Crafts & DIY Reviews, March 1, 2011
Mar 1, 2011ART INSTRUCTION
Leblanc, Yves. The Art of Perspective. New Holland, dist. by Sterling. Mar. 2011. 144p. illus. index. ISBN 9781847738158. $19.95. ART INSTRUCTION
Leblanc, who has taught perspective at French universities for nearly 20 years, explains principles precisely and clearly and includes enough geometry to fully illuminate concepts without straying too far into math class territory. While all the perspective basics are covered, the principles are also applied to drawing subjects, like human figures and interior views, beyond those commonly associated with perspective. The sketches included by the author and his students liven up the lessons. This new book on the familiar technique of perspective drawing presents well-worn material in a fresh way.
CRAFTS
Jones, Derek. Bird, Bee & Bug Houses: Simple Projects for Your Garden. Guild of Master Craftsman, dist. by Sterling. 2011. 160p. illus. index. ISBN 9781861086440. pap. $17.95. CRAFTS
Furniture maker and outdoor wildlife enthusiast Jones combines his two passions in this book, which features a variety of outdoor projects designed to attract and provide shelter for birds and insects. The birdhouses are attractive, but the bee and bug houses star. The introduction includes tips on where to hang your finished creations to attract your preferred birds or insects. The projects range from simple to detailed, and many incorporate recycled materials or scrap wood from other projects. Attracting beneficial insects can be a challenge for gardeners, and providing shelter will encourage these helpful creatures to stick around.
Mabray, Angela & Kim Otterbein. Polymer Clay 101. Creative Pub: Quayside. 2011. 192p. illus. index. ISBN 9781589234703. $24.99 with DVD. CRAFTS
Polymer clay work is one of the rare crafts with potential to appeal to serious artists as well as casual crafters, and the costs of getting started with a polymer clay hobby are relatively low. With the guidance of polymer clay artists Mabray and Otterbein, crafters can get a handle on all of the basics of working with this distinctive medium. The projects are the highlight here—the authors expect readers to learn by doing, and a variety of techniques, including Skinner blends, canes, snakes, mold making, and stamping, are outlined. The DVD features further step-by-step directions for many techniques.
DO IT YOURSELF
Nelson, David Erik. Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff To Make with Your Kids. No Starch. 2010. 342p. illus. ISBN 9781593272593. pap. $24.95. DIY
Nelson taps his experience as a high school teacher to present gritty and offbeat projects—primarily musical instruments and electronics as well as games and toys—that will resonate with young adults. The organization is poor, and the lack of an index doesn’t help. Technique tips appear after project steps, and instruction for specialized tool use is buried at the end of the book. However, with detailed text instructions and helpful black-and-white photos (though they suffer from insufficient labeling), this project book is well targeted for teens who want to make something out of the ordinary and aren’t afraid to solder.
FIBER CRAFTS
Cambron, Joyce Lawrence. A New Spin on Curved Piecing. Leisure Arts. 2010. 80p. illus. ISBN 9781609000714. pap. $19.95. FIBER CRAFTS
Cutting and piecing curve shapes from fabric seems intimidating—it is easy to miscut and turn a lovely piece of fabric into fodder for the scrap bag. In her first book, quilt instructor Cambron walks practiced quilters through her process for curved piecing, which is based on her experience with appliqué. After a couple of pages of directions and tips, quilters can jump right in to a practice project that teaches the skills required for all of the other projects, both small and large, in the book. Templates and step-by-step directions for each project are provided, and the results are striking.
Rutzky, Jeffrey & Chris K. Palmer. Shadowfolds: Surprisingly Easy-To-Make Geometric Designs in Fabric. Kodansha, dist. by Oxford Univ. 2011. c.128p. illus. index. ISBN 9781568363790. $27.95. FIBER CRAFTS
Decorative art and geometry combine in the fascinating folded cloth technique pioneered by professional artist Palmer. Following an introduction to the concept and inspirations behind these tessellations rendered in fabric, Rutzky (Kirigami: Exquisite Projects To Fold and Cut) and Palmer present 15 step-by-step projects that demonstrate the variety of articles that can be created using Shadowfold techniques. These projects aren’t for the faint of heart—this type of work requires a good deal of patience and attention to detail—but the remarkable results include both wearable art and art for the home.
Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks! Storey. 2010. 288p. ed. by Judith Durant. illus. index. ISBN 9781603425797. pap. $18.95. FIBER CRAFTS
The latest in Durant’s popular “One-Skein Wonders” series (Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders) focuses on the world of sock yarn—one of the most vibrant categories of yarn available in today’s marketplace. Sock yarn is obviously great for socks (and there are sock patterns in this book), but its light weight and soft yet sturdy qualities make it particularly suited to mittens, shawls, scarves, and knits for babies and children. With 101 projects, there’s something here for every taste and skill level.
INTERIOR DESIGNS
Provey, Joseph R. Easy Closets: Affordable Storage Solutions for Everyone. Creative Homeowner. 2011. 160p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781580114899. pap. $14.95. INTERIOR DESIGN
Provey (1001 Ideas for Kitchen Organization) presents a wide range of ideas for organizing storage spaces in every room of the home, including children’s rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and garages, and provides advice for a variety of storage needs and how to safely store linens and clothing. Instructions are given for a dozen projects, from easy-to-install direct-mount shelving systems to those requiring more construction skills, such as creating a closet from scratch. An international list of products and organizations is provided. With the variety of closet systems and storage ideas, this well-illustrated volume will be useful to many.
