Are you having a fun Summer? Have you run out of ideas to do with your kids? Here are four amazing craft books you must have on hand...
1- Felt & Fur by Emma Herian
Get ready to make some super-soft, cuddly creations! Suitable for beginners and requiring very few tools Emma Herian's new book Felt & Fur Features 20 whimsical and wonderful projects to sew. Featuring a fariy-tale toadstool, the most adorable sloth, a colourful iced doughnut and a lovable llama-and many others-these curry and felted projects are an ideal combination for some enjoable and relaxing crafting time.
These plushies are unique modern spins on what a soft toy or cushion can be and with such snazzy and eclectic designs you're bound to have as mch fun making them as you will enjoying the finished creation. Each project is made using a wide selection of readily available and affordable ultra-cosy fabrics. A detailed tools and materials section, plus techniques and templates, will cover all the basics you will need to complete these cuddly designs.
About the author:
Emma Herian has been creative ever since she leanred to knit on two pencils at school. Having studied ceramics and plastics at Brighton University, UK, she went on to work for a furniture design company in London. Emma's needle felting work evolved when she was asked to teach the craft at a workshop. Learning about the craft itself first took her love of making in a whole new direction. Emma has written features for Making magazine, and her work was featured on Channel 4's Kirstie's Handmade Christmas.
In my opinon:
Okay, so I'm not a sewer but this book had it all. I loved that Emma included information and guidance on the tools and materials you'll need. I loved the techniques section because I'm definitely a newbie. Some of my favorites are peas on a pod, sushi and of course the unicorn. Emma did a fabulous job including pictures, templates and tips.
2-Stitch by Amy Burt
About:
The magic of embroidery is that it can transform something ordinary into something extraordinary. Armed with just a needle and thread, this book, and a little imagination, there is no limit to the fun you can have transforming clothes, accessories and homewares. These inspiring designs can be applied to just about anything and cover a range of ability levels. Each project is clearly explained with step-by-step text, photographs and templates. All the necessary information on tools, materials and techniques is included too. So it’s super easy to give your home and wardrobe a quirky and stylish boost.
About the author:
Amy Burt is a full-time embroiderer who teaches at the Royal School of Needlework. In 2018, Amy’s embroidery of ‘The Young Stevie Nicks’ was chosen from over 20,000 entries to be displayed in London during the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts 250th Summer Exhibition curated by Grayson Perry RA. Amy also works as a freelance embroiderer in the fashion industry. She is a senior embroiderer at the British Haute Couture fashion house Ralph & Russo. She lives in East London.
In my opinion:
It is true when Amy said, "Traditional hand embroidery has been used for centuries as a means of expression, but it often evokes images that are old-fashioned and stuffy and these stereotypes can be hard to shake off." In Stitch, Amy shares 20 different projects for beginners (thank goodness). There were ranges of difficulty so if you do have experience, you will find a few projects as well. I loved how she had steps as well as photos. I think my favorite was the Cacti Cushion since I live in Arizona and the Tropical Tote Bag looked pretty easy. Overall, there were many fun and unique projects one can complete.
3-Cute Crocheted Woodland Creatures by Emma Varnam
About:
Immerse yourself in a magical woodland with these exciting crocheted critters! Featuring 10 charming animals to make, you’ll find it tricky to choose who to make first! From a mischievous raccoon to a friendly fox and a wise owl, these projects will make ideal gifts and also include crocheted accessories that can be shared between the woodland friends. A comprehensive techniques section, accompanied by detailed patterns will provide all the information you need. The stylish photography will inspire you to create your own woodland menagerie!
About the author:
Inspired by the imagination of children, Emma Varnam likes to make items that bring a smile. She has written a number of popular crochet books—including Granny Squares Home, Crocheted Keyrings & Charms, Cute Crocheted Animals and How to Crochet, all published by GMC Publications. Emma lives in Greater Manchester, UK.
In my opinion:
Again, I'm a beginner on crochet but this book was adorable! I admire Emma's ambition to design toys that people will enjoy making and that their children will adore. Each woodland creature had a name which I loved and they had little outfits as well. My favorite animal was Humphrey Hedgehog. He was adorable. I would love an online course to crochet these adorable little creatures. I'm a visual learner so it would be nice to have someone teach me how to do it.
4-Crocheted Animal Rugs by Vanessa Mooncie
About:
Everyone will go wild for these gorgeous crocheted animal rugs. Adults and children alike will adore these beautiful rugs, which make wonderful gifts and stylish additions to any home. Each project includes detailed patterns, stunning photographs and helpful hand-drawn charts. There is also an extensive techniques section explaining all the stitches and techniques you'll need to make your flat friend.
About the author:
Vanessa Mooncie spent many happy hours as a child sitting with her mother and grandmother learning to knit and crochet. She went on to study fashion and textile design and became a children's wear designer, illustrator and interior designer. Vanessa now specializes in silkscreen work (www.vanessamooncie.com) and designing crochet jewelry through her company Kissy Suzuki (www.kissysuzuki.com). She lives with her family in a rural village in the south of England. Vanessa has written many successful books for GMC Publications, including Animal Hats, Crocheted Wild Animals, Sew Adorable, And Sew to Bed and Crocheted Sea Creatures. She is also a regular contributor to other craft books and magazines.
In my opinion:
Let me just say that Vanessa is a genius! These rugs are incredible and probably way over my head. This book included beautiful photos of each rug and each pattern had about 12-15 pages. It was beyond anything I've ever seen. This book must have taken her a long time because there were step-by-step instructions and a guide to joining in colors and adding all the finishing touches to complete each rug. It was amazing and I definitely recommend this book if you have the time and patience.
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services for free in the hope that I would mention them on my blog and offer an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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