Craft Book Reviews

Who doesn't love to buy craft books and craft magazines?




Nothing is better than curling up with a cup of tea and a great book or magazine and being inspired by the glorious creations and exciting new techniques to try.

Click here to review your favorite craft book or magazine

These craft magazine and book reviews will help you decide which books and craft magazine subscriptions you'd like to add to your personal library. I've also included in some of the reviews some great resources where you can buy craft supplies online so you can quickly find unique and reasonably priced supplies for the kinds of projects described in each book.

Not all online book stores are created equal. At some sites you'll find plenty of discount craft books while at other sites you'll find a huge selection of titles or rare books. If you're trying to find the best places to buy craft or art books, check out these reviews of several online book stores.

Art and Craft Magazines

Stringing Magazine
I like Stringing Magazine because, of all of the beading magazines I've read, Stringing is the most fashion-forward. The projects are fun, simple to make and stylish; there's nothing antiquated or dowdy about the projects in this magazine.

Accessories Magazine
Accessories Magazine is written for people who sell women's fashion accessories in any type of retail environment. Because the magazine reports on trends many months in advance, you'll get that information in time to reflect those trends in your own work.

Art Jewelry Magazine
I never get tired of reading Art Jewelry Magazine. This jewelry making magazine covers a real variety of jewelry making techniques from beginner metalsmithing techniques, working with wire, polymer clay, metal clay and plenty of other jewelry media.

Art and Craft Books

Photographing Arts, Crafts and Collectibles
Photographing Arts, Crafts and Collectibles by Steve Meltzer
Photographing Arts, Crafts and Collectibles by Steve Meltzer is a fantastic resource on craft photography. I have researched plenty of sources, trying to find good information on craft photography for my own business, and this book, by far, is the most thorough, honest and helpful resource I've come across on the subject.

Bead on a Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry
Bead on a Wire
Bead on a Wire by Sharilyn Miller
Bead on a Wire is a great wire jewelry book. If making wire wrapped jewelry is brand new to you, or you want to learn techniques beyond creating simple wrapped loops, you will be able to follow the instructions in Bead on a Wire and create your own unique wire jewelry pieces.

The Beader's Guide to Color
The Beader's Guide to Color
The Beader's Guide to Color by Margie Deeb
The Beader's Guide to Color by Margie Deeb looks at color theory from a beader's perspective. The book includes fantastic examples of beadwork that will provide inspiration and encourage you to challenge yourself to take your own beaded projects to a new level.

Art of Resin Jewelry: Layering, Casting, and Mixed Media Techniques for Creating Vintage to Contemporary Designs
Making Resin Jewelry
The Art of Resin Jewelry by Sherri Haab
If you want to experiment with making resin jewelry (or using resin in other projects, for that matter) this book is a great starting point. Resin is a really wonderful, versatile product that you can use to create truly unique designs while avoiding the need to invest in a lot of complex equipment.

Chinese Painting Techniques

Chinese Brush Painting Bible: Over 200 Motifs with Step by Step Illustrated Instructions
Chinese Brush Painting Techniques
Chinese Painting Techniques by Alison Stilwell Cameron
Chinese Brush Painting: A Beginner's Guide by Pauline Cherrett
The Chinese Brush Painting Bible by Jane Dwight
I started experimenting with Chinese brush painting techniques about a year ago. It is a wonderful and deceptively challenging discipline. Ideally, Chinese brush painting should be studied with a teacher, but unfortunately, not everyone can access a great teacher. If you'd like to try your hand at learning Chinese brush painting techniques, these books can help to get you started.




Business Books

The Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies
The Successful Business Plan
The Successful Business Plan: Secrets and Strategies by Rhonda Abrams
The Successful Business Plan by Rhonda Abrams is an extremely thorough and easy to understand guide to writing a business plan. If you are looking for an all in one resource for writing your business plan, this book will not disappoint.


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What Other Visitors Have Said

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The Prayer Shawl Companion by Janet Bristow and Victoria Cole-Galo   starstarstarstarstar
This book contains 38 patterns for shawls to fit in with the charity knitting movement known as the Prayer Shawl Ministry. The authors have a Web site ...

"Fire Mountain Gem and Beads" Bead and Jewelry Making Supply Catalog (This is no ordinary Catalog)  starstarstarstarstar
"Fire Mountain Gem and Beads" Bead and Jewelry Making Supply Catalog is not an ordinary catalog! It's like a catalog, magazine, and book all in one! (I ...

I Love Bead and Button Magazine!  starstarstarstarstar
My favorite craft magazine easily is Bead & Button Magazine. Not only are the articles informative and interesting, they have some great projects to ...

Celtic and Old Norse Designs by Courtney Davis  Not rated yet
Celtic and Old Norse Designs is another of the great design books published by Dover. I find it very useful because it is an historical reference, very ...

Best Ever Craft Book for Kids  Not rated yet
Best Ever Craft Book for Kids

This is a really awesome book! There is lots to make and do. This is in most libraries at public schools. This might ...

Vogue Knitting Magazine  Not rated yet
I am not a perfect knitter, an experienced knitter, or even a knitter first. First and foremost, I am a student, a friend, a girlfriend, a teenager, and ...

Loom Crafts with Knifty Knitter  Not rated yet
I have had the Loom Crafts with Knifty Knitter for a year now and use it more than I'd like to admit to. This book shows you how to use the loom with ...

American Craft Magazine  Not rated yet
I would highly recommend American Craft Magazine to anyone who is interested in crafts, is very involved in crafts, or who simply enjoys reading about ...

Quilter's Newsletter The Original Quilting Magazine  Not rated yet
Quilter's Newsletter is probably the first and original quilting magazine. Even if another magazine preceded it, Quilter's Newsletter set the standard ...

Ready Made  Not rated yet
Ready Made magazine is a modern crafter's magazine full of contemporary projects for advanced crafters with urban-eco taste. The step-by-step instructions ...

Step by Step WIRE JEWELRY magazine  Not rated yet
I have been making jewelry for years but never knew how to make wire jewelry, so I picked up an issue of: Step by Step WIRE JEWELRY at my local craft store....

Jan Messent’s World of Embroidery  Not rated yet
If you have ever wondered what processes some artists utilize to come up with their beautiful works, you've come to the right place. Jan Messent’s World ...

"The Handweaver's Pattern Directory" by Anne Dixon  Not rated yet
Having recently purchased "The Handweaver's Pattern Directory" by Anne Dixon, I can't recommend it highly enough.

It's certainly a niche book, appealing ...

Scrapbook Fundamentals  Not rated yet
Scrapbook Fundamentals: Your Guide to Getting Started (Memory Makers)

For all scrapbookers out there please consider reading this review I truly ...

Scrapbooks Etc.  Not rated yet
My favorite craft magazine is Scrapbooks Etc. by Better Homes and Gardens. It comes out bi-monthly.

This is the best scrapbook magazine that I have ...

Stitch and Bitch Crochet - The Happy Hooker  Not rated yet
Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller is a fantastic and fun crochet instruction book, perfect for both beginning crocheters and ...

Scrapbooks Etc.  Not rated yet
Scrapbooks Etc. is my favorite magazine dealing with scrapbooking and paper crafts, such as card making. They do a good job with presentation. They cover ...

Best Ever Craft Book For Kids by The Staff of Paragon Publishing  Not rated yet
As I do babysitting on weekends, I prepare myself for rainy days when the kids say, "I'm bored!" I am not a big believer in sticking kids in front of the ...

Crochet World Magazine  Not rated yet
Being a subscriber to Crochet World Magazine for several years, I have to admit this is one of the best crochet magazines on the market. As a matter ...

Drawing MasterClass: A Comprehensive guide to drawing techniques  Not rated yet
Drawing Masterclass: A Comprehensive Guide to Drawing Techniques published by Quantum Publishing is truly a comprehensive book. Written and illustrated ...

Paper Crafts Magazine  Not rated yet
Paper Crafts Magazine is an essential tool for do it yourself card makers and paper crafters. With it's beautiful color pictures and step-by-step, clear ...

Knitting for Dummies  Not rated yet
I have read Knitting for Dummies I tried knitting several different times on my own and with family and friends attempting to show me how. I was unable ...



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