Confessions of a Craft Addict

I have not sewn in more than a week. Quite a few reasons for this (The Project, among them) but the most noticeable among them is my back. I have done something to it. What, I don’t know. What I do know is that it hurts to sit, stand, walk or lie down, so I’ve let lethargy take over, along with a great deal of whining. I’m getting a massage tomorrow, though, and am optimistic it will get things right so I can be productive and mobile once again. Not that I couldn’t be productive now. It’s just giving me an excuse to procrastinate, my favorite thing ever. If it were an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist.

Of course, all this procrastinating has given me the chance to browse among some yummy (mostly) new craft books. Here are a few that’ll soon be on my shelves:

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross

I had the opportunity to meet Heather in Houston and could barely form words. She’s incredibly nice and had a proof copy of her book with her, which I eagerly browsed. It’s a truly lovely book and I’m looking forward to getting my own copy. The projects all can be made in a weekend or less (hence the name). I really just love the feel the book evokes: very casual and laid back, like a weekend at the shore or in the mountains, surrounded by your nearest and dearest (all of whom happen to love sewing!).

Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes

Sew What! Skirts is one of my favorite books, so I had to flip through this one when I happened upon it at the book store. It’s another draft-it-yourself book, this time revolving around purses and bags (duh). I’m kind of a purse pattern junkie, so I’m sure I’ll be nabbing this oen before too long, even though I have some patterns that are similar to the bags in this book. Still, I really like the aesthetic of the book and the concept — drafting exactly the right bag for my needs — appeals to me on so many levels.

Sew & Stow by Betty Oppenheimer

I don’t care what they say about judging a book by it’s cover. I saw the cover of this book and immediately had to grab it off the shelf to flip through it. Oh, the pretties! I wanted to carry it over to the coffee shop and sip my Frappuccino while trying not to drool on the pages. Lots of cute and useful projects for everything from the kitchen to the garden to the craft room. I’m thinking this is THE book to have for sewing gifts for some of the favorite people in my life (like teachers).

Zakka Sewing: 25 Japanese Projects for the Household by Therese Laskey and Chika Mori

My love for Japanese sewing books and magazines is beyond comprehension, so when I ran across this title it literally took everything I had not to run to the counter and buy it on the spot. I need it. I want it. And I. Will. Have. IT! I have no need for a squirrel teapot cozy, and yet I want to make one and then more to share with my friends. I’m not sure how practical of a book it is but sometimes I just like to look at pretty pictures and daydream.

Tags: addictions, pretties, sewing books, Shopping