The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties [Paperback]

Leah Kramer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006

You won't find die-cut teddy bears, cross-stitched friendship plaques, or ducks painted with bonnets in this hipster collection of crafts from Craftster.org founder, Leah Kramer. You will find forty easy-to-make,fun-to-wear, and stylish-to-display projects pulled straight from the pages of vintage craft books--plus ten all-new retro-inspired crafts-including: Cigar-Box Purse, Coffee Urn Lamp, Doll Face Fridgies, Glovely Lovely Coin Purse, Sweater Teapot Cozy, Novel Necktie Apron, Slip-On Toothbrush Bracelet, Painted Glass Martini Set, Powder Room Poodle, Space-Age Party Accessories, and much more!An unabashedly tacky craft compendium for lovers of gold-painted macaroni, toilet paper cozies, and everything terry cloth, THE CRAFTSTER GUIDE features full-color and vintage photographs, descriptions of tools and techniques-and enough irony to fill a popsicle-stick purse.Reviews"It's time to get in on the latest social craze-crafting! In this clever book by Leah Kramer, you'll find a world of ideas. . . each with easy-to-follow instructions for even the most amateur craftsters."-Justine Magazine". . . an irreverent combination of recycling and innovation."-Decorating Digest Craft & Home Projects"Craft royalty Leah Kramer has rescued and resuscitated scores of great and so-bad-they'¬?re-great projects from half a century of crafting history. Thanks to her discerning eye and clever wit, everything from the cinchy Cigar-Box Purse to the terrifying Terry Loincloth has been given a new lease on life. Whether you make them or mock them, this unforgettable collection of improbable projects is guaranteed to keep you crafting-and cringing-for years to come." -Debbie Stoller, editor-in-chief of BUST Magazine and author of the Stitch '¬´n Bitch books"Leah Kramer's collection of vintage craft books has served her well! She's come up with a kitschy collection of clever crafts that remind us of the days before the ubiquitous hot glue gun. THE CRAFSTER GUIDE is sure to be required reading for anyone interested in mid-century crafting culture." -Brini Maxwell, host of the Style Network'¬?s The Brini Maxwell Show"Leah Kramer has helped advance crafting into the twenty-first century with Craftster.org . . . but she knows the real way to our DIY hearts is with retro projects from the fifties and sixties. Who hasn't pined for a collection of these almost-forgotten classics? Essential for your craft corner library." --Jenny Hart, founder of SublimeStitching.com and author of Stitch-It Kit

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

* A full-color collection of 50 craft projects from the 1950s and1960s (including more than 10 new retro-inspired crafts) from the founder of hipster craft website Craftster.org.

* With hundreds of vintage photographs, original project instructions, colorized images, schematic line drawings, and contemporary color photographs.

* Leah Kramer and Craftster have been featured in Time, Jane, Budget Living, San Francisco Chronicle, London Guardian, and Houston Chronicle, and on National Public Radio. Selected Crafts: Cigar-Box Purse • Hardcover Book Clutch • Coffee Urn Lamp • Powder Room Poodle • Macaroni Glamour • Beaded Fruit • Felt Flowers • Glovely Lovelies • Plastic Bottle Piggy Bank • Doll Face Fridgies

About Craftster.org:

"This isn’t your grandma’s craft club. . . . Cross Martha Stewart with an urban hipster and you’ve got the idea." —CBS News Radio

"It has a sensibility that’s not exactly homespun. . . . Call it open-source crafting." —Time

About the Author

Leah Kramer has been a self-proclaimed craft junkie since she could hold a pair of safety scissors. In her spare time, Leah combs the aisles of thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets looking for items to add to her collection of everything weird, old, and eye-catching, including 1950s craft and cookbooks, kitschy plastic charms, cake decorations, and old records with beautiful covers. Combining her computer skills with her love of crafting, Leah started the popular web community Craftster.org, whose motto is “No Tea Cozies without Irony,” in 2003. Much to her surprise, the website is now visited by hundreds of thousands of like minded crafters. Part-owner of the Somerville, Massachusetts, boutique called Magpie, which sells hip crafts and goods by indie designers and artists, Leah is also an organizer of the popular punk rock craft fair, Bazaar Bizarre (bazaarbizarre.org). Leah lives and crafts in Boston, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580087477
• ISBN-13: 978-1580087476
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #703,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leah has been crafting ever since she could hold a pair of safety scissors. Somewhere along the lines she thinks she inhaled too much glue because now she is attracted to crafts that are irreverent, ironic, kitschy, or cleverly eco-friendly. August 2003 she started Craftster.org which is a haven for likeminded renegade do-it-yourselfers and has over 50,000 registered members. She resides in Boston where she is an owner of the "coolest store ever," Magpie (Somerville, MA), and is an organizer of the not-your-grandma's craft fair Bazaar Bizarre.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars there's a reason these crafts got lost, June 9, 2008

By 

molemann_services (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties (Paperback)

i really, really wanted to love this book.
I've been a member of craftster since the begining and gotten some awesome ideas from there, and this book got so many positive reviews.
But I don't buy craft books to say how fun the projects are.
I buy them to *do* the projects.

I can't really see some of them (the egg carton lantern???) in anyone's home.
There are a few little cute projects (headband, snow globe, book purse) but you can learn how to make them anywhere.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Fabulous!, April 18, 2007

By 

Batgirl Librarian (Minneapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties (Paperback)

This book is chock full of fun and fabulous projects for anyone. The kitsch factor is high - these crafts will surely bring a smile to your face! I have found the instructions clear and easy to follow, and the projects have inspired a few kitschy brainstorms of my own!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book makes me happy!, April 18, 2007

By 

Kittykill (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties (Paperback)

If you want a fun book with lots of kitschy crafty history than this is the book for you! I have made a lot of the crafts and the instructions are easy to follow with no hassle. I would highly recommend this book.