Fa La La La Contributor (& Editor!) Interview ~ Amanda

Our Christmas in July celebration and the Fa la la la Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations giveaways are due in no small part to Amanda Carestio, the book’s author and editor. Amanda works at Lark Crafts, blogs at digs & bean and has several fun projects in the book. Enjoy her interview below, then look for another exclusive PDF project from the book coming up next…

Sew,Mama,Sew!: What project(s) do you have in the book?
Amanda: I have a few in there: Silver Bells, Retro Strip Ornaments, Perching Doves, Boughs and Berries Wreath, Leaf and Vine Stocking, Oopsy Daisies Stocking. Meeting the deadlines for this book meant I was making projects in the summer, which was utterly confusing. It was Memorial Day and I was humming jingle bell rock!

SMS: What do you like about working with felt? Do you work with felt a lot?
Amanda: Before this book, I didn’t work with felt much at all, but I really don’t know why. It has such a wonderful texture to it, you don’t have to worry about raveling edges, and, as a sewist, I’m drawn to the simple solid colors. And I absolutely fell in love with the idea of pairing it with patterned cotton fabric… So fun!

SMS: Do you have a favorite, go-to holiday decoration?
Amanda: Instead of a Christmas tree, my husband and I decorate our ficus tree every year. Our one favorite decoration is a glass pickle ornament.

SMS: Do you have a favorite family holiday tradition?
Amanda: Yes, indeed. My whole family goes out for Chinese food every year for Christmas eve dinner.

Comment on any Christmas in July post this week for your chance to win a copy of Fa la la la Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations or a great big bundle of beautiful felt!

31 Responses to “Fa La La La Contributor (& Editor!) Interview ~ Amanda”

1. Penny Garrison responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 9:10 am →

   Looks like a really fun book to have.

2. Corky responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 9:29 am →

   i have just discovered felt and I love it. I really enjoy hand sewing, the buttonhole stitch and embroidery, so felt and wools are my favs now!!

3. QSOgirl responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 9:30 am →

   we used to go out for Chinese food in Chinatown on Christmas Eve, too!

4. jessieaucoin responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 10:11 am →

   the first ornament i bought for my husband and i was a glass pickle. even though the original tradition is for kids to have a race to see who finds it first (and the winner gets to open the first present), we still love hiding it form each other throughout the season.

5. Ellen S. responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 10:27 am →

   Looks like a great book…what fun.

6. Katie responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 10:53 am →

   humming jingle bell rock on Memorial Day? Heehee.

   I have a deadly craving for chinese food right now.

7. Rachel at Stitched In Color responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 11:05 am →

   a glass pickle!!!

8. Michele J. responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 11:08 am →

   I’ve already added this book to my wishlist!

9. Brenda responds:
   Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 11:32 am →

   fun little birds.I agree that felt is fun to play with.

10. SewLindaAnn responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 11:42 am →

    I’ve never really worked with felt except for logical things like under lamps and stuff. I’m looking forward to trying some ideas.

11. Sara responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 12:29 pm →

    Would like to see the wreath she talks about.

12. sy responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 1:04 pm →

    thanks for the interview. glass pickle ornament sounds cute

13. Joanna responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 1:35 pm →

    Felt ornaments are great. They look cute on gifts as well as the tree. I’d love to win this book.

14. Karen responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 4:50 pm →

    What a beautiful book and such lovely decorating ideas! Love the stories about your Christmas traditions.

15. Louise responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 4:53 pm →

    This book looks really good, thanks for the interview!

16. Molly responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 6:10 pm →

    Looks like so much fun! Small projects to start working on now before the holidays

17. Jenny responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 6:32 pm →

    “humming jingle bell rock.” Ha ha! I love it.

18. Mary on Lake Pulaski responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 6:49 pm →

    More people should decorate their ficus tree rather than buy a Christmas tree.

19. alisha responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 9:19 pm →

    I love your tradition and decorations! For a couple of years my husband and I didn’t have a tree, so we decorated a funky floor lamp instead.

20. Kajsa responds:
    Posted: July 29th, 2010 at 10:32 pm →

    The cover of the book looks very tempting!

21. Ramona responds:
    Posted: July 30th, 2010 at 7:53 am →

    We used to have a large cactus and we decorated that with all the paper ornaments the kids made over the years as well as decorating our Christmas decoration.

22. Rebecca @ cup + penny responds:
    Posted: July 30th, 2010 at 10:22 am →

    I like the idea of combining felt with cottons. I want to make some felt cuff bracelets; maybe I could combine them with unexpected light cottons.

23. Amanda responds:
    Posted: July 30th, 2010 at 11:26 am →

    I’m glad you discovered felt/ thanks for your ideas.

24. Alyssa responds:
    Posted: July 30th, 2010 at 2:15 pm →

    I love those pickle ornaments – I need to get one for my kids!!!

25. Kim responds:
    Posted: July 31st, 2010 at 4:52 am →

    So cute! I love holiday decor. This book is sure to be a hit.

26. Jess responds:
    Posted: July 31st, 2010 at 12:06 pm →

    I have never tried working with felt (I know!), but this book looks like a really fun way to get started!

27. Fran responds:
    Posted: July 31st, 2010 at 2:17 pm →

    Have not done a lot of craft work with felt.
    Your book & ideas will spur me on…..

28. Maureen responds:
    Posted: July 31st, 2010 at 3:52 pm →

    I like the trees on the cover of the book.

29. Joy Mosley responds:
    Posted: July 31st, 2010 at 7:43 pm →

    Wow…how fun this book would be to win. My little boy and I would have so much fun!!

30. Annette W responds:
    Posted: August 1st, 2010 at 11:06 am →

    Felt is fun…and so are pickles!

31. Tiffany responds:
    Posted: August 5th, 2010 at 12:13 pm →

    fu fu fu fu fun! Love the colors!

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