I have been reading Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule. No, I have been slowly savoring it. The pictures make me want to snuggle down in some cosy handmade quilts and the projects remind me of my two kiddo days, when crafting filled my yellow kitchen and laundry included two fewer girls. In all honestly, I didn’t go to the bookstore to buy this book. I’d actually never heard of it. It caught my eye because it had a party looking banner on the cover and as I flipped through it, I loved the variety of crafts. I was a bit surprised, however, when I got it home. I guess I should have looked closer to where it says, “includes 30 sewing projects.” But I do like small sewing challenges and I can’t find fault with patterns that start out by saying “use what you have.” And there is a definitely a theme woven throughout this book that is right up my alley: don’t throw it away, just re-purpose it. Though I don’t have the slow paced life pictured within the pages, and I no longer sew with a nine month old on my lap, it doesn’t mean I can’t escape for a moment and remember when I did. *If you want you can check out Amanda Blake Soule on her blog Soule Mama.