When news hit that our 2008 release, Strip & Knit with Style by Mark Hordyszynski was up for the 2008 Diagram Prize for Oddest Book Title competition hosted by The Bookseller.com, chuckles spread through our office. The idea of getting naked and knitting...with style, no less...seems rather odd to our friends in England (understandably!), which is why we have been nominated for this out of the ordinary award. The Bookseller's Horace Bent wrote a blog post about the nominees and it's a great read - never let it be said that C&T doesn't have a sense of humor!

The best part is, the public chooses the winner! Now that we have been nominated, why not try to win?

Please visit www.thebookseller.com and vote for Strip & Knit with Style (look under "Poll" on their home page). Every vote counts - and you can vote as often as you like! The winner will be announced on March 27, 2009.

• Mixed media fiber artist Sue Bleiweiss tells how Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur by Lesley Riley reveals all there is to know about this amazing medium. Click to read article.
• The Otago Daily Times profiles Carol Doak's trip of a lifetime to New Zealand. Click to read article.
• Paula Nadelstern's Kaleidoscope Quilts is "Eye candy for the quilter" writes BellaOnline. Click to read article.
• Subsversive stitchers asks "What's not to like about Miniatures in Minutes by Terrie Sandelin"? Click to read article.
  
• Julie Zaccone Stiller participates in a group study using "Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter" by Katie Pasquini Masopust and Brett Barker. Click to read article.
• Dale Anne Potter claims "Design Exploration for the Creative Quilter by Katie Pasquini Masopust is well worth the price and should be in every Art Quilter's library!!!" Click to read article.
  
• Traditional quilters share their group approach to the study of Art Quilts using Art Quilt Workbook by Jane Dávila and Elin Waterston. Click to read article.
  
• The Manteca Bulletin profiles Alex Anderson's appearance at The Manteca Quilters Guild 30th anniversary. Click to read article.
• Designer Maricel Fabi shares instructions for her designed Ready-to-Go!® Blank Board Book 5 1/4" x 6 1/2" Cupcake. Click to read article.

We're giving away free books and products every week at www.ctpubblog.com, and we'd love to have you join our winners' circle.

Dale Ann Potter won a free copy of Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur®, a mixed-media primer by Leslie Riley. Jake Linfesty won a copy of Wearable Arf,  a collection of fabulous canine couture by Virgie and Rachele Fisher. This week, Kimberlee Patton won a copy of A Touch of Felt, the new book on needle felting for your home by Lynne Farris.

To enter, go to this week's giveaway in the "Contests" category at www.ctpubblog.com and post a comment. Winners are chosen at random from all the comments we receive during the open comments period.

February's design challenge: Hearts

1. We post a new themed challenge every month. (Our first two challenges were projects for New Years and Valentine's Day.)
2. You create something that fits the challenge theme and post a photo on your blog or website, or on a photo-sharing site like Flickr.
3. You post a comment on the original challenge post on our blog. Be sure to provide a link to your photo so other blog readers can visit and enjoy your work.
4. Cross your fingers and hope your comment is chosen as the lucky winner. If you don't win this month, don't worry—there's a fresh challenge coming every month!

Happy creating from your friends at C&T Publishing!