Free sewing books...

When I was homeschooling our kids for those incredible eleven years I helped bring very old out-of-print books back to life by typing page after page of these wonderful texts so they could be formatted in an easily downloadable format. 

Technology has updated a lot in the past five or six years and what was once a long process is now much quicker, so more and more public domain vintage books are available online for all of us to enjoy and glean from.

Books written to children 'back in the day' are comparable to many modern books written to adults - the vocabulary back then was wonderful, which is why I read books that were hundreds of years old to my children for two hours every afternoon until they were 15 or 16. My younger son's particular favourite was the original Robinson Crusoe from 1719, but he was also a Jules Verne and Captain Marryat fan. 

I thought you might like to take advantage of a couple of free books I've recently found that are specifically for sewing and embroidery?

Like this gem which I found to be delightful! It's written for children and is full of black and white hand drawn illustrations, so if you're new to sewing (and even if you're not) you'll find it overflowing with how-to's.

The Mary Francis Sewing Book can be downloaded HERE

Another wonderful book is The Little Girl's Sewing Book. This is a Project Gutenberg book and has black and white photographs throughout to teach you visually as well as by written instruction.

This book is HERE to download or read online...

There is also 99 Embroidery Stitches available to download HERE...

Enjoy these books. 

I think we can all learn something new from them, and besides, what's nicer than a sensible children's book about our favourite craft? Especially when served with a pot of tea and a rock cake or two...

bless you,

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A book and a makeover...

I went shopping and bought myself a book.

Actually, the store gave me a birthday voucher for $10, plus a 40% off promotional voucher. So I guess they bought me the book, or about 80% of the book...and I only paid 20%. Yippee either way, because it's been on my radar for a while and now it's in my hot little hands and I couldn't be happier with my purchase...

Making Quilts with Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession: 21 Authentic Projects [With Pattern(s)]

Kathy is an American who has been in Australia for over twenty years, a wife and mother to three boys, and owner of the Material Obsession quilt shop down in Sydney. She has published a few brilliant quilting books, including Materials Obsession One and Two which she co-authored with Sarah Fielke. Both are in my top 10 favourite quilt books list and are drooled over regularly.

But, Kathy's recent book of 21 quilt designs has stolen my heart big time.

Taking a long trip through the outback with her husband - no phone or internet allowed - Kathy lay her quilts against the rugged backdrop of small country towns to capture the essence of each one in photographs for the book.

I love this linked chain border, which I intend trying myself very soon...

...and this quilt reminds me of a favourite movie Blossom and I have watched over and over.

Do you know which movie I'm talking about?

One day I want to design and stitch a story quilt like this; rich in the heritage of my ancestry.

This book won't make it onto the shelf for a while...it's got me all quilt inspired, and quilting isn't my forte, so when a book does that for me it's a keeper-by-the-bed for bedtime dreaming. 

Would you leave a comment to tell me the title of your favourite quilt book and why you like it so much. I think we'd all be interested!

It must have been my blessing day because I found another wonderful bargain before I came home from my shopping trip.

I leave for Melbourne in two weeks for Let's Get Stitched where I'm one of the seven guest designers, and I don't think a chilly March Melbourne will be as warm as my high humidity tropical Townsville, so I need to gather some 'wintry' clothes.
This sweet cardigan was reduced to $2, and as soon as I saw it I had an idea for a shabby lace makeover. At just $2 it doesn't matter if my idea fails but I really want to give it a try, so watch this space in the next week or so.

Princess Sophie will be keeping Mr E company while I'm away. The mere notion of being mistress of the house and having him all to herself without my interference fills her thoughts day and night at the moment...

Make the most of it while you can, Princess Sophie, but just remember, I'm coming back, and I'm still the Queen.

hugs

PS:  (the movie was "How to Make an American Quilt" 1995)