The Bust DIY Guide to Life: Making Your Way Through Every Day

by Laurie Henzel, Debbie Stoller

Whether it’s sewing clothes, making cheese, or growing a garden, the modern appeal of “do-it-yourself” projects has a broader reach than ever. And who better to teach us how to DIY our lives than the über-crafty editors of BUST, the quirky, raw, and real magazine “for women who have something to get off their chests”? In The BUST DIY Guide to Life, magazine founders Debbie Stoller (of Stitch ’n Bitch fame) and Laurie Henzel have culled more than 250 of the best DIY and craft projects from its 15-year history. Organized by category—beauty and health, fashion, food and entertaining, career, finance, travel, and sex—and written in BUST’s trademark brazen and witty style, this quintessential DIY encyclopedia from the quintessential DIY magazine is eclectic, empowering, hilarious, and downright practical, truly capturing the spirit of women today.

Praise for the BUST DIY Guide to Life:

“This lifestyle manual will come in handy when you need anything from a headache remedy to a dirt-cheap wedding.” —Entertainment Weekly

“Has tips on beauty, fashion, and finance, too, all with attitude. But our dog-eared pages? Decorating, all the way.” -- Los Angeles Times

“It’s a rare do-it-yourself book that combines instructions for both homemade pot holders and Tantric sex. But The Bust DIY Guide to Life isn’t your typical how-to manual. The book, by Bust magazine cofounders Laurie Henzel and Debbie Stoller, is an irreverent yet informative guide to much of what life throws your way—removing laundry stains, lubricating a bicycle chain, even planning a wedding on the cheap.” —Akron Beacon Journal

"Looking for one source to provide answers on how to do practical things? This is it! A friendly compendium that shows you (with many pictures and diagrams) how to replace a broken zipper, make soap, turn your bell bottoms into straight-leg jeans, how to buy an old house, how to buy a vintage car, how to skateboard and lots more." —The Fresno Bee

Genres: Nonfiction, Crafts, Reference, Feminism, Food, How To, Cookbooks

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great handy book that I had the pleasure of obtaining for free through Netgalley. I love DIY books even though I am terrible at DIY, however my frugal sensibilities make me gravitate towards books like this. There is a huge variety in this book, which I appreciate and overall I really enjoyed this book. My only qualm is that this does not work ideally in a ebook format.(for example one DIY told you to scan a template from the book)

[Jennifer Stoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great DIY/home crafts reference and resource book that has information on everything from crafting a desk set to the arrangements for the death of a loved one to DIY sexy toys. It's a little out of date (from 2011) but as many of these skills are timeless, it doesn't really matter.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect graduation, housewarming, or shower gift. BUST rules.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The BUST DIY Guide to Life is a large collection of various articles from the magazine BUST. And by large I actually mean enormous. I reviewed an ebook copy of this book, and the sample excluded a good deal of content but still numbered in the several hundred pages.

This is the first book relating to DIY that has ever made me really thing about the ideology behind women of today choosing to participate in DIY, crafts, cooking and what might have been considered repressive home-making decades ago. Immediately in the foreword I came to respect BUST’s philosophy for empowerment of women by reclaiming these activities as a hobby by choice. This undertaking and the story of the creation of BUST the magazine was inspirational, which I hardly expected from a DIY book.

The BUST DIY Guide to Life is humongous, but not so sizeable that flicking through it becomes cumbersome. This is my idea of a good DIY book, one that you can flick through and get a good idea for the projects that interest you the most. Immediately I noticed several projects that really stuck out to me, and I bookmarked them to come back to later.

This book is not for the unsupervised pre-teen. It is probably most age appropriate in the hands of a 17+ year old, particularly the post-school crowd moving out (or being given the hint) and trying to stumble through life without parents. Most of the projects are suitable for all ages, but the overall tone might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
“The only problem with this stitch is that although it looks nice on one side ... it looks assy on the other.”

This whole book is incredibly pleasing visually, and generally the layout is really appropriate to each project, such as including to size iron on templates on their own page. All the information needed for the projects appears to be self-contained within the book, which is really great.

Whilst I haven’t yet done any of the projects, I highlighted some that I definitely want to come back to. The ones that interested me the most were the handmade notebooks, print on mugs, tea towels and glasses. I think most of the projects from this book I would complete so that I could give the end product as a gift, not a cheap looking gift, but something really good quality and hand-made.

I would certainly purchase The BUST DIY Guide to Life as a gift, particularly for friends of mine who have not yet or are just about to move out of home. In fact I’m also going to subscribe the Digitial edition of BUST Magazine, because I adored the tone of the whole book.

If you are looking for a super in depth DIY book with intermediate to advanced projects, this book is probably not for you, but is a fantastic gift for a girl moving out soon or in the throes of living cheaply and/or on their own.

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

*received from Netgalley in exchange for a review*

Let's face it, being a crafty person who is constantly seeking out some interesting new project means that I really enjoy DIY and craft books. Even if it a craft I am well versed in I still enjoy reading about it, because what if there is some new and exciting technique that I have never heard of? So it is no real surprise when Netgalley had The Bust DIY Guide To Life available for review that I wanted to give it a read. Brought to you by BUST magazine (a magazine I have never heard of, but I do live under a surprisingly large rock sometimes)the book is divided into handy crafty sections: Bust-ier Home and Garden, Your Style Your Way, Health & Beauty, Eat, Drink & Be Merry, and, Moving & Shaking.

When I am looking at a crafty book, I am looking for interesting projects, clear instructions, and good photos. This book has them all! With modern takes on vintage dish towels, dinner trays made from recycled pencils, and turning your old suitcase into a spice-rack...there are certainly some interesting projects. I am going to be hunting thrift stores for the perfect suitcase now, but I might end up storing my favorite teas instead of spices...clearly I will need more than one suitcase.

Also the projects are not impossible, a lot of them require materials that you probably don't have just lying around (like a sewing machine if you are me, or a giant pile of pencils if you are someone else) so you will probably have to go do some supply shopping. This is not really a problem, but it does make spontaneous crafting harder. I do wish there were a few less sewing oriented projects, the lack of a sewing machine is a constant source of sorrow in my life.

There are some fun sections about general house-care, disaster preparation, and how to use a sewing machine. I would recommend putting the how-to with regards to a sewing machine earlier in the book, just in case a noob to the art of sewing will read that before diving into a project that requires sewing and utterly ruin it. Not that I am speaking from past experience where I just jumped into a project and had no idea how to use the tools, that would just be silly.

[Sarah Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC ebook version of this title from the publishers via NetGalley to read and review. This is 100% my honest review

Overall I liked the tone of the book, kind of young, fun and sassy. I downed it one star because this does appeal to me, it may not appeal to everyone. This book is not for the overly serious! It does have a nice selection of craft projects that would be good for those who do not have any craft experience. I felt for me and my experience level they are not quite for me. I also dropped it a star because I could use a few more pictures to go with some of the written word, but that's my own personal opinion. Also since this was an ebook version I don't know if they limited pictures for that reason and if a printed version would have more?

There was also some good DIY home improvement tips, like how to fix a clogged drain. There was also some very nice and practical tips on how to live green. I could list everything here, but I recommend just checking the book out to see if it is something that interest you.

Again most tips I already knew, I learned a few new things from this book but with my experience level and having very hands on parents and grandparents I knew a bunch of this stuff already. I know that is not true for the rest of the world. I would highly recommend this to younger women just striking out on their own, fresh out of high school into a dorm room or first apartment! This would be a great high school graduation gift, or first apartment/home housewarming gift! I actually think my teenage daughter who is 14 would LOVE this book, though I feel some of the info is good for her now so I will wait a few years before getting her a copy!

[OutlawPoet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do It Yourself Is…Cool?

Confession time: I was horrified when I started reading this book. It's got crafts and sewing. Things I admittedly stay away from. Sewing, for me, usually involves blood and Band-Aids. Crafts - okay, maybe not glue sniffing - but I did once actually super glue my fingers together. (True story!)

But as I read, I realized something. I want to make things. I want to hang my own shelves without almost breaking my thumb. I want to plant something that actually grows and doesn't just look like I planted some dirt. I want to sew a skirt that doesn't look like something out of I Love Lucy.

Not only does this book give you the products - it gives you the tools to do them without pulling your hair out. Whether you need basic sewing instruction like I do, or hints on more complicated stitches, it's in here. Need to know how to unclog a drain without calling a plumber or a convenient man, it's here. There are tips to organize and terrific cleaning tips I haven't read elsewhere.

It's my new manual for an organized, easier, and dare I say cool life. Yes, I said cool. The projects are hip, modern, some border on subversive, and not one of them looks like something your grandma's sewing circle would make.

P.S.

I sewed a skirt. And it rocks!

*ARC provided by NetGalley for review purposes.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

My goodness, this is a weighty tome.

It's a fun, skimmable DIY guide with a fun, ballsy voice, which--if that's your thing--is great. And it is my thing, and it's great. But this is not a book I need to own. While I appreciated the breadth of information (hairstyling! cocktail parties! housecleaning!), but for my own reference, it covered too much at the expense of informational depth. I'm the sort to want separate books on housecleaning, hairstyles, and cocktail parties, but if you don't, this is absolutely great. In addition, although many of the diy stylings were cute and very "indie hipster", they weren't so much for me.

In short, pretty darn useful book, especially if your parents didn't make you do chores, learn useful household skills, or adopt any other adult responsibilities, but if you're a grown up and have been doing these things for a while, you might not find much you don't know.

[Renitta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is some of it a little dated? Yes. Is some of it kitschy? Also yes. Does that change the fact that this gives me Sassy magazine vibes in the best possible way? Not even a little bit.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best part of this book was the foreword by Debbie Stoller (creator of Stitch n Bitch and co-creator of BUST magazine). She explained where the idea for a feminist magazine came from, how it was set up, and how she and the other co-creators built it from a tiny business, overcame several obstacles and made it into a successful print operation with offices and staff. As part of the magazine, they started to run a weekly DIY column that showed women it was okay to want to do the "housey girly stuff" and be good at it. They state that "DIY is not just about making things - it's also about making a life". With that in mind, this book is a compilation of some of the best-loved DIY tips from over the years. It includes a section on household items, which I found a little too hipster-y for my own taste (a spice rack from an old suitcase, hung on the wall complete with suitcase lid as a door, or quilted wall art). There are great tips on sewing - how to take up a pair of jeans is something I do actually need to do (thanks New Look and your giraffe-like jeans) so I was really glad to see that in there. They show and tell you how to make your own duvet, tote bag, vest & knickers from a t-shirt, how to alter the waist on a boxy blouse, and lots more. There's a beauty section, a budgeting section, tips on organization, and tips on how to grow your own food (potatoes in a bucket, anyone?). Overall, because a lot of the book wasn't applicable to me (preparing for a disaster - hopefully that isn't applicable) and I found some of the tips were aimed moreso at a different kind of person (City chic/hipster/high-flying career women) I give it three stars. The foreword alone was worth the two stars, but I'm very grateful for the mending tips!

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Up front: I read Bust as a teenage girl so there's always going to be a soft spot for the genuine-girl-power! writing style. Do you also enjoy bright and positive girls-can-do-anything writing? This book has got it.
The projects cover an impressive breadth of topics from personal to house to sewing to cooking to pretty much anything. They are styled interestingly and modernly in a series of well done photographs. There's lots of step-by-step photo essays and it was really lovely to be flicking through the book.

But I haven't ended up actually using it. There seems to be an astonishing amount of equipment I'd need to buy, an insistence that thrift shops can give you any supplies (I don't live near any thrift stores), and many of them require space to actually put into place. And in a way, they teach you how to do the project in the book, not the actual craft itself. In covering so much, there's not much space to elaborate, to allow you to gain an understanding of the craft itself, so that if you can't do it as printed, you feel like information is missing. It's a great reference to understand what crafts will solve that issue but I'd use a different book to actually learn the DIY craft.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of Bust DIY Guide to Life from NetGalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed below are entirely my own. This review will also appear on NetGalley, Amazon, and my blog, Mediatron.

From an in-your-face reusable grocery bag that looks like a plastic "Thank You" bag coupled with a "receipt" coin purse to homemade candles, the kitschy crafts in Bust DIY Guide to Life are anything but ordinary.

You may need some skills (sewing, knitting, other crafty talent) in order to make these things, but the directions are pretty clear and contain the patterns. Most of the designs weren't my style, but they're still pretty cool ideas.

My favorite part of the book is the part that teaches you about tools and making basic household repairs around the home, cleaning, and being green. There's also a guide for using a sewing machine to make, alter, and mend clothing, which is a task I'm currently trying to accomplish.

I'm going to have to get a physical copy as NetGalley doesn't give you the full tome, but this guide seriously has everything...including the kitchen sink!

[Melankalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a wide variety of craft, home, and garden projects, as well as advice. Great for a beginner in any of those categories, although I did find it a tad vague on the how-to.

I have to admit being fairly disappointed in the craft section. I don’t know, I just expected the projects to be a little less complete beginner 90’s kitsch, and more…unusual? Unique? Sadly, there’s just not much here that is new and interesting for someone who is already in the scene.

I found the Making Basic Home Repairs and Spring Cleaning for Dirty Girls sections to be especially relevant and informative. As with the rest of the book, these sections cover a decent assortment of topics; everything from hanging picture frames and basic cleaning to emergency kits and making your own detergent.

In conclusion, this book likely would not hold the interest of someone who is already an avid crafter, gardener, or heavily into DIY. But I’d definitely recommend it to anyone brand new to the crafting world or setting out on her own for the first time.

ARC received courtesy of Netgalley.

[Short Sorceress · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of the book for review through Net Galley, as always, all opinions are my own.

When I first picked up this book I thought it would be dedicated to crafts, but it is so much more than a craft book. Sure there are instructions for making pot holders, aprons, and reusable bags, all of which are perfect for the DIY Christmas I’m planning this year, but there are also sections dedicated to a variety of situations that come up in life. One of my favorites was called spring cleaning for dirty girls, the title made me chuckle as I read through some of the various options outlined for cleaning your home with natural products. Also helpful was the tip on how to fix an underwire bra, something every lady needs to know, even if you aren’t handy with a needle and thread. I think this would be a very valuable book for a young woman just heading off to college, I know I certainly would have used it at that age.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty interesting stuff in here. Regular readers may notice that some of these tips were actually in BUST and they might remember some of these recipes/ etc.

I just basically looked/skimmed through this book, and realized that I'm not reallY eager to do any of these craft projects any more. I did enjoy some of the recipes and liked the crafts, but I know I'm not going to do them. There were also some tips on things to do- like travel alone, starting a woman's investment club etc.

Some interesting tips here. If I was more crafty, I would totally make myself a lamp out of books, but I try to focus more on cooking, reading, writing and trying to do stuff around my house. I need to simplify, not add more projects to my life :)

Still, this is an inspirational book and anyone looking for some new projects or tips might enjoy it.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciate the feminist philosophy behind the book (and support it as well). The authors do a wonderful job of explaining their approach to life and philosophy being BUST (as well as the history) and go from there to have a series of cool and simple craft patterns. These patterns are interspersed with living tips, everything from natural pest control (it works) to surviving a three day emergency.

Great book, just like Ms. Stoller's knitting and crocheting books (I have read all of them). Nothing boring or useless here. Nice illustrations and instructions as well. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to do some simple crafting and also improve her life!

[Amy Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are all kinds of tips for everything from cleaning your house and making your own clothes to saving money and working out. It's a clever little collection that's like a best of Pinterest. I'd recommend it to people interested in DIY, especially with a focus on alternative style and saving money. It would also make a good housewarming gift! Unfortunately, I didn't see much of anything I haven't seen before. I also thought the images were somewhat lacking. Some of the descriptions and projects weren't accompanied by pictures, making it difficult to imagine what your final product would look like.

Overall, it was an OK book, and I think it'd be good in a library or as a housewarming gift, maybe, but I wouldn't buy a copy for myself.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is truly a guide to life. With an array of DIY guides, including resumes, clothing alterations and craft projects, BUST editors have compiled the best of the best. Each piece was originally published in the magazine, so some of them will be familiar to subscribers (plus there are a few issue specific pieces).

This book is great for any gal who likes doing it herself. I think it's a great addition to anyone's bookshelf because the range of tutorials covers the essentials of everyday life.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, a lot of the craft projects are kind of below my level (though I do see several I want to try), but it's a great overview of what "DIY" means -- not just crafting, but cooking, hair & makeup, money, exercise... it's a very practical overview of doing things for yourself because you can and because that's what grownups do, with the fun, sensible, and snarky Bust tone. Crafting + feminism = <3, y'all.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hoping they'd include the rag rug tutorial from way back when, but this definitely collects some of the best how-tos from issues of Bust over the years. Some of the tutorials could go into more detail or include clearer pictures, but these were all magazine articles at one point, so I don't hold it against them for the most part. Definitely a good starting point for a chick with indie sensibilities who would like to develop her DIY skills.

[Tamara]

The second book I've flipped through that devotes exactly two pages to childbirth. Weird. (Here's the other one.)

Conversational tone, step-by-step guide for basic life skills. I don't think this would be enough instruction for me to actually accomplish the tasks listed, but it does give a girl some confidence to try.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely designed and full of fun crafts and sage advice (from cleaning, saving money, gardening, and more!).

I was disappointed with the food section where recipes were written in paragraphs and there were no photographs for each of the recipe. I glazed over that entire section.

I borrowed this book from the library and scanned all the pages that had crafts I wanted to try later. I recommend this to all instead of buying the book outright.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't get a chance to read through this cover-to-cover before it had to go back to the library, but what I did read/flip through looked pretty good. It falls in the same category as Three Black Skirts and Modern Girl's Guide to Life but has more craft-related sections and is slightly more up-to-date by virtue of being recently published. If I didn't already own those other two I would want to own this, but as it is I don't currently have shelf space for it.

[Trish Baskett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a Bust girl! Seriously, I remember years ago hearing about the mag and scouring my Barnes & Noble trying to find it. I own Debbie Stoller's Stitch and Bitch books. I DIY! So happy to have cool, fresh projects all in one fantastic book. In true Bust style, the projects are retro cool and simple to do, using easily found and/or repurposed materials. A book to treasure and gift to my girlfriends! Thanks Debbie!

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has everything a woman in her twenties needs. From cooking to sewing to fixing you car or bike, it is truly a guide for the modern woman. It teaches a woman how to do everything a man can do and how to be independent.

It teaches a woman how to start her own craft business or business in general. It teaches you how to save money, how to host a party, and how to do your hair like the seventies. This is a book every girl needs when starting on her own.

[Rabbit {Paint me like one of your 19th century gothic heroines!} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: This ARC was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

I think this was an okay book. Some of the template designs were not my thing, not even in an ironic hipster way.

I did like some of the ideas behind some of the projects, and will gladly modify them.

I did love the more practical DIY with cleaning, house repair, and clothing repair. I guess, that means I am truly an adult now. :P

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun book with a lot of different DIY for everyday living, including crafts, recipes, household cleaners, beauty products. I am glad I got this out of the library as it isn't something I would probably buy. It would make a great house warming gift for the crafty girl in your life.

I did get a really great recipe for a ginger brew that I can drink!

[Simplyliv803 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of attitude, lots of kitsch, lots of projects. Too much maybe? This book is HUGE and covers everything from beauty ideas to life saving tips, but for as much as it covers, it's light on usefulness and depth. I don't sew and a lot of the crafty DIY projects involved sewing, other projects take way more than they were worth. It was fun to leaf through, but overall it was a disappointment.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bust Magazine is a guilty pleasure of mine, so I was intrigued by the premise of this book. I plan on enjoying an afternoon perusing this, and then never DIYing any of the suggested projects, but I am okay with that. Another reviewer said this book contains just about everything under the sun except unicorn wrangling and how to play the banjo, so I might be disappointed...

[Nanci Booher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a couple of good things from this book...like how to plant potatoes in a bucket. Most of the cleaning things I already knew and I am not a party giver so that was not helpful. I do like the form of the book, that the pages are not those slick cookbook type pages and the book is not heavier than a brick.