5 books that influenced The Dressmaker’s Companion

5 books that influenced The Dressmakers Companion

Hello!  This week I’m sharing five books that influenced my own, The Dressmaker’s Companion.  Maybe you have read or own them too.   The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing Do you have this book on your shelf?  We had a copy in our family.  Mum must have bought it fairly close to when it…

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Yar! Me book’s been pirated!

Yar Me book's been pirated

A spot of late-night Googling this week revealed that Unscrupulous Persons are offering my book (or parts of it “for review”) as an ebook or downloadable PDF.  Went to bed feeling a bit sick about it. This probably happens to lots of authors, and some people are okay about it, saying It gets my book…

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The Dressmaker’s Companion wins gold and silver!

The Dressmaker's Companion wins Benjamin Franklin award

While our athletes have been winning gold and silver at the Commonwealth games on the Gold Coast, The Dressmaker’s Companion has been on the podium in Texas, USA, at the 30th Benjamin Franklin Book Awards. The Dressmaker’s Companion won a gold medal for Best Craft/Hobby/How-to book, and a silver medal for Best Cover (large format). …

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Book review: Makery books

Book review Makery books

Makery (2013) and Makery Sewing (2015) by Kate Smith are entry-level sewing project books designed to inspire creating. I actually bought these books from our post office.  I didn’t get a good opportunity to flip through them in the shop, but the beautiful photography and covers attracted me enough to buy them.  The books are…

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An embroidered interlude

An embroidered interlude

A small embroidery book has captivated me. I borrowed Yumiko Higuchi’s Zakka Embroidery from the library during the school holidays.  It’s a charming little book with simple, mainly botanic, Japanese/Scandinavian style designs.  The book also has a French nostalgic feel about it, too, from the red haired young girl in the photos.     While…

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Creating a book cover

Creating a book cover

The cover of The Dressmaker’s Companion has received many favourable comments, and you might be interested to read about how it was created. Because The Dressmaker’s Companion is a self published book, the cover was my responsibility.  All the advice I read on book cover design exhorted Don’t do your own cover!  This is great…

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Book review Zero Waste Fashion

Book review Zero Waste Fashion

The book Zero Waste Fashion by Timo Rissanen and Holly McQuillan (Bloomsbury 2016) has arrived and I’m keen to share my thoughts on it with you.  I ordered it last month when I wrote Considering zero waste fashion, which has become my second highest visited post. I cannot deny a frisson of excitement went through…

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2 Good Reads

2 Good Reads

Lately I’ve been on a reading diet of fashion industry books, and just finished two really interesting ones.   The Thoughtful Dresser: The Art of Adornment, the Pleasures of Shopping, and Why Clothes Matter by Linda Grant (Scribner, 2010) is a great book for reading in the bath while eating chocolate!  It’s a book about…

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