Book Review: Glorious Embellishing with Gloria McKinnon

Sewing and crafting books are one of my favorite pieces of reading material.  I could flip through sewing books time after time and never get bored with them.  I find these books to be so inspiring and a wonderful resource for learning new tricks and techniques.   Most nights, before I fall asleep, I am looking at some sort of sewing / crafting magazine or book - it's just a great way to end the day!

I was recently sent a copy of a fabulous new book from the publishers of Sew Beautiful and Martha Pullen for my review and I am thrilled to share this new publication with you all............

Glorious Embellishing with Gloria McKinnon

The Ultimate Resource for Decorative Stitching and Beading

Have you ever been interested in embroidery or hand embellishing?  "Glorious Embellishing" with Gloria McKinnon includes seven different detail oriented projects in the first half of the book and then includes an invaluable embroidery stitch library in the second part of the book.  The projects are truly delicate works of art and are pieces that will be cherished for a lifetime.

 

Many of the projects include instructions on the piecing of fabric and then finish with the elaborate embellishing stitches that can be used.  The projects are meant to be inspiration and you really can make them into your own works of art.  The vintage women (seen in the project above) are included in the book so that you can put them on fabric transfer paper and use as part of your creation.

I am a big visual learner so I love all the illustrations that come with the embroidery stitch library.  They are very clear and easy to understand, especially for a novice when it comes to hand embroidery.  Most stitches start off showing you the most basic version and then go into more and more advance techniques.  The author also shows you how to add things such as beading or silk ribbons into your embroidery embellishment techniques.

Even if some of the projects are not necessarily your style, they can be adapted and made your own.  And again, I have to say that the embroidery stitch library in this book is like none I have ever seen.  I have always wanted to get more into embroidery and I think this book might be the push I need to make that happen.

If you are interested in reading more about "Glorious Embellishing with Gloria McKinnon", please visit the Martha Pullen Store where you can purchase this book as well as many other sewing and craft resources.

Sew Serendipity by Kay Whitt - Signed Book Giveaway

 

I mentioned in last weeks "Quilt Market" post that I would be doing a book giveaway this week.  Well, here it is, just as promised - "Sew Serendipity" by Kay Whitt.

One of the first people my mom and I met at International Quilt Market was author and pattern designer, Kay Whitt.  We just happened upon her booth where she was sharing her gorgeous pattern designs, her wonderful book and was sporting the most adorable dress that you can see in the picture above (made from one of her own patterns).  And as I mentioned before, she was a true ray of sunshine.  So warm and friendly and more than happy to help an aspiring pattern designer with the ins and outs of the industry.

Later that day, Kay was doing a book signing for her book, "Sew Serendipity" and I received a signed copy of the book from her publicist.  Would I love to add this book to my stash? Well, absolutely!  But I have quite a few sewing books and I decided that the book would be better in the hands of one of you.  So that leads us to our giveaway.

Today I'm giving away a signed copy of Kay Whitt's "Sew Serendipity" sewing book.  Now even though I am giving this away, I had to take a peak inside to make sure you all would really like it.  And guess what?  It's a total winner!  This book is geared towards women's clothing and has many great skirt, tunic, dress, and coat patterns.  But it was the coat patterns that really won me over.

Oh, how I love this coat.  Love, love, love.  It's just so sweet and feminine without being over the top.  I'm always thinking of children's clothing, so I could totally see something like this on my little girls as well as myself.

I thought this one was really hip and fun with this modern fabric.  But it could also be toned down in a more subdued fabric.  This shape would be really figure flattering on lots of different body types.

And I just can't stop looking at this one!  So classic, yet modern - just my style.  If any of you win this book and would like to make this for me, I would gladly take it off your hands.  Just kidding, but isn't it adorable?

The book contains tons of illustrations throughout that makes it very easy to understand.  Kay does all the illustrations herself, which are just awesome.  I also love some of the other earlier chapters about getting a truly custom fit as well as her sewing tips and tools of the trade.

If you have ever been interested in sewing for yourself or another woman in your life, you are going to want this book.  So here's how to win...........

Three ways to enter.  You may enter up to three times total.  Please leave a comment for each entry.
1) Leave a comment.  You can say whatever you would like. (1 entry)
2) Follow The Cottage Home Blog. (1 entry)
3) Become a fan of The Cottage Mama on Facebook (click HERE to do so). (1 entry)

Giveaway will be open until Friday, May 27, 2011 at midnight (CST).