Books for making things

In this latest book report – just prior to Christmas 2012 – I look at books for making things, whether it’s sewing, crafting, or children’s activities books…

In this latest book report – just prior to Christmas 2012 – I look at books for making things, whether it’s sewing, crafting, or children’s activities books…

I’m in my Happy Place when I’m making things. I love creating, and it does take spare time and spare effort over and above the everyday toil of life, so you need reserves. So, for me to be making something, I am in that place of overflow and surplus that pours into the doing and making.

Here are some great books for when you find yourself with an overflow of creative energy – or just have restless kids that need activities!

First up, the Crafty Girl’s Road Trip is not a brand new book but is one that everyone interested in local crafts must know about. It covers most craft shops from the top of New Zealand to the bottom, with a paragrph of highlights on each and their address details, and each chapter has an easy craft project to make too. Crafty Girl’s Road Trip by Ann Packer in its 2012 version, is published by Random House.

I really enjoyed the page layouts in Granny Chic, such as this inside cover page, that I shot against my own vintage scarf in similar brown colour tones. It is a British book from two women who run families and their own craft businesses and blogs: Tif Fussell and Rachelle Blondel. They wrote in a personal, chummy style, and offer a range of craft projects mostly for the home from the simple to more advanced such as upholstery. Not for the minimalist, this book is perfect for hoarders of vintage scraps like me. It is published by Kyle Books and distributed in New Zealand by New Holland and retails for $45.

In a similar vintage vein but more fashion than homewares-oriented, comes Thrifty Style: Clever ways to revamp your wardrobe, by Janine Chisholm. The idea here is taking old clothes and reworking – or ‘upcycling’ – them into new creations, much like Molly Ringwald’s character did for the prom in Pretty in Pink. Some of them I just would never do, but this is quite pretty, below – the Folklore Dress, which is also on the cover. Thrifty Style also includes three pull-out patterns making it great value, and retails for $37.99 from Bookreps.

Speaking of sewing, this is a perfect Christmas gift idea: Home Sewn, by the New Zealand Fashion Museum. It is $45 with patterns inside by top NZ designers such as Company of Strangers, Starfish, World, and more. Here I am cutting out a dress by twenty-seven names which I made in navy floral georgette and am wearing right now as I type this. Published by Penguin Books, you can buy it at selected stockists and online at www.fashionmuseum.org.nz

Animal Hats: 25 fun projects to knit, crochet or make from fleece by Rachel Henderson, is just adorable. The trend of animal face beanies as worn by various music celebs and teenagers the world over is a fantastic DIY project for knitters and sewers. As well as adult hats there are fleecy warm hats for children and babies, too. Animal Hats is $34.99 by Kyle Books distributed in New Zealand by New Holland. Pictured below: the wolf beanie hat.

The Destitute Gourmet author Sophie Gray has released her latest book, Feed the family for $15 or less – and, at the same time- a money-saving app to manage their grocery shopping. I got lots of helpful tips and then had the book pinched by my friend Beck who was visiting, so keep close tabs on your own copy! You’ll save the money you need to buy this book back in no time at all.

Now for the kids…

Christmas Activity Fun by Tim Dowling is for children ages 5-7 and at only $6.99 it’s a cool stocking filler. It has 64 pages of black and white pictures with a Christmas message for kids to colour and learn as they go. Christmas Activity Fun is published by Lion Hudson and distributed in New Zealand by New Holland.

New Zealand Garden Wildlife to read colour and keep by Dave Gunson is a learning resource that keeps on giving; first your kids colour in the pictures, then thay can put the wall posters up and read about the native and common wildlife species. It helpfully also has full colour pictures of all the bugs, birds and critters so you know what they really look like in nature despite being drawn in purple crayon. It is published by New Holland publishers.

Words and photos Megan Robinson
17 December 2012