croque-choux

New on my bookshelf

Hoping to learn some new knitting techniques from this book I got on Valentine's day. Instructions are in English and Japanese!

Broderies.

This week flew by so fast that I didn't get a chance to embroider a thing. First week on the new job and all that... However, one of the nice things about working where I now work is that there is a real library on site, and that's where I discovered this book on embroidery by Francoise Tellier Loumagne. Wow... great photos and lots of inspiration to help you discover ways of transposing your ideas into embroidery. On one page you've got pictures of plants, flowers, and everyday things like a window with dew drops (my fave), and on the facing page the same image imagined in needlework. She has written other books too which you may be familiar with. Anyway, no need to read French to savor the images and ideas in this book!

Good reading

Hope that 2007 got off to a good start for everyone! I had to work the day after Christmas and the day after New Year's day, so not much time for blogging or pouring over these lovely books I got for Christmas. You might remember me mentioning Lea Stanshal's book recently, so you can imagine how glad I was to find this under the tree. A storybook and craft book all in one, with wonderful photographs! Apparently Lea gives classes too... I think I'd like to try making one of her little birds, like the one on page 57 here- isn't it beautiful? The Fimo book is from my daughter- which makes me think that we should spend more time making crafts together (she especially likes Fimo and making collages); maybe she wants me to play with polymer clay again?

I want this book!!

ISBN: 2700604342 - Roughly translated the title is "the Sewing bag", but it looks like sewing case would be closer. I'm dying to for a peek inside this book... The author Léa Stansal has also written a previous book, which looks really nice as well, but really I'm intrigued by the little house and mushrooms on this one :o) Found via the latest issue of Marie Claire Idées. Hey wait a sec- it looks like you can now download the magazine online for 4.60€... check here. Coolness. Now if I could only download the Danish magazine BoligLiv that I'm so fond of... I discovered it last Summer- inside mostly home dec, a little DIY, recipes, and inspiration. (NB: they do offer some free recipes in Danish- looks yummy!)

Gimme gimme

Oh my god... look! A beaded robot?! I gotta have this little book. Too late for my birthday book list; will have to go on the Christmas wishlist, unless maybe... 

B-Day

 
Wednesday, the 20th was my birthday and my husband brought Japanese food home for  the 4 of us and 2 Japanese craft books for little old me! I don't know what impressed me more: the food, the craft books from Junko , or my little boy discovering that he loves California maki :o) Oh yeah, and the pendants I ordered from Chu Ling's Etsy shop   arrived today, and they are even prettier than I expected. This was my first time buying anything from Etsy, but from now on, I think that I will have to hide my credit card every time I "window shop" over there! And last but not least, some very special people (dear friends and dear daughter) called me at work and sung Happy Birthday on the phone. That was so sweet! Totally made my day.

Unfortunately I also got a migraine for my birthday, but I tried not to think about it too much and went to bed early with my new books. Thursday I rolled into work at 12 because I had that "baseball bat upside the head" feeling and actually missed the "Sandra's last day at work" surprise my co-workers had planned. Duh. Oh, how lame I felt. Well, as a consolation prize (hihihi) they asked if I could come in 2 or 3 more days more because they can't be short one oar in the galley just yet. They also gave me a giant bouquet of flowers, so guess who's going back to work on Monday? Okay I'll stop being cynical, because if you forget about the work load, they were all nice people to work with.

Inspiration shelf

I started cleaning up and organizing my craft area Sunday afternoon. Why didn't I put extra book shelves in here before?? It just seems so obvious now- more space is great. And you know I'm thinking more space for more craft books! Here's one shelf I particularly like.
Another thing I fixed is the problem I was having with Typepad. Things are now so much easier, so I should be able to add things to this blog more often!

Gnome season

Barb at woofnanny posted a blog entry about gnomes the other day, and that made me remember this gnomad website my brother told me about. If you've seen the Amelie Poulain film then the idea should sound familiar to you, but this takes that to the next level :o) I think I would have liked these gnomads better if they were a little more "real" looking though (ie. more traditional less marketing), still it's an idea that made me smile. Well, if you're into gnomes, why not craft your own using this book? (ISBN: 0863153003). As you know, I prefer fairies personally so I think that this book on fairy houses would be neat to have!

Appliqué inspiration

I'm crazy about the appliqué designs on the covers of these 2 Japanese books. I would just love to have a closer look...

How cute is this?

This cute book
on felting really
looks like a
must-have too,
so I'm adding it
to my wishlist of
Japanese books
right now!
Hmmm... I think I'll have a go at making a hedgehog without the book. Looks pretty easy, and I have brown wool!