Crafty Garden Mom: November 2014

11/30/14

CGM Podcast Episode #70: Don't Be Like Whitney

Listen to the episode here

Show Notes

Life Update:

I share a silly (but funny) holiday work story about gift giving...and what not to do!

F.O.'s and WIPs:

Hitchhiker shawlette
Christmas "charm pack" Tablerunner
Art journal pages - blog posts to come soon!

Classic Movie:

Holiday Affair with Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh

(Please don't judge the movie by this terrible "Baby...." poster! It's really good, LOL.)

Book Review:

Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Also mentioned:

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley (on sale 1/6/15)
Waistcoats and Weaponry by Gail Carriger
Prudence (The Custard Protocol #1) by Gail Carriger (on sale 3/17/15)
The Job (Fox and O'Hare #3) by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion (on sale 12/30/14)
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Thanks for listening and Happy Holidays!

CGM

11/26/14

There are so many good gift ideas out there for bookish people, I thought I'd share some of my favorites. It can be hard to pick the right book for someone, but if you know they like books in general you may see something below that will be as appreciated for your acknowledging their love of the written word vs. having agonized if they prefer Sci Fi to Romance (or both!).

Many of these items are from indie makers/designers and I hope they'll forgive me for "lifting" some of their pics off Etsy or their site. I have made sure a link directly to their page is included with all of them. And don't forget - there's nothing wrong with treating yourself to a little something too!

"Read" mixed media drawing on dictionary page:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/flyingshoes?ref=l2-shopheader-name

From Etsy Shop: Flying Shoes Art Studio

Can I count the ways how much I love this? You know I've been art journaling lately, and what an awesome way to express a love for a subject than directly on a dictionary page of that subject! These would look awesome framed and in a library or quiet space for reading.

Book Lovers Skirt:


From Etsy Shop: Rooby Lane

Super-cute book jewelry:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/185213635/outlander-mini-book-stack-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_7

https://www.etsy.com/listing/185042794/gone-with-the-wind-mini-book-necklace?ref=shop_home_active_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/179429865/dr-seuss-mini-book-bracelet?ref=shop_home_active_17

All of the above book jewelry is from Etsy shop: CuriosandCreations: The Little Library

Fancy spoon to stir your hot drink:


From Etsy shop: Spoon Tracker

Buy a Book For Its Cover:


Anne of Green Gables set with artistic cover by Jacqui Oakley

I just love artist renderings of classic books. This set with cover illustrations by artist Jacqui Oakley belongs not just on a bookshelf, but displayed with pride on a coffee table or nightstand. You can find them at SourceBooks website.

Source Books also has more artistic covers for other L.M. Montgomery books, also by Jacqui Oakley:

http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/jane-of-lantern-hill.html

http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/emily-climbs.html

http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/blue-castle.html

Then there are these lovely Christmas classics:


Penguin Classics limited edition Christmas Classics collection

And this would make a beautiful stocking stuffer or White Elephant gift for a book club member:

Penguin Classics deluxe edition: Little Women

Wear Your Book Love:


From Out of Print Clothing.


From Out of Print Clothing

Vintage Book Cover Journals:

http://atticjournals.com/aj-store/small-journals/night-before-christmas/

http://atticjournals.com/aj-store/large-journals/mbcmcy/

Journals above (and more) are available at Attic Journals. There is also a state list of independent shops where they are carried.

Book Purses:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/191547740/alice-adventure-in-wonderland-recycled?ref=shop_home_active_6

https://www.etsy.com/listing/163933642/the-great-gatsby-recycled-book-cover?ref=shop_home_active_1

Both purses (and more) are from Etsy shop: Novel Creations. I like that she offers different handle and clasp choices for these novelty bags.

Tea with Literary Quotes:

http://bagladiestea.com/product-category/novel-tea/

Bag Ladies Tea: Novel Tea

Games:

Memory Challenge: Book Lovers Classics Edition

Since I have terrible short-term memory, I would stink at this.

But I love the novelty of it!

Scrabble: Book Lovers edition

I need to see if there's an app for this version!

Desk Calendar:

2015 Book Lover's Calendar

And I couldn't resist including these "classic" collections that will appeal to a wide number of book lovers out there, hence making the perfect gift!

Book Lust by Nancy Pearl

1001 Books For Every Mood by Hallie Ephron

So there are most of my favorite holiday gift ideas for the Book Nerd in your life! Hope you enjoy browsing them, and comment below on any others you have in mind.

Happy Shopping!

CGM

11/24/14

F.O.: Charm Pack Christmas Table Runner

Sometimes I just want to piece squares together. Nothing fancy, I just chain piece them together until I'm done. I have a stack of charm packs that serve this purpose well.

Since I start getting in the Christmas spirit the day after Halloween by playing my Johnny Mathis and Vince Guaraldi playlist, I pulled the Joy by Kate Spain charm pack from the pile:

and whipped up this table runner after sewing 9 patches of the charms and then cutting them in the "Disappearing 9 Patch" style.

Quilting was just a medium-size stipple, backing and binding are old (8-10+ years!) Christmas stash fabric I was happy to use up.

I'd like to say my holiday decorating is done, but I think the kids will expect a tree at some point.

How are you getting into the Spirit of the Season....or are you holding off for as long as possible?

CGM

11/20/14

Thursday Thoughts: All About Those Books

Words can't even describe how happy this remix makes me. Honestly, I think it's my favorite thing on the internet in 2014. Hands down, BEST book-related creativity I've seen.

Kudos to these high schoolers! Are you "All About Those Books" like I am?

CGM

11/11/14

Knitting F.O.: Hitchhiker

I finished my Hitchhiker scarf/shawl last night, and wove in the ends before heading off to work this morning. I still need to block it, but didn't let that stop me from wearing it!

I made the Hitchhiker using Miss Babs Yowza! Whatta Skein in the Nasturtium colorway and size 6 circular needles. I bought this yarn at this year's MD Sheep & Wool Festival, and now know why Miss Babs yarn garners huuuge lines at wool and yarn shows - it is simply divine to knit with. Besides adoring the colors in this skein (Fall colors = my happy place) it feels soft and squishy knit up, and I love it against my skin.

About this pattern: like the yarn, I now know why this has been a top selling and ranking pattern since it was released in 2013 - it's so simple, clever, and shows off hand-dyed/fancy-schmancy yarn beautifully! To make the Hitchhiker by Martina Behm you need to be able to cast on, knit, purl, kfb (knit in front and back), and bind off in knit stitch....that's it! If I was a faster knitter, I'd make 12 of these for gifts.