Stitched in Time

Book excerpt: In Stitched in Time Alicia Paulson shares 30 beautiful, inventive and thoughtful projects that encourage you to take your memories down from the bookshelf, out of the closet, or off the hard drive and bring them into your daily life. Creator of a charming line of handmade gifts and accessories called Posie: Rosy Little Things, Paulson organizes these adorable handmade mementos - each one incorporating unique elements such as photosgraphs, drawings, and other ephemera - into three sections: For the Little Ones, For Every Day and For Special Occasions. Many projects are easy enough for the beginning sewer to complete and Paulson explains all the necessary techniques, from hand- and machine-sewing to embroidery, appliqué, stenciling and transferring photos to fabric. In as little as a weekend anyone can create a keepsake for the ages that will be enjoyed every day - whether it s a quilt made from outgrown baby clothes, an apron featuring a favorite family recipe, a tote bag documenting a treasured holiday, or a stuffed animal fashioned from a child s drawing. With love incorporated into every stitch, these sweet projects each evoke the feeling of a special time and place and are so much more than just a commemoration of events. Whether you want to remember your family summers at the beach or a daughter s first apartment, a perfect gift for a loved one or a memento to keep all to yourself is just stitches away.