Candy Store and More is the delightful new book by popular designers Kay Connors and Karen Earlywine. In this book, we are presented with 10 fresh quilts, inspired from 1930s classics.

Inspired by antique quilts and patterns discovered in old newspapers, these projects are brimming with old-fashioned charm.

The projects in this book are designed for a range of skill levels, using a variety of techniques including applique, embroidery, patchwork and hand quilting.

For beginners, easy to piece and contruct quilts include ‘Barn Dance’ (pictured above), ‘Star Patch’ and ‘Framed Butterflies’ (pictured below) which is made up with simple blocks and embroidery.

Anyone who likes applique (me, me, ME!!) will enjoy working on the ‘Draped Dresdens’ which is a fun applique with scalloped borders. It’s not very clear on the computer screen, but I hope you can see how gorgeous the scalloped edges are.

If you’re like me, and always looking at ways to use up the every growing fabric scrap basket, don’t you think ‘Draped Dresdens"’ would be a fantastic scrap-busting quilt?

‘Idaho Bouquet’ features applique and embroidery, white ‘Southwest Cactus Baskets’ incorporate yo-yos and ric-rac.

‘Candy Store’ (the cover quilt) and ‘Morning Glory!’ will challenge the more advanced sewist with curved seams and more precision piecing.

In all honesty, I’m not usually drawn to traditional quilts or 1930’s prints and colours. The pastel palette of this era, isn’t one that I particularly enjoy working with. But, in saying this, I do love traditional blocks and traditional techniques using bright contemporary fabrics and I can see myself tackling some of these projects. I am really looking forward to working on the ‘Garden Spinners’ quilt. I’m drawn to the applique flowers in this project and I love the striking border.

Candy Store and More includes all of the full size patterns, so there is no need to enlarge or manipulate patterns before getting to work on a new quilt.

The ‘Quiltmaking Basics’ section in the back is detailed and the step by step diagrams are excellent. It covers all of the basics to complete the quilts in this book and is a valuable resource for all sewists.

Candy Store and More is available at Book Depository (yay for free international shipping), amazon and leading bookstores.