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The Best of Making Things: A Hand Book of Creative Discovery
Why go to the mall when you can make things at home using materials recycled from around the house? This classic educational and creative text features 125 projects, carefully selected by the author to "develop natural curiosity and self-esteem," and to demonstrate "simple and important concepts that have shaped the cultures of the world." So when a child asks, "What can I do?" you can reply, "Make things! Paper from laundry lint! A bird feeder from clothes hangers! Chocolate pudding finger paintings! Beautiful fish & potato prints! A cardboard box loom that teaches weaving and math! A simple pattern to sew shirts, pants, or dresses!" The author's detailed and delightful drawings fill every page "so that children just starting out and grownups who have missed out can quickly grasp the ideas."
168 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 28, 2017
Love love love. So approachable and creative and fun. Inspiring.
March 11, 2016
A great little craft book that (unlike many other older craft books) I would call retro, but not dated. It is absolutely a product of it's era, but there's little in it that's not doable now.
In fact, this book coming out of the seventies means there is a focus on traditional crafts, nature and reusing things (not letting a thing go to waste) which fits right in with our current sustainability culture and feels pretty contemporary.
I also think the approach of this book to children's crafts is a good one - I love how open ended many of the crafts are, encouraging creativity and exploration (though there tend to also be some more explicit instructions for those who prefer those). It's the process, not the end result here that is the focus, and I think that is the best approach for learners, young and old.
I only wish the original versions of these books were still in print, with their lovely 2 color illustrations (these are only in B&W).
In fact, this book coming out of the seventies means there is a focus on traditional crafts, nature and reusing things (not letting a thing go to waste) which fits right in with our current sustainability culture and feels pretty contemporary.
I also think the approach of this book to children's crafts is a good one - I love how open ended many of the crafts are, encouraging creativity and exploration (though there tend to also be some more explicit instructions for those who prefer those). It's the process, not the end result here that is the focus, and I think that is the best approach for learners, young and old.
I only wish the original versions of these books were still in print, with their lovely 2 color illustrations (these are only in B&W).
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews