Judge a Book by it's Cover?

Howdy!
I've been visiting the library because there is nothing like moving and realizing that you could start your own library with the amount of books ya own!

I recently borrowed a few books and this one below is an amazing collection of art quilts.  If you ever get the chance to take a look thru it, you should; the ISBN # is 13: 978-1-60059-058-0  the publisher is Lark Books.  Now with all the fabulous colorful quilts contained in this book why did they choose one that lacks color and is the back of a guy's head and he's sitting on a park bench???  Now I'm sure that quilt is lovely when you see it in person up close but don't the publishers know that people buy books based on their covers?  There are such beautiful colorful quilts in this book, really, go to your library and ask for it.  Early one morning before work, I sat sipping my coffee with the front door open so I could hear the soft spring rain falling and became immersed in these quilt pictures.

These are just random pages from the book.


I also got this book on clutter.  We all have it and I want to reduce mine.  It's a good book to start with.  She has some good pointers on how to do it.  Not a thick book and it even has large type so I read it pretty fast.  Now I actually have to put the principles to work in my life.  That's the hard part, hee, hee.

Thanks for stopping by!

Little Weekend Plans

Howdy!  Looookie, I got mail.  From Michaels craft store a coupon, so that's where I'm headed now after work and the mailman brought my book.  Sign up at Michaels.com and every now and then they send you a coupon.  I don't get their mailer for some reason and I don't get the Sunday paper where they advertise.  
 
I also got this book on ebay and it came today.  Yeah, I saw the movie but I have a hunch...the book will be better.  Haven't read a chick book for awhile so this should be nice.  

Still gonna work on the kitchen cupboards and do a little gardening, read some of my new book, crochet a bit and of course CLEAN blah.  

I got going early this morn and already did the grocery shopping before I opened the shop.

Many of my customers were telling me that the Geraniums were so pretty so I took a pic to share them with you, too.

Hope you getta do something relaxing this weekend!
See ya ;)

Look What I Won!

I entered the Threads Magazine (website) book giveaway last month and I was one of two winners!  Now I can't say I never win anything.

Stitch-Opedia looks like it will be a great reference tool.  They also have some projects you can do.

 I was hoping to get some ideas and also (new to me) techniques to apply to the jacket I'm embellishing.  I've only done a little bit of embroidery before so this should help me allot!  I only have one other embroidery book and it's been packed away.  Right now I'm almost done with the blanket stitches around the edges and collar.  I wanted to embellish the pockets, too with some type of flower design.

Here's the content page:

They include some history of the different techniques included in the book.  Throughout the ages they sure did some beautiful work!

I always liked stumpwork (padded applique) but I didn't know that that is what it's called until I got this book.  I did a wall hanging in high school where I batik dyed the fabric and did some embroidery and stumpwork on it.  Wish I still had it; I probably sold it at a garage sale!

This pic isn't in focus, sorry.  Wow, such tedious tiny stitches.

Amazing what artisans do with fabric, a needle and some thread!

That's all for now...

New Crochet Book

I decided that I needed to decide on a border for my afghan or it will never get finished.  So I got this book, Around the Corner Crochet Borders and... I got lured in by the pretty cover.  Yes, there really are 150 different borders in it, (unlike some crochet books that say there is allot of patterns but then you find the only bit of difference is using different colors together).  It also has the corners all figured out so your blanket will lie flat.  I think that every crocheted creation needs to have a complimentary border be it simple or extravagant depending on what it is.  Ya know, so it's finished looking.  This book had great reviews so I went and got it.  It's just what I needed.  I've had fun with this book, practicing a few borders.  Originally, I just wanted to use white but now I may use some color in the border as well.

I like these two.   The one above, the row with the pink almost looks like rosebuds.  There are quite a few in the book that would go great on the edge of the 'ghan but I don't want to do too many rows or it may seem like it will never be done.

This one is just so "cutsie cute" but I love it because I'm such a flower freak.  I think I'm going to make something just so I can use this border.  It won't look right on the blanket though.  First I have to finish the scarf then the hat, then while working on the blanket I can start another project, one that is smaller and portable.

Guess I'd better head on home since I found a little critter trying to make his way into my shop this morning and he must be hungry by now.  Why he was there in a parking lot with no foliage around he must've been lost!

Then I got my watering can and scooped him up and I told him he wouldn't find any food in my shop and that I was going to take him home and put him in my new garden.  He hasn't eaten all day, poor guy.  He looks big in the pic but he is only 2 1/2" or so to the end of his tiny tail.  If you grew up with 5 brothers then you wouldn't be afraid of lizards.  I never liked their pet snakes though.  Lizards and frogs, ok.  Lizards will eat lotsa bugs in your garden, nature at her finest.

Hope you are having a wonderful Friday night!