Crafting With Feminism by Bonnie Burton

Tags

craft & hobby, feminism

I like to craft. I consider myself a feminist. This should be my ideal book, yes? Well, no. Far from it, actually.

According to the author, if you can stick googly eyes on a salt shaker, you’re a crafter. Erm…maybe, but do I need a book where that is the standard of crafting on offer? Some of the items suggested are quite fun – a tampon buddy, for example. Why shouldn’t you have some fun with a necessary item? It’s just a shame that the buddies made from the book’s instructions are so amateurish and could have been made during craft hour by any eight year old.

Do we really need vagina tree ornaments to prove our feminist credentials? I mean, they’re not even vajazzled! Where’s the fun in that? The worst item in the book is the Drinking Dames Flask. The level of crafting in that is pitiful.

The projects are interspersed by pages of feminist stuffing that add little to the book.

I usually refuse to review books I don’t enjoy, but I’d hate for someone to purchase this thinking they were getting a great ‘how-to’ book.

Am I letting down the sisterhood? Nah, I’m doing you a favour.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

The Art and Craft of Handmade Books by Shereen LaPlantz

Tags

craft & hobby, how to, non-fiction

I have recently got back into crafting in a BIG way. I use it as therapy to help with depression and stress – creating something, no matter how small, is such a positive use of time and stops me dwelling on the things that make me anxious. It was with this renewed enthusiasm in mind that I opened The Art and Craft of Homemade Books in the hope that I’d find some projects to inspire me. I wasn’t disappointed.

I thought that Ms LaPlantz would be teaching me about bookbinding, how to make small books to use as art journals or sketch books. Instead, I was encouraged to totally rething what a book was and to see them as an art form in themselves. I think it’s fair to say that none of the books shown in the book are particularly practical, but they are expressive, artistic rather than artisan, and a gift that anyone would be pleased to receive as a gift.

The instructions are detailed and have diagrams to ease understanding and the author’s passion for her craft is apparent throughout the book. I loved the gallery of books made by other artists and learning the ‘lingo’ of bookbinding.

While I have to say that the more complex books were of little interest to me – I aspire to be a Jack of all trades rather than a master of any – I can’t wait to try out the simpler concertina fold books and to incorporate them into altered matchbox and altered altoid tin crafts.

A beautiful and worthwhile book if you are interested in exploring book making as an art form in itself.

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