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Check it out: These two books will inspire your inner crafter

The Columbian

Published: December 6, 2015, 6:07am

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I don’t know about you, but I love to look at craft books. Knowing that if I just follow the instructions, a wonderful object will appear — well, that’s pretty darn inspiring. Unfortunately, the trouble starts right after being inspired, because my follow-through on such projects is below average. Like, way below average. (It turns out that I have the same problem with cookbooks — my talent lies in not actually cooking anything, just reading the recipes).

With apologies to Shakespeare, to craft, or not to craft, that is the question. I suppose that my appreciation for a well-written, visually appealing craft book is what keeps me going back to the 745-746 call number section of the library’s collection. If you haven’t yet visited this area, prepare to be overwhelmed. Just how many knitting and quilting books does the world need, you might wonder to yourself, but trust me when I say that craft books are not just top sellers for bookstores, they’re among the most popular titles in libraries.

Since it’s all about holiday festivities this month, I am presenting two titles guaranteed to inspire your inner crafter, whether you choose to be a voyeur or a fully-engaged participant. An added benefit to checking out these specific titles is that they include year-round projects, so the fun doesn’t have to stop after Dec. 25 (which is good news for you, January, because, hoo-boy, you can be a real downer).

• “A Year of Gingerbread Houses: Making & Decorating Gingerbread Houses for All Seasons” by Kristine Samuell (Lark, 135 pages)

I have to admit that this book scares me just a wee bit. The equipment and tools recommended in the introduction bear an uncanny resemblance to items needed for a sewing project, and let me tell you, I am not a sewer. However, the gingerbread projects in “A Year of Gingerbread Houses” are so lovely that I’m tempted to buy an impression mat, a craft knife, and a large corsage pin so I can take a stab — perhaps a poor word choice — at making my very own Ski Cabin or Winter Wonderland. If you can’t imagine trying to squeeze a scratch-made gingerbread house into your hectic holiday schedule, don’t cry. There are perfectly wonderful house plans for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and a birthday picnic. If nothing else, check out this book so you can look at the delicious variety of windows and fireplaces you could make yourself, or just admire on the page.

• “The Wreath Recipe Book: Year-Round Wreaths, Swags, and Other Decorations to Make with Seasonal Branches” by Alethea Harampolis (Artisan, 269 pages)

When my husband and I make our annual trek to our favorite Christmas tree farm, we always get a tree and an evergreen wreath. I like the wreath because it’s simple, it smells good, and I don’t have to make it. However, my inner crafter tends to become very exasperated with my laziness. In an effort to pay more attention to my inner crafter’s yearnings, I decided to look into the art of wreath-making. Happily, I discovered Alethea Harampolis’s gorgeous “The Wreath Recipe Book.” Easy to follow instructions and appealing photographs make this a delightful guide for both new and experienced wreath-makers. In case you’re heading to your fabric stash for wreath parts, put on a coat and gloves instead because most of the ingredients in these wreath recipes live outdoors (or at a florist’s shop if nature’s pantry is a bit sparse where you live). Even if all you have in your yard are bare branches, don’t give up: A twist of ribbon, a dash of evergreen and a sprinkling of air plants can transform winter’s paucity into a fetching holiday flourish. Then when nature’s bounty returns in the spring, check out this book again so that you can festoon your home with verdant loveliness.

Jan Johnston is the collection development coordinator for the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. Email her at readingforfun@fvrl.org.

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