This year’s final count:
I went back the next day to grab a few more paperbacks. This rounds out my take for the book fair. I cannot wait for Christmas season to put these things into motion! I already have a couple ideas I want to get started with.
My loot from this year’s book fair!
I try to go to the book fair every year since I’ve been able to. By this I mean when I was younger Id ask my parents to drive my sister and I to the fair. Normally it’d be located in warehouse type buildings, an industry kind of event with different book suppliers giving heavy discounts on resource texts they wanted to unload. It didnt matter to me, since Id still get gems and discover new books at these places. I’d blow my allowance (saved over weeks) on book series and authors I was building a collection on. I remember holding on to armloads of books and ruthlessly trying to decide between one or the other because I only had a budget for one and not both.
Those internal battles are never easy!
The past few years my book loot from these events have been disappointing. Too many book sellers were just selling titles they currently have at 20% off at the most. With that kind of selection I didn’t need to do the book fair, Id just rather go to the store for paperbacks.
This year though was different! I rarely see afoordably priced crafting books here. As the Christmas season draws near Im stocking up on gifting ideas this early. My friends know me for personalizing gifts, and I get my inspiration from these resources. I’ve always been good with my hands, and use crafts as a creative outlet to keep sane. I’ve made miniature teddy bears, soft furnishings and tried my hand at skirts and some clothes. If Im not sewing or cross stitching Im thinking of my next painting project or mentally prepping myself for my next run.
New books, yay! I’ve always liked the look of Cath Kidston prints, and been looking for inspiration in making dolls. This was an easy decision to make. The book is pretty and the contents good for practical application (essentially it is a book on how to make and dress a soft doll).
The British Sewing Bee is a compilation of tips and tricks from a BBC show of the same name. Far from being just another sewing book (there was another similar one they wanted me to check), they had anecdotes and some British history of these sewing socials during WW2. Being a fan of WW2 history in the western front, that was the reason why I chose this book over the other one. It also contained illustrations and tips for the beginning and mid-level sewing person.
A Skirt A Day! Who wouldnt want to know about that? I’ve found sewing skirts surprisingly rewarding and been dying to know more. Online resources have been helpful but I really want to have a reliable hard copy onhand. Sewing your own skirts also gives one the opportunity to garments that are more forgiving to your figure instead of odd fitting clothes off the rack. Plus, Im growing tired of jeans and slacks. They are bulky and hot to wear.
Stuffed Animals. I have friends that have started having children and whenever I look for gifts at toy stores I am astounded by how much it all costs now. A lot of them are wastefully plastic too, and I really don’t like the idea of non-durable toys for children. Stuffed animals are both age and gender neutral too. All it takes is a little creativity and fearlessness and you’d have a pretty cool gift for people.
Not in picture: Medieval Heraldry. I’m also a fan of medieval British history. I saw a BBC series on illuminated manuscripts and saw this book at P450, which was a steal!
Also not in picture: Easy Muffins. Not just the sweet kind, but the bread-y breakfast savory ones that I can bake. Should be good!
Im excited about this year’s books because it also reflects a change in my book buying. I dont have a lot of space for temporal paperbacks. I read pretty fast, so I finish these books in a few hours. I reread them eventually but until I do they end up in a pile. Since then, I’ve switched to ebooks.
I did grab one paperback from an author I’ve always been intrigued by but intimidated by his other books. As I need to train again, this was the perfect inspirarional read:
Resource crafting books though are another matter! Im so glad I found these (about P1k or less each), at a price range that is less than normal rates (they are generally 20-25% more expensive).
I’m going back there tomorrow!
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