Day 8 - S is for Stitch - AND a Giveaway!

Today's the last day of my book tour and so I guess it's my turn. 

I can't exactly "review" my own book ... that would be weird.  But I can share with you some behind the scenes stuff. 

The 26 girl alphabet designs were purely labours of love for my daughters.  I had absolutely no intention of turning them into a book.  I didn't have a blog and didn't know I was going to start a pattern company.  And since I've never taken art or design classes of any kind, I certainly didn't feel qualified to write a book.

But one thing led to another and my just for fun project became a book.

I didn't want S is for Stitch to be another "here are some designs and instructions" sort of craft book.  So I wrote much of the text as if I was having a conversation with you - my imaginary readers.  But it was all about the technical side of embroidery and not so much about the creativity.  And when I was reviewing an early draft of the book - all organized and laid out with the "how to's" - I thought it was missing something and found myself wanting to share more personal information.  I really wanted to connect with people like me - people who have a creative spirit, but who don't feel "qualified" to design. 

My solution was simple:  beside every one of the 52 designs in the book, I wrote a little something.  Because, as it turns out, even though I wasn't formally schooled as a designer I have somehow learned a few things over the years about how to make embroidery interesting ... and pretty ... and easy to stitch.

Sometimes I wrote about what I was thinking that dictated my design decisions:

Sometimes I wrote about "arty" techniques I used to achieve certain features:

Sometimes I wrote about exploiting specific stitches:

Sometimes I wrote about how you can change my designs to make them your own:

Sometimes I wrote about how I made the girl quilt very personal for my daughters and me:

And sometimes, when I was at a complete loss for something to say, I just wrote ... something!  LOL!

I hope my little anecdotes make the book interesting and informative. 

And now how - exactly - does one end a book tour?

Tada?

The End?

Oh.  Right.  A giveaway!  You didn't think I'd forget, did you? ;)

Please leave me a comment (with your name and a valid email address!) telling me which one of the above anecdotes you like best and you'll be entered to win a copy of S is for Stitch!  If you are a US resident, you'll be sent a hard copy of the book.  If you live elsewhere, you'll receive an eBook.  All the giveaways close Thursday April 4th and the winners will be announced on Monday, April 8th.

I really hope you enjoyed these special peeks into my book and that you're totally motivated to pick up a needle and get stitching!

And a great big thank you from the bottom of my heart to Stash Books, Allison H, Amanda, Amy, Anne, Lori & Sherri for playing along.  Couldn't have done this without you! xo 

Comments

[linda gerig]

I love the ant. so cute. lindagerig@sbcglobal.net

[Kerry]

Lovely, lovely,lovely ! I would be so happy to win your book!

Thanks!

[Lisa in Texas]

What a beautiful book! I have enjoyed the review hop and fingers crossed to win a copy...but if not i know a purchase is in my future. I bought a stash of thread and needles following your Dreaden plate project but alas they sit untouched out of embroidery fear ✂! I think the anecdotes I like best are the ones where you let the reader into your world and what inspired you to create. Lisa in Texas

[Karen W]

I loved what you commented about the "X" and that you brought your daughter's into the book. It will be something your girls and some day their girls will have forever. It is your personal touch for your daughters.

[Delcia Rosenow]

D is for Dress strikes a cord in me. Most of the dresses I made for our daughter had little puff sleeves and I remember embroidering with thread or silk ribbon on her little collars. Your motifs are so clever and cute--which gets me to finally comment on your pictures a few posts back. You are one young looking chickie and have a sweet and winning smile. I always enjoy reading and looking at your posts--your creative genius is exactly tuned to the things I like to make. Thanks for sharing your creativity!

[LeAnn H.]

This has been such fun! Thanks for all the chances to win. I will be buying if I am not one of the lucky ones.

[Heidi]

I have so enjoyed traveling around to see an inside look at your book. I especially love the tic-tac-toe section with the mention of your daughters. Looking at their game, I can see my little ones playing the same way. :)

[Jenny]

So sweet! J is for jump rope. This is what is happening at school for my 6 year old. I have very fond memories of skipping as a child and still enjoy it now!

[Beth T.]

I love knowing that the tic tac toe game was played by your daughters. Touches like that take it from precious to priceless.

[Paulette]

I love the tic-tac-toe, x's and o's. It reminds me of the many times I played it with friends and then years later with my son. Your book emanates a gentleness that I find charming.

[Donna Altieri]

I can't wait to order (or win) this book!! The designs are just too cute!
Thanks for the giveaway.

[Donna Altieri]

I forgot to say which letter I liked best - it has to be tic tac toe because my granddaughter and I love to play this!!

[Miss Nancy]

What can i say, I like everything about this book especially the baseball and quilt antecdotes. I like how you described the stitches and how you used them. Thank you for this great giveaway.

Have a super great sewing and stitching day!

[Denise Cabral]

I like the umbrella and ant enecdotes. I would love to win this book. PICK ME!!!!!

[Sandra]

Your work is wonderful, I would love to learn some of the stitches!

[debbie]

That ant got my attention right away! Where I live, the ants are plentiful. They give a tiny little sting, but it is enough to get my attention quick! I think that ant has spotted me and is heading my way :( xx debbie

[Christine Barker]

My favorite is X marks the spot, because I'm fascinated with treasure maps. I would love to win your book and thank you so much for having this lovely blog hop, I've enjoyed following along.

xo

[Kate]

Your book is beautiful. My two littlies would love to start sewing with it!

[Sunnybec]

The Xs and Os made my heart skip a beat, and I like the smiling ant, goodness knows why because I hate the litte pests! Thanks for a fabulous book tour. Linda

[Gloria J W]

OOOhhh... Post #170...how lucky is that!! I just looooved the ant. What a happy little picnic person he is, sniffing the air, with yummy sandwiches to share! Thank you for the opportunity to enter this draw.
Cheers
Gloria

[therese]

You must be so proud of this book. It looks amazing and I would love to win a copy.
I love your Q is for Quilt the best.
Thanks for the chance.
therese.aiken@gmail.com

[malona alona]

What a kind surprise your book and generous the chance to get it! Definitively the rope one is my favorite. The simplicity and great result is the reason, but behind it you can find my personal anecdote: when I was 8 years old my mother propposed me a summer activity: embroder a table cloth. While I embroder my friends played, so I felt weird and i started to hate embrodery. 25 years later when my little baby born, I experienced a creativity boom and started to sew, embroder, crochet, knit, thanks to the knowledge my mother gave me. But embrodery was not my hard hability, nevertheless chain stich has helped me with my projects, and I really love it!!! Perhaps your book is a new chance for the other stiches to be learnt!!!

[Aida]

Lovely book and lovely designs. I like all the comments that you put beside the pictures, they add a very nice personal touch to the book. I really love the comment for A is for ant, it made me smile. I would love to win a copy of your book. Love and kisses, Aida

[SarDee]

I can totally relate to the, "Xs and Os," because I have done that with my own children's drawings! Especially the early drawings with their simplicity and coloring, transferring them into pillow covers and such really show the little ones how much you love their art. It can backfire, though, now I have so much art work I can't even find my refrigerator!! It's a tough life, I tell ya.... :o) I love your book and would greatly appreciate winning a copy of it, thanks so much for publishing it and sharing it with the world!

[Barbara]

Congratulations for your wonderful book! I prefer Q for quilt..of course..:)
Barbara from Italy

[Susie]

I love the A is for Ant!
Such a beautiful book you have created!

Susie
legato1958@aol.com

[Deidra]

I love the D is for dress. Can't wait to get my hands on this book and start stitching.

[Barbara]

I think the umbrella comment. Yes, just how a child would leave it. You are amazing and I so hope to win the book. If not I will have to find a copy.

[Carrie P.]

OH, I would love to win your new book and read all the little anecdotes.
I like X is for X marks the spot. It reminds me of the pirate birthday party I gave one of my sons when he was little. I also like the idea of making it bigger and adding interesting features to it.
Thanks for a chance and Congrats on your new book.

[Sheri Salatin]

First, I want to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed your book tour. All the blogs we visited, and getting to see their talents has felt like a mini vacation to me. Thank you for that!
Your book looks amazing! From all the different designs I've seen, picking just one is hard. For this moment I'll say the dress is my favorite because I want to make a little wall hanging for my daughter's room. The dress would go perfectly with the quilt I just finished for her.
Thank you for the inspiration and sharing part of your life with us.
Richest blessings,
Sheri

[krislovesfabric]

I have a copy of your book and I adore it, if I happen to win I would love to gift it to my niece. My fave in the book is probably Q is for Quilt but I also LOVE the ballerina dress and uhhh I have many others! Thanks so much for sharing this with us! I expect to have many hours of stitching pleasure ahead of me :)

[Ferne]

I love the little dress in one of my favorite styles too. I use to wear dresses like this to church with my black patent leather shoes and pretty little socks. Your book and blog are lovely!

[cat]

This book looks like lots of fun! I love the x's and o's. tfs, cat

[Nita]

Of course I would love a copy of the book and have put it on my wish list. But what I really wanted to say is how much I appreciated the things you said at the beginning of the post. About not having a design background and yet you wrote a book. You are very inspiring. I started following you recently, and am very glad to make your acquaintance. Would love to have a cup of tea with you someday. <grin>

[Anna Gerard]

I liked the feather anecdote..I'm new to embroidery and love to hear how different looks are acheived. I also liked the rope :)
Thanks for a chance to win your lovely book!

[Bev]

The umbrella has to be my favorite, with the quilt running a close second. U seems to really capture the spirit you wanted to put in this book. You did it beautifully.

[Kay Mc]

I especially like your comment about your quilt design, I can't wait to get my own copy of this great looking book.

[Teresa Whisson]

I have really enjoyed your book tour. I would love to win the book ~ I want to teach my daughter to embroider. Thanks for the giveaway!

[Teri]

I love the X marks the spot! What a fun little embroidery!

[eleanor]

I think the line " simple stitches add amazing texture"
sums up the beauty of embroidery.

[Pam in IL]

I can't choose -- they are all simply wonderful! Love your book and thanks so much for the book tour.

[Marie M. S.]

These look so beautiful and simple! I love embroidering!

[Angie]

I love all your inspiration... Makes me want to stitch them all! Thanks for a wonderful book.

[Lisa D.]

I think the baseball is my favorite. I love the stitching that looks like lacing on the ball!

[Michle Machala]

Q for quilt is my favorite. I would love to win you book. Thanks for the giveaway ,

[Luíza]

I learned to embroider watching my grandmother because she always says she does not know how to teach so I think this book would be great to learn more =)
and my favorite is the X for X's and O's
Luíza

[Shasta Anderson]

I love the treasure map because I thought instantly of my little boy. I also loved the umbrella because your words sounded almost poetic. Cheesy I know, but that is what I thought! :-)

[Jennet]

Such lovely patterns! I like how you say you include ideas for the reader to make some of the patterns their own.

[CeLynn]

No amount of schooling can make a true designer,it is what is within that you share with others!

Your x stands for X's & O's is my favorite of the ones reveled,simply because every time you look at it there is a precious memory awaiting you :)

I have been looking for a book to help me learn to embroider,the search is over...If not the lucky winner,this will be my next book purchase.

Thank you so much for sharing.
sewCeLynn at gmail dot com

[Paige]

I really like your antidotes, they really do add a personal touch. My favorite is probably X marks the spot. I like the idea of enlarging it to add more details.