I received a very official looking letter through the post yesterday morning, you know the sort that comes in a scary looking brown envelope with transparent window, my full name typed out in Capital Letters. Turns out it was a reminder from my local library letting me know that I still had a book out on loan which was due back on 4th June and which will no doubt be costing me a small fortune in fines. But hey ho, that's the price to pay for a shot-to-bits memory such as mine. I blame the Little People. EnTIRely. Before they crashed into my world, I was one of the organised ones. I remembered things. I was on time for things. Not so any more it seems, I can't remember what it's like to actually remember things anymore.
Rather luckily (and unusually), this morning I did actually manage to find the book in question without involving too much bad language and searching. And as I'll be hopping along to my local library later on today to return the naughtily late book and pay the naughtily hefty fine, I suddenly thought I'd like to share this book with you all before it goes back.
It's called "Green Crafts for Children" by Emma Hardy.
And ohhhhhhhhhhh its one Beeeeeeautiful book!
As is my usual habit, I flicked through this book very quickly when in the library to see if it was suitably eye-candyish enough and therefore worth borrowing. And on deciding straight away that yes this book most definitely contained very high-grade eye candy, home it came with me.
I have to say I really, really appreciate beautiful styling and photography, most especially since I began taking photographs for my blog. I have learnt how deceptively hard it can be to take a supposedly simple still-life photograph, and how background props/ephemera/scenery can add such bucket loads of beauty and ooomph to fairly ordinary up front subject matter.
Take these fabulous tissue paper flowers for example...a simple, quite old fashioned craft, made to look extremely beautiful in my opinion. But just look at the above photograph :: it's not just about the flowers themselves see.....no no no, it's every other little detail that goes with it. The vintage jugs, the floral table cloth, the cutlery with the green and white polka dot handles, the distressed turquoise dresser in the background.....ahhhhhhhh I love, love, love it all. So beautifully, appealingly styled. And such gorgeously pretty colours.
And it's the same throughout the book. Page after page of pure gorgeousness.
The projects themselves are very appealing too, and are divided into five chapters ::
Salt Dough, Papier Mache and paper, Recyclng, Natural and Fabric.
The step by step instructions are clear and accompanied by photographs of children actually making the things. And very cute, adorable children they are too.
I just love those peg dolls.....but I equally love the bed they are so beautifully propped on, don't you?
Well....I do need to stop drooling now....those pages have got me all excitable.
And in case you were wondering, no, I haven't tried a single one of the thirty five projects with the Little People yet, although I do fully intend to. I think they would love to make salt dough things, in fact there are many of the projects that I would like to try with them.
They probably won't end up looking half as pretty, but I'm sure we would have some fun trying.
xxxxxxxxx
I wish it existed in French !
Posted by: Fred | April 10, 2010 at 10:50 PM
Great book. Don't return it, send it my way :o)))
Posted by: Anja | July 01, 2009 at 11:41 PM
I bought this book a while ago on a complete whim - usually I agonise whether or not I should buy something and manage to talk myself out of it. I looked through and put it in the book case where it has been forgotten until I read this entry. Think I'll go and find it now and make some lovely things - I particularly like children's books - a. because they are simple to understand and b. because I was one once.
Loving this sunny weather so don't know why I'm sitting in a room with no light and a computer.
Posted by: greedy nan | July 01, 2009 at 01:48 PM
ohh love the book.. must find some old gloves after seeing that octopus (thing)....my kids are 22 & 19 but I think I can just swing it to justify getting it !! fortunatly for me we dont get fined here just a letter with the cost of replacing the book!! I have become addicted to your hexagons & have been crocheting like mad have some done about half a baby blanket I guess so still going ... thanks for your inspirational blog
Posted by: Claire Hilton | July 01, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Lucy ~ I love that book, it has some really great ideas in it. I must admit that I tend to bring these books home from the library too, fully intending to make lots of interesting things, but somehow never quite get around to them either ~ too much crochet, knitting etc to be getting on with instead! :O)
Posted by: Jackie | July 01, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Your subconscious was obviously telling you that this was a good book for the summer holidays ;) Don't worry - we all get like this in the end!! I love your selection of flowers - I'll blame you if I end up at the garden centre again this week! Hope you are enjoying the sunshine, best wishes, Pj x
Posted by: pj | July 01, 2009 at 09:00 AM
What a fantastic book, I might have to get my grubby little hands on a copy of that book. Brilliant projects for little people (and big LOL)
Posted by: Jo | July 01, 2009 at 08:28 AM
Catastrophically overdue library books are a mark of honourable citizenship. How else would libraries survive without us 'late returners' to rely on?! Console yourself that even if you haven't actually made any of the projects you will certainly have done the 'collecting together of stuff' to make them if you ever get round to it. I have a roll of brightly coloured felt just waiting (and waiting, and waiting...) to be transformed into beautiful jewellery!
Enjoy the sun
Cxx
Posted by: Caroline | July 01, 2009 at 08:27 AM
That looks just my sort of book, thanks for sharing! I'm glad its not just me that got a library fine (again) this week! Life was soooo organised before children, now it is CHAOS!! But it's fun, so what the heck! Hope you are all enjoying this lovely weather in your beautiful colourful garden!
Sally x
Ps I still haven't made the bunting! I was very annoyed to have everything ready to start this weekend - except the right coloured thread! aaahh! So hoping to purchase that later this week and have a go at it this weekend. How did yours go?!
Posted by: sally | July 01, 2009 at 07:56 AM
Ahhh Lucy, you have convinced me.
That book is full of inspiration. Even if not one of the projects ever gets tried, much less completed, just to be energized by the color or idea in a photo is grand.
Keeps those juices flowing. Keeps your own inventive imagination percolating.
Well worth any fine. xo
Posted by: frances | July 01, 2009 at 04:04 AM
i just love to place them on my cabinet..
Posted by: Building home | July 01, 2009 at 04:03 AM
I have that book as well :) I love crafting and my kids as well. I am happy to announce I have finished my babette, and am on to a BB of some sort ;)
If you check out my flickr site, you can see my babette here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bon_stuff/3676175303/in/pool-purlbeebabette/
and if you look at my monster set, you will see the sock monsters / sweater monsters I make, love them :)
Posted by: Bonnie Slager | July 01, 2009 at 12:56 AM
What a treat! I'm in total agreement about the beatifully put together shots.
While my six month old isn't quite ready for such things, maybe mummy could make some anyway...
:)
Posted by: Christina | July 01, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Well, I think your photos are always equally beautiful! By the way, I went to the library at the weekend to return my overdue books and pay a fine of.....NINE POUNDS!!!!
Posted by: Jo | June 30, 2009 at 09:40 PM
What a lovely book and such good ideas for children to make. I think it would be worth buying, as it is the sort of book to go back to again and again.
Posted by: June | June 30, 2009 at 09:21 PM
We've sold quite a few copies of that very book in the shop - I like to have a flip through in a quiet moment too. It strikes a great balance between achievable and yet still aspirational.
Posted by: Ali | June 30, 2009 at 06:46 PM
OOOh, lovely lovely book. Another one to add to my wish list. Unfortunately it will be a while. My brain is even worse than yours or anyone else's I fear as left buggy on pavement yesterday and drove away. Needless to say buggy no longer there! No books for me today or tomorrow..... Lxx
Posted by: Lucy | June 30, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Stuff it being a book for children - I think it appeals to lots of us big children too!
Must see if my library has a copy now!
NB - my last visit was to pay off a hefty fine too!
Posted by: Cara @ Turvys | June 30, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Un piccolo saluto!!
AnnaP.
Posted by: AnnaPaula | June 30, 2009 at 05:03 PM
Totally agree Lucy it's all very gorgeous. It has made me want to take a trip to the library and have myself a little drool.
Posted by: Nelly | June 30, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Hiya Lucy,
that book looks fab - I can see why you hung onto it!
take care,
Nina x
Posted by: Nina - Tabiboo | June 30, 2009 at 03:43 PM
The book looks like such fun and my youngest is 17. I checked with my library and they don't have it yet. Sometimes it's hard to find English books here in the states. Thank goodness for The Book Depository.
My favorite are the paper flowers.
Posted by: blackbird | June 30, 2009 at 03:06 PM
What a lovely book, you are so right about the photography, am thinking about new ways to photograph my houses and beach huts!! lovely post again X x x noelle
Posted by: noelle | June 30, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Hi Lucy, I bought that lovely book from Amazon and even though there are lots of girly things in it my youngest son and I have made the noughts and crosses from beach finds and 2 old glove people. Its a wonderful book. I also have her book Sewing In No Time which has lovely designs.
Hope the gorgeous weather is in Yorkshire too. Karenx
Posted by: Karen | June 30, 2009 at 02:26 PM
A wonderful book and well worth the fines I would say! I will have to try to find a copy for my kids. Thank you for introducing me. ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
Posted by: Kelly | June 30, 2009 at 02:13 PM