Handsewn - The Book & A Little Easter Fun

Recently I was gifted with an Amazon Gift Card and unlike others I NEVAH hold onto a gift card!  I was practically running to my computer to spend it! *LOL*  I had a few things in my cart for awhile so I knew what I wanted...but Amazon in their marketing amazingness, of course had suggestions for me.  One of the suggestions was this...

handsewn - the essential techniques by Margaret Rowan

After spending a considerable amount of time hand stitching the lace to my MSN Lace Challenge dress, I was really interested in having a book in my sewing library all about hand stitches.  

Of course, I added this book to the cart.  It arrived Tuesday evening and I've been reading it every evening before bed.  I was way more concerned with the hand stitching techniques for tailoring than for embellishment.  However, after getting through the book, I'm glad that it's such a comprehensive book on hand stitching. Now when I'm questioning how to attach something or how to hand stitch a piece of a garment I have an excellent resource to go to. 

The book is divided into two sections ~ hand sewing for tailoring and hand sewing for embellishment.  Then the author further divides the hand stitches into Skill Levels along with the prerequisite tools and equipment chapter.  I think it's a great book if you want to stitch up samples or if you just want to use it as a reference guide.  It definitely has a place in my sewing library and I know that I'll turn to it again and again for hand stitching.  If you're interested in adding another layer of sewing techniques to your sewing arsenal, I highly recommend purchasing this book.

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It's Easter Weekend and we have a family tradition where the youngest kids come and dye Easter eggs with my Mom.  This year my daughter brought her kids, my sister's son & daughter came and my brother sent his son while his daughter (who I can't believe is 21!) came along to help out.  

Here's a few pics of the fun...

Dyeing the eggs all the grandkids, 

the nieces, nephew & my daughter

Dyed eggs

Easter treats for the kiddies

My babies eating pizza and cupcakes

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It's been a full two weeks at work...my new boss started last Monday and it's been a lot of long days filled with meetings and transitioning...so I have no desire to sew.  I really just want to veg this weekend and enjoy my family.  The jacket that I was finishing to accompany the dress probably won't be sewn.  I will probably wear a fingertip length beige cardigan with the dress.  Now I know I'm doing a great disservice to the dress but it would be worse to throw together a jacket than to find a substitute...at least in my book.  Things might change tomorrow but I doubt it.

...as always more later!