Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Crafts: An A-to-Z Guide with Detailed Instructions and Endless Inspiration
What a mammoth tome [tomb] of a book, every conceivable craft has a few pages of instructions, necessary and a couple of projects to get you started on your new craft obsession. Of course sewing, knitting, needlework and crochet could not possibly be covered and still leave room for other things, so these crafts are not included. Instead there is everything else you could possibly think of.
Soap making just might be my next major obsession, then there is wreath making, quilling, rope crafting, rubber stamping, paper folding, mosaics, block printing, tin punching and much more.
The section on scrapbooking is really quite lovely, with some original and sweet ideas for memory books, albums, and workbooks. I was really attracted to the colourful polymer-clay beads and buttons, the candlemaking section is full of really fantastic ideas like teacup candles and eggshell candles. There is a beautiful section on botanical crafts with rubbings, sunprints, leaf printings. Silk screening, heat embossing, pom-pom animals, paper flowers too many more things as well.
As you might expect from a Martha Stewart book, it is impeccably laid out, gorgeously designed and photographed and explained. Each topic begins with an introduction, list of materials and tools, and the basic instructions for getting started. Then there are different projects that expand upon the basics.
Then at the very back is a whole section on tools and materials and templates and resources. This is going to be a very useful addition to anyone’s craft library.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Don’t publish this. I just caught a typo in the first paragraph. Not to be picky but I think you mean “tome” of a book, not tomb. Quite different meanings. I love your site.
I saw the tome/tomb typo too. And then I began wondering if it was a clever play on words…
I’m sure Martha will be delighted to know her book is really a mammoth tomb ;-) that sounds cool!
I saw this at the bookstore and was almost frightened by how much amazing stuff is packed into this thing — it’s huge! And overwhelming! And wonderful!
thanks for heads up on the typo oops!
I just flipped through it at a bookstore, but it seemed to me a lot of the projects appeared previously in her magazine (I have been saving tear sheets for years) … does anyone who has looked at the book more closely disagree?
Hi Jelenp
You may be right – I have seen a couple on her website – however I don’t subscribe to her magazine and therefore have not seen them myself.
I didn’t realize this book had polymer clay beads and buttons in it. I didn’t know she knew much about polymer clay. I will have to see what she put in there about them. Now I’m curious!
Trying to find the template for the felt shopping bag that was shown in Jan 2010 LIVING