Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Linen, Wool, Cotton (& handmade giveaway!)


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.


The Handmade Giveaway:
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!

Description:
Tired of bringing your lunch with you in a paper sack or plastic bag? Oh, well when you see these you will be! And remember really cool lunch bags are not just for kids. "The handles are an extension of the main part of this bag, which you can use to easily tie the bag closed. The bag is also reversible" (Linen, Wool, Cotton, p.96) The solid coloured material is a canvas type thick cotton, and the stripped and polka-dotted fabrics are a thin softer cotton. And yes, both bags are completely reversible!

Here are the two lunch bags I made, you can click on each photo to see the bigger picture.



Details:
This giveaway is being hosted on my craft/family/photography blog as well, to check that blog out go to: The good. The bad. The ugly. I am giving two bags away between the two blogs.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS FOR THE LUNCH BAGS!! (NOT THE BOOK) There seems to be a little confusion about that.

I will select 2 winners at midnight (PST) on 30th of April!!
I will most certainly ship internationally!!

To enter each of the following will give you an entry:
*Post a comment on this post
*Tweet about my giveaway with a link to this post
*Post about this on your blog with a link to this post

Each time you do one of the above make sure to let me know in the comments in this post so that I can add you again. If you don't let me know in the comments I won't know or be able to count your entry, so make sure and come back and let me know.

Very important! I do not notify winners, so make sure you check back on May 1st to see if you won. Each winner has 4 days to get their shipping info to me after that if I don't hear from you I will select a new winner.



27 comments:

Meghan said...

Those bags are just adorable! I'd like to enter. =)

- Meghan @ Medieval Bookworm

Anonymous said...

Those are great bags. I would love to be entered.

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great book. I definitely need simple sewing patterns. I'm far from an expert seamstress!

Love the lunch bags! Please enter me.

Ti said...

Bethany, these bags are too cute!! I love the design. Please enter me!!

thereedfamilyATsbcglobalDOTnet

Corinne said...

GIRL! You are amazingly crafty. Swooning over here. I want one :)

katrina said...

The bags are so cute, I have a handbag in this style but it's not reversible. Enter me please

Anonymous said...

the book sounds really good Bethany.. I hope there are instructions for beginners because I am one.. and your lunch bags look perfectly adorable! Do enter me for the giveaway.. and even if i don't win, I'd love to learn how to do that!!:)

fraser k said...

I have no idea how you have time to read so many books. And (!) I especially have no idea how you have time to be so crafty! Good of your :)

MamaP said...

wow!I would love to have a copy of that book ! Please enter me !

Anonymous said...

Cute bags. One would be perfect for my daughter to take to school for her litterless lunch day!!

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

Oh, please enter my name in the giveaway - the bags are adorable, and I'd love to win one. I was thinking they're also a great way to corral small items (like the various chargers we have, or hair clips, etc.) when travelling.

Dawn
She is Too Fond of Books

Coffeechit said...

Love the bags! And as I'm a homemade lunch kinda girl, it could come in handy.

Deborah said...

Oh yeah, I'm standing in line over here, too - I still can't believe you're giving away those lovely bags! asthenight at gmail dot com

Kim said...

Please enter me in the give-away! How generous of you and what adorable bags!! I would love, love, love one!
*smiles*
Kim
http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/

kimmery4(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kim said...

I blogged about the giveaway here:
http://exlibrisbb.blogspot.com/2009/04/linen-wool-cotton-handmade-giveaway.html

Ohh, how I want one of these bags!
Kim

Molly said...

I found this adorable post via Kim of Page After Page.

I cannot sew a button on a shirt, so the book will do me no good. BUT...I would love to be entered in the drawing for the lunch bag give away.

Mstermind1 at gmail dot com

rubymoon said...

These are so cute. had to look closely to see how they closed and what a neat idea. They look so homespun and very handy to have. Please include me in the giveaway and thanks for the chance to win.

rubymoonstone at gmail dot com

gautami tripathy said...

This is a perfect gift for my mom who loves crafting stuff!

Please do count me in this!

gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com

Chrisbookarama said...

Great bags! I made the slouch bag from the book- it's on my blog.

Leave my name out. I think I'll make these myself.

Shelly B said...

Sounds like a great book. Your lunch bags are too cute! I would love to be entered to win.

shelcows AT gmail DOT com

Shelly B said...

I tweeted!

http://twitter.com/writereader/status/1528801478

mee said...

They look lovely. I'd love to win it :)

tanabata said...

Those are great! They do look very Japanese. I kind of feel silly to enter my name since I could perhaps find something similar here, but they were made by you with love, so please add my name to the hat. Thanks. :)

Ali said...

What a great idea for a lunchbox - I was going to buy one but making one from the book (or winning one you already made!) would be smarter and more creative!

AllyKatt said...

What sweet lunch bags. I wish I was a craft genius but sometimes I feel all thumbs. So if I win them actually all the better. Love the fabric choices also.

espressogurl at hotmail dot com

Nova said...

I'd like to enter as well, please!

AllyKatt said...

So this contest was supposed to be over April 30th at midnight and you were clear you don't notify people. It is now May 3rd and no where on your site are winners listed. Or am I missing something crucial?

espressogurl at hotmail dot com