Crafts Recent Picks

January 2008

The underlined title links will take you directly to our catalogue.
Some featured items are linked via a book cover to enable you to read more reviews.

Bag style: 20 inspirational handbags, totes, and carry-alls to knit and crochet, Pam Allen & Ann Budd.
"Featuring 22 innovative patterns for all skill levels, this book includes projects from 20 top knitwear designers, including Veronik Avery, Norah Gaughan, Mags Kandis, and Kristin Nicholas. From a zenith carpet bag to a felted messenger bag to a delicate purse with handles made of bracelets, each project features gorgeous photographs and step-by-step instructions, and all techniques are explained in easy-to-understand detail. Whether an avid bag knitter or creating one for the first time, this book has all the inspiration, technique, and details crafters need." (Library Catalogue)

Painted scrapbook pages: create one-of-a-kind pages with simple painting techniques, by Melynda Van Zee.
"Every scrapbook is a personal treasury, filled with our most cherished photographs and keepsakes. Don't those special memories deserve distinctive, individualized background displays? Of course they do! With these creative ideas, it's simple to produce one-of-a-kind background papers. Experiment with almost 40 techniques, from faux finishing (sponging, marbling, crackling) to brushing, stamping, and lettering. Make impressions of a child's hand on paper for an adorable handprint border. Produce a stunning tone-on-tone effect by scraping drops of paint across the paper's surface with an ordinary credit card. Photos of the finished pages showcase the variety of looks each technique can yield." (Library Catalogue)

Essential baby: over 20 hand knits to take your baby from first days to first steps, by Debbie Bliss.
"In her latest book, leading children's knitwear designer Debbie Bliss has carefully considered all the needs of any new parent and their child, to create the complete knitwear collection for a new arrival. Containing twenty-four must-have designs, "Essential Baby" takes your child from their first few days to their first few steps. All of the projects are knitted in beautiful, classic yarns that are not only soft and gentle against a young skin, but are also practical in that they are easy to wash and care for, to ensure that baby is kept wonderfully snug and cosseted right through its first stages in life." (Amazon UK)

Hooked on jewellery: crocheted fibre necklaces, bracelets, & more, by Terry Taylor.
"Two hot topics in one; crochet and jewellery! Here is something special for crocheters who want to go beyond hats and Afghans and for jewellery makers looking for new and adventurous ways to create jewellery. The 40 projects come from the finest contemporary crochet artists, and range from sleekly modern to whimsical, starched to felted, and boldly modern to daintily elegant. Create chunky rope bracelets out of large cord or a beaded tapestry pattern in a geometric cuff. Make a formidable design statement with a head-turning choker featuring a dragon and floral motifs. All the items use familiar stitches, as well as unusual techniques such as tapestry, Irish, and bead crochet, and some incorporate chains, pendants, and ear wires for a finishing touch." (Library Catalogue)

Contemporary knitting by Ruth Lee.
"This is not your grandmother's knitting book... unless Grandma happens to be a cool, creative textile artist. What it does have is detailed information on a spectacular range of contemporary designs; both wearable items, such as a breathtaking star-shaped neckpiece strung with glass beads, as well as exhibition pieces like the author's "Spirit Dresses," knitted from insulated bell wire. Other materials used include paper yarn, plastics, rope, elastics; and even regular knitting yarn! Ruth Lee, whose work has been shown in London's Victoria and Albert Museum, offers a wealth of background on techniques from big knitting and knitting in rounds, to wrapping, coiling, and twining. Plus: dozens of colour photographs provide powerful inspiration for adventurous knitters." (Library Catalogue)

Scrapbooking sports: celebrating your family's sports adventures by Kerry Arquette & Andrea Zocchi.
"Whether it's a picture of a child's sports tournament or a photograph of a World Series showdown, show off your treasured snaps in an exciting scrapbook. With these super ideas for displaying everything from action shots and athletes' portraits to memorabilia, sports fans can jump right on in and get creative. Eye-catching layouts show how to commemorate a game's high points and play with football, baseball and basketball images or how to capture the thrill of tennis, gymnastics and martial arts. Plus, try the fun suggestions for getting wet and wild with photographs of various water sports - even snorkelling and scuba diving." (Amazon UK)

Easy to crochet cute clothes for kids: a gorgeous collection of 25 quick and easy designs, Sue Whiting.

Scrapbooking techniques: sewing on paper, by Catherine Matthews-Scanlon.

Special family knits: 25 hand knits for all seasons, by Debbie Bliss.

Positively crochet!, by Mary Jane Hall.

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