My Magical Oasis: Art Therapy Colouring Book for Creative Minds by Eglantine de la Fontaine et al
It's not often I can review a book and mention how it changes your brain, but that's apparently the effect of the colouring-in-for-adults phenomenon. There's a science behind it all that attests how alpha waves, a slightly more childlike, accepting, relaxed form of brain activity, are used by our bonces when we colour – and as opposed to the braver, thinking, active beta waves they're something the mind could do more of, especially in this kinetic, plugged-in, 24/7 lifestyle. So whereas I normally review books to help my readers make their mind up, here I'm mentioning this volume because it allegedly would change your mind. Full review...
The Creative Colouring Book for Grown-Ups
Johanna Basford was not the first, and nor was she an overnight success. If you're salivating over the Enchanted Forest, having finished her Secret Garden, you are one of those many people indulging in the new/old hobby of adult colouring-in (adult perhaps only because her titles smack more of soft erotica than colouring-in books). The hobby is rapidly killing off Sudoku as the pastime of choice for many – either on the train or sitting with half an ear to the soaps. It's fun, it opens the mind to other thoughts in quite a meditative way, and it needs no instructions – much like, again, Sudoku, even if newspapers persist in telling us them even when nobody on earth is left to need them. Full review...
Field Guide: Creatures Great and Small (Field Guides) by Lucy Engelman
Call me fuddy-duddy, but I have never seen the need to review a book via video – with Youtube and other sources becoming full of people giving their thoughts about the latest hot release the idea has never appealed to me, when there are also countless ways for one to share opinions by old-fashioned written word. That is, of course, until now, and the phenomenon that is building rapidly – that of mature colouring-in books. Here at the Bookbag we can easily prove we've read every word of the books by being eloquent, informative and opinionated about what we examine, but even I admit four paragraphs regarding a picture book we ourselves have to finish off may leave some members of our audience wanting to see the results. Full review...
Gorgeous Colouring Book for Grown-Ups
So, when I mentioned on Facebook that I had a nice new grown-up colouring book to review, I discovered a secret little group of friends who all confessed (instantly and with glee) that they have succumbed to the new relaxation craze of grown-up colouring! They had tales of how tricky it was to stay inside of the lines, how long one picture could take, and how relaxing the whole thing is. I dug out my old tin of pencils, and settled down to give it a try. Full review...
Drawing Projects for Children by Paula Briggs
Drawing Projects for Children is a beautiful, full-colour guide that encourages children to use a range of materials to create stunning and thought-provoking artwork. As the author points out, the end result is not always as important as the journey and this book helps children to move away from the more traditional, or 'safe' type of drawing styles and indulge in a little more experimentation and risk taking. The book is ideal for parents to use with their children, but each chapter is a self-contained lesson plan that facilitators and teachers can use with groups. Full review...
The Big Beautiful Colouring Book by Hannah Davies
Although I have two small children, it's been a long time since I just sat and did any colouring by myself. Usually I am tasked with drawing various family members, or vehicles, or animals, and then we colour them in together. This time I sat quietly by myself with a pack of my son's new colouring pencils, and I quite happily passed a couple of hours colouring in! Full review...
This is Not a Maths Book by Anna Weltman
I have to admit, I wasn't a huge fan of maths at school. Maybe if I'd had this book when I was a child, I would have been. 'This is not a Maths Book' cleverly bridges the gap between maths and art and teaches kids how to make beautiful patterns and shapes by using mathematical principles. We learn about parabolic curves, Pascal's triangle, the stomachion, tesselation and 3D drawings. Because the pages are interactive and hands-on, kids are learning the rules of maths without realising it. After all, there is no reason why maths shouldn't be fun! Full review...
Sew Japanese by Mariko Nakamura
I wouldn't normally find the idea of children's clothes with a national theme appealing as it's all too easy for them to look like fancy dress and kids can be all too picky about something like that. If you're going to put the effort into making something then you want it to be worn! But - I took one look at those two kids on the cover of 'Sew Japanese' - and I liked what I saw. There's a distinctive style but what comes across most of all is that they're clothes that kids can play in and feel comfortable with. Full review...
The Lost Carving: A Journey to the Heart of Making by David Esterly
Bouncing between his studio in upstate New York and the sites of various English sojourns, woodcarver David Esterly's seems to be an idyllic existence. Yet it's not all cosy cottages in the snow and watching geese and coyotes when he looks up from his workbench. There is an element of hard-won retreat from the trials of life in this memoir, but at the same time there is an argument for the essential difficulty of the artist's life. 'Carvers are starvers,' a wizened English carver once told him. Certainly there is no great fortune to be won from a profession as obscure as limewood carving, but the rewards outweigh the hard graft for Esterly. Full review...
Excavate! Dinosaurs: Paper Toy Paleontology by Jonathan Tennant, Vladamir Nikolov and Charlie Simpson
I believe that it is now an established worldwide fact that dinosaurs are awesome. I have checked the latest edition of Nature and it would appear that this is definitely the case. Dinosaurs are without doubt the coolest creatures to have roamed the Earth. Do you know what makes them really great? The fact that that left fabulous fossils and brilliant bones behind. Any kid would love the chance to dig up some old bones and build their own dinosaur. Full review...
Beautiful Patterns by Various Authors
If you are going to make a colouring book aimed at adults I say do it 100% and go all out. You can keep your minimalist landscapes or your naïve animals; give me a page packed to the gills with something that needs filling in. This can make a creative colouring book for grownups feel more like a military operation, but at least you will have fun doing it and improve your skills. Full review...
The Paint Book by Miri Flower
Craft blogger Miri Flower challenges bored children everywhere with her lovely new series of art books, which utilise basic materials that can be found in most homes. The Paint Book outlines seventy simple projects which encourage kids to get crafty and creative with paints. It's going to get messy, so house-proud parents turn away now... Full review...
The Pencil Book by Miri Flower
Summer is almost over. Gone are the carefree days playing outdoors in the sunshine with friends. Here come the rainy days and dark evenings, heralding the inevitable cry of: I'm bored!. Author and craft-blogger Miri Flower (fantastic name!) comes to the rescue of harassed parents everywhere with her new series of art books which encourage children to utilise simple materials to create fun games and artwork. The Pencil Book sees the humble pencil takes centre stage, with seventy projects to keep kids engaged and amused. Full review...
The Complete Guide to Quilting Techniques: Essential Techniques and Step-by-Step Projects for Making Beautiful Quilts by Pauline Brown
Quilting is a generic term covering patchwork, quilting itself and appliqué. All three require different skills and you'll find them all covered to a greater or lesser extent in this gorgeous book. There's an introduction covering the origin of the skills - patchwork developing amongst the pioneer women of early America for whom it was an essential way of keeping their families warm, as did quilting and for much the same reason. Appliqué is rather more decorative and luxurious and the original appliqué quilts were made to commemorate special occasions. Don't think that quilting is a craft mired in the past though - over my lifetime I've seen numerous developments and tried many of them for myself. Full review...
The Neon Colouring Book by Richard Merritt, Amanda Hillier and Felicity French
Half a century ago I trained to be a teacher. My tutors were adamant that children should not be allowed to colour in any outline which they had not drawn themselves. It 'stifled their creativity' you see, but took no account of the pencil control which it gave, or, indeed, the pleasure of creating something individual - because everyone colours differently. Times have (fortunately) changed and colouring books to delight adults and children are now all the rage and yesterday I took an idle look at one, equipped with some felt-tipped pens and a few crayons left behind when my daughter departed. Half an hour, I thought. Just half an hour. That's all. Full review...
The Creative Therapy Colouring Book by Hannah Davies, Richard Merritt and Jo Taylor
Apparently, colouring books for adults have become de rigeur in France, with the book Art Therapie-100 Coloriages Anti-Stress flying off the shelves as increasing numbers of stressed-out individuals discover the therapeutic value of 'colouring in'. Full review...
Explore and Draw Patterns: An Art Activity Book by Owen Davey and Georgia Amson-Bradshaw
Explore and Draw Patterns is a beautifully presented interactive workbook designed to spark creativity and imagination. The appeal of the subject matter is universal; everyone loves to doodle, so the book would be equally enjoyable for adults or children. Full review...
Sew Quick, Sew Cute: 30 Simple, Speedy Projects by Fiona Goble
I have a patchwork quilt on the go at the moment and it will take me months to complete. But sometimes you want to have the satisfaction of making something which might take hours or a weekend and which is more relaxing and fun. Sometimes you want a project which you can do with the kids which will encourage them to feel that they can be creative - and which produces something which is relaevant to their lives. I was 'encouraged' to knit tea cosies as a child. It didn't cut the mustard even then... I think I might have found the answer. Full review...
Treat Petite: 42 Sweet and Savoury Miniature Bakes by Fiona Pearce
I know that they're not good for me, but I do love cakes. There's always so much of them though - and I'm not going to let them go to waste, am I? I love making them too, but no matter how hard I try they always seem to end up more Little Chef than Masterchef. When I found Treat Petite it seemed that I just might have found the answer to my prayers. It's a book of forty two recipes for tiny petit fours, little sponge cakes, jewel-like macaroons and gorgeous savouries. They're all mere morsels - just big enough to pop into your mouth. Full review...
The Maison Sajou Sewing Book: 20 projects from the famous French haberdashery by Lucinda Ganderton
When I was younger I dreamed of going to Paris and visiting the fashion houses. Now I would love to go to visit Maison Sajou, the haberdasher who seems to have everything that someone who works with material could want, so when I saw The Maison Sajou Sewing Book there was no way that I could resist it. It's a confection of twenty projects, the very essence of French chic, with something for everyone. Full review...
Hand-Stitched Home: Projects to Sew with Pendleton and Other Wools by Susan Beal
I've had extensive experience of craft teachers - both in person and through books - and they fall into two categories. The first are the ones who want you to be awed by their knowledge and techniques, to know that what they can do easily may well be completely beyond your abilities. The other group are the ones who within minutes have you believing that you can do this, that you're going to find it exciting, rewarding and fun. Fortunately Susan Beal comes firmly into the second group. Just so that you know where I'm coming from, I've been sewing for over half a century, but for some reason I've not strayed far into the realms of woolen materials. There was a reluctance which I couldn't quite put my finger on. Full review...
Beth Sheard has created twenty five projects of varying degrees of difficulty ranging from simple makes which could be completed by a child with minimal help and supervision through to a quilt which would engaged the more experienced sewer. Throughout the book there's plenty to inspire every stitcher and it's all supported by examples made in glorious fabrics. Full review...
Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making by Susanne Woods (Editor)
It's perhaps easier to explain this book by starting from what it isn't. If you're just thinking about making quilts then this is not the place to start. Much of the book will be completely unintelligible to you. Even if you have some experience you might find - as I did - that there are some subjects where you need more basic information to make the most of what you are being told. What you get is a series of ten masterclasses which will move you forward in specific areas and enable you to improve the quilts you produce. Full review...
Outdoor Wonderland by Josie Jeffery
When I was growing up we had ‘Why Don’t You’ to inspire us what to do during the summer holidays, but I still don’t understand why a TV show would encourage me to switch off the telly – how am I meant to know what to do? A far more sensible guide for outdoor fun is a book like Josie Jeffery’s ‘Outdoor Wonderland’, an informative book full of interesting things to do outside no matter the weather or time of day. Full review...
Flowerpot Farm: A First Gardening Activity Book by Lorraine Harrison
With the demand for us to eat seemingly more fruit and vegetables every day, the world of grow-your-own is back. Why buy from the supermarket when you can release the kids into the garden to graze like cattle? However, before you do this, perhaps you should pick up a book like ‘Flowerpot Farm’ by Lorraine Harrison and Faye Bradley which will show them how to create their own fruit, veg and flower garden no matter how small a space they have to work with. Full review...
This Belongs to Me: Cool Ways to Personalize Your Stuff by Anna Wray
This Belongs to Me contains 14 design projects that describe how to customise everything from clothing to furniture. The book encourages people to get creative by showing the basic techniques and skills involved for each project, but leaving the actual creative design up to the personal preferences of the reader. Full review...
Make a Mobile: 12 Cool Designs to Press Out and Hang by Lydia Crook
Make a Mobile is a delightful crafting book crammed full of projects for parents and children to share. The book contains 12 unique designs that fit together beautifully and are surprisingly easy to make. The perforated pages allow the components of each mobile to be simply pushed out from the page without the need for nimble scissor skills. Full review...
Paper Play by Lydia Crook
Paper Play is a virtual time machine, taking us back to an era before the PC, tablet and games console, when children had the ability to amuse themselves for hours with a few sheets of paper, some scissors and some glue. Simple papercraft skills were passed down from generation to generation, arming creative minds with a seemingly endless supply of crafting ideas, including paper dress-up dolls, flying contraptions and finger puppets. Full review...
Woodworking for the Weekend: 20 Projects Using Reclaimed Timber by Mark Griffiths
I realised a long time ago that there's a great deal to be said for reclaimed timber. Not only is there virtue in reusing wood (and it's often hardwood) which might otherwise end up on a bonfire or in landfill, it has character, with marks and shadings which speak of its history. Used in the right place it can sing as no completely new piece could ever could - but the trick is in knowing the right place and how to use the wood. Mark Griffiths has come up with twenty projects, most of which are likely to be complete in a weekend and all of which will give pleasure to the woodworker and to the people who use the end results. Full review...
Craft it Up Around the World by Libby Abadee and Cath Armstrong
With long summer holidays looming ahead along with uncertain British weather it's alway a good idea to have plans about activities which will involve and interest children. In Craft it Up Around the World we've got thirty five suggestions for projects which will keep children entertained. As the title suggests we're going on a world tour and you can pick the projects to suit other activities you have planned, as a reminder of a holiday or just on a random basis. Full review...
Fiona Goble's Fairy Tale Knits: 20 Enchanting Characters to Make by Fiona Goble
It's a lovely idea: knitting patterns for twenty fairy tale characters and a brief story to go with them. There's the pleasure of knitting the characters and then of a child playing with them alongside a story and then being able to use their imaginations to built their own stories. Best of all, it's done without a battery or a computer/games console in sight. It's a winner all round. Full review...
Furniture with Soul: Master Woodworkers and Their Craft by David Savage
David Savage is a master furniture maker and one of the artists featured in the book, so he is not – as he says himself – a neutral observer and nor can he be neutral in choosing who to include in the book. Having said that, the pictures alone will tell you that he has chosen people who create furniture of great beauty and – often – originality. It's the text that makes the book shine, though – as it seeks not to give a critical appreciation of each man and one woman's work, but to look at what makes them tick, what drives them on and how they have handled the good times as well as the bad. It is, if you like, ten in-depth biographies of artists who work in a common medium and ten shorter pieces about those we should look out for in the future. Full review...