Book review: Historic Homes of the “Old South”
By the American National Bank with reprint by the Ladies Hermitage Association
“Yet there still remain in the south homes built in the grand manner, where sumptuous living was known and whose historic association with the past is coupled with the glamour of romance. Of such is this brochure is compiled.” And with that introduction to the 1952 reprint by the Ladies Hermitage Association we are introduced to Historic Homes of the “Old South,” a quiet unassuming little paperback that is filled with page after page of richly detailed pen illustrations of historic homes in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Virginia. Each entry features a drawing of the home, it’s location and a statement of its historical significance.
Historic Homes of the “Old South” is perfect for fans of architecture and southern history.
-Karen
The holiday season is officially upon us……. If you have ever wanted to learn how to wrap beautiful packages the following books will show you how to wow them!
Presentations: a Passion for Gift Wrapping
By Carolyne Roehm
In Presentations: a Passion for Gift Wrapping the sample illustrations are lovely and elegant. Carolyne Roehm teaches you how to choose the right paper, ribbons and accents. Wrap the perfect box and tie the perfect bow. Her packages are simply stunning.
The Gift Wrapping Book: Over 150 Ideas for All Occasions
By Caroline Birkett
The Gift Wrapping Book: Over 150 Ideas for All Occasions shows you how to create cool decorative gift tags, tie a variety of bows and actually make unusually shaped gift boxes.
Two very different gift wrapping styles each with something to offer.
-Karen
Knit Your Own Dog: Easy-to-Follow Patterns for 25 Pedigree Pooches
By Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne
Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne have written the ultimate knitting book for dog lovers. Now you can knit tiny doll versions of your favorite breeds. Knit Your Own Dog features 25 breeds divided into Hounds, Terriers, Sporting, Non-Sporting and Working. These dogs are cute and full of detail and the colors and textures are spot on. The finished dolls range in height from 4.5” to almost 7.”
And for the cat lovers Knit Your Own Cat features 16 breeds divided into Long-Haired, Short-Haired, Exotic and Street.
-Karen
B Is For Baby: 26 Projects from A to Z
By Suzonne Stirling
Looking for a simple handmade gift to take to the next baby shower you attend? B Is For Baby: 26 Projects from A to Z by Suzonne Stirling is chock-full of great ideas. This book would be great for anyone interested in unique baby shower gift ideas or even new parents wanting to make something personal for their baby’s nursery.
Some of the projects are: super cute matchbox birth announcements, appliqued onesies, monogrammed hangers and decoupage step stools. The book includes a thoughtful and thorough introduction to crafting tools, materials, computer tips and techniques to get you started. For each craft project, there is a list of the tools and materials that will be needed, a large color photo of the finished project and great step by step instructions.
B Is For Baby: 26 Projects from A to Z has something for everyone at every skill level.
-Karen
Doggy Fashion
By Alison Jenkins
Looking for an excuse to dress your dog up for Halloween this year,
then look no further…..
Doggy Fashion by Alison Jenkins provides a dozen costume ideas and step by step sewing instructions to help you turn Fido into a dinosaur, a spaceman, a vampire, a clown or even Elvis complete with white studded jumpsuit.
The patterns can be scaled up to fit any size dog. Basic sewing knowledge is needed as the patterns range from easy to advanced.
Your dog will love you for it!
- Karen
Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In
By Joan Tapper
Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In by Joan Tapper is filled with great stories about people that love to create and are making a difference with their creations.
You’ll learn about Jenny Hart who is taking embroidery to the next level with her hip retro designs, Bee Shay’s artist trading cards and the Orphan Foundation of America’s The Red Scarf Project that sends out over 2,500 hand knit red scarves each February to college students coming out of the foster system.
Craft Activism will introduce you to new ideas, get you excited, and make you want to try something new.
-Karen
Women From the Ankle Down: The History of Shoes and How They Define Us
By Rachelle Bergstein
If you enjoy fashion, Sex and the City or simply love shoes, then you will get a kick out of Rachelle Bergstein’s fun, breezy new book Women From the Ankle Down: The History of Shoes and How They Define Us. Bergstein offers up a fun to read, light history of shoes mixed with pop culture tidbits.
Should you find yourself aching for more shoe eye candy we have you covered.
We have books about the master shoe designers….. Salvatore Ferragamo: The Art of the Shoe 1898-1960 and Manolo’s New Shoes: Drawings by Manolo Blahník. For a delightful mix of history and illustration, Shoes Fashion and Fantasy by Colin McDowell. For something more scholarly, Women’s Shoes in America, 1795-1930 by Nancy Rexford and from London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, Shoes by Lucy Pratt and Linda Woolley.
If you like shoes, we are sure to have your perfect fit.
- Karen
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