A Craftsman's Legacy

A Craftsman's Legacy by Eric Gorges, 245 pages

In much of the developed world where work centers around computer screens, this is a refreshing examination of artisans who use their hands to make things. The book's chapters are theme-titled but several of them focus on a particular artisan and their craft: a potter, furniture maker, stone carver, glassblower, calligrapher, etc. The author's own biography is creatively interwoven throughout: he worked in the tech industry, developed mental health issues which were relieved as he became a motorcycle maker. Having experienced skilled mechanics and carpenters myself I've often thought that it takes as much smarts to be a good artisan as academic, business leader or politician and this book fed that conviction. I highly recommend it if you need a break, like I did, from disembodied concepts, ideas and screens. It is likely to increase your appreciation for artisans and to inspire you to rub your hands before heading toward a work of your own.

Creative Crafts for Kids Valentine Crafts

Creative Crafts for Kids Valentine Crafts by Greta Speechley      Hardback  Book:  32 pages                

Well, first of all, the crafts in this book were unattractive.  Having said that, I also have to say that the labor involved was way over the heads of little kids and the age level the skills required to manage the instructions for wouldn’t be interested in doing the crafts involved.   I give the author props for trying but this book Is not a winner.  There is a nice recipe for making a cookie at the end which sort of helps but the crafts were ugly and not something you would want to make.   That sounds so mean, but, it is true.    I would not recommend this book and I really like Valentine’s Day projects as a rule, just not any of these.

 - Shirley J

Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas

Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas: Crafts, Decorating Tips, and Recipes, 1920s-1960s by Susan Waggoner         Hardback Book: 144 pages                 Genre:  Adult Non-Fiction    Historical Times and the Christmas decorations, crafts and recipes for cookies and more of each decade from the 1920s-the 1960s

Great book, my memories of being a tiny child and watching the bubble lights on the Christmas tree, my brothers Lionel locomotive trains on their tracks circling the tree and taking up a lot of the floor in the living room at Christmas, all the fun and memories of decorations (that sticky angel hair – spun fiberglass), spray on snow,  tinsel,  trade-offs between topping the tree with either Santa, an angel or a star.    I loved this book, it brought back so many great memories of good times.    Susan Waggoner not only gives you a brief history lesson of what was happening at the time during each decade, but, she explains why the particular materials were used to make the Christmas memorabilia we associate different points in our lives (if you are of this vintage).    I learned a lot of the whys behind so many things that it was a real treat to get a better understanding of things I had previously taken for granted.   She even includes directions on how to make some of the vintage decorations, she also offers art of the holidays from the various decades many I remember that the reader can scan and use to make your own vintage Christmas crafts.   A really fun book here and oh, yes, there are loads of Christmas sweets recipes to delight your taste buds and take you  back to gentler times when all the responsibilities in life were handled by somebody else and you got to dream about what prezzies you hoped Santa would bring you.   For young folks there are wonderful retro itmes to be found here.    I smiled all the way through reading this book and I plan to put many of the ideas and reminders I came across to use in the upcoming holidays this year.   Thank you Susan Waggoner for taking me back through some of the most fun things from my childhood.   I highly recommend this book to all babyboomers and retro lovers, and everyone who remembers Christmas at Grandmas or wish they did.   Well done.

 - Shirley J.

Craft-Fulness: Mend Yourself By Making Things

Craft-Fulness: Mend Yourself By Making Things by Rosemary Davidson and Arzu Tahsin        Audio book:  4 hrs, 30 min       Hardback Book: 208 pages           

I liked this book.   I’m reading a lot of books on positive psychology lately, and this one goes hand in hand with that school of thought.   For years psychologists have studied what makes people sad, but, these ladies along with other writers you will be hearing about as soon as I get their blogs done,   are now studying how being happy not only is about lifting one’s spirits but also about lifting one’s general attitude about their work – happy people are more productive – they love their jobs and are willing to put in extra time on them just because they like doing what they do, homelife is ever so much better when people are happy – they go home happy and excited to be with their spouses,kids,parents/siblings, pets, friends/roommates and are far more fun in their interactions.    Ms. Davidson and Ms. Tahsin have observed how soothing it is for the brain to do crafts.  Whether it is knitting, crocheting, painting, writing, making pottery, whatever your fancy is, it relaxes one so much to follow that passion for creating something new that stress, anxiety, anger, pretty much all negativity melts when you lose yourself in creativity and crafting something.    It has been proven that regardless of which side of your brain you are using your special skill(s) to complete your vision, be it wood working or furniture making with lots of mathematical measurements (left brain) or whether you are recalling people and places from your past to give new life as different characters in the mystery novel you are writing (right brain), that sector of your brain will grow larger.    This book dispels the myth that older people cannot learn new things.   As long s there is breath in your body you can always learn a new thing.    The book discusses therapies going on with Alzheimer patients, teaching them to make music, draw, do collages of cut-outs from magazines, to enjoy the feel of clay as they form it in their hands into whatever lovely thing they want to or to enjoy the feel of the earth in nurturing plants, and the joy that is evident from the satisfaction on their faces.  Veterans suffering from PTSD (Post  Trauma Stress Disorder) who find making crafts calming to the anxiety they can get away from for a while as they let their imaginations run free and work through tragic memories that hound them unmercifully, yet, leave them stress-free while they are committed to weaving or other hands-on projects they immerse themselves in as they get in touch with their deeper selves on a lighter mental plane where happiness and joy replace harsh triggers setting them off.    Exercising self-expression is a balm to the soul and has been found ever so often to be a better medicine for healing than pharmaceuticals could ever be.    It is a precious release for those diagnosed with mental issues to work through what is plaguing them to find release to soar above what binds them to express the good and the bad and put the hurt outside of themselves where they can see it and deal with the now tangible problem in order to begin dealing with it and releasing its hold on them.     Introverts who often feel invisible to society because they aren’t of a boisterous turn overtly expressing themselves can find expression of who they are by following their preferred muse.    This book is about crafts and crafting but also about the release of one’s spirit in thinking outside the box and running with the play and the fun of the enjoyment of doing something wonderful that is all theirs like a sacred gift they give to themselves and then share with the world.    The book starts off a little slow at first  but then like floating through water drifting along on your back lightly using your hands to manipulate your way to other places  you find you are carried away to another plateau entirely where your thoughts can drift freely.   This is obviously not just a crafting book but a journey into the mindfulness and neuroscience of all the peaceful serenity crafting can bring you.   They liken crafting to meditation and I can see the connection.   Good book, give it a chance, it gets better after that slow start and it has a lot of wisdom to share.  

 - Shirley J

Zakka Handmades

Zakka Handmades: 24 Projects Sewn from Natural Fabrics to Help Organize, Adorn, and Simplify Your Life  By Amy Morinaka       Paperback Book: 128 pages     

This is a how-to make small household items, and gifts that are great for organizing, simplifying chores and great gift items in the Japanese style of crafting.    Author Amy Morinaka was born in and grew up in Japan but now lives in California with her husband, Ben and their 2 daughters.    By day Amy is an accountant but by every free moment she is a crafter of Zakka items.    Zakka is a Japanese term for items that are small but useful in helping to simplify and organize.   Things that are very simple to make from bits of material, easily found among scrap bits of materials.    The items are functional and so cute.   Here in the States we would likely call them country crafts things sewn from calico, gingham, etc. here, but linen and other natural fabrics in Japan.   Such cute things and such clever ideas.   Like making this little carrier to take silverware from the drawer it is stored in to the kitchen or dining room table and back,  really cute little baby shoes that are reversible,  baby teething rings, rice eye pillows to ease and rest the eyes after a stressful day, which actually seem like they would be heavenly and relaxing.     She has one craft project that makes a fabric bucket to hold items such as yarn or they would make terrific cat or dog toy holders, even baby toy holders along with the buckets, she also has a name tag holder project that looks really cool attached to the bucket so when you store it you can see by the tag what is in it.   She has a cute nesting dolls project to use as a key fob cover to keep your keys from scratching your cellphone or any other thing you would not want scratched inside your purse,  and the cutest little coaster she calls a mug rug to sit your coffee/tea/hot chocolate mug on.    She also has Sashiko style coasters that crafters can draw designs on for that personal touch, then,  hand stitch them for that added element of true from the heart looks like something lovely made with the skills of a real person not one of a thousand punched out by a machine giving the appearance of something lovely created like folks once did, by hand.   An art that should never be lost.    I especially like the Insulated Bento lunch bag, too.   Insulated with fabric and it works!   I’ve seen people carrying them in films and documentaries but here Amy Morinaka shows you how to make your own.    So clever this lady, and knowing my lack of skills, she gives clever and beautiful ideas for totally useable items in easy to understand and follow directions.   I am no sewer, I like making crafts, but, my skillset requires that it be as simple and easy as it possibly can and Amy offers crafting projects that even I can do.   Cheers for Amy Morinaka!  Loved this book.    I recommend it very highly to anyone looking for a hobby that makes it look like you are amazingly skilled when Amy lays everything out so understandly that anyone can become a Zakka master where Amy does everything but make it for you.    Big  WOO WOO! To Amy Morinaka for her book.

 - Shirley J.

Totally Awesome Rubber Band Jewelry

Totally Awesome Rubber Band Jewelry by Colleen Dorsey         Paperback Book:  48 pages         

I saw this title while looking for something else and requested it thinking, that sounds cool.   I am always looking for fun, simple and inexpensive crafting ideas to do stuff with the kids in the family and I thought wow, crafting with rubberbands.   I have done a little of that in the past when I taught pre-school so I thought it would be fun to learn some new rubberband crafts to learn how to do and file in my cache of fun stuff to do when the kids are over.    I was a little disappointed with this book.    The jewelry designs are clever and cute my two priorities when crafting.  The thing I found disappointing was that you can’t just do it with a big pile of rainbow colored rubberbands, you need a loom to complete them.    I like making art out of simple, let’s grab a couple of thing and beging but this entales having to come up with a loom or if working with a bunch of little ones you almost need one for everybody as patience for waiting turns is not the strong suit as everyone including me want to start creating immediately and not have to stand in line.   That sucks.   So, while I give kudos to the subject, I give boo! Dos to the implementation part.    Seems to add an unnecessary step and true it is not a major step, these looms, they mention 3 different ones to get for various projects, aren’t that hard to get but when you are in the mood for a pick up and go project it Is just off-putting to have to get something in order to do what seemed like a one-step project.    The items they demonstrate making are cute and look fun, but like I said, I like the grab and go projects not having to do a lot of set up, just pull together your crafting supplies and begin.   So, yes on the designs but no on the not having immediate gratification without making a trip to a craft or toy store first.   In hind-sight I would have passed on this book for the extra step of having to acquire equipment rather than just being able to do the project on its own.   I would recommend this book only with the caveat that you need to buy something else to make it work. 

- Shirley J.

500 Treasured Country Recipes from Martha Storey and Friends

500 Treasured Country Recipes from Martha Storey and Friends: Mouthwatering, Time-Honored, Tried and True, Handed- Down, Soul Satisfying Dishes by Martha Storey          E-Book  544 pages

WOW!   I was totally blown away by this all encompassing, comprehensive book that I thought was a cool sounding cookbook but it is so much more than that.   Think Martha Stewart know-how on steroids.   It is like a home economics class, with a country hands on do-it yourself course with a cooking in the kitchen with your grandmother course all rolled into one.   This book truly earns the description – amazing.    Not only are the recipes you will find here Iron Chef quality, but, you will also learn how to scale and carve fish, prepare wild game meats, make beer, wine, how to bake bread from the yeast up, omgosh!    So much information here and finally a cookbook that explains not just every cooking term a person will encounter, but, every implement you might possibly use in a lifetime of cooking, not just the normal utensils but from normal to Chef, Gordon Ramsay cooking accoutrements.    It teaches you step-by-step how to set up and plant your own garden, spring, summer, fall and holds your hand and walks you through making homemade pickles, even your own green products for self or gifting from making your own counter and cabinet cleansers to scented essential oil gifts to give.   Also food gifts, how to make your own jellies, ciders, ad infinitum to crafting gifts, soaps, votives, etc. decorative crafts creating your own beautiful wreaths from simple grapevines wound together with shorter left over pieces to use as decorative rings.    It is a cornucopia for all things home.   I was salivating so over the recipes, let me tell you my stomach started to growl and I wasn’t even hungry!   They just sound so good you can picture the resulting phenomenal meal you can put together and wish you had immediately in front of you so you could dig in.    I like to check out cook books, and over the years my staples were Good Housekeeping which was given to me by a dear friend many years ago and of Betty Crocker who has been the go to for generations but, Sorry GH and BC – this Cookbook Course covers everything including how to sew your own tote bag!     Everyone should own this book – it is something everyone who enjoys cooking, crafting, urban gardening on a large scale (backyard) or small scale (herbs in pots in your windowsill) creating/inventing should own.    I cannot recommend this book highly enough it is truly AWESOME in the utmost definition of that word.    I can see why there are so many of Martha’s Friends involved because each section of the book is so deeply instructive that everyone bringing their passion and specialty to the table or to the editor so to speak, makes this a goldmine of quality information on so many topics that the title, while absolutely true still doesn’t mention everything you will learn from this gem of a book.     After this read you will feel you’ve had a semester at Harvard.  I’m not kidding!

Candy Aisle Crafts

Candy Aisle Crafts by Jodi Levine           Paperback:  112 pages    

Who knew you could do so many things with gummy candy and marshmallows!   Lollipops, cupcakes, cute little animal creations, cookies, cake decorations, hot chocolate monogramming, even edible jewelry!   I read this book from cover to cover.   I especially like how she teaches you how to make bowls from peppermint candies and the adorable animals, candle holders and cereal houses this gal comes up with are inspiring they make you want to let your own creative juices start flowing and whipping out your own unique goodies.    Candy stained glass windows are awesome looking and extremely easy to make.    I will never look at a gumdrop without thinking of at least 10 things I could use it to make.     Well done, Jodi Levine, thanks for the great ideas!