A "Crafty Mojo" Post !

I have always loved creating handmade items. 😊

Crafting in a variety of mediums has been a part of my life since I was in the single digits, age-wise LOL.

Knitting, painting, jewelry, sewing, embroidery,  eco-crafts....the list goes on and on.

My dear mom, Helen was a very talented seamstress and painter and I think a lot of my creative abilities and interest are thanks to her.
                                                                                                       

We spent many a long day together, creating beautiful things over the years, especially when I was writing a weekly craft column for over 5 years, in one of Canada's major newspapers, The Regina Leader Post. Such good memories that still bring a smile to my face, thinking about those precious hours spent together, creating something unique and beautiful.
                                                                                                                 

With crafts and hobbies on my mind, I thought you might enjoy checking out a few of the craft and hobby books/products/ sites that I have shared here, over the years at My Real Life Reviews. 
                                                                                  

Hopefully, one or more of these will inspire you to create something new and special, in the days ahead. We all need a boost at times to get our "crafty mojo" back. I know I do!
                                                                                     

Right now, I am happily working on my new haiku book but also hope to get back to another knit project, before the end of this week.
                                                                                           

What are you working on right now? 

What is your favorite craft(s)?

                                                                                                              

I have so many fav crafts and hobbies, I wouldn't know how to begin to answer that question!😊

Here goes:

Crafting with Cat Hair (a fun craft book and lots of Mr. Cheddar photos too!)
                                                                       

Homemade (a unique and extensive craft book, filled with all kinds of beautiful ideas)
                                                                                                  

One Yard Wonders (a fun book and sew kit, with all kinds of 1 yard or less, sewing ideas)
                                                                                                             

Knitting Warehouse (my fav online shop for knit and many other types of craft needs)
                                                                         





Lion Brand Recycled Cotton Yarn (one of my fav summer cotton yarns)
                                                    



Down & Dirty (gardening is apparently, the most popular hobby in the world!

Happy Crafting and Creating!!!

Mobile Art by Clare Youngs

Mobile Art by Clare Youngs

I have always loved mobiles!  ;-)

There is something so whimsical and magical about a beautifully designed (and preferably handmade) mobile.

Mobile Art by Clare Youngs contains 35 beautiful (and for the most part, easy to make) mobiles, made in a wide variety of materials including: paper, felted balls, metal, fabrics, wire...(click through to the Amazon page to check out some of the gorgeous interior photos and table of contents too)

I loved most of the designs included, particularly the: 

Cherry Blossom Cheer, Sausage Dogs, Twist and Turn Disks and Origami Swans.

The designs would work in a variety of settings: for children's rooms, in living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, offices....some perfect for the outdoors too.

Full color photos throughout, clear, easy to follow directions and diagrams too.

I haven't had the time to make any of these yet, but I definitely plan too.

If you love mobiles and enjoy making unique items for your home or gifts, this is definitely a book to check out! ;-)

Overall rating for this book: Excellent. 5 out of 5

Homemade. 101 Beautiful and Useful Craft Projects You Can Make at Home by Ros Badger and Elspeth Thompson

I received this book as a gift recently. As an avid and long-time crafter and craft instructor, I was delighted with this present. Although I haven't had the chance to make any of the projects from it yet; I am thoroughly impressed by what this book offers.

To begin with, the presentation of this book is outstanding. Page after page of full-size color photos and detailed, easy-to-understand instructions for each project. And when it comes to projects, this book stands out for the variety of items featured.

Unlike a lot of craft books that have a certain theme or offer a limited number/types of crafts to make; Homemade has something for everyone and for every part of your home too.

A sampling of the 100 + projects included in Homemade:

* Citrus Pomander

                 

*Knitted Angel

                  

*Victorian Sand Pincushion

                   

*Summer Salad Trough

                

*Summer Bunting

              

*Restoring a Garden Table

                

Pumpkin Lanterns

                   

*Elderflower Cordial

                 

*Patchwork Wall

                          

*Razor Shell Candleholders

                                             

and many, many more....

I love the fact that the authors have run the gamut of all things Homemade, in the very best sense of the word. Many with a nostalgic and/or heirloom touch as well.

Gifts (for yourself or others) from the kitchen stove, sewing projects, garden ideas for indoors and out, home decor items, clothing...all with an emphasis on keeping costs and waste down and using up the many items that accumulate in our homes. Transforming the mundane into something marvelous!

I am really looking forward to making several of these projects in the coming year. I am a firm believer that crafts should be all about reusing materials and not going out and buying a bunch of things at a craft store and putting them together. Rather like comparing a painting done from an empty canvas as opposed to a paint-by-number kit LOL. Obviously, there is no comparison. In results and in the satisfaction of making something that took imagination, a bit of work and very little cash spent!

Homemade is a great place to start, to get those creative ideas flowing!

I would recommend this book for people of all ages and skill levels.  There are projects that could be easily adapted for children and some that would require a bit of supervision and assistance. This would be a great resource for teachers too.

                     

From the publisher's website: Chock full of practical, thoughtful advice from seasoned crafters, Homemade contains over one hundred craft projects that require you to look no further than your very own home. As economic and environmental factors start to play a greater role in consumer decision-making, Ron Badger and Elspeth Thompson suggest an alternative to buying. Taking everyday objects from around their homes, they transform these objects into beautiful works of art, which reflect the love and care they put into their projects. Divided into seasons, Homemade provides a years worth of activities to improve your home. It gives sound advice on how to restore a garden table, make a patchwork wall, cook delicious pumpkin soup, and more. It also includes a section on homemade basics, which details how to sew, knit, and crochet using a variety of patterns! Homemade is the perfect gift for a friend interested in crafting, or a delightful treat for you and your family. With advice from Badger and Thompson, little additions to your homelike summer troughs full of flowers and natural cleaning products will make all the difference. Your home and your family will thank you.

You can check out more about this book, the authors and several ordering options at the publisher's website: Skyhorse Publishing.

             
Overall rating for this book: Excellent. 5 out of 5.

One-Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins

This book was part of a gift package that I recently received. I was happy to finally check out and review a copy of One-Yard Wonders. In keeping with the continued  and growing popularity that the craft of home-sewing is once again experiencing (and for people of all ages and skill levels) it's easy to understand why this has been such a popular book.

As a long-time crafter (with sewing being close to the top of my list of crafts that I love) craft instructor, author and columnist, I have some positive and not so positive things to say about my impressions of this book.

On the plus side: I love the concept of 1 yard or less fabric required for each of the 101 projects in this book. That's not a lot of fabric to work with but the editors/authors of this book (and the many designers who also contributed to the book) have done a good job of providing a wide variety of fun, practical and for the most part, very easy to make projects.

Some of the projects included (to name but a few) that I found attractive

 and worth considering were:

• Collapsible Shopping Tote
• Simply Beautiful Sundress
• Obi-Inspired Hot and Cold Pack
• Granny's Clothespin Apron
• Bird Mobile
• Checkers to Go
• Not-Ugly Car Trash Bag
• Smocked Pillow in the Round

                                                                       

Other good points about this book:

Detailed instructions for each project, with diagrams and some projects also include paper pattern templates to use as well. A very attractive presentation, large color photographs of each project.A good range of project categories including those for the home, clothing for everyone in the family (including several items for the pets too), lots of interesting bags and totes, and some tech related items including CD and lap-top sleeve....there really is something for everyone. There is also a good, basic instruction section at the beginning of the book, outlining the skills and general notion supplies required for using the book. The handy ring-binder (on the inside of sturdy cover where it should be) is also a nice touch, the book lays flat and stays that way!

Now to the not so positive points. As many Amazon readers of this book mentioned, for the most part, these are very easy projects not really for an experienced seamstress or crafter if they are looking for a challenge. Personally, although I've been sewing for over 20 years, sometimes a simple, quick project is exactly what I am looking for so in that regard, simple can be a plus or a minus, depending on what you are looking for and the time you have to make something. Most of these would definitely be doable in an afternoon/day. There were also quite a few comments about the projects that were simply covering objects with fabric, with minimal sewing such as book covers and wall boards. Again, I agree these are rather easy but if it's what someone needs to be inspired and the item is something that would fit their immediate requirements, especially for beginners that can be ok too. A lot of these are also not terribly original and yes, many of these patterns/projects (or very similar items) could be found elsewhere or simply designed as you go.

I do appreciate seeing yet another step in the right direction in terms of recycling and re-thinking fabrics and other types of craft materials and seeing them for what they can be, treasures just waiting for someone's creative touch and a bit of hobby time. And that's always a good thing. The relaxation factor of crafting is worth considering too! This book might be a good reminder to many (it was for me) to once again find the time to include sewing and all it's rewards, as part of their leisure/hobby pursuits. 

The projects in this book can take the remnants that you may have been stashing for a LONG time and finally transform them into something you can be happy that you took the time to make. And when it comes to gifts, creating a hand-sewn item can bump it up a notch in a big hurry, usually for a very small investment of money and time. Who knows, you might end up making a treasure that will be passed down for years to come and enjoyed again and again. 

The book would also be a great gift for the crafters you know or wannabees just starting out. A nice add-on gift with a new sewing machine perhaps? Very reasonably priced at Amazon right now.

Overall rating for this book: Good. 3 out of 5.