DIY, Dammit!

July 20, 2015
Books that appeal to crafters who want to make something cool, but don’t have hours to dedicate to the task are easy to find; the same type of book that’s also a hoot to read is much more rare. Thus, comedian and DIY-er Hughes’s first book is a find: full of good projects and written in a disarmingly funny, low-key tone. “Internet perfection does nothing for DIY. It actually makes it harder,” she writes, before encouraging readers to step away from Pinterest and just have fun making. Her projects are split among decorations, gifts, clothing and wearable, parties, and organization. Hughes’s ideas land all over the crafting map, from bow-tie key chains and headbands made from leggings to timber doormats. While each project includes basic directions and a few photographs, some intrepidness on the part of the reader is expected. Still, this is a great find, especially for younger crafters or those of any age who want to avoid even a hint of mumsy-ness. 130 illus.

November 1, 2015

Crafting humor often takes one of two approaches: laughing at one's own hapless attempts at crafting, a la Heather Mann's CraftFail, or laughing at others' hapless attempts at crafting, a la April Winchell's Regretsy. Hughes, a popular craft vlogger and comedian, takes the former approach, good-naturedly poking fun at herself while demonstrating that being creative doesn't require extraordinary talent. Short personal essays tell the story of Hughes's crafting journey, in which she urges crafters to free themselves from the tyranny of Pinterest, take chances, and embrace (and laugh at) failure. The projects are fairly typical beginner-level crafts, and few require anything beyond basic supplies commonly found at a big-box craft store. Hughes touches on trendy crafts such as upcycling and repurposing, and her sensibility is decidedly youthful and rebellious--she's like the anti-Martha Stewart. VERDICT This book is for crafters who hate the Pinterest-perfect, overly styled aesthetic common in craft books and on blogs, but who still want to make cool stuff. Novice crafters with an itch to create will gain the most from the tutorials; Hughes's fans will appreciate the ribald humor.

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