How do You Make Your Coffee?

The folks at Ultimate Kitchen sent me a French press coffee maker.

We have a traditional electric coffee maker, but I'm not a fan of the thing. It takes up counter space and is hard to keep clean and, since we don't use it on a regular basis, I think I spend more time cleaning the thing than actually using it. Compared to that, the French press is so much easier! My husband has one he keeps in his locker at work. Our oldest son got one for Christmas. And now we've got one in the kitchen that everyone can use.

I'm not a big coffee drinker. Until our Hawaii trip earlier this summer, I wouldn't have described myself as a coffee drinker at all, but the coffee plantation tour ended with samples of all of their flavored coffees. I didn't know it came in banana nut.  That could motivate me to learn how to make my own coffee.

For now, Teenage Son is the one who makes most of the coffee at our house, so he helped me put together a quick video showing how the French press works.




How do you brew your coffee?

Review - Listen to Your Quilt by Barbara Persing

Listen to Your Quilt: Select the Perfect Quilting Every Time - 4 Simple Steps by Barbara Persing is a book for quilters who already know how to free motion quilt and want to make better quilting choices. There are no projects, but the author has listed the pattern sources for many of the quilts pictured.

What I like most about her four step plan is that it's not a list of rules telling you what you should do with your project. Instead, it explains how to make your choices based on the type of quilt, the intended use of the quilt, and the fabrics used.

The photos of quilts and close ups of the quilting are as inspiring as a trip to a quilt show. There's a wide selection of children's quilts, traditional quilts, contemporary quilts, and art quilts.

C&T Publishing provided me with an electronic review copy of this book.

Quilt Blocks Around the World

C&T Publishing provided me with a PDF review copy of Debra Gabel's new book Quilt Blocks Around the World: 50 Applique Patterns for International Cities & More: Mix & Match to Create Lasting Memories.



The more I browse through this book, the more I like it. The fifty blocks depict a wide variety of destinations and the author includes suggestions for mixing and matching elements to customize your quilted travels. The gallery section shows the blocks incorporated into quilts, wall hangings, and tote bags. There's a lot that can be done with these patterns.

The six inch patterns can be used as-is or enlarged from the book on a color copy machine or with the enclosed CD. (The author strongly suggests enlarging them to at least eight inches.)

Although my own world travel has been limited, I'd love to enlarge one of the blocks for a tote bag or the center of a medallion quilt.



All pictures in this post were provided by Debra Gabel.

130 Mini Quilt Blocks

I've been to the library again, adding to my list of books I'd like to own.



130 Mini Quilt Blocks
A collection of exquisite patchwork blocks using ready-made fabric bundles
by Susan Briscoe

This is a neat little book. The hundred and thirty blocks promised by the title are divided into ten chapters. Many of the blocks are familiar, but there are quite a few that I've never seen before. If I've got one complaint about this book, it's that the blocks aren't all the same finished size, so if you plan on using it to make a sampler quilt, you'll have to pick all of your blocks from the same chapter.

The few necessary templates are all included in the back of the book and are all full size. There's an introductory chapter that briefly covers fabric selection and cutting, different techniques used to assemble the blocks, and quilting. Scattered through the book are suggested uses for the blocks. I found several little quilts that I'd like to make. Those tempting little projects are what sets this book apart from other block collections.

Best of Fons & Porter Scrap Quilts

I've been reading a lot more fiction lately, so it's been quite a while since I remembered to check the library for new quilt books. But this week, I remembered and came home with Best of Fons & Porter Scrap Quilts.



I own a lot of books of scrap quilt patterns and I've borrowed and flipped through a lot more. This just might be my newest favorite (along with Bonnie Hunter's books and Scrap Basket Surprises.) The only thing that's stopping me from ordering my own copy right now is that "best of" in the title. I've got a lot of issues of Fons & Porter and might own most of these patterns already.

In addition to the cover quilt, I really want to make this one:



And this one:



And most of the other quilts in the book.

There's such a variety of quilts and techniques here, stuff I already know how to do as well as things I've been wanting to try but haven't tackled yet. Curves and applique and embroidery and set in seams...and there seems to be just enough instruction that I wouldn't need to go online or drag out anothr book to research techniques.