Homemade Gifts Vintage Style [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

I ordered this book based on the reviews as I love vintage style. It it has ideas for recyling and using vintage items found at markets and junk shops and the layout and photos are beautiful, I love her ideas of displaying vintage items.

This is a pretty book but I'm returning it to Amazon and I'm going to buy a book that I will actually make something from instead. The bottom line is there's nothing here that I would want in my home.

my main criticism of this book is that it's more about "buying" than "making". The main skill used in this book is sourcing, rather than any kind of crafting. If I could give this book a subtitle, it would be "buy things then glue on ribbons" I think you'll see what I mean when you take a look at the projects.

The projects are as follows:

1. Apothecary bottles and decanter shampoos: Basically the idea is to put toiletries into decorative bottles. They do look pretty, but I don't think expensive glass bottles in the bathroom is very practical or safe.

2. Beaded door hanger: Basically make a heart shaped wire wreath and put your pre-existing collection of "reclaimed baubles and from vintage necklaces, old chandelier pieces, keepsakes or jewellery" on it.

3. Little covered suitcase: Cover an old suitcase in decorative paper or fabric.

4. Layered cake stands: Stick plates on top of glasses. It actually looks better than it sounds.

5. Cheese plates: Acquire some cheese plates, stack and tie with ribbon.

6. Cufflinks: Acquire cufflinks and stick things to them.

7. Fabric pictures: Frame a piece of cloth.

8. Guest soaps: Wrap some soap in pretty paper. Add a ribbon.

9.Homemade jams and jellies: Buy some jam from a shop. put a circle of fabric on top. add ribbon.

10. "Pretty" lamp: Glue scraps of fabric to a lamp with PVA glue.

11. Planters for christmas and spring: Plant bulbs in crockery.

12. Plate hangers: Glue ribbon to the back of plates.

13. Beads and baubles kits: Collect beads and baubles. Organise them.

14. Vintage puddings: Make some desserts in vintage cups or glasses.

15. Stiff drink: Put some alcohol in a decanter.

16. Teapots and fresh mint: Get a tea pot and buy some mint from the shops. Consider them collectively a gift.

17. Wake up and smell the coffee: Acquire a coffee grinder and present it with coffee beans.

18. Teacup candles: Glue cup to saucer. Melt down candles into saucepan. pour melted candlewax into teacup.

19: Easter eggcups: Buy decorative eggcups. Put in eggs tied with ribbons.

20. Decantalabras: Put candles in decanters. Add part of a chandelier if you have one.

21. Button bracelets: Thread buttons onto yarn.

22. Baby blankets: Cut up an existing baby blanket. Add some decorative stitches.

23. Christmas stockings: Cut up a blanket or rug into stocking shapes. Applique. sew together.

24. Layered corsages: cut out shapes from various fabrics. sew on top of each other.

25. Coat of arms: Design a coat of arms for yourself out of fabric scraps.

26. Fabric diaries: Make a cover for a diary out of fabric.

27. Notebook: glue fabric onto a notebook.

28. Fabric gingerbread man: a stuffed fabric christmas tree decoration.

29. Clothes Peg Christmas Fairy: AKA peg doll angel.

30. 3 types of christmas decorations: 2 involving baubles, PVA glue and fabric. 1 fir cone garland.

31. Sewing basket: line a basket with fabric.

32. Strawberry pincushion: Make out of red velvet.

33. Little needle book: Sew 4 pieces of fabric together.

34. Picnic hamper: Line the inside of a hamper. Fill with things you've bought.

35. Covered coat hangers: 3 variaitions on the theme.

36. Easy peasy lace trim choker: Sew lace to ribbon.

37. Advent calendar: little sacks on a picture frame.

38. Christmas wreath: made out of leaf fabric and trinkets.

39. Lavender bunnies: fabric characters stuffed with lavender.

38. Tapestry cushions: Cut up a pre-exisiting tapestry and sew onto vintage fabric.

39. Dog and cat cushions: make a cushion then add tassels and trims. I don't think trims are very practical on pet bedding.

40. Hanging mobile: Cut up fabrics into heart shapes. sew together.

41 . Hat scarf and mittens: Not knitted, cut and sewed. Made out of a felted woollen jumper.

42. Hot water bottle: Cover only, again made out of a felted jumper. No knitting.

43. Lavender cushions and hangers: Variations of the aforementioned hangers and lavender bunnies.

44. Laundry bags: made out of a huckaback guest towel(?)

45. Little girl's easy skirt: No pattern or measurements. Add elastic to recycled fabric basically.

46. Re-rigged old boats: This was actually my favourite project in the book. basically add new sails to a decorative sail boat you have acquired. They do look lovely but I'm not sure how many of us can acquire vintage decorative sailboats.

47. Pencil rolls: Like a jewellery roll basically.

48. Baker's apron and biscuit mixture: Apron made out of a shirt. You have to source your own recipe for biscuit mixture.

49. Tea cosy: Made out of a jumper. and looks as if it was made out of a jumper.

50. Doll's vintage bedding: Rectangles of fabric and wadding.

51. Simple silhouette cards: Draw round a cookie cutter onto some fabric. Glue it to a card.

52. Button cards: Sew buttons onto cards.

53. Gift tags: luggage labels with fabric scraps.

54. Gift wrapping: basically add trims and ribbons.

In my opinion, the projects in this book are either projects traditionally made by primary school children (eg peg doll angels, gift tags) or they're attractive but impractical, (Glass bottles for shampoo, decorative sailboat) or they're lazy shortcuts (Eg buy some jam and decorate the jar instead of making your own jam, cut up someone else's tapestry instead of making your own.)

I bought this for my sister in law who is great at making beautiful new things out of something old and I thought this would give her a few new ideas. Of course I had to have a peek before giving it away and completely fell in love with it. The design is gorgeous and it's packed with brilliant ideas which even I (with zero experience) can do. I have already made a batch of individually wrapped soaps ready to give way over Christmas and am halfway through a lavender bunny! I completely love this book and would recommend it to anyone who fancies trying their hand at something new or is looking for inspiration to make presents for friends (or themselves!) In fact the only issue I have with this book is that it has made me ever so slightly bitter and twisted about all the old jumpers I have discarded or given away over the years grrrrrrr!