The Creative Family - Book Review & Giveaway

In this post I am going to give you a sneak peek of this book - it isn't even in the shops yet! I'm also giving it away because I don't have little ones and I know that a family out there would really benefit from having this book in the house :)

I'm sure that a majority of you will know Amanda Blake Soule from her thoughtful blog Soule Mama. I'm also sure that most of you who read her blog will agree that one of the main draws of her family and craft focused blog is her sensitive and meditative style of writing.  She manages beautifully to make the make the simplest things compelling and she encourages her readers (in gentle and unpatronising tones) to stop a minute and be truly in the moment.  Anyone who enjoys a peaceful mug of tea whilst reading her posts is going to love her up and coming book...

Amanda's new book; The Creative Family. This book is full of suggestions, tutorials, and observations on how the family can better connect with each other and encourage imagination.  Amanda talks about how this can be achieved through the mediums of handmade craft, appreciation of nature, play, and thought and ritual.  I have to say it only takes a few pages of reading Amanda's warm and gentle writing before the stresses of the day begin to melt away...no really, try it for yourself.

How to turn Dad's old T-shirt into a pair of groovy trousers for kids.

How to stencil T-shirts with the kids.  Throughout these projects Amanda gives suggestions on how to involve the children in creating craft.

This is a lovely idea: turn the children's artful sketches in embroidery transfers.  How charming is that cushion?

Here's Ezra doing a spot of his own embroidery (with blunt needle in hand); he looks so engrossed in his work.

How to make your own (nicer) knitting needles.  The book has a lovely section on how to get the little ones involved with knitting from a young age.

The family's ever changing nature table is a place to exhibit and explore.

Inspiration is everywhere...

Draw Details (please read carefully)

I'll send a copy of The Creative Family to 1 lucky draw winner.  AND A BONUS!!  I will also include the packed with tutorials Handcrafted Journal too (as it didn't get claimed).

To enter all you have to do is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by:

• Sharing your favourite tutorial/s with us and putting a link to it/them in your comment.  It could be anything; a recipe, sewing, knitting, or whatever, the more and the varied the better.

 

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll randomly draw the winner in a weeks time - 29th March and announce the winner the following day-ish.  Good luck! 
2. I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage.
3. Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
4. Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
5. Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

Comments

[Average Jane Crafter]

I love this Twirly Skirt Tutorial, because it's very detailed and easy to follow. Her pictures and instructions are fantastic!

http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com/photos/twirly_skirt/index.html

[Ashley Ann]

I want that so bad! My favorite tutorial is the Wee Bunny of course!
http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/store/wee-bunny.html

[Miss Sassy]

What a great book! Here is a recipe that has turned out wonderfully everytime I've made it. I'll be making it tomorrow in fact for my mom's birthday!

http://sassypriscilla.typepad.com/sassy_priscillas_craft/2007/09/is-there-such-t.html

[Melanie Taylor]

I would so love to win this book, I love Amanda's blog as well as yours. What a generous offer of you. Right now I am loving Happythings' tutorial for the "Mama Bag".
http://happythings.typepad.com/happythings/2006/04/the_mama_backpa.html

[Sarah Jackson]

My favorite tutorial is the totebag 101 tutorial on supereggplant. It sent me down the path of bagmaking.

http://www.supereggplant.com/archives/000216.html

[chelle]

I cannot believe I am coming out! hehe I lurk here umm a lot. This book looks so wonderful.

I have to try it but I want to try this tutorial ...
http://www.curbly.com/Chrisjob/posts/2252-DIY-Shrinky-Dinks-

[leigh]

That book looks so great!
My favourite tutorial is Wee Wonderfuls Makealong Olive and Archie.
http://www.weewonderfuls.com/make-a-long/pattern.html
I've made them with the help of my children who chose which of their old clothes we'd use as the fabric to make them. I'd like to make more ... if only time allowed!
My versions are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysleepyhead/496719765/

[Christy/ MommaOnTheMountain]

http://skiptomylou.wordpress.com/2007/04/25/on-a-roll/

This is the tutorial that was the basis for most of my hand made gifts this last christmas; I made crayon roll ups/tool roll-ups and then a couple of crochet needle roll-ups. It was perfect, easy, and came together in a snap!

[jesser]

Oh I would so love to have this book. This is one of the things I most look forward to as my daughter gets older!!

These crazy crayons are one of my fave things to make with kids:
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/crazy-crayons

[Emily]

My favorite tutorial is this one.

http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2007/05/patchwork-circle-skirt.html

[Heather]

My first completely completed tutorial that I did (uh, only two weeks ago) was Colorfool's totebag tutorial. I'm currently working on my third bag - this time for me!
http://www.colorfool.net/category/tutorials/

[Lorraine]

sewing machine cover very handy !
www.husqvarnaviking.com

[Coralee G]

would love this book! my most used tutorials are your, Lisa, is that cheating? Aside from that I really like this apron tutorial here:
http://morganmoore.typepad.com/one_more_moore/2007/02/valentine_tree__1.html

[Lilia]

It seems like this book will offer lots of inspiration. Who ever thought of having a 3yo start embroidering?! I would love it.

[Megan]

I've been trying lots of the tutorials linked to from the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog but this one for bibs has been my favorite so far. Its from Nested and is super easy. http://nested.typepad.com/blog/2007/07/something-to-ma.html

PS. I love this blog and have found lots of invaluable advice during my bag making adventures. Thanks so much!

[Sarah E C]

I love sewing tutorials, a lot of my favorites have been mentioned. How about some homemade recipes for beauty products?

Check out,
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/homemade-sugar-scrub.html

[ohelene]

I'd love to tak part in the draw. I'll just give you the link to one of my own tutorials - Cloth shoes for baby - the way I make them:
http://blog.ohelene.net/?p=13

[Lindsay]

One of my favorite tutorials is this one for making felt flowers: http://www.fibrespacecrafts.com/howto.html by fibrespace.

[Jules]

Wow, what an offer......the book looks fab and like everyone else replying I would love to get my hands on it.

One of my fav tutorials is for a crazy 9 patch quilt.......I am not good at wonky things, so this tutorial challenged me to be freer with my quilting

http://allsorts.typepad.com/allsorts/2006/10/crazy_about_qui.html

[tally]

I'd so love this book! I love Amanda's blog! She's inspired me to make a crafty corner of my own and MAKE stuff. One of the projects on my ever growing list is to make blown out, hand dyed eggs for Easter this year.

http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=546576ecfd22f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&lnc=ad27a68fc92fe010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=taxonomylist

Tally

[jennyy]

I like the tuts at "Stamping and Stuff." Here's a quick gift -- a beaded pen.

http://emilygiovanni.com/?p=89

[mommamaven]

My favorite is Molly Chicken's Raggy flowers. They are SO fun to make and wear!
http://mollychicken.blogs.com/my_weblog/2006/10/raggy_flowers.html

Oh, wouldn't it be fun to win this! Thank You!

[Beth]

I've been looking for ways to get my toddler involved in craft. This would be perfect!

[Désirée]

My favourite tutorial is
http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=888

[Nada]

I love this tote tutorial

http://www.supereggplant.com/archives/000216.html

I'm super excited for the release of this book!