One thing you may not know about me: I'm massively crafty. Anything I can get my hands on, any random new skill I can learn, or thing I can do myself (even though it always costs more to make yourself, and you always end up buying a bajillion supplies to make them - whatever 'them' is, the 'them' of the moment - for everybody, but then promptly get distracted by the next shiny new thing, and OH HEY LOOK, I SHOULD TOTALLY TAKE UP QUILLING, WON'T I USE THAT ALL THE TIME? Or is that just me? Ahem...)...I wanna do it all.
I craft like it's my job — because it is. Literally.
So needless to say, I'm always on the lookout for new crafts I can learn, or new projects I can teach at my job. And if you follow me on instagram, you already know I'm a foodie. So we don't even need to go there. (Sourdough Wednesdays, what up!)
Basically, when Zest Books invited me to be part of their Summer Bloggin' Blog Tour, which features both CRAFTS and FOOD, obvs I was in. (Obvs.)
I'll be featuring these books more in depth after Austen in August is over, sometime in September, after I've had a chance to really get my hands dirty with them, but until then, I wanted to let you guys know a bit about them, and give you a chance to win one!
ABOUT THE BOOKS:
Get It | Add It
Published by Zest Books and distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-13: 978-1-936976-54-6; July 1, 2014; $16.99 PB, 240 pages, Ages 12+
Any crafter from novice to expert (of all ages), will enjoy these 70+ fresh duct tape project ideas from the fully illustrated guide, Sticky Fingers: DIY Duct Tape Projects, by Sophie Maletsky. Making everything from cell phone holders to room dividers, backpacks, jewelry, bags, wallets and more!
Sticky Fingers is essentially a step-by-step by step guide for realizing one’s potential as a duct tape crafter. Beginning with the basics of brands and types of tapes, through essential techniques, and on to detailed projects for home, for school and to wear, this book gives the reader everything they need to know to create fantastic-looking duct tape projects. Having worked with duct tape crafters for many years, Sophie has developed a teaching method—applied in this book—that makes even the most complicated projects doable. Sticky Fingers provides the reader with the building blocks – all that’s needed is imagination!
Sticky Fingers is essentially a step-by-step by step guide for realizing one’s potential as a duct tape crafter. Beginning with the basics of brands and types of tapes, through essential techniques, and on to detailed projects for home, for school and to wear, this book gives the reader everything they need to know to create fantastic-looking duct tape projects. Having worked with duct tape crafters for many years, Sophie has developed a teaching method—applied in this book—that makes even the most complicated projects doable. Sticky Fingers provides the reader with the building blocks – all that’s needed is imagination!
Basically, everybody love duct tape. Anyone who says they don't is lying, and you shouldn't trust them. Kids (especially my neighbor) are always asking for duct tape classes and project ideas at work, and I've been meaning to take some on for the longest time, but my one experience of duct tape crafting was such a pain in my ass that I just keep putting it off. (It did turn out cute, though.)
And I mean - have you seen the things people can do with duct tape?! Google "duct tape prom". GOOGLE IT. [looooooooooook!!]
So this should give me the boost I need in that regard, because there are some cute things in here.What I've got my eye on: Pretty sure I'm going to need to make one of the bags, and the checkerboard beach bag has me written all over it! But the messenger bag! And the tablet case! Ugh, I'm gonna need a lot of duct tape...
The Green Teen Cookbook: Recipes for All Seasons - Written by Teens, for Teens edited by Laurane Marchive and Pam McElroy
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Published by Zest Books and distributed by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-13: 978-1-936976-58-4; July 29, 2014; $14.99 PB, 144 pages; Ages 12+
The Kitchen can be one of the trickiest places for young adults to navigate—add trying to be healthy, eco-minded, and budget-conscious, and things get even more complicated! Now there is The Green Teen Cookbook to help guide teens through the mysteries of the kitchen and create some amazing meals. With inspiring tips on how to cut through the chaos of going green as well as master over 70 recipes, including a seasonal key that ensures optimal freshness (and a minimal carbon footprint), any teen can become a green culinary expert and learn how to: shop on a budget; get the most out of your pantry; cook more consciously; eat healthier, and more! Featuring full color photos throughout, The Green Teen Cookbook is an all-in-one guide for eating green and eating well—by teens and for teens!
This book is for people who enjoy cooking great, seasonal food for themselves as well as for other people—on a budget. It’s a guide for customizing recipes for each season, and for learning how to appreciate the different foods available each month. And readers looking to educate themselves on the food industry will enjoy the essays about globalization, vegetarianism, imports/exports, farming in the US and abroad, and much more.
This book is for people who enjoy cooking great, seasonal food for themselves as well as for other people—on a budget. It’s a guide for customizing recipes for each season, and for learning how to appreciate the different foods available each month. And readers looking to educate themselves on the food industry will enjoy the essays about globalization, vegetarianism, imports/exports, farming in the US and abroad, and much more.
Look, you don't even understand the relationship I have with recipes. Even ones I know I'll never make. Even ones for foods I don't like. I love a good recipe, a good food pic, a cook-off, a grocery list... You'll never hear me complaining about people instagramming their food, is what I'm saying.
And like many of us these days, I'm always trying to eat in a more sustainable, green, mindful way. TGTCB seems like a great all-rounder, featuring both solid standards and beginner recipes and more complex, fanceh shmanceh recipes, as well as breaking down basics and things like what it means to eat green. It's concise, informative, well-organizes and edited (so many yums), and most importantly in a cookbook, THERE ARE PICTURES. #foodpornWhat I've got my eye on: Well, all of it, let's be honest. But I don't think I've ever met a veggie I didn't like (we're pretending that okra doesn't exist, right?), so I've gotta say, the Vegetable Toasts have my name all over them. (Again, all the Ratatouille Times over on insta probably may have tipped some of you off to
this...)
****GIVEAWAY****
All looks pretty awesome, right? Well, now's your chance to find out for yourself! The awesome folks at Zest Books have offered up a giveaway s you guys can get your hands dirty with me this summer! One winner will get their choice of one of these two books! Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. US only, ends August 31st, 2014 at midnight EST.
Good luck!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Both look great for different reasons! I think the duct tape book would help you branch out--I have been the recipient of two wallets, three flowered pens and a longer case, maybe for pencils/pen in your purse, so far this summer! The nieces and I could have a ball.
ReplyDeleteNo brainer for me. I've heard about some of those duct tape projects and they sound pretty fun. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have the Green Teen Cookbook. This is something my children and I could do together. I love to cook and my children (especially my daughter) have picked up this love from me. I let them help me cook pretty much every night. I want them to be able to be self-sufficient and also aware of their environment. I have severe food allergies, so everything we cook here is all-natural. This cookbook sounds like a great choice for our family. Plus, I collect cookbooks.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried duct tape crafts myself, but those programs are very popular at my local public library. I am really looking forward to the Green Teen Cookbook. My husband and I both do a lot of cooking from scratch at home, and I want to do more to promote healthy cooking and eating among my students. And I also collect cookbooks.
ReplyDelete