My Favorite Craft (and Other) Books

I've been having some fun with the crafts this summer and if you're like me it's fun to have some suggestions for my little library. I love hanging out in the craft section of the library or book store, each one is full of fun ideas and inspirations.

While I'm calling these "craft" books some are actually kid crafts and some are gardening and some are baking so I'm rather loose with the definition of "crafts" here. And I suppose it gives you a hint of some of my future posts--I'm an open book!

1. Tabletop Gardens by Rosemary McCreary
I checked it out of the library to see if it was worth buying for myself and the answer is "yes!"

Great ideas for using plants in your home and while I'm getting my gardening fix outside during these summer months this is going to be a lot of fun to read this winter.

2. New Terrarium by Tovah Martin
Ditto for this book. I'm very into terrariums and tiny gardens. I just started my own succulent terrarium (pictures to come) and this book is getting a lot of buzz around the internet.

3. Backyard Ballistics by William Gurstelle
This is the BEST book for boy-style crafts! We picked it up at the library this past week and are busy building "Cincinnati Fire Kites" and "Match Stick Rockets."

Yes, you read that right. And you can bet there will be pictures. Hopefully not on the six o'clock news--can you say "fire hazard"?

4. Doodle Stitching: Fresh & Fun Embroidery for Beginners by Aimee Ray
This is actually on my wish list because I want to try embroidery next. I was thinking it would be fun to have a set of embroidered handkerchiefs. Kind of like flowery hats and calling cards handkerchiefs which seem so full of romance. I realize that's a funny thing to say considering the object in question is for catching and storing mucus.

5. Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day: The Discovery That Revolutionizes Home Baking by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois
Are you as curious as I am on this?? FIVE minutes a day? Revolutionizes?? Oh the title is working because I totally want this book. I love bread and love baking bread but have had a hard time getting my crust and that glorious crusty texture just right.

Jeff Hertzberg is a full-blown doctor and while I don't think they hand out doctorates on bread it impresses me none the less enough to consider buying this. I'm hoping I can get it at the library.

6. Paper Toys (Deluxe Metal Box) by Francois Chetcuti
This fun little book actually comes in a metal box with paper to make all sorts of fun paper toys. I've seen a couple links for fun paper crafts lately. How about an R2D2 Pinhole Camera? Or a print and cut paper camera here? There were others too but it seems fun to me.

7. Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase by Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott
I've seen all sorts of creative things to do with pillowcases and I'm very interested in reusing anything I might have around the house. This book has some beautiful ideas from dresses to bags to all sorts of feminine frilly things. Just my style.

8. Sew What! Bags: 18 Pattern-Free Projects You Can Customize to Fit Your Needs by Lexie Barnes
I was sent this book to review and if you have some basic sewing skills this is a great book for making basic bags of all kinds: handbags, backpacks, wristlets, tiny bags, big bags, all sorts.

I'm particularly fond of messenger bags right now. Not that I carry messages in them or have a job as a messenger, I just like the big floppy style with all it's peasant-ish glory. Makes me feel like carrying a loaf of crusty French bread a wedge of cheese in it or something.

9. Creative Tabletop Fountains by Marthe Le Van
I've never made a fountain before but I had some trade-in credit at our local used book store and found this paperback. I picked it up on a whim and love the ideas for making fountains. There is one with blocks of ice that is just gorgeous and one using a topiary of fresh fruit that I can just imagine would wow them as a centerpiece at a party.

I am promising myself that I will try this out soon though it may have to wait until the kids are back in school.

10. Micro Minis from the American Girl Library
Another trade-in book from Title Wave Books here in Anchorage. Lillian found this book and fell in love with the tiny little rooms it teaches you to make.

Using beads, craft foam, buttons and other tiny materials it gives you ways to make micro fashion statements for your Fashion Pollys. Lillian loves Fashion Pollys.

11. The Paper Home by Labeena Ishaque
If you like paper crafts this book has some terrific projects--you see that clock on the cover? it's worth the price of the book alone. It's all corrugated cardboard stapled together at the joints. Now why can't I come up with ideas like that?

There are ideas for paper bowls, wall decorations and organizers and even a paper chess set. Every kind of paper you can imagine. Except toilet paper--they didn't use that one.

12. Stringing Style 2 by Jean Campbell
The title implies that there is a Stringing Style 1 but I don't have that and can't vouch for it's greatness though if it was good enough to inspire this sequel then I'd have to say it must also be really really good.

I've got several bead and jewelry books but this one is definitely my favorite. With simple yet elegant designs that someone with my limited beading skills can tackle it's really a gem. Get it? Gem?

13. Fairy Crafts by Heidi Boyd
My most recent trade in acquisition. Another kid craft book though honestly? This one is as much for me as it is for the girls.

It has the most adorable instructions for making a fairy playground set and fairy jewelry and everything you'd need to throw a fairy party. I've never really thrown a fancy birthday party like that but boy if ever I was tempted this is it. Lillian's birthday is Sunday and I might just find myself going all out and making fairy flower head dresses, fairy skirts, tiny fairy cakes . . .

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