Make Stuff Together!

Not just a command, an actual book review and GIVEAWAY! Read closely folks, because here's your chance to WIN a copy of this amazing new book. Leave a comment below and I'll randomly select a winner by Friday July 1st.

Make Stuff Together is the new book by

Bernadette Noll and Kathie Sever, two wily and inventive mamas and all 'round crafty folks who together form the dynamic duo that is Future Craft Collective (you can follow them on Facebook here).

I've been following them like a devoted puppy dog avidly for years now, they're true Austin, TX superstars of the crafty/recycle-y variety, and they just beam out joy, fun, creativity and major style everywhere they go. No one could be more confident than I that their book would be great.

I have to say the book surprised even me. I thought it was going to be good, like so incredibly good, and that it would share with the world what Austin already knew... that Kathie and Bernadette were the super-coolest... but seriously, it's SO good. The projects are so ingenious and great-looking, and I think most books, should they be fortunate enough to be in possession of such fine inspiration: beautiful photos of happy children, and instructions for making things that are not only truly useful and that you actually really want but that are also made from upcycled materials, would just consider it a home run right there and coast the rest of the way by fluffing up the space between the pictures with some forgettable bla bla bla. But nothing about the writing was forgettable. I must admit, even I was skimming over the sewing instructions when I realized that there was gold hidden in those as well and I had to go back and read them all more closely.
It's a very fine line that they walk, advocating as they do the importance of a close and connected family life full of reflection and celebration, alongside the importance of community and eco-consciousness, and this book could easily have become preachy, but they do backflips along that line. It's funny and down-to earth about the realities of life with kids while inspiring you to juice up the life that you share with them with more goodness. And I don't know if any kids craft book ever has so fully acknowledged the challenges of attempting to craft with kids AND offers such a wonderfully practical solution... the projects can be done all in one go, of course, or without the kids at all (that would be a cop-out, but it may be what I end up doing... shhh....), but they also break up the projects into bite-sized pieces so that you can maintain your sanity and give your kids that great sense of accomplishment, neatly sidestepping the tears and fatigue and craziness that sometimes go along with making stuff together.
What else can I say... it's FABULOUS! Go buy it yourself and see for yourself that these Words I Say are true (or wait a few days and see if you win it, that's good too)! Congratulations, K and B, on a real slam-dunk of a first book... love you guys! And now the whole rest of the world gets a chance to soak up the goodness, too!