Changes

[[Category:New Reviews|Crafts]] __NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=0811771741|title=InstaKnits for Baby|author=Victoria Melissa Leapman|rating=4|genre=Crafts|summary=Melissa Leapman's ''InstaKnits for Baby'' gives us a collection of knits from toys to blankets. Some will be quick knits - others are of the 'long, cosy afternoons in front of the fire' variety. The projects are divided by the time they'll take to complete - less than five hours, five to ten hours, ten to twenty hours and more than twenty hours. All the projects are attractive, modern and Albert Museumuseable. I perhaps show my age when I wonder about 'social-media-worthy projects' but that's me being picky.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=1635866243|title=Patchwork The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook|author=Kristina McGrath and Quilting: A Maker's GuideSarah Walworth

|summary=Patchwork is ''I quickly discovered that putting words and numbers on a magical craft: you can take relatively small pieces of material and turn them into another piece of material with an entirely different patternpage wasn't enough. Quilting converts Creating a topper pattern that was correct, clear, concise, and consistent required a backing fabric with some wadding in between into great deal of trial and error, patience, and perseverance.'' (Introduction byFrancoise Danoy) A friend recently showed me a fabric knitting pattern for which she'd paid good money. The first line of an entirely different weightthe instructions began: ''Cast off 100 stitches... '' Combine It was clear that no good could come of this - the two crafts instructions didn't get any better - and you have something (finally) PayPal obliged with a refund when the seller refused as she couldn't afford the repayment. more than magicalThe pattern looked pretty, occasionally fashionable but always deeply satisfyingthe creator didn't have the basic knowledge and skills to enable her to connect with her knitters. But where to start, when there are so many different styles of both crafts? One answer is to She should have read ''Patchwork and Quilting: A Maker's GuideThe Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook'' which looks - as the cover says - at styles from Italian trapunto to Korean jogakbo and then delivers fifteen projects inspired by the V&A collections.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0500293260</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1529507987|title=The Repair Shop Craft Book|author=Eilidh MuldoonWalker Books and Sonia Albert (Illustrator)|titlerating=4.5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=Gift Boxes I love ''The Repair Shop''. It's my go-to programme when I want to be cheered up. After a hard day, there's nothing better than watching experts repair treasured items without ever mentioning what they're worth. You see, the value is in what these possessions are worth to the people who own them and the memories they hold. No expense appears to be spared and the experts spend as much time and effort as is required to Colour achieve the desired result. Regular viewers know the experts and Make: A Year they're all brilliant at explaining what it is they're doing. But how did they start?}}{{Frontpage|isbn=0760379912|title=Super Easy Quilting for Beginners|author=Editors of CelebrationsQuarry Books|rating=54

|summary=Have you ever tried wrapping a small gift, I learned patchworking from necessity: old or those handmade sweets or biscuits you've prepared for a friend? outgrown clothes needed to be turned into something new and usable when I was in my twenties. It's not easy is would be a while before it? If you use wrapping paper the gift tends to lose became a pleasure rather than a chore but I''presence'' and once you start to use glass jars the gift becomes really quite expensive and less easy to transportve never felt completely at home with quilting. Do you find colouring relaxing and rewarding but somehow it feels just I needed something a little bit more stylish than my usual buttons or knots. ''tooSuper Easy Quilting for Beginners'' indulgent if all you do is turn seemed like a good place to the next page and start colouring that? . Would you get more out of So, how did it if you could use what you've coloured for a practical purposestack up? The ideal solution to both problems is ''Gift Boxes to Colour and Make: A Year of Celebrations'' by Eilidh Muldoon.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1788000099</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre0760379874|title=Pug-a-Doodle-Do!Super Easy Knitting for Beginners|author=Carri Hammett

|summary=I was reading a book so utterly different learned to this knit in the other daynineteen-fifties: it wasn't a choice, it has was a requirement. Girls learned to knit and to bear mentionembroider and boys did wood and metal work. It My knitting wa accompanied by a lot of criticism and quite a few tears: it was a long time before I realised that there was an exceedingly academic book about graphic novels and comics for pleasure to be had in the YA audience, and skill. Nearly seventy years later it featured an essay picking up on 's the way books like the fill-in-bits-yourself entries in the Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries series (such as [[Dork Diaries: How to Dork Your Diary only thing that keeps my hands at all supple. The turning point was a booklet published by Rachel Renee Russell|this one]]) let you interact with Patons which gave all the franchise, basics and also to create your own contentsome patterns. There was some weird high-falutinI' academic language ve been looking for something simple to describe such books – but you know what? I say (redacted) recommend to that – letpeople who's just hang it and have fund like to master the skill. And this bookSo, spinning off from the four books this partnership has so far been responsible for, is certainly a provider of that.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192764047</amazonuk>how did ''Super Easy Knitting For Beginners'' work out?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca Jones0760373531|title=The Colouring Book of Cards and EnvelopesCozy Knits: Unicorns 30 Hat, Mitten, Scarf and RainbowsSock Projects from Around the World|author=Sue Flanders

|summary=I've Just occasionally you encounter a problem with many colouring books for children: some initial effort goes into the colouringbook of knitting patterns that seems to meet your every need. Right now, but the chances are that little will be kept on a long-term basis and it's not particularly satisfyingbitterly cold and we're in the sandwich filling between two storms: I need socks, scarves, hats and mittens. How much better would it be if the colouring produced something which could be sent They have to someone elselook stylish, who would appreciate that it's unique keep me warm and be so cheerful that effort and care has gone into the card? they make me feel better. How much better If that sounds like a lot to give ask, have a child something like look at ''Cozy Knits''The Colouring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Unicorns it has thirty designs for those necessary items and RainbowsI don't think that there was one of them which I couldn' than t see myself wearing. We start with an ordinary colouring book introduction by Nancy Bush which will soon be discarded?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1788000897</amazonuk>gives some of the history of knitting. It's not essential but it's a nice extra.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Matilda Tristram0760373558|title= My Year in Small Drawings: Notice, Draw, Appreciate|rating= 4.5|genre= Crafts|summary=In recent years there has been an upsurge in the publication of 'interactive' books, designed to spark our creativity. Colouring books for adults, as well as my teenage daughter's current favourite: ''Wreck This Journal,'' seek to tap into our creative side, whilst promoting mindfulness and relaxation. By actively encouraging us to slow down and look at the world around us, books like these enable us to take time out of our busy lives and just enjoy the present moment. And this method must be working, because they are proving incredibly popular. I was intrigued, therefore, at the idea behind ''My Year in Small Drawings,'' which invites readers to create a visual diary of the world around us by creating a series of small pictures on a given subject.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782405348</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewNordic Knits|author=Thomas Flintham|title=Around the World Colouring BookSue Flanders

|summary=I have been having the most tremendous fun making rainforest maskswas so delighted by Sue Flanders' [[Cozy Knits: you know 30 Hat, Mitten, Scarf and Sock Projects from Around the effect World by Sue Flanders|Cozy Knits]] that you get when a really talented face artist does a young childI didn's face and you t need any persuading at all to pick up her ''seeNordic Knits'' the tiger? . WellThis delivers forty-four patterns inspired by textiles and local traditions from Norway, this is an even better result Sweden and it's in 3DIceland. All There are a few sweaters or jackets but the creatures majority of patterns are, for smaller items such as you would expectmittens, from the rainforest regions of the worldgloves, but there's decidedly more here than the usual suspectshats and bags. You get a green iguana, toucan, jaguar, emperor tamarin, blue morpho butterfly, red-eyed tree frog, Brazilian tapir, giant otter, blue-All are bright and-yellow macaw cheerful and the emerald tree boavery cosy. Never heard of some of them? Well, don't worry: the book is gently educational, with a paragraph telling you just enough about the creature.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782404430</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Emil Fortune and Neal Manning1635864070|title=Star Wars: Imperial Assault Activity Book and Model (Star Wars Construction Books)Knit 2 Socks in 1|author=Safiyyah Talley

|summary=BobbyIf you've ever started knitting a pair of socks, my U-Wing model, was feeling lonely. Surefinished the first one and either got bored by the idea of doing the same thing all over again, he had a few select critters from Harry Potter or started on his shelfthe second sock and lost the first before you finished it, but nothing else from his worldthis is the book for you. LuckilyWhere is it that single socks go to hide? Safiyyah Talley has developed a system that allows you to knit two socks in one, now he has divide them up and have a companionperfectly finished pair of socks. Unluckily, however, itSounds good? It's a baddy – one of the ATclever and well-thought-ST Scout Walkers those nasty Empire people like to use to stride around and attack the good rebels. But that aside, it is a very handsome companionout.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405285389</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tim Hopgood1529393930|title=Doodle DogsMaking a Living: Best in Show|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=''Doodle Dogs'' introduces a wide variety of artistic styles through the idea of a dog show! Tim Hopgood shows us different kinds of dogs, all of which can be created very easily, and you soon find that doodling a dog can be a lot more detailed, and interesting, than you perhaps previously appreciated!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1509820817</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewHow to Craft Your Business|author=The British Museum|title=Origami, Poems and PicturesSophie Rochester

|summary=Sometimes you find a delight of a book. On an afternoon when it was unseasonably cold and decidedly wet I discovered ''Origami, Poems and Pictures'' and I was transported to Japan. As the title suggests we're looking at three celebrated arts and crafts: the ancient art of paper folding, haiku poetry and painting. I'll confess that it was the origami which caught my attention, but I was surprised by the extent to which the rest of the book caught my imaginationStarting a creative business has never been easier. We begin with something very simple: a boat and in case you're worried, all the entries have a degree of difficulty (from 'simple' through to 'tricky') and this one is at the lowest level.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857639382</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Warner Brothers|title=Harry Potter Colouring Book Celebratory Edition: The Best of Harry Potter colouring|rating=4|genre=Crafts|summary=Imagine pages and pages of images from the Harry Potter books and films for you to colour as you wish. You ''might'' have seen some of the images before - I know I have - as they've appeared in the ''Harry Potter Colouring Book''If not now, when?''Harry Potter Magical Creatures Colouring Book'', and ''Harry Potter Magical Places and Characters Colouring Book'', but there are several exclusive never-before-seen images which will please the collector of Harry Potter memorabilia. If you're in need of inspiration as to colours then you'll enjoy the sixteen pages of film stills, unit photography and concept art at the back of the book.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783708255</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Alice Bowsher|title=Lift-the-Flap and Colour: Ocean|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=When you think about it, it's quite startling I know that oceans cover most of our planet and theyI're home to nearly half of all species, apart from humansm not alone in having wondered whether or not I could turn my hobby into a business. We donThere't know s a lot about the oceans either - less of motivation to do so: I make more items than 5% we can sensibly use and there are a lot of the area has people who have been explored, but it is an area of outstanding beautydelighted to accept what I make as gifts. With Alice Bowsher's ''Lift-Selling would offset the-Flap costs, which can be quite considerable and Colour: Oceanit could be fun to do, couldn'' children as young as two have the opportunity t it? But where to start? What do a little exploration and I need to colour their own pictures. think about? The flaps are Well, the first thing anyone who is considering turning a stroke of genius: when we look at the sea we see little more than the movement of the water, but how different it would be if you could see crafting hobby into a little of what business should do is going on underneathto read ''Making a Living''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847809294</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kiki Ljung1635862353|title=Build a ... ButterflyThe Sandalmaking Workshop|author=Rachel Corry

|genre=Children's Non-FictionCrafts|summary=A sandal-making workshop? I love butterflies: theycouldn're one of the delights of my garden and t really believe it, mainly because I's d always thought that you'd need more equipment than the average home was likely to be able to contain but I was intrigued. Rachel Corry started sandal making accidentally - a pleasure when there are children there small fire destroyed some of her shoes. One pair had come apart and they she could see a butterfly close up, possibly for how the first time, as it rests on a flowersandal was constructed. Kiki Ljung has given us the opportunity Then she realised that she couldn't afford to learn about butterflies and also replace all her shoes. Could she combine these two facts to build create a 3D model of our own. new and worthwhile craft? The book is primarily aimed at the five She showed quite a few people her first pair and they all either wanted to eight year old age group, but I have know how to confess that I had do it - or if she'd make them a great deal of fun building my own painted ladypair. I learned quite a bit too!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847809154</amazonuk>A new career was born.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Katie Scott and Kathy Willis1783784350|title=Botanicum Activity BookThis Golden Fleece: A Journey Through Britain's Knitted History|author=Esther Rutter|rating=45|genre=Children's Non-FictionHistory|summary=Children It was December and Esther Rutter was stuck in her office job, writing to people she'd never met and adults who enjoyed [[Botanicum (Welcome To preparing spreadsheets. The Museum) by Katie Scott job frustrated her and Kathy Willis]] are even her knitting did not soothe her mind. January was going to love be a time for making changes and she decided that she would travel the length and breadth of the British Isles with occasional forays abroad, discovering and telling the story of wool's history and how it had made and changed the landscape. She'd grown up on a sheep farm in Suffolk - 'Botanicum Activity Book'a free range child on the farm'. Don't be misled by the suggestion that the book is aimed at the seven-plus age group: thereand learned to spin, knit and weave from her mother and her mother's plenty friend. This was in here for anyone who is still capable of holding a pen or pencilher blood.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783706791</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=DKChou_Make|title=Forest Life Make and Woodland Creatures|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-Fiction |summary=This book knows that if you're going to learn about forest life and the animals, plants and trees in it, then you're only going to be itching to go and explore the woods for yourself. It's for a very young audience, so always expects an adult hand to guide you – but provides a warm companion itself through several quick and easy tasks, and a few lessons. The balance between carrot and stick, or duty and reward, is great – but what exactly is the edutainment going to provide, and what will it demand of us?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241273110</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewPlay: Nativity|author=DK|title=Sharks and Other Sea CreaturesJoey Chou|rating=45

|summary=Never before have I found much cause always feel a slight disappointment for children at Christmas when they're presented with a tree to point out the sort of lower-case, almost-decorate with a-subtitle wording on the front box of ornaments and a booknativity scene (sometimes quite precious, so it's Not To Be Played With) which is set up Somewhere Safe. I say Where's the imagination, the creativity, the sense of pride in that because very little of this is about sharks – so if you ? How much better to have a youngster intending to come here and learn all child create their bloodthirsty imagination own nativity scene, which they can hold, then they may well be disappointed. play with? If you take it on board that the That'other sea creaturess exactly what they get with Joey Chou' make up the bulk of the book, then all well and good. And even better, if you expect yourself to s ''makeMake and Play Nativity'' the bulk of said creatures…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241274389</amazonuk>.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lucasfilm099334030X|title=Star Wars Art of Colouring The Force AwakensCan You Draw the Dragosaur?|author=Peter Lynas and Charlie Roberts

|summary=Without giving any spoilers away, the end You're going to get a hint of what this book''The Force Awakens'' sees a character and their peace interrupteds about very quickly. While said person probably has The Force to give them some restful easeWhen you see the title page, you never know 'll find out what else they usedthe book's called and that it's been written by Peter Lynas. They may, for one, have dabbled in colouring-in books, and their much-lauded effect Then we move on to who has done the mind – that of calming it, illustration - and providing there's a meditative, simple yet creative task for itgap. Whether that is the case or not, ''You'' are going to put your name there are books set in the . It's ''Star Warsyour'' universe responsibility to provide the pictures for people this book about one of the largest creatures ever to join in in that way – and this roam the earth. There's some help available, but your name is on the best I've seen.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405285796</amazonuk>title page - and you have work to do!

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Katrina Pallant and Kate Rhodes1635860334|title=Star Wars Make and DoWhy We Quilt|author=Thomas Knauer|rating=34

|summary=For I've often wondered about the right young mind, their favourite franchises just don't end with watching them once or twice story that patchwork quilting began as a way for women (and myth would have it that's it. Given great characters they will want was always women) to make an extra blanket out of material which would otherwise go to write them into their own stories, or re-enact their dramas in the playgroundwaste. If things get a bit more sedateThis undoubtedly ''did'' happen but when you think about it, some you need an awful lot of them can be convinced material to sit diligently working on craft projects, which is where this book comes inmake a quilt and the time could have been better spent if all that was required was bedding. It latches on Like Thomas Knauer, I've come to the biggest names in the Star Wars universe, conclusion that it began as an art and allows you to either draw or create them, or both. But while the 'why don't you?' spirit is strong has largely continued down that same road with this one, I remain unconvinced fluctuations in popularity over the results will please everyoneyears.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405279974</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Peter Korn1419726625|title=Why We The Mitten Handbook: Knitting Recipes to Make Things and Why It Matters: The Education of a CraftsmanYour Own|author=Mary Scott Huff

|genre=AutobiographyCrafts|summary=I love mittens - they'My intuition from the day re so convenient and much easier to get onto (and off) cold hands than a pair of fiddly gloves. They're not something you regularly see in shops, so I first picked up a hammer was knew that making things with a commitment to quality if I wanted new pairs I would lead have to a good lifeknit them myself. Well, actually,that' Peter Korn writes. As an aimless, free-spirited University s my rationalisation of Pennsylvania studentthe situation: in truth, he moved I love knitting mittens. They have just enough technique to Nantucket Island to earn the rest make them satisfying, plenty of his college credits through independent study quick work and happened to be offered a carpentry job. That arbitrary job choice at the age pair of twenty would come to define the rest of his careerwarm mittens in a few days. Manual labour was all new to him Patterns, but 'though - where do you get them from the start there was a mind/body wholeness to carpentry that put it way ahead of what I imagined office work to be.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784705063</amazonuk>?

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Warner Brothers1621137775|title=Harry PotterHandbag Workshop: Magical Artefacts Colouring BookDesign and Sew the Perfect Bag|author=Anna M Mazur

|summary=With a big production film you can be almost overwhelmed by all that's there to seeI love handbags, but what most I resent paying the prices demanded by manufacturers of us forget is that in the film-maker's archive theregood's an awful lot which we never get to seebags. Additionally, I often find a bag I like but the colour/shape/size/capacity/internal layout isn't ''Harry Potter: Magical Artefacts Colouring Bookquite'' what I had in mind, so I end up spending rather a lot of money and compromising. The solution is packed with stunning pieces of artwork from the Warner Brothers archiveto make my own bags and whilst I was confident about sewing fabric bags, I was nervous about using leather, giving you the chance not least because leather isn't very forgiving when it comes to colour the magic of J K Rowlingmistakes and it's wizarding worldusually more expensive than fabric. There are the props from the Harry Potter films: an enchanted map, a piece of jewellery that can turn back time, vials full of liquid memories and newspapers with moving photosI needed help. What Anna Mazur's ''The Handbag Workshop'' came to me free through NetGalley in return for an inventive brain that woman has!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783705922</amazonuk>unbiased review.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lucasfilm1632506386|title=Star Wars Rogue OneThe Knitter's Dictionary: Art of ColouringKnitting Know-How from A to Z|author=Kate Atherley|rating=3.54

|summary=Colour me happy that I''Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' is aroundve been knitting for well over sixty years, following patterns of varying complexity with success. While I've not had knit Aran sweaters, socks by the chance of seeing it yet, dozen and I'm dead chuffed it takes place at currently knitting blankets for a central point of the main arc of films' storylines, and not some nebulous place elsewhere in [[Star Wars: Galactic Atlas by Emil Fortune and Tim McDonagh|that galaxy far, far away]]charity to sell. Yes, it does do what the There hasn'new trilogyt been an occasion when I' did, ve been stuck and people have much more gloss and many more technologies than the films set after it, but what is not often come to like? Well, the expected expenditure on tie-in books and articles, I guess – several hundred pounds on ''oneme'' for help when ''they've' collector's card is a little steepbeen stuck. But seeing as I handily mentioned colouring above, in the vernacular, why not take it literally and use this large format paperback, promising Would a knitter''100 Images s dictionary really be of any help to Inspire Creativity''me?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405286377</amazonuk> I was surprised by just how much I got out of it.

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Paul Jarvis1440248850|title=British Airways Colouring BookModern Patchwork Home: Dynamic Quilts and Projects for Every Room|author=Vivika DeNegre (Editor)

|summary=Over the past couple of years we've seen The problem with a lot of colouring books: flowers, patterns, fantasy creatures, characters and settings craft which is largely based on traditional designs is that what results from television showsyour labours is also traditional, films and books and lots more, but I can't recollect that we've ever before had one which featured a ''company''. Mind or - depending upon what light you, British Airways, is rather special; iconic and rather more long lasting than most passing celebritiesshine on it - old-fashioned. It Vivika DeNegre has curated a collection of patterns from today''heritage'' and ''tradition''s top designers. The As a word of warning, if you read ''British Airways Colouring BookModern Patchwork Magazine'' is based on exclusive posters, photographs and artwork from the companyyou may well find that there's archives and nothing new in the 46 images allow book, but if you're new to the reader magazine this could well prove to recreate these as they wish. There's be a bonus too: on the facing page of each image there's a potted history. I passed delightful collection from the book to someone with an interest in BA and he found the book interesting and informative ''without'' even thinking of doing any colouringback catalogue.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>144566612X</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca JonesPallant_Star|title=The Colouring Star Wars Millennium Falcon Book of Cards and Envelopes: A Year of CelebrationsMega Model|author=Katrina Pallant and Neal Manning

|summary=I enjoy colouring: I find it relaxing and satisfying, but most colouring books have one big snag for me. When you've finished, what use is what you've done? If I'm investing quite a bit One of time in producing something, I like it to be useful. I'm a bit the unexpected results of making a puritan about such matters! It was therefore something of a relief when I found ''The Colouring Book of Cards rough-and Envelopes: A Year of Celebrations'' - and before anyone starts to be pedantic about the title, you do get to colour the envelope too; in fact you colour the inside and the outside and all four faces of the cards. There are even some stickers for you to seal the envelope.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857638564</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jody Revenson|title=Incredibuilds: Buckbeak: Deluxe Model and Book Set (Harry Potter)|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Nonready sci-Fiction|summary=The general perception is that to become a leading British actor, you need the fillip of Eton or somesuch education. But you don't have to be an actor to make a great fi film. ''Gravity'' for instance has extended scenes where the only thing natural is back in the performers' faces – everything else, even their bodies1970s, was made in Britain by people using computers. The eight ''Harry Potter'' films, also made in the UK, needed a lot of computing power as well, but also that George Lucas left a lot whole generation capable of craftsmen with their hands on tools and a keen eyespelling Millennium. What better way to start training In amongst all the young reader into that side of things, than with tasking them with making a, er, hippogriff?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783707232</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jody Revenson|title=Incredibuilds: Aragog: Deluxe Model and Book Set (Harry Potter)|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=Aragog iconic inventions for the giant spider, don't you know, took six man years just to buildfilm, his design team left him – and weighed us – with a ton. After countless trial models and pieces of visual design work, he could finally be constructedvery loveable, very fast and he stretched across eighteen feet of the studio floorvery asymmetrical space ship. Or, conversely, he How is about seven inches long and seven wide, and you put him together in a day or two, for it balanced when the cost of this book-and-gift set and some craft paints.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783707240</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jody Revenson|title=Incredibuilds: House-Elves: Deluxe Book and Model Set (Harry Potter)|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=How do you create a housecockpit is stuck out one side? What is that dish-elf like Dobby? Well, you have a tennis ball array doing on a string, and point actors so they look at it, and say their lines what seems to a pretty-much empty space. You then film Toby Jones doing the elf's lines, and use that sound file and his facial expressions act as basis for your CGI creation – the first major character to come from the digital realm in the ''Harry Potter'' films. You top? And where can throw in a few puppetsyou get your own? Well, beyond the rarity and now and again a gifted small person, particularly at great cost of the end of film #7… OrLego model, of course, you I can get this gift setat least provide one answer to those three pertinent questions, and press the wooden parts out, muckle them together – and lo and behold, a six inch tall Dobby for your windowsillthat answer is… here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783707070</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Vladimir Aleksic and Kate WareMcLelland_Press|title=Charles Dickens' A Christmas CarolPress Out and Decorate: A Colouring ClassicUnicorns|author=Kate McLelland

|summary=It's the weekend and I'A Christmas Carol'' has always ve been my favourite book by Charles Dickensindulging myself. Perhaps it's the fact that itThere's something about a unicorn which appeals to me and a novella rather than the usual brick little bit of research into a bookof press-out unicorns, but the plotting has always clouds and rainbows seemed tighter and like the story more fast moving. I also like ideal way to idea of Ebenezer Scrooge not so much getting his comeuppance as his seeing the error of his waysspend a Saturday morning. I've read You get twenty designs in the book and seen numerous film adaptations - now Ithey're all decorated with pink foil: even if you don't want to add any further colouring they've had re still going to look great, but because the pages are a substantial card you have the opportunity to do some relaxing colouring of scenes from the classic storyuse crayons, felt tips or even paints to add your own personal touch. Was it fun?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848695411</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn= Bonnie BurtonV&A_Embroidery|title=Crafting with FeminismEmbroidery: 25 Girl-Powered Projects to Smash the PatriarchyA Maker's Guide|author=Victoria and Albert Museum

|summary=For far too long it has been accepted that men will have free choice as to what they do and that women will somehow accommodate and adjust around them. ItIn ''Embroidery: A Maker's been a hard fight to Guide'' we get to where we are now - and there's still a way brief introduction to gothe craft by James Merry, particularly when you read the [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/philip-davies-feminists-cake-and-eat-it-tory-mp-mens-rights-conference-anti-women-comments-a7187351.html views] of people such as Member of Parliament Philip Davisembroidery artist, but information on the cause cantools you't always be moved forward by being deadly seriousll need, no matter how serious materials you can utilise and a guide to the cause: sometimes what stitches you need is a little 'll be using. If you'whimsy're just thinking about starting embroidery and not certain which type will suit you best or someone who's experienced in one area but wanting to branch out this book could be an ideal starting point. We might take There are over 230 glorious photographs (of items from the V&A collections) and illustrations covering 15 styles of embroidery and giving all the cause seriously, but we doninformation and designs you't take ourselves too seriouslyll need for 15 projects. And besides, what's better than to unleash your creativity?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1594749272</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Rebecca JonesV&A_Patchwork|title=The Colouring Book of Cards Patchwork and Quilting: A Maker's Guide|author=Victoria and Envelopes - ChristmasAlbert Museum|rating=4.5

|summary=Have Patchwork is a magical craft: you ever opened can take relatively small pieces of material and turn them into another piece of material with an entirely different pattern. Quilting converts a Christmas card topper and had a sense of deja vu? It might be that you've already had backing fabric with some wadding in between into a couple just like this one (it's one fabric of the more popular ones being sold by M&S this yearan entirely different weight...) or you recognise it Combine the design which a major charity sold ''last'' Christmas - two crafts and which they started selling off at half price in the Boxing Day Sale. Either way, you don't feel particularly ''special''. An embroidered card is lovelyhave something more than magical, occasionally fashionable but not everyone has the skills and if you buy them they're a frightening pricealways deeply satisfying. But I've just discovered a relaxingwhere to start, satisfying way when there are so many different styles of producing individual cards at a reasonable price: both crafts? One answer is to read ''The Colouring Book of Cards Patchwork and EnvelopesQuilting: ChristmasA Maker's Guide''which looks - as the cover says - at styles from Italian trapunto to Korean jogakbo and then delivers fifteen projects inspired by the V&A collections.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857637266</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Molly Manners and Alex WorrallBM_Origami|title=The Mindless Colouring Book: Art Therapy Exclusively Available to Anyone with £8.99|rating=4|genre=Crafts|summary=Can I let you into a secret? Promise not to tell anyoneOrigami, but I do wonder if a lot of adult colouring books are not just a little bit too ''worthy''. They're all very intricate Poems and rewarding when you've finished, but I was chatting to someone recently who mentioned that it might take generations to complete her colouring book. I mean, where's the ''fun'' in that? When I relax I want to have a good time, enjoy myself and feel better at the end of it. A good laugh wouldn't go amiss. Anyone disagree with that? I thought not.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780722958</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewPictures|author=Sarah Walsh|title=The Colouring Book of Beautiful Gift Boxes: Christmas British Museum

|summary=When Sometimes you give find a small gift, it's often difficult to wrap it appropriatelydelight of a book. If you wrap a small object, On an afternoon when it looks was unseasonably cold and decidedly wet I discovered ''insignificantOrigami, Poems and Pictures'' and if you've gone I was transported to Japan. As the trouble of finding the appropriate gift for someone thattitle suggests we's re looking at three celebrated arts and crafts: the last thing you wantancient art of paper folding, haiku poetry and painting. If you pad I'll confess that it out a littlewas the origami which caught my attention, it ends up looking like a game but I was surprised by the extent to which the rest of pass the parcelbook caught my imagination. You can, of course, buy We begin with something very simple: a gift box but they're expensive for what they are boat and theyin case you're hardly individual. The answer lies in worried, all the entries have a degree of difficulty (from 'simple'The Colouring Book of Beautiful Gift Boxes: Christmasthrough to 'tricky'. The cover price ) and this one is £9.99, so that works out at less than 42p for each of the 24 boxes which - as you're colouring it - will be uniquelowest level.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857638033</amazonuk>