You are in luck! Linen, Wool, Cotton giveaway!!!
Hey kiddos! I am so excited. Since so many of you were interested in this book the publisher has offered to do a giveaway on my blog. So there are two extra copies (as there is no way I am giving mine up, no way)! Two copies to giveaway here on B&b. Did you read my review? Better go do that and then enter in the comments on this post, below.
Here are some very important links you'll need to check out:
Make Good Books: A place for free patterns, and to check out the craft series this book is in. A must see!!!
B&b ex libris review: Linen, Wool, Cotton
This is what I have made so far from these this book, and my husband and boys love their little lunch bags. The boys put theirs on the end of sticks and pretend to be on a long journey. I can't say enough about this book, but for sure you will want to enter.
I am also hosting a giveaway for the above bags, and if you are not crafty and don't even want to try, you should still enter that!
Giveaway details:
This giveaway is for your very own copy of Linen, Wool, Cotton. I will give away 1 book for the first 10 entries, and then once it hits 11 I will add the other book into the mix. I will select winner(s) on the 8th of May- so you have until then to enter.
To enter, each worth one entry:
*Comment on this post
*Tweet about the giveaway (and make sure you comment back on here to let me know!)
This giveaway is open internationally!!!
ps. It is very important that you check back on the 8th, as I do not notify winners via email. If the winner does not respond within 3 days of the winner being announced I will select a new winner. If you want to be very sure you don't miss out, click on the toast (upper left) and subscribe to my feed!!
Linen, Wool, Cotton
Linen, Wool, Cotton
25 simple projects to sew with natural fabrics
by Akiko Mano
112 pages
Craft, Sewing, Simple style
Trumpeter Books
14, April 2009
Akiko Mano's soft and subdued style is simple yet outstanding in quality, approach and design. Linen, Wool, Cotton is a dream for the practical person who enjoys crafts that people will actually use. The simplicity of her patterns is so pretty and speaks though its calmness. Akiko Mano's designs will allow even the insure crafter to create things that many will enjoy. The projects range from wool slippers, aprons, a muffler, lightweight fruit bags, a lingerie case, hot water bottle cover, duvet cover and beyond. Linen, Wool, Cotton is sectioned off into chapters by material choice, beginning with Linen, followed by Wool and finally Cotton. Akiko's patterns are easy to follow and minimalist in their approach, and that is a bonus, since that makes them quick to complete as well, having only an average of 4 steps per pattern.
Linen, Wool, Cotton by Akiko Mano is part of the Japanese Crafts Style books also known as Make Good: Crafts + Life, a group of books believing in the goal to simplify life. This approach makes it its goal to take pleasure in the beautiful things that are so perfect in their minimalistic appeal.
So how did I like this book? I loved it. I enjoy being crafty, but I want the things I make to be used and not just dusted. This is a book for a person like me, and I am thrilled that there are so many patterns in Linen, Wool, Cotton that are calling my name (quite loudly I might add). I have already dived in, and created the lunch bags, they were just too cool to not make. I was worried at first because usually patterns seem to have way too many impractical steps and I have a hard time wanting to follow along. I had no problem with listening to Akiko at all. The lunch bag pattern (p. 96) was just perfect and simple and had fluff, just the real stuff. I know for sure that I am going to make several other patterns, the Sweets Mat (p. 90) looks like the next one I'll try. And the Fruit Bags (p. 37) made out of cheesecloth would be perfect for veggies at the Saturday Farmer's Market as they don't way anything and are completely reusable! Yeah, so anyway I am hooked. I recommend Linen, Wool, Cotton by Akiko Mano with no reservations at all.
I spent part of the day making two Lunch Bags (p. 96) from this book for you! I really hope that my work pays off, and that you are as excited as I am about this! I can't wait! Here are the two lunch bags I made, you can click on each photo to see the bigger picture.
Katie Brown Celebrates
Title: Katie Brown Celebrates: Simple and Spectacular Parties All Year Round
Author: Katie Brown
Pages: 192
Genre: Cookbook
Yearly Count b: 94
This cookbook is amazing! I have used several of the recipes and they have been excellent, simple and yet truly spectacular. The book is set up by months, and I enjoy that as sometimes I feel out of the loop as to what to do during a season, yes I know that BBQ's are better in the summer and hot soups are better in the winter, but I mean seasonal things, and little cutesy things. This book is packed with recipes, but is also an idea book filled with how-to-make things for entertaining. I love the quilt type rustic table cloth, and the ideas for 'Spicy Invitations' which you fill little bottles with Moroccan spice and then delicately wrap your invitation around it, for the party of a lifetime! I tried the Peanut brittle and the Apple Brownies, Oh goodness! Those are things that the kids will beg me for for sure really soon, and I know this cookbook will be put to good use.
There are amazingly simple and yet stunning centerpieces. I love the one on page 165, the Cork Runner and Nuts in Vases, amazing, just perfect for that natural feel that I love. Ideas on how to design neat menus that I will probably never get with it enough to make, but if I did I would copy her style exactly. This is an idea book just as much as a recipe/ cookbook. I can't wait to try more of the recipes, I need to get me some parties set up so that I will NEED to entertain with class. Oh, and for those of us with kids there are also several sections on how to entertain a kids party, complete with cake recipes, crafts that would be fun for that age group and art things to do with kiddos.
The recipe I am dying to try next is the Deep-Dish Country Quiche, oh goodness. I have 11 chickens and soon they will all be laying, I know that when they are I will be scrounging for things to use up my beautiful fresh eggs. I know that this Quiche will be perfect, YUM!
Here are two exquisite recipes from Katie Brown Celebrates listed under the December Holiday brunch section. Enjoy them with friends and family during this season.
Tomato Bread Pudding (Katie Brown Celebrates, p. 182)
Serves 12 (makes one 13 by 9-inch pan)
This is a a great way to use up tomatoes and bread that are about to go. Combine them with cheese and spices, and you will have a delicious pudding.
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Large Onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, chopped
5 Tablespoons fresh thyme
1+1/4 Cups Heavy Cream
2+1/4 Cups Chicken Stock
1 Tablespoon Salt
1+1/2 Teaspoons black pepper
2 eggs
10 Cups cubed french bread
2+1/2 Cups grated Parmesan
6 Cups Halved Cherry Tomatoes
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Heat a medium-size saute pan over high heat and add olive oil. When oil is hot, add onion, garlic and thyme. Lower heat to medium and cook until onion is soft, about 6 minutes. Place mixture in a large mixing bowl and allow to cool. Add cream, stock, salt, pepper, and eggs, and whisk until well combined.
3. Add bread, Parmesan, and tomatoes, tossing well to coat everything, and allow mixture to sit for at least 10 minutes. Place in a greased 13 by 9-inch pan and bake until top is golden brown and pudding is set, about 45 minutes.
Turkey Bacon Eggs (Katie Brown Celebrates, p. 180) Serves 12
What brunch would be complete without bacon and eggs? I love this dish because it combines both of them in a quick and easy fashion.
12 3-inch ramekins
Olive oil or nonstick booking spray
36 Pieces turkey bacon
4 Tablespoons Olive oil or butter
4 Shallots, Chopped fine
2 small bags baby arugula (or spinach)
12 eggs
2 cups grated Gruyere Cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Prepare ramekins by brushing insides with olive oil or spraying with nonstick spray. Wrap 2 pieces of bacon around insides of each ramekin, closing all gaps around the sides. Cut the remaining 12 pieces of bacon in half. Place 2 of these pieces in bottom of each ramekin, covering all gaps.
3. heat large saute pan on high, add olive oil or butter, add shallots, and reduce heat to medium. Gently cook shallots until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add arugula to pan and cook until wilted. Remove arugula from pan and allow to cool. Squeeze out any excess water with your hands.
4. Combine eggs, Gruyere, and arugula, season with salt and pepper. (remember that the cheese will add some salt of its own. ) Fill each ramekin three-quarters full and bake until eggs are set and tops are golden and puffed, about 20 minutes.
3. Remove bacon and eggs from ramekins while hot, using towels to prevent burning yourself. Serve immediately, as eggs will loose volume as they sit.
Author Website:
Katie Brown Workshop
Want to get yourself a copy?? Send me recipes!!
I have five available to you lucky-hungry-winner types (thanks to Hachette!!)! The giveaway part!!
Here are the details:
-I have 5 copies of Katie Brown Celebrates (thanks to Anna at Little, Brown!!!!)
-Post a recipe (the whole recipe) on your blog, previously posted recipes work as well....but I am looking for some of your favourites here, so please make sure it is a favourite!
-Comment below and paste the link to your recipe in the comments.
-Yes your recipes posted for the other giveaway count, but you will need to comment on THIS post if you want me to count you in on this giveaway (the same recipe is fine unless you are feeling into it, I'd love more recipes!!!)
-You have a week to do it, you can send me your recipes up through the 19th. I will select winners the next day.
- Sorry, only US and Canada and no PO boxes
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Congrats peeps :)
These five lucky duckies won Lost and Found!!
bermudaonion
Janel
Diary of an Eccentric
Sandra
avisannschild
These ducky luckies won Life After Genius:
softdrink
raidergirl3
Email me your addresses (by clicking on the "email me" tab below my header) and I will get them to the publicists at Hachette Book Group. :)
I do not email winners, so if someone in this group does not check back within 3 days I will re-gift the book! Hurry, hurry!
Congrats to you all...happy reading!!!
the recap of the discussion on giveaways:
I wrote a post on giveaways in the book blog world a couple of days back, I didn't know the stir that it would cause to bring up giveaways. It really seems many of you have been thinking about it as well. From all of your comments, I have summarized what you said below:
Giveaways are good, everyone seems to like them. It is the book/ blog promotion that is grating on readers nerves. Things such as: post about this giveaway and get more entires. Folks seem to be getting annoyed at going through their Google reader finding nothing but "enter this giveaway" posts, which are starting to be the majority of the posts these days.
It also seems to be a common thread that you who do host giveaways, would rather actually give away the books to your readers than visitors that only come via someone else's blog, or through some website mentioning your giveaway.
Still it seems that most of us are all for the goods, you want to enter the giveaways that are something you would want, this is obvious since 65% of you voted that you enjoy giveaways, and 26% that you are getting annoyed with them. I think the irritation is due to the constant promotion and cross promotion of new authors and new books. Many of you good 'ol time bloggers (meaning those of you that have been around for even most of the year) have noted a crazy increase in these author and publicist promoted giveaways. And I agree with you on your comments that the older books, the classics, even books that are several years old are not being talked about because we are all getting so many new books to read, and we can hardly keep up with those.
What changes can we make to have this change now? Well, I know every blogger is their own boss, no one owns you and I am not trying to tell anyone how to run their blog. BUT if you are starting to feel a little bogged down yourself with giveaways, consider what you can do to change it.
These are the PERSONAL changes that I am going to make:
- I am no longer going to include the line: post about this giveaway on your blog for more entries, therefore I will give the book away amongst my readers for the most part.
- I will only host one giveaway at a time, and once I mention it I am not going to continuously promote it at the end of every blog post. I know this will make for fewer entries, but I don't like the advertising aspect that it brings to my blog when I do.
- I am going to cut my giveaway time down. I am not sure to what. I was thinking of giving my readers 24 hours to comment on the giveaway and then choose a winner. I actually really like the giveaways that I have seen hosted at times that go directly to the first commenter.
-In order to add some older books, and classics I am going commit to reading one book off my shelves every month. That is to start out. I am also going to tell authors and publishers from now on (thank you J. Kaye!!) that I will try their book, but I do not guarantee a reivew. I will put forth an honest attempt to read it, but if the book is not something that I desire to read after reading 50 pages into it, I will not finish or review it.
I am doing that because right now I feel I have the commitment to read every page, of the books people send me. I feel they have sent me the book, and it is almost like a payment for me reading it. I think I really need to take this into my hands and switch it up, buy informing them from the start that if it is not to my interest I will not guarantee that I will complete it. This will also do away with me reading books that I don't like, just to said that I read it. That really is the only aspect of book blogging that I do not enjoy. I don't want to feel that I am in a college literature class again.
Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm on this topic. Let me know if you have any further suggestions to maximize the fun aspect of giveaways, and reduce the toll that it is taking on our little book bloggy world. Oh, and if you have any changes you have made or are going to make yourself that you want to share...be sure and share them!!! Let's keep talking about this peeps! You are so amazing :)
What do you think? What changes are you making? Do you agree, disagree....?
too many giveaways? share your thoughts!
hey peeps! I am not sure about you, but for some reason I am wondering if all the giveaways going around is actually putting a damper on the blogger community. Are you tired of giveaways? Are you all for them? I have recently had a feeling that more people are not entering giveaways, and that there was too much all at the same time. What are your feelings on giveaways? Be honest.
It just seems they are everywhere, and I am trying to figure out my feelings on them as well.
I just got done posting a poll in my sidebar about giveaways, please let me know your feelings :)
Here are the options in the poll, please vote on my sidebar though!!
Share your current feelings about Giveaways:
*Love them! You enter them all.
*Enjoy them. You enter the ones you like.
*Don't care. You don't really pay any attention.
*Starting to get annoying. You used to like them.
*Hate them. You never enter giveaways.
I am very curious to see where everyone is at with this. Does having so many giveaways make us book bloggers seem cheap? As if we are trying to purchase our readers and loyalty by giving them stuff rather than just attracting them for our reviews and posts? I am feeling a little overload, but I currently have a giveaway going on of my own...I am going back and forth on this one and would love to hear your thoughts!!!
Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst Giveaway!
"Parkhurst treats the game show as an opportunity for the contestants to decide, as the producer asks of them, "What have you found?" The answer for readers: heart and wit to spare." —Publisher's Weekly
Summary by the publisher:
A suburban mom, her troubled daughter, divorced brothers, former child stars, born-again Christians, and some young millionaires have all been selected to compete on LOST AND FOUND, a daring new reality show. In pairs of two, they will race across the world to compete for a million-dollar prize.The only question is not only who will capture the big jackpot, but at what price.
Carolyn Parkhurst is also the author of the bestseller The Dogs of Babel.
"[A] deeply affecting page-turner.... Parkhurst endows each [character] with complexity and pathos, even when she doesn't approve of the choices they make. What emerges is less a satire than a straightforward character study—one that we're reluctant to put down even after the last contestant crosses the finish line." —Rebecca Marx, Elle Magazine
Click on this open book widget to take you inside of Lost and Found:
Giveaway Details:
Thanks to Hachette Book Group (and publicist Valerie Russo), I can host this book giveaway!! We will start out with one book to giveaway, and for Each 10 entries I will add in an extra copy of the book, up to a total of 5 books.
Residents of the US and Canada only, sorry we cannot mail to PO Boxes.
Enter by the 6th of November, I will pick the winners on Friday the 7th!!!
To enter the giveaway for Lost and Found:
1.) Comment on this post, include why you would like to read it, what interests you about it, or anything else besides, "enter me please" :)
2.) For an extra two entries post about it on your blog, and let me know that you did.
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