Alternacrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make [Spiral-bound]

Jessica Vitkus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

First came indie rock bands and indie movies. Now, thanks to Jessica Vitkus, the indie movement has reached the world of crafts, where traditional techniques such as knitting, mosaic, embroidery, metalwork, sewing, and collage are being used in brave new ways.

With an emphasis on recycling, improvising, and making things from scratch, AlternaCrafts offers more than 20 projects that provide this newest generation of crafters with the skills they need for the self-expression they crave. Whether they want to turn their beat-up T-shirts into a shaggy rug, an old sweater into a cozy hat, yesterday's newspaper into a bouquet of flowers, or their jeans into a new skirt or bag, this exciting book tells them how to make the transformations with a minimal amount of money and no experience whatsoever. Smartly priced and boldly designed to attract teenagers and twentysomethings, this book will also appeal to older crafters seeking newfangled twists on their favorite pastimes.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-Vitkus has done a good job of creating interesting crafts that can be made out of recycled household items. Teens will appreciate the relatively simple page layout and informal writing style. The ideas are organized into things to wear, projects for the home, and gifts. Old pants are transformed into a purse, and pop-bottle lids become pendants. Some projects, like converting a pair of jeans into a skirt, are quite involved, while others, like pin-prick cards, can be accomplished in a few minutes. Each idea contains clear, step-by-step instructions geared to beginners. Unfamiliar terms are defined in context or in sidebars. Full-color photos show the finished products and the essential steps in the process. Some projects also include diagrams. This is a good choice for crafty teens. However, middle schoolers and preteens may prefer Kathy Cano Murillo's The Crafty Diva's Lifestyle Makeover (Watson-Guptill, 2005), which has some of the same basic ideas, but has brighter, busier pages complete with cartoon craft divas.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Jessica Vitkus is a writer and television producer living in New York City. She has written craft stories and developed craft projects for Martha Stewart magazines and television, has worked as a writer/producer for MTV News, Pop-Up Video, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She is currently supervising producer for MTV2's Wonder Showzen.

Brian Kennedy is a photographer who has worked for a variety of publications, shooting everything from chocolate connoisseurs to Central American festivals to professional surfers. He lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 144 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584794569
• ISBN-13: 978-1584794561
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,578 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Has provided me many hours of crafting goodness!, August 26, 2006

By 

Spaced - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alternacrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make (Spiral-bound)

The projects here are varied and so great (the curtains made from bandanas? Love!), there are color photos on practically every page, the directions are clear, and it is spiral-bound--this is such a plus with craft books.

All in all, this is probably my favorite craft book that I've seen.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and easy and pretty, April 30, 2006

By 

Sluggie (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alternacrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make (Spiral-bound)

Most craft books don't have enough pictures and illustrations for my liking. This one has a lot -- really breaks down the projects into steps that are easy to follow. Nothing is too hard. The photos are beautiful. The projects are quirky. I like all the recycling (flowers from sunday comics, old sweaters into new hats). You don't have to go out and buy much. Especially good for making gifts.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book was amazing!, November 13, 2006

By 

T. Huffine (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Alternacrafts: 20+ Hi-Style Lo-Budget Projects to Make (Spiral-bound)

If you're crafty, sometimes you get in a funk and can't think of things to make. This book will get you started on some new ideas. I had seen the shaggy dog rug in another book, but I liked this one even better. I didn't use it for my dog, but even better: a bath mat! It took a long time, but it was easy, and I get compliments on it all the time.