Sometimes life really does become one big rush – work, family, meetings, events, dinners… and at the end of a long day it can feel like nothing productive was accomplished.

Fransie Snyman understands this. Cross Stitch Miniatures was created just for this purpose – for the person who doesn't always have large amounts of time on their hands, but wants to get their creative juices flowing and see an end result in a matter of hours.

Although Fransie mentions that a certain amount of beginner skill is needed, she makes a great attempt at showing what the various stitches look like, and gives some handy tips to get them right. Everything you'll need for this project – from fabric to embroidery thread, needles and hoops, and the cute bits and bobs you can use to make pieces truly unique – are outlined in the introduction.

There really is something for everyone. Ever wanted monogrammed towels or robes? Fransie will show you how. She includes patterns for napery, jam jars (cute little fruit patterns to stick on jam lids – such a good idea!), and patterns perfect for a baby, child or teen. Best of all, they look fun, and achievable.

If you've dabbled with cross-stitching but never really given it a good go, this book is perfect. The projects are small, and can be combined with other crafting interests. Large, bright photographs and a pattern accompany each project, making the instructions easy to follow.

By the time you get to the very end (might take a while – there are over 100 original designs to try), you'll be ready to take on something a little more complicated.

Reviewed by Tarryn Henrick

Published by Metz Press.

This book features a huge variety of whimsical designs, including a teddy bear sampler to welcome a new arrival, a birthday banner and greeting cards, a patchwork sewing set, a personalised recipe book cover, and a personalised Christmas stocking.

This title contains around 30 cross-stitch designs, featuring an endearing range of both domestic and wild cats. If you're a cat-lover, then this is a book you simply must have on your shelf.

Projects include Kitten placemats and egg-cosies, a Wise Old Cat doorstop, Cat-Nap table linen and a Lion wall-hanging. All the cats featured have very expressive faces, and you're bound to recognise your own moggie somewhere in these pages.

All charts are in full colour, with black symbols, which makes them easy to follow. The book features a Getting Started section as well as full finishing instructions for each project.

Short paragraphs dotted between the projects illuminating various aspects of cat temperament make this book all the more interesting.

Original cross-stitch designs for soft furnishings in four colour-schemes. Full instructions, a colour diagram and a thread key are given for each project. The last chapter contains clear full-colour illustrations and practical information about fabric, equipment, reading of diagrams and cross-stitch techniques.