The book!

Next week my book, Bend-the-Rules Sewing, comes out! It's been such a crazy month. So exciting and so overwhelming. . . all in a good way. Never in a million years did I think, while I was working on this book almost 18 months ago, that I would be having a baby the same week the book hit the stores. The crazy game of life, I tell ya!

These are some of my favorite photos. I love all the photos in the book so much, I still pinch myself when I look at them. My photographer, Alexandra Grablewski, shot this all with film, not digital, and the result is lush photos with such depth and warmth, they make my heart flutter.

I hope you all enjoy this book. I smile big when I look through it, and I hope you will too. My intent is to help, inspire, and demystify sewing-while trying to get a laugh out of you all, and I think I've accomplished that, which feels pretty awesome. I have heard a few of the pre-orders have landed already and you can find it online and in major bookstores near you soon. The official release date is June 19th. And I have set up a group on flickr to share images of projects and tips-please join up and show and tell.

And, most importantly, thank you all for reading this craft blog and for all the support you have given me. I say this in my acknowledgments and can't seem to say it any better now, so I will just type what is in the book:

Handmade is where it is at. It has the real heart and soul, and craft bloggers are at the forefront of this movement. Mining sites and images all over the world, craft bloggers can spread information and enthusiasm with incredible force and speed, and they are the pulse of the new DIY movement. I would have never written this book had it not been for the amazing time I have spent getting to know other craft bloggers and maintaining my own craft blog. For everyone out there reading and contributing, I thank you for being part of this amazing movement.

I bow down to you all. . . thank you so very much.

Comments

[Liesl]

Aww, Amy, I can hardly wait to get my hot little hands on it! The photos look amazing, and I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic book. Many, many congratulations!

[Liesl]

Aww, Amy, I can hardly wait to get my hot little hands on it! The photos look amazing, and I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic book. Many, many congratulations!

[Michelle]

Wow! I imagine that writing a book feels much like having a baby -- such a huge endeavor. Congratulations. You have been a huge inspiration to me -- one of the reasons I started a blog. Can't wait to see the book. The photos are fabulous.

[strikkelise]

Congratulations! I pre-ordered your book on amazon.com (amazon.co.uk which is where I usually shop, estimated shipmment as late as August), and I'm so looking forward to recieving it!

Good luck with your next 'delivery', too!

[stacy]

Congratulations! I've pre-ordered my copy - I hope mine arrives early!

[Grace]

oh, i am so very excited! mine has been ordered for months ... i can't wait for it to arrive! i really need some of your demystifying advice, amy, so i am really looking forward to it! ;)

[Karyn]

Congratulations! I can't wait to get hold of a copy - I've always loved your style and aesthetic, now I'll be able to share it around with my non web-savvy friends!

[Amy]

Congratulations on both counts. I can't wait to get my hands on this book and I can't wait to see you newest family member!

[kate]

Wow, you are amazing, I cannot WAIT to get my hands on your book! What a dream come true.... and yay for the baby-havin' too!!

[Liz Harvatine]

I pre-ordered from Amazon a while ago...I can't wait to get it! Congratulations!

[Siri]

This preview is AMAZING. I can't wait to see the rest. Sewing, rather than my more typical knitting, has been calling my name again lately and sewing books are calling my wallet so this is perfect timing.
Aren't you so glad that all that book work is behind you and out of your hands now that you'll soon be holding a new babe in your arms? Best wishes on the release of the book and the upcoming birth. What an exciting time of life for you and your family.

[erinay]

yay yay yay yay yay!
I can't wait to read it, because even though you made me peek early, I closed my eyes a LOT. really, I can NOT wait to pore over it late night when the house is quiet and I can ponder the crafts I might start sometime in the next decade and relish the creative genius of you, my marvelous friend! I can not wait! But I must. Monday, no Tuesday, anyway whichever day the 19th is, I will be first in line at the book store. this is monumental! I can't tell you how proud I am of you and your accomplishments. You are a rocker (rock star just seems too two minutes ago for this occasion, so feather your hair, lady, you are a rocker!) - ok, ok, enough.... yay!

[sally]

So proud of you! What an accomplishment!!! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. And craft blogland wouldn't be the same without our Angry Chicken! =)

[Velda]

Hi Amy,

Wow, I love the photos, really I do, and can't wait to try my hand at some of the projects.
Congratulations & all the best with both of your "babies" V x

[myra]

Yippee! Can't wait to get my hands on a copy! Congratulations!!

[Julia]

Oh, Amy, congratulations. I'm so happy for you -- what a great feeling you must have, seeing your hard work bound up this way. I cannot *wait* to get my copy!

PS the photos are gorgeous!

[Deanna (domestic chicky)]

I already have mine reserved at the bookstore, and have my afternoon all planned out! I can't wait!

[Duchess]

congratulations on both accounts, two very exciting events!

[Duchess]

congratulations on both accounts, two very exciting events!

[Kim (OliveJuice)]

Congratulations!!! I just received notice today that my amazon pre-order had shipped. YIPPPPEEE!! Now to hold myself back from running to the bookstore to grab it before my package arrives. ;)

[Lily]

My copy has been ordered by my brother for my birthday, which is today. I can't wait till it arrives!

Congratulations on both of your arrivals!

[Brandy]

Sounds like my kind of book. Handmade is the best.

[Sue]

i can't wait! i've had your book on pre-order for a couple of months now.....

[Mama Urchin]

I cannot wait to see it.

[clare]

Congratulations! I'm going to go and hunt it down now. The photos look lush! and best wishes with your other baby!!

[Claudia]

Congratulations, Amy! I am so very happy for you, and for me - this book has been on my Amazon wishlist ever since you first mentioned it on the blog!

Fingers crossed for the next project, too!

[stacey]

Yay! What a gorgeous book and wonderful acomplishment!

[Mary]

Wheeeeee! Congratulations, Amy! I can't wait for my copy to arrive. And best of luck to you as your other major project debuts!

[Heather]

Congrats on both the baby and the book! Can't wait to get my hands on your book .. looks great :)

~Heather

[Mandy]

Thanks for sharing these images! The book looks beautiful. I'm gonna run out and get myself a copy, I believe!

[Casey]

I'm so excited--can't wait to get my hands on this!! Congrats!! :)

[Jill]

O it looks so great! I love that photo too!

Can't wait to get my hands on one and Thank You for all the inspiration!

[earthchick]

Mine is pre-ordered, and, like everyone else, I can't wait!!!!

Congrats to you. And thank you!!

[meg]

This must be such a proud moment for you - your first book! I can't wait to see it up close and personal, especially after the beautiful sneak peek. Congrats!

[Hope]

I can't wait to get this!

[abbyjane]

You rock! I can't wait to see it. And when it rains, it pours - good luck with the baby, too.
-abby

[Julie]

Congrats again, Amy! I actually went to the bookstore this week hoping that by some strange twist of fate it would be out early -- no such luck. As you can tell, I'm eagerly awaiting the book!

[Kristin]

Congratulations, Amy! I can't wait to read the book. I hope the delivery of the book and the delivery of the baby are both smoothe and joyful.

[nicole]

I bought my first sewing machine this year after months of enjoying crafty blogs like yours and Little Birds. It's been such fun making little aprons, skirts, and you're so right: handmade is where it's at. Congratulations on the book - and the babe.

[chez shoes]

I was already excited about your book, but just now when I learned that Alexandra Grablewski shot the photos, I jumped up and down a little bit in my seat - I love her work!

Congratulations, Amy, on both the book and the bébé.

[Kelly]

Congrats Amy! I can't wait to see it in person!

[cari]

Congrats! I can't wait to pick up a copy.

[Amber]

Oh, I'm so excited to get it! And congratulations to you, too, both on the book and your baby-to-be! Good luck with it all...

[Lisa K.]

I'm looking forward to the book, with everyone else in Blogland, it seems!

The sneak peeks look delicious.

[gwendolen]

No, thank YOU, thank YOU! Yours was the first blog I HAD to check every day and I've been visiting ever since. I think you're awesome. Can't wait to get my hands on the book and congratulations on its release next week! Congrats too on the impending arrival of your third little crafter!

[Anina]

Wow! Congratulations. What a big achievement!

[Cindy]

I have pre-ordered and cannot wait to get it. I just read your little section in The Crafter's Companion, that I received in the mail yesterday, and loved it. I stumbled onto the wonderful world of craft blogging several weeks ago and I feel so lucky. Its like a gift everyday! Congratulations Amy, I cannot wait to get my copy!

[Gail]

Miss Amy, you ROCK! Love ya, girl!

[Daphne]

I cannot wait. As a local shopper I didn't preorder... must run to the bookstore on the way home from work on Tuesday instead. :)

[Concha]

Now you just have to plant a tree!