Gardening themes and motifs are often used for various craft projects. Here are some books and patterns that feature delightful garden motifs.


Quick Quilts for Home-50 Easy Quilts and Crafts

By Debbie Mumm, this was released by Leisure Arts. Gardeners are sure to love this quilting and craft book for it offers many inspiring ways to decorate the home with garden and nature themes. Many of these fast and simple strip pieced quilt designs are made with squares and strips. Both pieced and appliquéd quilts are included.

Among the garden motifs are different kinds of flowers along with apples, tree rings, bees, and assorted kinds of foliage. This includes various types of projects for the home, such as pillows of all sorts, throws, banners, table quilts, table runners, chair cushions, valance, basket liners, and pin cushions. There are also useful or decorative items, such as lanterns, flower pots, trays, wall art, totes, and journal covers. Mumm also shows to how to create stunning displays using natural materials from the garden.

For each project, this features a list of supplies. For each quilt, there is a cutting chart, color layout, and a list of fabrics. This has easy to follow, step by step, illustrated instructions. The appendix has all the general instructions for the basic techniques, including appliqué and embroidery. This also explains how to finish the quilt.


Changing Seasons Pillow Pattern

This is a delightful pillow pattern by renowned designer Marilyn Gash. Published by Indygo Junction, this features four fresh and appealing throw pillows with seasonal motifs.

For fall, there are beaded, autumn-toned oak leaves displayed on a dark background. The winter design is particularly striking, and features silhouettes of bare, snow covered trees in winter on a blue background. In one tree is a single male cardinal. The spring pillow features sprigs of beautiful wild blue phlox. The he summer design has three exquisite wild roses appliquéd on a light colored background. All of these are so gorgeous it is hard for me to choose a favorite.

These projects include appliqué and embroidery. For each design, this pattern has a list of supplies and materials. There are step by step, fool proof, illustrated instructions from start to finish. This has full size templates for the appliqué. It also covers the embroidery stitches as well.


Fabric Embellishing-The Basics and Beyond

By Ruth Chandler et al, this features over 50 techniques. Released by Landauer Books, this hard cover with a hidden wire-o binding is the ultimate guide to the subject. It features some quick and easy projects. These methods can be used to create all sorts of items, including greeting cards, pillows, and garden quilts. For each technique, it has in-depth, color illustrated, step by step directions, and a list of supplies you will need. Each chapter has a gallery showing items made using that particular method or technique.

This covers both hard and soft embellishment methods. Each chapter features a different technique along with helpful tips. This covers traditional embellishing methods, such as crazy quilting, rubber stamping, embroidery, appliqué, needle felting, weaving, beading, and dyeing. In addition, this introduces newer techniques and materials, such as Tyvek and Lutradur.

This title presents many projects and techniques that will be of particular interest to gardeners. Flowers, foliage, assorted trees, and nature themes are prominent in at least half of these projects/techniques. This also shows how to use your sewing machine to create thread-lace appliqués.

For purposes of disclosure, I received copies of these patterns and books from the publishers.