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

~ (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: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,457 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Author

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	64% buy the item featured on this page: The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art & the Comforts of Home 3.9 out of 5 stars (29) $23.10
	10% buy Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing 4.2 out of 5 stars (40) $16.49
	10% buy Stitched in Time: Memory-Keeping Projects to Sew and Share from the Creator of Posie Gets Cozy 5.0 out of 5 stars (18) $15.61
	9% buy Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures 4.1 out of 5 stars (15) $14.93

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Customer Reviews

29 Reviews 5 star:  (17) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:  (3) 2 star:  (4) 1 star:  (3)           Average Customer Review 3.9 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 59 of 62 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? 25 of 26 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. 51 of 60 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.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Gentle Art of Riling Many reviews of this book seem to me to be reviews based on what the reader wanted the book to be, rather than what it is. Read more Published 29 days ago by Rampaging Hippogriff 5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Look Into Choices and Love As a severe academic, I have always struggled to find a balance in my life between life as a bookworm and life as a homemaker. Read more Published 1 month ago by Creature_of_the_Night 5.0 out of 5 stars the gentle art of domesticity What an absolutely beautiful book. I am not very domestic but this book sure makes me want to be! Published 1 month ago by Rebecca W. Jenkins 5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful book about domestic arts I bought this book after I kept checking it out of the library. It now holds a place on my bookshelf with others I love to peruse on a rainy or snowy day. Read more Published 1 month ago by Brenda N. 2.0 out of 5 stars Fluff and Stuff This book whilst nice to browse through really is just fluff and stuff. The few recipes are straight from the pages of "Baker & Spice". Read more Published 1 month ago by Posh Oz 5.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Expected - BETTER! I was expecting more of a "how to" book with technicalities, but it had almost none of that! Instead, these pages hold the authors account of her ideas and memories of various... Read more Published 1 month ago by S. Slone 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 5 months 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 6 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 6 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 7 months ago by S. Cain 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: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,457 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 62 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?

25 of 26 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.

51 of 60 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.