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
| |||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
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
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
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
Format: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.
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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format: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
By Kittykill
Format: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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun
This book is fun and does reference crafts over the decades. Not a lot of how to, but a few instructions.
Published 2 months ago by Todd H
4.0 out of 5 stars
impractical but fun
This book has lots of fun projects in it but it's a bit impractical. I love craftster.org and was hoping it be more like the website.
Published on May 20, 2010 by Veronica
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brings back memories
This is, hands down, the most enjoyable "retro" "repurpose" book I have purchased. I grew up crafting with my mom in the 50's and 60's and the pages in this book were like... Read more
Published on December 1, 2009 by D. L. Brod
5.0 out of 5 stars
I Love It!
I want to make several of the projects in this book. I love the idea of the thread-spool knitting, and I want to learn to crochet so I can make the doll face fridge magnets. Read more
Published on August 15, 2009 by Cydni Perkins
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing and impractical...
I guess I'll be the voice of dissent here, since everybody else apparently LOVED this book and its projects. Read more
Published on February 4, 2008 by Jennifer M. Macleod
5.0 out of 5 stars
great fun!
I love looking through this book and getting inspired--the writing is so fun and the design overall is just so kitschy-cool! Read more
Published on April 18, 2007 by E. J. Sessions
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremly Happy!
Great book and great new projects to try out! Thing you would have never though of and intresting new ways to spice up things you may have tried before!! Read more
Published on April 18, 2007 by J. Thacker
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful book
I love this book! It has fun projects and great easy to follow instructions. If you love kitschy crafts this book is for you!
Published on April 18, 2007 by R. Furst
1.0 out of 5 stars
Great Projects, Terrible Instructions
I have had this book for almost a year now, and I have done quite a few projects out of it; the popsicle stick purse, the book purse, the foil animals, etc. Read more
Published on April 8, 2007 by Marlene D.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!
This is a great crafty fun book! It's a good read and easy to understand.
Published on March 29, 2007 by Dawn Hardy
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
So You'd Like to...
|
|
