Get Crafty

Curated by Seira Wilson | Amazon Book Review Editor
There's something about spring that brings out my inner hobbyist and there are lots of DIY tomes to choose from. The books I see come across my desk have the power to teach me everything from weaving to building a deck or designing a state of the art flower arrangement. Below are a handful of craft books that I think are well done and also represent the variety of what's out there. Whether you already have a hobby you love, or you want to try something new, I hope you find the book that inspires you to get creative -- and crafty -- this spring.
The woman who made DIY popular, Martha Stewart has written the bible of crafts and how-to. This is a book you'll use over and over again. Do not be surprised if Martha's voice pops into your head as you read.
Fun with clay, no kiln required! Polymer clay is kind of amazing; it comes in a variety of colors or you can dye it easily. The clay is easy to work with, and with the help of this book beginners can learn how to create life-like clay versions of flowers, animals, and eerily realistic macarons (do not leave these on your kitchen counter...).
I didn't know about this type of woodcraft until I looked at this book--this is the art of green woodworking. The only tools you need to create objects and even furniture is a hand knife, a log, an axe and the desire to create something. The project instructions in Woodcraft are photographed in full-color and this book is a great way to try out the tradition of whittling.
Organized by season, this new book provides both inspiration and instruction for bringing the outdoors in. Creative ideas that draw on the fresh blooms and branches of the season.
Kawaii is translated as "cute" in Japanese and describes a very popular style. Origami does require a lot of patience but other than that it's just paper and time. Origami is a great hobby to take on planes and to share with kids--just take it one small step at a time. Pushkin's book has 50 projects and comes with 25 papers so you've got everything you need to get started right away.