Craft Book Reviews

I 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 good 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
Bead on a Wire by Sharilyn Miller
Bead o 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 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.

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 Brush Painting Techniques
Chinese Painting Techniques by Alison Stilwell Cameron
Chinese Brush Painting: A Beginner's Guide by Pauline Cherrett
and
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
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.

Have You Read Any Good Craft Books Lately?

Have you read a great craft book or magazine that you'd like to rave about? Share it here!

Enter Your Title

Tell Us About Your Favorite Craft Book or Magazine! [ ? ]

Close Help Entering your story is easy to do. Just type!... Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional) [ ? ]

Close Help Do you have a picture to add? Great! Click the button and find it on your computer. Then select it.

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional) 

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Like This Site?

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.