The Crafter Culture Handbook by Amy Spencer

In the midst of children, husband, and a house, I have found solace. It comes in the form of a book, and it is wonderful. It is…drum roll please… The Crafter Culture Handbook by Amy Spencer! I cannot believe how jam-packed this book is with awesome crafts, tips for making money, and inspiration text about the need for local shopping and recycling for sustainability. The The Crafter Culture Handbook is a perfect companion to Amy Spencer’s subsequent book, DIY: The Rise Of Lo-Fi Culture, which highlights the rise of underground music producing and such.

The cool thing about The Crafter Culture Handbook is that there is something for everyone. It covers everything from crochet to tech crafts, all in the spirit of using old to make beautiful new. Actually, here are the categories for your perusal:

• Needlecraft
• Vintage
• Electronics
• Spa and beauty
• Home decor
• Knitting
• Paper and ink

I mean seriously, if you have ever had the itch to make handmade, you will find plenty to work in here. Take the techie section for example. There is a project to use a vintage typewriter to create a one of a kind keyboard for you home computer for crying out loud! I’d buy the book just for that! Not to mention the t-shirt deconstruction, no-machine sewing projects, bags, jewelry; you name it. All of the projects are beautifully made with amazing colors and chic twists on girly-vintage goods.

True to it’s political-social protests through craft, Amy Spencer compiled this book with the same grassroots ethos. Through a post on the great online zine, Make:, you can see how the book is simply a compilation of like-minded enviro-crafters. In fact, if you need a comparison, The Crafter Culture Handbook is as eclectic as the Make: sister zine, Craft:.

Anywho, I have little bookmarks all over the book for gift and house ideas, as well as a couple projects perfect for crafting with the kiddies. At such a decent price for all of the projects and inspiration, you might as well check out the book. Whether its for the craft, the environmentalism, the writing, or the profiles of other artists, you can’t go wrong with The Crafter Culture Handbook.