Hi everyone! Hope y’all had a good Thanksgiving (or Thursday, if you live in non-Thanksgiving land. So sorry for your loss). Mine was most excellent as I managed to eat a giant meal TWICE in once day. Before I settle into a food coma, though, let’s talk about this cute little book that I recently received!
110 Creations: A Sewists Notebook is literally, exactly what the title describes. It’s a spiral bound notebook specifically designed for us sewists – with places for notes, line drawings, etc – and there’s room for, well, 110 creations! Wanna have a look with me?
When Beth originally emailed me asking if I’d like to review a copy of the book, I’d barely finished reading her email before I had started my own reply with something along the lines of “OMGOMG OMG PLS YES GAHHHHH!!!” See, this type of book is exactly what I’ve been looking for, notebook-wise, for a few months now. Somewhere to write all my plans, notes, and LINE DRAWINGS. Sticking that shit on the wall is good and fine, but carrying it around is like a little whipped topping on the sweet cherry pie of organized sewing.
I know, I just told y’all I got this book for free, and I totally did. However, this review is totally honest, even though I am absolutely gushing. I’m not afraid to rip something apart if I think it sucks and is a waste of money. Fortunately for everyone, this shit rules.
When Beth sent me the book, she filled out the first few pages based on my F/W 2013 sewing plans. I love that she even wrote my name in the beginning, it’s like a real library addition now 🙂 Of course, a few things have changed since I wrote up that post – like, I chose a new pattern for my coat, I used a different fabric for the Lola dress and the Zinnia skirt, but those can easily be changed out in the book. I mean, what’s a notebook without a bunch of scribbles and edits and doodles, am I right? 🙂
Here you can see a blank page, and a “sample” page of how to go about filling out all the blanks. There are spaces to write all the info you need – from Project Title (if you’re more creative than I am and give you projects names that contain more than just the color+pattern, ha!), to pattern/fabric/notions, to planning notes, alterations, finishes, hems, and even a place to write notes for next time. Not to mention, there’s a little croquis so you can even draw out the garment and attach a swatch of fabric for more organization. How many times have you planned a project, but forget to execute some vital part while you were actually making it up? I always leave off something – a special hem finish, some type of decorative accent, an alteration, something. With everything clearly laid out in one place, you can easily keep track of everything that’s going in and out of your project space.
Oh, there are also a few blank pages in the back, croquis-less, so you can plan menswear, children’s clothing, bags, etc.
There’s ALSO a Pattern Catalogue, so you can keep track of what you already own (if you’re a hot mess like me with hundreds of patterns and no real system for avoiding duplicates… oops)…
… a wish list…
… and even a place to keep track of when you last changed the needle in your sewing machine!
Seriously! She has thought of EVERYTHING!
I’ve had a lot of fun writing out my project plans in this book! Here you can see my coat plans, all in one place! I love all the little spaces to write notes – it’s like filling out the most fun survey ever (surely you guys agree with me that filling out surveys is stupid fun, ha). I can also see myself tweaking this to include plans for knitwear as well. Mostly because I looove planning. Ugh, it’s just so good.
The only thing I would change about this book is to make the croquis a little lighter, so the lines of the garment show better when they’re drawn on. If the croquis was sketched in grey, instead of black, it would be perfect.
If you want to see more of this book, you can read more about it here. Also, if you’re staring down that croquis and thinking, “Yep, my body does not look ANYTHING like that!”, just know that Beth also offers books with customized figure drawings.
So here’s the fun part – Beth is offering a 10% discount on this book, as well as free shipping! The offer is good through Monday 12/2. This would be an excellent holiday gift for any crafter on your list – I totally would ask for a copy if I didn’t already have one (or maybe I’ll just end up with two. Why not!).
You can buy your copy here for $13.49 (marked down from $14.99, and again, free shipping!). There is also an ADORABLE smaller size (6″x9″ ee!), although it’s not 10% off since it’s a pretty new release.
So what do you think? Are you the type A who salivates at the thought of having ALL THE PLANS, ALL IN THE SAME PLACE? Is this book just appealing so hard to you right now?
One last thing before I peace out for the weekend – I noticed that a LOT of places are running some pretty epic Black Friday specials right now, so if you’ve got your Shopping Hat on and are looking for a few discounts to sweeten the deal, check these out –
Papercut Patterns is running 15% off ALL patterns (through Monday 12/2)
Mood Fabrics has 20% off all fabrics through end of today (through Friday 11/29)
A Fashionable Stitch has 25% off the entire shop, use the code THANKS2013 (through Saturday 11/30)
Grainline Studio is offering 20% off the entire shop, use the code GIVETHANKS20 (through Monday 12/2)
Colette Patterns has 20% off the entire pattern shop (through Friday 11/29)
Victory Patterns is 30% off all paper and PDF patterns, use the code happyanny (through Friday 11/29)
Disparate Disciplines has a fun Black Friday sale – get a free $5 gift certificate for every $10+ gift certificate you buy (through Friday 11/29; after that it’s $5 for every $20+ gift certificate you buy through Monday 12/2). She just released a new Mitten pattern that is SUPER adorable – and 15% off, to boot!
Sleuth Patterns is 30% off your entire order, use the code BLKFRIDAY (through Saturday 12/7)
Christinie Haynes is 20% everything in the shop (plus she is donating 10% of every sale to the LA Regional Food Bank! Awh yeah!), use the code thanksgiving (through Monday 12/2)
She’ll Make You Flip has 20% off your entire order, use the code LLADYBIRD20 (through 12/31) (Ok, this isn’t a Black Friday deal – just a sponsor deal! – but I thought I would mention it anyway$)
Wow, that list got way longer than I meant it to! Happy shopping, I guess, ha! Let me know if I missed any good sales – I know there’s a lot out there today!
LLADYBIRD 
My jaw literally dropped as I was reading this. I love notebooks, I love planning, and I want to get my sewing plans organised. I need this in my life! Thanks for the review
So I totally just emailed her asking about a custom figure drawing. And I bought that new sewing machine today (great financing deal…and I’m just going to get cash for Christmas to pay it off). So now I feel this strong urge to organize my sewing room around my new machine….and this notebook would be way better than my current blank page sketchbook. Thank you!
Ooooh, I love this kind of thing! I love compiling lists and sketching and keeping track of my plans. I use a spiral bound book now, but it doesn’t have all the fun accoutrements that this one does!
This is totally cute! I am definitely asking for one for Christmas 🙂 And thanks for all the sewing sale heads-up! If you are looking for some adorable handmade shoes to go with all your handsewn garments, check out my post for 25% off at Loly in the Sky 🙂 http://thequirkypeach.blogspot.com/2013/11/loly-in-sky-shoes-promo.html
I spend practically my entire life making sewing lists, ticking things off and drawing little charts, so this book is destined to be MINE!! Confession: I bought mine before I’d even finished reading your post! Thank you Lauren, what a fab recommendation. x
This looks really useful. I also love planning and lists and this is a great way to keep all the information in one place. Thanks for the great review!
This is brilliant! I just ordered one (makes a change to order something useful and not just pretty!)
The notebook sounds great…I just wish it was online and linked to all my connections’ notebooks, too. We need a Ravelry, but for sewists.
Totally going on my Christmas List!!! And I just treated myself to some early presents from Papercut Patterns and Grainline Studios–thanks for the heads up on the sales! Now I can be a late-comer to the Le Sylphide sewalong! Thanks!
Wow this book fulfills all of my Virgo-ness!!! I love all the details and organization, eeeeeeeeeee!!! I have to get me one of these!! I agree with you on the croquis tho, lighter lines would be better than black.
Okay, this is genius! Keeping tracking of my sewing projects is originally why I started a blog (but kind of abandoned it… I’ll be back though!), but this looks much more organized and fun to use. Such a good deal too!
the project notebook is such a useful thing! ps ohhh lulu is also having a sale for 15% off patterns – i got myself some undie patterns!
Wowzers – this is amazing! Such a great idea! x
8!5 am on a grey, dismal Saturday morning I read your post. By 8,25 am, on a morning that seems a little brighter, I ordered the lovely project notebook!
I LOVE lists, and planning and organization and notebooks! (I counted once, and I think I had 27 notebooks for specific uses!) This book looks awesome, thanks for bringing it to my attention Lauren.
Oh, I like this. I’m really, really bad at taking notes on projects. This may work! Thanks for acting as enabler!
I love seeing all the great projects you do and that you share your plans. My only complaint is some of your language. “Vulgarity is no substitute for wit!” (Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey) You’re much too capable and smart to need a potty mouth to make your points) Thank you.
I’m sorry you feel that way about the language, but it’s how I talk and I don’t care much to censor myself on my own blog. If you use Firefox, there are add-ons that you can install in your browser to block curse words. If you don’t use Firefox, you should. It’s fabulous 🙂
Irony is, this post was far lighter on the naughty words than usual 😉 Don’t change a thing – dog knows that my sewing machine has seen a lot of colourful vocabulary in its time.
Owning my comment – forgot to sign in. Said mild naughty words too 😉
OMG! Thanks for including my coupon code 😀 Not gonna lie, after you mentioned that you keep a notebook next to your sewing machine I bought a notebook and started doing the same. It is SO helpful, especially for when I go to write my blog posts, because I have a memory like a sieve. So I REALLY want one of these now!
Oh my word, that is *such* a great idea. Think that might be my Christmas present this year. Thanks for sharing it with us, and happy thanksgiving to you. I live in the UK, but am (ironically) quite envious of that holiday – it’s such a nice idea. I’m glad you had a good time. Rachel 🙂
Ooooo, I LOVE it!
Love the notebook idea and the size looks reasonable to keep handy on your sewing table. I use a 3 ring binder but find it is to large and bulky. All the sections you mentioned in the notebook sound very useful. One I would include is a list of all the items in my fabric stash that includes, besides the yardage, fabric composition, usage ideas or actual pattern #’s or names. I guess my memory isn’t so good anymore when it comes to several totes full of fabric. Another section I use is one for future projects that includes what else I might need to start on that item. Also any items that have a deadline – like a wedding. Just a couple of ideas for how I keep track of what’s happening in my world of stitching.
I.need.this.book. It’s genius, pure and simple.