Day 8 - S is for Stitch - AND a Giveaway!

Today's the last day of my book tour and so I guess it's my turn. 

I can't exactly "review" my own book ... that would be weird.  But I can share with you some behind the scenes stuff. 

The 26 girl alphabet designs were purely labours of love for my daughters.  I had absolutely no intention of turning them into a book.  I didn't have a blog and didn't know I was going to start a pattern company.  And since I've never taken art or design classes of any kind, I certainly didn't feel qualified to write a book.

But one thing led to another and my just for fun project became a book.

I didn't want S is for Stitch to be another "here are some designs and instructions" sort of craft book.  So I wrote much of the text as if I was having a conversation with you - my imaginary readers.  But it was all about the technical side of embroidery and not so much about the creativity.  And when I was reviewing an early draft of the book - all organized and laid out with the "how to's" - I thought it was missing something and found myself wanting to share more personal information.  I really wanted to connect with people like me - people who have a creative spirit, but who don't feel "qualified" to design. 

My solution was simple:  beside every one of the 52 designs in the book, I wrote a little something.  Because, as it turns out, even though I wasn't formally schooled as a designer I have somehow learned a few things over the years about how to make embroidery interesting ... and pretty ... and easy to stitch.

Sometimes I wrote about what I was thinking that dictated my design decisions:

Sometimes I wrote about "arty" techniques I used to achieve certain features:

Sometimes I wrote about exploiting specific stitches:

Sometimes I wrote about how you can change my designs to make them your own:

Sometimes I wrote about how I made the girl quilt very personal for my daughters and me:

And sometimes, when I was at a complete loss for something to say, I just wrote ... something!  LOL!

I hope my little anecdotes make the book interesting and informative. 

And now how - exactly - does one end a book tour?

Tada?

The End?

Oh.  Right.  A giveaway!  You didn't think I'd forget, did you? ;)

Please leave me a comment (with your name and a valid email address!) telling me which one of the above anecdotes you like best and you'll be entered to win a copy of S is for Stitch!  If you are a US resident, you'll be sent a hard copy of the book.  If you live elsewhere, you'll receive an eBook.  All the giveaways close Thursday April 4th and the winners will be announced on Monday, April 8th.

I really hope you enjoyed these special peeks into my book and that you're totally motivated to pick up a needle and get stitching!

And a great big thank you from the bottom of my heart to Stash Books, Allison H, Amanda, Amy, Anne, Lori & Sherri for playing along.  Couldn't have done this without you! xo 

Comments

[Robbin]

I love the Umbrella. I believe you captured the entire feeling of your book in the words used to describe the umbrella on the ground placed there by a child. I really have enjoyed the sneak peak and can't wait to get a copy. Thanks for the opportunity to win one!

[Amy]

What an absolutely darling book! I have 2 daughters and a little boy and can think of many projects I would use this book for! I love the anecdote about the x's and o's- so cute and fun that you included the game that you played! Love it! Amy

[montse]

What a lovely book! Would be a great way to start to learn emroidery. Thanks for the chance to win!

[Cynthia]

I love your book! It is full of useful info about embroidery and I love the look of it. The embroidery designs are all so cute! My favorite is the X for X's and O's :). If I don't win this book, I am definitely going to buy a copy!

[Michelle H]

I love what you wrote about X's and O's.......making a wee little personal change to a design with a story to it really makes it special. Your book looks adorable! It is certainly on my wish list! Congratulations on getting published!!!!!
Michelle H

[Christine Bakker]

I really like the treasure map. My kids would start looking for the treasure right away! I only know cross-stitch embroidery (and have always had my mother-in-law do that for me) but I would love to stitch something from your book. The tutu is SO pretty!

[Diane Bethel]

I really love the dress. Leaving the skirt blank - gives one an opportunity to create their own personalized little dress. If I do not win this book, I will definitely buy it. Your illustrations are amazing, simple and detailed at the same time. I love what I have seen. And congratulations on achieving something that most people could only dream of. I love your style. Keep up the good work.

[anna]

I love D for dress. I think every little girl should have a dress with a Peter Pan collar and "puff" sleeves. Which so reminds me of Anne of Green Cables. Your book looks so fun. I love embroidery but don't know how to make it look so pretty. Thank you so much for sharing you talent.

[Lori]

I love J is for Jump rope - I have only being doing emboridery a short while and I'm always fascinated that simple stitches make such amazing designs.
Thank you for this opportunity to win your book.
Lori Hudson

[Claudia]

Q is for quilt is my favorite. I love incorporating embroidery into my quilts.

[kim]

D is for Dress is my favorite!! I love putting different dresses on quilt blocks and this dress with peter pan collar and puffy sleeves is so traditional , being able to personalize it makes it perfect!! Thank you sooo much for the chance you win your wonderful book and I am so glad you are blogging.:)

[Dawn]

I love the treasure map and the many possibilities to add to it, as you mentioned; mountains, rivers, secret hiding places, etc. I also love the jump rope. It looks so real.

[katie]

I love X marks the spot. Great chance to put info into a personal stitching gift for someone! Actually i love all the parts of your adorable book! Pick me!

[karen]

your book is beautiful. I love alphabets. X marks the spot was genius. I also loved the quilt and kitty. and I don't love cats. ha.

[Heidi]

The ant's anecdote made me smile :) Yay for lovely picnics!

[Anita]

I like them all. I really would love to add this book to my crafting library, I just love to embroider. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.

[Kathleen O'Grady]

Your book looks so adorable, I so hope to win a copy. It has giving me several ideas to make gifts for friends and family. Thanks for the great book tour.

[greenrabbitdesigns]

I love the baseball because it does look so baseball-ish (word??).
You keep some good stitching company, don't you K? :)
Love your little embroidery images.
Have a great Easter weekend!
V xxx

[Filiz]

Quilt makes my heart warm. Lovely book.

Filiz

Filiz.kaplan@gmail.com

[Linda]

HI ! What a lovely informative Book!
Love the little umbrella!
Love your Blog too!
Thank You!

[A Little Blue Dragonfly]

What a great blog tour you've had! Thank you for so many chances to win! I love how you never intended this work to be a book, and here it is!

I kept going back and forth between "D is for Dress" and "U is for Umbrella", but I have finally decided on "U". Something so sweet about the imagery of a child leaving the umbrella like that on the floor after playing in the rain. It makes me think of the Morton Salt Girl, and I think she's adorable! :)

[geany schopf]

I absolutely love your blog; it is part of my morning routine! Just want you to know that I really appreciate your hard work and I look up to you as a role model. Congratulation on your book it is an amazing, fun and easy to do projects that me and my girls will love to do during this summer vacation.

[Archiethewonderdog]

I've really enjoyed your book tour! I love all the anecdotes but my favourite is probably the baseball one as it's the only time I've been tempted to Google 'baseball'...(I wanted to see the seam lines on a 'real' ball!)

Congratulations on a wonderful book!

[LauraH]

What a fun tour of the book! Thanks so much!

J is for jump is the one I liked the best. I love how the stitches make the rope "pop". It looks like I could pick it up right off the page and start jumping, if I were a tiny, tiny person. lol! Great book! Thanks again!

[Elizabeth]

I love your comments for A is for ant. Most of the time I don't know what to say. I look forward to having a copy of your book.

[Loula]

I like "J" is for jump rope. You're right it's all about the texture!

[Michelle T]

After seeing your book on the blog tour I couldn't wait until the drawing so I ordered a copy for myself. I can't wait to get it in my hands. I'm really excited to see the stitching guides. I can do some stitches but with your book, I'll be able to learn so many more. Thank you for putting pen to paper and giving us this wonderful book!

[Joyce Kirsch]

I liked your anecdote about you not wanting S Is For Stitch to be just another design and instruction book. You've accomplished that nicely!

[Christine]

I just love that you wrote about the x's and o's. i can't wait to get your book but I will wait because I am hoping to win a copy.

[Shiloh Fairbanks]

Oh my! I love the jumprope!...& those xs & os! I couldn't possibly choose just one! They're all such lovely designs & anecdotes! Oh how I would love to win a copy! Congrats, Kristyne, on your lovely book! It's definitely on my wish list!

[LJ]

Thank you for the "behind-the-scenes". Seeing the excepts from the different designs and reading your notes was wonderful. Love that little jump rope.
bulltulip69 at gmail dot com

[Melanie]

This book is so adorable! It's been neat following your blog and seeing this come to fruition. Just love it!! And it has definitely inspired me to add embroidery to my quilts!

[deede]

Well, I totally agree with your observations/instructions on the feather; I've done that myself. The little girl stuff is gorgeous, but alas, I have all grandsons, so I'd have to say my favorite is the treasure map; I like the idea of enlarging and enhancing it with other designs! A close second is the umbrella, though, because that's how I STILL leave my umbrella when I come in from the rain!

[Emily C.]

I love the one for the ant, it made me laugh. The little buggers are always in your food on a picnic and you gavehim a happy grin. "Woot, food!"

[Sherryl]

This has been a wonderful tour to follow. I can't wait to get my hands on this book! I loved all of your little notes - they really help one to think about the whys and wherefores and possibilities of each design. I especially loved the treasure map and the note you added. It made me not only think of the possibilities with the map design but also how fun it would be to enlarge any of the designs and add personal details... Fun!
sunshdws at yahoo dot com

[cynthia]

Wow I would love to give your book to my sister. She has amazing hand stitching skills. Thanks so much Cynthia

[Darlene]

I like the X. Who doesn't like a challenge?

[Jeannine Nielsen]

This is a great book. I am just making a baby quilt for a grand baby to be born in July. It would be fun to use some of the ideas on the quilt. Thanks for giving us the chance to win, and congratulations non the book.

[Jeanne]

I just love your book. I like the Q is for quilt anecdote. I have a six year log granddaughter and she expressed an interest in sewing. She is excited about your book too. Thank you do a great book and a chance to win.

jeeplady@mac.com

[Dell]

I like your choices for X. X marks the spot and X for Xs and Os. Congrats on such a lovely book.

[Gill]

Your book tour has been such fun - I've enjoyed seeing excerpts and reading snippets!
Thank you!

[Sue Bone]

I like the ant heading for the picnic

[Jodie]

I love, love, love the x's and o's, I have been eyeing this book and your blog for such a long time, I live in Ontario and it is so empowering to see Canadians doing amazing things.

[Amy Cullen]

I love the A for Ant. I like how happy the ant looks and the story that accompanies it.

[bonnie]

I think of the ones I read so far that I like the feather one and the quilt..

[jan]

Well I cannot believe you want us to pick just one anecdote! But I like the X's and O's. The book looks adorable and as a fairly new embroiderer I love that you took the time to give little tips and techniques! Hope I win a copy!! Happy Easter!

[Denise in PA]

This book looks beautiful - congratulations, Kristyne! I love the jump rope "story"!

[Cathy]

B is for baseball-because all our new babies are boys, and it's harder to find 'boy stuff'! Thank you.

[Johanna]

I love the book, so many little details. The ant is too cute!

[Lisa E]

Thanks for telling us about your creative process. Very inspiring. I like your story about X marks the spot. Much more original than xylophone! Congratulations on your book!