Books and Blogging and Giveaways

the creative family

I'm having a book giveaway: The Creative Family. It's brand new and there's nothing wrong with it; in fact it's lovely. But I'm giving it away. More about that later.

About books. I'm having such fun with Good Reads. I'm accumulating a few books, noting some I've read already and reading those that friends recommend. OK, I only have six friends but I'm not much good at the social networking thing. I also love the trivia bit (you can skip questions, thank goodness!). I'm finding it good encouragement to read.

I'm completely under the spell of my latest read: Hidden Lives by Margaret Forster. I can't put it down. It's a beautiful family memoir by someone who can write. It's a fabulous thing to have an interesting story to tell but if someone isn't much of a writer, it can be hard going. But Margaret Forster is a beguiling writer and makes the lives of her grandmother and mother (and herself) interesting. The only other thing I've read of hers is Georgy Girl. So I must dig out her other books.

I'm glad to say this was a second-hand book because this is where I get to the non-thrifty bit.

Today I received a huge Amazon order plus a couple of books from Social Club Books. Here's some (not all) of my purchases:

Sew U Home Stretch (stretch fabric terrifies me so I want to give it a chance) and Sew What! Skirts

This is London and This is Paris: no chance of finding these in my local oppy!

Underbelly

And The Creative Family

I intended posting about books but the giveaway was a late inclusion. Because I ordered two copies of The Creative Family!

At first I thought Amazon were being exceedingly generous but then the invoice showed, dear reader, that I had ordered two.

So for my inattention, I'm giving one away. Just leave a comment.

And I'll draw a random name next Sunday and post it on the blog that evening.

Back to my book...

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ooh me! I am so in for that!! What a cool giveaway :D

But oh no for you! That sounds like something I would do ;)

I have a rather battered copy of This is London that I have kept since my own childhood. I love seeing things making a comeback or just plain sticking around, my kids reading the same books I did & playing with the truck their dad did rocks my world.

Anonymous said...

That's a happy accident for a lucky reader. Haha. Actually it's on my Amazon wishlist. I recently bout the Lotta Jansdotter and Amy BUtler patterns/books from Amazon. Lovely books.

Anyway, hi! Pick me! Pick me! :D

CurlyPops said...

Wow what a fantastic giveaway!
I don't have that one so I would love to win it!

Anonymous said...

oh me too please!
i would love this book. i read her blog every day (and yours). thanks for offering up your spare!
cheers!

cpullum said...

Love to be entered! My family need this book!
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

AMCSviatko said...

Can I enter if the book isn't for me? I have a friend with a 2 year old and this would be perfect for her...

Anonymous said...

Count me in too please, I am yet to see copies here, so would love a sqwizz. thanks heaps for the offer.

Kerry

Hyena In Petticoats said...

I am SO IN for the Creative Family - I've been meaning to buy it and pass it on to my sister, who has two fabulous and spirited kids at home - and I'll probably buy it anyway, but a giveaway is always good, right?

I'd love to hear about what you think of the Sew U books - I've been umming and ahhing about them for ages......

This is London looks fab - my British partner would love it!

Cheers,

Leah xxx

Hyena In Petticoats said...

Oh, and by the way, if anyone's looking to buy a copy, Amanda sells SIGNED COPIES from her Big Cartel shop, which is where I'll be getting mine from if I don't win yours!

Cheers again,

Leah xxx

Bird Bath said...

You have a nice pile of books to get through.
I'll be interested in hearing about the Sew U Home Stretch & your subsequent projects.
Of course I would LOVE a copy of Creative Family ;)
The last book I read was Eating Lolly be Adelaide author Corrie Hosking. Loved it.

Jo said...

thank you so much for telling us about "this is paris". My four year old is obsessed with Paris at the moment. She even wants to go to the "awful" tower and wanted to know if it was near hobart (???)I have been on the lookout for a childrens book about Paris and this looks perfect! Would you mind just letting me know if it definitely has a picture of the awful tower? I presume it has, but stranger things have happened!

Jodie said...

Would you believ that tonight I made my first Amazon purchase ever ....how slow am I to catch on?

Drewzel said...

I remember reading Georgy Girl as a teenager, I haven't read it for years...hmm I better go and add it to my goodreads now!

Jo (sparkly green knickers) said...

I have the Sew U Stretch - such a great resource book. Lots of great tips. I've been watching out for the postie for the last week or so, waiting for my copy of the Creative Family (so if I win, do another draw!).

Rebecca said...

count me in on that book giveaway!

Anonymous said...

count me in too! i'll also be interested in what you think of Sew U stretch... I too am terrified of stretchy fabric. That and zippers, eek!

Stacey said...

Count me in please!! I'd love to win a copy.
As for Margaret Forster, she's one of my absolute favourite authors. Enjoy the book, its a great read.

Setiuz Mama said...

Yay for giveaways! Count me in!!
I had to smile cause I just did that same thing last time I ordered books from fishpond (NZ equivalent to Amazon). Didn't really realize till they turned up on my doorstep. (Was feeling quite blond!)

Anonymous said...

oh What a lovely giveaway Carolyn -looks like a great book and a very generous giveaway. I too love the Goodreads site I am not too good at the social networking thing either (apart from blogging of course!!!) but love adding to my list of books

Sherrin said...

what an awesome giveaway!! I'd love to be in this one. :o) Enjoy all your reading!!

Gillian R said...

Long time reader, first time commenter! I've been drooling all over that book for a long time, well I would have been if it had been mine all that long time.
So I'd love to put my hand up for it!
Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Don't you just love getting parcels in the post.....what a fab and very generous giveaway
Sharon

Shellbells said...

fingers crossed the random picker turns my way ...very generous giveaway...
Thanks

Kitty said...

ooh, what a thoughtful dear you are.
count me in please

Little Snoring said...

At the risk of seeming greedy and only commenting when there is the possibility of something init for moi... still maybe I am a little lazy and needy, (hmmm, better work on those traits) but I have been meaning to get a copy of that one (there I go being lazy again). So here I go, tossing my hat in the ring!

Nikki said...

I nearly did EXACTLY the same thing the other day (well, exactly the same but with a different book)...caught it JUST before I clicked on the final PROCESS ORDER button!! Lucky.

I keep looking at this book but it's ONE OF THE FEW books I haven't actually bought yet.

Re: Sew U Stretch - I was really impressed with the first Sew U book - I got it as a teaching resource, not becasue I need to learn to sew. I think it's really well explained and well laid out for the beginner sewer. I'll look forward to hearing how you get on with the stretch sewing under Wendy's guidance.

Claire (ethel loves fred) said...

Ooooh, I'd love to win a book!!

Arthur's Circus said...

me too, we'd be happy recipients. Anything to keep a sometimes mischievious 3.5 year old boy amused and creatively inclined.

Jenny said...

LOL!!!I feel much better now as I have actually ordered two of the same book before too!!!Great giveaway:)

angelique said...

I to am onto Goodreads. You are lucky having 6 friends I only have two. Do you think I could ask you to be my friend? Let me know but in the meantime I would love to be put into the giveaway group. I love amazon and use it quite frequently as I can't peruse through any bookshops here unless I want French books and I'm not quite up to speed with that yet! cheers
Angelique

Unknown said...

I just discovered goodreads via Nikkishell and I am loving it too! I would love to be your friend, I only have 3 so far so would love some more.

As for the giveaway, what a generous gal you are. I would ove to be the lucky winner!

Jenaveve said...

I love Good Reads! I'll have to work out how to add you 'as a friend' and all that.

Great book selection!

Crafty Things said...

Came over via twopinkpossums. I have started exploring Goodreads - looks like a great place to find interesting reads. I ahve borrowed The Creative Family from my local library but would love to have a copy on my shelf.

chad and cheryl said...

I would love this book! Love, love, love it!!

Anonymous said...

There's nothing better than getting a large package from Amazon...except when you discover that you've ordered two of the same book!
Just discovered your blog and would love to be included in the giveaway. Thanks! :)

Jodie said...

What an awesome giveaway!!! I've had that book in my wish list for months.....

Jodie :)

gb80 said...

Love your blog, have just spent the afternoon and evening reading all your entries.

Kris said...

I too would love your book! I just love books. I wish I had more time to read. I do most of my reading with blogs! No wonder I don't have much time!

Levin said...

hmmmm
you know i had the exact same thing with amazon - i thought i had ordered one but got two and got charged for two - maybe it's a conspiracy. anyway, i was looking to order this book - perhaps i should wait until after sunday, cause you never know your luck........
have a lovely weekend, stay warm and dry and enjoy your reads - perfect weather for it!
l
x

LBA said...

oooh - me me !

I rarely get to say that as most giveaways are pattern books it seems, and really, me ? non.

But i've had my eye on this book, so Me! mE! it is :)