Really lovely and stylish crocheted bags

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Iiiireader

Simply Stunning Crocheted Bags

By: Coats Design Studio

Rating: 5 of 5

simplystunningcrochetbagsThis is a book of 23 truly stunning crocheted bags. I am inspired to crochet at least one of each bag for myself and then, perhaps, a couple of others for family and friends.

The book apparently was published in Germany in 2014 (though it is unclear if it was as a book or simply that the patterns were available from Coats GmbH), then in Great Britain in 2015, and finally, here in the US, also in 2015. The translators did a good job in providing directions in both the US format (default in this book) and in the English format.

Continue reading →

Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts | Leave a comment

Gorgeous illustrations of stylized owls

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Iiiireader

Creative Haven Owls Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Marjorie Sarnat

Rating: 5 of 5

My husband and I have started using Adult Coloring Books as a way to de-stress. I know that many crafts use the same part of the brain that one uses in meditation, so I wasn’t surprised to read that many other adults were turning to coloring. I have bought several different types of books and I find that I like a lot of the ones by Creative Haven/Dover. I have found that my non-alcohol based markers and my gel pens all leak through this brand of book, so I am sure to place paper between the pages to keep the pages behind fresh and clean. I’ve found that freezer paper works really well for this purpose.

The pages of the book are single-sided and are perforated at the bound edge so you can remove the page to color or to frame afterwards. The pages are a bright white and have a decent pound weight – they are not flimsy.

Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Color Books | Leave a comment

Lovely illustrations of birds in outdoor settings

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Iiiireader

Creative Haven Beautiful Birds Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Dot Barlowe

Rating: 5 of 5

My husband and I have started using Adult Coloring Books as a way to de-stress. I know that many crafts use the same part of the brain that one uses in meditation, so I wasn’t surprised to read that many other adults were turning to coloring. I have bought several different types of books and I find that I like a lot of the ones by Creative Haven/Dover. I have found that my non-alcohol based markers and my gel pens all leak through this brand of book, so I am sure to place paper between the pages to keep the pages behind fresh and clean. I’ve found that freezer paper works really well for this purpose.

The pages of the book are single-sided and are perforated at the bound edge so you can remove the page to color or to frame afterwards. The pages are a bright white and have a decent pound weight – they are not flimsy. What is really nice about this particular book is that, if you chose to color the pages realistically, the author/illustrator has included a color guide for each of the 31 print included in the book. The birds are shown in natural habitat style outdoor settings but you can decide to mix it up and use any color you wish.

Continue reading →

Posted in Adult Color Books | Leave a comment

An English cozy mystery set in 1930s small town

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Iiiireader

Death at Dovecote Hatch (A Florence Norris Mystery)

By: Dorothy Cannell

Rating: 5 of 5

Death At Dovecote HatchI have been a fan of Dorothy Cannell for a number of years. I remember reading my first book of hers and laughing at the title “How to Murder Your Mother-In-Law” and then scrambling to read the earlier books in the Ellie Haskell series. I lost track of her writing over the last few years, so when I was given the opportunity to read “Death at Dovecote Hatch” I was thrilled to find her once again.
Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

Action-Filled and Suspenseful

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Iiiireader

Minutes to Kill (Scarlet Falls)

By: Melinda Leigh

Rating: 5 of 5

Minutes To Kill“Minutes to Kill” is the second book in the Scarlet Falls series by Melinda Leigh. In this series so far, the stories have centered on the Barrett siblings. The first book dealt with a crushing blow to the family, the murder of one their brother, Lee and his wife Kate, and the family effort to track down their killer.

This book is about the second of the remaining three siblings, high power attorney, Hannah Barrett. She is a big city girl with no landing spot but certainly does not plan for a future in Scarlet Falls, the small town of her youth and where the remainder of her family still lives.

Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance | Leave a comment

Great book on making curtains at home

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Iiiireader

How to Make Curtains: Measuring and Making the Perfect Window Coverings for Every Room in Your Home

By: Rebecca Yaker

Rating: 5 of 5

howtomakecurtainsThis book is an extremely thorough with regards to the steps needed to choose, measure, and make curtains for a variety of windows and in a large number of styles.

Continue reading →

Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts | Leave a comment

Great mystery/suspense book written for children grade 5 and up

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Iiiireader

Fuzzy Mud

By: Louis Sachar

Rating: 4.5 of 5

fuzzymud“Fuzzy Mud” is a mystery/thriller written for grades 5 and above. It is the first book that I have read by Louis Sachar and I was surprised at how well it read for an adult. I can see that a child age 10 and above would enjoy the book but it kept me interested, too.

Continue reading →

Posted in Childrens | Leave a comment

Lovely merging of traditional piece quilting and Hawaiian applique

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Iiiireader

Creating Hawaiian-Inspired Quilts

By: Judith Sandstrom

Rating: 4.5 of 5

creating hawaiian-inspired quiltsIt is important to note that this book, “Creating Hawaiian-Inspired Quilts” is for quilt patterns inspired by Hawaiian quilts and not patterns for traditional Hawaiian quilts themselves. There is considerably piecework involved in some of the quilts which is not at all traditional.

Given that, it is really easy to see where the author, Judith Sandstrom, has incorporated the look and feel of Hawaiian quilts. I love the look of a two-tone applique quilt and some of the patterns reflect that while others really seem to focus a bit more on piecing. It is really a matter of taste as to which a quilter would prefer.

Continue reading →

Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts | Leave a comment

Skillfully told tale of a young girl in 1900 San Francisco

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Iiiireader

Chasing Secrets

By: Gennifer Choldenko

Rating: 5 of 5

chasingsecrets“Chasing Secrets” is the story of a thirteen year old girl, Lizzie Kennedy, who is the daughter of a doctor. She lives in San Francisco in 1900 and lives with her father and older brother in the smaller of two houses owned by her well-to-do aunt and uncle. Her mother has passed away and her aunt now has a huge say in what she does, where she goes to school, and how she behaves. As her aunt and uncle are quite well known in society, Lizzie is being prepared for life as a social wife and mother. What she truly wants is to become a doctor like her father.

Continue reading →

Posted in Childrens | Leave a comment

Romance and suspense mix in this gritty story of murder and mayhem

Posted on June 25, 2015 by iiiireaderadmin

Hour of Need (Scarlet Falls)

By: Melinda Leigh

Rating:  4.5 of 5

hourofneed“Hour of Need” is the first full length novel I have read by Melinda Leigh. I have read her Rogue River novellas so I knew what to expect as far as the genre was concerned. I read mostly mysteries and some romances, so reading a romance suspense novel was new to me when I first read Ms. Leigh’s novellas. She is able to blend the romance and the suspense very well in this current book. You could easily drop the romance portions into a straight romance story and be successful or you could cut those portions out and have a straight suspenseful mystery. I think blending the two and keeping the readers interest piqued shows a skillful author’s hand.

Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance | Leave a comment