Home Made Simple
Dublin City Public Library
This is a book about using a variety of items which would otherwise be waste or redecorating items to enhance them. A lot of it is quite easy to do and looks easy enough to do with minimal fuss. It also includes some knitting patterns.
It's divided into three main sections; Home; Giving and Celebrations. Some very easy projects some harder; all well-illustrated and with plenty of illustrations for how-to where necessary.
Home has such projects as Pinlight Canvas - where a string of LED bulbs are used with canvas to create an image, simple but effective. Wine Crate Desk is a good crafting desk, not heavy duty; Wine Crate Desk Tidy - a corral for papers; Fabric-covered desk tidy; Pallet Coffee Table; Posh Pallet Table, fabric covered; Fabric Cable Lights; Basic Upholstery; Wall-hung Bookcases; Magnetic Spice-jar Space Savers; Whitewashed Wood offcut chopping boards; Ironing Board Cover; Tree branch Pegs; Tennis Ball Door Block; Tassel Pulls; Foaming Pump Dispenser; Photo Key Box; Photo Box; Cross-body Utility Sack; Oversized Oilcloth Shopping Bag.
Giving has Clay Tea Light Shades; Simple Candles.
Knitting: with basic instructions, including advice on buying wool; the first pattern is a chunky patternscarf that she suggests fastening with a kilt pin.
Knitted Wrist warmers are also in chunky yarn in a moss stitch pattern knit in the flat.
E-book reader/notebook cover - knit in a chunky wool held double.
Mobile Phone pouch knit in chunky wool held double
Glasses Case is knit with chunky wool held double as well.
There's also how-to on finger knitting.
The chapter continues with a Simple Gift Bag; a Bottle Gift Bag; a pretty lined purse; Reversible Ribbon-Handled Bag; A simple charm bracelet; Leather Card Case; Peppermint and Lime Lip Balm; Rose and Mardarin Bath Oil; How to melt Chocolate; Chocolate Peanuts, Pumpkin seeds and Raisins; Chocolate honeycomb; Breakfast in Bed tray; Engagement Ring Gloves; Personalised Picnic Blanket; Bike-seat cover
Celebrations
Golden Chocolate Eggs; Speckled Ganache Eggs; No-stress Pancakes; Lily of the Valley Eggs; Baklava; Hanging Firefly Glass Lanterns; Rangoli Lace Cake and Cards; Patterned Divas; Peg Hanukkiyah; Sufganiyot; Lucky Envelopes; Fabric-covered lanterns; Furoshiki Wrapping; a Thanksgiving book; The Tree; Whitewashed Pine Cones; Golden Apples; Wire COathanger Centrepiece; Clay/Salt Dough Star Garland; Chunky Paper Chains; Sky Lanterns
Overall an interesting book for someone of a crafty bent, which assumes that you're willing to try. Many of them are quite doable without too much complications or effort. I liked it and would consider buying it.
I borrowed it from the libraries and would seriously consider buying it for myself. Dublin City Public Libraries offered me no inducement to review this book other than my salary and access to the books.
