Archive for the ‘read it’ Category

A few weeks ago, I received a package with Jennifer Paganelli’s new book Girl’s World: Twenty-One Sewing Projects to Make for Little Girls inside.  Jennifer of Sis Boom kindly sent us several copies to be given away at the upcoming Blogger’s Quilt Market Meetup.   Of course this book could not have remained unopened in a box in my home.  I carefully untied the bow, opened it up and (gently) leafed through it.  It’s that kind of book… it’s so lovely you want to curl up and enjoy every page.  This is exactly what I was doing when I felt someone (or two) hovering at my shoulder.  The cover had drawn my 9 year old twin girls like bees to honey.

They oohed and awed over every page… and I heard, “Mommy can you please make that?  And that!  I love that…”  about 50 times.

Yes, Jennifer Paganelli knows girls.  This book is full of beautiful ideas, lovely dress patterns and wonderful craft projects.  Some of the projects look easy enough that my girls could make them.

The photographs throughout the book are incredible.  The colors and fabrics are bright and lovely.  I read through the instructions of some of the projects and was pleased that they seemed clear and logical.

In case you are a beginning sewer and want to learn, Jennifer also let me know that she she will be teaching a virtual sewing class with Dolin O’Shea on the Virtual Radio Network, where they will be teaching the Mary’s Fancy Sash Dress (a dress I would love to make for my girls).  The class includes an autographed copy of Girl’s World.  It will be suitable for beginning sewers and will teach techniques such as arm holes, gathering the skirt, darts, hemming, and how to sew with elastics… among many other things. The class also includes a one hour live chat with the delightful Jennifer and Dolin O’Shea.

I can’t wait to get my own copy of the book, and will definitely be making more than one of the projects. My girls can’t wait to make a stuffed George the Puppy and  I will be making the Patchwork Memory Board for their room.

Thank you Jennifer for sharing your lovely book.  For those of you coming to the Blogger’s Quilt Market Meetup, you might just be lucky enough to win your own copy!

It’s President’s Day here in the United States.

In tribute to our most beloved President, here’s a little Lincoln roundup.

QUOTES

“I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”

“He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.”

BOOKS

• Team of Rivals is one of my all time favorite histories.  I’ve read several biographies of Lincoln, but this book gave me a more dimensional and immediate portrait of Lincoln than any book I’ve ever read.  Ms. Goodwin brilliantly paints her portrait, by viewing him through the lens of his rivals… who became, in most cases, dear and respected friends.

• For the kids:  Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers and Lincoln: A Photobiography are two of our favorites.

PROJECTS

• How about making a log cabin tribute out of pretzels with the kid’s today?  I found this one on Martha Stewart.

• Dana over at Made wow’s me again with her Presidential tee- shirt tutorial…  am I too old to wear one of these?

• Last but not least… a quilt.  The Civil War Row Quilt shown above is one of my favorite possessions.  It was a gift from my mom.  The label on the back is inscribed with the quote from President Lincoln’s famous speech, “A house divided cannot stand…”

Happy President’s Day!