Synopses & Reviews
A is for adorable and amazingly irresistible and incredibly attractive: who would have imagined that the apron, that charming and nostalgic symbol of domesticity, would become todayand#8217;s must-have home accessory? But it most certainly is, as stitchers and crafters flock to these creative canvases as the perfect vehicle for showcasing fabulous fabric, simple embellishments, and novel ideas. These ingenious projectsand#151;from ultra-feminine and vintage chic to whimsical color-playand#151;include waist and bib aprons, pinafores, smocks, cobblers, and even something for the pint-sized cook. All of the projects are photographed in a playful style. And templates, sewing basics, and quick and easy projects for sprucing up store-bought aprons and whipping up aprons from recycled materials are here too!
Review
"Children of the 1970s and '80s may remember Shrinky Dinks--preprinted pieces of shrink plastic to color and cut out. Modern shrink plastic comes in a variety of finishes, and some plastics can be imprinted with an inkjet printer, but the preparation is the same: color, cut out, and bake until the plastic shrinks. Standout projects include whimsical paper-airplane earrings, a Liberty-esque floral-print earring and necklace set, and several minimalist pendant projects that resemble glass, rather than shrink plastic. VERDICT: Gen X crafters will be intrigued by the retro raw materials, but the projects highlight all of the possibilities of shrink plastic. The pieces are eye-catching and bear little resemblance to the Shrinky Dinks of yore." --
Library Journaland#160;and#8220;Clearly written, beautifully illustrated, clear, concise and I have to admit that I am planning to give several of the suggested projects a whirl because they are 'that' nice looking. I guess my comment would be 'this is not your grandmother's--or mother's--shrink plastic art.' The projects that are presented, designed by some really excellent artists, are things that will catch your eye as well as your imagination. You'll find all necessary information about what supplies you will need, none of which are very costly. It's a really fun book, filled with really nice projects that will be sure to please any crafty gal or guy. With adult supervision and assistance, I think that older kids can join in the fun with you, too.and#8221; --
Marie Z. Johansen, Books by the Willow Treeand#160;and#8220;I was totally surprised. Happily surprised! This book written by Kathy Sheldon makes me want to go out and buy some shrink plastic.
Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk! is a fabulous book for so many reasons. Kathy has a fun and energetic writing skill. From cover to cover Kathy explains each step and then allows you to add your own touches. If you have ever wanted to use shrink plastic, then this book is for you. Kathy accomplishes what a true craft book writer is supposed to do: inspire her readerand#8221; --
Nicole Campanella, The Beadwright blogand#160;and#8220;Kathy Sheldon will make you want to try shrink plastic again. The book covers all you need to know about shrink plastic and how to work with the medium. If you have been looking for a way to create inexpensive yet still stylish jewelry components that you can also merge into other forms of jewelry making such as wire work and beading, this is an excellent resource to consider. The book has thirty step-by-step jewelry projects, and I honestly did not see one that I did not like.and#8221; (5-star review) --About.com Jewelry Making
"I see a huge draw for this book for those who work with kids and need creative, fast but really fun stuff to use for craft projects. This is inexpensive, fairly easy and certainly doable in a time crunch. A pretty
floral bracelet, with fill-color flower variations, would brighten any mood." --Scorpio Moon Jewelry
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Review
"Carestio (Fa La LaLa Felt) believes that fabric obsession isn't only for expert sewists. This collection of no-sew and low-sew projects takes a variety of materials, from quilting cottons to recycled clothing to paper maps, and transforms them into garments and accessories appropriate for everyday use. Upcycling is a recurring theme in the projects, and Carestio makes clever use of repurposed fabrics and garments. The projects that work best are the designs for children, such as the colorful sock monsters, the pencil roll made out of wool felt, and the teddy bear backpack . . .and#160;this is a fun set of projects that fills a gap in crafting collections." and#8212;Library Journal
Synopsis
Remember Shrinky Dinks--those plastic sheets that magically shrink and harden when heated in the oven? Millions of fans do. Now they're back and#8230; and a hot trend with both mainstream and Etsy crafters.
Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk! introduces crafters to this friendly, fast, and fun way to create cool--and surprisingly chic--jewelry. It covers everything from the many new kinds of shrink plastic available (including printable) to the latest techniques. The 35 stylish projects include cute animal-shaped rings, a Mexican oilcloth necklace, origami airplane earrings, and more!
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Synopsis
There's something magical about things made in miniatureand#8212;and now you can create whole wee worlds of them, with three-dimensional critters and scenery. It's easy to do with needle felting, an oh-so-simple process that requires few tools. Choose one of ten fun felted scenes with 50 individual items, including a prehistoric landscape with dinosaurs, volcanoes, and Paleolithic plants; a camping adventure featuring an adorable bear cub; a sweet sewing room, and even a galaxy far, far away with UFOs! Along the way, readers get tons of techniques and tips from the designersand#8212;from basic felt shaping to creating jointsand#8212;and lots of helpful step-by-step illustrations.
Synopsis
Imaginative, inventive, and filled with beautiful things to make, Never Been Stitched is the ultimate collection of no- and low-sew projects. Thanks to fusible webbing, fabric glue, grommets, and other fun materials and techniques, crafters barely need a needle. Forty-five fast and simple items range from a folded market bag to a cute kid's apron to a plush pillow. A short basics section plus templates help even beginners create quick and stylish garments, home dand#233;cor, and other accessories.
Synopsis
Since its debut, the Pretty Little series has been a pretty big success--and this "best of" compilation presents 100 charming and totally easy needlearts projects from the previous eight books. From cozies, mini-quilts, and organic cotton pillows to pincushions, potholders, patchwork, purses and pouches, these stitched items feature the latest trends in fabric, design, and embellishment, Practical, adorable, and perfect to keep or give as a gift, every appealing project will have crafters sitting pretty!and#160;and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
Festive and eye-catching, banners, buntings, garlands, and pennants add visual fun to almost any type of celebration or space. These 40 quick and easy projectsandmdash;made of paper, fabric, felt, and moreandmdash;make beautiful displays. Use them for special events, for holidays, when entertaining, or even just to spice up a room. A basics section gives beginners a primer on the materials and techniques they need.
About the Author
Amanda Carestio is the author of
Never Been Stitched,
Wee Felt Worlds, and
Stash Happy, and (with Kathy Sheldon) coauthor ofand#160;
Fa la la la Felt,
Felt-o-ween, and
Heart-Felt Holidays, all published by Lark Crafts. She lives in Asheville, NC.
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Kathy Sheldon is also the author of Shrink! Shrank! Shrunk and coauthor of Aimee Rayandrsquo;s Sweet and Simple Jewelry, all published by Lark Crafts.and#160;She lives in Asheville, NC.