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.

10 Awesome Miniature Craft Tutorials

Love minis? Personally, I am obsessed with them. It was a dark day indeed (er, financially speaking) when I first discovered Re-Ments.
However! Buying miniatures is not the only way to get your fix of tiny goodness. I've scoured the whooooole internet and BEYOND, and here are some of my favorite tiny tutorials.

Photo copyright 2008 Lesley Shepherd

1. 3" Hippo. Do I really need to say more? Well, yes. Here's a tutorial to make your own miniature felt hippo.

2. This tiny accordian book tutorial from Something Monumental is too cute!

3. These miniature patchwork pincushions are too cute! Thank you, Purlbee!

4. Photojojo has a neat tutorial on how to make photos that only look like they're miniatures.

Photo by Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.

5. Want to learn how to make tiny edible cupcakes that you can then place on real cupcakes, thus taking the joy of cupcakes to THE NEXT LEVEL? Of course you do. Tutorial (and super cute photos) on Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.

6. This video (Which I would have embedded, but that's been disabled.) on how to make miniature caned candies is amazing. (Cue Huell Howser voice!)

7. Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the September '10 issue of Craft Leftovers. (AKA my favorite issue, ever.) It's devoted to miniature crafting! There are tutorials on how to make mini chocolate cheesecakes, a miniature quilt, and more. Like the tutorial I wrote on how to make a mini garland:



8. How to make tiny paper flowers. This post is formatted weirdly, but the tiny daffodil tutorial at the end is incredible.

9. This Miniature Cigarette Box Theater is so wonderfully curious.

10. Finally, because I can't seem to get enough of tiny papercrafts and tiny animals, here's another Cut Out & Keep tutorial on how to make Miniature Origami Turtles:

See Miniature Origami Turtles and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep

Happy (tiny) crafting!

DIY Dollhouses

I'm just a little obsessed with tiny environments. Blame my upbringing chock full of make believe and books like Hitty: Her First Hundred Years.
A chance clicking on Flickr led me to the most amazing diy dollhouse ever. She turned an Ikea bookcase (bought 2nd hand, on Ebay!) into a retro manner. It's still a work in progress, she says...but wow, is it ever an inspiration.

Bedtime for Daphne
Originally uploaded by @lollipop@

You can check out the whole set here. That colorful room divider/curtain thing? Handmade, baby.
Added bonus: it makes my Re-Ment addiction seem like nothing. A great thing to show the husband when the tiny boxes start showing up again...
I'm thinking the new house needs a dedicated dolly bookshelf. I've actually started one. It isn't nearly done yet, but you can see the very beginnings of it on my flickr.
Check out this room made from vintage and new miniatures:
It's from a blog called Call of the Small. Love that!
Here's a blog post that has the most wonderful tiny wall paper. (And windowsill! And tiny plants!)

Re-Ment Chateau #7
Originally uploaded by pbrigitte zombuki

One more Flickr find:

Doll house - the living room is almost finished
Originally uploaded by lilolOops

Wow.
So. Seen any good dollhouses lately? Obsessed minds want to know!