My craft book ship comes in

Every time I see a book online I'd love to browse through I pop into my library account and place it on reserve.  Sometimes I'm fifth in line and sometimes hundreds of people want the book before me (I'll have a better chance of finding a copy of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life at a garage sale years from now with my placement on that list!).  Somehow though almost every one of the craft-oriented books I've wanted arrived within the past week.  It's as though things are conspiring to inspire. 

I can't decide if I'm excited or just a bit overwhelmed with all of the swimming ideas.  I have a semi truck number of projects I'm plotting and a little bicycle basket amount of time.

Toys to Sew is in transit.  The local, beautiful yarn shop I hadn't visited in years is now a local, beautiful yarn, canvas and fabric shop with a great selection of books to browse through.  Come to think of it, that seems odd too.  I've given up on JoAnn's completely and needed a place in town for the little things (the odd package of bias tape, organic cotton batting).  There's a quilt shop with all of the latest, greatest fabrics and the snootiest, most rude people ever running the show (so that's out too-- I don't give my business to snooty/rude).  I happened to pop in to this new find the other day with a yarn question and was amazed with the changes.  I can walk to this shop from our house.  I guess I'm just supposed to sew more.  Anyhow, I found Toys to Sew there and while the cover doesn't look like much there are some darling little patterns inside, one of which is an elephant.  We're a bit elephant-obsessed around here these days and I think we need another for our herd.

Second picture from Nature Babies (beautiful knitting patterns and a great section on felting).  Third picture from Simple Sewing with a French Twist... I've wanted it just for the camisole pattern folded to the left.

I also wanted to add that my interview with Jennifer McMullen of Dishy Duds is up on the Sew Mama Sew blog.  I really enjoyed doing it and was amazed with her vibrancy, and commitment to acting on her beliefs both in family and business life.  Nobody really commented at last peek, which strikes me as a bit sad because Jennifer's such an engaging, inspiring personality and I wanted that to come across and matter to people.  Perhaps it's more like reading a magazine article; you don't comment aside from your inner thoughts on what you've read.

Comments

[supa]

I wish our library stocked such great finds!

Glad to hear things are working out (such a find, that store!).

[tiffany]

yeah, i gave up on the kingslover at our library too. it makes me happy that so many people here want to read it though. definitely sounds like the sewing stars are lining up for you. happy anniversary. it's our seventh year too. lucky.

[Daphne]

Oh, I like Toys to Sew a lot -- bought it at Stitches the night before our meetup! -- did you see my Pull-Along Nellie?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/crankyisgood/627028735

I love library holds.

[Jen]

I was far, far down on the waiting list for 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' too, so I used a birthday gc to buy a copy, and I'm so glad I did. It's fantastic. You might want to own it. Really. I'm such a library lover, that I rarely by books anymore, but this one's worth it, I think. Maybe put it on your Christmas list?

[sherrieg]

I, too, am a HUGE fan of the library hold. I was actually the first person on the list here for Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, which was great. If you enjoy that type of read, you might also enjoy Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma". Happy reading!

[molly]

now I'm feeling overwhelmed b/c I need to go check out these books from my library, too.
I do the same thing as you--when I see I book I want I go right to my library online. Thankfully, my library has a drive-up window where you can pick up the things you request. I'm a regular there.
I'm reading the Kingsolver book now. It will change your world, I think. It is fantastic.

[Shannon]

Let me know what the trick is to the elephant. I tried that pattern from that book and didn't have much luck but maybe I just don't understand the mechanics of soft toys enough to assemble them. Mine was a sort of sad elephant. Good luck!

[rebecca]

i bought Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life a few months ago but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. i'll be glad to send it to you, to keep, forever and ever, if you'd like.

i can always get on the hold list at my library; i've read mixed reviews on it, so that explains my hesitancy about tucking into it.

passing on books to people makes me happy (i'm a librarian;>), so i'm totally serious about giving you my copy if you want it.

[Chara Michele]

I wish my library had such a great selection of craft books! (Most the ones at mine or even in the library system that I can request from, are old from the 1980's with crazy pictures and such...)