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68th out of 209 books
—
125 voters
Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures
For many of us, our home is the center of our life. It is the place where our families meet and mingle, where we share our meals and share our dreams. So much more than just a space to live, our homes offer us a place of comfort, nourishment, and love for us and for our children.
In Handmade Home, Amanda Blake Soule, author of The Creative Family and the blog SouleMama.com...more
In Handmade Home, Amanda Blake Soule, author of The Creative Family and the blog SouleMama.com...more
Paperback, 192 pages
Published
August 11th 2009
by Roost Books
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Soule presents a romance of the simple life: thrifting, gardening, nature walks, crafts. She makes having four kids & working from home look like a cakewalk. All in an idyllic Winslow Homer illustration of coastal Maine. She's sort of like the Waldorf Martha Stewart (and I mean that in the nicest way).
Unlike Martha, and most professional crafters, Soule takes her own photographs, which lends much more authenticity to her book. There's also a pragmatism to her projects that others (I'm think...more
Unlike Martha, and most professional crafters, Soule takes her own photographs, which lends much more authenticity to her book. There's also a pragmatism to her projects that others (I'm think...more
Warning: This book is written by a hippy for hippies. It's got projects for cloth diapers and sanitary pads. So... if you're into that kind of a thing, this is the book for you and please disregard my low rating. Now, onto the review.
I like how the author wants to use and reuse items. I applaud her. I really do. I feel, though, that if I held onto everything in order to make a project that my home would turn into a hoarder's den. (For example, she suggests that tit will take up to three months t...more
I like how the author wants to use and reuse items. I applaud her. I really do. I feel, though, that if I held onto everything in order to make a project that my home would turn into a hoarder's den. (For example, she suggests that tit will take up to three months t...more
I don't sew a lot, and this book wasn't terribly inspiring. Maybe it's because I don't have kids, but most of these projects seemed...superfluous. Like, I guess it would be nice to have another tote bag. I was most interested in the instructions on making your own rag rug, which turned out to be confusing, no matter how many times I read the words: "...weave the needle and cord from one strand of the braid on one side to another strand of the braid on the opposite side of the coil to which it is...more
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Ok, this library impulse grab should have been the perfect book for me. I have lots of experience in thrifting and repurposing, some experience in sewing and crafting, and a dresser full of fabrics and related salvage. Well. It's a pretty book, with some neat ideas - but no illustrations of intermediate steps! I could figure out most of the projects, but a true "beginner" wouldn't have a chance.
If you have small children, do get a copy of this book from the library and see what you can make of...more
If you have small children, do get a copy of this book from the library and see what you can make of...more
Loved this. The author's voice was much more present in this, her second book, than in "The Creative Family". I read her blog because I enjoy her voice, her interests, and her photography. This book was a nice melding of all three.
Yes, there are a lot of sewing projects in here but there are also others. If you're reading this solely in search of projects,I don't think you'll like the book as much as you could.
"Handmade Home" is much more than a book of project tutorials; Amanda talks a great...more
Yes, there are a lot of sewing projects in here but there are also others. If you're reading this solely in search of projects,I don't think you'll like the book as much as you could.
"Handmade Home" is much more than a book of project tutorials; Amanda talks a great...more
Jul 01, 2010
Cnjbillhimer
marked it as to-read
I grew up on principles such as these partly because my parents both grew up in the Depression era and my dad has created an environment that could be entirely self-sustaining if necessary--in fact he rarely leaves home except to attend church and almost never goes to town himself. Poor deprived kids with no tv and computers, we were raised to find it satisfying to make something new and wonderful out of something old but still good. And on our large, don't-throw-much away ranch I never had to g...more
In all honestly, I went into this book with the wrong idea. I thought I'd try it out since I've been on such a Pinterest kick lately for making, creating and re-purposing so many things. Unfortunately, this wasn't exactly what I was looking for. It certainly has some cute ideas. I like that she includes her children and gives tips for doing so, as well as including her children's artwork in the items that she makes. However, none of the things that she made in the book really interested me. I gu...more
I really enjoyed this book. The author leads a fairly simple life in rural Maine and I love how intentional she is about her family. This book gave me:
*Creative ideas on how to re-use items in my own home.
*Patterns for fun sewing projects (she does include some really "interesting" projects that I don't plan on trying :)).
*A glimpse into a simpler way of life which left me feeling very mellow and peaceful (and trying to figure out how to move to a place with seasons, mountains, farms and beaches...more
*Creative ideas on how to re-use items in my own home.
*Patterns for fun sewing projects (she does include some really "interesting" projects that I don't plan on trying :)).
*A glimpse into a simpler way of life which left me feeling very mellow and peaceful (and trying to figure out how to move to a place with seasons, mountains, farms and beaches...more
I'm one of those crunchy, granola types that is all about cloth diapers and pads and babywearing. As such, I really like the crafts featured in the book. I do intend to make some banners in her style (I have previously made others in another way and hers is more simplistic, which I like) and I like the towel bathmat idea. I loved the memory tree quilt but have never been a 'saver' of old clothes so I have nothing to use for it. I'm considering using scraps from my curtains to make a wall decorat...more
I plan to purchase this book. I've got at least 5 of the projects bookmarked and I know it's going to have to go back to the library before I get them all done.
The one thing I've made so far are the hot pads. The directions were clear, patterns worked as promised, and I'm very pleased with the final result. I especially enjoy her emphasis on using what you have at home already, or what can be purchased cheaply at a thrift store. For these hot pads, I used scraps of cloth I had already, old stai...more
The one thing I've made so far are the hot pads. The directions were clear, patterns worked as promised, and I'm very pleased with the final result. I especially enjoy her emphasis on using what you have at home already, or what can be purchased cheaply at a thrift store. For these hot pads, I used scraps of cloth I had already, old stai...more
Seriously, when does this woman mop? Clean her bathrooms? Just wondering. If you wade through some of the granola tree-hugging stuff, and I really do say that with a certain amount of grudging respect, she has some fantastic ideas for reusing stuff in some practical way. I wrote down several ideas, and I might actually attempt the market bag pattern out of a holey tablecloth I have had for several years.
This book made me a little jealous of the east coast life -- I just don't think you find as m...more
This book made me a little jealous of the east coast life -- I just don't think you find as m...more
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I picked up this book at the library, and in a way I'm glad I did. It's a good inspirational, read at night kind of book. My kids are grown way past the age of most of the projects in this book, but my two favorite projects were the rag rug and the quilt strip pillows. I think her message in the book is priceless and one more people need to hear.
I'm not sure I would buy the book, as I've said, my kids are just past the age to make the book THAT useful, but it would make a great gift for a young...more
I'm not sure I would buy the book, as I've said, my kids are just past the age to make the book THAT useful, but it would make a great gift for a young...more
I really enjoyed reading this book, it has some wonderful ideas, some I will use and some that are not for me but the idea behind the book is great especially if like me you have boxes full of old linens and fabrics. The reason why I did not rate this higher is most of the projects are too difficult to do with children, there are a couple of cute ones they could do but on the whole I see them as for me an adult and some I think will actually take longer than the time given in the book if you are...more
I think this is a sweet book, I really should give it 4 stars, but isn't quite me style. I do love so many of Amanda's ideas. Repurposing old materials into things you use in daily life. A lot of the projects, depending on your materials, have a lovely retro/shabby chic quality to them. Great for the whole family with lots of crafts that are kid friendly. I particularly like the portrait bookmarks, embroidering your children's drawings onto fabric and making them into bookmarks. Adorable. Gifts...more
I just finished Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule (check her out at www.soulemama.com). Holy cow! What an awesome book! It's not very often that I devour a book these days (at least not one that doesn't contain vampire love stories or adolescent wizards - don't judge), but I couldn't stop turning the page to see what super neat project waited for me on the next page. It made me completely rethink where I get material to work with, what I do with worn out clothes, and just how I view "old stuff...more
Confession: the library is going to hate me.... i've used up all my renewals, I'm now actually consciously racking up a fine on this one... i keep thinking of excuses NOT to take it back (maybe I'll re-read that... maybe I'll scan that..."). Yes, I'm hogging, and I don't want to share (do I sound like my three year old?)
Beautiful, inspiring, blessed creative, family energy. I feel all snuggly happy and inspired to repurpose every underused fabric-based in the house every time I open her books -...more
Beautiful, inspiring, blessed creative, family energy. I feel all snuggly happy and inspired to repurpose every underused fabric-based in the house every time I open her books -...more
Love this author's ideas and her blog. I wish I could spend a day with her thrifting to see where she gets the good stuff. All I see at yard sales, flea markets, and second hand shops is a bunch of junk!
The ideas in here are good. However, they are very basic for me. Maybe I'm more crafty and creative than I've recognized in the past.
I did like the quotes she puts at the headings to the different sections of the book. I will make a note of these in my journal.
The ideas in here are good. However, they are very basic for me. Maybe I'm more crafty and creative than I've recognized in the past.
I did like the quotes she puts at the headings to the different sections of the book. I will make a note of these in my journal.
Cute book with all sorts of nifty crafts. Most involve salvaged materials from around the house, old sheets, curtains, sweaters...I enjoyed flipping through this one. The only downside I found in this book was the almost lecture like tone as far as recycling, carbon footprints and the like. While I appreciate how long things end up in our landfills for, not everyone is comfortable making, or wearing, their own menstrual pads...
I mostly skimmed the book, reading the section intros and looking at the projects. I found a handful of projects I might do, but the majority were not really new ideas for me. I read the rag rug instructions in detail, but couldn't figure out how the lacing was to be done - do you stitch the two closest edges together, the same (outer to outer), or opposites? A picture or diagram would have helped immensely - as it is, i'lI have to search for directions online, which seems silly if you've bought...more
B One day, I imagine I'll be living off the land in a small, ramshackle house. I'll be making my own jams, running 40 miles daily through my forests in my backyard, using an outhouse, and preaching abt the virtues of using mud as an exfoliant. When that happens, I'll LOVE this book. Many of the things in here are too hippie or ugly or useless to a city gal; still, some interesting creations (make yr own diapers, maxi pads).
Great projects using repurposed fabrics! Definitely focused on a home with kids. I laughed out loud when I turned the page from cloth diapers to "women's cloth." Enough said. My favorite is the portrait bookmarks.
Handmade Home
Handmade Home
I just LOVE this book! I just can't speak highly enough of it. I love her blog and her first book, so this is no surprise. But I do love this book! =)
If you are at all interesting in making more things for around your home, I highly recommend it. If you just love reading about people who make beautiful things, you will love this book. If you like looking at gorgeous pictures, you will love this book!
If you are at all interesting in making more things for around your home, I highly recommend it. If you just love reading about people who make beautiful things, you will love this book. If you like looking at gorgeous pictures, you will love this book!
The format of this book is great, but most of the projects are a little too...cutesy for me. There is also an emphasis on projects you can do with small children, which is great, but not relevant for me. I have been wanting to make myself reusable menstrual pads, and may use her project (page 73) when I do it. That's really the only project that I think I might make.
I've had this book on my Amazon wishlist since it came out and I'm so glad I checked it out of the library first. There were only a few projects that looked even remotely like something I'd make and some that I would try (the rag rug especially) had instructions that were too complicated without diagrams. I hear her other books are better.. will be trying those next.
I love Amanda's blog -- and while her ideas are good (not so much with the "women's cloths" --think about it), her taste is so different than mine that the photos detract rather than add to my enthusiasm. She achieves a level of parenting and earth-saving to which I can not even aspire -- but I do admire
Just not the homemade maxi pads...
Just not the homemade maxi pads...
I love this book. So earth mother. Handmade feminine napkins - over the top or a must? The photos make you wonder. The recycling ideas and thrifting are great. This book makes me think, "Why didn't I write a book like that?" Now I want to learn how to sew. This author definitely has a good camera and does not have anemia.
I recently went through my parents garage and found the pillows, blankets, dolls, afghans and scarves that my Grandmother and cousins made for me while growing up. Memories of my Grandmothers sewing room and my cousin teaching me to crochet came flooding back as I read this book. Love this book and all of the ideas in it!
Handmade Home is a handsomely written and peaceful. My number one favorite craft book of the year due to it's impressive readability and thoughtful, inspired crafts. I particularly enjoyed the small insights featured in each chapter. Yet another winner published by the buddhist "powerhouse" publisher Shambhala/Trumpeter.
Blame the low rating on the fact that I ordered this one to the library sight unseen based on the title and didn’t expect it to be a sewing book. It’s interesting and well photographed with cute projects but not really calling to me at this time. I do like that the author places emphasis on repurposing fabric.
Once again Amanda Blake Soule has hit a home run! I love her ideas of things to do with children. Although I feel more comfortable with a more structured routine to my day, I appreciate her gentle reminders to slow down when mothering and enjoy the moment. And now to decide which craft to make first... I think it will be the letter packet inspired by her son Ezra.
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I'm Amanda, and I live in beautiful Portland, Maine with my husband, Steve, and our three young adventure-seekers — Calvin, Ezra, and Adelaide. Our days are spent making things, exploring our coastal Maine surroundings, and growing together as a family.
I've always had a love of textiles and crafting, but it wasn't until the birth of my first child that creating became an essential part of my daily...more
More about Amanda Blake Soule...
I've always had a love of textiles and crafting, but it wasn't until the birth of my first child that creating became an essential part of my daily...more
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