I should be sewing, but I'm reading. These books open that door at the back of the wardrobe into another world. Pure fantasy but I love it. Robin Hobb is such a good writer that you believe that everyone of the impossible things she writes about is true.
If you decide to read these books this is book 1
I am up to the last chapters of the "Tawney Man Trilogy" and I don't want it to end.
Back to the book.
I found yet another drawing of a weird elephant. We are so used to seeing everything in the world via our screens, be they TV, Film, Internet, that we forget that this wasn't how things were viewed in the past. Most unusual things were described in words or if you were lucky a drawing.
This elephant must have been described in an unusual manner, or perhaps it was a second or third hand description, like a chinese whisper.
(image source: http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/tractatus-de-herbis.html)
Now we have moved to another position where we 'imagine' the elephant in all different kinds of forms. Almost the opposite point from those in the past.
(image source: http://carolineroseart.com/)
I have been making some new clothes for my grand daughter and thought I would buy some new patterns. That was until I saw how expensive paper patterns have become. The cost of a dress pattern for a child 1 - 4 years of age was $24.00. I can buy a little dress all complete for less than $10.00 at Target and at the rate kids grow if you add the cost of fabric and time to the pattern cost it would be well over the $50.00 mark.
Then I came across this book in my local book store. Cost $29.95.
There are 24 different patterns is sizes 2 - 10 years
They are basic styles that are easy to make. As I am an experienced sewer I don't really need the instructions but they are clear and easy to follow.
Monique is only 1 year old so these are a bit big but she will grow quickly and I will have them sewn ready for her in advance. Not only that, I'm sure the patterns will be useful to make clothes for some of my nieces children as well. I'm very pleased with this purchase.
There seems to be a lot of copies of this 1930's pattern book around which says that lots of women must have bought it back then. It turns up on Ebay, Estsy, etc, in Museums and now I have a copy.
Poppalina has a copy of the Koala Cosie on her blog. My Mardi Gras offers the cosy in Daffodil Stitch and I have a copy of Crocheted Vandyke cosy.
It still has charm.
There are always a few people on the Xmas list that are difficult to buy for. This book, Visions of Earth, at the National Geographic shop might just be what I am looking for.
There is some stunning images in this publication.
You can see more here.
I also like the look of the book Visions of Paradise. (I hope my family is taking the hints I'm giving out here.)
I ordered a book from Amazon UK last Wednesday night and it arrived the following Monday morning. It only took four days, including a weekend to get from England to Australia and delivered to my door. It takes longer than that to get a parcel from down the road. Maybe there are postal angels?
As to the book, it was 'Stitch with Love' by Mandy Shaw. I wanted it for teaching children as it has a great range of easy projects and instructions and photos for right and left handed sewers. I think I might use that bit with adults as well.
My friend Angela brought me back a new knitting book from Iceland.
Because I have been so busy I didn't really look at it in detail but now that I have I see it is wonderful. I intend to knit this for Monique for winter next year, the weather is showing signs of heating up so it is too late now.
Those monkeys are so cute and the little hat that goes with it will just set it off.
You know I looked at the graph pattern and realised that I can read that. I couldn't have said that at the beginning of the year.
I have been a long time admirer or of Salley's work. I have found a small video about the making of her new work which still uses her wonderful embroidery.
I can't embed it but you can follow this link or click on the title below to see the video.
RABBITAT from Daniel Cojanu on Vimeo.
I first discovered her back in the 1980's when her embroidered brooch's were featured in an American magazine, ( I think it was Homes and Gardens). Then again in the 1990's when she had some work featured in Pieceworker magazine. Once Amazon came on the scene I was able to purchase her books, and I have everyone. These for young children.
And the wonderful book that has all the instructions to make the figures and replicate the embroidery
Plus the books she illustrated,
and the wonderful Pocket full of Posies.
I even own my own little figures that are adorable.
I look forward to seeing more of her new work and am interested to see where this goes.
I did buy a small parcel of things for myself at the show. Some fabric to make a bag from Kelani fabric .
It was difficult to decide just what to buy here they had so much great stuff.
Some books from Quilt Mania.
Both books are by Saito Yoko, who's work I admire. I bought them for inspiration more than for the patterns. The second book has French on one side of the page and English on the other. My personal 'Rosetta Stone'.
A cross stitch pattern from Janie Hubble Designs. I very rarely buy a pattern but I have been searching for a way to keep all my embroidery scissors safe. Why didn't I think of this?
And on the same stand Yvette Stanton had an add for her new book due out in 2012.
I see she will also be teaching a class in Brisbane in February 2012 of this technique.
Now, many of us have been following the work of Meri and her work with Guimaraes Embroidery .
So now there will be a book in English, which will be a great help because my Portuguese is terrible and the Google translator isn't much help. There is a great website in both Portuguese and English that contains videos of how to do the stitching called Bordado de Guimaraes.
If you click on the booklet at the top right hand side of the page there is a booklet with some great patterns and designs. (You will have to download this.)
This site also has a great on line free PDF 230 page book,( in Portuguese and English) giving the history and development of this technique. Although these samples are in white many of the traditional pieces are worked in colour, especially red thread but a warning, you must like bullion knots for this technique. There are lots of them.
