If you know me at all you know that I hace a little problem with books. I buy too many of them, and I've been trying to cut back lately. This decision was made after moving all of my books twice in one month, lugging them up and down multiple flights of stairs, and trying to find a place to put them all. My dad has informed me that I'm on my own for the next move if I don't get rid of all the books first. Since that isn't an option, I guess I'll have to hire moving guys . . . or just NEVER move.
So yeah, I am aware that I have a problem. Randy made me promise not to buy any more cook books, so whenever we go into a book store or an antique store and I find one that I like I just carry it around with me for a while and put it back before we leave. Carrying it around makes me feel better. We DID buy a Mario Batali cook book a week ago when we got our very own pasta maker (more to come on that in a later post), so I guess I have a quick cook book fix for now.
Sewing books, though, are an entirely different story. Especially since two great ones came out in the past month. And I bought BOTH of them.
The first is the follow up to Natalie Chanin's Alabama Stitch Book (which I also have, of course, and made this top using one of the patterns). I couldn't put this down when I got it in the mail! Did I mention I preordered it on Amazon? No? Yeah. This time there are patterns for dresses, new techniques for decorating your jersey creations, and more than a few recipes (So it's like a cook book too, I guess that means I cheated a little).
I will be making this dress and then wear it while I cook the egg and grits casserole that the writer included. Or I'll make one in every color and wear them all the time because, dang, it looks comfortable!
The second is the third Built-by-Wendy book, all about dresses. Angry Chicken has a neat-o interview with Wendy Mullen about the book as well as a review. And just in case you are too lazy to click on those links and read what Amy wrote, I'll tell you myself, this book is not for beginners. Her first book is! So by all means go out and buy it, it's great. The whole point of the third book, though, is to give you 3 basic dress patterns and teach you how to alter them to create new garments. She gives lots and lots of examples and instructions for her own altered designs, but once you wrap your head around it the possibilites are endless. I've already got more than a few ideas. I do imagine this would be difficult if you were totally new to garment construction. If you've made a few basic patterns and are ready to explore the world of pattern alteration, this is a fantastic book.
Now, one of two things needs to happen. 1) Randy needs to get a second job and support me so I can stay home each day and create a fabulous wardrobe, or 2) I need to win the lottery and officially retire as a research scientist. 'Cause, really, I have no time to make all the things I want to make. I'll show you my To Do/In Progress list one day, it's comical! In the meantime just having the books is nice.
A big THANK YOU to all the people who commented on the Bean Quilt on this blog and on flickr. The only thing better than making something with your own two hands is hearing that other people like it. It makes me feel really good to know that I can share my work with such talented people. You are all so inspiring!
I'm with you! I just read about Alabama Style (and an interview with the author) via http://www.houseonhillroad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/alabama-studio-style-and-chat-with-author-natalie-chanin.html and want it! Besides the corset in the first book, I haven't made anything else but I so WANT to.
And the Built by Wendy books....those are on my list as well. I haven't even ventured into the realm of garment making but I can't wait too. I just looked on Amazon, you can get all three of her books for ~$46. Here we go tax refund! =)
Posted by: vanessa williams | February 17, 2010 at 07:45 PM