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The Handmade Life: A Companion to Modern Crafting
No longer confined to the domain of the domestic, today craft is prized in almost every sphere of creative endeavor, whether architecture, food, fine art, or fashion. The Craft Companion serves as both inspiration and instruction manual for Etsy entrepreneurs, artists, and hobbyists alike—modern creatives seeking new ideas and techniques, and to sharpen their skills.
Organized by theme and featuring thirty-four techniques (such as origami and appliqué), each chapter inspires with the work of contemporary artisans, one big project, and five project ideas, and informs with a short historical overview of each medium, design notes and things to consider before getting started, tools and techniques illustrated with a combination of hand-drawn diagrams and photography, and lists of websites and other sources for further reading. With over 150 artists featured and hundreds of project how-tos, The Craft Companion brings together information on a wide range of media and techniques into one essential manual.
Organized by theme and featuring thirty-four techniques (such as origami and appliqué), each chapter inspires with the work of contemporary artisans, one big project, and five project ideas, and informs with a short historical overview of each medium, design notes and things to consider before getting started, tools and techniques illustrated with a combination of hand-drawn diagrams and photography, and lists of websites and other sources for further reading. With over 150 artists featured and hundreds of project how-tos, The Craft Companion brings together information on a wide range of media and techniques into one essential manual.
- GenresCraftsNonfictionArt
408 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2016
419 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 4, 2019
It's quite sweet, but has some dubious information throughout.
April 26, 2018
This book was for a magazine review. I did not read this book fully from cover to cover, but I looked over the images and text to get a sense of what is being presented. I definitely recommend this book for people who enjoy crafts as well as people looking to try something new in the handmade world. The magazine review is below:
Pursuing an interest with handmade and homemade projects requires excitement, creativity, and patience. While there are numerous resources, books, videos, and community groups that one can check if a certain activity strikes one's fancy, but what about starting with the basics? What about getting to the core concepts of the activity? If you are at a loss on what type of craft or handmade activity to give a shot and don't want to spend the money on materials you don't know how to use, the book The Handmade Life: A Companion to Modern Crafting may be a good first step for you.
While this book almost presents itself as a work of art on its own, it really is an incredible breakdown of popular handmade activities that you can try out without troubling yourself with expensive tools, confusing instructions, and projects far too large to take on. The book is divided into four main categories - fiber, stitch, surface, and form – then further divided into topics within those categories. For each topic, you are provided an introduction, some examples of using the topic, design notes, tools commonly used, techniques to take note of, a few ideas to keep in mind, and finally a project to try on your own. Reading this book will be an enjoyable experience – despite its hefty appearance – as you explore each type in a fulfilling way.
Personally, I am fond of form types of handmade projects. I enjoy discovering practical uses and I especially like creating 3-D projects. For example, clay is a fascinating material to work with – there are so many types of clay, techniques to try, and useful objects one can create very easily. Another fun and surprisingly simple handmade craft highlighted in this book is making use of dye for cloth, a beautiful and colorful activity great for all ages. You are bound to find something that strikes your fancy here if you have a budding interest in the handmade, whether it is knitting, needlepoint, origami, beads, or zakka.
Pursuing an interest with handmade and homemade projects requires excitement, creativity, and patience. While there are numerous resources, books, videos, and community groups that one can check if a certain activity strikes one's fancy, but what about starting with the basics? What about getting to the core concepts of the activity? If you are at a loss on what type of craft or handmade activity to give a shot and don't want to spend the money on materials you don't know how to use, the book The Handmade Life: A Companion to Modern Crafting may be a good first step for you.
While this book almost presents itself as a work of art on its own, it really is an incredible breakdown of popular handmade activities that you can try out without troubling yourself with expensive tools, confusing instructions, and projects far too large to take on. The book is divided into four main categories - fiber, stitch, surface, and form – then further divided into topics within those categories. For each topic, you are provided an introduction, some examples of using the topic, design notes, tools commonly used, techniques to take note of, a few ideas to keep in mind, and finally a project to try on your own. Reading this book will be an enjoyable experience – despite its hefty appearance – as you explore each type in a fulfilling way.
Personally, I am fond of form types of handmade projects. I enjoy discovering practical uses and I especially like creating 3-D projects. For example, clay is a fascinating material to work with – there are so many types of clay, techniques to try, and useful objects one can create very easily. Another fun and surprisingly simple handmade craft highlighted in this book is making use of dye for cloth, a beautiful and colorful activity great for all ages. You are bound to find something that strikes your fancy here if you have a budding interest in the handmade, whether it is knitting, needlepoint, origami, beads, or zakka.
October 30, 2016
I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads Program for the purpose of a fair review.
Overview: Are you a knitter that needs to spread his/her horizons? Do you work with clay, and need a new view of things? Or are you tired of just tying knots all day? Welcome to the Handmade Life. This book will offer you a whole new set of skills, as well as some photos to show you what your own mastery can accomplish.
Likes: This book has it all, the basic skills, tools, and examples for each craft style, as well as an overall toolbox requirement.
Dislikes: I understand that there is only so much room, I just wish that we got more than one project per craft.
Conclusion: This is a useful book. You might want to consider getting more specific books if a craft here calls to you.
Overview: Are you a knitter that needs to spread his/her horizons? Do you work with clay, and need a new view of things? Or are you tired of just tying knots all day? Welcome to the Handmade Life. This book will offer you a whole new set of skills, as well as some photos to show you what your own mastery can accomplish.
Likes: This book has it all, the basic skills, tools, and examples for each craft style, as well as an overall toolbox requirement.
Dislikes: I understand that there is only so much room, I just wish that we got more than one project per craft.
Conclusion: This is a useful book. You might want to consider getting more specific books if a craft here calls to you.
January 11, 2018
This is a great book to learn about a multitude of crafts in one place. Topics include fiber such as felt, knit, crochet, weave and tapestry; stitch such as embroidery, cross stitch, needlepoint, and applique; surface such as marble, indigo, print and dye; and form such as clay, beads, books and paper. The diversity of the projects and topics included make this a great beginning craft title to help the artist learn and experiment in may different forms.
December 4, 2017
Borrowed from my local library, The Handmade Life: A Companion to Modern Crafting is a thick, information filled, reference book for crafters. If you wanted to know about a craft technique, be it old or modern, it will probably be in there.
October 13, 2017
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! bible! masterpiece!!! So beautiful! So inspiring! #thankyou! #fanclub
March 4, 2017
This book is an inspiration to crafters everywhere...it makes me want to empty my current craft room and start over. There are valuable tips and tricks. I especially love the Essential Tools and how-tos for each type of craft (knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.). This is a must-read for any crafter or wanna-be crafter.
January 6, 2017
For those who want to explore a very wide variety of contemporary crafts and complete projects that are relevant for today, not 1972 which is when the majority of the other craft compendiums seem to have been printed.
The authors have made an A to Z of crafts popular today and written a brief history of each one, listed artists and crafters working in that field AND have designed a project to complete within that craft. WELL worth getting if you're at all crafty or arty.
The authors have made an A to Z of crafts popular today and written a brief history of each one, listed artists and crafters working in that field AND have designed a project to complete within that craft. WELL worth getting if you're at all crafty or arty.
October 25, 2016
I was lucky enough to receive this book from Goodreads. This collection is essentially an encyclopedia of crafting. Any material or type of craft is in this book. Each section is broken down into a brief description, tutorials, and examples of modern artist in each craft. Real great source of inspiration and exploration for any crafter novice to expert.
December 4, 2016
Awesome!
Great source for ideas, motivation, hot tips on crafts you already partake in, AND finding various craft authors to follow on Instagram and Pinterest to keep the motivation and awe of imagination rolling.
Great source for ideas, motivation, hot tips on crafts you already partake in, AND finding various craft authors to follow on Instagram and Pinterest to keep the motivation and awe of imagination rolling.
February 20, 2025
This book is a wonderful marriage of instructional craft book and coffee table art book. This isn't just a big book filled with fluff. A lot of ground is covered and all the illustrations are clear and concise. Definitely a must-have for the ultimate DIYer.
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December 27, 2016huge book with lots of different crafting ideas and techniques.
January 3, 2017
This book is so amazing that after checking it out from my library, I ended up hopping on Amazon and buying my own copy!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews