Crafts & DIY Reviews, September 1, 2011
Sep 1, 2011ART INSTRUCTION
Cohen, Cecilia. The Glass Artist’s Studio Handbook: Traditional and Contemporary Techniques for Working with Glass. Quarry: Quayside. 2011. 176p. illus. index. ISBN 9781592536979. pap. $24.99. ART INSTRUCTION
The medium of glass isn’t for everyone. This handbook does not cover all glass techniques, but glass artist Cohen thoroughly and clearly addresses particular practices. Her passion for the craft of glass art and her lifetime of experience are apparent throughout. An unusually large array of photographs well illustrates this colorful and luminous medium. This is not the book for readers interested in glassblowing, but it will be helpful for those exploring stained glass, glass fusing, or lampworking. Ceramicists and antique collectors may also be intrigued.
Canon EOS Rebel T3i/T3 Multimedia Workshop. Lark: Sterling. (Magic Lantern Guides). Sept. 2011. 64p. ed. by Matt Paden. illus. index. ISBN 9781600597022. $24.95 with DVD. ART INSTRUCTION
This short guide presents essential information about digital photography and the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/T3 camera. The “Magic Lantern” series titles read like illustrated, expanded, easy-to-understand supplements to the manuals that come with new cameras. The series covers many camera models, but the Canon Rebel has long been popular, so this volume is likely to be helpful to readers everywhere. A “Magic Lantern” guide will be published this fall for the similarly popular Nikon D51000. These guides are best for beginning and intermediate photographers just starting to use cameras with interchangeable lenses.
Zhou, Joanna. Super-Cute Chibis To Draw and Paint: Giant-sized Fun from a Micro-sized World. Barron’s. 2011. 128p. illus. index. ISBN 9780764146770. pap. $21.99. ART INSTRUCTION
This fun tutorial covers all aspects of drawing chibi characters, a highly stylized—and super cute!—subset of manga. Manga artist and graphic designer Zhou gives traditional and digital media equal time here. Techniques are explained step-by-step in detail as readers are invited to draw dozens of human and animal chibi characters. Sections of this guide have obvious appeal to younger children, but the author provides depth throughout that will engage teens and adults and includes a chapter on promoting your work. A creative parent can enjoy this book with his or her child.
CRAFTS
Tapper, Joan (text) & Gale Zucker (photogs.). Craft Activism: People, Ideas, and Projects from the New Community of Handmade and How You Can Join In. Potter Craft: Crown Pub. Group. Oct. 2011. c.156p. illus. ISBN 9780307586629. pap. $22.99. CRAFTS
There are numerous books about crafting for causes, but none has explored the intersection of craft and altruism with the level of detail found here. Tapper ( Shear Spirit: Ten Fiber Farms, Twenty Patterns, and Miles of Yarn ), inspired by a yarn graffiti installation in Washington state, explores the motivations of creative people who use their skills to make public statements about everything from the environment to the role of traditional “women’s work” in contemporary society. There are a few familiar figures, such as Jenny Hart of the Sublime Stitching company, but most will be new to readers. The profiles and the projects that follow them are diverse, and readers are bound to find inspiration in this nicely curated volume.
DO IT YOURSELF
Flexner, Bob. Wood Finishing 101: The Step-by-Step Guide. Popular Woodworking: F+W. 2011. 128p. illus. index. ISBN 9781440308451. pap. $19.99. DIY
Master carpenter Flexner ( Flexner on Finishing ) displays his expertise in his coverage of materials, recommendations, and tips. Photos catch the wood surface at the correct angle to illustrate desired finishes or problems. The text is heavy with explanations and recommendations, but it will be accessible to most beginning woodworkers. The individual project instructions are clear and easy to follow. While much of this material is covered in Flexner’s larger Understanding Wood Finishing , this one will serve those who don’t have his previous book, and it is probably preferable for smaller collections. Recommended.
Staggs, Brad. Spend-a-Little Save-a-Lot Home Improvements: Money-Saving Projects Anyone Can Do. Betterway: F+W. 2011. 160p. illus. ISBN 9781440304330. pap. $24.99. DIY
Eschewing the common home DIY projects, first-time author and HGTV producer Staggs has compiled improvements that will save you the most money. But HVAC repair is not for most. The photos are uneven—some are too close to be useful and others are of poor quality—and the illustrations at times have no correlation to the instructions. Missing are project tool and materials lists and an index. Water leaks are not covered at all. Pass on this one, and make sure you have an up-to-date general home-owner’s DIY book like Refresh Your Home from the Family Handyman editors or The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement.
FIBER CRAFTS
Burgess, Rebecca. Harvesting Color: How To Find Plants and Make Natural Dyes. Artisan: Workman. 2011. 180p. illus. index. ISBN 9781579654252. pap. $22.95. FIBER CRAFTS
After discussing the importance of connecting with nature through creative work, teacher and artisan Burgess describes the various steps of the dyeing process, from selection and preparation of fiber to necessary tools and supplies. The heart of the book is the collection of recipes featuring a variety of plants, many of which grow wild in the United States. Each includes information on where the plant can be found as well as a full-color photograph of the plant and dyed fiber. The recipes are surprisingly accessible, even to beginners, and Burgess includes ample information on minimizing the environmental impact of the few potentially harmful chemicals used in natural dyeing.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Bathrooms: The Smart Approach to Design. Creative Homeowner. 2011. 223p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781580114745. pap. $19.95. INTERIOR DESIGN
Creative Homeowner continues to publish practical handbooks for home remodeling. This volume provides info about assessing one’s needs and determining the type of bath desired—with close to two dozen floor plans—as well as choices available in fixtures, flooring, countertops, storage, and lighting. Although the book is similar to the publisher’s Design Ideas for Bathrooms , additional features include a financial worksheet, tips from experts, and recent remodel photos captioned with explanations of the design choices. In addition, close to 300 color photographs show the latest styles. Pair this with Kitchens: The Smart Approach to Design for pragmatic, up-to-date information on the two rooms that can be the most expensive to remodel.
