Reading, doodling, embroidering, and sewing. It's been a crafty, inspired, month!
Just before I left, I finished reading The Creative Family (SUPER book, even for no-kids-yet families like mine!), and completed my first project by hanging the Inspiration Line above. I hope it becomes more "inspiring" as time goes on!
This blue fabric from the left side of the inspiration line is now an almost-complete cell phone holder: I used the pattern from Doodle Stitching (which is FULL of cute patterns and ideas, most of which I actually want to make!) and plan to modify it (different design) for an iPod case to make my husband next week.
This brights-on-muslin embroidery from the right side of the inspiration line is my new sampler: I tried out sorts of stitches taught in Doodle Stitching, some of them which I already knew but also lots that were new to me. The book is FULL of beautifully illustrated photographs to teach a great assortment of stitches, both decorative and practical.
...and you?
What's your crafty side been up to this last month? Any Christmas-gift projects you're beginning? Share about 'em here, and post photos in our flickr group!
This weekend, my father-in-law came to visit for my husband's birthday. He brought in several books, plus 100 Organ needles, which I've ordered over the past months!
Each of the books was recommended to me, so I'm super excited about them. I've broken all but one needle on my sewing machine since we've moved here, and I can only find industrial needles to buy, so I ordered a bulk package online. (Of course, 100 needles still doesn't take up very much room!)
The items include:
Devotional Classics
Treasuring God in Our Traditions
Doodle Stitching
Organ Needles
The Creative Family
*I'm an Amazon affiliate, so I get a small commission if you buy anything on Amazon after clicking one of those links. If you're in the market for an Amazon order, please help me out by going through my links! Check out the new Amazon Green program for sustainable products.
...and you?
What was your weekend snapshot? Share photos at our flickr group and comment here with the story!
Also, if you have any book recommendations for a future Amazon purchase, let me know... the best books always seem to come from referrals, and we don't have much in the way of English-language books here!
What craft books are the best to keep around? When do you know you have enough? A confession, a solution, and some recommendations to help you simplify your selection of crafting how-to books.
A Solution
Here are a few useful tips I’ve found to keep my book pile under control.
1. Keep the best, and only the best - I keep comprehensive books that I refer to often instead of those which just have one pattern I like. The same “if you haven’t enjoyed it in the past year, let someone else enjoy it” rule applies here.
2. Don’t keep more than you can store - If your books no longer fit on their designated shelf, you may need to get rid of excess books, not buy more shelving!
3. Borrow & share - Use libraries, your friends, and online organizations like Bookcrossing. This way, you rotate fresh ideas in and out of your library, keeping only the most useful and passing along those that someone else can better use.
Recommendations
As promised, I’d like to share recommendations from my bookshelf and other crafters'. With just these few, I (or whomever) have all the information I need for almost every project I encounter:
#1 for hand embroidery: Complete Guide to Embroidery Stitches
#1 for sewing: Sew Everything Workshop
#1 for jewelry: All Wired Up
#1 for soapmaking: The Everything Soapmaking Book
...and you?
What craft book could you not do without? Comment with the type of craft and your book recommendation. You can also take a picture of your craft books, organized or chaotic, and post them on the Simple Makes flickr group!
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