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Thursday, March 20, 2014

wise craft- a review and giveaway!

I have exceptionally high standards when it comes to craft books. I was particular before I authored my own, and now even more so. There are a lot to choose from, and rarely do I get excited. But I am today, as I share Blair Stocker's newly published WISE CRAFT, named after her equally wonderful blog. It's the first book in so long that has me bookmarking page after page of things that I can't wait to try. She offers 60 cross-crafting projects organized by seasons. That's a lot of inspiration packed into one beautifully designed manual of how-to's. Did I mention that the materials are all thrifted or natural objects? Yes, this book totally speaks to me... 

And therefore- I'm fairly certain it will speak to you!
 I always enjoy finding uses for all of the little leather scraps I save. This pan (above) handle cover caught my eye immediately, and so off I went to my sewing machine. It took only 15 minutes and I'm kind of in love with its beautiful simplicity. It can also be made with wool. I want to dress up all of my pan handles now. (See mine below.)
 Here's the other leather project I'm itching to try...
 As I said, 60 projects all designed with Blair's talented eye and edgy, modern/retro, classic aesthetic. You can see lots more pics and read about the behind the scenes right here...
And she's offering an extra copy to one of you! Please leave your name and link/email in the comment section before Sunday at 5pm. I'll announce the randomly selected winner on Monday morning! Good luck! Congratulations Blair, it's phenomenal!

84 comments:

  1. I'm excited to see it too and hope that different projects are shown whenever someone shows it. Last time I went to the city, it wasn't in yet. Looking forward to discovering what else is in the pages.
    thanks for sharing.

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  2. nice! nice project! working with natural elements, and textile , something for me !

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  3. Looks like an interesting mix of techniques and materials! I'd love to see it. ahkraus at hotmail dot com

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  4. Something I would love!
    1tims at embarqmail dot com
    Thanks so much.

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  5. The book looks amazing! krissymharris at gmail dot com
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. Oh this sounds like a really good book! I'd love to join in if it is international. ariadnesky(at)hotmail(dot)com
    AriadnefromGreece!

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  7. This certainly looks beautiful and thoughtful.Thank you for the giveaway.

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  8. I love the breadth of patterns here

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  9. This book looks lovely! I especially like the mix of materials. Not many craft books delve into leather. If I don't win the giveaway, I'll be asking/demanding our library get a copy :)

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  10. Ooooh! Fun, fun! Love thrift shops as much as I love crafting. Fingers crossed!

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  11. Blair certainly makes pretty things.

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  12. What fun! Looks like a great book. :)

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  13. So many good finds in just this little sneak peek … can't wait to read this!!

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  14. Oh yes! This one has my name written all over it! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
    ~ joey ~

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  15. What a great looking book - love recycle projects! paw52(at)verizon(dot)net

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  16. Ooo, looks like my kind of book!

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  17. I love Blair's work so much, and would love a copy of this book!

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  18. This book sounds wonderful! Thank you for the opportunity.

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  19. I love the title and focus of this book and would love to win a copy!

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  20. oh, this book just look superb. i've read her blog for years and have always, but always, been inspired! thanks!

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  21. Ooooh, lovely! I've read her blog forever it seems...love all she puts her hands to.

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  22. I would love to put this on my
    shelf next to your book and craft till my hearts content.

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  23. Looks like a great book! Thanks for the chance...

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  24. Thanks for the review. I know this book rocks and would live a copy of my own. Thank you!!

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  25. Looks like it has a lot of great ideas. I'd love to win it!

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  26. Looks like a lot of fun to be had in that book! I'm kimberlywiggin (at) sbcglobal.net

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  27. I'd love to win, too. Thank you for introducing the book. I'm no author but to many books are disappointing me, too. Not much content, nothing new or just a few nice pictures but no details. I'm off to read her blog...

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  28. This looks like a great book. I hate having to feel like I've got to go out and buy a bunch of stuff just to try a new craft.

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  29. Oooh, this book looks awesome! ginadrummond at gmail dot com

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  30. well of course i'd love to win! :) it looks like it's beautifully styled and chock-full of good ideas!

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  31. This looks fantastic! I won a copy of YOUR book in a giveaway once on another blog, so I'm crossing my fingers! :)

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  32. This looks lovely and like a delightful addition to my books!

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  33. Looks great! Thanks for the chance!

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    1. I forgot my contact: it is danainalaska at wahoo make that yahoo.

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  34. Looks like a lot of good crafty fun! Thanks for sharing.

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  35. This looks a great book!
    I'm off to check out Blair's blog!

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  36. What a lovely book. Thanks.

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  37. Lovely book....
    naomil1@verizon.net

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  38. This looks like a treasure trove of fun and useful projects!

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  39. Wow -- what a great book. Would love to add it to my collection

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  40. This looks like such a fun book! Wow! I would write tons more but there is a 2 year old on my lap and man, doing anything in this position is like 121 times harder than it should be.

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  41. Looks like lots of exciting projects to use up those little bits of stuff that we hate to throw away! Awesome.

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  42. I agree -- the leather project looks fun. I'd love to read the whole book! nancywalters44@hotmail.com

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  43. I'm also always on the look out for truly good craft books, thanks for the recommendation!

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  44. Ohh! Lovely. I'd love a copy. Perfect for inspiration!
    Lshin116 at hotmail.com

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  45. Oh, this is way cool. I love the Wise Craft blog. Thanks for the opportunity!

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  46. This looks like an amazing craft book!
    Thanks for the chance to win it!
    ~Michelle

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  47. lotsa simple project but nice :) thanks for reviewing it :)
    *greets from a silent reader from Jakarta Indonesia :)

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  48. oh! This looks like a book right up my alley...I love repurposing thrift store finds!

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  49. It looks amazing and so much fun! Thanks for the chance.

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  50. Thanks for the chance to win!

    abackman66 at hotmail.com

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  51. Looks like an awesome book!

    ootiemama@gmail.com

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  52. Beautiful book indeed ! Congratulations to Blair !
    Thank you Blair & Maya for the opportunity to win one !
    My email is cozy memories AT orange DOT fr (minus the spaces etc ...)
    ox

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  53. Great book! Thank you for the opportunity, Maya and Blair!
    Orsolya Balogh-Rehák
    borsoo(dot)post(at)gmail(dot)com

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  54. Thank you for sharing Maya! As I am participating in Stephanie Levy's Creative Courageous Year where we (among other things) commit to little creative projects, following the seasons, as I honour the motto 'the beauty of simplicity' and love the idea of recycling (that's why I love your book so much as well), I would love to add this book to my collection. Happy weekend to you and thank you for the review! estudiosdecococita at gmail dot com

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  55. This books looks awesome! Inspiring! Thanks for introducing it to us.-Kat
    katcoons99 at yahoo dot com

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  56. Looks like a great source of inspiration! kmarcher420@yahoo.com

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  57. This book looks wonderful!
    ebenezerstories@gmail.com

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  58. I love DIY and by the look of photos in this book, I think I'd get excited about all the projects in there, like you :) Thank you for the opportunity!
    madebynini at gmail dot com

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  59. It looks amazing!
    Wonderful design as well. I wish I could be the lucky one!

    Thanks for the opportunity!

    **rita

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  60. makes me want to get my fabrics out...

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  61. So inpirational! Thanks for the chance!

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  62. Oh wow... very generous giveaway thank you for the opportunity :) Would love to try the projects out.

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  63. Looks awesome! Catladyerika@gmail.com

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  64. Oh, I love Blair's blog and I would love to win this beautiful book! Thanks for the chance!

    Fine

    keejah (at) gmx (dot) de

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  65. Looks like a wonderful book : ) thank you for the opportunity to win this treasure :)

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  66. This book looks gorgeous and perfect! I'm at industrialgrace (at) gmail (dot) com

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  67. this looks so interesting! thanks for the chance to win a copy!
    katrin

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  68. Thanks for the introduction to a new (to me) blog. Looks like a wonderful book full of inspiration - thanks for the opportunity to win a copy, Maya.
    Lynda
    (lejaros@gmail.com)

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  69. Ooo! Looks fantastic! Can't wait to check this out. Thanx Maya :)

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  70. Can't wait to be inspired! Thank you for sharing!
    megankrumholz@yahoo.com

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  71. What a great book judging from that little peek you've shown us! I'd love to win this, thanks for giving one of us the opportunity.

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  72. I've had my eye on that book!

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  73. This book looks like it would be a lot of fun. Thanks for the review.
    Shannon

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  74. I'd love to check out this book. It looks like it has a lot of great projects!

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  75. Great book! Thanks for the giveaway

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  76. Those pan handle covers are brilliant! My felted wool stash will soon protect our hands from the hot handles of our cast iron pans. Love it, thanks!

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