Stitched in Time: Memory-Keeping Projects to Sew and Share from the Creator of Posie Gets Cozy
Ah, the joys of technology, which can, in (almost) split seconds, photocopy old family photos onto treated fabric and transform wedding-guest signatures atop a picture frame. What’s even more remarkable is the way Oregon designer Paulson pays homage to the power of memories while imaginatively repurposing scrapbook-type items into keepsakes. Thirty projects fall into one of three categories—for babies, for everyday, and for special occasions—all with casual instructions that rely on only the basic knowledge of sewing, embroidery, and finishing. “Welcome Stork” greeting cards become a mobile in a baby’s room. Patches of Mom’s and Dad’s clothing are stitched into a first-apartment laundry bag. All directions, narratives, and tips and hints are intended to seduce even beginners into fabricating their first memorabilia; who could resist a two-page spread on the ease of taking pictures? One more poignant touch, much in line with the warmth of the author’s crafts: the book is dedicated to her first corgi: Audrey, a good dog, queen of my heart. Appended are general sewing techniques: hand sewing, transferring photos to fabrics, embroidery, appliqué, freezer-paper stenciling. --Barbara Jacobs