Synopses & Reviews
From the Palladian columns of our government buildings to Victorian-style taxidermy and terrariums, highlights from past decorative eras frequently resurface in our modern lives. In
Past and Present, Design*Sponge managing editor Amy Azzarito presents 24 pairs of essays and craft projects that explore the connection between decorative arts history and present-day design trends. From a Wedgwood-inspired headboard made using molding from the hardware store to an art nouveauand#150; style tree-branch chandelier, the projects celebrate their roots yet fit perfectly into our contemporary living spaces. The projects have been contributed by some of todayand#8217;s best-known arbiters of design, such as Todd Oldham, Jonathan Adler, and Grace Bonney, adding extra allure to an already fascinating topic.
Praise for Past and Present:
and#147;Spend 15 minutes D.I.Y.-ing this cute action station and we promise youand#8217;ll never hear the phrase, Honey have you seen my keys? again.and#8221;and#151;Redbook Magazine
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and#147;Azzarito does a fantastic job applying the past to a modern context. For example, in the section on Palladian style, the DIY project is a Palladio tote bag that features a geometric pattern that is quite contemporary.and#8221; and#151;Anthology Magazine
and#147;Complete with entertaining essays, whimsical illustrations and gorgeous DIY projects that explore the connection between decorative arts history and present-day design trends, this book is not only a DIY staple and a wealth of decorating history but also looks pretty enough for a coffee table.and#8221; and#151;About.comand#8217;s Budget Decorating
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and#147;In design, everything is influenced by something else. It is nice to see the direct correlation between a trend and where it stems from historically.and#8221; --Michele S Blog
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and#147;Part design history and part do-it-yourself book, Design*Sponge managing editor Azzarito has combined her love of the decorative arts with projects they inspire. The decorative accessories (e.g., Wedgwood pottery and Native American trade blankets) and design movements (e.g., Rococo and Art Nouveau) are spotlighted with a two-page description of that item or movementand#8217;s importance in the history of decorative arts. DIY projects created by some of Azzaritoand#8217;s favorite contemporary designersand#151;including fashion designer Todd Oldham and Hurley art director Timothy Lilesand#151;are included with the essays that inspired them.
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VERDICT:and#160;Beginning DIYers will find the projects easy to accomplish and those with more experience will be inspired to create their own decorative items from the historic background provided for each.and#8221; and#151;Library Journal
and#147;Amyand#8217;s new book . . . is full of dinner party-worthy factsand#151;things you might not know now, but will be glad you learned.and#8221; and#151;HGTV.com
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and#147;The branch and crystal chandelier is a stunning take on the Art Nouveau period that took cures from natural elements.and#160;This chandelier is a little playful, a little glam, and a whole lot of wonderful.and#8221; and#151;The Makeshift Society
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and#147;Complete with entertaining essays, whimsical illustrations and gorgeous DIY projects that explore the connection between decorative arts history and present-day design trends, this book is not only a DIY staple and a wealth of decorating history but also looks pretty enough for a coffee table.and#8221; and#151;About.comand#8217;s and#147;Budget Decoratingand#8221;
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and#147;History buffs and weekend warriors will get a kick out of our latest book obsession, Past and Present.and#160;Penned by Design Sponge Managing Editor Amy Azzarito, this new book connects influential design eras to current decorating trends. Fascinating (but digestible) essays fill in the historical context, while easy-to-follow DIYand#160;projects created by top design talent reinterpret them for the modern home.and#8221; and#160;and#151;PopSugar.com
and#147;Shannon Murrayand#8217;s project is based on the eighteenth-century Federal style. She designe
Review
"On the list of things that I love most, books take a very close second to crafting. So, if you too are just as likely to be found in a library reading room as you are in your local yarn and fabric store, BiblioCraft: A Modern Crafter’s Guide to Using Library Resources to Jumpstart Creative Projects, a new book from STC Craft, written by New York Public Library rare book librarian Jessica Pigza, will definitely be right up your alley!"
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"When I discovered that it is no ordinary craft book…but one that encourages creative projects inspired by vintage or long forgotten books from the library (or even your own bookshelf), I was captivated!"
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"Rarely does a decorating or DIY book make my heart flutter, but Jessica Pigza really knows how to charm a bibliophile whose passion is crafting and decorating."
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“Crafty library lovers must check out BiblioCraft . . . If you consider yourself a bookworm and enjoy time spent in the stacks, treat yourself to this book.”
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“Making beautiful things from books.”
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“Jessica Pigza’s BiblioCraft is beautifully designed and full of both doable and aspirational projects by some of the hugest names in the craft world . . . I’m positively drooling.”
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“Pigza showcases an array of designs by master craftspeople and artists that were all inspired by the holdings at the New York library—referencing the originals, of course—and includes instructions so you can make your own.”
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“Libraries are full of inspiration and resources and there’s a new book that tells exactly how to mine them.”
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“A Top Read.”
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“Moms looking to get crafty need look no further.”
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“Combining books and crafts? Sign me up.”
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“What we all liked about this book is that it had what I call ‘meat’ or maybe you might call substance. In the beginning of Bibliocraft, [Pigza] explains things about libraries that I didn’t know existed. From the library system (branch, research, special collections), to how to find the right library for you (mindblowing info here), to how to plan a library visit (yes—there is a proper way), to how to search. Bibliocraft explains things that I think only librarians know and she does it in a way normal people can understand.”
Synopsis
Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is a lifestyle guide for the Francophile and the Anglomaniac, the gourmet and the style maven, the armchair traveler and the art lover. It’s an homage to the esoteric world of glamour that doesn’t require much spending but makes us feel rich.
Taking a cue from the exotic encyclopedias of the sixteenth century, which brimmed with mysterious artifacts, Jessica Kerwin Jenkins’s Encyclopedia of the Exquisite focuses on the elegant, the rare, the commonplace, and the delightful. A compendium of style, it merges whimsy and practicality, traipsing through the fine arts and the worlds of fashion, food, travel, home, garden, and beauty.
Each entry features several engaging anecdotes, illuminating the curious past of each enduring source of beauty. Subjects covered include the explosive history of champagne; the art of lounging on a divan; the emergence of “frillies,” the first lacy, racy lingerie; the ancient uses of sweet-smelling saffron; the wild riot incited by the appearance of London’s first top hat; Julia Child’s tip for cooking the perfect omelet; the polarizing practice of wearing red lipstick during World War II; Louis XIV’s fondness for the luscious Bartlett pear; the Indian origin of badminton; Parliament’s 1650 attempt to suppress Europe’s beauty mark fad; the evolution of the Japanese kimono; the pilgrimage of Central Park’s Egyptian obelisk; and the fanciful thrill of dining alfresco.
Cleverly illustrated, Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is an ode to life’s plenty, from the extravagant to the eccentric. It is a celebration of luxury that doesn’t necessarily require money.
Synopsis
Voted a Best Book of 2014 by Library Journal There is untold wealth in library collections, and, like every good librarian, Jessica Pigza loves to share. In BiblioCraft, Pigza hones her literary hunting-and-gathering skills to help creatives of all types, from DIY hobbyists to fine artists, develop projects based on library resources. In Part I, she explains how to take advantage of the riches libraries have to offer—both in person and online. In Part II, she presents 20+ projects inspired by library resources from a stellar designer cast, including STC Craft authors Natalie Chanin, Heather Ross, Liesl Gibson, and Gretchen Hirsch, and Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney. Whatever the quest—historic watermarks transformed into pillows, Japanese family crests turned into coasters, or historic millinery instructions worked into floral fascinators—anyone can utilize library resources to bring their creative visions to life.
About the Author
Jessica Pigza is a rare book librarian at the New York Public Library. The host of the librarys monthly DIY event series, she has been featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine, has guest-blogged on Design*Sponge, and has lectured at library conferences on design and craft inspiration. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.