Crafty Book Review and Giveaway- Crafting With Cat Hair by Kaori Tsutaya

****PLEASE NOTE: The contest has been won! Hooray! No more comments on this post, please. :) ****

Want to win a copy of this lovely book? Read on!
[caption id="attachment_3443" align="aligncenter" width="540" caption="Crafting With Cat Hair"][/caption]
In the States, cat hair is generally regarded as pesky garbage, something we just want to get rid of. That's why I did a double take when Quirk Books contacted me about reviewing one of their latest offerings, Crafting With Cat Hair. The what now?
This was something too delightfully odd to pass up. Crafting With Cat hair was originally printed in Japan back in 2009. It's written by Kaori Tsutaya, and translated by Amy Hirschman.
But! Alas, I have no cats. What I do have are two pugs who shed like they're trying to make life size replicas of themselves. Clearly, they want to get crafty.
Do these crafts work with pug hair? Inquiring minds need to know!

The book is adorable. It's a nice square format with lovely thick glossy pages. It even smells like Japan! (Okay, it smells like books from Japan. Of which I have several. Japan itself smells like rain, concrete, cigarettes and cute, at least in my memory of being there. But I digress.)
Packed into the 90+ pages are: lots of really cute photos, multiple tip pages on crafting with cat hair and living with cats, and 10 projects. Most of the projects fall into the needle felting category.

So, onto the projects! I decided to try my hand at making a portrait. I've done some needle felting in my day, so I was up to the challenge. Plus, I was a little peeved at one of the pugs for some recent bad behavior. Let the stabbing commence!

And so, I stabbed the pug hair. And stabbed. And stabbed. And stabbed. Pug hair began to spread everywhere. More stabbing. More trying to compress pug hair into a shape. Ergh. Stab stab stab.
Okay. So it turns out that pug hair is FUNDAMENTALLY different than cat hair. Like everything else that is pug, it is STUBBORN. And I simply couldn't get it to felt. Ooops. Well, I tried.
There you have it. You can felt with cat hair, and (I have heard) bunny hair, but pug hair simply won't cooperate. Typical!

So! Crafty people! How would you like a copy of this lovely book? Leave me a comment below, and I will pick a winner by random Thursday the 20th.

*Want extra chances to win? Okay, we can do that.
Leave another comment if you do any of the following:
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Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon:

Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat

Crafty Book Review - Microcrafts - Tiny Treasures to Make and Share

The good people of Quirk Books contacted me, asking if I would like to review Microcrafts, one of their latest crafty books.
A book devoted to making itty bitty crafts? Oh yes, I would.

Microcrafts - Tiny Treasures to Make and Share features 25 projects by 17 different authors. (For ease of looking it up, it is compiled by Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, and Katie Hatz.) In other words, there is a wide variety to the projects. Everything from tiny bird feeders to hang on tiny trees to baby monsters to tuck into little spaces. Sewing, paper crafts and model making are just a few of the techniques you'll encounter. Many of the projects feature ideas for spin off projects. All the directions are clearly laid out, and a few of the projects even offer template downloads. The book itself is hardcover with lovely glossy pages, all beautifully laid out.

(photo from the book, by Steve Belkowitz)

But what does one DO with all of these tiny things? The authors thought of that, and include a bunch of ideas for how to use these cuties in the back of the book. There are also nicely illustrated sewing techniques, tips on making tiny patterns, and all sorts of resource information.

(another photo from the book, again by Steve Belkowitz)

Picking out a project to sample was tricky. (The tiny candy charms? The perfect mini books? Oh man, the little taxidermedied deer heads...) I settled on the little owls. My baby owl went together without a hitch:

She's only 1.5" tall! (That's 3.8 cm!) Perfect for tucking into a card or onto a gift to make it even more special. (Bonus: this guy went together FAST, and all with scraps. Nice!)
I'm inspired to try out more of the projects from this book.
Bottom line, if you enjoy tiny things and the making of them, by all means pick up this book. Oh look, here it is on Amazon:

Microcrafts - Tiny Treasures to Make and Share by Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, Katie Hatz and Friends

Why yes, I AM that shameless.

Crafty Book Review – Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures

I recently* picked up a copy of Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule of SouleMama fame. This book is a total delight!
I loved that this book focused on reusing fabric. There were several projects that called for used clothing, which is a really neat way to preserve memories, I think. (I know I'll be saving and crafting with some of my baby's finest.)
This book really opened my eyes to different sorts of projects, and the idea of sewing useful things for the home. Before reading this book, I'd really only focused on sewing plushies. But once I got started making useful things, I was hooked. Our house is steadily becoming filled with handmade textile goodies. It's really oddly satisfying.

There are tons of projects to try, especially if you have little ones to craft for. If not, there's still plenty to keep you busy. It's a huge project, but I'm dying to try my hand at making a rag rug, as laid out on page 39.
There's a wide variety of projects, and nearly all of them useful.

Check it out on Amazon, where you can peek inside:

*Ahem. Okay, by "recently", apparently I mean February. Because that is when this post began. Somehow**, it never got posted until now.

**This is probably how:

Crafty Book Review - Perfectly Fitted

I snagged Perfectly Fitted by Lynne Garner from the local library recently. The tagline is "Creating personalized patterns for a limitless wardrobe". Sounds brilliant! Truth be told, I had some illusions about having enough time to actually make some patterns from the book. Alas, that did not actually happen. (4 month olds don't exactly leave one a whole lot of sewing time, alas. Or reading time. Or sleeping time.)
HOWEVER!
This book is awesome, and is going straight to the top of my "Actually Buy This" list. Perfectly Fitted manages to be both attractive and really informative. It covers the basics of garment construction in a step by step fashion, with plenty of clear color photos. They make it look a whole lot less daunting. What's most appealing to me is the section on draping. I hadn't heard of draping before picking up this book, but it's revolutionized my Chickenpants sewing. Draping is making patterns with muslin by, well, draping the fabric on the body. This makes so much more sense to me than paper patterns.
Previously, when making couture Chickenpants, I'd try to make a paper pattern first. I could eventually get what I wanted done, but it took forever, and many alterations were required. Now, I drape. It is so much faster and easier! And the finished results look nicer. Check out this recently finished guy:

Check out that tiny suit! All hand stitched, and all without a headache. Hooray!
But I digress.
If you're looking to make actual human lady clothes, this book is an amazing resource. It takes you step by step all the way from measuring to sewing up clothes. It includes a gallery of things to make with your fabric pattern blocks. (Shirts! Skirts! Pants! Dresses!) With this book, a handful of notions, and a bunch of fabric, one could create a fantastic wardrobe.
Bottom line: if you're looking to start making your own patterns and/or clothes, check out this book first!

Crafty Book Review - Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts: Basic Techniques for Sewing, Applique, Embroidery, Quilting, Dyeing, and Printing, plus 150 Inspired Projects from A to Z

When I first saw this book, I actually had no intention of buying it. For some reason, the idea of an encyclopedia of crafts just left me cold. What would it be, an a-z listing of various mediums?
(A - applique...B- beading. C- Crochet)
I don't know, it just sounded dull.

Boy, was I wrong. First of all, although it is set up in alphabetical order, the book is rife with the unexpected. (B is in fact for beading...beading flowers! And bugs!) The book is a nearly endless supply of ideas and inspiration.
Each chapter begins with a beautifully photographed step-by-step lesson on how to do said skill. Then a bunch of projects follow, generally accompanied by one or two photos and a brief how-to paragraph.
(Which crafts made it into the XYZ slots, you ask? The editors adorably sidestep the issue by assigning all the indexes back there. Cute!)

I'm not sure if any of the projects are original to the book. I recognized a lot from past issues of the magazine. However, I recognized these projects mainly because I have a habit of tearing out said projects, "filing*" them away, and never seeing them again. Having them together in a book is fantastic! They're easy to find, and therefore much more likely to actually get made. Hooray!

One more thing to note: This book is HEAVY. It is literally a tome. If you're resting the book on a table, it's fine, and the pages tend to lie nice and flat. If you're cuddled up on the couch, however, grab some manner of support pillow. You're going to need it.



*filing= stuffing into binders or folders in no particular order

Crafty Book Review - Simple Sewing for Baby by Lotta Jansdotter

Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby: 24 Easy Projects for Newborns to Toddlers

Many, many, many years ago, I came across a Lotta Jansdotter book in Japan. I was instantly smitten with her simple, striking designs. Now, many many many years later, it's easy to come by her textiles and hooray! her books. With a little one on the way, I knew I had to have her Simple Sewing for Baby.

I really resonated with her introduction. Here was a designer/crafter who understood my own strange design sensibilities. (And general reluctance to spend an arm and a leg on things that were just going to get baby puke and poo all over them.)

There's a wide range of practical and fun patterns. (Simple pants! Toys! Nursing pillow! Bookends! Wait, what?) The photos of the finished projects are lovely. The patterns are printed on nice white paper, not that nasty tear prone brown stuff. There are even cardstock stencils included.

However, a caveat: the illustrations in said patterns are few and far between. For a visual learner like myself, this translates to TORTURE. Or at least it did on the crib bumper tutorial. Making that bumper was one of the more unpleasant things I've done recently. (And at the time of writing this, I am 32 WEEKS PREGNANT. So that should give you some idea of scale.) But I did get it DONE, and hey, it's pretty cute.

If you're not afraid to get in there and figure out a way to make the patterns make sense to you, go for this book. (Or if written descriptions of what to do work for you. You know, if you have a brain that works properly.) Most of the projects are simple enough that you can sort of figure them out just by looking at them, anyway. At the very least, it opened up my eyes to what it was possible to make for baby. That alone has been invaluable!

Library Book Review - The Pioneer Woman Cooks

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

Y'all. Can I refer to you as "y'all"? After reading this book, it feels appropriate.
*ahem*
Y'all, as a card carrying, long term (18 + years...ouch!) vegetarian, I have to admit...I love this book.
Yes, it is mostly meaty recipes. Yes, I can cook basically nothing in here.
But if you buy into the line that cookbooks are basically fairy tales for grownups, you might just love this cookbook, too.
Each recipe in this book is generously speckled with lovely step by step photos, and pretty darn amusing directions. Ree Drummond, the author, is just plain adorable. Do you read her blog? You totally should. It's great.
There are also tons of gorgeous photos of her life on the ranch. I can't resist photos of cows, but then again, I live waaay out in the country myself, so I may be a *tad* biased.
Okay, so bottom line: health conscious? Vegetarian friendly? Nah.
Probably very, very delicious though. (I would tell you for sure, but you know, vegetarian.)
I did try a few of the recipes, though. The Hot Artichoke dip won over a roomful of dieting aunties. And holy cow, did it make a good spread for grilled cheese sandwiches the next day.
If you get a chance, by all means pick this book up!

Crafty Book Review - Sewing Bits and Pieces

Wiley Publishers Sewing Bits & Pieces

I think I've mentioned before my affinity for using up tiny scraps of fabric. That's why I was so excited to find Sandi Henderson's book Sewing Bits and Pieces. It shows you some truly interesting ways to use up gorgeous fabric scraps. Because sometimes a fat quarter is just a distant memory.

The directions are easy to follow, and are accompanied by plenty of clear illustrations. The projects range from enhancing existing things (tablecloths, sweaters...) to making something entirely new. The cover says there are 35 projects, but it honestly seems like more. There are projects for every room of the house.

If you're in the market for a book that will open your eyes to new possibilities for your scrap stash, by all means check this one out.

Library Book Review - Ignore Everybody

Ignore Everybody! And 39 other KEYS TO CREATIVITY! Why, I like ignoring people! And being more creative! Look, there's even a sketch of a guy with an axe on the cover.
Naturally, I picked this book up. I found this tiny tome sitting on the New Releases shelf of my local library during a recent-ish run. (Yeah, it was released in 2009. And it's nearly 2011. No matter.)

The book is divided into 40 tiny chapters. Each one is only a few pages long and gets right to the point. It's interesting, but very confrontational. This is not another feel-good artsy-fartsy woo-woo book. But there are plenty of those I've already read. Quite frankly, some of it annoyed me.

While I didn't agree with everything written, this book really made me think. Nearly every chapter was provocative, and very good at making you question your business/craft. Needless to say, that also makes this a very slow read, at least for me. Having to stop every few pages to stare into space and think can do that to you. Not that being made to think is in any way a bad thing.

Ignore Everybody started out as a blog post, and swelled out from there. What's really cool is that you can read the first 12 chapters on Gapingvoid's blog. I love that you can see if it resonates with you first.

If you're looking for a book that will make you question the way you're doing things and what you're creating, by all means pick this one up.

Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity

Crafty Book Review - One Yard Wonders

One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric!

First off, let me just say that I do not have a fabric "problem". I have a fabric "situation". In my fabric stash, there is very little that measures over a yard. Working on Chickenpants and the like calls for much tinier pieces of material. As a result, I have tons of small-ish stacks of fabric. That's why I was so thrilled to find One Yard Wonders at the local bookstore.
101 sewing projects you can make with one yard or less? Sign me up!
The projects fall into a wide range of categories. Everything from clothes for adults to fabric organizers for your office. (To organize paper, not more fabric. Although you could.) Many of the projects were things I hadn't even thought to sew. (A CD sleeve for the car? Oh sure, it sounds obvious now...) This book got me inspired to look around my surroundings and start imagining ways I could sew a solution.
The directions are easy to follow, even for a non-direction-follower like myself. Many of the projects have illustrations and cutting layouts to help you through the process. The book also comes with a thick sheaf of patterns, tidily tucked in a pocket.
The book is gorgeous to look at, too. Scanned in fabric trims the edge of nearly every page, giving an effect not unlike staring dreamily at your own fabric stash.
If you find yourself in a situation similar to mine (or if you simply enjoy quick, inexpensive, useful projects), give this book a try!

Crafty Book Review - Creating a Meaningful Home

Crafting a Meaningful Home: 27 DIY Projects to Tell Stories, Hold Memories, and Celebrate Family Heritage

Okay, first of all: the photos will make you swoon. This book is simply gorgeous. The design is sleek and modern. (Should we expect anything else from Ms. Mateo Ilasco?)

Each project is prefaced by a quick essay about the background of the artist who made said project. It's interesting to learn about the person who came up with the piece. Each essay is quick, and pleasant to read. Those familiar with the hipster craft scene will notice that this book is basically a who's who of crafters who are hipper than you and I will ever be (Or at least hipper than I will ever be. You might be quite the hipness, in which case, go you!) Getting a chance to peek inside their homes is interesting, though. (And possibly envy-inducing. They're great modern decorators, natch!)

That said, most of the projects didn't really resonate with me. I guess I'm too white/not hip enough for most of them. This is NOT a run of the mill craft book. Many of the projects require specialized equipment. (wood burning kits, screen printing kits, liquid latex, etc etc etc.) The projects are often very involved. It takes a bold crafter/diy-er to tackle some of these puppies.

If you're looking for another simple crafting book, this is not it. If you're looking for creative challenges, and a chance to try new techniques and make unusual items, you'll probably love this book.
Either way, appreciate it for what it is: a gorgeous, unique glimpse of crafty hipsters doin' their thing.

Library Book Review - Quick Vegetarian Pleasures

I am a huge fan of libraries. Even my local ones, which are generally sad, under-funded affairs. No matter! There are still gems to be found, if you're willing to spend a little time cruising the racks. (And I am.)

Today's gem is Quick Vegetarian Pleasures: More than 175 Fast, Delicious, and Healthy Meatless Recipes by Jeanne Lemlin. Talk about a diamond in the rough! The copy I picked up had a huge tear in it's cover, and food stains everywhere. It was grubby, to say the least. Fortunately, with cookbooks that's sort of a good sign. (Sort of. It's a better sign if you know where the stains came from. But I digress.)

I didn't expect much out of this oldie (1992!), but wow. It's fantastic! Very nearly every recipe I tried turned out great. Great as in worth putting into the regular rotation. Great as in fast, too.

Some favorites are the Corn Chowder (savory!) and the Vegetable Gratin, which has an almost tuna noodle casserole thing going for it. In a really good way.

The Breads, Muffins, Etc. section is full of great stuff. Quite frankly, I am a terrible baker. I enjoy it, but most of what I bake bears more resemblance to doorstops than actual edible goodness. However! Somehow, the recipes I've tried from the section have all turned out great. Is it the magic of 1992 coursing through the book? (Hmmm...that is the year I decided to go vegetarian...)

So, in summation, if you see a grimy old copy of Quick Vegetarian Pleasures, pick it up! (And probably apply hand sanitizer. Who knows where that book has been?)

And if you can't find it at your own local library,


Amazon's got your back. (Look! No rips, tears or food stains! Score!)

Crafty Book Review - Embroidery Companion

Embroidery Companion: Classic Designs for Modern Living

I've been a fan of Ms. Paulson's adorable blog for years. (How could I not? Corgis! Crafts! Cakes!) So I was thrilled to see that she had a new book out, and about one of my favorite topics, no less.

The photography is simply gorgeous, and the pages are a lovely weight. Seriously. If you're into that sort of thing, you'll notice that this book just feels dreamy to hold. It is, quite frankly, a beautiful book. If you enjoy the art of embroidery, you should probably just get it. It's gorgeous to look at, and would be very much at home on a coffee table.
There aren't a ton of projects, but what's there is top notch, and full of illustrated directions to help you along. There's a good variety among the projects too. A little something for everyone. It's not just traditional embroidery, but counted cross stitch and crewelwork as well.
But, can I confess something? The country time quilt is what won me over. Good grief, that is some cute stuff. (Page 31. Prepare to have your farmy socks knocked clean off.)

Check it out in detail here: Embroidery Companion: Classic Designs for Modern Living

(and why yes, that is an amazon associates link. i have to support my habit somehow. ^_^ )