Love to Sew: Cakes & Candies

July 13

Twenty unique cakes that will keep the pounds off, as they are to sew not to eat. They do look fit to eat with their special techniques replicating icing and hundreds and thousands and other sweet delights. There's even a box of chocolates to sew. You'll find the basic techniques and templates inside, so you can get stitching straight away. You could use them as pincushions, to decorate a dresser, or let the kids play shop. Lots of fun. Part of the Love to Sew series, this book presents twenty projects to sew. Quilting and applique are often used as interchangeable words. In reality they mean different things. Quilting is the stitching to hold together the layers of a quilt, applique is when you cut out shapes and apply them with stitching to the surface. This book has mainly applique flowers. Other techniques include yoyo's, fabric postcards, patchwork, cathedral windows quilting, fabric paints and the gorgeous hydrangea book cover with its freeform felt flowers. Projects include cushions, cards, bags, book covers, table runner. bunting, needle case and more. Whilst it might not be strictly quilting, it is an enjoyable book. Templates are given at the back.

Oct/Nov 13

At the beginning of this delicious little title, keen-eyed readers will notice an acknowledgement to Kathy Troup and STITCH magazine. When STITCH published Greta's project for a box of chocolates created from fabric, readers with quick to respond, and stitched chocs began to pop up at exhibitions and shows everywhere. This book includes a 'recipe' for stitching a scrumptious-looking box of chocolates, as well as a whole bonbonnerie of other sweet treats created with needle and thread, with a foray to the patisserie counter en route. Greta's work straddles the line between realistic soft sculpture and simply having fun with fabric and stitch. These tactile foodie delights can be made from tiny scraps and with minimal effort - and then you can have the extra fun of decorating them. Beads, stitches and lovely ruffles create some tasty treats; buttons sprinkled liberally across the sruface of a 'chocolate' bun, resplendent in red-ruffled 'bun case', don't seek to represent anything other than, well, buttons, but they do look luscious. For those wishing to create something more challenging, Greta's fruity tarts are divinely decadent, topped with succulent embroidered strawberries and beaded blackberries. These are creations of pure joy. Any of the projects here would make lovely gifts, although I suspect readers will have to adopt the 'make one for me and one to give' approach, as these are just far too cute to make and give without keeping one for yourself. Each piece is a reminder not to take life, stitching, or calorie counting, too seriously. This scrumptious book has clear instructions, trace-off templates and mouthwatering full-colour photography of all 20 projects.