Sewing School 2: Book Review and Give-away

I was so happy to receive a copy of Amie Petronis Plumley and Andria Lisle's latest book, Sewing School 2  (Storey Publishing) in the mail, but before I could even peek at the pages, Leah (my eight-year-old) rushed off to her bedroom with it where she quickly flopped onto her bed and perused each page and project. Amie and Andria's first book, Sewing School , is one of my girl's favorites, so it came as no surprise that she would be beyond thrilled to lay eyes on the new book with exciting new projects.  Plus, its focus is teaching children to use the sewing machine, which is always an exciting prospect around these parts.

While I knew that Leah would be super excited to dig into this book, I almost forgot that my Hazel (five-years-old) is in a perfect place to begin learning to use a machine.  She loves fabric, prints, wrapping fabric around her dolls, and hand stitching, so when I showed her the book and asked if she'd like to do a project with me, she was bouncing in anticipation.

She chose the Tag Along project where you make a little stuffy with a loop for hanging.

She went right for a piece of punchy daisy fabric!

She was tentative about using the machine, but after some practice stitching, she was fired up and ready to go.  I love how the act of sewing with the machine teaches lessons in self-control and moderation.  There was a part of her that wanted to ZOOM!, but she took it slow because she was invested in her creation.

Stuffing!

Here she is, so proud of her creation!  After much consideration, this beauty will hang in her doll's bedroom.  We already have plans to make more to give away for the holidays -- we're thinking of stuffing them with herbs and flowers!
 
Sewing School 2 is a wonderful way to introduce children to sewing with a machine because it encourages them to be confident in themselves while inspiring them to be creative in ways that feel fun and productive. Plus, the projects pictured in the book are made by other children, which leaves my kids feeling inspired and connected to all of the creative possibilities within.

Visit the Sewing School blog or Storey Publishing for more information about the book and the tour.  

*********************************************************************************
Storey Publishing has generously offered to give away one copy of Sewing School 2 to a reader.  Just leave a comment on this post by 8/2 at midnight (Eastern Time) and I will announce the winner on 8/4.  Storey has requested that it be US only, please.

xo emily

Improv Sewing :: Review and Book Giveaway!

I'm excited to have the chance to share this wonderful new sewing book with you! Improv Sewing, written by Nicole Blum and Deborah Immergut  and released this past May by the amazing Storey Publishing, is a beautiful and inspiring book packed to the brim with an incredible amount of how-to information. Let's get right to it -- the focus on unfinished edges and imperfect lines speaks directly to my imperfect heart. I love how they embrace simplicity and that imperfection is seen as a beautiful stylistic choice.  This is my kind of sewing book!  It is an especially great resource for anyone who enjoys (or dreams of) transforming thrifted materials (oversized t-shirts, old sweaters, etc.) into gorgeous clothing. 

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

The projects throughout are beautiful and intriguing with clear instructions and friendly little tips.  Nicole happens to be a good friend of mine, and through her,  I met the lovely Deborah.  Because I know them and their creative ways, I knew this book was going to be amazing.  And, of course, it is, but what I hadn't considered is that it would leave me feeling so set-for-life when it comes to making clothing for myself.  I really, really feel that way.  Skirts, tunics, and dresses have never felt so accessible and doable.  How beautiful is that yellow dress?  And, that girl (Nicole's daughter)?

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

What I love most about and Nicole and Deborah's approach is the way they encourage readers to have confidence and to trust in their creative intuition. Yes,  it is no surprise that this way of thinking resonates with me.  I'm such a passionate believer in individual expression and remaining true to your creative instincts, which is why I love that the instructions are less about rules and more about doing what feels right.

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

I feel so happy to have this sewing resource on my bookshelf where I can look to it again and again for inspiration and guidance.

Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski 

 Photograph by Alexandra Grablewski

A wee note from Storey Publishing about Improv Sewing:

Improv Sewing is about “pursuing joy, not pursuing perfection”, Blum and Immergut explain. There are no patterns to follow, and hardly any rules. The authors embrace forgiving fabrics such as knits that invite wavy hemlines and raw edges. They encourage readers to look at solid fabric as a blank canvas. With this inspirational approach to sewing, crafters at any level of experience will be confident as they create these fast, fun, and fearless projects.

The folks at Storey Publishing have generously offered to give a copy of Improv Sewing to one lucky Red Bird Crafts reader.  Simply, leave a comment on this post from now until Tuesday (6/26),  I will choose a winner using a random number generator,  and announce the winner on Wednesday (6/27).  Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. And, good luck!

xo e

Alphabet Glue Giveaway!

Heads-up, lovely people!  If you haven't stumbled upon Annie Riechmann's Alphabet Glue yet, I highly recommend spending some time with one (or all) of the volumes! It is a clever downloadable e-magazine filled with projects and activities for children and their families, and it is a wonderful way to thread imaginative exploration into your day. 

Annie writes: Alphabet Glue [is] a downloadable magazine for families who love books!  Filled with activities, printables, projects and plenty of inspiration, Alphabet Glue was created in hopes of helping more families to incorporate creativity, imagination and all things literary into their everyday routines.  

As a last hurrah for her latest spring volume, Annie has kindly and so generously offered to give away four issues of Volume Six to four lucky ducks.  Amazing and wonderful, yes?

To enter:  Simply leave a comment on this post by Saturday June 2nd 8 AM EST time.  I will choose the four winners, using a random number generator, and announce them on Monday June 4th.

Awesome possum! And, good luck!
xo e

********************
Update

The four winners of the Alphabet give-away have been randomly chosen!  Congratulations to:

bsmithhill  "Heck yeah, I would LOVE to win!"

Gabby  "I love all your ideas! Would love to win too!!"

Terri Thompson "Love this! I've been wanting to check out Alphabet Glue!"

kate templeton "Some new project ideas for the kiddos would be great!"

Winners should please contact me for email for further details.

And, thank you Annie! 

 

A winner!

Cyd is the lucky winner of the Mod Podge and Folkart Paint giveaway!

She wrote: These are soooooo cute! I wish I had seen this when my kids were little!

Cyd, can you send me your mailing address, so I can ship the package right to your doorstep?

And, thank you to everyone who left comments. I loved reading each and every one. You guys are all that and a bowl of freshly mashed guacamole.

xo e

Plaid Giveaway and Story Trading Discs Tutorial

A few busy months ago, I was contacted by the lovely Amy of Mod Podge Rocks to see if I wanted to participate in a super duper Plaid sponsored giveaway. Yes, yes, yes! I really did want to participate for so many reasons, but especially because it coincided with a new little project I was busy developing.

Please meet my Story Trading Discs. They are kind of like those art cards that people trade, but they are smaller, and are meant to have one, simple collaged image on each disc. Kids can tell stories with them, trade them, or store them up in a shoebox like I was known to do with my kid collections.

I was designing this project right at the time when my children were going back to school, which led me to think about all of the silly little trinkets and bobbles that occupied my kid brain space for hours and hours many moons ago. I collected plastic charms, garbage pail kids, stickers, black rubber bracelets, and pencil tops (not all at once, mind you). I'd trade them, but mostly I'd just sift through them while admiring all of the images and colors and shapes. And, so, I figured that it would be really fun to make a handmade version, for trading and admiring.

Materials:
wooden discs
craft paint
Mod Podge
scrap paper
scrap fabric
hole punch
scissors
tooth pick

How To:

1. Paint the discs with bright, interesting colors. Set them out to dry.



2. In the meantime, draw and cut out simple images from fabric and/or paper. Plan on having one image or small set of images (think bowl & spoon) per disc. When dreaming up designs, think about engaging shapes and people and things that will get kids thinking and imagining.

I like to use buttons as stencils for faces. Isn't Chick's hand still chubby and baby like. You guys, she is 5 1/2! How lucky am I?

3. Once the discs are dry, choose one and coat it with a thin layer of Mod Podge. Use your fingers and a tooth pick to place all of the pieces of an image onto the disc. Coat the image with a layer of Mod Podge and set out to dry. It will look white and gluey, but don't fret because it will dry clear and beautiful.

4. After they are dry, you might want to give your discs an extra coat of Mod Podge for protection and longevity. After all, they are going to be traded on school buses and play yards!

I have this 8 oz container of Mod Podge as well as six containers of Plaid paint in six different beautiful shades of blue to give away. Leave a comment on this post, and I will choose a winner, using a random number generator, at midnight on Saturday. I'll announce the winner on Sunday. If the mood strikes you, feel free to share something that you collected or traded as a kid.

* updated * Contest expired. Thanks to all who participated!


And, be on the lookout for more Story Trading Discs to pop up in this space in the coming weeks.

xo e

p.s. Thanks, Amy!