From the Publisher:
Buy groceries in bulk, prepare family-friendly meals, freeze appropriate portions in labeled bags, and defrost and serve whenever a quick, homemade meal is needed. Fix, Freeze, Feast presents a complete system for getting organized and putting healthful, satisfying meals on the dinner table. Most recipes begin with a warehouse club tray pack of chicken, beef, or pork, and include instructions for dividing, preparing, and storing the raw ingredients. A second set of simple directions describes how to thaw and cook the food. Dinner is always in the freezer!
Authors Amie Plumley and Andria Lisle teach a children’s sewing camp that delights kids and parents every year. Now, they have put their experience to work in creating this lively, how-to-sew book for ages five and up. Featuring 21 inspired projects, Sewing School shows kids how to create fabric masterpieces with minimal supervision. All projects have been kid-tested, and most can be made using simple hand stitches—no sewing machine required.
Projects include pillows, dolls, blankets, wallets, totes, coasters, pot holders, sleep masks, mats, and more; each project features step-by-step instructions written at a second-grade comprehension level, a close-up photo of every step, and a photo of the finished project.
The book includes full-sized cut-out patterns in a front pocket. Sewing School will have your kids in stitches!
This interactive workbook, packed with creative, year-round nature activities, is sure to please everyone ages 8 to 13. Clare Walker Leslie guides kids to observe and record what they see, hear, smell, and touch outdoors, whether they live in the country, the city, or somewhere in between. She offers dozens of fun things to do in every season: write a poem; make a sketch; tell a story; record daily sunrise and sunset times for a month; draw a local map and mark the locations of trees, rocks, animals, and other sights; keep a moon journal; learn about the constellations; or collect leaves and bring them home to sketch and identify. Rediscover the world outside with The Nature Connection!
The GIVEAWAY:
Leave me a comment with your email address. That's it! One random commenter will win a copy, provided by the publisher, shipped by me :)
Giveaway ends 11-10. Thanks for entering. You will love this book :)
**Thank you Alee for the opportunity to review. Storey Publishing ROCKS!**
My Review: I am a big fan of DIY books. Just lately I have been getting into woodworking. This book is perfect for the novice like me but still has some challenging plans for the more skilled. Each project is organized with a materials list, supplies needed and tools needed. There are precise cutting measurements and diagram instructions. As well as detailed instructions for construction. If you are planting a garden this year (or years to come) then this book should be in your reference section. Some of my favorite projects are the Window Sash Cold Frame (pg. 18), Horizontal Tomato Support (pg. 43), Window Box Planter (pg. 66), Welcoming Arbor (pg. 73), Solar Dryer (pg. 88) and the Pitched Roof Birdhouse (pg. 32). This book really does go hand in hand with gardening.
This is a great gift book for the woodworker and gardener in your life. Or, if you are like me and love to build, then get this book for yourself :)
From the Publisher: Make your food garden more productive and more enjoyable! These 39 simple-to-make projects — including cold frames, compost bins, planters, raised beds, potting benches, gates, trellises, storage containers, outdoor furniture, and more — will increase your harvest, make your garden chores easier, and turn your garden and yard into an appealing outdoor space for relaxing and enjoying the fruits of your labors. Each project includes step-by-step instructions, detailed illustrations, complete materials and lumber lists, no-nonsense tips, and a four-color photograph of the finished product. Many of the projects are ideal for beginners, and most can be completed in just a few hours.
Now for the GIVEAWAY!! Storey Publishing (Thank You Alee) has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of The Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building. How to enter (any of these entries will work):
1. Leave me a comment with your email address. +1
2. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Leave me two comments that you did. Suggested Tweet: (#Giveaway Vegetable Gardener's Book of Building @storeypub@beachbrights). +2
3. Open to US, No PO Boxes.
4. Contest ends Fri. May 7th.
From the Publisher: Learn how to get the best deals at auctions, flea markets, and shops and how to spot items that can be repaired to increase their value. Then find out how to resell your purchases.
Window Boxes Indoors & Out
by James Cramer & Dean Johnson Storey Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1-58017-518-0
My Review: I am a big fan if window boxes. I currently have them in my home. So, I naturally was drawn to this book and it did not disappoint. I loved the creativity and originality of this book. I can't wait to try some of the 100 projects and planting ideas in my own window boxes. The book is organized very smart. It is divided into 6 basic chapters revolving around the seasons:
Groundwork
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Source Guide
In addition to stunning pictures and design inspiration, this book offers practical advice for plant care and several design tutorials. I love this book and so will you! In fact, I love this book so much, I am giving away a copy to one lucky commenter!
5/5 stars
From the Publisher: Window box gardens are beautiful on a windowsill, but displayed in unexpected places they add four-season style and color all around the home. Authors Cramer and Johnson offer dozens of inventive ideas for container gardens to enjoy every month of the year. More than 200 exquisite color photographs highlight the range of seasonal plants and innovative containers. Project instructions, care tips, and source listings round out the how-to pages.
Now for the GIVEAWAY!! Storey Publishing has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of Window Boxes. How to enter (any of these entries will work):
1. Leave me a comment with your email address.
2. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Leave me a comment that you did (include @beachbrights & @storeypub).
3. Open to US/Canada Only, No PO Boxes.
4. Contest ends Wed. April 7th.
~XOXO~
**Thank you Alee for the opportunity to review & give!**
Use your deck more in every season. Barbara W. Ellis uses photos, drawings, and text as she sets out to improve the appearance and comfort of any needy deck. She suggests surfaces, lighting, plantings, and furniture — from simple to elaborate — and provides tips on maintenance.
Do you remember when I wrote this gardening post? Well, this book is going to teach you how to get the garden in some of those posted pictures! This is a great book...
From the Publisher:
Are you planning your very first vegetable garden? Confused about soil, garden layout, seeds, temperatures, planting schedules, fertilizers, pests, watering, harvesting? Master gardener Barbara Pleasant takes the guesswork and anxiety out of growing food, explaining in simple language exactly how to start, maintain, and eventually expand an organic vegetable garden, even in the smallest of spaces. Choose one of 24 no-fail, small-scale garden plans and find out how easy it is to enjoy your own fresh food all season long!
The Book Giveaway:
Storey Publishing has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of Starter Vegetable Gardens.
How to enter (I count entries by comments):
1. Leave me a comment with your email address. +1
2. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway. Leave me a comment (leave 2 comments) that you did. +2 Tweet Suggestion: Starter Vegetable Gardens 5/5 Stars, Win a Copy http://bit.ly/cBviuU @beachbrights @storeypub +2
3. Open to US/Canada Only, No PO Boxes.
4. Contest ends Wed. March 24th.
Happy gardening!
XOXO
**Thank you Alee for the opportunity to review and giveaway**
From the Publisher: This elegantly-illustrated book presents 25 unique design plans for a variety of cottages appropriate for a wide range of needs and lifestyles.
From the Publisher: Discover the joy of homegrown apples, berries, plums, cherries, and dozens of other fruits with this definitive guide to creating a more delicious backyard! Lee Reich shows you exactly how to grow temperate-zone fruit at home, from site analysis and climate assessment through plant selection, pest control, pruning, and harvesting. A plant-by-plant encyclopedia recommends 39 eye- and palate-pleasing species that are especially well-suited to home landscapes. Bring year-round beauty to your yard and luscious, organic fruit to your table with Landscaping with Fruit.
“Lee Reich is exactly the sort of guide to gardening I wish I’d had when I started out.”
—Michael Pollan, New York Times best-selling author
“For years I have turned to Lee Reich’s books for pruning guidance and relied on his expertise on how to grow unusual and native fruits. I’m excited that now in Landscaping with Fruit, he gives all of us the wherewithal and inspiration to include these sustainable edibles in our landscapes.”
—Rosalind Creasy, author of The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping
From the Publisher: Dealing with unwanted deer is frustrating and challenging for even the most patient of gardeners and homeowners. Which repellents work, and which ones don’t? How long do they last? Which plants are truly deerproof? What kinds of health risks do deer really pose? In this completely updated and revised edition of her popular book, Rhonda Massingham Hart shares the results of her research on deer behavior and food preferences, as well as her hands-on experience in successfully combatting deer, from choosing the best fence to planting the most deer-detested plants.
Deerproofing Your Yard and Garden is the best defense against unwanted deer, and an investment that is sure to pay off in protecting your landscape.
My Review: Exactly what the title says, "One-Yard Wonders". This book is about creating and sewing projects with one yard of fabric. The book is divided into 11 chapters: Sewing Fundamentals, Dwell Redux, Household Affairs, Craft Organization, On the Go, From Head to Toe, Carry it All, Outfit your Small Wonder, Accessorize your Little One, Playtime and your Furry Friends. There is also an envelope included with pattern pieces, a glossary, resources and applique pieces section. Did I mention the the book is spiral bound? I just love when a craft book goes above and beyond and makes my life easier by laying flat. This book truly includes it all.
The publisher would only let me share with you 3 photographs. Trust me, I wanted to share a lot more. There is so much in this book I want to sew and give as gifts. There is so much in this book I want to sew and keep. How many times have you gone into a fabric store and shopped the remnants for bargains or what about those left over fabric yards from other jobs? Not only do you save money with these projects only using one yard but it opens up a whole new world for all those left over fabric scraps.
They say that the best reviews are short and sweet. That after about 200 words people lose interest. So let me get to the point. Buy this book for the following reasons and you will not be disappointed: the projects come with easy to follow instructions, the projects are fast to complete, the projects are simple, the projects will save you money on materials, the projects make fantastic gifts (& keepsakes), there is a project for just about anyone included in this book. Buy this book.
Projects of note that I can't wait to complete: Clothespin Apron (pg. 51), Origami Organizer (pg. 88), Toddler Pinafore Smock Top (pg. 188), Toddler Art Smock (pg. 214), Dog Walking Coat (pg. 272), Feline-Friendly Tepee (pg. 276). There are over 100 other items to choose from. What will you be sewing?
5 out of 5 stars
From the Publisher: Look at all you can make with just one yard of fabric! 101 fun and stylish sewing projects range from clothes and accessories to toys, home decor, baby items, pet beds, bags, and much more. All projects require no more than a single yard of fabric, and most can be completed in just a few hours. Simple step-by-step instructions, plus templates and pattern pieces where needed, make it easy to create something wonderful!
