Perfect Party Dress

 Day 11 ::  2010 Craft Books

Little Girls, Big Style: Sew a Boutique Wardrobe from 4 Easy Patterns by Mary Abreu

 what you need to know...
:: for girls sizes 2-6
:: 23 projects all from 4 basic patterns: basic bodice, peasant top/dress, pants, & skirt
:: the full-size patterns are at the back of the book on perforated sheets you can tear out
:: add photos of completed projects from the book to the Little Girls, Big Style Flickr group

 this was a new color combination for me ~ yellow/black/cream

 voila the perfect party dress

without the overskirt

 and with the overskirt

 done in size 4 which is a tiny bit big, hopefully by the time we have summer weather she'll have grown into it more

 i did a couple of things differently... putting the buttons in the front & placing the ribbon on top of the overskirt... which is the whole point of the book: make it your own

see you tomorrow for day 12 !

Pattern and Texture Cards

 Day 10 ::  2010 Craft Books

Delight in the Details: 40+ Techniques for Charming Embellishments and Accents by Lisa M. Pace

 what you need to know...
:: a book full of eye candy
:: 100 project ideas for cards, scrapbook layouts, mini albums & home decor
:: 4 main sections include: sparkle and shine, paint and ink, pattern and texture, & vintage finds and dimension
:: take a peek inside & be inspired !

i made a couple of cards after being inspired from the pattern and texture section of the book, both cards have quilting batting, machine sewing & buttons (giving them a cozy, homemade feel) ~ it was a fun project that was made with little effort & no mess

this marks the half way point of 2010 craft book month

see you tomorrow for day 11 !

Cowl-Neck Vest

 Day 9 ::  2010 Craft Books

P.S.-- I Made This . . . I See It. I Like It. I Make It by Erica Domesek

 what you need to know...

:: there are more than 25 quick, instant gratification fashion projects which are divided into 3 sections: jewerly, accessories, & apparel

:: for each project there is an inspiration collage, then clear, easy-to-follow step-by-step directions on how to make the project

:: free projects from the book: striped shirt, necklace, & t-shirt into a scarf

:: great book for the beginner crafter

 can you believe these ruffles are made from coffee filters !?!

i chose to create the cowl-neck vest project which said to use hand sewing, but i decided to use the sewing machine, it's made from knit fabric, has raw edges ~ it's never been so quick & easy to make a fashion statement

bon weekend mes amis, see you on Monday for day 10 !

Paper Bag Card

 Day 8 ::  2010 Craft Books

The Artistic Mother: A Practical Guide to Fitting Creativity into Your Life by Shona Cole

 i've reread this book a few times already 

Shona (who is a homeschooling mother of 5) answers the question: "Why should mothers make time to create art?"

some great quotes from the book:

"Faced with busy-ness and a sense of great responsibility, moms often overdo it, giving sacrificially until there is nothing left. No one-not us, not our children-benefits if we become burned out, miserable or exhausted. In order to avoid traveling down that stressful road, we need to bring some balance to our lives and keep the batteries of our souls charged. Taking time to create art can help."

"Rather than stealing from the energy we use as mothers, the time devoted to art makes mothering more vibrant."

 there are 3 main sections: firstly why it is important for mothers to do art, understanding creativity, finding motivation, & planning time to create; secondly a beginners guide to: photography, poetry, & mixed media/collage; thirdly a 12 week workshop to guide busy moms through family-focused art pieces.

this is a must read if you are a mother

from the 12 week workshop i created a paper bag card which is an easy instant gratification project

see you tomorrow for day 9 !

Christmas Cone

 Day 7 ::  2010 Craft Books

Fa la la la Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio

 what you need to know...

:: can also be bought as an e-book

:: there are 3 sections: ornaments, decorations, & stockings

:: i know it is hard to believe, but they really do stuff 46 projects into this book

:: small, inexpensive projects most of which are instant gratification

:: free project/pattern from the book: Paisley Power stocking

:: add photos of your in-progress or finished projects from the book to the Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations Flickr group also take a look around to see the projects from the book

 don't you think these felt hearts would make nice Valentine's day decorations, too?

i made the Christmas cone from this book, it was quick & easy, a nice project to show off some lovely ribbon

see you tomorrow for day 8 !

Kool-Aid Dyed Yarn

 Day 6 ::  2010 Craft Books

Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece: Custom-Color Your Favorite Fibers with Dip-Dyeing, Hand-Painting, Tie-Dyeing, and Other Creative Techniques by Gail Callahan

 what you need to know...

:: learn to create a safe dye studio in the kitchen using standard kitchen equipment

:: dyeing can be done in a: microwave oven, stovetop kettle, crockpot, traditional oven, electric frying pan ~ every method is covered

:: follow the recipes & change plain yarn into something colorful

:: this can be a fun project to do with kids

:: it's really not that messy

:: all the different types of dyes & different techniques are presented

:: a fun new skill for anyone who loves yarn

:: the last chapter has show-off patterns, check out the 8 knitting patterns on Ravelry

:: visit Gail's etsy shop

 i took some wool yarn...

 and some Kool-Aid...

 using the microwave method...

 made some blue yarn

 from this yarn i knitted a tiny tea leaves cardi

someday i would like to try dyeing with turmeric (the spice), looks like it makes a beautiful mustard yellow

see you tomorrow for day 7 !

Girls Charm Pack Skirt

 Day 5 ::  2010 Craft Books

Stitch by Stitch: Learning to Sew, One Project at a Time by Deborah Moebes

 what you need to know...
:: this book is different, it focuses on process (sewing & learning new sewing skills) rather than the finished product
:: if you were to do all the 11 projects in this book, you would learn all the skills you need to do sewing
:: many step-by-step photos making every sewing step very clear
:: comes with a CD with printable patterns (i imagine this will be the norm in the future or at least i hope)
:: have a peek inside the book & learn more about it with the Stitch by Stitch book trailer
:: add photos of your completed projects to the Stitch by Stitch Flickr group
:: visit Deborah's etsy shop
:: you must get this book !

 so here you have the girls charm pack skirt that i sewed for my daughter.  have you ever bought a charm pack (5" squares in a pack of 42)?  this was the first time that i've bought & used a charm pack.  i came across this vintage sheet inspired fabric called DREAM ON by URBAN CHIKS for moda & fell in love with it.  to make this skirt there was the sewing together of 88 fabric squares.  gathering was a technique that was involved in this project, i tried a new to me gathering method ~ zigzag stitch over cording, have you ever tried that before?  i'm so glad i learned it because i discovered that's the way to do gathers for me

see you tomorrow for day 6 !