Crochetterie, a man friendly craft book!

Crochetterie, Cool Contemporary Crochet for the Creatively-minded by Molla Mills (Jacqui Small, RRP £20), is out now!
This perfectly formed man friendly book by Finnish crafty super star Molla Mills is a great new publication aimed predominantly at getting men into crochet! 
It's the sequel to the much loved Modern Crochet and this new book continues to pack beautiful scandi style to the brim!

Finding the perfect craft discipline for your skills is sometimes hard and even harder when there's a perception of suitability mainly when it comes to genders.
What Molla manages to do is offer up crochet that is gender free, though obviously - and like I said before - it is primarily geared to men but if you're not a guy don't let that put you off... it has lots of projects that anyone can make so it is in fact a very unisex book.

When we hosted our craft nights I noticed how most participants were female so getting guys involved has been a long time struggle and one I totally understand.
However we did get the occasional man joining in but hand on heart... I wish there had been more! We did try to have a selection of activities which suited everyone regardless and we do believe that
making is a beautiful thing which all genders, ages and backgrounds can benefit from!

Not only does craft making have health benefits it also provides a nice respite from the modern world plus I kinda think it's pretty beautiful to see a guy being creative and using his hands to make useful objects too.

Even though it's targeted at the male of the species I would still be happy to make any of the projects in this book as being super feminine, aka girlie girl, isn't my thing either!
It's really refreshing to see a book which is open to all. As you know there are already tons of books offering saccharine sweet projects, which if that's your type of thing great, but if you prefer things a bit less twee and pink then wrap your peepers around this amazingly beautiful book... Excuse the pun but... it'll have you hooked!!!

Molla's book is divided into sections and it even has instructions for beginners as well as a whittle  your own crochet hook tutorial. The patterns are divided into categories: Home, Clothes, Travel and Equipment so there are lots of great projects for all sorts of abilities as well as functions.
With easy to follow patterns that any novice can get to grips with I'm sure that even the most anxious of crocheters will be able to finish at least one of the easier projects!
Some of our favourites are the quirkier projects like make your own death metal band banner or the speaker slip cover so all in all you can still craft and keep your Rock n roll kudos alive and kicking!
What I also particularly like is the generous end section which is about 20 pages long with instructions so all in all you can pretty much complete all the 30+ projects on your own. It covers a lot of the basics which for me was excellent as I'm not a crochet pro.
There's also a nice extra bit - Maintenance- which shows you how to stretch after long crafting sessions. As some of you might know crochet claw for example is a real thing and your body can stiffen up when crocheting.
Molla's Brother, Pasi, a yoga instructor shows us a few exercises to help us  stretch and breath so we can keep on crafting!

The actual look of the book is beautifully rugged, outdoorsy and yes I'm gonna say it again... very Scandi!
Apart from the awesome selection of projects and beautiful photos there are lots of  tattooed blokes with beards in chunky sweaters on skateboards looking dashingly handsome. But you know what? I like it... in fact I kinda have a crush on it!
And there are cute dogs too, look at that husky in a bow tie...what's not to love?!

 

So yes, I think it's pretty awesome and I'm sure many of you would love this book too and so will your man friends. Bearded or not, guys need some more craft in their lives so yes if you do one good deed this year get the man/men in your life crocheting!
Crochet is pretty mechanical and can be a feat of engineering so crocheting kinda suits the masculine brain... though hey, I'm no one to generalise but through experience I found that lots of men like the more technical crafts!

OK so it is a craft book that has made me swoon -"stop being so gushy!" you cry- though in my defence I can say that bringing men folk into the craft fold is something which we've fought for for a long time so it's really more admiration and respect that I feel for what Molla's achieved.
What Molla's managed to do is make craft accessible and that's amazing!

But it's also so much more than just a craft book... her projects are fun, useful and all though I'm not an expert crocheter this has nudged me into wanting to learn more.
Blimey I've even managed to understand what all the abbreviations mean and that was something that had put me off crochet originally... patterns scare me but now I feel that I can actually try a project without coming out in stress hives!
So if it gets someone excited and wanting to explore crochet -or any other craft discipline- then that's gotta be good... Right?!

To order 9781845436421 Crochetterie with a special Craft Guerrilla blog reader discount code for £16.00* including p&p, telephone 01903 828503 and quote offer code QPG452. 

Or send  a cheque made payable to :- Littlehampton Book Services Mail Order Department, Littlehampton Book Services, PO Box 4264, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3TG. 

Please quote the offer code QPG452 and include your name and address details. *UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

Modern Retro!

Whether you call it retro or vintage the reality is that the hunger for it shows no signs of dissipating!
Our love for the unusual, designer made and stylish is something we find is becoming more of a norm as home owners all over the world are swamped by Modern Retro Fever. And it's addictive! 

Published by Jaqui Small this brand new title by Caroline Clifton Mogg is one I've enjoyed reviewing immensely! I too am one of those swamped by the big love for quirky vintage living!
Though it's not a new kind of love it's one which has been maturing and growing along the years. A bit like the general public's appetite for it!
I have quite a few pieces of everyday furniture which are just fit for purpose but... there are also a few key statement pieces I've been collecting throughout the years.
But finding the right comprehensive look can be hugely daunting but equally thrilling! Knowing how things fit together, well that's an art form...

Mixing the modern retro with objet trouvé is something that requires a little practise as well as an understanding of how each element works best singularly but ultimately as an entire look!

Having the eye and the ease to mix styles is nothing short of alchemy, though with this title at your side you too can create a magical and inspiring place filled with all kinds of gems!

But this is not just a book about admiring or valuing twentieth-century design. Far from being a catalogue this book is about how to make this wonderful style work in a contemporary home.

I like the way it's divided into sections according to styles under the Retro Styling banner, exploring different interpretations which will surely suit all types of tastes. Classic Mode, Rustic Reclamation, Structural Industrial, Colourful, Eclectic. In all I found elements I loved and thought I could re-create in my own vintage lovers home.

Knowing where things go, and how things respond to each other in a scheme has always been an integral part of successful interior design, and it is even more important when it comes to creating an interior that is a mixture of the expected and the unexpected.

And that's where Caroline Clifton Mogg's expertise and talent becomes clearly apparent.
This book showcases all the different elements, from chairs to mirrors, from lighting to textiles and also  Room by Room which looks at every part of the retro home providing an array of gorgeous and inspiring decorative ideas.


Modern Retro shows how to combine, how to edit and how to put the unlikely and the unusual together to make your home a modern retro masterpiece. And may I add that it won't be like living in a museum either... it's about building a livable home with imagination and heart!

To order Modern Retro at the discounted price of £24 including p&p* (RRP: £30), telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code QPG428.

*UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

• Description

In that yawning gap between the antique and the new, there is something else. Some call it vintage, some retro, but whatever the name the concept is the same – the objects and furniture that are not quite old and not quite new, but are always original and unique. Modern Retro looks at this fascinating area of design and decoration. The arrangement of rooms – where to put what – has always been a vital part of successful interior decoration, and it is even more important when it comes to creating an interior that is a mixture of the expected and the completely unexpected. It is an art and it requires a real skill, for there has to be respect for every objet trouvé, as well as an understanding of how each element will work best. Modern Retro shows how to combine, how to edit and how to put the unlikely and the unusual together in a sympathetic way. Inspiration and ideas occupy every page of this absorbing book.

- See more at: http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781910254165/Modern-Retro.html?direct=1#sthash.KLxXlQeP.dpuf

• Description

In that yawning gap between the antique and the new, there is something else. Some call it vintage, some retro, but whatever the name the concept is the same – the objects and furniture that are not quite old and not quite new, but are always original and unique. Modern Retro looks at this fascinating area of design and decoration. The arrangement of rooms – where to put what – has always been a vital part of successful interior decoration, and it is even more important when it comes to creating an interior that is a mixture of the expected and the completely unexpected. It is an art and it requires a real skill, for there has to be respect for every objet trouvé, as well as an understanding of how each element will work best. Modern Retro shows how to combine, how to edit and how to put the unlikely and the unusual together in a sympathetic way. Inspiration and ideas occupy every page of this absorbing book.

- See more at: http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781910254165/Modern-Retro.html?direct=1#sthash.KLxXlQeP.dpuf

Decorate with flowers

Published by Jacqui Small, Decorate With Flowers offers advice on choosing, combining and arranging flowers to best complement home decor plus a few hints and tips which will turn anyone into a flower arranging god or goddess!
The author Holly Becker has teamed up with stylist Leslie Shewring to offer practical know-how and colourful ideas for decorating with gorgeous blooms.

We're taken on a stimulating journey through an an easy to follow guide of basic flower arranging to then progress on to decorating ideas for a range of styles with some crafty DIY flower container projects thrown in to scratch that craft making itch!
The project illustrations are pretty, modern, friendly and easy to understand too. The book is divided into 8 chapters which makes it easy to navigate. Plus I really love the bold colours, patterns, illustrations and use of fonts throughout. It really does give it a welcoming and engaging element to the book.

Until now I really didn't think I was going to be seduced by this kind of book but alas I can confirm that after many years of not considering myself as a girlie girl  it turns out that I am after all a very girlie girl who loves blousy blooms!
My love for beautiful design is unchanged though and this is one book I find very pleasing to my designer eye. Not only are the projects tastefully done the overall look -from furniture, wall paint choices to cover art!- is one I find pleasing and can absolutely identify with. It's modern, fun and doesn't take itself too serious. It's a type of book that aspires to make us all love our surrounding a bit more, where ever we may live... and enjoy them too without making you feel like you're an outsider looking into a intangible lifestyle. 

Overall there's a relaxed approach to floral design and these two amazing stylists open their box of tricks including ways to experiment with colour, texture and how to get playful with foliage to create amazing arrangements that are neither complicated or expensive but a doddle to recreate successfully. They manage to create this sense of ease without compromising on style so a very big thumbs up from me. Being on a budget doesn't mean you have to compromise... cheaply doesn't have to mean "naff"!

So will I be revisiting this book? Well yes, this book is filled with inspiring suggestions for creating pretty and modern floral designs which work on an everyday level by simply adding a fresh touch to the home to more lavish events like hen parties or cocktails with girlfriends! OK I'm not a big cocktail party host, though I do like a cocktail or two, but it does show me just how easy it is to create an impact with flowers and just how simple it is to add an element of style to my little flat! It's a book which I will use as inspiration and reference when I feel the house needs a little extra "oompf".
I know that I've thrown around the word inspiration a few times here but that's exactly what it does...

Whether you want to make the most of freshly picked blooms from the garden, or rearrange that cheap petrol station bouquet into a more palatable bunch, Decorate with Flowers removes the fear from flower arranging -now you really don't need a course in Forestry for this, hooray, but the result is just as good!- leaving you ready and able to work more freely with flowers.

It's definitely a book which opens up the spirit of creativity and experimentation. I for one have re- purposed my stash of vintage tins which are perfect for adding a bit more style to my place... now all I need to do is wait for the weekend and go down to Columbia Road Flower Market* to pick up some blooms. No doubt I shall be casting my eyes onto bright, luscious peonies, mimosas and dahlia's. I know, I know... they're a very feminine choice right, and who'd of guessed it?!

*Psssst: and one of my own top tips: If you visit Columbia Road after 3pm you'll find all the deals! As they prepare to pack up and go the majority of stall holders will sell their remaining fresh flowers at knock down prices! Absolute bargains to be had, but don't leave it too late as by 4.30pm it's pretty much all over!

Craft Guerrilla reader offer: 

To order Decorate with Flowers at the discounted price of £16.00 including p&p* (RRP: £20.00), telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code APG109. 

*UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

Boy Craft!

As a craft-loving mum of two children, a boy and a girl, I'm always on the look out for child friendly project ideas. They both enjoy creating various things but have such a big sense of achievement when they don't have any assistance from me. The market seems to be swamped with books for girls so I was delighted when I came across "Boy Craft". 

I left the book out in the living room and waited for my son to discover it. It didn't take long. He was very quickly immersed whist reading all about the different projects. He thought the book was 'cool' because he didn't have to 'share with any of the girls'! 

The first project he chose to make was the water bomb! We just used plain paper to practise but he agrees with me that using pages from an old comic is a great idea. The method is clear and easy to follow. I personally liked that the written instructions were accompanied with simple diagrams for each step. My son hadn't realised how we were going to get from a flat folded piece of paper to a 3D object. He was so surprised when he blew into it, "It's like magic!" I suspect he'll be making quite a few of these as water bombs when the weather warms up and he can play outside!

He then flicked through the book again and decided he wanted to make a bat! I didn't have any old fashioned pegs but a local friend came to my rescue. He really enjoyed making this but needed some help with the overall shape of the wings because he had trouble enlarging the template from the back of the book. It's a shame it couldn't be full sized but it was an obstacle easily overcome with a bit of my help.  Once he made his bat, he decided that the idea would work well as a butterfly. He is planning on making a seagull next and hanging them all on a mobile in his bedroom! 

From a mum's point of view, I think the projects are great. There are some quick and easy ones to make, but also some that are a bit more fiddly. I like that it isn't full of stereotypical things for boys. Yes there is a section on 'Creepy Craft' but this is accompanied by 'Stitch Craft' and 'Wool Craft'. Some of the projects need some advance planning with a few tools and materials but I reckon most of them can be made with supplies that can be recycled from the average household. As the name of the book suggests, this is primarily full of projects that would appeal more to boys but my daughter is keen to try out a few of them! 

When buying books like this, I'm always a bit dubious if they will be worth the money. With this one, if you take into consideration the number of hours of entertainment it contains, i am certain it is worth every penny!

All in all, this gets a big thumbs up from the whole family!

X 

Nicola 

And here's the special offer for our lovely readers...

To order Boycraft by Sara Duchars and Sarah Marks for £10 including UK P&P, telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk, quoting the offer code APG99 and the book ISBN 9780711234895.

Contemporary Upholstery, a book too inspiring to keep to myself!

When this book landed on my door step I couldn't quite believe it as upholstery has been something I've been wanting to try for ages. I never quite managed as I'm a bit scared of the enormity
of the task...  but after flicking through the pages of Contemporary Upholstery I think that might all change!

Publisher: JACQUI SMALL
ISBN: 9781906417918

This book by Hannah Stanton is pretty complete and straight forward. You have everything you need to begin your project with confidence; actually it's almost like having your very own tutor standing next to you holding your hand; as this little gem of a book shows you everything you need to upholster from techniques, easy to follow step by step tutorials, advice on choosing and styling fabrics to rescuing and reviving all sorts of furniture.
Hannah Stanton is a graphic designer turned upholsterer. Her lifelong obsessions with design, interiors and traditional craft techniques led her to re-train as an upholsterer and subsequently gain awards in the field. Hannah is currently working on her own collection of furniture exploring new ways of combining materials and techniques.

Hannah Stanton: http://hannahstanton.com/

Another thing I really like about this book is the variety of case studies featuring before and after photos which are perfect as it's so much easier to follow and envisage how things progress from start to finish.

After reading a few pages I started immediately looking around the flat searching for bits of furniture I need to work on... lets just say there are quite a few but Hannah's managed to inspire me to revamp and upholster my old Ikea desk chair. It's looking really tired and tatty so I'm sure that with the aid of this book that I can easily transform it into something beautiful! I think I may ever try to print my own fabric... watch this space!

my chair which I'll be upholstering...photos to come soon!

Contemporary Upholstery

To order Contemporary Upholstery (9781906417918) for £16.00 including p&p* (RRP: £20.00), telephone 01903 828503 and quote offer code JS200. 
Or send a cheque made payable to: Littlehampton Book Services Mail Order Department, Littlehampton Book Services, PO Box 4264, Worthing, West Sussex BN13 3TG. 
Please quote the offer code JS200 and include your name and address details. *UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.