When the publisher offered to send me a copy of
This Is Not A Book, I was mildly curious. Seemed fun. Seemed cute. Maybe it would be inspiring, or maybe it would get me to think outside of my creative box. I figured I'd thumb through it and then pass it on to a friend.
The publisher sent me a review copy of
Super-Cute Crochet which is PACKED full of 35 crochet patterns for animals and dolls.
I was so happy when Linda Perman of
lindamade emailed me and asked me to review her crochet embellishment book,
Crochet Adorned. Getting review copies of books is definitely something that helps me keep from spending cash on crafting!
I'm so excited to be talking to you about
Kanzashi In Bloom! It's the first (paper and binding) book by my good friend and all-around amazing crafter, Diane Gilleland of
CraftyPod.
Kanzashi are flowers made from fabric which you fold, sort of like origami. As always, Diane doesn't just give us amazing instructions and wonderful projects, she also educates us about the history and context of the craft. There is a lot of background information about the origins of Kanzashi and it's present day story with links to people and places to get more information.
I'm so excited about my first weaving project! I love the way it came out! Diane of CraftyPod recently released her newest eBook,
Weaving Un-Loomed and sent me a review copy. There are six great weave-y projects in the eBook that each explore a different facet of loom-less weaving.
I get so excited every time the "sock and glove" rep (which is what I call her in my head ... her name is Melissa) emails offering a book to review. She sends me the best stuff. :)
This time I got a copy of
Softies Only a Mother Could Love. The title implies that these are ugly softies, but, while they aren't your traditional teddy bears, they are an adorable lot. Maybe I'm just acclimated to our indie and Japanese-inspired style.
I got my review copy of
Happy Gloves weeks ago. I decided to make the lion and I was looking EVERYWHERE for yellow gloves to use. Unbelievably, there are no yellow gloves anywhere.
Oh, yes! There *is* something better than a monkey. A monkey in a hat!
This post includes a review of
Creepy Cute Crochet.
When the publishers offered me a free review copy of
I ♥ Felt, I couldn't say no, even though I don't knit and I'm allergic to wool. I just *had* to see what was behind that cute, cute book cover.
I was sent a review copy* of
The Big-Ass Book Of Crafts from the publisher.
This is the point where I have to admit that I'm TV illiterate ... even more than I usually am since we canceled our cable almost a year ago. So, when I got an email from
Mark Montano himself, I wasn't star-struck until I wikipedia'd him. Could he be on more shows? Even though I haven't seen his design-y exploits in action, after reading this book, I have a great sense of his infectious enthusiasm.
The publisher sent me a review copy of
Crafting a Business: Make Money Doing What You Love (from Country Living). I sort of expected a over-the-top optimistic view of doing what you love for a living with more optimism than reality. While the book *is* chock-full of enthusiasm and encouragement, it also has a lot of realistic advice, like writing out a business plan that includes three years of projected financial statements and making sure you have the proper business insurance.
This is my finished elephant from
Sock and Glove. I am one-hundred-percent sorry that I didn't make his little arms and legs have the round circle ends. I thought I was saving time, and that I would finish him that night by just sewing the ends up. I should have known better, because it took me three and a half months to finish him anyway. Oh, I hate crafting regrets!
But, Ernest is a cutie and I love him, in all his turtlenecked, hunchbacked glory. Hopefully he doesn't hate me for maiming his little arms. Last night he spent his first tour of duty watching over us with
Neville, and, just like Neville, his creepy white button* eyes seem to gleam in the dark.
* I used buttons from a Thank You card from LeeAnn of Mint Basil