Hobbies, Games & Quizzes Books

Book SynopsisPerfect your patchwork with a visual, step-by-step guide to 21 popular quilt blocks. Piecing expert Patty Murphy shows you how with fail-proof techniques that can be used in all types of quilt designs, from traditional to modern. Say goodbye to patchwork problems like mismatched seams, blunt points, and too-small blocks, and learn to avoid common mistakes in sashings, borders, and bindings. Though mistakes happen to all of us, these easy techniques will help beginning and intermediate quilters achieve quiltmaking success every time.Trade ReviewI enjoy reviewing books from time to time and I choose the titles carefully; I only have limited shelf space and I want something I am going to use, not just coffee table inspiration (although I don't totally rule that out!). I saw Piecing Makeover by Patty Murphy and it's alluring strap line, 'Simple Tricks to Fine Tune Your Patchwork' and I had a feeling with my love of quilting tips it was going to be my kind of book... If like me you like finessing your piecing and learning new tricks to improve your piecing accuracy, this is the book for you. I'm not familiar with Patty but her blog is here is you want to read more about her. It's easy to read with a photo rich layout, so you can get up close with common piecing issues and be given common sense and easy solutions to those problems. Either work you way through it for a bit of everything or head straight for the contents page and choose a particular block or feature that you'd like to discover techniques for and read some common problems and their solutions. As a fan of piecing/quilting tips - as well as Pinterest boards I keep a photo folder of screen grabs of some of the best I see online - I did wonder if there would be sufficient new stuff for me but yes, there definitely is. Patty's advice is knowledgable but not judgemental or dogmatic, e.g. in the basics section at the start of the book, the age old pressing seams debate is addressed in bullet points. Some quilters like to be told- definitely press one way/open etc. but I feel the decision needs to be based on many factors- fabric colour, bulk, the sort of quilting that will be used etc. so I agree with Patty, firstly you need to know what the different options are and then "Overtime you will learn to anticipate the best way to press a block and think it through before you start". I wanted to test a new tip on a project so I plumped for half triangle piecing. I had some cushions in mind using some souvenir fabrics bought in Amsterdam on a summer holiday plus some stash fabrics and the only way I had thought for piecing large half-rectangle triangles was hand drawn paper piecing templates on very large paper- I was planning on making 18" square cushions so larger than A4/letter paper allows. Patty suggests a method and I carefully followed her with some test fabrics. Like many of you I'm sure, I often have a mental block when working with diagonals so I referred constantly to the photographs, made sure my diagonals ran the same way and it worked a treat. It is still a tricky shape; once the block is pieced it needs trimming down and I put washi tape on my ruler to help with this as you can't line the ruler with the 45 degree diagonal line like you would with a half-square triangle. I'm working my way through this book. The pictures are large and there isn't too much text on the page so I find it a great book to read whilst sitting on my bed and I mark pages with post-it notes or commit tips to memory. As you can see, the Problem-Diagnosis-Solution concept repeats all the way through the book. In amongst the various advice there are some great rescue remedies for that moment when you think you've really messedup. Sometimes those moments create the defining feature of a quilt although it doesn't tend to feel like that when you realise your border fabric is 4" too short or you've trimmed a block a little too much. Full review and images: http://verykerryberry.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/piecing-makeover-patty-murphy-book.html * Very Kerry Berry *Traditional and modern designs for blocks with flawless construction. Step-by-step photos help beginners and intermediate quilters achieve perfection in quilt blocks. No more mis-matched seams. These professional tricks will fine-tune your patchwork and keep your lines in line. It's true sadly, that as a beginner quilter, I had mis-matched seams and would get frustrated that my blocks did not match up. It happens. This book will solve your problems and boost your confidence. The contents are: Tools, Cutting and Sewing, Pressing, Building Blocks, Classic and Modern Favourites, Putting It All Together. From cutting perfect strips, to tips I wish I'd known when I started quilting. This book is a perfect primer to make your patchwork perfect. * YarnsandFabrics.co.uk *Wow this book is packed with everything you should know that will help you as a quilter. The book helps you with some basic techniques and how to solve common problems. It gives you what you need to know to build a foundation of skills that can be applied to your quilt making. Even if you feel that you are already quite good at quilting I am sure you will find information and skills that will help you perfect your techniques. The pictures are large and clear so you will easily be able to see what you should be doing. This is the kind of book I like to read through and mark off the things that are important to me. Then I will be using it to jog my memory as I get to each part of making my quilt. There are so many solutions to different problems when you are quilting. You will not believe the amount of information held within. Whilst it takes you through different techniques it also takes you through making different blocks. It shows you step-by-step how to make each block and how to make it in different formats. I love the fact that it even takes you through how to cut the fabric to create the different blocks as well as how to sew them together. As a newbie to quilting this book is fantastic. So much information that you will use on every quilt you will make. * Crochet Addict UK *Table of ContentsPreface How to Use This Book Basic Tools Cutting and Sewing The 1/4" Seam Easing in Seams Prewashing FabricYes or No? How to Avoid a V" When Cutting Strips] Pressing Pressing vs. Ironing Setting the Seam Whether to Use Steam Open or Closed? Furling Seams Building Blocks Strip Piecing Four-Patch Blocks Nine-Patch Blocks Half-Square Triangles Quarter-Square Triangles Flying Geese Blocks Classic Favorites Dutchman's Puzzle Log Cabin Square in a Square Pinwheels Sawtooth Star Ohio Star Ocean Waves LeMoyne Star Modern Favorites Sewing with Narrow Strips Drunkard's Path Bear Claw Half-Square Rectangles Equilateral Triangles Hexagons Diamonds Kansas Dugout Putting It All Together Squaring Your Blocks Coping Strips Sashings Setting Triangles Border Issues Bias Binding About the Author

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Book Synopsis Soothe your anxiety and embrace the creative side of calm with 500+ stickers, 50+ activity and coloring pages, instructions for relaxing activities, and so much more.With Calming, Meditative, and Mindful Sticker, Color & Activity Book, you can embrace a state of zen as you partake in the mindful and energy-centering activities. Relax, explore your creativity, and add fun to your free time with: Exquisitely illustrated stickers, which you can use to decorate envelopes, gift wrap, letters, scrapbooks, or photo albums. On the backs of the sticker pages are inspiring quotes from zen masters and meditation experts. Enchanting line-drawn coloring pages, featuring mandalas, geometric designs, and florals. Each full-page design has a meditative pattern on the back that you can color in any way you like, regardless of your artistic abilities. You could even adorn your finished works of art with the included st

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Book SynopsisA deck of cards featuring all 200 designs from The Doodle Knit Directory. Knitters will love these 'doodle' cards that readers can play with to create their own personalised colorwork projects.

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Book SynopsisThis full-color 192-page sticker book features hundreds of stickers in the wild, California-infused aesthetic of the design collective Friends of Type. As catchy as a hit pop tune, and brimming with positivity, the over 600 stickers in this collection feature slogans, puns, design-forward word play and good old-fashioned style, sure to delight and amaze.

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Book SynopsisThis second volume of The LEGO Power Functions Idea Book, Cars and Contraptions, showcases small projects to build with LEGO Technic gears, motors, gadgets, and other moving elements. You ll find hundreds of clever, buildable mechanisms, each one demonstrating a key building technique or mechanical principle. You ll learn to build four-wheel drive cars, adorable walking bots, steerable tanks, robotic inchworms, and cars that can follow the edge of a table! Each model includes a list of required parts and colorful photographs that guide you through the build without the need for step-by-step instructions. As you build, you ll explore the principles of gear systems, power translation, differentials, suspensions, and more.

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Book SynopsisIf you’ve always wanted to make the back of a quilt as beautiful and interesting as the front, this is the ultimate guide for you. With a total of 30 pieced quilt backing designs, be inspired and take your quilts to the next level in a unique way. Featuring helpful sections on quilt back basics, as well as guidance on basting and how to finish a quilt, there are also 18 downloadable quilt front patterns that coordinate with all 30 back designs. Colourful, fun, and perfect for quilters of all skill levels, this must-have quilt book is an excellent source of inspiration to try something new. Author Kelly Young is a quilter, pattern designer, and quilt teacher who is just as known for the backs of her quilts as she is for the front. Nearly every quilt in her collection is finished with a pieced backing, lending an unexpected design element to the flip side, making her the perfect mentor in the industry to learn from.

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Book SynopsisIf you’re looking for new and inventive projects that go beyond a traditional T-shirt quilt, this book is for you! An inspiring guide that thinks outside the box when it comes to T-shirt quilts. Featuring patchwork-friendly ideas that offer more design interest and an approach that lets you play with coordinating prints, this quilt book includes 15 step-by-step projects and patterns for pillows, tote bags, and quilts – all in varying sizes. Also included are skill-building tutorials on quilting basics, patchwork techniques, and other helpful overviews for quilters of all experience levels. Amelia Johanson, author of Pocket Guide to Fasteners and a licensed Martha Pullen instructor, provides tons of thoughtful and modern projects, as well as expert guidance alongside contributed projects by today’s leading quilt artists, including Stephanie Soebbing, Sherilyn Mortensen, Olesya Lebedenko, and others for an absolutely must-have guide to T-shirt quilting.

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Book SynopsisAll Wrapped Up: Good Vibes by Georgia Perry showcases the artwork of acclaimed print and pattern designer Georgia Perry. Love the pattern? Rip it out and wrap something up! Includes 20 gift wrapping sheets (measuring 694mm x 504mm) and a gift stickers sheet.All Wrapped Up is a series of gorgeous stationery books celebrating the work of Australia’s best and brightest artists.

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Book SynopsisStruggling to define your style? Worried your thinking is so last season? Want to break out of the box, but not sure how? Coco Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld and a host of great fashion photographers, models and muses are here to help. Simply select any card from the pack, choose the oracle’s advice on attitude, style or inspiration and any obstacle becomes surmountable. The accompanying booklet features the oracles’ fascinating biographies. This is the perfect gift for anyone looking to eschew the ordinary and embrace originality.

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Book SynopsisIn this fun kids edition play bingo with a gorgeous blue bird-of-paradise, a three-banded armadillo and even the poisonous automeris moth caterpillar. Discover these and many other fascinating and beautiful jungle creatures in this fun and engaging take on the classic game. Contains 48 illustrated animal chips and a cardboard creature''s head to store them in, a game board, eight double-sided bingo cards and jungle counters for you to mark up your card.

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Book SynopsisA beautiful set of playing cards featuring illustrations of Shakespeare's most famous characters.Play your favourite card games with Romeo and Juliet as King and Queen of Hearts, Lady Macbeth as Ace Villain, and let Adam Simpson's artwork bring Shakespeare's plays to life.Arranged in four suits - with hearts = lovers, clubs = fools, diamonds = heroes and heroines, and spades = villains, plus two jokers, of course - this artist-illustrated deck of playing cards features 54 of Shakespeare's most famous characters. It includes a booklet with text about each character and their place in literary history.

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Book SynopsisGrab friends, family, or dive in solo—this fan-designed 1000-piece LEGO® puzzle is a true celebration of the creativity, passion, and imagination of LEGO fans of all ages.This LEGO® puzzle is unlike any that have come before it! These 1000 pieces come together to reveal a stunning LEGO image designed and chosen by . . . the fans! Launched in an online contest on LEGO Ideas, this puzzle features the winning design from a global call for submission and fan vote. Perfect for the whole family, this puzzle showcases the boundless creativity and passion of LEGO fans and builders.BROAD APPEAL: This puzzle is perfect for all types of LEGO fans—from hardcore LEGO lovers to casual builders to parents sharing their love of the brand with their children.CREATIVE AND CHALLENGING: This delightful 1000-piece puzzle will test your skills as it showcases the creative spirit integral to the LEGO brand.Perfect for: Ages 9+, adult LEGO fans, LEGO

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Book SynopsisNew title in exciting series of sturdy, square-box 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles from Flame Tree, featuring powerful and popular works of art and providing a challenge for adult puzzlers of all levels!Part of an exciting series of sturdy, square-box 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles from Flame Tree, featuring powerful and popular works of art. This new jigsaw will satisfy your need for a challenge, with Dante Gabriel Rossetti''s The Day Dream. This 1000 piece jigsaw is intended for adults and children over 13 years. Not suitable for children under 3 years due to small parts. Finished Jigsaw size 735 x 510mm/29 x 20 ins. Includes an A4 poster for reference.One of the founding members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a gifted painter and poet. Along with his co-founders William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais, he had wanted to bring about change in the art world. This was one of the final paintings executed by Rossetti, and the m

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Book SynopsisLove dogs but wish you knew more about them? Brush up on your canine companions using these quiz cards and you'll be leading the pack in no time.Fun and easy to play with all the family players will enjoy guessing dog breeds, then turning over the card to discover the answer and reveal extra trivia questions.The beautiful, sturdy box contains 64 cards.Which is taller, a Great Dane or an Irish Wolfhound? Where do Border Terriers come from? This family game is the perfect treat for dog lovers and fans of Dog Bingo.

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Book SynopsisFor many wargamers, WW2 is synonymous with large fleets of tanks and other AFVs battling each other across the European countryside or amidst the rubble of cities. Here Andy Singleton lends the benefit of his experience as a professional modeller and painter to help you get your own armoured force ready for battle. Andy starts by discussing the tools and materials required and explaining some basic techniques, such as dry-brushing and stippling. He then moves on to detailed step-by-step instructions for the main paint schemes of each of the major combatants, British, American, German and Soviet Union. Each step is illustrated by a colour photo, paint number and the type and size of brush used, and there are variants for use with or without an airbrush. Adding national emblems and other markings, either freehand or by using transfers, is also covered. In addition to the basic paint scheme there is guidance for adding weathering effects and wear and tear, such as dust, chipped paint or e

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