I have two things to share today.
First, I have had the most wonderful time choosing books for my new Amazon affiliate bookshop. The bookshop has several categories, each filled with books I love. When you click through from my links and purchase a book I get a very small percentage of the sale. It’s small, but when you are working to earn a living with your craft, even very small earnings count. I added a tab to the navigation bar up there so that you can easily click over to the bookshop.
One category is, “What’s Roxanne Reading?”. As you may have figured out, Roxanne, who is now in second grade, is an avid reader. Really, avid doesn’t express it fully. She is a constant devourer of books. It is a joy to choose books for her because she gets so much pleasure from the really good ones. I have put all of her very favorites here, in one list, in case you have a young bookworm in your life, too. This list will be updated frequently. She reads at least three hours a day.
There is a category of “Books I’ve Reveiwed” and another of “Sewing Books I Like”.
My favorite category of all, and the one that I think may be most valuable to you, is the “Soft Toy Books”. I learned to sew toys by reading soft toy books and sewing through pattern after pattern. Here you can find the books that I found to be most valuable in my learning. Many of them are out of print.
Which leads me to the last category: “Abby’s Books”. Right now you’ll find The Artful Bird there (which was just named a top ten craft book of 2011 on the ALA Booklist!). But in the spring of 2013, you’ll find my book about soft toy design there as well.
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And also, today, I wanted to show you a huge box full of vintage sewing patterns that my friend gave me recently.
There are a lot of gems in here.
Maybe 50 patterns in total, all in their original envelopes. From the 1970’s, or 1980’s?
I don’t sew clothes and I don’t use traditional sewing patterns. What can I say. Cutting in a straight line, doing math, following someone else’s instructions – none of that appeals to me. But I know these patterns would be awesome for someone. Maybe one of you?
So I’m giving them away! If you’d like this entire lot of patterns, I’ll mail it to you for the cost of shipping! Leave me a comment saying you’d like them and they are yours. I’m imagining shipping within the US will be under $10. It could be significantly more outside the US.
Awesome.
So thanks in advance for checking out my new bookshop. And happy sewing!
debra says
Hello! Love, love your blog! Especially the stuffed toy how-to entries (which is how I originally discovered it).
I started sewing about a year ago to make my own soft toys, but now I’m totally interested in dressmaking and have successfully completed an ill-fitting skirt, ha. That collection of patterns looks amazing! Hope I win! 😀
abbyjane says
They're yours! Email me your address to abbyglassenberg at comcast dot net. I'll let you know the cost of shipping and then send you a PayPal request. Enjoy!
katie says
Oh poo. I’m too late!
Tiffany Harvey says
Congrats on the top 10!
Holly says
I can’t wait to check out Roxanne’s reading list. My second-grader loves to read, too. And I’m actually relieved that someone else got the patterns. I wanted them, but then was also very INTIMIDATED by them and know I would’ve just felt bad if I got them and then didn’t use them. Ha.
Megan says
Oh, man. I love those vintage patterns: Everyone looks like they’re on stilts. Hilarious!
Terrill says
I’m tempted, but this is definitely not what I need with a new baby (soon to be) in the house!
We’ll check out “What’s Roxanne Reading”. . . but how about a “Favorite Read-Alouds” category as well?
abbyjane says
Terrill,
Where is this baby? I remember very well being in that very last stage of pregnancy and just waiting and waiting. But I thought 11/11/11 was your date?
Katherine says
Pretty, pretty please. I love to sew and do math and follow some one else’s instructions.
Skyefraser@me.com says
I would love these. Just looking at them made all excited with the possibilities!!
Katherine of Kitten's Lost Her Mittens says
Darn, I’m too late for the patterns, too! I would have loved to have them. If she changes her mind, let me know! 🙂
x Katherine
sarah says
Rats! I just saw this and I’m too late! I used a vintage pattern to make a dress for my 8 year old and she wore it for Halloween 🙂 Enjoy to the winner!
Amy says
I would love to sort through this box of patterns! So much inspiration in one little box – now just to find the time…
Amy says
oops – too late? Ah well!!!
Katherine W says
There must be something in the name – three Katherines all in love with vintage patterns. So sad I saw this too late! My mum still has all her 60s and 70s patterns and they’re just about all I use to sew – all the styles keep coming back into the shops. Love your blog and seeing your creations.
fionaherbert@arach.net.au says
Looking forward to the new book in 2013. Enjoyed the posts that I have read so far. I love reading about creative people and what they are up to.