return to stories homepage

Crafty Books We Love
By Kathy Cano Murillo

Ladies, it’s time to man your crafty battle stations.

The fall season is upon us, which means many magical months of sewing, purling, painting, stenciling, cutting, scraping, rolling, spraying and varnishing are literally at our fingertips. Did you just get a line of tickles up your spine? Me too.

So many events and so little time: Halloween, Dia de Los Muertos, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kawanzaa, New Year’s Eve - and if you are obsessive compulsive, you’ve already added Valentine’s Day to that crafty checklist.

Geez. Will we ever have enough ideas and inspiration to carry us through Holiday 2004 without resorting to cheesy coffee mugs filled with packages of instant hot cocoa? Being the clever craftistas that we are, there’s no reason to cry over spilt paint. By now we have amassed a list of red carpet-worthy ideas for presents or parties that are sure to please.

However … a little reinforcement never hurts. There is a pincushion of page-turners on the bookshelves these days that will help you get in the artsy spirit. From knitting a bikini to decorating a bikini lounge, check out these high-shine crafty books.

The Stitch- It Kit: Classic to Cool Embroidery Projects (Jenny Hart, Chronicle Books $22.95):
Yes, we all have a package or two of Jenny’s famous embroidery patterns, but hold on to your thimble – this boxed set includes a stack of new images in which to adorn your undies or someone else’s. Stitch a fuchsia hula girl on Dad’s necktie, or maybe a gato loco on your best friend’s jeans jacket. Regardless of your taste, there are oodles of full-color pictures, easy instructions and nifty notions for all your fabric embellishment needs.

Stitch ‘N Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook (Debbie Stoller, Workman Publishing, $13.95):
Do you think the term “stockinette” refers to that little cubby space in the kitchen? Shame on you, girlie! We’re talking knitting. And now is the time to get down to the details. It doesn’t matte r if you’ve never picked up a ball of yarn, or if you are a fanatical felter, this book has tricks, tip and a few history lessons for all skill levels. What I love is that it shares gobs of useful info such as yarn suppliers/shops, suggested magazines and lists of celebs that know their way around a good yarn. With instructions ranging from Pippi Knee Stockings to the Manly Sweater, there is no reason to keep you from working the needles.

Rubber Stamped Jewelry: Essential Techniques and 20 Projects (Sharilyn Miller, F&W Publishers, $22.99):
If you are addicted to picture friendly projects, this is the book for you. Learn how to take photos and stamped images and use them as the centerpiece for all sorts of fabulous jewelry. The ideas here will make for appreciated holiday gifts because even though the materials are inexpensive, the end result looks like a million bucks. Stamped dominos, soldered collages, polymer clay transfers….mmmm, yah. You really should give it a whirl.

Wild With a Glue Gun (Kitty Harmon, Christine Stickler, North Light Books, $19.99):
The title says it all. The projects are wild and they all use a glue gun. There is more to that - the whole concept behind WWAGG relates to forming or joining a local craft group. The chapters are chopped up by medium (photo, collage, etc.) and the text is written so friendly, you'll feel like going Christine or Kitty’s front door and offering them a bowl of homemade Ambrosia Salad... And then asking if you can join their crafty clique. It covers the guidelines on launching your own craft up, and profiles others from around the globe. But the glitter flecks on this book are the totally funky and tripped-out projects – like the Chocolate Box Valentine. I already made four of them!

Collage Discovery Workshop: Make Your Own Collage Creations Using Vintage Photos, Found Objects and Ephemera (Claudine Hellmuth, North Light Books, $22.99):
Are you into dimensional collage? Do you wanna be? Arranging weird shaped objects in a container or on a page sounds easier than it is. This book offers a list of techniques and “Why didn’t I think of that!” kind of ideas. It also goes into paint effects, paper peeling and more. A must-have for paper fiends.

Making Handbags; Retro, Luxurious, Chic (Ellen Goldstein-Lynch, Rockport, $19.99):
A chica can never have too many purses, and if you can make your own – more power to ya! Devising your own pattern can only go so far before you get the urge to throw the measuring tape across the room. Massage your temples and let this book take some of that pressure off. These stylized D.I.Y. bags are cute, campy and everything in between. You’ll find leather, vinyl, felt, silk cotton coupled with handles, straps, grips and drawstrings. It also lists suggestions for adding accents and useful features, like hidden compartments and comes with four master patterns.

Get Crafty: Hip Home Ec (Jean Railla, Broadway Books, $15):
You knew I would include this! This is the one book we’ve all been waiting for. Jean, our resident craftista queen captured all the flavor, visuals and moods from GetCrafty.com and packaged them up in a soft cover must-have manual. Included is Jean’s enlightening experience with 21st century domesticity, as well as recipes for beauty treatments, crafting, recycling, donating and even cleaning. It proves what we’ve known all along – Get Crafty is more than an expression, it’s a way of life.

Other books worthy of your peepers:
Sew Fast Sew Easy: All You Need to Know When You Start to Sew (Elissa K. Meyrich, St. Martin’s Griffin, $22.95)
Retro Revamp: Funky Projects from Handbags to Housewares (Jennifer Knapp, Chronicle Books, $17.95)
Fast Fun Fashion: 101 Ways to Customize Your Clothes (Petra Boase, Carlton Books, $16.95)
D.I.Y. Girl: The Real Girl’s Guide to Making Everything From Lip Gloss to Lamps (Jennifer Bonnell, Puffin Books, $12.99)
Sassy Soaps: 35 Projects to Get You in a Lather (Faith Sugarman, Sterling, $14.95)

Kathy Cano Murillo is an artist and writer from Phoenix, AZ. She has published three books including La Casa Loca: Latino Style Comes Home (Rockport) and The Crafty Diva’s D.I.Y. Style Book (Watson Guptill). She has two more books due in 2005. Visit her web site at www.CraftyChica.com.