"Isn't it cute?" "Pat yourself on the back, dearie." Hantman's effusive tone may be too much for some crafters, but the dozens of projects she presents are practical and clearly celebrate resourcefulness and an open heart. Constructed mostly from inexpensive materials, the handmade gifts range from bookmarks and laminated place mats to simple sewing projects and kits for cat lovers. For each one, there are easy-to follow instructions and plenty of color diagrams. The dedication is to girls, but the hands-on stuff may attract some boys who like crafts and appreciate the message that gift giving is not about spending but about thinking of others and expressing one's own creativity.
Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
About the Author
In her early years, on a boundless quest to never be bored again,
Clea Hantman picked up the craft bug. Thrift stores are now her home away from home; the faint scent of glue, her perfume. For Clea, crafting isn't just a hobby, it's a way of life! She lives this way in sunny San Diego with her hunky hubby, her brilliant daughter, and her movie-star dog. This is her sixth book. Visit Clea at www.superclea.com.
Azadeh Houshyar owes her love of making things to her craft-a-holic mom who blessed her with a Hello Kitty sewing box at age 8 3/4. The box is long gone, but her trusty pink and silver Hello Kitty scissors are still a favorite crafting tool. An illustrator and designer, Azadeh lives in New York City with her other cherished cutting tools, an X-Acto knife and a superstyling Rotatrim.