how to design, prepare, and sew an appliqué quilt. Intuitive and easy to follow, the book is organized into five parts showcasing 11 modern quilt projects. Each project uses a variety of preparation methods providing plenty of opportunity to test out your new skills.

An exciting new approach for beginning to advanced quilters who want to improvise on their own, with a friend, or with a community of fellow makers. Forget step-by-step instructions and copycat designs. In The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters, Sherri Lynn Wood presents a flexible approach to quilting that breaks free of old paradigms. Instead of traditional instructions, she presents 10 frameworks (or scores) that create a guiding, but not limiting, structure. To help quilters gain confidence, Wood also offers detailed lessons for stitching techniques key to improvisation, design and spontaneity exercises, and lessons on color. Every quilt made from one of Wood’s scores will have common threads, but each one will look different because it reflects the maker’s unique interpretation. Featured throughout the book are Wood’s own quilts and a gallery of contributor works chosen from among the hundreds submitted when she invited volunteers to test her scores during the making of this groundbreaking work. “Wood offers a series of techniques, guidelines and lessons on color choice for those ready to explore improvisational quilting. Her book is loaded with full-color photos and examples to inspire.” —Dallas Morning News “Despite how it may “seam,” quilting isn’t all about rules! Quilting can be an exhilarating way to channel your creativity and express yourself. This book is focused more on exploration than explanation—a perfect mindset for beginners!” —Powell’s Books Staff Pick

You’ve got something unique to tell the world. What better way to get your message across than sewing your words into a quilt? Fiber artist and quilt designer Sam Hunter teaches you to say it all with 12 new projects featuring modern, paper-pieced text blocks. The book includes patterns of an easy-to-read font that includes lower- and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Sam covers everything you need to know about paper piecing, choosing fabrics, and designing your own quilted words. Use Sam’s designs to get started, and then stitch up your own words to give any occasion the ultimate personal touch.

Stitch a story! From the best-selling author of Joyful Stitching, Laura Wasilowski brings 6 new hand-embroidery projects with full-sized patterns and step-by-step pictorial directions. Bright and lively project designs include a whirling paint brush, a dancing bird, tea cups tipping, flowers blooming, a fuzzy sheep, and a happy acorn nut house. With the free-form embroidery approach, you can either follow the given directions, or allow your imagination to run wild and improv your own additions—there is no right or wrong! Plus, no special tools are needed—just felt or felted wool, perle cotton #12 and #8 threads, embroidery needles, and sewing equipment. Start your stitch story! Stitch 6 textured projects with easy-to-follow free-form embroidery instructions Each project features a unique stitch combination, including some wool applique Finished creations are visually stunning art work that can be treasured for a lifetime

Spruce up your space with 12 pillow patterns you can make in a day! Whatever your style—bold, modern, whimsical, or traditional—you’ll find pretty pillows in a variety of techniques, like patchwork, appliqué, and embroidery. With quick, satisfying projects from top designers, this booklet is a great value for the sewist who loves to start and finish a project in less than a day. Dig into your fabric stash and sew a set of pillows just for you, or give them as gifts!