Hi  friends,

I'm very excited to have the opportunity to share Amanda Blake Soule's latest book, Handmade Home, with you. Chances are that if you're a blogger, a mama, a crafter, a homeschooler, a thrifter, or any combination of those five things, you've likely read Amanda's blog, Soulemama.

Although the very basic parts of our lives couldn't be much different – rural vs. urban, American vs. Canadian, married vs. single, four kids vs. none – I always find inspiration and solace when I visit Soulemama. Perhaps that's because although our daily lives are very different, the things we believe to be important – things like family, nature, making things by hand, eating good food, being creative in everyday life, appreciating what you've got and finding new uses for old objects – are very similar.

So it follows that I really loved the projects in Handmade Home. I am not at a stage where I need to know how to sew cloth diapers for my babies, but the instructions Amanda provides show me that I'll be ready to do it when the time comes. Little projects such as Millie's Hot Pad and the Towel Rug offer great ways to give new life to your favourite bits of fabric, and to old towels that are ready to move off the towel rack but not into the rag bag. I also love the projects that feature her children's art - things like the Art and Hooks Rack or the Family Art Table Runner. Imagine how excited your kids would be to see their art in a place of pride on the family dinner table or right by the front door.

Amanda provides lots of information about how to find great treasures when thrifting and how to use those treasures in your crafting. Profiles of other crafty mamas add another dimension to the book, which is illustrated with tons of photos of the crafts in use. It's one thing to make something, quite another to make something knowing it will stand up to the rigours of daily use by a bunch of kids. That's something else I like about this book – the projects are for everyday use. They're attractive but not precious, and there's every expectation that they'll get used until they're used up.

It's been super hot and super busy here lately, so I haven't had as much crafting time as I'd like; the only project I've tried from this book was The Family Heart, made as a gift. The recipient loved it (and that's the best endorsement, isn't it?). I've got a long list of things to try, though: the Family Sweater Hats look like they'd be fabulous Christmas presents; Adelaide's Pillowcase Dress has been earmarked for a very special little girl I know; and the Button Flower Blanket might give me just the excuse I've been looking for to buy that beautiful wool blanket I've been eyeing at my favourite antique store.

I'm sure that you will love this book. Thanks to the generosity of Shambhala Publications (and to one of our editors, who passed another copy along to me) I've got TWO copies to give away.

For your chance to win, leave one comment on this blog post telling me what inspires you – is it a blog you read? A person you know? Your kids? – as always, I'm eager to know. You have until Sunday, September 6 at 11:59 p.m. to enter. I'll post a winner here on Tuesday, September 8 (how is it Labour Day weekend already?)

Hello there!

I can't believe it's Monday again already. I've got some good news about Giveaway #17 – when I got back to the office last Wednesday, I realized that I had three copies of The Knitted Odd-Bod Bunch by Donna Wilson to give away, not two. So today I've got three lucky winners!

Congratulations go to Dian, Hayley and Nic.

Look for an email from me in your inboxes soon!

I wrote a lot about this week's awesome giveaway, so I made it into another post. You're going to like it, so check it out! Here's a hint...

Photo from www.operationsockmonkey.com.

Hi friends,

When I got back to the office on Wednesday it was to find my cubicle festooned with pins and business cards from Operation Sock Monkey. (I work with a bunch of practical jokers, can you tell?) It's been three days now and I'm *still* seeing new pins every time I look up...and business cards seem to shower out of my dictionary at every opportunity. The constant barrage of sock monkeys achieved critical mass this morning, and finally the penny dropped. "Hey!" I thought, "I should blog about that!" (Just call me "master of the obvious.")

From their website:
Operation Sock Monkey is an initiative in support of Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA) providing laughter, hope and healing to communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Handmade Sock Monkeys can be purchased for you or someone you love or sponsored to be sent to children in need of a smile. All proceeds donated to CWBSA.

Photo from www.operationsockmonkey.com.

There are many ways to get involved: you can sponsor a sock monkey (in which case the monkey will be sent to someone in need), buy a sock monkey (you can keep it for yourself or give it as a gift), or you can make a sock monkey (or more than one!) to donate. Operation Sock Monkey also hosts sock monkey–making workshops, parties and Sock-Monk-athons. What a great idea for a girls' night in, unusual bridal shower, or even a special event for your Girl Guide or Pathfinders group. I hope you'll check it out.

Have a good weekend, friends, and tune in on Monday for a special book review and giveaway!

Good morning friends,

I just had to share a photo of these stitch markers with you. I'm the first to admit that when it comes to knitting equipment, I'm a bit of a cheapskate. For the longest time, I refused to buy stitch markers – why pay for some ugly plastic ring when safety pins and scraps of yarn are free?

Of course, stitch markers have come a long way from the cheap pink and blue hoops that were available when I started knitting 20 years ago. When I visited my sister, Whitney, in Halifax, I saw some of the work that her housemate, Tamara, was doing with felted wool, and that's when the penny dropped. Felted wool stitch markers – how cool would that be? I pitched the idea to Tamara and she graciously accepted the challenge.

Whitney brought the finished markers to me a week ago (that's them up there) and I'm really pleased. I can't wait to start a new project so that I can put them to good use. Thanks, Tamara!

(See some of Tamara's other work in her Etsy shop, GreyLeaf Fibre Arts.)

Hi friends,

Remember when it was custom to bring an apple for teacher on the first day of school? That's immediately what jumped to mind when I saw this:

From Craftapalooza, via Whipup.

Visit Craftapalooza to find the tutorial and templates. Via Whipup.

(Also, rickrack? Awesome.)

Have a great day!

Hi folks,

I'm up to my elbows in ribbon and glitter glue today but I wanted to take a quick break to point you toward this neat quilt-along project over at The Sometimes Crafter. Christina, her mom and her friends wanted to spend some quality time together and they wanted to learn to quilt, so voilà, this sampler quilt sew along was born. Each month, Christina posts a new tutorial and participants get busy crafting the next quilt block. When they're finished, they'll have 12 blocks, enough for a quilt top!

I have always been intrigued by the idea off making a sampler quilt, but put off by the traditional look of the blocks (not that there's anything wrong with traditional blocks, they just aren't to my taste for my home), and that's where the genius of this project comes in – this project has a thoroughly modern look. I especially like the flying geese colour wheel block from July.

Following a quilt-along is a great way to learn new techniques at your own pace, and Christina's tutorials are clearly written with lots of great photos. The fact that there's a different block each month helps keep you motivated to keep going (as any quilter would tell you, a little momentum can help a lot!). 

Have you ever participated in an online quilting bee or quilt-along? Did you like it? How did your quilt turn out?

Good morning!

If it's Monday, it must be giveaway day. Let's get straight down to business. The winner of last week's prize, a copy of Knitting Classic Style by Véronik Avery and five assorted balls of Patons Silk Bamboo, is:

Commenter #29, Grace, who says:

Congratulations Grace (and Grace's mom-in-law)! I'll be in touch shortly.

(While we're talking winners, I'm still looking for Carla, last week's winner. Carla, are you out there?)

This week I've got two (2!) copies of The Knitted Odd-Bod Bunch by Donna Wilson (here's a book review from Mochimochi Blog). The knitted toys in this book are definitely not short on personality! I think they'd make great gifts for the kids (or adults) in your life who appreciate quirkiness. Lots of fun!

As usual, enter for your chance to win by leaving one comment on this post by Sunday, August 30 at 11:59 p.m. I'll announce the winners on Monday, August 31. A couple weeks ago, Amy (Whistlepea) suggested that profiles of Canadian craft bloggers would be something she'd like to see here at Make+Do. I think that's a great idea, so if you'd like, why not nominate someone in the comments?

Hi friends,

Just a quick note this morning. How cute are these dolls from Hop Skip Jump? (Pretty cute!) And now you can buy the pattern and make your own. (Find more info here.)

Do you ever make stuffed toys?

Have a great weekend!

Hi friends,

I'm sure that all crafters have faced this dilemma at one point or another: how much room is there for your crafts in your home decor?

I've got a big blank wall in my apartment and I need to do something with it. I'd like to make something to fill the space, but I'm having a hard time narrowing down the options. Here are the challenges:

• I live in a studio apartment, so whatever goes on that wall needs to look OK for bedroom, living room, studio and dining room;
• it's a big wall (about 8" by 12"), so I need something with "presence" that's also affordable;
• the wall is opposite a window, so I need something that either won't fade or will look fine if it does, or something that will be easy and (and cheap!) to replace.

My first thought was to hang a quilt on the wall, but after the hours of piecing and quilting, I'd be upset if the fabric faded. My second thought was to do a needlepoint, but considering that cost is a factor (and that I've already waited a year and a half), something like those wonderful Charley Harper tapestries is out of the question.

So right now it's down to these ideas:

• Stretch some of my favourite fabrics in embroidery hoops, like this, and hang them up.
• Make large prints of some of my favourite photos and hang them up (but I'd prefer something craftier).
• Try this idea, passed along to me by Lisa Fielding*. She sent me an email on the weekend and said: "I was just in a knitting shop in Burlington [Spun Fibre Arts] and noticed this on the wall – they've framed a bunch of swatches in complementary colours. Thought it was a neat idea."

I like it, and I have to say that the swatches are in the lead right now. What do you think?

*Remember the picture of Lisa's dog, Douglas, in that handsome bow-tie? If you have a haut dog, too, you might want to check out Lisa's Etsy shop, Longfellow's, where you can buy a handmade bowtie for the special canine in your life!

PS I still haven't heard from Carla, who won last week's giveaway. If you're out there, Carla, check your inbox (and maybe junk mail folder?) for an email from me. Or just drop me a line to claim your prize.

Hi friends,

It's hard to believe in the midst of this heatwave we're having in Toronto, but summer is rapidly drawing to a close. With back-to-school just two weeks away, I thought I'd gather up a few crafts from the Canadian Living web archives to help keep the kids busy and get them ready to head back to the classroom.

• This summer memory book will come in handy for the inevitable "What I Did This Summer" assignment – and will be a keepsake for years to come.
• This quick-to-sew lunch bag will keep those sandwiches and apples from rolling around the bottom of your child's backpack.
• It's easier to stay organized if you start early. This bulletin board will help with that! (And if your child doesn't seem too enthused about the flowery push-pins, why not sub in colourful vintage buttons, or maybe plastic creepy-crawlies?)
• Speaking of staying organized, why not create a personalized date book?
• These instructions for a basic popsicle-stick photo frame are just the beginning: why not use the foam letters to spell out your child's name and grade? And they aren't just for school photos...imagine a print from your time at the cottage surrounded by twigs you collected while there, or a picture of the family at the beach in a frame decorated by beach pebbles.

Do you have any special projects you'll be working on with your kids as the summer draws to a close? I'd love to hear about them in the comments.

Have a good day!