For some reason, I always tuck my receipt inside my newly purchased book.  I don’t use the receipt as a bookmark, but it’s there, right inside of the book, tucked behind the first page or so, but never between the first pages of the actual story, it’s  tucked in between the pages before the story begins, you know like in between the copyright page and title page.  I have no idea why I save the book receipts.  It’s not like the book receipts have sentimental value or any usefulness since I don’t use them as bookmarks.  Although I do think it is sweet that my hubby kept the dinner receipt from our first date.  Hanging on to that makes more sense, it has no purpose but it does have sentimental value.   

YAY!  My pre-order of One-Yard Wonders arrived a few days ago.  I pre-ordered the regular edition because at the time I didn’t know the difference between the regular and deluxe edition but now I know that the deluxe edition contains 5 extra projects and is on sale at bn.com for the crazy low price of $11.31! 

The book is beautiful to look at.  It is hardback spiral bound with a pattern pieces envelope on the inside.  The table of contents is really well-organized with chapter headings and a list of projects in each chapter.  The chapters are:  (1) sewing fundamentals, (2) dwell redux, (3) household affairs, (4) craft organization, (5) on the go, (6) from head to toe, (7) carry it all, (8) outfit your small wonder, (9) accessorize your little one, (10) playtime, and (11) your furry friends.  The book closes with a page of applique pieces for some of the projects that will need to be enlarged on a copier machine, a glossary, a one page resources list, about 10 pages of contributor bios — some with blog links, and finally the index.   Readers learn in the sewing fundamentals chapter that patterns for this book are made by (1) finding the full-size pattern in the envelope or (2) drafting your own from the measurements given. 

tnemily left a comment here saying that she hopes to get a sewing machine soon and wonders if this would be a good project for a sewing newbie.  I can say that yes this is a good project book for sewing newbies for two reasons.  (1) This book is ”hip” and definitely geared to the new generation of sewers.  Lots of cool projects in here for you to make for yourself or give as gifties to family and friends.  Usually when I would flip through sewing project books at the library nothing would appeal to me simply because the books were full of wall hangings, appliqued ducks, and dated old-fashioned projects.  This is definitely not the case with this book!  (2)  At first glance, none of the projects in this book seem too tricky.  The ’sewing fundamentals’ chapter provides good basic information on sewing techniques that will help you complete the projects in the book.  However, for a total newbie sewer, I highly recommend purchasing a sewing technique book like The Sewing Book — this book is worth every penny (although I admit I bought the book at a deep discount at Borders with a 40% off in-store coupon) and a must have for visual learners as the book has big beautiful photos (not line drawings) along with text to explain all kinds of sewing techniques like darts, seams, inserting zippers, etc…   

Some of my favorite projects in this book include:  lined bookcase - dwell redux chapter, granny’s clothespin apron AND  the obi-inspired hot-&-cold pack - household affairs chapter,  quilted lunch bag AND not-ugly car trash bag - on the go chapter, summer nightie AND simply beautiful sundress (personal note, if I make this, I will alter the pattern to make the dress length longer) - head to toe chapter,  folklore bag - carry it all chapter, and the dog walking coat - your furry friends chapter.  And even though my hubby and I don’t have children yet, there are so many cute projects in the outfit your small wonder, accessorize your little one, and playtime chapter like the newborn flyaway jacket, ballet-neck toddler dress, mini craft & tool belt, cuddly bear cushion, fabric dollhouse, and steggie the pull-along dino.  Every project features a photo of the completed project, and in addition to the written directions, most of the projects also have some line drawings to aid in assembly.  However there were a handful of projects that don’t have any line drawings to help guide the sewer in construction and I felt it would have been nice if the line drawings were included  — however that might only be an issue for me since I’m a visual learner and like lots of pictures.       

All in all, this is a great book full of wonderful projects, beautiful photos, and lots of inspiration.  And of course this book comes out just in time to make all kinds of great holiday gifties for family and friends!  I highly recommend this book!

YAY!  My one-yard wonders book arrived today!  (By the way, the deluxe edition with 5 extra projects is only $11 on bn.com!)  I can tell from one very quick flip through that this book is capital-A amazing!  I plan to retreat to another room in the house to look through it while my hubby watches Fringe but I know I’m going to end up sitting on the couch next to him, wondering why I am there, because every week the show freaks me out, yet I still sit and watch it, and at the end of every show I am freaked out and I ask out loud why did I watch the show?!  

Isn’t the book so beautiful?!  And lookie inside!  It’s hardback sprial bound — so awesome that the book can lay flat!  And there is a pattern piece envelope!  I haven’t opened the pattern piece envelope yet because I may decide to go to
local Barnes & Noble store and exchange my regular edition for the deluxe edition — I am very curious about those 5 extra projects!  I will post a full review of the book (I just know it’s going to be great) over the weekend.

Speaking of stocking up on Thanksgiving Day supplies early, I have this ingrained need to also stock up on TP (toilet paper).  I am very much aware that there is thankfully no shortage of TP in the USA – thank goodness because we don’t need any flashbacks to Russian days of yore — but I definitely picked up this odd habit from my mom.

Growing up, my mom always had lots of packs of TP on hand.   And I don’t mean lots of 4-roll packs, I mean the big huge packs of TP. My folks used to have a membership to a now defunct warehouse grocery store and my mom would buy these HUGE packs of TP that had SO MANY rolls of TP inside.  As far as I know, she had access to plenty of TP growing up so I have no idea why she felt she needed to buy so much   But like mother, like daughter, and now I keep lots of TP in our house.  We don’t have a warehouse grocery membership, so the big packs at the grocery store will have to do. Or sometimes I buy lots of little 4-roll packs if they are on sale. I get a little nervous, like right now, because we only have one 4-roll pack in the house. I need more TP. And as a side note, I am loyal to my TP brand. Even if another brand is on sale, I will not buy it.

YAY! My one-yard wonders book finally shipped out yesterday!  At the time when I placed my pre-order I had the choice of ordering the regular book or the Barnes & Noble exclusive edition.  At the time I didn’t know the difference between the two editions so I chose to save a dollar or two and pre-ordered the regular version but I have since learned that the exclusive edition contains 5 more projects!  Right now, BN has the exclusive edition for only $11.31 — which is nearly 50% off the cover price!  Just thought I’d pass the good news along in case any of y’all want to order it!

We’re only just one week into November, and yet I’m stocking up on Thanksgiving supplies like the stores are going to run out.  Well actually, some very popular food items will disappear as Thanksgiving Day approaches.  One year, a few days before the holiday, I remember our Publix ran out of the big cartons of organic chicken broth and those cute little cans of solid jellied cranberry sauce which I loooove so much — I love how the solid cranberry jellied mass slides out of the can and I love that the can’s ribbed markings imprint themselves to the solid mass of cranberry jelly which is a very helpful guide for cutting even slices   But I digress… 

Last Saturday, I was psyched (goodness, I can’t believe I just used the word ‘pysched’ about my grocery store trip!) that I bought the 2nd to last can of Libby’s canned pumpkin.  So of course when I saw a freshly stocked display of holiday foods, I plunked another can of Libby’s canned pumpkin in my cart.  I also bought another litttle can of jellied cranberry sauce.  I do make a big batch of cranberry chutney from scratch with fresh cranberries, apples, raisins, among other things, but I still dig on the canned stuff.  I also love to bake with fresh cranberries throughout the year as well, mostly muffins and breads, so  I will stock up on bags of cranberries since they are only sold during the holiday season and after that, no more until next year.     

Anybody else stock up on their favorite Thanksgiving Day food items early in case the stores sell out or am I the only kookie one?!

As you can see,  Benjamin very much likes the pillow I made that has the spotted doggie fabric — they’re his peeps.