For crafting…….Sorry kids, this Wordy Wednesday is not for you!
This edition of our weekly book post is all about making. I’ve recently come across some really fabulous books that are worthy additions to any crafty library, especially with Christmas right around the corner and gift giving lists that seem to get longer every year.
I’ll separate them out for you in a few different categories. All are available online of course (via Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc.) but I’ve been very pleased with our local JoAnn’s craft book selection. I’ve been able to find and flip through most of the books on this list. In between projects, it’s nice to use a 60% off coupon, and another 15% off teacher discount (if you can!) to make these books a steal.
Quilting, Sewing, and Needle Crafts:
I love the beautiful quilt on the cover of this book, but the whole book is full of informative tips and tricks, organization ideas (for all of that special scrap fabric that I can never figure out what to do with and how to store), and most of all: beautiful quilts.
If you’ve never visited the purlbee.com website- do yourself a fiber favor and check it out. The site is chock full of gorgeous handmade items and tutorials with beautiful photographs to match. This book has such cute ideas for DIY items that would make great hostess gifts, or stocking stuffers for all the fabric lovers in your life.
Oh, be still my heart. The cover of Scandinavian Stitches doesn’t do the rest of this book justice- and that’s saying something considering how adorable the items on the cover are! I can’t wait to get my hands on this book and make a few things for the girls for Christmas.
If you are a “handmade holiday” junkie, then this is the book you need to have on your shelf. There’s nothing like a few good DIY decorations to get you in the mood for the holidays. The ideas in this book are simple, but oh so cute and easy. Plus, felt is relatively inexpensive so you won’t ruin your budget making a few special treasures for your house.
Pardon the title. I’ve made a few creatures from this sweet little book. The sock animal tutorials are very clear and simple and will have you sewing up little companions in no time at all. Start finding cute socks!
Perhaps my favorite book of the moment, Big Little Felt Universe is full of perfect ideas for the child that loves to play pretend. Lilly is big into camping, cooking, and make-believe so there are many collections in this book that my Mom and I will be tackling for Christmas. The first project we will work on together is the campfire set complete with flames, logs, s’mores, a compass, and a lantern. Lilly already snuck a peak at the book though and is also requesting the grill so she can “cook like Daddy”. Super cute quiet toys for the girls’ new bedroom.
Knitting:
To be perfectly honest, knitting is not my cup of tea. I drop stitches, make mistakes and can’t ever seem to make knit items perfectly (which drives me crazy) so I tend to lean on the crochet side of the fence. But these two books (also from the purlbee.com creator) are perfect for people like me who are easily intimidated by knitting patterns. I’ll be flipping through these for a few handmade gifts on my list this year.
Paper Crafts and Drawing:
I’d love to have this book permanently parked on my desk in the office. Just to flip open a random page, see some cute little doodle, and be inspired to draw something new and different on one of my journal pages. Writing, reflection and note taking is so much more fun with pretty doodles all around. And just an FYI, if you have a creative soul in your family- especially kids, there are other versions of this book that make really, really, REALLY great gifts. All by different authors. Search the word DOODLE on any book store search engine and you will find various doodle books to suit any interest- boys, girls, stickers, animals etc. etc. most filled with inspiration and ideas to help create beautiful and interesting drawings. (The best answer to, “Mom, I’m bored!”)
Along those same lines is this little gem. A small book that packs a big punch. Just glancing through in the few moments it took me to get through the checkout line, I saw tons of ideas I’d love to use in the classroom, or at home for “project time” with Lilly. An idea that jumped out at me was taking pictures of sidewalk cracks and creating drawings based on the lines that the cracks make. Genius! It’s filled with ideas like that to jump start creativity and art making thought processes.
Mini books! One of my favorite things of all time. I loved making them as a kid, and still do as an adult. They would make adorable travel journals, Grandparent brag books, love letter albums, grocery list books etc. I love how this particular book uses so many “found materials” and recycled paper items. These would make the most fantastic school art show display all grouped together.
Cut paper. CUT PAPER. I’m kind of obsessed with this particular way of making art. Seriously. Which is kind of a problem considering the average age of the children I teach is FOUR YEARS OLD. No razor blades for them. I’ve laid out many a drawing (mostly maps) that I would LOVE to intricately cut out with an exacto knife but life (and babies) get in the way and I never actually cut out the damn paper. The artists that do, however, sigh. They. Are. Amazing. (And incredibly patient!)
If I had a dollar for the amount of times I’ve heard, “How do I draw an {insert name of random animal here} ?” I’d be the richest art teacher on the planet. This ever so innocent looking book is a great resource for truly simple instructions on how to draw animals- simple lines, basic shapes. It’s very clear, outlines minimal steps, and the animals have a special “cute but real” feeling to them which I love. They aren’t overly cartoon-ish, but they are certainly not hyper realistic either. I have big plans for this book… secret birthday plans 😉 Definitely a great resource for introduction to illustration projects where kids get easily overwhelmed by the ideas in their heads not matching the skills in their hands.
And last but not least…
Young. House. Love. One of my favorite blogs. Sherry and John are responsible for the incredible doll house soon to reside in my girls bedroom, and for that I am ever in awe of their creative DIY expertise. I admit that I have not yet flipped through this book (pretty sure it was JUST released to publishers) but I am reasonably confident it will be awesome. Can’t wait!
Do you have any books to add to my list? Leave me a comment and let me know!
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