Stitched Blooms Book Blog Tour + A Book Review
Today is a big day for me as it’s the first time ever I join a Book Blog Tour! We’re here to celebrate Carina Envoldsen-Harris’ new book Stitched Blooms – 300 Floral, Leaf & Border Motifs to Embroider! This post contains both my book review and a giveaway!
Carina of Carina’s Craftblog and Polka & Bloom Shop (where she sells the most amazing embroidery designs) has written her first craft book, about stitching flowers on all kinds of project
This is a great beginner’s book to embroidery, a great start for anybody who has ever thought about stitching. Get the book and start sewing, right now! What I like most is the lengthy introduction where Carina goes through not only tools and different embroidery floss, but also color mixing and basic color theory, finishing techniques, different stitches to learn and even ideas on how to find inspiration outside the book for your own explorations.
Then you get a whole lot of craft projects that in some way include appliqu? or embroidery as a focal point. There is a skirt, a baby quilt, ideas on how to embellish shirts and tea towels that you already own, and smaller craft projects like a pin cushion, a holiday ornament (hanging in a hoop) and a very nifty sewing kit idea.
My personal favorite is the blomma bag (blomma is Swedish for flower) that has both polka dots and a felt flower that is super cute, though unfortunately the pattern for the bag itself is not included. I also really like what Carina calls pom-pom luminaries, white candle bags to decorate the table with. They’re so romantic, I think they would look great at a summer party or if your’re planning a wedding!
If you’re a fan of Scandinavia you’ll appreciate this book even more. There is a motif to sew onto a pair of mittens that is called Scandinavian snö (snö = snow) and even a pattern for a softie dala horse (you can read more about Dala horses here), where templates are included.
A lot to be inspired by, don’t you think? And like the title hints there are 300 motifs in the book – so lots to pick and choose from (all included on a CD in the back, so that you can print them any size), and many ways you could be creative yourself by combining flowers, leafs and borders into something that will fit your project.
Win win win
Would you like a chance at winning a copy of this book, including some pretty embroidery floss provided from the publisher Lark (!)? Simply leave a comment below to let me know what big or small creative project you plan to finish before Christmas! :-)
My plan is to finish my Week in the Life photo book for 2013! We’ll see how it goes.
I will close comments and pick a winner on Sunday Oct 6! Until then feel free to let your friends know about the giveaway too, by tweeting this or sharing a link to this post on FB, pinterest – or your blog! Thanks for helping us spread the word!
Edit: Giveaway closed – and winner annonced here.
Previous Book Blog Tour hosts include Aimee Ray and Jenny Doh, and today it’s me iHanna and one of my favorite bloggers, toy maker Abby Glassenberg! Tomorrow you should visit Susie Stubbs!
Also check out:
* Stitched Blooms – buy it or add it to your wish list on Amazon
* My embroideries – I stitch some kind of mixed media craziness most of the time!
* Previous book reviews – by yours truly
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63 Responses
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I hope to finish my baby’s quilt before Christmas. However, I have 4 other projects in line before I can resume the quilt.
I am doing a Christmas pillow with applique
The book seems beautiful! I plan to finish a wool sweater that I started knitting an embaresing long time ago :)
That seems to be a really nice happy making book. I’m exploring (free form) embroidery, beadwork and art quilting right now to further personalize my handmade journals. I’m currently working on a very colorful book for which I still have to do the covers and a lot of embellishment on the signatures. The insides will be a mixture of fabric and paper. It’s a bit of an adventure, but I hope to finish it within the next few months. Also I hope to be making my own christmas cards again this year and those definitely have to be done before christmas, haha.
Such a pretty book! :)
I hope to finnish the pair of woollen socks I have on my needles, and the mittens I will knit for my sister as a x-mas present! :)
Oh Yeah! I usually have a stitchery project going on all the time….. I often make little gifties for folks…right now I have a pincushion almost stitched for a friend….Christmas ornaments are a great little project in my future too! :)
Oh, I just love the book! I hope to finish the top of my Christmasquilt, which is Scandinavian Christmas of Lynnete Anderson. Anny.
This book is awesome and I can’t wait to get a copy. I’m determined to finish an online course with Megan Suarez which involves drawing and painting dolls in acrylics. There’s a lot of work involved and I also want to make some gifts from this book for Christmas!!
I have so many projects I need to finish, but hopefully I can finish the blanket I’m crocheting for my daughter!
What a lovely book! My project is to create a book cover that I can use over and over again for looseleaf pages–so your art journal can become a showcase while you take out the pages that are too personal. I’ve worked on this for a long time, so there is no “one” answer, and right now, I am experimenting with canvas–both painted and embroidered. Would love to win!
I’m hoping to complete a few Christmas themed embroidery projects — a couple of samplers and baby bibs. Hopefully this year it will happen! Thanks for the opportunity to win such an inspiring prize!
I’d really like to make my mother-in-law a lap quilt for Christmas.
Hello iHanna! I learned to embroider because of you so it would be extra special for me to win this book from your blog giveaway. Before Christmas I plan on making some his/her pillow cases for my husband and I and also finishing a Zoidberg picture I started making in the springtime before I fell ill with some things and let it go to the back burner. Good luck to everyone entering. :)
This book looks great. I love all Scandinavian designs. I’m working on a funny painting about glögg to be done before Christmas.
I hope to finish all the workshops in 21 Secrets by Christmas…I am about 75% done!
This is such a lovely book!
Thank you so much for this giveaway!
I’m a fan of Carina’s embroidery patterns, so I hope to win, eh eh :)
I have tons of projects in my mind to finish before Christmas. My priority is probably to decide how to make with all the granny squares I crocheted last august.
And I have to patterns to sew some winter clothes for me if I’ll find the time!
I want to knit a hat and make some ornaments.
Right now I’m working on Christmas cards. I use patchwork of cotton fabric in all kinds of red hues, gold floss, lace, pearls, hand knitted and crocheted things like “Christmas trees” and “poinsettias”, red and gold silk ribbons etc. There are also plans to finish large tablecloth, cross-stitched in blue. I’m working on it for some years now : /
I plan to cover and decorate fast food drink carriers and fill them with baked goods, savories, and small gifts.
Very pretty book! I plan to make my first woven tapestry with handspun yarn.
Oooh I have quite a few handmade projects I’m working on and hoping to give as gifts this Christmas… some clay magnets, a baby quilt (my first ever attempt at patchwork!), a rag rug and a hand stitched journal. Then of course there’s all the cards I’ll make but never get round to sending out!
I am working on a Doctor Who cross-stitch for my husband for Christmas. And I can’t wait to bake Christmas cookies for all our neighbors!
Thanks for this wonderful book review and giveaway, Hanna!
I have a quilt I am making for my niece for the holidays! I need to get serious about finishing it! thank you for the book review and giveaway!
What a great looking book!
The creative project I’d like to finish is our cross-stitched Christmas stockings. I have a feeling I’ll have to stitch around the clock for the next three months to make it happen!
Me and my girl are crafting shopping bags for the fam. She finger knitted the straps, I sewed the bag. To add a little embroidered sweetness to the lot would top them all off. Thanks for the chance.
A Dala Horse! I need this! My husband’s side of the family is Swedish, this would be great for gifts!
Great review, made me really want to get the book. My daughter would love lovely embroidered designs on her clothes.
I am working on an embroidered calendar for my Dad. I would love to win this book for some extra ideas! Thank you for the giveaway.
Love your art and blog! I am planning on completing a small wallhanging – made of vintage fabrics with a lot of embroidery and trinkets before Christmas. I’d love a chance to win this book – thank you for the opportunity!
I am working on Halloween ornaments for my tree. Just finished a snowman a month stitchery. Now I have to make them into mini quilts? Also made some Christmas ornaments. Need to make some more to try to stay ahead Santa!
This looks a fabulous book!
I plan on finishing a baby quilt before Christmas!
Love the looks of the book. I am so interested in finally finishing my Christmas tree skirt. I want to add some embroidery and some beads to really make it look fancy. Hopefully winning the book will further encourage me.
I am also interested in joining the post card swap.. I have never done a swap.
Among others, I’m working on clutches for my sister and future sister in law, and probably my mom, aunt, and future mother in law too, so some embroidery would really make them special
I’m doing my first mail art and my first ATC for swaps over at Swapbot!
I expect to finish many things before the holidays, first up a wedding gift for a couple getting married THIS WEEKEND. Thanks for the chance to win this lovely book and floss
I am trying to finish a quilt for my wonderful son-in-law. I have made one for everyone in the family except him and now it’s time. His birthday is on Christmas so he will be very surprised to find a birthday gift under the tree this year (hopefully). Thanks for the chance to win this beautiful book.
I would like to organise a Christmas Tree Decoration Swap on my blog, I am making a stitched postcard and trying peg weaving for the first time. It would be lovely to get that finished. Thank you for the opportunity to win this lovely looking book. I saw the beautiful Dala horse in this months Molly Makes. It looks so lovely and what an interesting history it has.
Oh what a sweet book! Thanks for the opportunity, Hanna!
So many projects on my list… but I’d like to finish a soft little rabbit girl friend for the soft rabbit I once sew for my son (the one checking the Easter eggs here).
I hope to finish a set of hand embroidered Jesse tree ornaments before Christmas.
Oh I have slowly started working on Christmas stuff! I have gotten a few things done which is early for me! Which feels good! I started a pretty big cross stitch and a bit overwhelmed because it’s on a type of linen that I have never worked on! So maybe I will maybe I won’t! lol
I hope to finish a tunic top, I just need to get out my sewing machine!
i hope to finish unpacking our new house so i can start (and finish) some dresses for my baby girl!!!!
I’m working on a special family tablecloth that incorporates our family tree. Would love to win this book to embellish it with designs. :-)
I hope to finish a hat for my brother. Thank you for the giveaway
Beautiful book, I feel I really need it! Love all things embroidered, though I mostly indulge in paper crafting or crocheting. Before Christmas I plan to finish two projects, a crocheted scarf to use at work (I work mostly outdoors) and a pair of colourful wrist warmers decorated with crocodile stitches. And a bunch of Christmas cards of course ;-)
Thanks for giveaway beautiful patterns I love embroidery Before Christmas I plan to finish table clothe and hankies …….. please count me
I’ll finish my Swedish fika-set for my niece; a full size princess cake with accompanying cakes & cookies!
i’ll make an advent calender like every year & i HOPE to finish my “a week in the life” album:)
Hi Hanna,
This book looks gorgeous!
I am hoping to finish a bunch of knitted hats that I give away through a local soup kitchen and food bank, as well as a knitted scarf (for me!) and curtains for my daughter’s room.
Lovely book, would love to try many of the designs.
I hope to get some of my collages printed as postcards and to add some stitches to a few originals.
Your blog is full of surprises, i love strolling through your archive.
I hope to get some cloth gift bags made by Christmas. Adding stitchery would be a nice touch. I am a big fan of Scandinavia! The Dala horses are super cute!
I hope to get my studio up and running. I had to pack it all up for a move. Major deprivation!
I hope to finish the projects in the Daily Paper Prompts and the 21 Secrets classes I’ve started – so much fun and learning happening in my – yet to be sorted and tidied room! What a generous giveaway – someone will be SOOOO lucky.
Ok, I give it a try! I began an embroidery on a tea towel, I will completely recover it, it’s going to take a big time (I posted a photo on my blog recently). I’m not sure that it will be finished before Christmas, but I try my best to progress!
I plan to make socks (knit) for my friends for Christmas this year.
I am going to finish “hooping” my embroidery ‘art’ by the end of they year. I love Carina’s work; it is beautiful.
I really love the stitching inspiration in this book!!! So cool! Did you get a chance to sew any of them? Before Christmas, I plan to stitch some cute ornies for my kids…they may not think much of them now, they are young. But down the road the might. Thanks for the chance to win!
What great ideas! I’m hoping to finish a very special baby sweater!
I hope to finish the quilt blocks I started way back when…only now, I’m thinking it won’t be a quilt when I finish them. Thanks for offering this giveaway!!!
I really want to do my first pillow with wool embrodery. A BIG pillow. A pattern book would really inspire.