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IT’S YOUR TURN – A GIVEAWAY – WEEK ONE, MAY, 2010

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FELT ME A SMILE by TOYOKO SUGIWAKA

FELT ME A SMILE BY TOYOKO SUGIWAKA

You’ve read my book reviews.  You’ve perused my website reviews.  You’ve lingered over my reviews of ads in magazines.  Now, it’s your turn to post a review here.  I can’t read every book, visit every website, or click on every ad link.  So, I’m counting on my readers to share some of this information with other readers.  And, you can win a prize for your review – a fresh, new copy of the very cute book Felt Me A Smile, (pictured above) recently reviewed on this blog.

The prize will be given to the most valuable review posted.  It might be for writing about your favorite crochet book or sharing insights into your favorite blog or website.  I’ll read every entry, visit every link, and judge which one I think offers the most insightful review.  I’ll post a new category each Monday this month, so you have FIVE chances to win a great prize.

Here’s the category for Week 1 (of May, 2010):

What’s your favorite blog (not this one, thank you) and why?  Please post a link to the blog in general and one to a particular blog post if that’s pertinent.  Reviews should not exceed approximately 250 words.

Here are the contest rules:

The winner will have 48 hours to contact me with mailing information after the winner is announced.  If the winner doesn’t contact me, the prize will be offered on another occasion.

RESPONSES MUST BE POSTED HERE AND NOT EMAILED TO ME PRIVATELY OR POSTED ELSEWHERE FOR ENTRY.

TO MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR, THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE LAST DAY OF EACH MONTH (OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER) AND THE WINNER MUST EMAIL ME ([email protected]) WITHIN 48 HOURS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT.  So, for sanity’s sake, that deadline will really mean that I need to hear from you no later than 8 PM the following Monday (so you have plenty of time to email me and I’ll get the email for sure even if I don’t sign on to my email on a Sunday).


Comments

  1. http://www.fiberfarm.com/

    I have many blogs i visit daily, and most are related to my love of needle crafts. One of my favorite blogs relates to these crafts right at the beginning source of it…. the animals where much of the fibers come from. Juniper Moon (formerly Martha’s Vineyard) Fiber Farm takes you to the roots of fiber love. Susan who up and dumped her professional New York career to become a shepherdess shares her daily adventures and mishaps of life on the farm. From learning the ropes the hard way, to the joy of lambing season. Folks are encouraged to help name the new lambs each time birthing comes around.
    If you have followed for long you may have laughed, cried, bought a CSA share ,skein, or t-shirt or even lived close enough to be able to visit the farm in person for one of the annual celebrations such as shearing day. Susan shares interesting and unique links to things of fiber/animal interest.
    Check it out! The photos posted are beautiful and make you want to reach out and touch one of the animals, or maybe even uproot yourself to become a shepherdess as well!

  2. my of my favorite blogs is “ikat bag” and one of my favorite posts on that blog is: http://www.ikatbag.com/2009/11/owie-dolls_25.html
    that blog is one of the most inspiring blogs liar’s creations are like no other. what ever she makes is filld with beauty.
    she creats alot of tutorials and hides no secrets when it comes to “how to sew something”
    i love that blog!

  3. If you are interested in embroidery then I must recommend Sharon b’s blog, PinTangle. Sharon is an Australian embroiderer. Sharon’s blog includes a wonderful Stitch library and daily posts on new stitches, embroidery links and finds, as well as images and explanations of her extremely long embroidered sampler. Sharon also co-ordinates free community stitch challenges from her blog. These have included Take a Stitch Tuesday, in which participants work their way through a list of interesting stitches, taking one stitch a week and trying to stretch it’s boundaries and share their discoveries with one another. Sharon also offers on line classes and links to these can be found on her blog too.

    http://www.pintangle.com

  4. I blogwalk everyday in a much longer distance than I actually walk in real life. Mental note :take a hike, dear. But there’s one little blog I really enjoy not because of its sophisticated design or much talk about contents or trendy guides, but the blog of a mother with a really cute daughter. Lovely design is Vancouver based blog which tells and shares the lovely adventure of mother daughter duo (and a cat) from the moment they get off from bed (pics taken minutes after they opened their eyes!) and they (of course) daily crafty journey. I love the simplicity and truthfulness. craftyhttp://lovelydesign.blogspot.com/

  6. If you are interested in embroidery then I must recommend Sharon b’s blog, PinTangle. Sharon is an Australian embroiderer. Sharon’s blog includes a wonderful Stitch library and daily posts on new stitches, embroidery links and finds, as well as images and explanations of her extremely long embroidered sampler. Sharon also co-ordinates free community stitch challenges from her blog. These have included Take a Stitch Tuesday, in which participants work their way through a list of interesting stitches, taking one stitch a week and trying to stretch it’s boundaries and share their discoveries with one another. Sharon also offers on line classes and links to these can be found on her blog too.

    http://www.pintangle.com

Have you read?

The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book: That Rooster Had Me Hooked

Apparently, this is the year chickens took over my crafting attention. First came the emotional support chickens, then the pocket chickens, and now a rooster has managed to talk me into looking at another crochet book.

Honestly, put a crocheted chicken in front of me at this point and I’m going to stop scrolling.

That is exactly what happened with The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book. The rooster sucked me in before I had even properly investigated what else was inside. After all the emotional support chicken crochet patterns we’ve been sharing, you would think I’d have had enough poultry. Apparently, there is still room in the imaginary yarn coop.

Now, a little honesty before we go any further: I haven’t read this book yet or tried its patterns. This is a look at why it has caught my attention ahead of publication. I have a very good feeling about this one, and I’m expecting it to be a lovely addition to the crochet bookshelf.

What’s Inside The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book?

The publisher describes a collection of 25 crochet patterns with variations for more than 45 amigurumi projects, created by ConcernedApe, Megan Lapp and Ryan Novak.

The announced projects include Junimos, Slimes, chickens, a Junimo Hut and familiar game items. There are simpler projects such as Eggs alongside more challenging makes, including the Mermaid Pendant.

The chicken variations are particularly tempting, with different beaks, combs and tail feathers, plus White, Blue, Brown, Golden and Void varieties. You can probably see why my attention keeps wandering back to the coop.

It is scheduled for release on 26 January 2027 through Random House Worlds, with 240 pages in the hardcover edition.

Why This Crochet Book Is on My Radar

What appeals to me is the combination of recognisable characters and slightly ridiculous little objects. Those are often the crochet projects that make me smile most. A useful blanket is wonderful, but sometimes you simply want a tiny yarn creature keeping you company beside the sewing machine.

If you’ve enjoyed our emotional support pocket chicken crochet feature, you’ll understand the attraction. Small, characterful projects have a way of becoming much more tempting than the sensible project already waiting in your basket.

For Stardew Valley fans, there is also the pleasure of making something connected to a favourite game. We’ve previously shared a Junimo crochet pattern, so this feels like a lovely next book to explore for readers who enjoy that crossover between gaming and yarn.

Would I Add It to My Crochet Wishlist?

Absolutely. I can’t yet comment on the clarity of the instructions, the finishing details or how the patterns work up. Those are things I would want to assess with the book and a hook in hand.

But based on the announced collection, I know this is going to be a good one for my kind of crochet browsing: plenty of personality, playful projects and chickens I’m already mentally choosing yarn for.

You can take a closer look at The Official Stardew Valley Crochet Book on Amazon.

I came for the rooster. I suspect I’ll stay for the rest of the farm.