Leslie Beck's Best Of The Best Quilts presents patterns, designs, and meticulous, step-by-step instructions for 36 superb patchwork quilts. Eye-catching color illustrations and meticulous attention to detail characterize this first-rate guide for quilters in search of aesthetically pleasing projects. Leslie Beck's Best Of The Best Quilts is an enthusiastically recommended contribution to any personal or community library needlecraft collection.

Don't let the title fool you. Yes--this book is full of compelling kitchen decoration projects, but it is so much more than that. There are quilts, tablecloths, curtains, chair covers, totes, pillows, pot holders and matching directions for folk painting objects to go with the theme kitchens. There are four main kitchen themes. Vintage Kitchen is in red and white patchwork with redwork inserts. I'm crazy for redwork, country kitchens and antique oak. I have an antique wooden office chair that I have failed to paint and I'm going to make the chair cover in this book. The Koffee Klatch Kitchen is a log cabin theme in bright red, blue, yellow and white. I've got to make the table runner! Antique Fruit Kitchen has an apple quilt to die for. Folk Art Rooster Kitchen is warm browns, tans, and deep red. There are folk art pillows,a table runner,and a rooster on a stick that make me laugh and will no doubt make me sew! There's a chapter on kitchen completers too--more nonfabric projects! The color plates in this book are awesome and I want my kitchen to look like everyone of these themes! The directions are clear and have color pictures and diagrams! This book took an honorable mention in the Accidental Quilter's Quilting Book Award 2000. :)the accidental quilter

Having done tole painting, and having worked in a fabric store for years, I was well acquainted with Leslie Beck's designs. I have always loved them!

When I discovered this book, I was thrilled. The patterns and illustrations are gorgeous. Definitely a more contemporized country, which is more my style. The surprise came when I realized there were more craft projects than I had expected.

There's some gorgeous patterns for quilted pet pillows, a variety of beautiful pillows and quilts, plus some cute garden accents to paint. Being a crafter, for longer than I can remember, it was abit of a surprise as I was expecting just quilting and sewing. But there are some cute craft ideas in this book, for instance a painted watering can with a flower and bees, a couple planters and a lampshade with leaves and acorns painted.

My favorites are illustrated on the front cover, the 'Weather Outside' wallhanging, coordinating quilt and throw cushion, and even a pet cushion. My next favorite would be the 'summer' lap quilt and pillows, done in red, cream and navy stripes (like a basketweave pattern).

If you're looking strictly for patchwork, or more traditional quilting, this book probably would disappoint. If you're more like me and enjoy a more contemporary version of country or americana, you'll truly enjoy the book. Just remember that about a third of the book has painting/crafting projects.