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Product Description
Product Description
A contemporary take on gorgeous things to make
Making it yourself rather than buying it off the shelf has never been trendier. Whether driven by eco considerations and anti-consumerism or by the desire to own or give something personal rather than uniform, many more of us are getting out the knitting needles and sewing kit, and taking pleasure in lavishing some TLC on our homes, our friends, our children and ourselves.
Homemade is packed full of ideas for things to make that make life that little bit better. From crocheted coat-hangers to cordials and cupcakes, from cushion covers made from vintage blankets, old shirts cut up to make summer bunting or beautifully simple decorating ideas for an old-fashioned Christmas tree, here are over a hundred ways of adding individuality to your home and to the things you give. You'll save some money along the way - and using materials you have to hand not only saves the cash, it also means building a little bit of your history, whether from a favourite worn-out skirt or pebbles you've collected on holiday, into the things that surround you.
While the book is practical and project-based, covering everything from knitting gloves to making natural moth repellents and devising the most gorgeous hand-made gift wrapping, it is also aspirational and chic - a key requirement is that the finished result has to look better and more desirable than a shop-bought version.
Many of the ideas are incredibly simple and can be done in minutes; some are more of a labour of love; all have clear instructions and gorgeous accompanying photographs that cannot fail to inspire you to get going and add some homemade glamour to your home and your life.
About the Author
Elspeth Thompson wrote a weekly gardening column and features for the Sunday Telegraph, and also the Guardian. She wrote numerous books on gardening, homes and interiors. Since her sad death in 2010, the Gardening Against the Odds Awards and a bursary set up in her name by the National Gardens Scheme are helping to preserve her legacy. Ros Badger previously owned a children's knitwear company, Little Badger, and is now a freelance stylist, as well as teaching at the Design Museum.
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Customer Reviews
"Sass" (disappointed reviewer below) might be full of so much crafty know-how s/he doesn't need instructions, but I'm not, & this book gave me lots of inspiration. The writers seem friendly & down-to-earth, & their instructions are well thought out. They anticipate fumbly fingers like mine, pre-empting potential problems & giving me the confidence to just mess about & make something.
Instead of starting with "go to the shop & buy x, y & z", the projects (mostly) use "ingredients" that you'll find lying around. This is especially useful when you're poverty-stricken but want to make your home look nice.
The punched tin lantern is actually lovely, casts pretty shadows on the walls & looks sort of home-made gypsyesque. A couple of the projects are a bit twee for my taste (& I agree with Sass on incompatibility of teenagers & embroidery!), but most are very attractive, modern in an uncontrived, homely way. They're not ground-breaking, per se, but they have given me ideas that I'd have never thought of alone.
I'm not normally a moaner but after buying this book I feel I have to warn people so they can at least buy at their own peril! And I will try to be more specific than the other negative reviews (for the hardback).
I did make nice one thing from this book - the knitted teacosy for my grandma. There is also a cupcake recipe which seemed good, but I already have the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook for all my baking needs!
But the other projects are either
1. A nice idea, but dont really warrant a 'how-to' - patchwork quilt? sew some square patches together. decorate your clothes with buttons? sew some buttons on (ditto patches). paint something on a t-shirt with fabric paint. bored of flowerpots? plant your flowers in an old watering can. and so on...
2. Just a bit awful - knitted coat-hangers. 'for valentines day find a heart shaped pebble and paint I Love You on it'. tin-can lanterns - clean a tin can, punch some holes in, insert candle. an embroidered 'keep out' door sign for your teenager?! and a truly horrendous garden chair made from denim.
Sorry again but I hope that helps some people save their money!
Made quite a few of them already and they are very easy to follow.
Great pictures.
Have a look at all the reviews for the hardback edition and then you can be assured that... Read more
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