Small Fomat Handmade Journal

I was a bit surprised this month when a children’s story book, in particular Things I Think Of: Sullivans’ Associates Storybook 6A, formerly the property of Rockwood School District No. 27 in Portland, Oregon, showed up with my review materials. Perhaps our benevolent book fairy had lost her mind? As usual, things were just as they should be and it was my mind that had gone south for the winter… er, summer.

Ecocrafts Gorgeous Gifts

Every kid has, at one time or another, turned garbage into art. Personally, I was obsessed with my cardboard-box dollhouse, which prominently featured a sofa made from a kitchen sponge. I was the only eight-year-old I knew who received a glue gun for Christmas. Ecocrafts Gorgeous Gifts is for other glue-gun-happy kids. It describes thirteen crafts that can be made from recycled materials, from socks to Styrofoam to potato chip bags.

Large Format Book Journal

The handmade journal by Ex Libris Anonymous put a huge smile on my face from the first moment I took it out of the box. It’s most definitely one-of-a-kind, made from a fifth grade language arts textbook, complete with the ubiquitous and familiar “THIS BOOK IS THE PROPERTY OF:” emblazoned on the inside of the front cover. If you’re Isaiah D., Jamie, or Emily (1993), this book at one time may have been yours. But Ex Libris Anonymous didn’t stop there, they included pages of the textbook bound in-between the unlined, acid free paper.

Clothing Labels

A business-sized envelope arrived in the mail with over a dozen samples from ClothingLabels4U.com. ClothingLabels4U.com is well aware of the importance of brand recognition in making clothing or crafts marketable and memorable; many of the labels they sent had their website and phone number advertised. They offer a variety of hanging labels, woven labels, care tags and logo tags. They come in paper, iron-on, stick-on and fabrics. All the samples I received were square or rectangle, though according to the website they can print die-cut designs. Sizes range from ½ inch to 4 inches.

Croq Zine (Issue #7)

Remember reading or making your first zine? It was most likely folded in half, stapled and sold, given or traded to your friends. Staying up all night at your local Kinko’s, you felt inspired and part of a something bigger-something revolutionary. You went to your local bookstore and bought zines made by people you didn’t know personally, but felt connected to in a way that no magazine ever could? Croq is like that. Edited by Heather Mann of Portland, OR, Croq Zine is focused on crafts and crafting culture.

Kaffe Fassett's Kaleidoscope of Quilts

In the world of knitting, needlepoint, interior design and quilting, Kaffe Fassett’s long line of books reign as the prettiest of the pretty coffee table books. An internationally renown artist, Fassett has authored over fifteen books on needle crafts and design and has exhibited his work in museums around the world. Fassett’s popularity has played a part in attracting a larger audience to knitting and quilting and elevating the appreciation of the fabric arts.

Sew Subversive: Down and Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista

The subversive notion of sewing (no pun intended) in this book initially caught my eye; I was drawn into the concept sewing is no longer considered to be something only our grannies do, but something that would enable anyone to shout out, “We’re are creative minds!” Sew Subversive is about sewing outside the box, tossing those patterns to the winds and creating your own statement. I shared this book with women both young and not so young; each one was energized by the book layout, ideas and the “coolness” of the ideas.