I often buy books. I love books. If they cover a subject I am interested in or relate to making soft creatures or bears then I probably have it. Somewhere.
Many times I end up buying a book and placing it in a spot to read later when things calm down. I always plan to take time out during the day at some point to read them. And they sit there. I finally decided that I was going to have to read one: Stuffed Animals from Concept to Construction.
The Author: Abigail Patner Glassenberg has long been a favorite read of mine from her ebooks, other published sewing books and especially her blog (http://whileshenaps.com/). This is one I regularly read.
Ms Glassenberg covers many aspects on her blog about making, selling, marketing and even blogging about stuffed animal creation. She is truly 'in the know' on many subjects and I often find out more from her blog about the Etsy community happenings than I do on Etsy : ) She keeps her blog relevant and fresh. So why did it take so long to pick up this book?
http://www.amazon.com/Stuffed-Animals-From-Concept-Construction/dp/1454703644/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t
I suppose at first glance I was not sure I would learn anything new. Boy was I wrong! What wonderful lessons! Suddenly I am inspired to make a whole line of stuffies again. I end up selling them as patterns more than a finished item but in this book is a whole myriad of ways to create, assemble and finish the stuffed animals that I never thought of. If you are thinking of or starting to make stuffies then this is a great read. Well written, easy to understand and the projects are ones I can actually see myself making. The photos are clear, easy to grasp what they are teaching/showing and to me, plentiful.
Lesson 3 on button and felt eyes gave me ideas for some sea creatures and monsters I want to make. I already use the gathered circle eyes in some of my project monsters but was always uncertain on how to attach them to keep them a ball and securely in place. Each step of the design and making process in the book makes me feel like "I can do this!"
Projects in the book include a fish, elephant, bee, ram, bunny, puppy, lion, cat, camel, monster, crab, teddy bear, kangaroo, monkey, hippo and a dinosaur. Each one introduces new skills. From beginning to end of each project, and the book, very relevant skills are taught, such as making a ball shape out of fleece, darts to set legs to help a stuffy stand, sewing and turning skinny shapes, fabric chioces, jointing bears.
I am really enjoying this book and the inspiration it has given me.
Thank you Ms Glassenberg for another treasure in my collection. And a book that actually is exactly what the title says it is!
