I am venting…
In my research of Ribbon work I found a couple books I did not own and so I purchased them (they were less than $10 and there was free shipping.) When they arrived I was happy I had not paid more for them. One was nothing but projects and the description did not say that, but I did not send it back,,, more trouble than it was worth and any way when you are a bookaholic , what’s one more book. (Although I do promise that one of these days I am going to downsize when I find that round tuit again)
The other book was pretty interesting Creative Ribbon Embroidery (book on right) and as I was going though it I keep thinking it looked familiar. The pictures and layout were enough different that I had to read a few pages before I realized I had read this before. That’s when I realized I had another book by this same author. And what do you know two books, same stuff one is just ten times better than the other.
And this does bother me!
These two books are night and day. One is full of color pictures and the other is not…all the stitches are in black in white and in fact most of the book is in black and white. The projects in the second book have been condensed and are not shown to their best advantage. But the cover picture is new to the second book as well as the title is different
suggesting different content. Then I went back and checked. Some pictures had been turned, some made smaller but it was the same book printed less expensively. I guess both books are good, because I do like the first one (The Complete Book of Ribbon Embroidery ) but if you are investing (even though both were inexpensive, less than $10) purchased the better one. How do you know, I guess I would purchase the older copy in this case first
Don’t get me wrong, I have bought the same book more than once for a couple reasons”
I have about worn the first one out from use. I usually buy a second one to have for back up or if I have sentimental attachment to the first so I can keep it. My very first two needlepoint books I did this. I think I’ve told this story but it is worth repeating.
My mother gave me a needlepoint book in the 1972’s for Christmas. I was not a stitcher of any kind. I was an only child raising three little boys all under the age of 5 years…I was a mother in a foreign male kindom and did not speak a word of male. I asked her what she was thinking and her response was, “I got it from my book club. I forgot to send the card back that I was not interested, so I’m giving it to you.” Thanks Mother. I put it with my cookbooks in the kitchen. WWho had time for needlepoint? But the following spring a magazine ran an article on learning to needlepoint with six stitches. And that same month our youngest ended up in the hospital with an unknown ailment (turned out to be cutting teeth…my diagnoses that the pediatrician finally agreed after ten years was probably true). And I needed something to do to keep my sanity. So rather than learn just six stitches I had my friend go pick up my book and go by the needlepoint shop to buy me three colors of wool a piece of canvas. I had learned to needlepoint from my Grandmother and Mother but now I could do all these stitches too. The rest is history. My first needlepoint book is still one of my favorites and my go to book when looking for a stitch.
And another reason I have bought the same book twice is because I publisher changed the cover on the second printing. Not nice. So from that experience I 
check as well as I can before I purchase. My Ann Cox ribbon book states it is combined material from two of her other books and I happened to come across one of them and sure enough it has some of the material and enough not to warrant the second purchase. Thank you Ann because I think my book is the best of the other two.
Sorry that this is my post of the week but I am venting.
Thank you for stopping by… I hope you find time to stitch today!
ttfn…sue
sudukc's needleart & other musings 