American Quilts and Coverlets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Amelia Peck

Nothing can truly match the experience of seeing quilts of this caliber in person, but this gorgeously designed book comes close. Featured within are hundreds of works of art including appliqued and pieced quilts, wholecloth quilts, woven coverlets, and embroidered coverlets. The level of artistry and craftsmanship displayed in these quilts is stunning and certainly inspiring to contemporary handcrafters.

Vintage Knits for Modern Babies by Hadley Fierlinger

These patterns are inspired by vintage styles and focus on wearability and ease of use; these garments are intended to become heirlooms. From hats to sweaters to adorable bunny rabbit stuffies, the designs included have a timeless quality that will certainly last many years and through generations. Also included is a detailed guide to selecting yarn to use when knitting for babies.

French Girl Knits: Innovative Techniques, Romantic Details and Feminine Designs by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes

The nearly twenty patterns in this book all have two things in common: they are fitted to a woman's curvy shape and they have subtle feminine details that make them special. Also included are detailed instructions for tailoring and achieving the kind of fitted looks seen in this book. These garments are beautiful and fit a variety of body types; despite the cover, the models inside vary in size and shape and all the garments accentuate one's positive aspects.

Hold me tight and tango me home : Maria Finn by Dominguez, Maria Finn — Maria Finn has written a memoir on how she cured her heartache of her husband leaving her by learning to dance the tango. A wedding in Buenos Aires has prompted her interest in learning this very complicated dance, however, she planned for her husband to accompany her on this journey. His departure to live with another woman has left her with the decision to learn alone.

Winnie the Pooh and You!

Children, ages 3-5 with a caregiver, can join us for a trip to the Hundred Acre Woods where all your favorite Pooh’s Corner friends hang out. Enjoy Pooh stories, crafts, games and snacks. We'll be heading over to the Hundred Acre Woods on Saturday March 20, 2010 from 1:00-1:45PM. Registration begins Saturday, March 6, 2010. See you there!

Felties: How to Make 18 Cute and Fuzzy Friends by Nelly Pailloux

Felt is such a versatile and easy to work with material. It's perfect for small projects like these adorable felt figures. You only need some basic hand-sewing skills and you can whip up a passel of pals from felt and materials you probably have around the house.

The Knitter's Book of Wool: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using, and Loving this Most Fabulous Fiber by Clara Parkes
Wool is one of the most-used fibers for knitting and this book contains all the info you could possibly want to know. There are dozens of varieties of wool outlined here, as well as advice for handling and use and twenty patterns that show off the beauty of this natural fiber.

Aware Knits: Knit & Crochet Projects for the Eco-Conscious Stitcher by Vickie Howell and Adrienne Armstrong
Many popular knitting patterns are designed to take advantage of and show off the myriad of man-made fibers available today, but a lot of crafters prefer to be more environmentally responsible. The patterns in this book are designed to highlight the beauty of natural fibers and even some creative materials like reused newspaper. These projects are not only eco-conscious, they are lovely and useful.

Knit Along with Debbie Macomber: Summer on Blossom Street

Debbie Macomber's Blossom Street books have many fans and now you can knit and crochet ten projects inspired by the series. This book is designed with ease in mind - the print is large and you can easily refer back to the patterns without losing track of the stitches on your needles. The patterns are simple yet elegant and range from beginner to intermediate skill level.

Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain
What is art? Is knitting good for more than sweaters and scarves? This book takes a detailed look at the subversive movement of beautifying public spaces and objects with handmade art pieces. This book includes instructions, tips, and techniques, as well as patterns for traditional projects like sweaters and gloves. Teach yourself to knit and decorate your world.

Layered, tattered & stitched : a fabric art workshop by Ruth Rae

Do you ever see those store greeting cards embellished with fabric, beads, or buttons, and think - I could make that myself, but I don't know where to start? This book shows exactly how to create your own. It also contains instructions for a wealth of other fabric-based projects, many of which don't require any specialized sewing skills.

Itty-Bitty Toys: How to Knit Animals, Dolls, and Other Playthings for Kids by Susan B. Anderson

The handknit toys featured in this book are cute, classic, and are sturdily constructed. It's a winning recipe for both the knitter who makes one and the child who is the recipient. There are a wide variety of creations here, including a bunny, koala mama and baby, a monkey, nesting boxes, and more. The last section even includes some reversibles, like a cat that turns into a mouse and an egg that turns into a bluebird nest.

Men's Knits: 20 New Classics by Erika Knight

It's not always easy to find knitting patterns for men's garments that actually look like clothing your husband, brother, or other real-life man might wear. In contrast, these patterns are all wearable, designed for comfy fibers in masculine colors and without any frilly or fussy details. As a bonus, these patterns are very easy to follow and don't involve any advanced techniques.

All New Homespun Handknit: 25 Small Projects to Knit with Handspun Yarn by Amy Clarke Moore

Knitting with handspun yarn is a treat, but it's also quite different from knitting with machine-spun yarn. It's not necessarily consistent in texture and thickness and it often surprises you as it knits up. The patterns offered here are perfectly suited to handspun and are, as the title says, small, which is also perfect as you often only have a limited amount of handspun in any given colorway.

If the cold temperatures are keeping you indoors, why not try doing some fun crafts to beat the winter blues? The book Crafts to Make in the Winter has some cool ideas, or you can try the Apples 4 the Teacher website for further suggestions. So get those creative juices flowing - there's all kinds of awesome stuff you can make!

Eight workshops from the world's best quilt makers offers a unique opportunity to take classes without leaving home. The book Quiltmakers covers a wide range of quiltmaking skills like perfect piecing, applique, template making, adding straight and mitred borders and quilting. Each chapter gives a step-by-step instruction to the project.

Fairy Tale Knits: 32 Projects to Knit Happily Ever After by Alison Stewart-Guinee

Fairy tales are the source of so much pleasure, wonder, and imaginative play for children, and the patterns contained here are fanciful without sacrificing wearability. From the Snow Queen to Robin Hood to magic carpets, these projects explore classic fairy tale characters that are staples of playing dress-up. The garments are for the most part versatile enough for everyday wear as well, which will delight everyone who sees them.

Haiku Knits: 25 Serenely Beautiful Patterns Inspired by Japanese Design by Tanya Alpert

Alpert has filled this book with gorgeous garments that are elegant in their simplicity. She uses a wide variety of types of yarn for a beautiful range of textures and effects. All of the patterns are inspired by natural elements, from a flickering flame to ripened wheat to a hazy moon. The book is also put together expertly, with close-up photos that truly show off the beauty of each piece.

Time certainly is flying by and with the holidays so close, be sure to spend some time in our craft collection, specifically with the holiday craft books! Hunker down in the kitchen with some hot cocoa (piled high with marshmallows...yummy) and get out your favorite glue stick. There are so many different handmade items you can make, days will pass without you every leaving the house, which is not such a bad idea considering the shmucky weather we've been having. Happy Crafting!

Material Obsession: Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke
I haven't made a quilt yet myself but have always admired the technique and art of those made by others. As the weather turns colder I find myself ready to tackle a project that will, in the making, drape fabrics over my lap and keep my hands occupied while watching movies and enjoying the company of my family.