Book Review of Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts

You won't be surprised: Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts is a hefty and gorgeous volume that details 32 crafting techniques from calligraphy to wirework, accompanied by beautiful photographs of nearly 200 perfectly created handicrafts. The quality in presentation and depth of information are of the same high standards as her magazine, Martha Stewart Living. It is a beautiful thing to behold.

As a Midwest Mama, I love craft books. If you're anything like me, this is how your relationship with craft/sewing/knitting books goes:

1. Peruse in store or online. Hmmm, do I want this? Need this?
2. Desire to purchase-I gotta have it, and...done!
3. Look through entire book, oohing and aahing, marking to-try-someday projects with post-it notes.
4. Purchase necessary materials, which can sit on my craft desk indefinitely.
5. Actually make an item. (Or at least get started on it.)
6. Actually make more than one item. Utterly amazing.

Paging through Martha Stewart Living magazine is more often a kind of visual therapy than about showcasing ideas that I will realistically complete. As this book has taken its ideas from the pages of the magazine, its effect is similar.

This book has been on my shelf for lo, some six months, and so far we have gone all the way to step 3 together, but there we have lingered. The book is littered with little rose post-its, marking such potentials as fabric flower bouquets (nah, too much work), glittered eggs (oh, those would look good at Easter), folded paper boxes, and found-object rubber stamped place cards (think: guests' initials stamped on driftwood or a white seashell).

Many projects, though gorgeous, seem pretty unrealistic for a mother of two kids under five, such as: figural poured candles, clay buttons, etched glass, gilded mirrors, crepe paper birds, or a woven rope doormat.

But before you get the idea that this book is out of reach for the everyday mom, here are some projects that actually are simple, charming, and perhaps even kid friendly:

~~ Pocket page scrapbook or baby book--If you feel limited by the colors, themes, and content of store-bought baby books, this is for you.
~~ Shadow boxes-You could collect shells as a family, then mount and frame them.
~~ Beaded flower bobby pins and beaded bugs-A little extra work, but something little girls would love.
~~ Potato printing-Cutting shapes out of potatoes and stamping them on all sorts of materials.
~~ Oak leaf place cards-simple, natural, and pretty.
~~ Botanical rubbings calendar.
~~ Teacup or seashell candles-inexpensive gift idea.
~~ Decoupage decals for baby's room.

In addition to the dozens of crafts, many project templates are included in the book, as well as a helpful pictorial list of tools and materials useful to crafters.

Bottom line-if you have the time, the skill, and the ambition to delve into the myriad projects detailed in this book, this is a must-have. If you don't have the time, but love all things Martha Stewart, this is a still a must-have. If you think you might only do one or two of these projects, and aren't necessarily enticed merely by the breathtaking wonders therein, just check it out from the library.