You know I love Amy Butler anything and everything...Well, she recently sent me a copy of her "Amy Butler Sew It Kit--15 Simple and Sylish Sewing Projects for the Home" to review...

I had to admit that it was probably going to be hard for me to be objective, so as a writer with some journalistic integrity (And good punctuation!)....

I asked a quilter, mother, and aspiring long-arm quilter to do a "guest review" of the project book.

Here is Corni Quinlivan's book review:

Attention all Moms, Grandmas and Aunties … I have the perfect present to give your teen through young adult that you’d like to help along the road to sewing happiness.

Now, mind you, my own 18-year old daughter can’t sew on a button or fix a hem to save her life. God knows, I’ve tried! So, this probably won’t be the gift for her.

If, on the other hand, you have had some interest from your young person (males too) in sewing or just making some cool things for their dorm or first apartment, Amy Butler’s “Sew-It Kit” is the perfect gift to give them. Given with access to your own stash and expertise, you can help the novice over any rough spots, and get some great one-on-one time with them. Or, by adding in a gift certificate at a great yardage shop, they can easily start on some of Amy’s easier projects, while they gain skills.

Amy Butler has packaged 15 wonderful projects – a market tote bag … fun and easy potholders … a pretty pleated apron … great floor pillows … even a tunnel for your kitty to hide in! The projects are presented on beautifully photographed color cards, each with excellent instructions and diagrams.

Some projects are for beginners, some involve a bit more comfort with the sewing machine (a curved seam), but all are easy enough for a beginner through early intermediate sewer to make. Pick up a card, make up a project, and TA DAA – you have a great hand-made present for someone special.

Amy’s projects are trendy enough for teens, yet have plenty of pull for this 50-something sewer and quilter. I can’t wait to try out the cute (and easy) embellishment for store-bought towels, and Amy’s amazing “document duvet” – a large fabric manila-style envelope that is just the thing to pull out of my briefcase and make a statement!

 Amy’s kit includes

• an excellent 32-page goldmine of sewing info – including her thoughts on vintage and new fabrics, and their care; a section on sewing technique to help the more novice sewer over rough spots; and a resource section to help you find the marvelous fabrics, trims, and notions Amy loves to use.

• 15 project cards
  
  

• Pattern sheets for the projects

• 2 coordinated pieces of Amy Butler fabrics plus thread – to make the reversible tissue box cover

.. all packaged in a lovely presentation box.

Give this beautiful kit (with the gift certificate or the promise to share some sewing time) to a favorite person that would like to learn more about sewing … and give one to yourself too! You will love the imaginative take Amy Butler has with her projects! This Book/Kit is priced at about $25.

Look for it at your favorite quilt and book store.  Or you can get it on Amazon. and of course, Amy Butler's webstore.  

Thanks for the review, Corni. 

Amy B. just dropped me a line and is going to be giving us a studio update (She moved into a new studio just a 4 minute walk from her home-- that is her strolling in front of it.) and a sneak peek of her newest stuff..look for that later this week.

And I will be posting tons of sneak peeks of new fabric lines in the next few weeks...Quilt Market is coming around the corner and the UPS man is delivering fabrics to all sorts of designers and manufacturers and pattern makers.

(All photos and graphics thanks to Amy B. and probably Dave too!)