October 25, 2010

Anniversary Book Giveaway :: Week Four!

This is the final week of the Anniversary Book Giveaway month, and I have to say that I've saved a really good one for last.
Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule
If you have never visited Amanda's very inspiring and oh so lovely blog, I highly recommend dropping by. This book is full of sweet, heartwarming, comforting and creative ideas for homemaking, many drawn from projects featured on her blog. But don't take my word for it, here's a bit about the book from the publisher:

"For many of us, our home is the center of our life. It is the place where our families meet and mingle, where we share our meals and share our dreams. So much more than just a space to live, our homes offer us a place of comfort, nourishment, and love for us and for our children. 

In Handmade Home, Amanda Blake Soule, author of The Creative Family and the blog SouleMama.com, offers simple sewing and craft projects for the home that reflect the needs, activities, and personalities of today’s families. As Amanda writes in the introduction, “As a crafter, I’m always looking for the next thing I want to make. As a mama, I’m always looking for the next thing we need—to do, to have, to use—as a family. The coming together of these parts is where the heart of Handmade Home lies.” 


Filled with thirty-three projects made by reusing and repurposing materials, all of the items here offer a practical use in the home. From picnic blankets made out of repurposed bed sheets to curtains made out of vintage handkerchiefs, these projects express the sense of making something new out of something old as a way to live a more financially pared-down and simple life; lessen our impact on the earth; connect to the past and preserve a more traditional way of life; and place value on the work of the hands. Also included are projects that children can help with, allowing them to make their own special contribution to the family home. 


More than just a collection of projects for handmade items, this book offers the tools to create a life—and home—full of beauty, integrity, and joy. 


Projects include:
Papa’s Healing Cozy: This hot water bottle cover becomes a simple way to offer comfort to a sick child
Baby Sling: A simple pattern for an object that offers so much to a small child—refuge from the world and a place to lay their head next to a parent’s heart
Beach Blanket To-Go: Repurpose old sheets to create the perfect picnic blanket for special outdoor meals
Cozy Wall Pockets: A creative solution for storing a child’s small treasures
."

And here's how you can win it:

  • Sometime today before 10 pm leave a comment with a resource, idea, tutorial link, story or some other inspired thing about your own handmade home.
  • Tweet (or retweet) about the giveaway—with the all important @magpiepatterns mention so that I know to include you in the drawing.
  • Or share something from the Magpie Patterns Facebook page with your FB friends (and then send me a note so I know that you did!). 
  • Or become a follower of the blog (and send me a note or something so I know).
And like last time the book drawing is for US and Canadian crafters only, BUT I don't want to diss all the wonderful crafty birds in other parts of the world. SO if you don't happen to live in North America, you can do any of the above to win a pdf pattern of your choosing (shipping books beyond this continent can get pricey), which is also a very happy thing if you ask me.

After all the entries are in I'll randomly choose a winner, once more using Rae's rather successful toddler method (although mine's a preschooler, it has still worked well) and then contact that person by email, twitter, or Facebook (so be sure to include a method of contact) to get shipping digits.


Good luck and happy homemaking!

14 comments:

City Chic Country Mouse said...

I'd love a copy of this book! I just recently posted a little tutorial on how to make your own sweater pillows: http://tinyurl.com/3a5xy5y

An Ivory Beauty said...

I am a follower!
-Paty
angel.baby.paty@gmail.com

Heather said...

I love making my home homemade. I try to incorporate elements of our children's heritage into our decor so this weekend, I painted a picture of a lighthouse that my ancestors built and tended, and it's now hanging in our bathroom. I also just finished a picture of embroidered flowers (I bought the pattern on your site, one of the Polka and Bloom patterns) because it reminded me of Pennsylvania Dutch style, which is my grandmother's heritage. I'll be hanging that in my living room as soon as it's framed.

lea said...

http://leatphoto.blogspot.com/

just posted a paper craft on my blog.

I would LOVE to win this book! Sooo inspiring!
Lea
leachristine at comcast dot net

kendra said...

okay, i shared on facebook via my 'fan page' - by hand at home, i re-tweeted, and i became a follower! this week we dipped leaves in beeswax for our autumn-y handmade home!

Tracy said...

My girls both sleep under blankets created for them by multiple people- myself, relatives, and friends. I plan to continue covering their beds with blankets made with love forever.

Very Shannon said...

Ok, you must pick me. My fingers are crossed for this one. I have Amanda's first book and the pages are worn. Would love to win it!

We try to incorporate handmade into our home as much as possible. I want my girls to learn the power of handmade and the value in making a gift, or item for oneself with their own two hands.

In our home we repurpose as much as possible and try to see the beauty in everything. I'm starting to see my 3 year old develop a strong interest in learning to sew and knit which warms my heart!

For example she just started preschool and instead of buying her backpack, she picked out the fabric and helped/watched me make her one. She loves that nobody else at school has the same one as her.

http://www.luvinthemommyhood.com/2010/09/makinit-in-mommyhood-back-to-school.html

But we also balance it. She has a Dora lunch bag but uses reusable handmade snack bags instead..haha. Kids will be kids too right?

Samantha said...

I just became a follower!

Also, my 3yo and I are making a milk carton birdfeeder today from the following link, we love recycling! http://naturalpapa.com/nature/kids-nature-project-build-a-milk-carton-bird-feeder/

:)

BFree said...

Well, I follow this blog and Soulemama and love them both

BFree said...

http://askmamabear.blogspot.com/2010/10/chicken-love.html

my chickens, they are provide us with such joy in so many ways.

mean green mom said...

Oh I've been wanting this book for a while :)
I dont have a tutorial, but I have been learning to can this year, and its so fun and rewarding. I also just taught myself to quilt and have a couple quilts planned for my girls for the holidays.
Thanks
meangreenmom[at]gmail[dot]com

mean green mom said...

I'm following your blog :)
meangreenmom@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I have been eyeing this book at the bookshop and would love one. Hmm. I am learning to sew, or should I say relearning. I took some time off and I am back at it. At present I am about to begin several projects from pillows for my guest room as well as my sons rooms and a dress for my niece.

Elizabeth said...

Love Soule Mama! And if you are looking for crafty stuff with your kids check out Crafty Crow or Twig and Toadstool.