The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections
by Amanda Blake Soulebook data
510 ratings,
4.08
average rating, 202 reviews
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published
April 1st 2008
by Trumpeter
binding
Paperback, 224 pages
isbn
1590304713
(isbn13: 9781590304716)
description
Between work and school, music lessons, and sports practice, there is less and less time to connect as a family. Those few moments together are often ...more
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avg 4.08
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Has a copy to sell/swap
I wanted to love this book, I really did. But I didn't. In fact, it made me want to grab a big bag of partially hydrogenated Cheetos and an aspartame-laced Diet Coke and revive myself.
The writing is fine, the projects included are fine (though I would have liked to see more). And the photography is okay (in my opinion, I prefer more professional shots rather than the do-it-yourself ones that were included).
While I appreciate and applaud Soule's ideas and perspective, what...more
The writing is fine, the projects included are fine (though I would have liked to see more). And the photography is okay (in my opinion, I prefer more professional shots rather than the do-it-yourself ones that were included).
While I appreciate and applaud Soule's ideas and perspective, what...more
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Read in July, 2008
I really wanted to like this book, but in the end it just made me feel bad. Bad that I don't have more dedicated areas in my home for art supplies, bits of found nature, or spaces to convert used clothing into baby pants (um, not that that would be a successful venture for me anyway). I got it hoping it would give me some ideas for what to do with all the millions of drawings my children create, but the answers demanded a lot more work on my part (e.g., learn to embroider, and embroider the imag...more
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Read in June, 2008
I struggled with this book. I wanted to love it. I love the "ideas" that are in the book, but I couldn't love the book. All of the ideas are Waldorf inspired, but I feel like the book was lacking a bit in execution. If Good Reads gave half stars it would be a 3.5 star book. 5 for ideas and a 2.5 for practicality.
As with many Waldorf type books leading an art based and nature centric life is wonderful, but it is very difficult for those of us who either have to or chose...more
As with many Waldorf type books leading an art based and nature centric life is wonderful, but it is very difficult for those of us who either have to or chose...more
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Read in May, 2008
You might not have time to brew purple dye from cabbage leaves or cook glue, you might not be lucky enough to find or afford a beautiful cabinet for storing art supplies, or to implement all of the author's other solutions, but this book is full of good serving suggestions for surrounding children with lovely things to play with, alternatives to buying mass-produced and packaged "fun" if you are looking for inspiration.
The book may have benefited from an extra dimension, ...more
The book may have benefited from an extra dimension, ...more
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Read in April, 2008
Finally got my copy in the mail, and am enjoying it tremendously. Since discovering Amanda's Soule Mama blog several years ago and being a devoted daily reader of her blog, I feel like I'm buying a book written by a good friend. The pictures are worth the price of the book alone. There are a wealth of great of ideas as well.
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Read in August, 2008
I like Soulemama's blog. I like the devotion to her family and her craft. Her book felt like her blog. I like how passionate and creative she is about her home and family and how she incorporates nature into the craft projects she organizes with her kids. It made me happy to read that a mom, inspired by the birth of her children and the growth of her family, was encouraged to make art for and with them. I know lots of women who push their creative sides way down to the bottom of the priority li...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Henrik by:
Christina Stind Rosendahlrecommends it for: people wanting inspiration for creativity with kids & in a family with kids
This was a mixed experience for me. I'd like to be all positive about it, and I support the essence of what is said in it... But... hm...
Here's the thing. There's great ideas and suggestions in this little book to inspire creativity within a family, with a focus on children. However, the author's tone of voice too often grated in my ears:-/
Downside:
The author's "I-am-saved"-like tone of voice. That's a turn-off for me, although others might not mind ...more
Here's the thing. There's great ideas and suggestions in this little book to inspire creativity within a family, with a focus on children. However, the author's tone of voice too often grated in my ears:-/
Downside:
The author's "I-am-saved"-like tone of voice. That's a turn-off for me, although others might not mind ...more
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Read in December, 2008
Reading about Ms. Soule's family was in some ways like opening the door of a close friend's home. Her style and her values were familiar and comfortable. She gave me a language to talk about my own family's value of creativity and I picked up some clever ideas for incorporating creative endeavor into our lives.
The book suffered in my opinion from too preachy a style. In fact, I would have much preferred that she skip the "how to" genre all together and opted to tell us abou...more
The book suffered in my opinion from too preachy a style. In fact, I would have much preferred that she skip the "how to" genre all together and opted to tell us abou...more
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Read in April, 2008
How do I say this? For starters, let's clarify that I really love Amanda's blog. It is probably one of my three favorite craft blogs out there.
That said, I think the editor was a little too present in this book. It promises Amanda's same warm tone as on her blog - I didn't find this to be true. There are times when you do hear Amanda but often it is muffled by editorial organization and phrasing.
What did I love about the book? The ideas, the details of family routi...more
That said, I think the editor was a little too present in this book. It promises Amanda's same warm tone as on her blog - I didn't find this to be true. There are times when you do hear Amanda but often it is muffled by editorial organization and phrasing.
What did I love about the book? The ideas, the details of family routi...more
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Read in January, 2009
This book is a great inspiration and resource for families looking to connect with each other through creative endeavors. I also found it refreshing to not read about fitting the projects in school schedules, matching the art to a curriculum etc. (which is a breath of fresh air when school is not part of your family's lifestyle) The author makes the case for a homespun and nature-based aesthetic in the home. I am enjoying the ideas and images and am already implementing some with our 7 year ...more
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Read in March, 2009
This is a beautiful book, full of wonderful ideas for incorporating creativity into our own and our children's everyday lives. I found many great ideas I'm already using in my home, and it's really inspired me to consider the SPACE we play in and how to make it more beautiful AND useful (I always was a William Morris fan ;0) I put up an art wire (from which are dangling many of the kids' projects, to their great pride and joy), boxed up a bunch of toys to rotate so that the shelves are unclutt...more
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Read in November, 2008
It's filled with great photos and patterns, not to mention LOTS of practical and inexpensive creative ideas to implement with family. She is showing me how it is possible to be a mom and an artist simultaneously by getting more creative with my parenting. I just can't say enough good about this book right now.
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Read in April, 2008
I just finished this book and was very inspired by many of the ideas in it. So many things just make sense to me and I wonder why I haven't been doing more of it already. I did try the freezer paper stencil already and it is soooo much better than a traditional method on clothing!!!!
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I liked it, and was inspired enough by it and admire the author's passion (also now love her blog), but was hoping to love it and have it change my life. I was hoping to get more from it than the advice that I could also have a creativity-minded family without all the expense- all I have to do is find some super cute cabinet for free on the side of the road, and then commit to filling it with plants so I can start naturally dying material to make our own clothes. No problem right?
Anyway,...more
Anyway,...more
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Read in April, 2009
i loved this book at first, then got to wondering if amanda blake soule ever does anything other than sew bunting, throw birthday parties for her kids' imaginary friends, and breathlessly encourage them to pick up sticks and leaves. does she ever do laundry, for example?
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5 comments
Fun ideas from the author of a popular blog for family arts and crafts. lots of good ideas in here for "family art time," treasure boxes, gardening, and other non-TV-related fun.
My one complaint is that many of the projects don't seem so simple if you're not crafty or don't know already how to knit or sew. Even more detailed instructions or pictures would have been helpful. If you do know how to sew and have a sewing machine, she has many cute ideas for bedtime pajama bag...more
My one complaint is that many of the projects don't seem so simple if you're not crafty or don't know already how to knit or sew. Even more detailed instructions or pictures would have been helpful. If you do know how to sew and have a sewing machine, she has many cute ideas for bedtime pajama bag...more
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I'd been looking forward to reading this book since Amanda first mentioned it on her blog. It was as genuine, heartfelt, and inspiring as I'd anticipated.
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I just got this after perusing a copy on a neighbor's porch. Some great ideas and projects on how to inspire creativity.
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Read in June, 2009
What I liked best about this book is how excited it got me about being a mother. Soule gives a lot of great suggestions about how to really enjoy family life with small kids. I especially like her suggestions about how to use and display childrens' creations.
I'm not so big into the hippy-like elements of her book. Not all of us can live in the Maine countryside either. Then there was the part about all holding hands as a family before meal time and taking a deep collective breath...more
I'm not so big into the hippy-like elements of her book. Not all of us can live in the Maine countryside either. Then there was the part about all holding hands as a family before meal time and taking a deep collective breath...more
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The book had a few good creative ideas to do with kids and was a good reminder to me to let me kids do more on their own and not to curb their imaginations by worrying about messes so much...but, it was very granola-ish to me. The mother/author is all about nature and mother earth. Which is great--just not me. She lives in Maine and is all about outdoors stuff that you can't do in the city. And I like more pictures of craft ideas to do. I think that's more inspiring then reading about craft...more
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