Books galore! | How About Orange

March 11, 2009

Books galore!

There's a stack of fabulous books on my desk right now that you might find inspiring. Starting with City Chic: The Modern Girl's Guide to Living Large on Less. I love the premise, and it's chock full of useful tips, ideas, websites, and recipes that will help you save money while enjoying the good things in life.

Sew What! Bags: 18 Pattern-Free Projects You Can Customize to Fit Your Needs is wonderful. If you're a sewer (excuse me, "sewist"), especially one that's daunted by sewing patterns (me!), get this right now. The photos, fabrics, and projects are completely inspiring, and you'll feel happy just looking at it. I kept thinking, "This is my style. I would make that. And that. And that." It's a spiral bound hardcover so it lays flat, and it's a great price!

This is a page from Material Obsession: Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots. I've never made a quilt, and normally all those crazy patterns thrown together in one place make me a little nauseated, unless they're carefully coordinated. This how-to quilt book had some that didn't make me barf, which is high praise coming from me. And the photos are styled beautifully. You might like it.

I'm not a knitter, either, but if I were, I'd try to make these slippers from Weekend Knitting: 50 Unique Projects and Ideas.

Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing: More Than 40 Projects and Ideas for Inspired Stitching is also very lovely. The instructional illustrations are completely charming, and the projects include such things as slippers, bags, clothes, you name it. You can even learn what Heather likes to listen to on her iPod when she sews.

It looks like I have many, many projects on which to procrastinate now. Excellent.

23 comments:

Live a Colorful Life said...

I was just reading about Weekend Sewing yesterday. That is on my must-get list. Thanks for the other suggestions as well. They all look great. Definitely--more projects I dream of making...when I find time. Maybe I should just quit dreaming and get busy.

Cindy said...

these look great! i love heather's book, too.

Anonymous said...

I just got Weekend Sewing last week! There is a great loose-fitting top that I'm planning to make. I've bought the fabric and everything ... now just need to find the time!

Brie said...

I promise that this quilt will not make you barf. :)

http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2007/10/6/new-purl-color-wheel-quilt-custom-fabric-bundle.html

The graphic designer in me is amazed, the "sewist" in me is intimidated. lol

Laurel said...

thanks for the reviews - there were a couple there that i need to get now... =)

Jessica Jones said...

Brie, now that one, I love!

deanna said...

Nice list. I am obsessed with bags so I think I might just get the Sew What book.

Thanks!

Grandma G said...

You probably just insulted a lot of quilters. ;-)

Mum

Christina said...

i'm getting city chic as soon as i can! thanks for the tips.

Anonymous said...

These are some great books. I want the City Chic.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with you re: the quilt thing!!

I wasn't a fan of quilts until I saw this 'quilt' AND tutorial by Hyena In Petticoats: http://tinyurl.com/2axge4

And now I'm (slowly) making my own!
http://tinyurl.com/al38og

Anonymous said...

I have Weekend Knitting, and it's probably my favorite knitting book--one that I keep returning to. I'll have to check out Material Obsession and Weekend Sewing. Someday I want to make a quilt, but I'm into some of the more modern ones (Have you seen some of Denyse Schmidt's? She has a cool book of projects and quilts.)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting books! I love, love, love sewing books. I'm not really a pattern person but I love looking at them to get ideas :)

Jillian said...

Hey you were on a post on Print Pattern's Blog! Cool!

Anonymous said...

Ohh, I love knitting and haven't heard about this book yet, how exciting. The other books look lovely!!

Thanks for sharing

Kristin said...

I will have to check these out. Great blog you have! Very inspiring!

auntie said...

goody! i'm always looking for more projects to add to my list of things i'll never get to!!

Jessica Jones said...

I know, Mom. I bet I just lost a couple hundred readers. Oops!! Sorry, quilters everywhere! Please come back!

Cat: I REALLY like your quilt. Holy cow. I could actually see myself making that. It's kind of like origami, and it shows off each special fabric in its own frame instead of jumbling them all together. I love that each print gets special treatment. This is inspiring!

Pinktulip said...

Your blog is really inspiring! I visit most days just to see what you posted and it never disappoints. I love this post about craft books. I am just as crazy about craft books as I am about fabric and love to read about new books. I normally do a lot of research before I buy a book and appreciate bloggers posting reviews that help me decide if I should buy it or not. I personally post detailed reviews on all the books I buy. Thank you for keeping me inspired!

K said...

Just ordered the "Sew what! Bags..." thing. Thanks for posting about it. :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting these books - City Chic looks good. I'd be interested in reading that.
Another to add to the Amazon wishlist.

Susanna Mendiola said...

I've just made a small bag from the Sew What Bags book and plan to make many more! Great list, thanks!

James said...

It must have been my lucky week. So many great books came into my house. First, from Marcia at The Printed Page via Read it Forward I received Royal Blood by Rona Sharon. Thanks, Marcia!
Through BookMooch I got the first book, The Bad Beginning, in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.
Tuesday saw the arrival of a huge box of books courtesy of Natasha at MawBooks. I still can't believe how lucky I was to win this giveaway.