Craft Current

Last Minute Fabric Gifts

This inspiring book comes with 30 easy projects for quick-to-make gifts ranging from fabric-covered notepads to a tea-dyed sequined scarf to a baby quilt. Arranged by how long it takes to complete each project, the book focuses on gifts that generally require less than three hours of time. What’s more, Treen clearly details the knowledge and skills you need to improvise on these projects, allowing you to customize the color, pattern, and texture to suit the occasion. Complete with 70 full-color photographs and a final chapter on innovative ways to wrap gifts with fabric, Last-Minute Fabric Gifts is brimming with creative ideas sure to appeal to novice and experienced sewers alike.

The cat toy and tie pouch projects are my favorite so far. I know of a very hip pre-teen who may be starting a trend at her school by calling the pouch a cell tote and embellishing it with mini buttons!

Creating Papercrafts

In Creating Papercrafts, interiors stylist and craft expert Labeena Ishaque reveals just how inventive one can be with paper. The book begins with an introduction to making paper. Six main chapters - Cards and Stationery, Gift Wrapping, Home Decoration, Keepsakes, Table Settings and Special Occasions-provide hundreds of crafting ideas, whatever your skills. Labeena has devised 14 simple yet effective projects, each one illustrated with step-by-step photography. Her ideas range from decorative gift wrapping and boxes to making papier-mache bowls, cards, and picture frames. Each project is easy and inexpensive to make, and looks stunning.

I've been inspired on more than one occasion by this fantastic book. The Alfresco Summer Brunch ideas are what got me hooked. It's truly an invaluable resource!

Softies Kit

I'm in love with the idea of creating soft sculpture objects. I say I'm in love with the idea because I haven't really made one yet. Oh, I've created with fabric. I've even made jointed bears -- entire families of jointed bears -- and many other plush projects have dotted the pages of my crafting life. But there's just something about the cuteness and quirkiness "Softies", isn't there?

Sigh, I did actually sigh just then. I can't tell you how excited I was to discover the Softies Kit by Therese Laskey. It has 15 projects with instructions and materials! Now, I can postpone the wool felt purchase I was about to make because once I try all of the projects, I'll know the ones I love most and can purchase more supplies accordingly.