Wreck This Sock and Glove and more Freebies!

I have hoped and prayed for this day to come and it finally has. I have made it to that point in my craft career where publishers are sending me free craft books, I have officially hit the big time :) This is like pure heaven for me because well frankly I love craft books and the two that Penguin just sent me are no exception. My hook up here was that I participated in the book Tease: Inspired T-shirt Transformations by Superstars of Art, Craft, and Design. I made a necklace out of a T-shirt and ping pong balls for the book and last Christmas I talked about it on a DIY Holiday special. Lucky for me this put me in the publishers good graces and I had two new and exciting books waiting for me in my po box. Oh and if you want to send me a book to blog about check my Amazon Wish List.

First up is Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith that I am totally smitten on. The book is cute, clever and inspiring and for the first time I think I might actually take the leap and make myself an art journal. You would think after all that time on Craft Lab hanging around with people like Traci Bautista I would have one already, but besides gluing in inspirational pictures from magazines to my “to do” spiral I really don’t “journal”. I guess I do it online here, but that is not the same thing. This journal holds your hand and encourages you to be artistic with blank pages labeled with things like: Scribble Wildly using only borrowed pens, Tongue Painting (eat some colorful candy and lick the page) and cover this page using only office supplies - I liked that this page had a secretarial like feel to it. I can’t wait to get started with my new journal and just don’t know what page I will start on first. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime if you are having a hard time starting that art journal you always wanted to do Wreck This Journal is like the cliff notes and a step by step guide on how to get started. Be sure to check out Keri Smith’s equally craft-tastical blog Wishing Jar.

The second book in my stash was Sock and Glove – Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves by Miyako Kanamori. I guess I myself have a thing for vintage softies in the dream pet and rubber faced doll department. I have never attempted making any myself, but if I was going to this seems the book to start with. The instructions seem clear and simple enough. On Craft Lab we have had some real plushie pioneers visit like Jenny Harada and Krissy from Bigger Krissy. I was always jealous that Buttons by Sappy Moose Tree got to go to Uncommon Threads and not Craft Lab. I want to see the giant sock monkey. Anyway, Sock and Glove - it does more than show you how to make the traditional sock monkey. You can learn how to make sock and glove zebras (my favorite), birds and panda bears. Who knew that the whole sock animal thing extended so far and wide. The photography in the book is lovely and has a subtle and stark feel about it. For all the plushie lovers out there you should pick up this fun how-to book, or you could just win it free here.

That’s right kids today’s contest is to win a copy of Sock and Glove and not only that I am throwing in a pair of Hand in Glove Earrings since it seemed fitting. A book and jewelry, I mean really does life get any better? Today all you have to do is leave a comment here about what your favorite craft books are. If you don't have a blogger account be sure to leave your email with your post so I can get ahold of you! If you are the winner of Sock and Glove it might soon go on your list. You have until Sunday to enter to win.

Don’t forget all week long there is a new contest on the blog everyday to celebrate our 500th post!