Christmas Fast Books

I learned to sew with this book and have had great sucess. I just bought the new book "Sew On" to progress my sewing and the patterns and projects are amazing! I have learned even more techniques with the new book and I still use my Sew Fast Sew Easy book for reference. I'm really happy with these books from Amazon.

This is a great learn how to sew book for first time sewers, very easy to understand.

This is a classic beginner sewing book. I think people will learn to sew from this book generations to come. The patterns are very simple with easy to follow instructions. The illustrations are clear and helpful. I bought the new "Sew On" book to learn additional sewing skills with more advanced patterns.

I ordered the "Sew On" book and was really impressed with the written instructions and included patterns. My daughter wants to learn to sew and I ordered her this book. When she gets a little comfortable, I'll pass along the Sew On book. This Sew Fast Sew Easy book has simple, easy to use patterns and projects that will get true beginners sewing. I highly recommend this book for true beginners. If your looking for a more intermediate book, find the "Sew On" book.

The book is probably best for true novices. I was never much of a sewer and it has been 30 years since I've sewn anything more than a button or hem. I thought I'd need to review the basics, but this book was too basic for me. i was hoping that it would refresh the basics, but lead me a few steps beyond. I can see where it would be helpful for those who are just starting out, so I can't find much fault with the book itself. It was just not what I need.

This book compliments the first Sew Fast Sew Easy book. I had bought that book to learn to sew and had great success with it. I knew this book would have some great tips and projects but I underestimated it. The projects and patterns that are included were perfectly challenging for me. I learned more techniques with the box cushion. I hadn't ever sewn with heavy fabric let alone turn a corner. Learning about overlock machines and what there used for was an eye opener and I'm now on the hunt for one. I have a new passion and am proud of my progress with sewing. I acredit it to these books.

This book is written for the beginner sewer wanting to do some more advanced sewing projects. It's written really well and therefore easy to follow and understand. The images are helpful to the instructions. I'm happy with my new book. I bought this book with Sew Everything and there is a major difference in the techniques and descriptive writing. Sew Everything was harder to understand and the techniques come out looking more "home ec" style. I'm much more pleased with the end result of the projects from Sew On.

My Home-Ec teacher recommended this book to our class for learning to sew. I've been learning to sew with it for the past week. My mom loves the stuff I'm making. This book has been easy to understand and the images help out a lot.

I was looking for a book to learn a little more about sewing and something to inspire me. I came across this book and thought it looked pretty cool. My girlfriend thinks it's funny that I sew and she doesn't but when she sees the stuff I have been making from this book, she's been straight up impressed. I have been sewing Tshirts on my Juki overlock machine with the pattern from this book. I've made them for me and my GF. She's totally into them. The warp dress isn't her style but I made it anywase for the practice and experience. It was really easy and came out great. It was also the first time making a button hole for me. It's crazy the little things that you end up learning with such a simple project. I've also learned to sew with leather and i've been making leather wallets and clutches that have been selling on etsy. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to be inspired and up their sewing and serging skills.

I took a beginner sewing class at Sew Fast Sew Easy and my instructor was Kenley Collins from this season's Project Runway. I didn't know it at the time that she was a contestant so to my utter shock and awe! I saw her on the Season premiere of the show. It was really cool to see her on TV. She was a great instructor. I totally trust this company in everything they stand behind and teach. I ordered their new book Sew On and once again am really impressed with their products. The book is easy to follow and has great information on sergers and overlock machines. The patterns are easy to follow and the final garments fit great. It doesn't surprise me that Kenley Collins would teach with such a great company.

Jam-packed with creative, low-fat recipes, decorating tips and gift ideas, this unique cookbook by the author of the "Busy People's" series is handily organized into menus, complete with grocery lists, each listed according to various holiday meals. A "Menus at a Glance" section gives a great overview of all the dishes, making selection a breeze. With unique ideas, like edible gifts and a "Kids Birthday Party for Jesus," this is a time-saving holiday wonder.

Dawn Hall is a Christian author who has always had to watch her weight. These recipes are low in fat, easy, and delicious. They also make a nice presentation for guests. Highly recommend.

"The Origins Of Christmas" by Joseph F. Kelly, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 2004.

This book covers exactly what the title says, "The Origins of Christmas". Professor Kelly presents the establishment of Christmas as an important feast day in the Christian Church, with both eastern and western roots. Drawing heavily on the scriptural nativity stories, found in the Gospels of St Mark and St. Luke, the author shows the roots of story of the Three Kings, then Star over Bethlehem, the Flight into Egypt and many more commonly held aspects of Christmas as the present age knows it. Using historical analysis, Dr. Kelly makes it clear that Christ was probably born between 6 B.C,. to 4 B.C., (based upon the records for the death of Herod) and that the ancient Church chose December 25th as the date for celebrating the Birth of Christ as a holy remedy to Roman extravaganzas in that month of the year. Kelly shows how Christmas and Epiphany developed as competing feast days for the Nativity of Christ in Orthodox Catholic and Roman Catholic branches of Christendom. He also devotes some little time to St. Nicholas and how that saint's feast day metamorphosed into a gift giving day in certain countries (e.g. The Netherlands).

This is not, however, a book that deals with the tinsel: the origins of Christmas trees, or Christmas decorations or Christmas lights. Christmas carols are hardly mentioned, and the more modern aspects of Christmas, such Prince Albert's introduction of Christmas trees to England, are not emphasized in Kelly's book. If you want a bible-based analysis of the origins of Christmas, and how the biblical story grew into today's modern story of Christmas, then this is the book for you.

In The Origins Of Christmas, Joseph F. Kelly (Professor of Religious Studies at John Carroll University) deftly traces the evolution of Christmas in Christian life and western culture. Readers will learn when Christmas was first celebrated as the birth of the Christ; how December 25th became the official date for Christmas; how the three "magi from the East" became the three kings known as Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar riding on camels and coming from three different continents to worship the newborn in a manger; why medieval and Renaissance artists tended to portray Joseph as an old man; when Christmas music first made its appearance; the real St. Nicholas and how he became the most well known of all the Christian saints. The diverse origins of Christmas will come as a fascinating surprise to most who know only the Sunday School version of the Christmas story from their childhoods. The Origins Of Christmas, is very highly recommended and informative reading in which Professor Kelly begins when Christmas did not yet exist, and concludes when Christmas had become an integral part of the world culture in general, and Christian communities in particular.

Who doesn't want a book that reads itself aloud? "'Where's Joe?' 'He's dancing the tango,' said Mrs. Fandango.'" Of course we know where this plump, pleasant red-cheeked individual has gone this winter, but the books guessability just adds to its readaloud fun. Great for storyhours.

This is a wonderful children's book, especially for those children who know Joe! Yes, there really is a Joe who owns Joe's Snack Bar in Jericho, Vermont, and every fall he closes for the winter and then reopens in the spring. This book captures what every child must feel when Joe leaves. Even if you don't know Joe, this is a must have children's book. The pictures and rhymes say it all and more.

For several years now, my wife has been making holiday crafts to give away to friends and family as little gifts for Christmas and so we're constantly on the lookout for new ideas and books. My part is usually limited to the drudgery of buying (and paying) for the supplies and doing mundane work such as the cutting while my wife gets all the glory!

"Fast, Fun, and Easy Christmas Decorations" is another fine book from one of our favorite craft book publishers, C&T, who never fails to deliver great new books for each season. While it's only 64 pages it manages to squeeze in a number of quick and easy projects that can be made relatively inexpensively as well. The basic materials are various fabrics, beads, Fast2fuse, cording, glue, and a sewing machine. The individual projects will list all of the material specifics.

There are a number of different 3D ornament projects including spirals, bells, and stars. The look can be anything you want from dazzling and gaudy, to a quaint, country look, all depending on the fabric and embellishment you use. There are also chapters on making your own gift boxes, wreathes, gingerbread houses, and advent calendars, all with these same base materials. The gingerbread house is certainly the most challenging but the end result will make you the envy of your craft-making friends.

You'll probably want to have at least intermediate skill for most of these projects, especially those that require sewing (although there are some no sew projects, too) but you're to enjoy them all. C&T once again has produced a winner.

The first time I sewed anything was in middle school shop class - we made this hideous blouse that I never wore because I didn't like the material or the pattern. I decided to get back into sewing because while I didn't like the end result, I loved the process. I have a sewing machine coming and I can't wait to get started. I want to try at least a few of the techniques I saw in this book. Imagine being able to tailor make your own clothes! I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Poor production and dull simple projects. No photos or coloured pictures. I've seen much better books along the same league.

I was excited about this book, I checked it out from my local library, I was really not impressed. I have been sewing on and off for 3 years and I was looking for ideas to refresh the clothes in my closet. I live in Miami, the projects they suggested were way too basic and no way would I walk around miami wearing anything this book told me to do.

The only thing I learned, or re-learned cuz I had forgotten was how to make your jeans shorter but keep the original hem line. So I'm really glad I didn't just buy this book.

This book isn't so much about refashioning your clothes so much as a basic sewing and fit lesson. I felt this book was WAY too basic for me. There really weren't any patterns and the pictures were pretty unimpressive. I was really disappointed with this book. If you are curious, get it from the library, but don't waste your money!

I was disappointed in this book. There is some good basic information, but very little "deconstruction". A majority of the projects are merely adding decorations or embellishments to garments. Large print and a lot of white space on the pages make the book appear more substantial than what it actually contains. There are no pictures of actual examples, which would be helpful. Many of the projects are dated and uninspired. All-in-all, I am sorry I bought this book.

I like all the "Fast, Fun and Easy" books. I have not had a chance to practice any of these projects, but they look fun and diversified ... and Christmas 2006 is really not all that far away!

The projects in this book are in fact pretty fast, pretty easy, and really fun! This book had techniques (paper piecing) and materials (stabilizer, fusible interfacing) that I had never used or even heard of before. But by following the instructions (with just a bit of help from the nice people at my neighborhood quilting shop), I was able to create two really cool Christmas stockings, one from the book and one that I designed myself, in three or four days. And I had so much fun making them that I bought more Christmas fabrics on sale and plan to make several more stockings while my kids are at camp this summer. I've never done any quilting before, and although I learned basic sewing as a kid, I'm no expert seamstress. So I was really thrilled that my projects were so successful.

I borrowed this book from a friend. I thought it would be just another Christmas card book. I was totally surprised by the variety and creativity of this book. After looking at how many of the projects I wanted to do I decided I had to have my own copy. I haven't been disappointed yet.

Not a good choice for experienced paper crafter's and card makers. Okay if you are woriking with young people or beginner's.

I bought this book last year when it was published so there were no customer reviews thenm, and i wish there were.

I bought the book based on the title, i expected easy and fast projects which give creative and lovely results. While the book is wonderful to browse because of its excellent photography, the projects are FAR from being easy and "instant gratification".

Most of the projects have a long list of needed supplies, and the ideas weren't the "ah, why didn't I think of that" kind either. I was particularly annoyed by the large number of projects that do not CREATE anything, but rather decorate a glass ornament. I can think of ways to spice up a glass ball, thank you very much.

I do NOT recommend this book only as a viewbook for getting in christmas mood, but there are better books out there for that. I give it two stars for the photography and design, but for contents it doesn't deserve it.

There were some good ideas in this nook, but the majority are a bit more involved than the title implies. Plus there were several projects that were for light strand bulb covers, not really ornaments. There were about 5 that were quite simple, the rest were of varying degrees of difficulty. Some due to the supplies needed.

I was a little disappointed with this book but that was because I was expecting a little more sophisticated ornaments. My fault, actually, because the title is 'Instant Gratification'. The projects aren't very complicated, and many can be done by children.

My biggest complaint is that the print is so small, it is very difficult for me to read the supply list and instructions.

However, the photography is fabulous! It really shows off how elegent these simple projects can be.