Book Review: Applique Art by Abigail Mill

Here's another of my favourite sewing books: Applique Art by Abigail Mill.  I have admired Abigail's work for a while so, when I found out she was writing a book, I pre-ordered it.  When it arrived, I was not disappointed  

It is a really beautiful book with gorgeous photographs and gives an insight into how Abigail uses colour, texture, pattern and stitching to create her unique style.  

It also features step by step instructions on how to create 5 of Abigail's lovely artworks:

• Shop Fronts
• Teatime Treats
• Country Gardens
• Animals
• Seaside

I really enjoyed reading the section on how Abigail over-dyes fabrics, something I have never tried - yet. 

I would definitely recommend this book for both beginners and also more experienced Applique-ists.  Even if it has nothing to teach you, it is still a charming book to read.
 

Coffee Pot Wraps vs Cosies

It's time to deal with that old argument of Coffee pot wraps versus cosies :) . Should your weekend morning coffee be wrapped snugly in the embrace of a well fitted body warmer........

.......... or blanketed from top to bottom in an all encompassing cosy?

Personally, I drink instant Alta Rica in a morning but if I was brewing a big pot of 'Joe' that I wanted to last a good while, I'd go for the cosy.

Book Review: The Cloth, Paper, Scissors Book

As an avid reader, I love to read all sorts of books but I have a special weakness for sewing/craft/cookery books.  Although I love my Kindle and will happily read novels on it, you can't beat the feeling when you have a new illustrated book in that old fashioned medium - paper!

I thought I would start to share my thoughts on my favourite crafty books starting with The Cloth Paper Scissors Book by Barbara Delaney.  

Although the book is available on Amazon for £16.54, it is currently available on Stitch Craft Create for only £5.49

It is a collection of the best articles and projects from Cloth Paper Scissors magazine and features chapters on:

• Printmaking and surface design
• Journals and bookmaking
• Collage and assemblage
• Mixed media stitching
• Encaustic, metal and jewellery
• Getting your work out there

Although my interest is towards the fabric and stitching sections of the book, I loved all of the photography and am tempted to try some other techniques.  The instructions in the projects are very well written and easy to follow.  

So if you are looking for something a bit different and which also gives you the opportunity to those bits and bobs that we all save 'just in case' we can think of something to do with them, then have a look at this book.

Catch Up

Once again, it's been a while since I last posted to this blog.  The last few months have been lovely and busy for me and I have had some great orders.  

My recipe notebooks are really popular at the minute but I have to admit, I am itching to develop some new designs.  Although I love making my standard designs, it does tend to get a bit tedious when I have to make a lot of the same thing in a short space of time.  I do try to put a little variation in each so that each customer gets a truly individual piece but I need to start doing something different.

Today I have a day off from my day job so, after my orders are complete, I think I'll start thinking about new designs and will hopefully have something to show you soon.