Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Romantasy Crochet Club: 20 Epic Projects for your Reading Journeys by Amanda Sennett

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Romantasy Crochet Club: 20 Epic Projects for your ...:   Reviewed by Jeanne Yep, it’s another book about a craft I don’t do, but what can I say?   I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover (trust ...

SleuthSayers: 2024 Year in Review: Editing

SleuthSayers: 2024 Year in Review: Editing: In my previous SleuthSayers post, I wrote about how little I’ve been able to accomplish this year because I’ve been unable to establish a ro...

Via Lady Sandra (My Wife): Greeting card projects

Lady Sandra: Greeting card projects: I do not like to throw out the beautiful cards we get at Christmas; so, below are some idea to upcycle them.   One can always send them...

Guest Post: "Two Steps to Picking Out the Right Project and Finishing It" by C. Hope Clark

Please welcome C. Hope Clark to the blog today. A few weeks ago she posted on Facebook how she was interested in doing guest posts. I figured sure that by the time I saw her message she had met her quota. Thankfully, she still had some open spots and graciously agreed to do a post for here. I am extremely grateful to C. Hope Clark for doing this today and hope this is the first of many more.....

Two Steps to Picking Out the Right Project and Finishing It

By C. Hope Clark

A writer recently cried on my shoulder about not being able to complete a project because he had so many great ideas swimming around his head.

"I've become a project hopper. I start but don't finish. Like convicts who look through iron bars at nervous guards, these story ideas glare at me from their Microsoft prison cells and question my authority. A walk to clear my head. Journaling. Listening to classical music. These exercises sometimes liberate  'the One.' I eventually find my way clear of the forest and pick the lonely little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. But, good grief, it’s a painful process."

Two suggestions, my friends.

1) Set time on your calendar for a business meeting with yourself.

At least monthly, format your goals for the next month, and then look back at the previous month to study what you accomplished (or didn't). So many people wave off this part of being a writer when it could define the writer you need to be . . . or need to avoid.

Some writers plan and plan, and rarely produce. They talk about what they're going to do but rarely see their projects through. Their polar opposites write and write and don't stop to plan what they will do with their stories.

You, however, must be different. Monthly, (or weekly is preferred) take a moment to study where you're headed and where you've been. Did you write a piece last week and could not find a home for it? Did you start writing one piece, then stop and switch to another? How many times did you hit a dead end?

In other words, study your writing habits? Which are not good? Which came through for you?

2) Whatever project you pick, go with it to THE END.

I wrote Lowcountry Bribe over two years, after work, at night. I did a few short pieces in the middle of this effort for diversity and entertainment, but my focus was this manuscript.  I made myself reach THE END. Couldn't sell it. So I put it on the shelf.

It wasn't a partial manuscript. It wasn't an idea. It was a completed job. Eventually, an opportunity presented itself for me to resubmit. I could only do that because I had a completed project, one that I could verbalize with a beginning, middle and ending. Not just a partial attempt, and far beyond a rough idea.

When you hold your meeting and decide your projects, lock away the ones you don't select. Don't look at them. Don't look at what others are doing and get drawn away. Finish the one you start. Do that a few times, and you just might find opportunity knocking harder on your door because you have an inventory of finished products. What also helped sell Lowcountry Bribe? The fact that I had book two completed as well.  

Nothing is more frustrating to a writer than to stockpile a hard drive full of partial projects. Delete most of those. Seeing them will only muddle your senses as they accumulate into a huge list, eventually representing your inability to complete what you start.
 

Bottom line: Pick what to write...and finish it. Repeat.

C. Hope Clark ©2014

C. Hope Clark is editor of FundsforWriters.com, chosen by Writer’s Digest for its 101 Best Websites for Writers for the past 14 years. She is also an award-winning mystery author, currently promoting Palmetto Poison, book three in The Carolina Slade Mystery Series. www.chopeclark.com

Lady Sandra: Crochet topped Tea Towels

 Her latest efforts.....

Lady Sandra: Crochet topped Tea Towels: Yes, I am going back in time. When I was growing up crochet tope tea towels were very popular.   Now, individuals do not hang their tea...

Review: "Playing with Stencils: Exploring Repetition, Pattern, and Personal Designs" by Amy Rice

Playing with Stencils: Exploring Repetition, Pattern, and Personal Designs by Amy Rice features variety in design of others while teaching readers how to go about creating their own personal touches in various projects. Along with plenty of information there are a number of photographs depicting the various ideas covered in the book.

Broken into three main sections along with several resource sections the book opens with the basics after a brief introduction. Section One titled “Getting Started: Designing, Enlarging, Transferring, Cutting, and Burning” begins on page 10. The section opens with an explanation of what a stencil is as well as what it isn't before moving on to how to manipulate a stencil by various means. Along with the detailed instructions and photographs there is a small section titled “tips” that contains helpful hints.  

Section 2 titled “Projects to Play With: Inspiring Stencil Ideas” features 20 projects. This section is the heart of the book and references the stencil templates located later in the book as well as other possibilities. The first project is for “Scherenschnitte-Inspired Floor Tiles” on pages 25-27. A brief introduction to the history behind the project followed by a list of materials and possible variations begins the project. On the facing page is a photograph of a completed floor tile project at close range showing more than eight tile squares with design. The following two pages of this project feature the detailed instruction as well as several photographs from start to finish.

This same format is followed through the remaining 19 projects. They include “Stencils Love Decoupage: Old Wood and Antique Letters” (pages 32-35) on an old wooden trunk with wheels, “A Simple Stencil for a Prettier Cake” (pages 36-39), “Paper Dolls Please” (page 48-51), “Reverse Stencil Planters” (pages 68-71), and “Custom Wallpaper” (pages 100-103) among others. Unlike many crafting or project books, this book does not feature a degree of difficulty scale making it impossible to judge whether the projects would be difficult for those new to stenciling or beneath very experienced stencilists.

Section 3 titled “Gallery: Influential Contemporary Artists Who Us Stencils” begins on page 104. This section features ten artists working in the medium in various ways. Artists such as the duo working as “Broken Crow” as well as solitary artists such as Matt Dixon, Megan Hunter, Liz Miller, Susan Rodriquez, and the author herself among others are featured. Not only are the works depicted here beautiful to look at, but they serve as inspiration to others.

Starting on page 126 there are the templates. There are 13 actual designs located here. The page titled “Templates” that heads off the section is blank.

That is followed by a one page “Artist Directory” that provides online contact info for the ten artists in the gallery. Also included in these remaining few pages is a one page “Resources” list providing six websites for various materials and a brief author bio. Also present is a one page ad featuring other stenciling and stamping books available from the publisher.

Featuring projects that go from floor to table to drapes to food and everything in between Playing with Stencils: Exploring Repetition, Pattern, and Personal Designs by Amy Rice features a lot of colorful and varied projects. While skill level is not addressed in this 145 page book it is clear that like any other art form patience and practice will be needed to perfect the image you are trying to create. This is a good resource to help you get started while also providing plenty of inspiration.

Playing with Stencils: Exploring Repetition, Pattern, and Personal Designs

Amy Rice

Quarry Books (Quayside Publishing Group)

http://www.quarrybooks.com

May 2013

ISBN# 978-1-59253-829-4

Paperback

$24.99

144 Pages

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2014

Sandi's Latest Project

Please buy something and keep her busy......

Check out my new listings: http://www.ioffer.com/i/walker-caddy-woody-color-545344546 or http://www.ioffer.com/i/walker-caddy-beachy-colors-545344340

Sandi's Latest Project

came about because of me and my need for a walker. She thought I could use something that would carry my reading glasses and book when I had to go out. She saw a couple of patterns and while she has been at The Atria she used up some of her yarn to make this in her first attempt.

The front side is to the left and the backside of the caddy is below.

I'm told that she will donate this to a new friend there at The Atria and she will make me a more "manly" one when she is back home. How she is going to make one with rocket launchers, machine guns, and footballs all over it I do not know.....

Review: "Noni Flowers: 40 Exquisite Knitted Flowers – 6 Beautiful Projects" by Nora J. Bellows

Books on knitting sweaters, hats, etc., abound and are everywhere. As the subtitle makes clear 40 Exquisite Knitted Flowers – 6 Beautiful Projects is not one of those kind of books. The intricacy and beauty of these knitted flowers is simply amazing in this book.

The book is broken down into basically three parts and a multipage appendix. The untitled first part contains a preface and introduction regarding knitted flowers and the inspiration behind the work of author Norma J. Bellows. Then the first section moves to practical advice on techniques, materials needed and used, explanation of the difficulty levels of the various flowers as well as projects, techniques used, abbreviations in the pattern instructions, and other information. Plenty of pictures detailing the steps are present along with the text. A text that, while using black ink, is a little light for older eyes.

Next is “The Flowers” starting on pages 34-35. After a picture and accompanying introductory text, this section starts with “Angel’s Tears Daffodil” on pages 36-38. Along with the Latin name, difficulty rating, several pictures both large and small, there are instructions on how to make the various parts of the flower, materials and tools needed, and a tip to finish the item off.  39 flowers follow in color and complexity whether they are the simple “Chicory” (pages 45-46) and “Pom-Pom Chrysanthemum” (pages 110-111) or the difficult “Hollyhock” (pages 78-80) there are plenty of choices to be had.  Each one is a clear work of art that will result in a striking and very realistic flower.

You could arrange the completed flowers in a vase of some type. Or you could attach them to something else.  That is the purpose of the section titled “The Projects” that begins on pages 138-139.  There are six projects here such as “May Violets Fingerless Gloves (pages 140-143), the “Forget-Me-Not Pillow” (pages 143-145) and four others.  The six projects allow you to accessories your outfits when you are out and about so that you can make a colorful and unique fashion statement.

The book closes with a multipage appendix on topics such as “Felting Basics” (pages 160-163) “Yarn Information “(page 168), “Resources” (page 169) and other useful information. A two page index at the end of this section brings the 176 page book to a close.

Colorful and distinctive Noni Flowers: 40 Exquisite Knitted Flowers – 6 Beautiful Projects by Nora J. Bellows has an idea for any level of knitter. If you are looking to do something different than the normal run of the mill hat, sweater, gloves, etc., this book just might be perfect for you.

Noni Flowers: 40 Exquisite Knitted Flowers – 6 Beautiful Projects

Nora J. Bellows

http://www.noniflowers.com

Potter Craft (Random House)

http://www.pottercraft.com

April 2012

ISBN# 978-0-307-58671-1

Paperback

176 Pages

$24.99

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano Texas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2012

Reviewing: Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic techniques for sewing, applique, embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and printing, plus 150 inspired projects from A to Z

I originally asked for this last year when it was offered by Amazon Vine. After waiting three months for the ARC to show up, the one I received was unusable due to extremely poor printing quality in terms of some pages having far too much ink and others nearly none at all, missing pages and numerous other issues. Since removing the item from the Amazon Vine queue is not possible without a review, I had to wait for the actual book to come from my local library system in order to be able to review it. That took time due to a long list of patrons in front of me and various other issues.

 

With the subtitle “Basic techniques for sewing, applique, embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and printing, plus 150 inspired projects from A to Z” this book is designed to be the primary resource for all your sewing needs. At 400 pages plus a CD containing project patterns and templates it is very comprehensive.

After a brief introduction and multi-page fabric and thread glossaries, there is a brief section on how to set up your sewing area. This is not designed for those who work out of a sewing basket and occasionally pull the sewing machine out of a closet somewhere. The sewing area depicted in this book is designed for those who can dedicate the space and can set it up much like a workbench area out in the garage.

The large section on “Basic Techniques” follows beginning on page 24 and is divided into six sub sections on various topics of interest. The first subsection is on “Sewing” and includes explanations of supplies needed, preparing fabric for sewing, the different types of items on a sewing machine, basic stitches by hand or machine, and how to sew various things by hem, seam, etc.

The book then moves to “Applique” starting on page 39 and uses the same setup as the proceeding sub section. After describing the basic supplies needed and how to do applique by hand and machine, the section moves on to ironing the applique.

Page 44 marks the start of the “Embroidery” section following the same format previously described in the earlier sections. As the other sections did, the text here is supplemented by both color photographs as well as black and white drawings.

“Quilting and Patchwork” begin on page 62 using the same format outline. The book showcases examples of a basic patchwork quilt, before moving on to one with a star design as well as more complicated ones. Also included is a helpful and detailed section on how to repair a patchwork quilt.

Suppose you want to change the color of a fabric. This is where “Dyeing” comes and that section begins on page 76. Not only does the book cover how to hand dye fabric, there are detailed instructions along with the always present photographs on how to over dye fabric as well as achieve the faded look you want as well as several other helpful tips.

That section naturally leads into the concept of “Printing.” Beginning on page 84, Martha Stewart takes you through the process using stamps, blocks, and stencils to create the design you want.

Now that you have the basics out of the way you are ready, for “Projects A to Z” beginning on page 90. Handmade stuffed animals such as the “menswear bunny” (cut pieces from an old suit) on pages 93 and 94 and “sock dogs” (pages 99-101) start off the by far largest section of material in the book. For over 340 pages this section details the above mentioned whimsical items, practical things like the “multi pocket bulletin board” on pages 267 and the useful such as the very pretty and no doubt warm “state-bird embroidered quilt” ( pages 290-291),among others. While aimed at folks new to sewing or with little experience, those with plenty of sewing experience will want to pick up this book to check out the many interesting projects.

The last section of the book is designed to be information resource contenting lists of materials advanced sewers use, their techniques, examples of the material found on the CD, a list of sources, etc. An 11 page index and one page listing of photography credits bring this 400 page book to a close.

Comprehensive and extensive, detailed in terms of text and pictures, this book is definitely a worthy resource to have. While those with experience may only be interested in the numerous projects and varied projects, those with more limited experience will find this book to be a very worthwhile and valuable resource.

For those folks who want to know how the reviewer used the book---I did not do any of the projects or do anything beyond read and review the book. The continuing worsening of my health situation that has now spread into my arms and hands makes it impossible just like it is now impossible for me to assist my wife with any of her sewing and craft projects.

Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic techniques for sewing, applique, embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and printing, plus 150 inspired projects from A to Z

Martha Stewart

http://www.marthastewartcrafts.com

Potter Craft (Crown Publishing Group—division of Random House)

http://www.pottercraft.com

March 2010

ISBN# 978-0-307-45058-6

Hardback

400 Pages (plus pattern CD)

$35.00

Material supplied by the good folks of the Plano, Texas Public Library System.

Kevin R. Tipple © 2011