Hey all! It’s finally my day in the blog hop for the Zakka Style Sew Along. I hope you have been playing along or at least admiring the projects of those who are. It’s been a lot of fun to see what people are making.
I’m going to share with you the next project in the book, the Elephant Bookmark, aptly titled “An Elephant Never Forgets”. I was feeling particularly whimsical on the day when I picked this out as my project. I think it was around the time I was working on that owl backpack 😉
The original design was made in a floral printed Linen. But I wanted to see what the bookmark looked like with a simpler fabric. So I used Robert Kaufman’s Essex Linen in Dusty Blue (a fabulous fabric by the way!). It’s a lovely blue grey color that just reminded me a bit of elephants. I’m literal that way. 😉
I also had the pleasure of using Cosmo Embroidery Floss for the first time on this project. I’m pretty new to the world of embroidery floss and I’ll admit that I was not expecting anything too different when I got the floss. But I’m not kidding when I say that I LOVE it. It gives such a beautiful finish. I weirdly just wanted to cover the elephants in a bunch of floss! lol Aren’t you glad I resisted the urge? Actually I did try, but it looked pretty bad so I pulled it out right away. It kind of looked like the elephants had the chickenpox. Not pretty.
I made this sweet gal first. I think my favorite part is her pretty bow. You can’t add too much to these guys to decorate them because they are bookmarks aka they need to stay pretty flat. So you only decorate one side and that cute head.
I got all fancy on the next one 😉 and decided to add some extra fabric and ribbon to dress him up. I like how this guy turned out. The orange is a nice contrast to the linen and scale of the print works well. I just added the fabric before I sewed the pieces together. Worked like a charm.
Tips and Tricks:
Well one of the things I loved about the design of this pattern is that you trace the image onto the fabric but you don’t cut it out until after you have sewn the two pieces together. That seemed genius to me. I fully expected to trace the elephant template onto two pieces of fabric, cut them out and then try to carefully piece them together. Her method is sooo much more forgiving. Just sew on the traced lines on one piece of fabric and then trim the fabric away afterwards!
Also, you have noticed that this bookmark is fairly tiny and has some fiddly bits like the feet and the trunk. They are as annoying to turn right side out as you might imagine. Oh and that tiny ear. I had all of pieces lined with interfacing and that was just NOT helping me turn the pieces right side out. My point turning tool kept getting caught in the interfacing and had fusible adhesive on it. I ended up using some small scissors to push my points out and that seemed to work better for whatever reason.
All in all, it’s a cute little design that would be a sweet gift for a younger person in your life. Who doesn’t need a bookmark?!
I learned about your blog after seeing you win The Moda Bake Shop contest, and have become a follower ever since. I usually look for something that would be a challenge for me, along with clear and easy to follow instructions. If the book isn't bright and colorful, I will usually return it to the shelf. Thanks for the chance to win some thread, I would love to try Aurfil.
I am a newsletter follower.The bookmarkers are cute. They would make a cute Christmas gift for the kids on my schoolbus.
In a book I look for GOOD directions that have exact measurements after each step as you go along.Also a Picture of the Quilt or Craft that I am making.
I follow your wonderful blog
In a book I look fmostly for inspiration, great ideas on which to draw from. Clear instructions like finished block sizes so it is easy to scale the quilt up/down are also helpful.
Very nice job, Angela! I think I want to buy if there are a few projects that I truly want to make. If there is just one, I'll probably check it out from the library instead.
I tend to buy a book if it looks like a good reference book that offers me plenty of inspiration with easy to follow instructions and inspiring photos. If I read the instructions for a project and cannot follow along in the bookstore, I do not buy the book. I also tend to shy away from purchasing books with only 10 projects or so…I opt to look at those books at the library. Thanks for the chance to win the Aurifill package….I need a reference card.
I subscribe by email to your blog. I always look forward to receiving your updates. Keep 'em coming!
I really like your blog, found it via another of my favourite blogs and am quite determined to start my fist quilt this year as a present to myself after moving into my first not-shared flat next month. Always looking for tips, tricks and inspiration.
I follow your blog (can't wait for news regarding the mario brothers QAL..!).
I often buy craft books or sift through them and what I really buy are books with a wide range of techniques, clear instructions and photographs and a layout that doesn't make me dizzy. The problem with project books is that there often are projects for animals or children. Since I have none they are quite useless for me. I like books that also show possible variations in colour, material and style.
And what often bugs me with English books is the layout, it is completely different from what we have here in Germany and for most of us these books are just too much headlines, different fonts and colours. In a nutshell: The layout often looks confusing and not well structured. But I guess that is a.. regional problem.
Best regards from Germany 😉
I purchase a book when I love several projects in it that I 'know' I will make (some day)! I love a book that show different colour versions of a quilt and that provides information for different sizes. Books with step by step and detailed information is important to me too! Thanks for the chance!!
I am a long time follower!!!
I am a follower Angela. Would love to win that trunkload of Aurifil which your cut bookmarks brought in.
I look for clear photos, close ups, clear instructions, advice if beginner or advanced project, also do I have the materials, threads, embellishments to check on for any added cost. But most of it all the book has to make my heart thump, my eyes glow with deep sighing sounds. This book is like no other in my library,
I have been following you for sometime and when I see a design that catches my eyes I then scramble to put together materials and try my hand at it. Bags usually do it and thank you for daughters. Judith, Texas
I usually look at a book if it has colorful interesting pictures on the front. I know that is snobbish but it won't catch my eye if it doesn't. I love any kind of sewing project that looks not too hard and fun. I don't like a lot of little pieces so I probably won't make these bookmarks. I have made a couple of the things in this book. I would not have bought the book if not for this blog hop.
I am a very loyal and faithful follower. Sort of like that old yellow hound. I follow your every post with drooling and wishful thoughts on all of the amazing things you create.
Beautiful pictures, unique projects and clear directions are whatbsize look for in a craft book.
I follow you through Google Reader. nThanks for the giveaway.
I look for great pictures…and lots of variety in the finished projects.
I love concise instructions with diagrams on tricky parts. If I open a book and each instruction is a paragraph long I get stressed out and put it back!
I follow you via Google Reader
Initially, pretty pictures pull me in to a book. Then I start looking at the projects to see if they interest me. If they don't, it goes back on the shelf.
I follow your blog.
I will more quickly buy the book if I'm already familiar with the author and know the quality I'll be getting. For example, I just bought Joanna Figeuroa's (of Fig Tree Quilts) book "With Fabric & Thread". It is everything I expected it to be – beautiful patterns and clear instructions with fabulous pictures!
And OF COURSE I'm a follower! Your blog is one of my top five faves.
I like a LOT of pics. I am a very visual person! I also love when they tell you what the difficulty level is! Sometimes I think things can look a little mroe simple than they are and when you get into them you (or me as a newbie) get in a little over your head! LOL
And of COURSE I follow you! ;O)
Such adorable bookmark.I buy a book if there are diagramsn in the snstrucctions and also I love some project in the book and the best is step by step with photos and diagrams.
I love to see projects I can make.Of course,I`m a happy follower.Thanks for the chance!!
I look for a lot in a book. It has to be something new, I haven't seen before. Also, I need more than one project that I love. If it is just one item, it will definitely go back on the shelf.
marilyn2222 @ hotmail.com
follower
I have signed up to follow you. I love your blog!
Linda F.
It's all about the pictures in a quilting book as to whether I buy it or not. If I don't see a few things that I think I would like to make or technique I would like to use, I put it back on the shelf.
Linda f.
Lots of great pictures is a must have. I also like to see a good number of quick projects as well as larger scale pieces. Price is the final consideration.
I'm a follower.
I look for new ideas and techniques. A lot of pictures help a lot. Sometimes there's to much of the same with just a tweek here and there and is not worth it.
I'm a follower. Love your blog!
Well written instructions as well as good pictures. Some quilting and sewing books only show the projects one way (which is usually unflattering). I'm not interested in those.
Following indeed!
I buy a sewing book if I find inspiration and lots of pictures, as I'm definitely a visual learner.
I am a follower (of your blog that is, lol)!
I love looking through sewing and craft books, but I'll only opt to buy if it (a) has several projects in it that I would realistically want to make, or (b) is just so gosh darn inspiring that I know that it will encourage me to make more stuff (whether the projects featured in the book or not). thanks for the chance to win some Aurifil; I'm excited to be able to try some out…
I look for quick, cute projects in a craft book. Having great pictures of the finished projects always wins me over too. It also needs to have good instructions and pictures of the different steps. Do all that and you have a sale for me. LOL By the way, I love, love Aurifil thread.
I am a follower of your blog. Thanks for the chance to win some fabulous thread.
What I look for in a book is that it has at least a few cute projects that I want to make, and the directions need to be clear enough that I'm not spending most of my time trying to decipher each step.
I follow your blog through regular visits via my bookmarks. I hope this counts! (never got into using a reader)
I look for quilts, quilts and more quilts. I love to make baby quilts and lap quilts as gifts. I don't really have any use for the small projects that are so popular lately. Don't really know how to fit them into my home, so I hesitate to give them as gifts.
Love your blog and the inspiration it gives.
Would love the Aurifil thread for applique!
Best regards from Gail in Wa State
g steves at hotmail dot com
I have to want to make at least 3 of the projects in the book to warrant a purchase. I also look for clear and detailed instructions with lots of good photos.
I love your blog and follow you in my GR 🙂
I like it when there are tons of projects beautifully photographed. I don't need a repeat of information I can get in any other book.
I follow in google reader.
The projects in the book need to be things that I'd like to have in my home–even if I never make them. And I like pretty but practical because I like to use what I make.
And I definitely follow (and love) your blog!