More books and magazines.....

This book is sooooo cool. I was drooling over it last time we went to Borders, but decided to not buy it at that moment....but of course a £10.00 off ticket was eating a hole in my wallet and I just had to get it. So off I went after work and picked it up. I have trouble with color. Not sure why. I suppose I just haven't thought about it, other then knowing what colors I like and what colors look good on people.

Anyway, this book is great. Gives lots of combinations for such categories as "Fresh" and "Alluring", so it should be good to help me with some of the projects I'm doing out of a few books for my journals.


This book was so good I couldn't pass it up. It has all kinds of logos in it. But it has such wonderful bright colors I was just so struck by it, I had to buy it! It even has an interactive companion CD with it. I'll have to see what that is like when I have more time....









I was looking through this mag, and was so stuck by all the lovely colors. As you can see this is an American mag (gotta love it).
















I was flipping through the pages and came across this page...I thought...HEY I know those dogs....and sure enough the house they are featuring is one of the bloggers I follow. I remembered then that she talked about being featured, but at the time thought "oh well...another magazine I can't get here....woe is me"....but I was WRONG. She is Alicia Paulson and her blog is so wonderful and full of great ideas...just like her house!











This is an Australian magazine I hadn't seen before. So I got it to have a go. It has some traditional crafts, but there is enough of a twist to it. I thought that I could use it to give me some ideas of embroidery that I could tweak.

Creative Mom Podcast ATC Feb exchange

Well, here is my ATC for the Feb exchange. The theme was "alphabet soup". I had this idea from the beginning of layering letters. I like the whole layering thing at the moment. I'm layering stitches, colors, etc on everything I've been doing (except the blankets of course). I think it turned out pretty good. About what I had in mind anyway. I started out with the works "Maybe No Yes" then just made sure I covered that up as I went. I hope my exchange partner likes it!

Valentines projects....

Here is the card I made Rich. I'm testing out my new scanner, so instead of taking a picture of it, I've scanned it. It will look a bit silly because of that.


Can you guess what I love? (The last is a book, since it is more difficult to check.) The last page had a mirror under the flap...which was really small so just showed his nose!

These are the cards I made my niece and nephews. I just wanted to send them a little something.

Secret pal 10

Well, the time is here again, another Secret Pal is starting. I enjoyed the last one very much. I had a secret pal from the States, and person to spoil was a wonderful girl from Estonia. I'm looking forward to meeting two new people!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I must admit that I perfer natural fibers, though I have used blends and do like them.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
A wicker vase my Mom bought me for Christmas one year.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting since I turned 30, though I've crocheted and crafted all my life. I'm an intermediate knitter...though I tend to through caution to the wind and try new stitches and stuff. My biggest problem is, I am mathematically challenged.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have an Amazon and I'm thinking about an Etsy. I just LOVE Etsy.com

5. What's your favorite scent?
Lavender

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
This time of year I miss peeps!

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I've recently learned how to spin. I've always made crafts, recently I've been trying very hard to start being more artistic with crafting. I'm doing a lot of work with art journaling and trying to do more Fiber arts.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like alternative (or Indie) music.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I'm really in to bright colors. I think because this country is so drap and dreary (and everyone tends to wear black.)

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
Married, no kids. We have two guinea pigs, two rats and four mice.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I don't do ponchos, but I love scarves etc.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like to make anything really.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Right at the moment I'm in the middle of two blankets and a bag.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
ABSOLUTELY

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
All of the above.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
I like to do this by hand, it is something I can do in the car without getting sick!

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Very, Very old

18. What is your favorite holiday?
Thanksgiving...I'll be home for it this year!! Yeah!!!

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Craft supplies and books

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I've got several books on my wish list. I like One-skein wonders by Judith Durant. Subline Stitching by Jenny Hart is another one. Right at the moment I'm dying to have some more Luna Moon needles and Addi turbos. I would love any beautiful yarn. I like unusual colors and textures.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Weaving

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, though I've yet to make me any that fit. I wear American size 10.

23. When is your birthday?
Nov 15

Book reviews....

Yes, more books....but this time I didn't buy them! I was smart and got them from a library. I should promote libraries more...seeing as I'm almost a Librarian and have worked in them most of my adult life. I wanted to check out these two book before I thought about purchasing them. I'm glad I did. They are great and were worth having a good look at...but they don't include anything different then the things I've seen on the net or have in books I already own. The "House Proud" book by Danielle Proud is great and if you are in to reusing furniture and household goods, then this book has some great ideas. The thing is I've been in to this for such a long time, that I've seen most of the techniques before. I must be getting really old! Cath Kidston book is really good too, but again...nothing really new.

Anyone interested in some books?

**I've still got the first two of these books....I managed to give the others away.......

I've decided to get rid of a few books I just don't use. If you would be interested let me know we could do a swap or something.





I just didn't find anything I wanted to do in the last three. They are very good, but just not me. The first one, was one of those that I have about three others that have the same projects!

What have I been up too?

Well, I've not been doing much crafting. I made some valentines for my niece and nephews the other night, I'll show pictures of them when I get them finished. But mostly I've been cleaning. I can't believe how missed up the house became while I've been unwell. I made attempts but I just didn't get organized like I needed to. So I've been trying to get the living room organized at the moment and reminding myself that I can only do it one room at a time!

The picture is the bookcase I've put next to my chair. It has all most of my craft books on it. I had a different bookcase, but it wasn't deep enough or high enough to allow for my bigger books. I've put the knit and crochet up on top so they are easy to get to, and the other craft books on the bottom. I have to move my chair to get to them...but I don't look at them quite as much. My sewing books stayed upstairs in my craft room.




So here is my collection of knitting and crochet books, see any of your favorites. Being a Library type person, you crave books. I'm getting rid of a couple that I've not used. If you look closely you will see that Debbie Bliss and Erica Knight predominate.