Book Review and a Give Away...A Year of Making Life Beautiful

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Hello to all my wonderful friends. Today, I want to share with you a very special book I had the pleasure of reviewing for Melissa Stramel. Melissa, from Lilac Lane, contacted me a while ago and asked if I would be part of a book tour for her new book...A Year of Making Life Beautiful. Absolutely!!
When the book arrived I was over joyed with how beautiful it was. As I read further, the word "beautiful" is the theme for everything Melissa does...from sewing, quilting, crafting, cooking to gardening. 


As it says on the cover, Melissa has 45 projects to bake, grow, craft and sew throughout the year...and does she ever. Just look at the table of contents. Amazing!!


The book, which is available in soft and hard cover, is just chock full of ideas. It is set up by the months of the calendar. Each month has beautiful pictures of projects, fabulous recipes and gardening tips. Melissa not only shares her creations, she also share her wonderful family. I just love the personal touch her family adds to the book.



Here is just one of many recipes she shares...Barley Flax Wheat Bread. I can just smell it coming out of the oven all warm and delicious. There are also recipes for ice cream, salsa, homemade caramels and jam (yummy and perfect for that warm bread)


Here are just a few of the projects she shares in the book...Hexagon Christmas stocking. You know I love my hexies!!


May Baskets. Perfect little treat for friends and neighbors!


and the Quilts. We can't forget the quilts...each one better than the next!!


This Cathedral Quilt Pillow is at the top of my "To Do" list. I've always wanted to make a Cathedral quilt like the one my grandmother made years and years ago, but a large quilt always seems so daunting. This pillow is just what I need. Small and Do-able!!


Ok...I've shared enough. You have to see how beautiful it is for yourself. There are 2 ways to see Melissa's book...enter my give away or visit Melissa's blog for details to own a book for yourself!.

****To enter the give away for a copy of your own book, just leave a comment on THIS post. Let's make it fun by commenting about your favorite month of the year to honor the theme of Melissa's book!! I will use Random Number Generator to pick a winner on June 20th!!****

Good luck everyone and thank you Melissa for sharing your talents with us.
~Karen~

Here is the schedule for the rest of the book tour...stop by for a visit.


QuiltWoman.com
Crafty Gemini- Vanessa Wilson
Lilac Lane- Melissa StramelTuesday June 12Sis Boom – Jennifer Paganelli
ReannaLily Designs- Jen Eskridge
Freda’s Hive- Nanette MerrillWednesday June 13Quilting Gallery – Michele Foster
Sew Many Ways – Karen
Sew Pretty Dresses - Jenny FishThursday June 14Pat Sloan
That Crazy Quilty Girl- Lisa SipesFriday June 15Fat Quarterly
The Undercover Crafter - Hollie Lobosky