CRAFTERNOON: A Guide to Getting All Artsy and Crafty with Your Friends All Year Long

With the holiday clock ticking away, it’s time to figure out some quick picks for the hardest recipients on your gifting list. Books make the perfect present for folks who’ve got everything. Books spark our imagination. They help us to dream of the future and they ask us to remember our past. Can a department store scarf do that?

These books are meant to inspire your recipient to get crafty, get get cooking, or get nostalgic. I’ve picked up all of my books up at WORD, my local bookshop that just happens to be coolest bookstore in New York City. And you can pick yours up at your favorite independent bookstore or online retailer. The very best thing about gifting books? They’re easy to wrap!

KnitKnit: Profiles and Projects from Knitting’s New Wave by Sabrina Gschwandtner

KnitKnit is gorgeous and endlessly inspiring. Sabrina Gschwandtner profiles an eclectic group of artists and communities who are creating an electric new form of knitting. While most of the artists are avant-garde, the book feels completely accessible. Each artist has contributed a pattern for a knit garment or object, and the projects vary greatly in scope. Some of the knitters use their knitting to create political statements, while others are simply interested in exploring new methods and materials. The design of the book is beautiful, and the photographs by Kiriko Shirobayashi capture the personalities of the artists and their work. It’s a must-have for any knitter’s library.

Buy local: http://www.wordbrooklyn.com/book/9781584796312

Buy global: http://www.amazon.com/KnitKnit-Profiles-Projects-Knittings-Wave/dp/B002HREL3Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261399192&sr=8-1

Organic and Chic by Sarah Magid

Sarah’s approach to baking is to simple: use the best ingredients you can for the tastiest results. The recipes in this book are absolutely delicious, and her insistence on using everything from organic flour to the seeds in the vanilla bean elevate simple cakes to masterpieces. And her approach to decorating is after my own heart. She isn’t fussy and her frosting shows strokes where the spatula spread it on the cake. Instead, she embraces the use of fabulous food coloring, edible metallic powders, and beautiful floral designs that show the mark of their maker. And her takes on classic junk food treats are clever as can be. This cookbook is sure to be covered with cocoa powder and confectioner’s sugar immediately, because her recipes are impossible for the reader, and the eater, to resist.

Buy local: http://www.wordbrooklyn.com/book/9780061673580

Buy global: http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Chic-Cakes-Cookies-Sweets/dp/0061673587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261399714&sr=1-1

Hand-Stitched Felt by Kata Golda

Whether you are an expert crafter or a new beginner, you will fall head-over-heels for Kata Golda’s gorgeous, gentle little felt creations. With projects that range in hands-on time from less than an hour to many more, there is something for everyone who wants to start creating with felt. The templates for her stuffed animal family are the perfect guide to making an heirloom that will be played with and treasured by any sweet child of yours. And Kata embraces the beauty of imperfection, which makes me love her even more.

Buy local: http://www.wordbrooklyn.com/book/9781584797982

Buy global: http://www.amazon.com/Kata-Goldas-Hand-Stitched-Felt-Whimsical/dp/1584797983/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261400562&sr=1-1

Cassette From My Ex edited by Jason Bitner

This collection of stories that pull-on-your-heartstrings (and guitarstrings) has something for every reader and every sort of of music fan, most especially anyone who grew up in the 1980s. Edited by Jason Bitner, co-founder of Found Magazine, it’s also got a fantastic interior design that includes photos of loads of handwritten cassette tape covers. (For the sake of transparency, I should mention that I have an essay in the collection, and I’m damned proud to be a part of it.)

Buy local: http://www.wordbrooklyn.com/book/9780312565527

Buy global: http://www.amazon.com/Cassette-My-Ex-Stories-Soundtracks/dp/0312565526/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261399797&sr=1-1

Crafternoon (duh) by me, Maura Madden

Sure, it’s more shameless self-promotion, but heck, an author’s got to sell books, right? Here’s part of my favorite review of Crafternoon courtesy of the lovely Rachel Hobson of Craftzine.com:

“CRAFTERNOON is a book that speaks directly to the heart and soul of what I love about crafting: connecting with other people while engaged in the creative process. Maura Madden’s new book, CRAFTERNOON: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty With Your Friends All Year Long, lays out the tools, projects, tips and even snack recipes so readers can easily put together their own Crafternoon groups and get to makin’ stuff with friends and family in a relaxed, fun setting.

Initially, I just loved the idea of an actual guide that motivates people to craft together for the simple pleasure of having fun and connecting with one another. Creating community through crafting is one of my mantras. But as I started reading the book, I fell in love with Madden’s wit, her glowing stories of crafting with her mom, and – mostly – with her preaching of pressure-free crafting and an embrace of imperfection.”

Buy local: http://www.wordbrooklyn.com/book/9781416954712

Buy global: http://www.amazon.com/Crafternoon-Guide-Getting-Crafty-Friends/dp/1416954716/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261400048&sr=8-1

Art that you can put on your wall is one of the very best gifts of all. Rufus and I have lots of original art in our little apartment. Much of it has been graciously given to us by generous artist friends, but we have also made a point of buying art that we love. Many outrageously talented artists sell limited edition prints of their work at very affordable prices. And one of my absolute favorite cartoonists sells some of his original drawings, too. So if you’re looking for a gift that will be part of someone’s daily life, give them some art.

Original art by the incredibly talented Ron Rege Jr.

Clever posters from Space 1026 artist Alex Lukas:

A sweet sleeping fox from FIELD:

And finally, this awesome block print by Meredith Stern:

Sure, the message may be a bit at odds with a gift guide, but it’s a good message. Ultimately, the most important gift that anyone can give is love, not stuff. But if you still want to give a little something on top of all the love, art is a pretty great gift.

For the makers in your life, few gifts are more fun than brand new supplies. While I try to use recycled materials whenever possible, there are times when new materials are a necessity (or a really fun luxury). And these fine, fine items are a real joy.

Thick, luscious hand-dyed felt from OhMa Felt! I found OhMa on the blog of felt crafter extraordinaire Kata Golda. They provide the felt she uses in her beautiful, whimsical felt treasures. So I ordered a “Winter Pale” Combo pack and was thrilled when I opened the package. Wrapped in brown tissue paper with a sweet letterpress tag was a stack of thick, subtle felt, the likes of which I had never *felt* before. Dense and soft, not a bit itchy, and in colors as lovely as can be, I became a fan instantly. And I’m certain your recipient will feel the fandom too.

I have long adored Purl and Purl Patchwork. The two Soho shops have superb collections of delightful fabric and yarn in every price point, color, and material. And I took a wonderful hand quilting class with my mom at Purl Patchwork and loved the experience. So what could be better than a Purl gift certificate for your favorite knitter or seamstress/seamster? They can be used online or in the stores for all of the good things they sell, or for their classes. That’s a stitchy, knitty delight.

Cupcake kits from Bake It Pretty are a dream gift for anyone who loves to make the sweetest kind of cakes. The kits come with a selection of baking cups and cake toppers, as well as a bag of multi-colored jimmies. And I love the fact that they instruct buyers to, “Please use the memo box below for special instructions such as: ‘this kit is for a boy or girl’, ‘go heavy on the pink please’, ‘no clown-stuff because they scare me’, etc.” Any baking site that recognizes the fear of clowns, even in cake topper form, is a website after my own heart. And be sure to browse around the whole Bake It Pretty site. There is so much fun stuff on there, you’ll want to forgo the gift giving and spend all of the money onacquiring good things for your cake decorating stash instead.

Pick up a pack of exquisitely simple letterpress recipe cards from Moontree Letterpress for your most creative cook. Give them a pretty place to jot down the secret ingredients for all of their best dishes, and they’ll most certainly reward you with something tasty in return. I love the look of all things letterpress, and Moontree is one of my absolute, all-time favorite letterpress companies. Your culinary recipient is certain to fall sway to the pressed charm as well.

And if you’ve got some change to spare in your gifting budget, treat yourself to something new for your own craft closet or kitchen cupboard. In this time of holiday madness, it’s nice to treat yourself to something soft and sweet. I’m sure that you deserve it.

The holiday season is officially upon us. And while I intend to do tons of my own crafting to fill stockings carefully hung by chimneys, I’ll admit that I’m not going to have time make everything myself. Here are some little gifts that pack a big old punch, all reasonably priced and ready to ship. They’ll make lovely gifts for anyone on your long and jolly lists.

I love these sweet but practical handmade coffee sleeves from The Doe and The Mouse. They are the perfect thing to give your favorite eco-loving caffeine fiends:

Any compatriot with a vivacious fashion sense will love the sparkling pieces of wearable fruit from Glitterlimes:

You can never have too many bags, especially when they’re as cool as these gorgeous totes. Each one is hand printed using wood blocks from Ramshackle Press:

Your hotblooded sidekicks will love a pattern tank top from Mike Perry:

And your favorite person of letters will love to write notes of  thanks on these vintage wallpaper notecards from Sydney Designs:

With so much to do over the holidays, it’s nice to know you can take care of some of your gift-giving needs by supporting other crafty artisans.