Archives: Crafts Book Review

Originally published on December 11th, 2013

Title: Inside the Creative Studio

Author: Cate Coulacos Prato

Publisher: Interweave 2012

Genre: Home; Crafts

Pages: 160

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Nerdy Nonfiction -- Home; 52 Books -- W50

The professional artists and crafters of Studios Magazine give you the tools to create your own one-of-a-kind artistic environment in this best-of compilation. Learn how to find space in your home, whittle down your stash, maximize your storage and organization possibilities, and manage your stash of supplies and equipment to keep your work space functional and fun to work in. Experts will also show you how to repurpose furniture, integrate recyclables, and showcase vintage items to establish a space with purpose and personality. You will spend less time struggling with your studio, or lack thereof, and more time actually creating in your unique space.

Lots of great ideas for organizing your creative space.  My space isn't completely out of control, but I would love to reorganize it this coming year (on my big to do list!).  This book helped me start thinking about what I want...  I see a trip to Ikea in my future for early next year.

Title: B is for Baby: 26 Projects from A to Z

Author: Suzonne Stirling

Publisher: Taunton Press 2006

Genre: Crafts

Pages: 176

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Nerdy Nonfiction -- Crafts

B is for Baby honors the age-old tradition of crafting with a mix of vintage and modern-style projects for all women who buy baby gifts who want to give something meaningful and handmade. In a unique A to Z presentation, the projects are aimed at a variety of skill levels and budgets. Every letter is represented with a main project and many variations, and all have concise step-by-step directions, photos and templates.

Why do I always pick these craft books up?  Oh right, I love looking at the pictures.  To be fair, there are some very cute projects in this book.  Most of them just aren't my style (lots of pastels and cutesy things) and there was only two projects I even contemplated doing.  Cute book for super crafters, just not really my style.

Archives: A Beautiful Mess Book Review

Originally published on September 10th, 2013

Title: A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book

Author: Elsie Larson, Emma Chapman

Publisher: Potter Style 2013

Genre: Photography How-to

Pages: 240

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nerdy -- How to; Bingo -- 4 2013 releases

How I Got It: Library Loan

Whether it’s of your sister’s smile, your morning coffee, or your new puppy, photos are a way to connect on Facebook and Instagram, keep a visual diary of our lives, and create momentos for future generations. Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, creators of the mega-popular DIY style blog A Beautiful Mess, are in love with photographing everyday life. Here, they share that love with 95 all-new tips and photo challenges that will inspire you to style and snap better photos and then transform them into simple yet stunning projects and gifts.

I've followed the blog A Beautiful Mess for awhile now. I read about their book publication, but didn't seek out the finished project.  And then while perusing the new books section at the library, I spied it.  Flipping through, I was treated to gorgeous photographs.  When I started actually reading the tips, I found some great and easy ways to create beautiful photographs.  I may not follow every one of their tips, but I got some great ideas about how to classy up my pictures.  Plus they include some great little DIY projects using your photographs.  Very fresh.  Very fun.  Very useful.

Archives: Joy of Scrapbooking Book Review

Originally published on January 30th, 2012 Title: The Joy of Scrapbooking

Publisher: Leisure Arts 2011

Genre: Nonfiction; Crafting

Pages: 224

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Dewey Decimal -- 770s; A to Z - J

Discover the fun and joy of scrapbooking with this essential guide! Introduced by Lisa Bearnson, the Creating Keepsakes founding editor, this revised and expanded edition combines all the instruction of the original along with comprehensive coverage of new scrapbooking tips, techniques, and supplies. Whether you're a beginner or have been scrapbooking for ages, this guide will get you excited and going strong! You ll discover more than 90 never-before-seen layouts featuring practical ideas and themes; principles of basic scrapbook design and helpful hints; guidelines for organizing and preserving photos and memorabilia; ways to sharpen your journaling and photography skills; and an introduction to digital scrapbooking.

I grabbed this book off the shelf thinking that I could get some new tips for scrapbooking.  And I was wrong.  That's not to say this isn't a good book.  It is, just not for someone who has been scrapbooking for a couple of years.  This really is an introduction to scrapbooking.  It lays out tools, tips, and hints.  If I was just starting, this would be a great way to start.  The one redeeming factor for me was the sample layouts.  Some of them were inspirational...  I want to try out some of the blocking.