The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art & the Comforts of Home (Hardcover)

by Jane Brocket (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Jane Brocket delights in domesticity. Lively, curious, and creative, she takes inspiration from her surroundings, from art, literature, and nature, and expresses her passion through the gentle arts of needlework, cooking, gardening, and homemaking—and now through her writing. In The Gentle Art of Domesticity Brocket celebrates everything that is, and can be, wonderful about home life.

 

This gorgeous and unusual book, full of whimsy, warmth, and a wealth of stunning photographs, helps us to see domesticity with new eyes. Whether she’s knitting a tea cozy or baking jam tarts, crocheting a blanket or sewing an apron, Brocket fills her home with beauty, color, and fun. She transforms day-to-day domesticity into a realm of possibilities, both practical and imaginative—and encourages us to do the same in our own lives.

 

Rather than categorize readers as quilters or embroiderers, bakers or gardeners, Brocket embraces the idea that they may be all of these, and more. The key to practicing any of the domestic arts, she says, is to recognize the value of homemaking, overlooked skills, and ordinary things. This book’s glorious synthesis of style, DIY projects, and philosophical musings inspires us not only to emulate Brocket’s handmade creations but also to share her enjoyment of the simple pleasures of home.

About the Author

Jane Brocket is the creator of the gorgeously colorful blog www.yarnstorm.blogs.com, which has a huge international following. A Master of Wine and lapsed Ph.D. student, she lives with her husband and three children in Berkshire, England.

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Product Details Hardcover: 288 pages Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (August 15, 2008) Language: English ISBN-10: 1584797363 ISBN-13: 978-1584797364 Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,559 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

24 Reviews 5 star:  (12) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:  (3) 2 star:  (3) 1 star:  (4)           Average Customer Review 3.6 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 52 of 54 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars A Love/Hate Review, October 19, 2008 By  S. G. Luxton (Billings, Montana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I bought this book because it was recommended in some of my favorite blogs but I must agree with the 2 star review that the author seems almost secretly embarrassed that she spends her days cooking, knitting, quilting, etc. So coming out to the world with this book she brings up her education credentials constantly. I guess I am trying to express that I found her writing (to emulate her dearth of the common vernacular) grandiloquent. So that is the Hate part of the review. The Love part is that I do like to look into what inspires, moves & drives people to create. I am a list person so an introduction to some new movies, artists, recipes and places kept me reading. I personally do not subscribe to her color theory but the product & photos are beautiful. So my final word is I am happy to have read the book. I feel I got my money's worth but I would recommend skipping her more pretentious passages. I mean, really, when is the last time you used the word ludic? 50 of 57 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars Lovely pictures, a few good recipes...., September 21, 2008 By  thesweetestpea (Arizona) - See all my reviews I was so excited when this book was released in the US, however I find myself disappointed. The photos are fantastic and the few (maybe five or so?) recipes that are in this book interest me. Other than that this book falls flat. I find the book MUCH too wordy (and yes, I know books usually do contain many words). She just talked about herself way too much, almost to the point of annoyance. It seems like a collection of favorite stories, quilts (no patterns, just pictures), knitting (once again, just photos), and favorite movies and books. The reader is also constantly reminded of her education throughout the book (MA, MW, shelved PhD). Long story short- this seems like a personal journal full of fantastic photos. I don't know the author, so I couldn't really care less about her personal prefrences. I feel like this will be a nice book for her children/grandchilren one day. Way too personal. I really don't feel that this should be called a "craft book". This book is more inspirational if anything. I will keep the book though, only for the photos. 20 of 21 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, Wrong Title, December 27, 2008 By  Red Clay Reader - See all my reviews This book suffers from a misleading title. "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" suggests a how-to book filled with recipes and patterns and helpful hints. A more accurate title might have been "The Portrait of the Artist as a Housewife" or "Gentle Domesticity: The Art of Jane Brocket." Have no doubts about it: Jane Brocket is an artist. She has a vivid sense of color, pattern and texture that bursts through every page of this book. You wonder how anyone can bring themselves to eat her baked goods, they're so gorgeous. She is also a marvelous photographer. Instead of a how-to book, consider this an illustrated argument that domestic crafts--knitting, quilting, baking, sewing--should be taken seriously as artistic endeavors, that utility is not the enemy of beauty, that everyday things can and should be aesthetically pleasing, that there is value in the homemade. The domestic arts are deeply pleasurable for both those who practice them as well as for those who are the lucky recipients of homemade socks and brilliantly frosted cupcakes. When I was a kid, back in the '70s, it was common for people to say, "If women are equal to men, why are there no great women artists?" It took me years to realize that I was surrounded by great women artists, knitters, needleworkers, and cooks, to mention only a few. Jane Brocket is an artist. Her book is inspiring, visually delightful, and well-written. I enjoyed learning more about her process and her thoughts about color (she is a color genius) and the joys of crafting. My only caveat would be: Understand what kind of book you're getting yourself into before you buy it. The negative reviews posted here seem to be the result of people buying "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" thinking it would be something other than what it is.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational! This book is a pleasure for someone exploring creativity and inspiration in daily life. The photos are gorgeous and very personal. Read more Published 1 month ago by Claudia Horner 2.0 out of 5 stars SLIGHTLY inspiring I picked this up because I was excited about the title, Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art, and the comforts of Home. Read more Published 2 months ago by J. Plummer 5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely wonderful book! I just loved this book. I'm one of those domestic goddesses who don't work outside the home, and also does many crafts, including quilting, jewelry-making, knitting/crocheting,... Read more Published 2 months ago by Sparky 5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning This book is so beautiful that I can't leave it alone. I've read it cover to cover several times, and each time I look at it I find more inspiration. Read more Published 2 months ago by S. Cain 5.0 out of 5 stars Really charming I originally bought this book because I was intrigued by the photography and the title, but was pleasantly surprised by the fresh writing in the essays and how inspired I felt to... Read more Published 3 months ago by Kay McPhee 3.0 out of 5 stars Book Structure I didn't quite get the structure of the book. I assumed she put all of her blog posts on "style" into the chapter on "style", but it still didn't gel for me. Read more Published 3 months ago by JWM 5.0 out of 5 stars A happy, colorful, inspirational book of a life well-lived I'm really perplexed by the snippy reviews here. This book was wonderful! What's wrong with Mrs. Brocket mentioning her education? Read more Published 3 months ago by Shoshana37 1.0 out of 5 stars Would rate zero if I could! **Update 3/17/09 the publisher has contacted me to let me know they have just done a second printing of this book with the correct recipe conversions. Read more Published 3 months ago by N. Pearce 5.0 out of 5 stars Finally I absolutely LOVE this book. I FINALLY discovered a person who thinks like I do---it feels kind of cool to realize that what I've known about myself isn't just me. Read more Published 4 months ago by Hornblower 5.0 out of 5 stars check the errata if using the US edition Apparently the editors introduced numerous errors in converting the recipe measurements for the US edition - if you are planning to make any recipes from the book, do yourself a... Read more Published 5 months ago by MKB Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book (August 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584797363
• ISBN-13: 978-1584797364
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,559 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Love/Hate Review, October 19, 2008

By	S. G. Luxton (Billings, Montana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book because it was recommended in some of my favorite blogs but I must agree with the 2 star review that the author seems almost secretly embarrassed that she spends her days cooking, knitting, quilting, etc. So coming out to the world with this book she brings up her education credentials constantly. I guess I am trying to express that I found her writing (to emulate her dearth of the common vernacular) grandiloquent. So that is the Hate part of the review. The Love part is that I do like to look into what inspires, moves & drives people to create. I am a list person so an introduction to some new movies, artists, recipes and places kept me reading. I personally do not subscribe to her color theory but the product & photos are beautiful. So my final word is I am happy to have read the book. I feel I got my money's worth but I would recommend skipping her more pretentious passages. I mean, really, when is the last time you used the word ludic?

50 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lovely pictures, a few good recipes...., September 21, 2008

By	thesweetestpea (Arizona) - See all my reviews

I was so excited when this book was released in the US, however I find myself disappointed.

The photos are fantastic and the few (maybe five or so?) recipes that are in this book interest me. Other than that this book falls flat. I find the book MUCH too wordy (and yes, I know books usually do contain many words). She just talked about herself way too much, almost to the point of annoyance. It seems like a collection of favorite stories, quilts (no patterns, just pictures), knitting (once again, just photos), and favorite movies and books. The reader is also constantly reminded of her education throughout the book (MA, MW, shelved PhD).

Long story short- this seems like a personal journal full of fantastic photos. I don't know the author, so I couldn't really care less about her personal prefrences. I feel like this will be a nice book for her children/grandchilren one day. Way too personal. I really don't feel that this should be called a "craft book". This book is more inspirational if anything.

I will keep the book though, only for the photos.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, Wrong Title, December 27, 2008

By	Red Clay Reader - See all my reviews

This book suffers from a misleading title. "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" suggests a how-to book filled with recipes and patterns and helpful hints. A more accurate title might have been "The Portrait of the Artist as a Housewife" or "Gentle Domesticity: The Art of Jane Brocket."

Have no doubts about it: Jane Brocket is an artist. She has a vivid sense of color, pattern and texture that bursts through every page of this book. You wonder how anyone can bring themselves to eat her baked goods, they're so gorgeous. She is also a marvelous photographer.

Instead of a how-to book, consider this an illustrated argument that domestic crafts--knitting, quilting, baking, sewing--should be taken seriously as artistic endeavors, that utility is not the enemy of beauty, that everyday things can and should be aesthetically pleasing, that there is value in the homemade. The domestic arts are deeply pleasurable for both those who practice them as well as for those who are the lucky recipients of homemade socks and brilliantly frosted cupcakes.

When I was a kid, back in the '70s, it was common for people to say, "If women are equal to men, why are there no great women artists?" It took me years to realize that I was surrounded by great women artists, knitters, needleworkers, and cooks, to mention only a few. Jane Brocket is an artist. Her book is inspiring, visually delightful, and well-written. I enjoyed learning more about her process and her thoughts about color (she is a color genius) and the joys of crafting.

My only caveat would be: Understand what kind of book you're getting yourself into before you buy it. The negative reviews posted here seem to be the result of people buying "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" thinking it would be something other than what it is.