In order to avoid posting endless posts that just say "I finished another 4 squares", I thought I'd blog about some things that make me happy. In no particular order.

• Japanese embroidery books. I love them and this particular ebay seller is fantastic. I feel secure giving away my "secret" source for Japanese craft books as I have all the ones I was after <VBG>. If there is a Japanese craft book or magazine that you have been looking for Megumi will go out of her way to find you a copy, new or second hand. And her prices are fantastic. I have purchased embroidery books from her for AUD$26 including postage that would have cost me AUD$35-45 if I could find them here in an Australian book shop.

  Why do I like Japanese embroidery designs so much? I think they have a sweet innocence about them that makes them so appealing to me. They don't have the cloying cuteness of so many American and Australian designs that are around these days. Plus they're a little bit retro and that's always good. :-)

  The image above is from Embroidery One-Point Stitch 500

• Sunshine's Creations.

  I like Wendy's blog or many reasons. First of all, she knows how to do some very cool things and is always happy to share her knowledge. Crocheted hexagon granny motifs and Mock Cathedral Windows Quilts are just two of the tutorials she has available for free. I'll be trying both :-). You can see a list of all her tutorials in the right hand menu on her blog.

  Wendy is also one of those (seemingly) very rare crafters these days who values her own work and I totally respect that. I have avoided looking at websites like Etsy.com recently because a majority of the crafters who sell their work there price it so incredibly low. It makes me sad to see people undervalue what they do to the point of being willing to just make back what they have spent on materials. Especially since there are some amazingly innovative and creative items that some people are selling.

• CozyKnitsLiterally is one etsy seller whose designs I adore and who doesn't under price her work (maybe a little occasionally but not often). Her little pointy top hats are so incredibly cute too. Actually, all of her designs have the indefinable "something" that makes them so "right". See I told you it couldn't be defined :-P
  
  CozyKnitsLiterally Etsy Shop
  CosyMakes Blog and
  Hat Photos on Flickr.com
• Finishing another four blocks for my suffolk puff yo-yo coverlet also makes me happy. :-)

  The first four light pink squares.

  

  26 done, 74 to go...