Several decades ago, my Home Ec class made a memory quilt for our teacher.  We each made a section for the quilt and signed our name, thus making a precious memento of our year together with a beloved teacher.   Signed by Friends Quilt Book offers several designs for memory quilts. 

This would make a lovely gift for grandchildren to make for their grandmothers, children to make for their mothers, or friends to make for a friend as a going away gift.  Really, anyone would appreciate receiving such a gift.  With the pattern shown above, you could create a priceless "hands in time" quilt for your loved one. 

With this book, you could choose from 10 special memory signature quilt patterns.  This book includes the pattern for the quilt pictured above, plus several other really beautiful memento quilts.

These gorgeous signature quilts would be a cherished treasure in any home.

Buy the Featured Book:  Signed by Friends Quilt Book   

Bring the loving touch of crochet into your home with Pineapple Home Accents Crochet Book.  For generations to come, your loved ones will be able to wrap themselves in the warmth of your love with these handmade home accents.

Choose from 24 beautiful pineapple crochet patterns.  This book includes the pattern for the afghan pictured, as well as patterns for a doily, a treeskirt, a mantle cover and even kitchen curtains, just to name a few.

These lovely accents are sure to grace your home for decades and whisper reminders of love for those within.

Buy the Featured Book:  Pineapple Home Accents Crochet Book ~ NEW   

This beautiful cross stitch picture is so sweet!  I can almost hear these birds singing their happy song. This Birdsong Duet picture is such a precious reminder that spring is never very far away and beauty is always around us.

This cross stitch picture would be beautiful in any home and would make a fabulous gift for your bird-loving friend or relative.  Of course, you could stitch the picture for yourself and enjoy it's enduring charm for decades to come.

Everything you need to make this lovely picture is included in this kit.

Buy the Featured Kit:  Birdsong Duet Cross Stitch Picture Kit ~ NEW   

Learn to Cross Stitch:  How to Cross Stitch 

Add a touch of Tuscan beauty to your home with this Tuscan Felt Table Runner Kit which features a rich color palette in felt and applique. With a bit of simple stitching, you can add a warm and inviting touch to your table.

When I work with felt kits, I like to use Thermoweb Heat'n Bond Fusible Interfacing (sold separately) to hold the pieces in place.  This makes hand or machine stitching around the pieces a lot easier.  I have made several felt craft kits when I used only the fusible interfacing and did not sew the edges.

This felt table runner would be a lovely gift for any home. Of course, you could make it for your own table and enjoy the compliments for years to come.

Everything you need to make this gorgeous table runner is included in this kit.  Kit contains stamped felts, cotton embroidery floss, needle, and trilingual instructions.

Buy the Featured Kit:  Tuscan Felt Table Runner Kit ~ NEW   

This beautiful cross stitch picture is gorgeous and romantic in theme. The detail of this Wintry Ride Sleigh picture is fantastic and one of the biggest reasons why I love this kit. The snow covered stone bridge, home and barn set the scene for this beautiful horse drawn sleigh, but don’t miss the bush and little cardinals that add a flash of color to the lower area of the picture. I also love the tree branches stretching across the top. I can almost hear the whinny of the horse and the laughter of the couple when I gaze at this picture.

This cross stitch kit would be a great gift for the avid cross-stitcher. Of course, you could stitch the picture for yourself or to give as a gift to someone special.

Everything you need to make this gorgeous picture is included in this kit.

Buy the Featured Kit:  WINTRY RIDE SLEIGH Cross Stitch Kit ~ NEW   

Learn to Cross Stitch:  How to Cross Stitch 

 Quilting is such a beautiful art!  I always hate to hear people say they no longer have time to quilt or that they never had the time to learn.

I discovered this book a few years back and quickly fell in love with it.  It gives so many great instructions for fast and easy quilting.  It also gives patterns and directions for just about any level of experience, including a beginner. 

Quilting doesn't have to be just bedspreads or throws.  There are a lot of other items and quilting projects.  This book includes patterns for bibs, tote bags, tree skirts, place mats, coaster sets, sweatshirts, pillows, bedspreads and more.  But, be forewarned, quick and easy machine quilting can be addictive! 

Buy the Featured Book:  Quick to Stitch WEEKEND QUILTS & PROJECTS ~ NEW   

Crocheting is a beautiful craft and art.   It can even be therapeutic.  I tend to pick up my crochet hook when I need to think, but I also want to be doing something with my hands.  It is a tremendous stress reliever. 

Crocheters like to collect books and patterns so patterns are handy when they are ready to start a new project.   It is actually annoying to have to take time to go to the store to select and purchase a pattern when all you really want to do is sit down and crochet.

Crochet Through the Year is a book I discovered a few years back.  I love this book!  The Easter Bunny Basket and the Turkey Basket are both rated as “easy” skill level.  This book has something for almost everyone.  Several of the patterns are for the more experienced crocheter.

While I would not necessarily  recommend this book to the beginner, I can recommend it to someone with a bit of experience.   

A few books I would recommend for the beginner: 

Old Time Crochet Made Easy

Easy Living Crochet

If you are a beginner or just need a simple refresher course, this is for you: Beginner Crochet from the House of Sylvestermouse

Featured Book Can Be Purchased Here:  Crochet Through the Year

It is summertime, so let's have some fun with seaside magnets and plastic canvas!   This fabulous Plastic Canvas book,  Seaside Magnets,  includes patterns for seashells, fish, an awesome Sea Horse, a beautiful lighthouse, dolphins, a whale and more.

Oh, and of course, there is a pattern for a ship!  You could virtually build your own beach scene and bring the sea right into your home!

Plastic canvas stitches are truly the easiest stitch.  They are simply the first half of a completed cross stitch, commonly referred to as a half cross stitch.  (See video link below)

These patterns are so awesome and they certainly do not have to be used exclusively for magnets.  They could easily be bookmarks, pins for clothes or hats, appliques for other crafts such as tissue boxes, or even used in scrapebooks.    

This truly is a book full of sea treasures!

Buy the Featured Book:  SEASIDE MAGNETS Plastic Canvas Book ~ NEW   

Learn the Stitches for Plastic Canvas with this Video on Youtube by Mary Maxim:  Common Plastic Canvas Stitches 

Learn to Cross Stitch:  How to Cross Stitch

If you love cross stitch and you love bears, this cross stitch bear ornament kit is a perfect selection. These precious little bear ornaments  are sure to bring a smile to any face and will definitely be a treasured decoration year after year.

These cute cross stitch ornaments would be beautiful on your Christmas tree, but they would also be adorable on a Christmas wreath or atop a Christmas present.

If you make these ornaments to give as a gift, the recipients are sure to love them and they will think of you each time they see them on their Christmas tree.  Of course, after you see how cute they are, you will probably want to keep them for yourself.

Everything you need to make 6 cross stitch ornaments is included in this kit.

Buy the Featured Kit:  TEDDY Bear TREASURES Cross Stitch ORNAMENTS Kit ~ NEW   

Learn to Cross Stitch:  How to Cross Stitch 

One of my favorite treasures on my Christmas tree is an Icicle ornament that my son made for me when he was a little fellow. 

This pretty little Christmas decoration is a sparkling reminder of the precious hands that carefully placed each bead on the wire and the happy smile on his face when he presented me with this beautiful gift.  This simple and easy to make icicle ornament for my Christmas tree is one of my most treasured possessions.

If you would like to add icicle ornaments to your Christmas tree, you can purchase the kit from House of Sylvestermouse.   This kit includes everything you need to make 24 glistening icicle ornaments. 

Buy the Featured Kit:  Icicle Accents Ornaments kit