I just began piecing quilts a month ago. I took one beginning class and read this book cover to cover. I have since pieced several wall hanging sized tops, all of which look so good my husband wants me to make each into full bed sized quilts. The instructions are thorough and well illustrated. It gives truly "fool proof" methods for cutting pieces for your own designs in simple to follow steps. I tend to use only proven patterns in all of my crafts (I'm afraid of disaster with my own designs), but with Rotary Magic's help I designed my first project and it came out beautifully. Thank you for such a wonderful addition to my craft library and the beginning of what will now be many years of happy quilting.

I have been quilting for 6 years and have avoided certain quilt patterns because I thought I'd need a template but Nancy shows us how to make those pieces so easily with a rotary cutter. Her instructions are concise and I appreciate her thoroughness. It's a book any quilter must have!

Extremely useful in rotary cutting all your pieces in a block w/o using TEMPLATES!!! The information has enabled me to graph out, figure out the measurements and rotary cut pieces for illustrations or pictures of block patterns(that have no instructions or are the wrong size). I already made 8 blocks. Plus the 2 pages on how to cut with the grain helped w/ keeping the blocks squared. I wish I had found this book before purchasing alot of other beginner books. This one covers rotary cutting, piecing,pressing, and finishing. Plus all the other sound adivce she gives. Also there are projects-easy to feathered star. Good illustrations, color photos. Also rotary cutting illustrations for lefty. It saved me alot of frustration and time, made quilting enjoyable.

This is an excellent book and I'm very glad that I purchased it! It features a multitude of quilt patterns, some traditional and some more contemporary. The book shows a color photo of each quilt, and has complete and easy-to-follow rotary-cutting instructions for each project. Each quilt has a difficulty-rating, shown in terms of "spools" (i.e., one spool = beginner, two spools = intermediate, three spools = advanced) so that you can gauge if a particular project is within your range of skills before you begin. You will love seeing all of the many quilts that you can make with this book! Anyone who enjoys rotary-cutting and speed-piecing will LOVE using this book!

If you look through this book and can't find dozens of quilts that you want to make right away, then you are too picky! I couldn't believe that I actually fell in love with most of the quilts in here. Usually when I buy a quilt book there are lots of patterns that I know I will never do. But with 101 quilts in this book, you will never run out of projects. I like how each one is rated a 1, 2, or 3 based on the difficulty level. And there are lots of instructions so even if you are new to quilting you will probably do just fine. Every project is shown in color, and the best part is that there ARE 101 quilts! The are all different, not just 10 quilts that are shown in 10 different color schemes to make 100 quilts. The best is the charm quilt - 1062 different fabrics are needed. Of course, you may not have enough fabric to make one but the picture in the book is beautiful to look at! Most of the quilts are easy to make with what you've got at home already.

I've been a quilter for about two years. I like to rotary cut, and machine piece and quilt my projects. I want things done quickly! I also prefer traditional quilts to the more modern style. If your quilting style is similar to mine - or if you're just getting started in the quilting world and looking for a style - you'll enjoy this book. Nancy J. Martin is my favorite writer on quilting. The quilts are beautiful, the instructions are clear and concise, AND there are color pictures of each quilt (that's my favorite part). The quilts are rated according to difficulty (but none are really THAT hard to make). The beginning of the book has a nice "basics" section and the book ends with a short section on finishing methods. I've got so many new ideas for quilts now - i'm off to the fabric store! Great book!

I love this book. My 2 1/2 year old son went through four surgeries in his life time and I can so relate to the recall of ICU's and operating rooms. My son also has a form of dwarfism and will be different. I love her philosophy, so much peace and forgiveness to stranger's rudeness! She has so eloguently speak of the growth that any parent of child with differences have experienced. Babyface will be kept close to my heart forever and I recommend this book to all parents who are struggling with the challenge of bring up a child with a difference. In time, you too will gather the strength and peace demonstrated so well and articulated by Ms. McDermott.

BABYFACE by Jeanne McDermott is a witness to the healing power of love. It is a true story of how people of all ages grow to meet unexpected challenges. Although in this case the challenges arise from the birth of a child with a rare cranialfacial disorder, anyone with the experience of having children and creating a new family constellation will identify with many of the issues that face Jeanne McDermott and her family.

There is nothing superficial about BABYFACE and it reveals no easy answers. Instead, the reader shares a truly three-dimensional experience where the word "miracle" regains its stark significance and a "mystical vision" expands our world.

BABYFACE is a book for anyone with a family, at either end of the generational see-saw, and it will not leave you untouched.

I write as the mother of a child with Crouzon Syndrome, which, as the last footnote of this wonderful book will tell you, is "allelic" with Apert's. My daughter Gwendolyn Fyfe was born around the time that Nathaniel Finch was, and it is eerie how similar our experiences were. (We are even Quakers!) I recommend that parents of children with craniofacial syndromes read this book and reread it, prepared to relive and reflect on your own experiences. Warning: this could be painful, and you should probably put some time between the searing experiences of ICUs and operations before you examine your emotions and beliefs by reading this book. "Facing" the situation has given our family a strength and insight into what is really important in this life which we might not otherwise have had. It is clear that it did the same for Jeanne McDermott, and this beautiful book shows how. Parents of children with craniofacial conditions: let's start an on-line book club to discuss it!

My mother just purchased this book for me a few days ago. I've already read all of it. I plan to re-read it. The stories, cartoons, poems, etc. are so moving. You will find yourself connecting to these anecdotes in a way that will increase your awareness of yourself as a future parent or a parent-once-more. This book should be a hit with expectant Moms (AND expectant Dads), no matter what their situation. This book offers a variety of points of view and discusses many situations. There were humorous stories about pregnancy and delivery, expectant fathers points of view, the emotions of expecting and facing adversity during pregnancy, the special bonds created when adopting a child, passing the torch from one generation to the next. Cartoons, and other humorous anecdotes are guaranteed to make you laugh. Some stories will make you cry. This book will move you. The emotions and bonds created during pregnancy and adoption will be deepened and you will find your soul stretching!

My husband and I read this book together at night before going to bed when I was pregnant, and really enjoyed it! We found it to be inspiring and a great book to read when we were excited and nervous about becoming parents. Even after we had our baby I found myself still enjoying it. I have since loaned it to a pregnant friend and she has loved it as much as we did. This book would be a great one to give to a friend who is expecting or to buy for yourself.

I was not familiar with the "Chicken Soup" books until someone gave me this one as a gift. I must say it makes a very thoughtful gift for a preganant woman, but otherwise you should treat yourself to it. The short stories in this book are written by different authors, all with real-life expectant parent stories. Some stories are sad, some joyful, some downright miraculous- but all of them are inspirational. The stories relate to a wide variety of expectant parents including those who adopt, struggle with infertility, experience an unplanned pregnancy, suffer loss, and juggle a large family. Read all the books you want on physical pregnancy health, but put this one on your list for spiritual pregnancy health.

Alan is a strong and intelligent fighter with clear eyes and a great heart. Hal, his true friend and blood brother, is a mystic as well as a fighter. Destiny spurs them to fight to free their land of the despotic rulers that have enslaved the people for seven generations, or die in the attempt. Their strength comes from their bond with each other, a partnership so strong that the One prophesied it ages ago. This is a must-read book, one whose characters and images will remain vivid for years. Springer is an excellent author, a storyteller with a knack for creating and describing new worlds, and she is at her best in The Silver Sun.

I read this book and its "sequel" (Sable Moon) as a teenager when they came out in the late '70's and early '80's, and I loved them passionately then. I still love them now, and reread them often, even as an old lady of 33. There is something in the Hal/Alan bond that never fails to move me. I only wish there was more (and I've always wished the Sable Moon actually reunited the two rather than merely hinting. I've thought of writing to the author, if I could find her!). Does anyone out there know if Ms. Springer has ever written anything else involving these characters (other than Golden Swan, and Chance and Other Gestures, which I must immediately find now that I know it includes is a Hal/Alan story)?

I read this book when I was fifteen, and still think it's one of the greatest works of literature I've ever read. This is the store of Alan, and his blood brother Hal, as they struggle to fight against an evil king, find the women they love, and fulfill their destinies.

This novel has some great characterization, and Springer does a great job of portraying the complexities of life in Isle. I only wish they could reprint this series. This is one of her best books!

A must read for fantasy lover and for readers who enjoy complex characterization.

I read Beauty by the Book. It was a very inspirational book. So much so that I am buying copies for my friends to read. Nancy Stafford explains through scripture, prayer and her own life experiences; how we should see ourselves the way that God sees us. Each chapter in this book gives inspiration about how beautiful we really are. I believe that every woman should read this book.

I am not a Christian, but I found much to identify with as a woman in Beauty by the Book. This is a must-read for women of all faiths -- for any and all women who ever asked: Am I pretty enough? Am I smart enough? Am I good enough? Nancy Stafford shows us that the answer is a resounding YES once we learn to look beyond the exterior face and body the world sees, and focus on the inner beauty that lies within each and every one of us.

Like the green glasses in THE WIZARD OF OZ that distort people's view of the Emerald City, our culture and our past hurts distort our concept of beauty and our image of ourselves. Nancy Stafford's book gently lifts that false image and replaces it with timeless, eternal truths. Written with humor, warmth, compassion and vulnerability, this book will bring hope and healing to all who read it. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't gain from what is written on these pages.

This review concerns the original 1934 edition as well as the revised 1965 edition, which is a completely different story than the original. In the original edition, Nancy becomes concerned over the welfare of twin babies recently adopted by the Blairs, an actor and actress, who only adopted the twins to further their social standing. The babies are neglected by the Blairs as well as the nursemaid hired for them and Nancy becomes determined to find the twins mother, convinced that she did not willingly abandon the children. How Nancy finds the babies' mother and reunites another set of twins seperated for many years is an interesting; although, not very exciting story. This edition is very well-written, the characters are well-defined and the story is intruiging, but the book basically lacks a criminal (the Blairs aren't criminals, they're just not nice) and as such there was very little action and excitement. If you read Nancy Drew to be excited, don't read this book, but if you enjoy an interesting story, by all means give this one a try. In the revised edition, Nancy, George and Bess travel to Misty Lake and meet Cecily Curtis who provides the girls with two challenging mysteries. First, her fiance is a successful music artist who suspects that his record company is cheating him out of some of the royalties from his songs; however, the company swears that they are being honest with him. Second, Cecily is searching for a long-lost family treasure she believes is somewhere in the area; a broken half of a locket being her only clue. Also factoring into this story are the apparition of a launch which sank in Misty Lake many years ago and a frightened girl who closely resembles Celily, but continually runs away from Nancy and her friends. This is one of the few cases where I liked the revised edition of a book more than the original. The book is surprisingly well-written considering it was published after the late 1950s when the quality of writing in the series went grossly downhill. The mysteries are very intriguing and the book almost has a spooky quality about it. The original edition I would rate 2 stars, but the revised edition I would rate 3 1/2 stars.

The Nancy Drew books are all really great. But this one really caught my eye. It's about Nancy, Bess, and George going to meet Cecily, and trying to solve a ghost mystery. They figure out more of Cecily's past and solve the mystery about the mysterious boat. If you want a really great book, read this one and Carolyn Keene's other fantastic Nancy Drew mysteries. (The old ones are better than the new ones, though. Bugt they are also really good.)

nancy drew's best mystery is by far this one. plenty of secrets and surprises, it will keep you guessing the whole time. of all the nancy drew books i have read, this is the best, in case you haven't noticrd and judging by the sales rank you haven't,this the best!!!!

As city dwellers, we are grateful to Ken and Nancy Eirich for their handbook:"How to Survive Y2k Chaos in the City." They have researched the subject well and arranged the material into a well organized, reference type handbook. Their numerous handy, low-cost tips on how to cope for extended periods without electricity and water are excellent. The bulleted "Memory Joggers" are easy to read and will be helpful for every member of the family, from grandparents to the baby and even to the pet! They are real time savers!

Without this type of guide, Y2k,for most of us, would be just too overwhelming. Their book lays out a step-by-step approach into securing the home against any breakdown of essential services. Ken and Nancy also help us to realize that in this coming crisis,we must not act alone. Neighbours and local churches should come together "to help the needs of others, who may be unable to prepare because of age, illness or finances." A must reading for every city home and apartment resident.

As city dwellers,we are grateful to Ken & Nancy Eirich for their handbook "How to Survive Y2k Chaos in the City." They have researched their subject well, arranging the material into a well organized, reference style handbook. Their numerous handy, low-cost tips on how to cope through extended periods without electricity and water are excellent. Also the many bulleted "Memory Joggers" are easy to read and will be a helpful guide to every member of the family from grandma to baby, even to the pet! They are real time savers! Without this type of handbook, Y2k would be just too overwhelming for most of us. Their book lays out a step-by-step approach into securing the home against Y2k breakdowns of essential services. Ken and Nancy also help us to realize, we must not act alone. Neighbours and local churches should come together "to help the needs of others, who may be unable to prepare because of age illness or finances." A must handbook for every city home and apartment resident.

Finally, a book written specifically for those of us who live in the city (that's 70% of us)! We have amassed quite a survival library, but we find the information in this book to be the simplest, most accurate and the most helpful. I took it with me to a preparedness specialty store and even the owner was surprised by how many questions which he couldn't previously answer were dealt with in this book. It will help you become the most prepared in the shortest time possible.

When Lori Shepard leaves her home to evaluate a library in the wilds of the border country, she does so to do a favor for her friend Stan, and to take a little time away from her twin toddlers. She doesn't expect to be influenced by another less friendly ghost. Once again, Aunt Dimity comes to the rescue, but not without alot of plot twists and turns. This is a great book and I recommend it highly.

Lori and Aunt Dimity are back and at it again. This is a can't put it down till you're done book! Nancy Atherton's "Aunt Dimity" series is the best I've read, Easy & fun reading. "Beats The Devil" is everything you could want! It has ghosts, romance & a pink stuffed bunny , What more could you ask for? So for a good time, Make some tea and read this or any of the "Aunt Dimity" series.

Expatriate American Lori Shepherd leaves her Cotswold home to drive to Northumberland to evaluate the Wyrdhurst library rare book collection. However, instead of arriving safely at the Hall, a landslide caused by a torrential storm leads to an accident. Writer Adam Chase takes the unconscious Lori to his hovel. When Lori awakens, she feels an attraction to her rescuer that in turn makes her feel guilty since she just left her beloved spouse with their twin toddlers.

Still, Lori goes about her business and begins to scrutinize the collection. Soon, Lori hears eerie laughter and finds a cache of love letters written by Claire Byrd and W.W.I vet Edward Cresswell, who died in combat. However, an apparent ghost and someone knocking out Adam disturb the serenity of her work. With hints of treasure hidden in the castle, Lori with the help of her spirited Aunt Dimity begins a different type of investigation that could prove dangerous to this amateur sleuth.

On first glance, AUNT DIMITY BEATS THE DEVIL sounds inane, but talented Nancy Atherton turns the tale into an entertaining otherworldly cozy. The story line is simply fun to read due to the strong support cast enabling the lead couple (Lori and Aunt Dimity) to excel. The "dialogue" between Lori and Aunt Dimity is often humorous, but also retains a seriousness that embellishes the plot. Unlike many English cozies, AUNT DIMITY BEATS THE DEVIL contains plenty of action, but the novel as with the previous five books in this series belongs to its two stars.

Harriet Klausner

Although it would be tempting to interpret first time novelist Nancy Peacock's account of a girl growing up in a dysfunctional hippie family in the early 70s as kind of a Mary Karr's "Liar's Club" (with love beads), the book really reminds one more of "Gone With the Wind." After all "Life Without Water" and "GWTW" are both set in the South, the former in North Carolina and the latter in Georgia. They both deal with the far reaching effects of war on the homefront -- Vietnam and the Civil War -- and the books are both inhabited by strong women. Little Cedar, the artistic waif who narrates the Peacock book, reflects with heartfelt candor about childhood and the relationship with her stoic, dedicated, Earth-mother Sara, who unfortunately, has made a lot of bad decisions about men (not unlike Scarlett O'Hara). Also in each book there's a major scene with a big fire in it. However the linchpin of this comparison hinges with each book's sense of place and time. Instead of antebellum Tara, Cedar and her mother live in a three-story, rundown farmhouse with electricity but no running water called Two Moons. Located at the end of a long, curving, rutted drive, this distant place fills Cedar with a series of evocative childhood memories: baked bread, gathering wild flowers, cold trips to the outhouse and worthless fathers. Cedar is inseparably bonded to Two Moons and no matter where she travels part of Two Moons goes with her. The "alternative" hippie civilization of the late 60's and early 70's may be "gone with the wind" so to speak, but Nancy Peacock's book rekindles our sense of longing for a simpler visceral lifestyle that had its advantages over the sterile, consumer-oriented, cocooned culture that dominates our era.

Nancy Peacock's story of Cedar and her hippie childhood is absolutely brilliant. Told from Cedar's point of view, she remembers the good and bad times -- but mostly good times -- of the early 70's hippie way of life, which I personally remember well. Nancy's comfortable writing style makes for easy reading, which is a good thing, since I ended up reading it all the way through in one sitting.

What I love about the book is that Cedar remembers communal life exactly like I do. The descriptions of the people and places are so familiar that I feel like I was there. Her viewpoint is both colorful and authentic.

Whether or not you ever set foot on a commune, used an outhouse, or hauled water from a spring, Life Without Water is a fresh novel that you will read more than once.

What a terrific book!
I'm so glad I read it.
It's a story told by Cedar looking back at her life growing up alongside her mother, who she cherishes very much.
This story has real people, no exaggeration, this is how it really was. The hippy commune and free love as well as the simple living and not understanding the Vietnam War.
Cedar saw how her mother cherished and loved her brother that was killed in the war. Sara, Cedar's mother, carried the pain of losing her brother all through life and Cedar also possessed that loss, eventhough she never physically knew him.
This is a wonderful book. It would be good for a student to read while studying this time in history. LIFE WITHOUT WATER is a terrific discussion book.
This is another good book to read if you grew up in the late 60s or in the 70s. You'll be nodding and remember people that you knew that would remind you of each character.
GREAT BOOK !!! Anyone, any age....don't miss the chance to read this book.