This book would be the absolutely perfect book for a beginner as their frist book. I'm not a beginner but I also love this book because it takes you through the basics of everything and is a great reference book for quilting binding and things I need help with.

The projects range from easy button projects to childrens wear and homewares. I just love the bright fabrics, the photos and Anna Maria's writing style.

if you love her blog you will love this book

A great book with a good range of projects, many of which I'm desperate to try! Not all involve sewing, such as the framed vintage buttons, which is a nice change. Even if you don't always like her fabric combinations (I find some too busy) the patterns are simple and easily adapted to something you will like. There is a large section on how to sew at the front which seems at odds with the level of difficulty of the rest of the book. If you are at the level where you need a chapter like this then many of the projects will be beyond your skill level. Having said that, there are always new tricks to learn and she's got a great one for producing perfect circles and curves for applique or for pockets etc. She also has some interesting things to say about colour choices. Some of the rather sketchy hand-drawn diagrams and instructions aren't as clear as they could be, but if you are a moderately experienced sewer you should be able to figure it out yourself. Overall a lovely book to look at, well produced (love that it lies flat with the spiral binding!) and projects to suit every taste.

The thing I like about this book is the excellent basic sewing information/advice at the start of the book - it is clearly written, explaining many things that many authors assume their audience already knows. Having said this, some of the projects may be a little beyond a beginner - particularly as some of the patterns only come in one size, and you need to use a little sewing intuition to alter the size.

Many of the patterns are pre-printed on thick paper, and come in an envelope at the back, which is great - not expectation that you have a photocopier at home just waiting to print and enlarge miniscule patterns from a book!

As with many sewing books, there are always 2 or 3 patterns that most interest you, and a few that you will never use, but as I said, the first half of the book on sewing techniques makes the book worthwhile even if you don't use all the patterns.

This book has ideas that are just a little different from your usual sewing books - good for inspiration, as well as duplication! Beautiful fabrics, well-written, 5 out of 5!

This book is great - it has lots of basic and practical information and contains the most gorgeous photos and fabric choices. It looks nice on the shelf too! A few of the ideas seem to be 'fillers' though and I don't know that I'll bother with them - or that you'd really need a pattern for them. Having said that, the projects in there that are good, are really really good. Do yourself a favour and get this book, sit down with a glass of wine and feel the creative juices flow!