Monday, May 6, 2013

One year + Giveaway Day!

*** Giveaway now closed ***


Hello! Welcome if this is your first visit to my blog. I'm Laura, and I've been blogging here for the past year, which makes this my blogiversary! This week is also Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway "Day" - perfect timing!  So in honour of both occasions I'm hosting two giveaways.
Happy Bloggy Day to Crafty Hour, and good luck in all the wonderful giveaways out there.

Giveaway #1

A collection of variegated embroidery threads, vintage buttons, and assorted "handmade" tags, all inside a pretty handmade zipper pouch.



Friday afternoon I had an idea floating around in my head, but no amount of Googling lead me to just the right thing. I did find this tutorial, the same idea of a flat pouch with a zipper partway down instead of at the top. Only thing was, it's not lined. A little experimenting and this pouch happened. I hope to do a tutorial for the lined pouch in the next week, so be sure to come back and have a look!
The outer is charcoal twill, embroidered to coordinate with the inner, which is a Chinese satin brocade. I have Aneela Hoey's book Little Stitches from the library, so I got to practice some of the different stitches she outlines. (I love this book! So many sweet embroidery designs and projects, plus good photos and technique descriptions.)


To enter to win this giveaway, please just leave a comment, telling me about your favourite sewing book. I love to pore through sewing and crafting books!  For a bonus entry you can become a follower or subscribe and comment again telling me you have, but it's not required.

This giveaway will be open until Friday, May 10 at 5pm PST.  I will choose a winner using the random number generator and announce the winner here. Giveaway open world-wide.

(be sure to check out my other giveaway here!)

134 comments:

  1. Your pouch is lovely. I don't have a favorite sewing book. I have a few in my stash...The Quilters Bible is a great overall book. Thanks.

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  2. I like Sew What Skits.

    melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. I have two that I use for reference when sewing. The Colette sewing handbook and The Sewing Book by Alison Smith.

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  4. I don't have a favorite crafting book :(

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  5. The only crafting book I've ever "read" is One Yard Wonders. I usually get my inspiration from Pinterest or the blogs I follow :) footprint13@gmail.com

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  6. I have one sewing book - dare to be square quilting. I love it for the owl and deer patterns! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  7. My favorite sewing book at the moment was a gift from a friend: "Gertie's New Book for Better Sewing"

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  8. I've never used a sewing book!

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  9. I love Carol Armstrong's books, especially the bird book and the wildflower books--both applique patterns with some quilting patterns thrown in.

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  10. I love Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing.

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  11. Home Decor Sewing Technique Bible - I'm moving soon and have a ton more free-rein with the apartment in terms of hanging curtains, new furniture, etc. so helpful!

    bethbimber(at)gmail(dot)com

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  12. I really like the One Yard Wonders books. Thanks for hosting!

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  13. I like Tula Pink's book! It's fabulous!
    dazzlingshorty(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  14. I use "sewing for boys" more than any other book!

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  15. I don't have a favorite sewing book, I guess it would have to be my sewing machine's How-To manual, lol.

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  16. I love Sewing Clothes Kids Love. Great patterns. Thank you for the giveaway!

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  17. I don't have any sewing books, but I normally sew clothing.

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  18. My newest book is Simple Stitchery, a embroidery primer. Great little book.

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  19. I am new to quilting so my favorite book is currently How to Hand quilt in a day.

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  20. I don't have any quilting books yet most of my ideas come from the many talented bloggers out there!

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  21. I don't have favorite but I do love reading tutorials from Moda Bakeshop.

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  22. I don't really have any sewing books. I like to get my inspiration from blogs etc.

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  23. I have a fun book that has lots of ideas of what you can sew from a yard of fabric. I enjoy leafing through it.

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  24. I haven't read any sewing books but I do have plans to hit up my library soon!

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  25. My favorite is The Modern Quilt Workshop.

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  26. My favorite sewing book is Amy Butler's Little Stitches. Thanks for the chance!

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  27. I don't own any sewing or quilting books, I really need to hit up the local book store for a quilting book.

    red_murray2@yahoo.com

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  28. I have one of the standard "singer" books from back in the day.. 70s? I love that I can still check it to understand how pieces are sewn together.. a classic :)

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  29. My current fave is liberty love!! Awesome giveaway!!

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  30. I love any doll making books, but Countryside Softies had me right now!

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  31. I love "Simplify" by Camille Roskelley and I cannot wait to get her new book. I have "Little Stitches" and that one is great too.

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  32. I love the books of Tone Finnanger! Congrats with 1 year blogoversary and thanks for the giveaway!

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  33. Wow I LOVE your pouch - I adore the zip on the front!! Fav book? Zakka Style - the first one. Lots of great projects in there :)

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  34. I only have one Sewing book: Sewing for Boys and I love it! I have done almost every project in it :) Thanks for the giveaway. Ana

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  35. I have only quilting books, my favourite is Jinny Beyers "The Quilters Album of Patchwork Patterns", it's so inspiring and the layout instructions are really good.

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  36. Happy blogiversary!
    I have a few sewing books, but my favourite is Quiltmaking For Beginners by Lynne Kough, it was the first sewing book I ever bought and it explained quiltmaking to me so clearly that I got bitten by the bug!

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  37. Fun giveaway! I got Amy Butler's bag book for Christmas. I kept checking it out of the library before that.

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  38. I am a new follower on feedly.

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  39. Really cute! Congratulations on one year! i like Anna Maria's needlework notebook :)
    p.s. do you know you have word verification on?

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  40. I have been looking a lot at Jean Wells books right now!

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  41. I don't have a favorite sewing book :(
    your giveaway is so cute, thanks for the chance

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  42. Love the pouch -- just became a follower and I'm looking forward to the tutorial!

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  43. My favorite quilting book right now is "Sunday Morning Quilts." I'm just finishing up my first project out of it & will definitely do more.

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  44. Very pretty pouch. Can't wait to see the tutorial. I don't have one favorite sewing book. I seem to have a favorite pattern or two from each book I own. Modern Blocks is a nice current book. I do like the quilt in a day series for quick easy quilts that look good too.

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  45. I don't have a favorite sewing book, but I love your pouch! atabanana29(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. I follow through bloglovin! atabanana29(at)gmail(dot)com

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  47. I enjoy quilting books by Thimbleberries and Debbie Mum. Love those buttons!

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  48. i do not need any sewing books at the moment. there are so many cute blogs out in www...
    Have a sunny day and thank you for the chance !

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  49. Thanks for the giveaway. I don't have a favorite sewing book. I use Google to find out whatever I need to know.

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  50. Right now my favorite craft book is Sunday Morning Quilts. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  51. My favorite quilting book is Quilts from the Quiltmakers GIft. It is based on a children's book called the Quiltmaker's GIft. Both are great books and I have made several of the quilts in the book and want to make the rest.

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  52. I don´t have that many sewing books, but my latest book was "15 Minutes To Play" by Victoria Findlay Wolfe. A very good book :)
    Gun, Sweden
    gun@lapp.se

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  53. I don't have a favorite one at the moment (I'm just sewing for a few months now). From almost every book that I read I learn something.

    tau(underscore)be(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  54. My favorite sewing book is my 1976 reader's digest complete guide to sewing. thanks for the chance!

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  55. So cute! I don't have a fav, but own a few-- Seams to Me, Bag Making Bible...

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  56. So cute! I love making bags & quilts. I love Better Homes & Gardens Pillows & Pincushions 35 Fast & Easy Projects. It also contains bag patterns as well. Love all the new techniques I have learned in this book.

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  57. I love old buttons. I have always love Mary Ellen Hopkins books, especially It's Okay if You Sit on My Quilt.

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  58. I love sewing for boys. I got it to sew for my son, and find myself making a bit out of it for my daughter as well.

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  59. That's a darling little pouch! I make a lot of quilts, and there are some fabulous books out there - I especially like Bonnie K. Hunter's books right now.

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  60. That's a very cute pouch. My favourite sewing book is Elizabeth Hartman's The Practical Guide to Patchwork. Thanks for the lovely giveaway.

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  61. I really like the Sew U series. They show you how to customize simple patterns.

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  62. I like the Liberty Home Sewing book, the projects are a bit simple but the pictures of fabric and the history in it are lovely!

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  63. I love my A-Z of stitches books. They are fantastic.

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  64. I really like the Martha Stewart Sewing Book.

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  65. What a nice little pouch! Right now my favourite book is probably Patchwork, Please! but that's mainly because it's so new and fun. I also really like Cherrie House's City Quilts.

    (clumsy.chord(at)gmail.com)

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  66. My favourite book is Elizabeth Hartman's Modern Patchwork

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  67. sorry i don't have any favorite sewing books...:) thanks for the giveaway!

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  68. I like 1 Yard Wonders, and Weekend Sewing, but really I'm a sewing magazine kind of girl :)

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  69. I like handmade beginnings by anne marie horner. Great to get sewing when your expecting a little one.

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  70. I only have one sewing book gifted to me by a dear friend, One Yard Wonders.

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  71. I love any and all modern quilt books. Especially the ones by Elizabeth Hartman.

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  72. My current favorite sewing book is sewing clothes kids love.
    detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com
    http://pinterest.com/pin/157063105727261887/

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  73. I follow via blog lovin

    detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com

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  74. Right now my favorite is Sunday Morning Quilts.

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  75. I've actually never read any sewing books (and I'm an avid reader!) but I just recently took up sewing . . . thanks for all the great suggestions here!

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  76. I'm a new follower through Bloglovin' :)

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  77. I don't have a sewing book in my collection yet :) Haven't found one that speaks to me.

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  78. I also follow you on Bloglovin. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  79. I like Sew What Bags. I also have a couple by Amy Butler, but I haven't tried the patterns yet. :)
    peachstateme (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  80. I love "Scandanavian Stitches".

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  81. My favorite sewing book right now is actually a needlepoint book - Needlepoint for Chairs, Seats & Stools (The Cross Stitch Collection). It goes through many different ways to re-cover a multitude of furniture pieces, not just needlepoint patterns!

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  82. I am currently read Kenneth King's couture sewing technique book - great focus on skills not projects.

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  83. I don't have a favorite sewing book. I do have about 18-20 quilting books.

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  84. I really like the Threads Sewing Guide as a general reference book.

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  85. Hee, I'm going to be really different with my favorite sewing book. I just finished reading a series of mysteries in the Needlecraft Mystery series by Monica Ferris! Some sewing, some mystery = fun reading. I also have some of the books from the Quilt Mystery series by Jennifer Chiaverini. I will probably try those stories next.

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  86. I don't have a favorite sewing book- I read blogs instead

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  87. My favourite quilting book at the moment is Material Obsession.
    Thanks for the chance to win.

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  88. I have always used the book Quilts Quilts Quilts, I just recently bought Sunday morning Quilts and it is also a new favorite.

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  89. I have lots of books and too many that I love to choose a favorite. I have some hand quilting and stitchery books from 20+ years ago and have recently added quite a few that feature precuts.
    Thanks for the chance.

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  90. I love Sunday Morning Quilts. Lots of fun scrappy quilts.

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  91. Right now I really love both Material Obsession books. I also have a love affari with Kaffe Fassett's Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts.

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  92. I don't have a favorite sewing book. I Google things I want to find out and look for a blog that explains it the best.

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  93. Doodle Stitching has been very helpful!

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  94. There's a new one called Patchwork Please! by
    ›Ayumi Takahashi thats really good :)

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  95. I love that pouch! And the buttons look fantastic! :) I love the quilt pattern book Skip the Borders by Jaybird Quilts. :)

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  96. I now follow you via bloglovin & gfc! :)

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  97. What a cute zip pouch and what fun stuff to include inside it! My favourite sewing book.....I have quite a few, I kind of am obsessed with them. Have read more about sewing than I have actually sewn. :) But, think it may be The Sewing Bible - Clothing by Wendy Gardiner.

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  98. Your little girl's dresses are all so cute!! I have a nephew and wish I also had a niece so that I could sew little dresses. :) I am also now following your blog. (via Gjeometry Catja)

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  99. You know it is a Needle Crafts Encyclopedia that I got from Borders years ago. Really great stuff on a bunch of different techniques.

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  100. I only have one sewing book: The manual to my Singer sewing machine. :) I'm new and like to create things as I see them in my head, figuring it out as I go. -That's just the way I learn best. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  101. I just got a book - 100 little projects - that is inspiring me at the moment. Thank you!

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  102. I like the One Yard Wonder books. :)

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  103. I love Sewing for Boys.
    mcintoshsusan@hotmail dot com

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  104. I'm a happy follower.
    mcintoshsusan@hotmail dot com

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  105. i like so many, but Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing is a good one. thanks.

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  106. emmevon(at)gmail(dot)com

    fave sewing book is still the one that taught me how tyo sew- Diana Rupp: Sew Everything Workshop

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  107. The pouch is very pretty, I can't wait to see the tutorial! My favorite sewing book right now is Doodle Stitching.

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  108. I read thru more magazines then books. It seems lately all my good information is coming from blogs.

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  109. You have a new email follower.

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  110. I've never cracked open a sewing book, so I'm not quite sure. I do a lot of research from blogs and such, so does that count?! Doing the Bloom Bloom Pal QAL from Freshly Pieced ATM and love it!

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  111. What a beautiful set :)
    I don't have any favourite sewing books. I have a lot of them, but I couldn't really pick a favourite now. There is one book with bag patterns that I have used a lot though :)

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  112. I love all of Bonnie Hunter's books. Thanks for a chance to win!

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  113. I love the Sew U book series. They show you how to customize standard patterns.

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  114. I don't have a best like one .. I just go through what I get.

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  115. I am a new sewer and have really enjoyed working through Stitch by Stitch.

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  116. I really like Jennie Rayment's Tucks and Textures 2.

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  117. Adventures in Design by Joen Wolfram. Thanks for the giveaway chance!

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  118. Love the giveaway! I don't have a favorite yet. So many look good.

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  119. Nice pouch, I love the touch of the embroidery! I don't own any craft books, but just got an e-book craft book and it is awesome with video tutorials inside, very super cool.

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  120. I have a book from the '60s that my mom got when she was in her 20s. (I also have the sewing machine she used then, too!) I can't access the book right now to tell you the title, but I will later if you like - it's a sewing manual.

    :-)

    Thank you!
    I love the pouch and labels (I have two kids!) and VINTAGE BUTTONS omgomgomg.

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  121. Sew Wild by Alisa Burke - it's so creative and free, it encourages mixed media use in sewing and simply energizes me when I start opening it up again.

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  122. Thanks for participating at my giveaway, brought me right back to your site ;) My favorite sewing book is The Burda Style Sewing Handbook.

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  123. I don't really have a favorite book - I get most of my ideas and inspiration from blogs and websites

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  124. The one I use the most is one called The Sewing Bible: A Modern Manual of Practical and Decorative Sewing Techniques

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