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The other day I was going out to lunch and couldn't find a bag I wanted to take. It wasn't going to be a full day out so I didn't want to take a backpack, or even a messenger bag. And while I usually don't coordinate bags with outfits, I didn't have a bag that seemed right for a hot summer day. They all seemed kind of dark and barkclothy if you know what I mean.
So I had a rummage through my stash - you know the big stacks of hoarded fabric we sewers keep in various locations around the home - and found the perfect print that I had bought months ago. And whipped up a new handbag that seemed just right. I used the last scrap of the fabric to make a matching coin purse:So I'm just wondering, do any of you have stash guilt? Does it seem like you have too much, and do you wonder why are you buying more fabric when you already have lots you haven't used yet? Because if I didn't have all my fabric handy I wouldn't have found that perfect piece.
On the other hand my stash is still a little unwieldy so lately I've been trying to do more sewing and make some of the things I've always been meaning to make but was too busy. There's going to be some new things going into my etsy shop www.clairelmilne.etsy.com including some older bags getting sold (because my bag stash is a little excessive as well) and maybe even some fabric...

Is it wrong that I procrastinated in posting my craft slacker project? So this is it. I craft all the time, as you know, and I'm pretty good about finishing things. But I do have my share of unfinished craft projects. Let's call it the basket of shame. For some reason I like to knit bags and pouches - almost as much as sewing them - but I never seem to get them finished.

Sewing the linings and zippers for knitted projects can be pesky. So this is the batch of knitted but not finished things I'd like to finish. The main offender is the knitted bag, which has nice stripes made of blended yarns and I really like it, but it needs a lining. That's it! It's been sitting around for years. I'm guessing it was abandoned in 2005. Well this is it's big chance to get finished.

It's not to late to enter yourself, all the details are on the Toronto Craft Alert website.

Tomorrow is the City of Craft crafts sale and I'm puttering around getting ready. I have things to sort through and find, things to finish up and new things to make. Everything is lined up on my dining table so I can see what I have: shoppers, totes, messenger bags, earrings, necklaces, pincushions, pouches, one hat, one flower brooch, one eyeglass case, trivets, bracelets, bird postcards, and last but not least needle books!

This picture shows some completed needle books. Please visit me tomorrow and don't forget the first 100 people in the door get free swag in a fabulous tote that I'm coveting myself!

Every wonder what a cat is thinking before it jumps into that paper bag?
©Ginger Nielson 2008

Well this is my third attempt to make Amy Butler's Weekender and be happy with it. It's one of those things where you think the fabric you've picked is just perfect for a project and by the time you finish you're not so sure. And a few weeks later you can't stand it and wonder what you were thinking when you picked it in the first place. And you regret all that hard work you did to make something you don't really like.

But this bag is really great, it's such a perfect size and is just what you need for short trips (and good for cramming in extra stuff such as knitting and books) and is also great for a carry-on bag. And I wanted to start making one now well before I'm rushing to get ready for a trip so maybe I could do a really good job on it and not cut corners.

So the last weekender I made was a plaid upholstery fabric in a caramel kind of colour with pink piping. I'm not going to link back to it or anything because I grew to hate it. So I unpicked it recently (might as well re-use the zipper and cord) and decided to try again.
I bought some new Michael Miller fabric (pictured above) from Tonic Living but after a couple of days I wasn't sure about it for the bag although it may look great on our dining room chairs someday. I still like the fabric, I don't know why but I just didn't want it for the weekender bag anymore. This blue floral was my other choice, which I may still use someday. I bought a sample piece and it's nice and thick and has a kind of nautical freshness that I like.

So in the end I decided on a fabric I already had in my stash, a thick white linen with a grey fish pattern on it that I think will look elegant although not extra practical since it has a white background. But there's all that detail and dots and things so maybe it will be ok. And the bottom is going to be dark grey twill which is very practical and the part that gets the most wear. But the main thing is I think it's really pretty and it inspired me to go ahead finally. I hope it works out, I took a lot of time thinking about fabric combinations and even Photoshopped new fabric choices onto a photo of the bag so I could try and picture it. This version looks like this:
The straps and piping are made with dark brown cotton (from the Workroom) and the base is dark grey twill. I'm going to line it with very sturdy cream coloured canvas material. I found a huge piece at Goodwill and thought it might be useful for something that really needed structure. Which this bag does. And as you know if you've tried, local shops look at you like you're crazy if you ask for Timtex. Last time I substituted buckram, but I forgot about that this time and just bought some fusible interfacing which is not as sturdy. (I used two strips of interfacing for each strap and they turned out well.) So in short I'm hoping the canvas lining will compensate. We'll see!

I headed to Parables for book browsing and grabbed one off the shelf to sketch. I haven't read it, but liked the cover so it became part of my prop along with my new handbag and leather pencil case which I carry with me at all times. I love to capture moments whenever I have the opportunity.

I spied this fabric at the Designer Fabric Outlet store on Queen West (1360 Queen St. W, between Dufferin and Landsdowne) recently. This store is amazing, they have, if anything, too much choice. My favourite part is that all the fabric is in small swatches on hangers, organized by fiber, colour and pattern, and so it's very easy to browse through. My friend Sarah and I spent ages in there. Don't forget to go upstairs for extra fabric on bolts - and even more choices.As promised I'm showcasing some of the things I'm making for my table at the Artisan's Gift Fair this Sunday. I thought this fabric was really gorgeous and perfect for a evening bag. I love the colour scheme of tan, grey, white, black and red. Also the black parts of the flowers are velvet and very soft. Since I'm not home I don't have all my fabric with me, so it's lined with some of the linen I bought. Usually linen is a bit pricey for a lining but since I don't have anything else with me, this bag is just that much more special. There's a pocket inside, and I'll be adding a snap or button clasp when I get home.

I have a dressy black dress that needs something just like this to go with it! Just one question, should the closure be a snap or button? A snap is more practical and easier to open and close but a button could be prettier. What do you think?

I keep six honest serving-men:
(They taught me all I knew)
Their names are What and Where and When
And How and Why and Who.

From "The Elephant's Child" by Rudyard Kipling

What is the purpose of “Becky’s Book Reviews”
To promote the love of reading by providing teens, tweens, parents, teachers, librarians, fellow bloggers, and booklovers of all ages, with reviews of current books published for children and/or young adults. The site also will review past titles if they are a particular favorite of mine, or if I feel that they are still relevant and would benefit from more exposure.
Do I post only book reviews? No. Sometimes I also post my opinions on things happening in the blog world, and in the world in general. I also make a point of noting recent book lists and awards. I do participate in the occasional meme. I’ve been known to post YouTube videos as well. But those ‘fun’ posts aren’t part of the real purpose. They’re just extras.

Where can you find Becky’s reviews?
My reviews can be found on this website (http://blbooks.blogspot.com/). Reviews of my ‘clean reads’ can be found on Deliciously Clean Reads (http://www.cleanreads.blogspot.com/).
Links to my reviews can be found at the Childrens Book Review Index wiki page. (http://childrensbookreviews.pbwiki.com/).
I have participated (and plan to do so) in reviewing books for The Edge of The Forest (http://www.theedgeoftheforest.com/).
I also participate in the Carnival of Children’s Literature. This is hosted at a different site each month.
I also participate in the Librarians’ Choices project at Texas Woman’s University. It has been edited, in the past, by Dr. Sylvia Vardell. This year, Dr. Janet Hilbun will be the editor. The two professors teach the class (or non-class) together and will take turns editing it in the future. Each participant reviews a certain number of books (8-10 generally). I have participated in this project since 2004. The goal of the book LIBRARIANS CHOICES (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, etc.) is to choose the top 100 books for children and young adults from books published that year. It covers fiction, nonfiction, poetry, picture books, etc. We try to have diverse titles that would appeal to a wide range of readers (boys, girls, teens, tweens, early readers, etc.)
You can also find some of my reviews on Amazon. The only reason I stopped reviewing there, is their change in policy. (Not that I’m still bitter or anything.)

When is the site updated? The site “Becky’s Book Reviews” is updated every day. I post at least 7 times a week. For holidays, I might post in advance. But there will be at least one post each day. Recently, I’ve been posting more than that. Sometimes two or three times a day. But I will always keep the site current. There will always be something new to read.

How do I choose what to review? It is my goal--a very lofty goal--to read anything and everything I can get my hands on that is new. How do I define new? Books published within the past year or two. I’m still grabbing 2006 titles from my library shelves. But I am eagerly waiting to start reviewing 2007 titles. I would love to receive ARCs and books from publishers, authors, etc. Anything to help me in my goal of reading *as many* 2007 titles as I can. Of course, when 2008 rolls around, I’ll be in quest of those books. But I think you can grasp the concept! How do I see my role as a reviewer? Professional reviews mainly target school librarians and public librarians. Their goal is to help individual librarians decide which books to add to their collection to best serve their communities needs. Therefore they tend to be a little more analytical. A little more judgemental. A little more...this is a book every library needs...or this is a book most libraries can live without...or whatever. They tend to word things in such a way that librarians can *know* whether to spend their money on that item or somewhere else. All that is valid. But a blogger who reviews is serving a wider audience. We have the luxury of being more personal, of being more verbose, of saying whatever we want in whatever style we want. While I may be harsh in some of my reviews, in others I may let the reader judge the value of a book for themselves. I see my role as not trying to say definitely “what is good” or “what is bad” or “what is average” but instead this is what this book has to offer. I describe a book. I try to give the reader a feel, a taste of the book.

Why did I create Becky’s Book Reviews? Why do I feel compelled to blog?
I love to read. I love to write. I love to discuss. I love helping readers connect with books. I want to help promote reading. I want to introduce books and authors to readers. The site helps me do this. It is also immensely satisfying to do this. It helps me keep track of what I read. It helps me connect with a community of readers.

Who is Becky of Becky’s Book Reviews? I am a reader, first and foremost. I am a reader who happens to have a background in English literature and library science. I have a BA and MA in English literature from Texas Woman’s University. I have a MLS degree from Texas Woman’s University. My specialization is children’s and young adult literature. This is my calling in life to promote the love of reading, the love of books, to connect books with readers, to encourage lifelong reading habits.

To read even more see To Blog or Not To Blog

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