Chronicle Books Blog

Handmade Pledge Spreads to Chronicle

Like the 10,452 (and growing!) people around the world who pledged to buy handmade this holiday season, Chroniclers lined up for lovingly hand crafted goodies this year. Luckily we didn’t have to go far. Our Annual Holiday Craft Sale is one of our most anticipated days of the year! For the past six Decembers we’ve held our very own sale here at our office as a way to showcase the goods of our coworkers. Isn’t it amazing when you discover someone you thought you knew so well has such a hidden crafty talent? Check out the wares the skilled makers within our walls offered this year:

Chronicle’s Annual Holiday Craft Sale

Gocco cards

Scrumptious granola

Special jewelry

Knits n paper goods

Vintage button rings

So many choices!

Zippered pouches and handmade soaps

Delectable treats

Such good gift options!

Now, if only I could part with the precious things I bought….

Sublime Stitchmas Contest Winners!

Check out the amazing top three winners for the Sublime Stitchmas Contest hosted by Sublime Stitching!

More Quick Handmade Gift Ideas

Just in case you’re still scrambling to pull together some last minute presents, here are some great ideas from Chronicle Author Shannon Okey who wrote The Pillow Book coming out this Spring:

I’m making bath salts and tasty care packages for my loved ones this holiday season. It’s simple: add a layer of epsom salt to the bottom of a pretty glass Mason jar, sprinkle with a few drops of lavender oil or another favorite scent, add more salt, more oil, etc until you reach the top. Cap with a round of fabric and tie with a gorgeous piece of yarn. As you might suspect, I’ve got more than enough fabric and yarn sitting around the house, but if you don’t, a little will go a very long way. I also bake biscotti for my aunt, who likes mine better than any she can buy in stores. The key is baking them until they’re crispy but not too too crispy — and don’t skimp on the pistachios and almonds!

Check out our last post.

Christina Loff
Craft Publicist

Kate Prouty
Craft Editor

Buy Handmade this Holiday

The holidays are upon us and as always we’re scrambling to get all of our gifts together. We asked some of our very talented craft authors what they’re making or buying for this season and of course we got back some brillant answers. We’re inspired to start checking off our list, after reading this hopefully you will be to!

Jenny Hart author of Sublime Stitching, Stitch-It Kit and owner of Sublime Stitching
We’ve been selling a ton of our customizable Sublime Stitching Ultimate Embroidery Kits and especially our Tea Towels, which are custom-made for us and were tested among our stitchers to see if they approved. Most say it’s the best tea towel they’ve ever worked on! Seems like a lot of people are going to get lovingly hand-embroidered tea towel for Christmas. I know I’d like to…

One of my favorite items right now are Harrilu’s hand-printed Thistle shirts. I bought one for myself and wore it for three days straight. I also recently discovered the amazing work of Austin-based Illustrator Alicia Traveria. I just bought one of her prints and promptly hung it. She has work on her blog and a little etsy store. Also Kathie Sever’s entirely hand-made line of western wear for kids and adults is just incredible. When you first look at her clothing, you don’t realize that she’s made these shirts, skirts and dresses entirely herself. She’s an incredible seamstress. So much handmade goodness!

Alicia Bergin author of Crochet to Go Deck
I’m making hats this year for friends and family – they’re always popular. I rely on the striped hat pattern in my Crochet to Go Deck, adding color and detail variations to make each unique. I also plan to make a few crocheted bracelets. Future Girl has a very easy pattern up on her blog.

My favorite source for handmade goods is etsy.com. For crafty girls, I love this scissors top. Her hand-silkscreened baby clothes are fabulous too. For the friend that has everything, why not buy art? Try 1977, Kate Durkin, and Rachel Austin. Funky, well-made purses that won’t break the bank? Try the Sea Within. In addition, you’re sure to find something perfect at: www.aikojewelry.com (Aiko Designs; I love the mother of pearl collection)

Check out our last post.

Christina Loff
Craft Publicist

Kate Prouty
Craft Editor

Knitting Pattern Contest Winners

Five big huge congratulations go out to the winners of our intarsia knitting contest! We got so many amazing submissions to win a spot in our next knitting book, Picture Perfect Knits by Laura Birek. (Apparently gnome-like creatures and desserts are very popular motifs for knitwear.) It was hard to choose just five, but Christina and I painstakingly narrowed the entries down to the following awesome intarsia patterns. We’ll print them in Laura’s book, alongside patterns from famous artists like Sarah Neuburger, Denyse Schmidt, Jenny Hart, and more.

Check out the raw wool talent:

My Gnomies by Andrea Tomlinson

Peacock Paisley by Alice Merlino

The Fly by Manuela Tinoco

Yoga Aum by Tracy Jen

Robot by Aoife Clifford

Nice work you guys!

Picture Perfect Knits will be on shelves in Fall 2008.

Crochet Inspiration

Thanks so much for the great crocheting suggestions and project ideas you’ve all been sending me! Keep them coming. I’ll announce a winner of the Chronicle crochet package next week. Email your ideas and suggestions to: Christina_Loff@chroniclebooks.com.

Keep reading Handbound for more craft contests! And never miss a beat, or stitch, by subscribing to our RSS feed here.

Check out our last post.

Christina Loff
Craft Publicist

Kate Prouty
Craft Editor

Last Day to Enter Your Intarsia Pattern!

Today’s your *last day* to submit a pattern in our Intarsia Contest. If your pattern is chosen, it will be printed in our next knitting book, Picture Perfect Knits, alongside patterns from an all-star lineup of guest designers like Denyse Schmidt, Diane Gilleland, Alyce Benevides, Sarah Neuburger, Lisa Congdon, Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo, Ed Roth, Eunice Moyle, and more!

We’ll announce our winners here next week. Read contest details here. Submit your pattern here.

Ho, Ho, Ho Hilarious Knit Santa Hat

I refuse to be in the holiday mood quite yet, but this is by far the best holiday project I’ve seen to date. Someone in San Francisco please make one of these and drive by 680 Second Street!

From A Simple Abundant Life (via Craft).

Inspire me and get some free books!

I need help. I just took an amazing Crochet class at Article Pract in Oakland (which I highly recommend if you’re in the Bay Area) and I am determined to crochet some Christmas Gifts this year. I’ve started about five scarves and it looks like I’m having a little problem with my rows. I can knit up a symmetrical shape no problem, but it’s the counting in crochet that gets me. I’m looking for some inspiration, tips, and easy crocheting projects that I can hopefully master and whip out in time for Christmas giving. Who ever has the most inspiring ideas or pictures for me to share here will get a free copy of our Crochet To Go Deck and Cozy Crochet book. You can comment here or email me directly at: christina_loff@chroniclebooks.com. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Check out our last post.

Christina Loff
Craft Publicist

Kate Prouty
Craft Editor

Contest : Two More Weeks to Submit Graphs for Our Next Knitting Book

Don’t forget we’re running a contest here to find our readers’ five best intarsia knitting graphs. The winners will have their patterns printed in our next knitting book alongside the designs of craft mavens and famous artists (to be announced)! We’re all really excited about the book and the awesome designs we’ve received so far.

The book’s called Picture Perfect Knits and is written by Laura Birek. Laura does her thing from LA and on her blog Nocturnal Knits. (Love that reversible bird hat, Laura!)

To give you an idea of what we’re looking for, here are are some of Laura’s kickass intarsia graphs we’re planning on including in the book:

(Designs by Laura Birek.)

What other designs should we print in the book? Let us know by submitting your graph here. And read more contest details here.