Every so often, usually when I'm having trouble falling asleep, I find myself on line, joining a book club. This time it was a crafter's book club. I really wanted the New Farmhouse Style book, but with a list price of $45, I convinced myself that I'd be better off to get it through a book club, and pick up a few other books along the way for about the same money.
Rachel's Back!
I loved Rachel Ashwell's first two books, and can't tell you how many hours I've spent over the years pouring over them looking at all the little details. Besides her fabulous flea market finds, I loved her little drawings and her color swatch boards.
Her third book- the one where she redecorates a kind of dark and gloomy 1970's style house- wasn't quite on the same level of worship that I gave her first two books, but I did enjoy seeing how she completely turned around what was really kind of a spooky house. That was also the house with the refrigerator with clear doors- and I wondered, how can anyone keep there fridge that neat?
I didn't enjoy Rachel's next books nearly as much, maybe they seemed a little too forced, or maybe too much like a rehash of her earlier books without a lot of new content.
But, I think that Rachel's back with Shabby Chic Interiors. Her style and eye for the special piece of furniture, picture or trinket is right on.
Her decorating style is a little sparse for my taste, but I have to admire someone who can show such restraint. It really makes each object in the room stand out.
Marie Claire Paper Crafts with Style was a disappointment. I don't read the magazine,but I had the idea it was very trendy and cutting edge. Maybe I was wrong about the magazine, or maybe this book isn't a good representation of the magazine.
Even though the pictures are lovely, the ideas are not new. Making flowers from folded paper is a craft I learned in first grade art class- we called them snow flakes, but the idea is the same.
Several of the ideas were repeated, just using different materials. These are paper mache trays that were molded around silverplate trays using book pages.
This is a paper mache teapot and teacup molded around- guess what? a coffee cup and coffee pot- only this time they used tissue paper.
And another use for tissue paper and glue- vases that look like saggy bags.
My favorite of my new books is Terry John Woods' New Farmhouse Style. It's crisp and clean and old and worn all at the same time.
This is the kind of book I like to have on the table next to the bed and take a peek at a few pages every night to give me sweet dreams.
Turning the pages in New Farmhouse style reminds me of the style of the Jeanne d Arc Living magazine that Carol of Raised in Cotton introduced to a lot of us. So many of the simple things we love like fresh flowers and ironstone arranged so that each piece seems special.
And the giveaway part of my post:
I said I usually join these book clubs late at night- well, I guess I was still kind of asleep when I joined this one, because I ordered two copies of Martha Stewarts Encyclopedia of Crafts- so I'm giving one away. Just leave a comment and let us know what your favorite craft or decorating book or magazine is.
(The book is HEAVY, so I'll be shipping it via media mail which is only available in the US- but I still want to hear from all my international friends, so I'll have a second giveaway of vintage paper- wallpaper & postcards etc- for a non US winner)
I'll pick two winners on Sunday night. Thanks for playing!
