- Handmade Living: A Designer Collective - Handmade Canberra
A project of Handmade Canberra in Australia’s capital city, Handmade Living (Handmade Press, 2010) features 70 projects to inspire and engage the creativity of home crafters. Author Tania McCartney has produced a visually delightful book featuring a collection of craft projects and Australian crafter profiles with the assistance of Handmade Canberra founder Julie Nichols and with illustrations by Tina Snerling.
Handmade Living is a celebration of the creativity and talent of Australian crafters and artists and evidence that homemade crafts can produce unique items that offer a beautiful and personal alternative to mass produced gifts and homewares available in the general marketplace.
Handmade Living: A Designer Collective
Handmade Living was sparked by a chance remark by Tania McCartney to Julie Nichols about writing a book to showcase the wonderful designers and crafters associated with the Handmade Canberra market and shop.
Containing 70 crafting projects and inspirational ideas covering a wide range of materials and interests, Handmade Living is more than a simple craft project book. It is also a directory of creative artists and a source of inspiration for home crafters looking for fresh and exciting ideas to stimulate their own creativity.
Handmade Living features projects ranging from edible treats, paper craft and decorating tips to toys, home décor ideas, jewellery and ways to create inexpensive clothing accessories and embellishments. Craft ideas range from those suitable for even the most inexperienced crafter to those requiring some level of skill or specific tools.
The gorgeous photographs, predominantly contributed by McCartney, will stir the imagination of crafters. Details of contributors include website links, ensuring readers will find ongoing inspiration in addition to a range of unique and enchanting products to purchase for personal use or gifts for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions.
Handmade Market Canberra
Founded by Julie Nichols, Handmade Market Canberra is a quarterly event bringing together artists, craftspeople, designers, stylists and gourmets in one place. Shoppers can browse unique clothing and accessories, gorgeous paper crafts, jewellery pieces, patchwork quilts, handmade home decor pieces and a variety of other items. A strict application process for stall holders ensures quality and workmanship standards are high.
The popularity of the Handmade Markets led Julie Nichols to team with designer Rachel Evagelou in April 2010 to open Shop Handmade in Canberra’s busy shopping district. Shop Handmade Canberra offers retail space to more than 120 handmade artists and designers and offers shoppers a permanent and accessible location to source items by their favourite designers and discover new creations.
Inspiring Homemade Projects and Ideas
With projects ranging from baby toys and travel pillows to tote bags, travel journals and recipes, Handmade Living has something to suit all tastes and budgets. The additional creative ideas including photography and decorating tips and suggestions for revamping or embellishing old clothing ensure that this book will offer ongoing encouragement to home crafters beyond the featured projects.
Handmade Living is available for purchase online, through the Handmade Canberra shop or markets and at bookstores Australia-wide. For those who have the opportunity, a visit to Shop Handmade Canberra or the Handmade Canberra markets will offer additional inspiration and encouragement for reviving neglected craft skills and joining the resurgence of interest in all things homemade.
Review copy details
Handmade Living: A Designer Collective (ISBN: 978-0-9804750-4-3, 171 pages)
