Book Love

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

Comments

[Leah]

Beautiful book, thanks for sharing!

[lucy@theantidote]

Thanks for the little peak inside, I have had a little gaze at this book in our bookshop. Maybe I should add it to my (ever increasing) birthday list!?

[Liz]

What a lovely book - you must make salt dough crafts together...so much fun! I also love making my own playdough for kids (haven't any kids of my own, this is all work related) but it's all time, especialy if they don't enjoy the making of the dough just the playing!

[emma]

Hi Lucie

Have been so busy and unable to leave comments etc. Enjoying the sun and working on papers until 3.30 am in the morning to make up for being with the family on the beach - lovely but manic.

Just had to comment to say thank you for wanting to buy a mosaic. Will talk to you about that another time.

Plus you need to move down here - nice sea and me! We have so much in common. I love that Green Craft book it is the last book I bought!

Sorry about the grammar in this etc but in such a hurry - all good though just need 48 hours in each 24 hours!

Have a lovely day - love Emma xxxxxxx

[Romero]

guauuu! pero que cosas mas lindas para poner en practica!!!

[Jenni]

What a cute little book you have shared with us! I think the last picture featuring the puppets are adorable:) I do hope that my two year old likes crafts when he is a wee bit older. Would love to see what your wee one's could come up with. I'll bet your talent runs in the family:)

[Julie]

I loved your review so much I have just reserved the book online from my library. I have avoided fines since the library helpfully started sending emails just before my books are due back - very useful!

[Leanna]

I recently borrowed a book on aquarium fishes for just that reason- the glossy, bright photography! (Hopefully mine's not overdue yet though. But maybe I should check!)

[Jacqueline]

I was tempted to buy this book, but as my little one is a seven year old boy, I wasn't sure how appropriate it would be. I's still tempted though, just to buy it for myself!

[Shelley in SC]

Ooooh, yes, beautiful, beautiful pictures. And you are so right about the styling. I so took it all for granted before! The salt dough necklace has "Lucy and kids" written all over it!! I can just see them in your beautiful colors!