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Review + Giveaway: sewExpecting eBook

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sewexpectingcoversewExpecting is the new eBook from Leigh Ann Tennent (The Object Project and Strawberry Truffle).  If you’re an expecting mother, or know someone who is pregnant, or just like to have sweet baby gifts on hand just in case, this eBook is for you.  In it, you can find patterns and instructions to make 20 – yes, TWENTY – different projects for baby:

  •  A basic infant bib, plus a patchwork and appliqued version.
  •  A basic toddler bib, plus a patchwork and appliqued version.
  •  A toddler bib with a storage pocket that doubles as a crumb-catcher!
  •  A basic burp cloth, plus a patchwork and appliqued version.
  •  A burp cloth with an innovative storage pocket!
  •  Three styles of changing mats.
  •  A very cool diaper clutch with instructions for 2 looks.
  •  A textured securtiy blanket to keep little fingers busy!
  •  A satin lovey.
  •  A very simple, super-quick quilt!

sewexpecting2All of these projects are boutique-quality, assuming of course that you construct them of quality materials. 

The instructions are straightforward and are geared toward those with limited or no sewing experience.   (Experienced sewers can probably skip straight to the patterns and use the instructions just as a quick reference guide.)  If you’ve wanted to learn how to sew but haven’t known exactly where to start, sewExpecting is a good place to begin.  The beginning of the eBook gives quick instructions for basic sewing, applique, and patchwork skills that you’ll need to create the projects.  Most of the projects are constructed with from simple shapes, with minimal fuss.

sewExpecting is available from Strawberry Truffle for $22.00.

By now, I know there are more than a handful of you who want a copy of sewExpecting for your very own.  And so Leigh Ann has graciously offered to give away one copy of the eBook to a lucky Craft Gossip reader.  Here’s how it will work:

To enter, post a comment on to this Craft Gossip post telling me which SewExpecting project (listed above) you think will be the first one you’ll sew.  One entry per person, please.  Deadline is Friday, August 7, 2009 at 10:00 pm CST.  I’ll choose a winner at random the following day.

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Learn about Bulgaria for Kids

Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is in Southeastern Europe that’s bordered by Greece, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia and the Black Sea. It was founded from an empire that deeply influenced the Slavic nations and was once part of the Eastern bloc controlled by Russia.

Bulgaria Facts

  • Bulgaria is 42,855 square miles, or 110,994 square kilometers, with a population near 6.5 million.
  • Its capital and largest city is Sofia.
  • The Bulgarian Empire, from which the nation takes its name, took power in the area in the late 7th century and developed Cyrillic script, which is used for many Slavic languages. The country was under Ottoman rule for almost five centuries, but it declared its independence in 1908.
  • Bulgaria sided with Germany in both world wars and became part of the Eastern bloc led by the Soviet Union in 1946. The Communist Party ceded control in the late 1980s and Bulgaria adopted a democratic constitution in 1991.
  • It is a unitary parliamentary republic with a president and a prime minister as well as a National Assembly.
  • The word Bulgar might have some from a word meaning to mix or stir, or a derivative of that word that means revolt or disorder. About 85 percent of the country is ethnically Bulgarian, and the official language is Bulgarian.

Bulgarian National Symbols

The Bulgarian flag is made of three horizontal stripes, one white, one green and one red. It was adopted when they gained independence from the Ottoman Empire.

The national anthem, “Mila Rodino,” or “Dear Motherland,” was adopted in 1964 but its lyrics have been changed many times, most recently in 1990, and a shortened version was approved in 1991.

The Eurasian griffon vulture is considered the national bird, and a lion is used as it heraldic symbol.

The patron saint of Bulgaria is Saint John of Rila, the first Bulgarian hermit, whose followers founded many churches in his honor, including the famous Rila Monastery, now a UNESCO World Heritage site (and a very cool looking building).

The national instrument is the kaba gaida, a bagpie that is native to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria Activities for Kids

Listen to the kaba giada in this video, or you can listen for two hours(!) here.

Learn more about Bulgarian folk dancing and watch some people doing it. The people in this video are also wearing traditional Bulgarian folk costumes, which is fun to see. (As a knitter I love those socks!) You can learn more about Bulgarian folk costumes here or at Meet the Slavs.

See what your name looks like in Cyrillic and see if you can write it! You can also learn the sounds of the Bulgarian alphabet here.

Learn more about Bulgaria from Kids World Travel Guide, or check out the resources available at Teachers Pay Teachers.

Wonders of Bulgaria has a good rundown of traditional Bulgarian foods you might want to try. For kids I’d suggest their version of moussaka, which is like the Greek dish only made with potatoes and not eggplant or zucchini. The Modern Nonna has a version that includes carrots, but they’re optional.