Happy Mail and a Book Review

Yesterday was a ‘Happy Mail Day’.

We now have two mail deliveries a day. Royal Mail delivers at lunchtime and the other comes at something like 9.30 or 10.00 am. Yesterday our first delivery arrived whilst I was busy in my craft room making something for my granddaughter, Sweetie Pie (a name I call her, rather than her given name!). Peter called to me saying that there were two packages for me. Woohoo, exciting! I love receiving parcels, don’t you?

The first parcel I opened was the book, Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull, published by Dorling Kindersley at £12.99. There was a note to say I had won it in a Giveaway run by Let’s Get Crafting magazine.

The book is full of easy projects for making cute critters using mainly sewing and knitting. The first section is knitted creatures and includes some very sweet ducklings. The second part concentrates on felt animals, including an unusual looking chick!

Part 3 is full of simple sewing projects, with templates included. The fourth section has stitch creatures and is followed by the final part which has ideas for what you should have in your sewing kit, instructions for several hand stitches. This last section also includes seven pages of photos showing how to knit and purl then another on threading a needle and sewing on a button.

The book is aimed at beginners and has good information, at an appropriate level. There is an appealing choice of projects with plenty of photographs and simple-to-follow instructions.

All in all, I think this book would make an excellent gift for a child or for a novice adult crafter.

My second package arrived from Create and Craft TV. I was the lucky person whose name was pulled out of the ‘Cup of Chance’ at the end of a sewing show last week. My prize was the lovely make-up bag shown above. Made by Debbie Shore, the cotton bag has three sections inside, including one zipped pocket. All it needs is to have a fastening attached to keep the front flap in place. Aren’t I lucky to have won it?