Creativity and Crafting -- resource list

Here's a bibliography I compiled of creativity and craft books for nurturing creativity in the home.

Bibliography of Resources on Creativity

1. Creativity defined and developed

Butterworth, Eric – The Creative Life: Seven Keys to Your Inner Genius – Jeremy R. Tarcher/Putnam (New York). 2001
Gregory, Danny – The Creative License: Giving yourself permission to be the artist you truly are – Hyperion (New York). 2006
Henri, Robert – The Art Spirit – Westview Press (Boulder, CO) 1984.
Kenison, Katrina – Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry – Warner Books (New York). 2000
Leuzzi, Linda – A Creative Life: The Young Person’s Guide – Franklin Watts (Danbury, Connecticut). 1999
Murphy, Bernadette – Zen and the Art of Knitting: Exploring the Links Between Knitting, Spirituality, and Creativity – Adams Media Corporation 2002
Soule, Amanda Blake – The Creative Family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections – Trumpeter Books (Boston, Massachusetts). 2008
Tharp, Twyla – The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life – Simon and Schuster (New York). 2003
Wakefield, Dan – Creating from the Spirit: Living Each Day as a Creative Act – Ballantine Books (New York) 1996.
misc authors – The Crafter’s Companion: Tips, Tales and Patterns from a Community of Creative Minds – Snowbooks Ltd (London, England). 2006

2. General Crafting with kids and adults
Beal, Susan, et al – Super Crafty: Over 75 Amazing How-To Projects – Sasquatch Books (Seattle, Washington) 2005
Berger, Petra – Feltcraft: Making Dolls, Gifts and Toys – Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2004
Berger, Petra & Thomas – Crafts Though the Year – Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2001
Cooper, Stephanie & Fynes-Clinton, Christine & Rowling, Marye – The Children’s Year: Crafts and Clothes for Children and Parents to Make – Hawthorn Press (Gloucestershire, UK) 2002
Desmoulins, Virginie – Girls’ Best Book of Knitting, Sewing and Embroidery – Stewart, Tabori & Chang (New York) 2007
Diehn, Gwen – Books for Kids to Make: Making Books that Fly, Fold, Wrap, Hide, Pop Up, Twist & Turn – Lark Books (New York) 2006
Jaffke, Freya – Toymaking with Children – Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2003
Leeuwen, M v & Moeskops, J – The Nature Corner: Celebrating the Year’s Cycle with a Seasonal Tableau – Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 1990
Mavor, Salley – Felt Wee Folk: Enchanting Projects – C&T Publishing (Lafayette, CA) 2003
Railla, Jean – Get Crafty: Hip Home Ec – Broadway Books (New York) 2004.
Watt, Fiona – The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas: Over 400 Inspiring Ideas for Things to do with Paints, Pastels, Collage, Crayons, Inks, Paper, Pens, Found Objects, Stitches, Rubbings – EDC Publishing (Tulsa, OK) 2005
Rhatigan, Joe & Newcomb, Rain & Dean, Irean Semanchuck – Craft It! 50 Fun Stamp, Paper & Polymer Clay Projects – Sterling Publishing (New York) 2005

3. Drawing with Children
Brookes, Mona – Drawing with Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too – Putnam Books (New York) 1996
Brookes, Mona – Drawing with Older Children and Teens: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too – Putnam Books (New York) 1991
Muller, Brunhild – Painting with Children – Floris Books (Edinburgh, Scotland) 2001

4. Sewing with Children
Cantrell, Alice – Sewing with St. Anne – Little Way Press (Twain Harte, CA) 2002
Cantrell, Alice – Tea & Cake with the Saints: A Catholic Young Lady’s Introduction to Hospitality and the Home Arts – Little Way Press (Twain Harte, CA) 2007
Davis, Tina – See and Sew: A Sewing Book for Children – Stewart, Tabori & Chang (New York) 2006
Fryer, Jane Eayre – The Mary Frances Sewing Book – LACIS Books (Berkley, CA) 1997
Gagnon, JoAnn & Corrie Gagnon – Stitches & Pins: A Beginning Sewing Book for Girls – Bunkhouse Books 2002
Karol, Amy – Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The essential guide to a whole new way to sew – Potter Craft (New York) 2007
Sealey, Maricristin – Kinder Dolls: A Waldorf Doll-Making Handbook – Hawthorn Press (Gloucestershire, UK) 2001

5. Knitting with Children
Bliss, Debbie – How to Knit: The definitive knitting course complete with step-by-step techniques, stitch libraries and projects for your home and family – Trafalgar Square Publishing (North Pomfret, VT) 1999
Falick, Melanie – Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of All Ages – Artisan (New York) 2003
Fryer, Jane Eayre – The Mary Frances Book of Knitting and Crochet – Hobby House Press 2002
Gildersleeve, Mary C. – Glory of America Knits! – Ecce Homo Press (LaGrange, KY) 2004
Gildersleeve, Mary C. – Great Yarns for the Close-Knit Family: Over two dozen original hand-knit designs inspired by one dozen fantastic family read-alouds – Hillside Education (Lake Ariel, PA) 2008
Gosse, Bonnie & Allerton, Jill – A First Book of Knitting for Children – Wynstones Press (Stourbridge, England) 1997
Hansen, Robin – Sunny’s Mittens: Learn to Knit Lovikka Mittens – Down East Books (Camden, ME) 1990

Simple Craft-of-the-Week: Crayon Cookies

Sarah over at Plainsong is continuing the "simple craft-a-week club" through this year. We still have lots of spots open if you'd like to volunteer.

I have this week's craft, so here goes:

Crayon Cookies

This is a really easy craft -- one many of you may have done before -- but we'd never done it and since I wanted to have the kiddoes make some posters this week anyway, I thought it was a great time to do this. Also, since we're in the second half of the year, all those new and whole crayons have been relegated to the crayon "bin" -- just one step above the trash!

You'll need old crayons, an old muffin tin, and an oven/toaster oven.

Break the crayons into 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces -- we used a bin filled with old, mismatched crayons, many of which were already all broken up. Remove any paper or other labels from the crayons.

The 3 kids and I each did 3 cups of crayons -- some did their favorite team colors (Clemson - orange and dark blue, Broncos - orange, blue and white), some did it in their favorite shades (greens or red/pink) and some just did jumbled colors. This is a great chance to discuss color theory, primaries and secondary colors, etc.

Bake in an oven set to 170 for about 20-30 minutes. Ours took awhile becuase we had to keep opening the oven (the light wasn't working) to check if they were all melted yet!

Once all the crayons are melted remove pan to cooling rack.

Let cool completely -- about 2 hours. When the "cookies" are completely cool, they will slide right out of the cupcake tin!

Have fun with the crayons -- you can use them to make posters or just fun designs ... we're putting them back in the container the "old" crayons were in so that we can find them easily whenever we want to color fun pictures!

Lions ... and tigers .... and CATS!