Customer Reviews

Between Friends: Craft Projects to Share

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4 star:		(1)
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I got a belated birthday present from a friend last week, Between Friends by Charlotte Lyons. What a wonderful surprise. Charlotte Lyons has made several craft books on different topics. This one is about projects you can share with friends. What about starting a craft group with some good friends or giving away a small hand made gift when you go for a visit or enclosing some fabric in a letter for a dear friend. The book gives alot of creative and great suggestions.

I have done all this, and still do. As a matter of fact, the friend who gave me the book and I have shared so many crafty projects over the years. There really are no limits in what you can do. And as it's said on the cover of the book - in an era when women set aside very little leisure time for themselves, let alone for their friends, Between Friends provides the perfect excuse to invite the girls over.

The great thing about this book is that Charlotte Lyons has collected so many different things you can do, and put them together in a charming and quite whimsical way. Don't start reading the book late in the night. You will never be able to go to bed then untill you have started a new project, phoned a friend to discuss some new yarn you saw in town earlier that day, or written a letter to a pinpal with pictures of some of your latest quilts.

The book will be a favorite of mine for years to come, and I know it will inspire me to make wonderful gifts for and with my friends from all over the world. And a little secret. MY Between Friends has a little handmade bookmark, embroidered with the words"If friends were flowers, I'd pick you" - made special for me by my special sharing friend.

Britt Arnhild Lindland

Charlotte Lyons has a real gift for creating something wonderful out of basic odds and ends. And her newest book, Between Friends, offers inspiration galore. Whether you have friends to share the craft projects with or simply want to escape the daily routine by making something alone this book is a fabulous resource. The instructions are very clear and the projects are cleverly organized by the amount of time they take. A great gift idea too.

A couple of years ago, a friend gave Charlotte Lyons's earlier book "Mothers & Daugters at Home" to my 12-year-old daughter. It was beautiful to look at. She loved it. Wanted to try everything in it. Not me, however. "Oh, no", I thought. "Not another craft book that shows me how richly supplied with time, talent and materials everyone else is."

But I thumbed through it with her......and fell in love. And in the end, although she has now left me far behind in her creative development, Rebecca and I launched several delightful (and successful) projects together.

So when Ms. Lyons's next book came out, I bought it for myself and have continued to purchase it as gifts for others. Like its predecessor, the layout of the book is beautifully coordinated. The narrative and directions are personal, engaging and encouraging. The directions are clear. It is liberally supplied with beautiful photos that convey not only the "made specially for you" look of the projects but also the joyful feel of the process. And tucked in, among all these things, are snippets of warmth, wisdom and inspiration that make this book itself a great gift to all who pick it up.

I received this book as a gift from a good friend. Even if you're not an experienced crafter but have a fun group of friends, get them together (add a little wine) and try some of these projects. You'll find some really good ideas for sharing your old photos, letters and treasures.

Love this book...fun projects to try with friends or on my own. It's pretty to look at too. Perfect for gifts. The dumpling soup is the great.

After 9/11, I think we've been searching for projects to
do at home and find ways to reconnect with family and
friends.

Search no more --Charlotte Lyons has provided the answers
with her charming book of craft projects. Her photos and
directions are easy to follow; her recipes invite us all into her kitchen! You read this book, and feel you've always known
her -- or want to know her!

I'm exhausted after reading Martha Stewart's descriptions of craft projects. Ms. Lyons' photos and descriptions make you feel like your watching over your mom's shoulder - warm and
cozy! Like she's right there encouraging your creative side!
What a great Mother's Day gift, birthday gift or "girlfriend"
gift. Reconnect with old friends and find new ones.

These are lots of fun and in many cases practical too :) One thing that's especially neat about this book isthat the crafts are broken down into chapters according to how long they'll likely take (e.g. Chapter 1: "in an hour" - these are crafts like seed packets, paper weights, quick frame, painted tea pot etc; Chapter 2: Half a day - these are crafts like note box, a book bag, flea market pillow, oatmeal cake, etc; Chapter 3: All Day -memo board, cachepots, postcard holder etc; Chapter 4: Over the weekend: these include a journal, topsy-turvey doll, wall clock, tea cozy; Chapter 5: As long as it takes - garden throw, craft cabinet, hooked rug, memory album, friendship quilt)

The end of the book has sources, glossary and patterns.

There are lots of pictures (color) throughout, great stories of friends doing things together, good instructions.

Super book - makes a great gift to a friend as well

Between Friends: Craft Projects to Share, by the talented Charlotte Lyons is a very inspiring book. I bought the book for my very own girl friend craft group and we sat and look at and read every page. The selection of crafts was very inspiring for our group. We have since made many things from it. It is so much fun. It also led us to Charlotte's first book: Mothers and Daughters At Home: 35 Craft Projects to Make Together.
Charlotte Lyons book gives lots of crafty ideas to try. I actually made the painted handbag on page 86. I have carried this handbag to the fanciest parties and have gotten many great reviews!
Friends are delightful, girl friends are essential! Thank you Charlotte Lyons by helping our group remember this.
Buy the book for yourself and buy the book for your girl friends. You'll be glad you did!

Charlotte Lyons has such a generous, personal style that it feels like this girlfriend is talking right to me. Her directions are clear and simple; and she encourages her readers to take her ideas and "run with it". As in her earlier book, "Mothers and Daughters...", "Between Friends ..." is all about including the people that you love in the ceative endeavors of your life.
Bravo, Ms. Lyons. What's next?

After 9/11, I think all of us have been searching for activities
to enjoy at home as well as ways to re-connect with friends.

Well, search no more! This writer has provided a wealth of ideas
and reasons to spend time with "gal friends."! The book is very
clever; craft projects are written in easy "can do" language. And, her recipes are simple to follow with "delicious" photographs that invite you into her kitchen.

She's the kind of person you've known all of your life and miss!
So, why not order up a copy of this book and send it along with a
note for Mother's Day, a birthday or just to say I'm thinking of
you! You won't be disappointed -- she seems softer than Martha!