Book Review: Every Day's a Holiday

Heidi Kenney of My Paper Crane brings this little set of book reviews to a close with Every Day's a Holiday: Year-round Crafting with Kids.  As you can probably guess, it's organized chronologically following the holidays month by month. There are a ton of projects from crazy hats to stenciled totes. These crafts are targeted to kids of all ages -- some you'll need to help out with and some they'll be able to do on your own. There's definitely a good variety and a full dose of her uber-cute signature plush style.

All the templates are in the back and easy to photocopy as you need them. There aren't a lot of  illustrations to the steps but there are plenty of photographs of the crafts at different angles so if something's difficult, you'll be able to figure it out. And while the crafts are all attached to a holiday (and some really bizarre ones at that), you can do most of them at any time.

Overall, this is a great book for you to pick up if you have kids. You should have picked it up last week before you got buried in all that snow. Then you would have actually had some cool stuff to do instead of watch at that TV.

Book Review: Wee Wonderfuls 24 Dolls to Sew and Love

Hillary Lang has really outdone herself with Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love. I have long been a fan of her blog and patterns and was extremely excited to hear the news of this book.  It has gotten nothing but good reviews and for good reason. Her patterns are exquisitely drawn and her instructions clear and concise. I have bought several patterns from her shop and have never been disappointed. The book is very well done. I was pleased that all of the projects are new and not repeats of patterns she sells in the shop or offers on her blog.

The book cuts right to the projects and puts the primer of sewing/tool information in the back right before the patterns. You can photocopy or trace the patterns you want (enlarging/reducing as you wish). The projects are of varying levels so that even beginners will find something that suits their skills. But really, the instructions are so detailed that if you take your time, you'll be able to make any of them regardless of your experience. The important thing to remember that there are very few quick fixes with Lang's work. She adds a lot of detail. You're going to have to hand stitch something. That's just the deal. That's why our toy bin houses a naked Christmas elf with no hair, hat, or face. The details did me in on the first go and this Christmas I didn't get around to finishing it. Ahh, maybe next year.

I highly recommend this if only to look at the gorgeous photographs. It's a work of art in itself.

Book Review: Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified

Friend, awesome stitcher, and amazing mom, Sabra of Sew a Straight Line has written today's book review of Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified by Cal Patch.  Like me, she asks for craft and sewing books for Christmas. Unlike me, she has actually made something from hers!

Head on over to her blog to read the full review. I've been eyeing this one up for a long time. And while I know how to make clothes from a muslin, I don't actually have a muslin and base pattern of my current body. It seems like this book might be the way to go. That shirt looks fabulous!

Thanks, Sabra! You rock.