- Tuesday, November 05, 2013
- 3 Comments
Putting it simply, this book is brilliant. It takes a lot for me to rave about a craft book and Christmas Crafting with Kids, by Catherine Woram, has a lot.
It caught my eye on the library shelf and jumped in my bag. The title tells a lot. Unlike some deceptive grown up craft books masquerading as a kids book - this book contains projects that with a little guidance, kids really can make. There is baking, decorations, gifts and cards.
We poured over the pages and decided to give the peg dolls a try. Miss H was keen to make them her own way, using the paper doilies as wings rather than as a dress. We had a great time painting up the pegs. Two were left unpainted for E to make later, much to the concern of her sister. She was very worried about the dolls being "naked".
Format - The book is hardcover, 125 pages with 35 projects. the projects are divided into decorations, gifts, cards and wrapping. The materials used are relatively straight forward. you may need to duck out for airdry clay, fimo or sequins for some. With a little thought, most people should be able to find some projects that don't require additional materials. Each step is illustrated with photos of real kids making things. While the finished products often look like they have had some older hands helping, I'm sure little hands would add their own magic.
Who would I recommend it to? The projects look to be for about ages 4 and up, and will require some adult guidance. Consequently, I'd recommend it to people wanting to take the time with children, to make something special for Christmas. Thinking about it, I might just be the author's target market.
Would I buy it? If it wasn't already in my local library - YES, I would buy it in a flash.
Disclaimer - I love books and devour them with cups of tea and gingernuts. I also love honest book reviews that let you know what is in store. This book was kindly lent to me by my local library, because that's what they do.
It caught my eye on the library shelf and jumped in my bag. The title tells a lot. Unlike some deceptive grown up craft books masquerading as a kids book - this book contains projects that with a little guidance, kids really can make. There is baking, decorations, gifts and cards.
We poured over the pages and decided to give the peg dolls a try. Miss H was keen to make them her own way, using the paper doilies as wings rather than as a dress. We had a great time painting up the pegs. Two were left unpainted for E to make later, much to the concern of her sister. She was very worried about the dolls being "naked".
Format - The book is hardcover, 125 pages with 35 projects. the projects are divided into decorations, gifts, cards and wrapping. The materials used are relatively straight forward. you may need to duck out for airdry clay, fimo or sequins for some. With a little thought, most people should be able to find some projects that don't require additional materials. Each step is illustrated with photos of real kids making things. While the finished products often look like they have had some older hands helping, I'm sure little hands would add their own magic.
Who would I recommend it to? The projects look to be for about ages 4 and up, and will require some adult guidance. Consequently, I'd recommend it to people wanting to take the time with children, to make something special for Christmas. Thinking about it, I might just be the author's target market.
Would I buy it? If it wasn't already in my local library - YES, I would buy it in a flash.
Disclaimer - I love books and devour them with cups of tea and gingernuts. I also love honest book reviews that let you know what is in store. This book was kindly lent to me by my local library, because that's what they do.
- Sunday, October 20, 2013
- 1 Comments
Scrap Republic is a book that has me excited about playing with colours* and rediscovering my fabric stash. I spotted in on a friend's book shelf and have to admit that I have been looking after it for far too long.
In a market where books play one-up-manship, boasting huge number of projects, this book quietly has 8, and focuses instead on the techniques. The book focuses on gaining confidence in using colour. Each of the 8 projects is based on using a rainbow spectrum of colours, in order, with different effects. The projects had me searching through my fabric drawers for a little bit of every colour. If you haven't a collection of fabrics to choose from each project has a "solace for the scrapless" option. It would also be great to team up with a friend to swap fabrics to put together a range of different prints.
Of course a book review is not complete without trying out a project. I chose Beeline, which uses long strips of colour to make a mini quilt, or in this case a giant floor cushion. I like the way each project can be considered a warm up exercise without always committing to a full bed size quilt.
Format 8 projects starting with short and simple works and gradually becoming larger and complex as the book progresses. The book begins with a discussion of how to use and sort colour before launching into the projects.
Who would I recommend it to? This book is best suited to someone who already has a few fabrics to call upon and is looking to use them in a way that makes them sing. If you prefer muted colours and restricted palette, perhaps try one or two projects, but this book is probably not for you.
Would I buy it? While I won't be buying my own copy, this book is fantastic for quilter who love colour and want to branch out a little. It would be a great addition to a quilting guild library too.
*excuse me while I insist on using NZ spelling, colour, grey, etc. The rest of the spelling errors are my very own.
- Sunday, June 16, 2013
- 1 Comments
It turns out both my husband and my mother grew up with a copy of the battered oxford one on the top. My latest addition is the Encyclopedia Britannica one at the bottom of the pile. It blow my mind to thin that people put together encyclopedia before the internet. This atlas, and accompaniment to the encyclopedia, lists the leaders and economic powerhouses of each country as well. How on earth did they keep track of all that? Was there a hotline to the embassy in every country to ask every time they went for an update?
While we think of geographies as being timeless, there is nothing like the Golden Press Geographic Encyclopedia (c1956) to tell you how much things have changed. For starters we have a nice pictorial of the world, to tell you what you will be doing on your trip. So now lets get going ..
Well, New Zealand is just logs and sheep. In fact it barely makes it onto the page. I'm sure my Australian readers will also be horrified to see how they are summed up.
So next, lets go on cruise to Antarctica for some .... whaling?
If you miss the whaling, you can always go and bludgeon a seal in Alaska.
- Tuesday, May 14, 2013
- 7 Comments
It's about time we had another crafty book review around here, don't you think?
Our local library has a new copy of "The Gentle Art of Stitching" by Jane Brocket. I tucked the book under my arm and took it home.
I have long admired the Jane's writing and yarnstorm blog in its many incarnations. It speaks of a slower pace of life, where every day is a flitting from one handcrafted distraction to another, with a few stops for inspiration along the way. Her writing is nostalgic, passionate and encouraging. It's like reading a Nigella Lawson cook book. In fact, what I enjoyed the most about his book is that it was nice to read. The text in between projects was not just some technical filler of instructions, but thoughtful meditations on the crafts themselves. It is this writing that elevates the book beyond the overdone coffee table fare that I am sure we see far too much of.
I have to admit not everyone is a fan of Ms Brocket. A reviewer of an earlier book "The Gentle Art of Knitting", took to the book with a calculator to work out that even a small tea cosy from the book would cost 55 pounds to make. Much of Jane's latest book is couched with tender encouragements to just use whatever embroidery threads you have to hand and perhaps break out the hand dyed silks for special occasions only. Perhaps there was a lesson learnt there.
Format – For the things that Amazon won't tell you, this book starts with a tour of what you will need in your sewing box, before launching into 13 different types of projects. There is a very brief guide to stitches before the templates to the back of the book.
For the things amazon will tell you - The book itself is A4 hardback with 160 pages - rather than a snuggle into bed read, its a prop up the pillows and pour a cup of tea read.
Projects - The cover of the book boldly states that there are 40 projects in the book. I haven't stopped to count them but there are definitely 13 types of project. The workmanship in the projects is impeccable, while the techniques focus on inspiring rather than challenging.
My eye was taken with modern crazy patchwork you can see above. I have a velvet couch just screaming out for equally opulent cushions.
As always, I'm not one to post a review without trying a pattern or two. I pulled vintage cards and buttons from my stash and set making the button cards seen above. They certainly had my kids puzzled - why would you want to make one of those? especially, when my handy work was sewing the card shut. In future, I would look to backing the cards with a heavier fold of card so they can still be used as a greeting card. Overall I liked the simplicity, colours and near instant gratification of this little project and pledge to do better next time.
Who would I recommend it to? – Someone who likes to read and ponder over a project, just as much as they like the process of making things. The how to section at the back is brief, suggesting that this book should be read with either a few skills under the belt or accompanied by some other how too books. If you are looking for an action packed, instant hit of poorly made craft, this is not the book you are looking for.
Would I Buy It? - Oh yes. I must get this copy back to the library to share the love. Ifear know that someone has it reserved after me and I'm letting them down.
Who would I recommend it to? – Someone who likes to read and ponder over a project, just as much as they like the process of making things. The how to section at the back is brief, suggesting that this book should be read with either a few skills under the belt or accompanied by some other how too books. If you are looking for an action packed, instant hit of poorly made craft, this is not the book you are looking for.
Would I Buy It? - Oh yes. I must get this copy back to the library to share the love. I
- Thursday, April 04, 2013
- 3 Comments
This book profiles 10 ladies who make dolls - be they softies, jointeed bears or needle felting. I liked the way a range of styles were profiled. I can finally put a name to the designer whose dolls keep catching my eye on pinterest - that would be Mimi Kirchner. I love her tattooed ladies and woollen dolls.
My kids on the other hand were taken with the designs of Ana Fernandes. The dolls above were based on her Estefania pattern that can be found in the book. With a little tweaking, the dolls looked more like the collection of dolls E & H were coveting from the contents page. My kids were frustrated by the teasers photos of dolls for which there was no pattern . On the other hand I thought they helped to show the scope of each artists' talent.
The patterns in the book were easy to follow, with full size patterns for tracing at the back. There is also a how to section at the front of the book that starts you off in the right foot - tools you need, some basic techniques etc. The break down of methods and materials is not as comprehensive as some books I have seen, but I feel it is all you need to start out. You can move onto other books for more methods as your interests guide you.
All up, I would recommend this book. It doesn't steal my heart like Hilliary Lang's Wee Wonderfuls. However, this book is a wide survey of all that is wonderful in the world of making dolls and a really good place to start.
- Tuesday, October 02, 2012
- 1 Comments
