Book Review- The Cookiepedia by Stacey Adimando

A few weeks months ago, PGUK publishng very kindly sent me some of their crafty titles to review. I’ve been really slow in getting round to reading them and testing the projects out, but I’m planning to review a new one each week and I’m starting off with The Cookiepedia shown above.

The book is a fairly substancial hardcover spiral bound book. It is cute and quirky the kind of book I'd expect to see stocked in Urban Outfitters or some other cool bookshop.

The book has over 50 classic and unique recipes. (So many cookies, so little time!) Visually the book is stunning, lovely detailed pictures, cool illustrations, modern fonts- it is very pleasing to read.

I have only had time to test one recipe so far which was the Frosted Cookie receipe on the first few pages. I'm pleased to report that this was a sucess and you can see my effort by clicking here.

The only thing I would say is that I was very dubious about the book to start with because it is an American publication. I am a Brit and I felt that measuring in cups and other American formats could be a bit daunting. (I am used to, and prefer to measure in lbs and ozs) But luckily the book does have a conversion chart so I needn't have worried. It was simple enough to follow and the recipe came off without a hitch.

This book is pretty perfect regardless of whether you have an existing cookie cook book as it has the classic biscuits and the more interesting variety with a range of really scrummy sounding recipes. (I cannot wait to try the maple pecan or the green tea cookies!)

This book is avaliable now from all good bookshops or pick up your copy on Amazon for the bargain price of £10.79*

*Price correct when published.

And The Winner Is...

The lovely Lauren at Ten23 Design!

It was honestly a tough call there were lots of cool comments but something jumped out at me about Lauren's

Lauren @ten23designs said...

"I am now a subscriber... so glad I found you. I would love to and should win this book because I love crafts and love halloween... so the book is just screaming my name. 

I am also part of a moms group and I think this book would be a great addition to our craft ideas collection."

So Lauren, the book is yours! I have emailed you so please get into contact to claim your prize!

Sorry to everyone else that entered and didn't get picked but there will be another give-away this week! (yay)...So check back for that!...It's vintage and domino themed!

Also coming soon:

1. The launch of my Etsy shop.
2. A recap of my makes.
3. More give aways!
4. And maybe some other stuff if I get around to it!

**CLOSED**Giveaway! Free Craft Book! Witch Craft!

This give-away is now closed but check back for more freebies... coming soon!

What's this? A free book?
Yes my friends for the first time on this blog there is going to be a giveaway!
I am really pleased to be able to partner with PGUK and Quirk Books to be able to giveaway a fantastic copy of Witch Craft.

Initially if I'm honest I was a little dubious about hosting a giveaway as it's not something I really want my blog to be about...but this book is so fantastic I couldn't resist and I just had to share!

The book is all kinds of awesome with 25 spooky themed crafts to be made just in time for Halloween!

My particular favourite are the Ruby Slippers and the creepy Cross Stitch Button Earrings!

Click here to read my review on Witch Craft.

For your chance to win!

*YOU MUST BE A SUBSCRIBER TO MINNIE BURTON CRAFT*

1)Read my review of Witch Craft by clicking here!

2)Then leave a comment on this post or the review to let me know why you think you should be the winner!

*If you aren't already a subscriber don't panic! Go to the Subscribe tab and take one of the options, it's quick and painless! I promise!

The contest if open from today (Monday 11th of October) and will close on Saturday the 23rd of October 23:59 (GMT)

Good Luck!

*YOU CAN ENTER MORE THAN ONCE!...

*If you also feel like promoting this contest via your own blog, facebook, twitter or other means, you can enter more than once! Yay! Just send me a message with your link of promotion and feel free to leave another comment!

Any comments left by non subscribers will not be entered into the contest.

Second commens left without any promotion will be removed.
I reserve the right to remove any comment I feel inappropriate to this blog, book and giveaway.
The winner will be sent the book by PGUK or Quirk books depending on location. Minnie Burton Craft is not responsible for it's delivery.

Book Review- Witch Craft Magaret (McGuire and Alicia Kachmar)

The kind people at Quirk books and PGUK have sent me a copy of Witch Craft to review. What with Halloween just round the corner I felt it was fairly apt to have a look and see what kind of craft ideas were on offer.

Witch Craft- Wicked Accessories, Creepy-Cute Toys, Magical Treats, and More! Compiled by Margaret McGuire and Alicia Kachmar

This book is a cute little manual for all things spookily sweet. It has a range of crafts from crocheting to cookery and with over 25 different projects there is sure to be something for everyone.

I was a little dubious that the book would continue to have a good standing after the Halloween festivities had passed, but a lot of the projects (though Halloween themed) are transferable to other holidays or can be made into more gerneral crafts. For example the sparkly mary janes and the gorgeous recipe for posion Ivy lip balm could be made at any time of the year and still make a wonderful gift of project.

Whatever level of craft you are at, the book will have something it can offer you... But I must warn that some of the projects involving crocheting or knitting can only really be completed with some prior knowlege of these techniques. The book seems to assume that most of it's readers will have basic knitting or crocheting experience so a little learning as you go along may be required.

Some of the projects are also suitable for more littler ones, such as the graveyard cupcakes and the spooky crystal balls. As well as some fantastic gift ideas it also offers decoration tips which is great if you thinking of planning a Haloween themed bash!

Overall it is a great little book, especially with Halloween just around the corner. You can currently buy it from Amazon for the bargain price of only £6.99 or for even more of a bargain you can enter my giveaway and win a copy for FREE!

8/10

 

Cath Kidston- Stitch! New Craft Book!

Eeek! Cath Kidston is to release a third craft book on the 1st of October 2010! I am already excited! I have both 'Make' and 'Sew' and I'm hoping the third instalment won't be a disappointment! This time it claims to focuse on needlepoint and cross stitch so fingers crossed it will be full of cute patterns and fun projects! As per the last two books you also get your free kit to get you started! This time it's the cute little pouch on the front!

It is already pre-ordered so I can have it on the day of release! I am a keen bean! In the mean time I shall have to wait..so have been busying myself updating my Amazon wishlist because I'm cool! 

You can pre order form Play.com or Amazon!

I'm back baby! (And I made a tie!)

Hello! Remember me? Sorry for lack of posting but now I finally feel a bit settled and ready to re-start this neglected blog! I've been busy busy busy!

But now I'm back and let me show you some of the things that have kept me from blogging:

So I recently went to a wedding it was lovely! I made cakes for the wedding which I will post about when I get my photos back. I was also in charge of decorating which I will also post about at some point in the near future!

For said wedding Will couldn't decide what tie to wear, but he knew he wanted it to match his purple shirt. So after trying in vain to find one he'd like we decided it would be best if I made him one. I luckily had the excellent craft book S.E.W by Diana Rupp which I reviewed a while back!)It was nice and simple and I even made it with polka dot lining. It was made from my favourite recyclable item- a pillowcase!

Once it was a pillowcase.

(Click 'Read More') To see more pictures.

Book Review: Make Your Own Clothes: Twenty Custom-fit Patterns to Sew by PatternMaker and Marie Clayton

Make your own clothes, is a craft book with a difference. It has the usual step by step instructions but it also comes with a CD rom that prints off custom made patterns to your size! Simply input your vital statistics, press print and voila perfect custom pattern for your bod! So in theory the book should be brilliant but is it all that it promises to be?

I bought this book on a bit of a whim and have been studying it for a while now and I think the simplest way of doing this is to highlight the book's good and bad points because there are multiples for both!

THE GOOD 
1) The book is part of the C&B craft range and I have a couple of these books and find them fantastic reference points. They are great for beginners to advanced sewers and have good overall techniques and advice.
2)The cd-rom that comes with the book means you can print out patterns to be your exact size. You simply imput your measurements and it will create a tailor made pattern. You print it out on your own computer and stick the sheets together so you can make multiple copies of the same pattern.
(one tailored for you and one for a friend possibly?)  The CD rom is also very simple to use and happily you do not have to be a computer whiz to use it!
3)Lovely full colour illustrations and simple to follow steps.
4)Generally it is a nice book, nice print, nice pics, nice cd-rom, you know it's nice! 

THE BAD 
1) The patterns are a little hit and miss. I would say just over a third of them I will attempt at some point. I am 21 but by no means looking for uber trendy outfits, just wearable. Sadly I have a feeling this book may have been rehashed from the 80s or 90s but with more modern pics. Some of the patterns are God awful! The swing jacket and elasticated waist trousers in particular!
2)Though the pictures are nice and in full colour the models all look a little stiff and uncomfortable. A teenage girl in a hideous swing jacket in YELLOW. Need I say more?
3)Some of the pieces which would be brilliant have been made in TERRIBLE fabric. It's a shame whoever was the design brains behind this book didn't research more trendy or even non-dating fabric.
4)The price. At the moment I think this is still a little steep for a book that is GOOD but not GREAT. Especially where there are so many great patterns available via BurdaStyle. The tailor made patterns cinched the deal for me and while I don't regret buying it I could have easily waited for it to be reduced further. Not an essential purchase for me I suppose!


You can currently buy it at Amazon priced at £8.56

Book Review: S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop- Diana Rupp

My newest  purchase is:
Diana Rupp's 'S.E.W. Sew Everything Workshop'.

The book is designed for the beginner sewer with all basic techniques covered. It is informative and simple for the novice sewer, but not so much that a more experienced crafter would be put off.
It takes you through step by step almost holding your hand as you progress through techniques to a range of patterns starting from the novice project of sewing a no fastening skirt, to more complex projects, such as making boxer shorts. The book has some homeware patterns too including cushions, curtains (etc) but it is mainly for the dressmaking market.

My only grumble with the book, is that it has too much information on sewing machines! To me it was an unnecessary point of reference as most readers, (I'd imagine) would have already purchased or obtained a sewing machine so her suggestions are a little irrelevant. Not to mention all pricing is done in dollars so left me a little bewildered!

Overall it is a great book, which I recommend. It is also a great buy when you consider you get eight free dressmaking patterns  included in the sleeve of the book. I can't wait to try some out!
 I give it 8.5/10

You can currently buy it from Amazon priced at £11.03