Blogcritics Category: Books: Arts

Book Review: Knitting For Good! A Guide to Creating Personal, Social, and Political Change Stitch by Stitch by Betsy Greer

Alyse Wax — Fri, 9 Jan 2009 02:29:05 EST

A guide to creating personal, social, and political change, stitch by stitch.
Betsy Greer believes that positive change can take place via the smallest gesture – including crafting. She has written Knitting for Good! to be “a guide to creating personal, social, and political change, stitch by stitch.” Her book is divided into three sections: knitting for yourself, knitting for your community, and knitting...

Book Review: French Girl Knits by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes

Alyse Wax — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 06:49:33 EST

A beautiful collection of delicate, feminine knitting patterns.
French Girl Knits by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes is the latest knitting book loaded with gorgeous patterns from the people at Interweave Press. The nearly 20 patterns within were all inspired by different aspects of French life and history. “Satine” is an airy fan-lace tunic with scalloped edges. “Sophia” is a dense lace...

Book Review: African Diaries: Sketches & Observations by David G. Derrick Jr.

Fitz — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 06:36:45 EST

Experience Africa through the eyes of an artist.
With two young daughters deeply enjoying art at home and in school, I find myself in the new position of having to look for books that combine art with education. Sometimes these books document the lives of famous artists while showing some of their more well known works. Sometimes I stumble on books that combine travel, education, and art in a...

Book Review: Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush and The Harmony Guide - 101 Stitches to Knit by Erika Knight

Alyse Wax — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 08:55:56 EST

Embellished knits for every level of knitter.
In Knitted Lace of Estonia: Techniques, Patterns, and Traditions, author Nancy Bush offers a history lesson and knitting lesson all in one. Estonian lace techniques are often called Haapsalu lace, after the seaside town where it originated. Haapsalu lace is characterized by a stockinette-stitch ground, with patterns knitted on the right-side only,...

Book Review: Glam Knits - 25+ Designs for Luxe Yarns by Stefanie Japel

Alyse Wax — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 07:44:08 EST

An indispensable collection of sexy, wearable knits.
Glam Knits by Stefanie Japel is a collection of over 25 knitting patterns made for glamour girls with luxe yarns. Japel previously wrote the wildly popular Fitted Knits so you know this one will be good. The knits within are unique, glamorous, flattering, and just all-around flattering. The stunning models -- made up like pin-up girls with finger...

Book Review: Dilbert 2.0 - 20 Years of Dilbert by Scott Adams

Wesley Mead — Sat, 3 Jan 2009 18:50:17 EST

Two decades of office satire, subversion and surreality.
Dilbert is one of the most successful comic strips of all time. It's syndicated in a mind-boggling 2000 newspapers spread across 65 countries. It's now been running a stunning 20 years. And - shock horror - it's actually brilliant.In popular culture, the cream of the crop rarely rises to the top. Reality shows dominate the TV ratings....

Book Review: Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn by Carol L. Sulcoski and Cute Knits for Baby Feet by Sue Whiting

Alyse Wax — Sat, 3 Jan 2009 08:39:49 EST

From �Flame Thrower Socks� to the ill-at-ease �Bobble-Socks� effect: This "Knit Picks" entry features a pair of socks-knitting books for all age groups.
A pair of books for you today: keeping toes warm at any age. First up is Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn by Carol L. Sulcoski. Handpainted yarns are one of the most coveted yarns by knitters. Often created in small batches by artisan spinners, these yarns combine two, three, four, or more different colors. The color changes don’t often...

The Great Book Adventure: The End

Chris Bancells — Fri, 2 Jan 2009 19:05:29 EST

Every adventure has an end. Every book as a next chapter.
So, I've been putting off writing this column for weeks, though not out of any sense of nostalgia. I just haven't known what to say. At the end of 2007, I came up with a simple plan to carry me through 2008, "to read one “great” book a month for the entire year and write about them as I go." With the exception of...

Book Review: Color Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd

Alyse Wax — Fri, 2 Jan 2009 18:45:48 EST

A wonderful collection of patterned knits, from stripes to fair isle.
Color Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd is a collection of 17 knitting patterns designed to show off color work. All three major methods of color work are utilized: mosaic or slip-stitch, intarsia, and fair isle. Tutorials are offered for each method, along with tips and secrets for managing color changes; however, these patterns are a little...

Book Review: The B List - The National Society of Film Critics on the Low-Budget Beauties, Genre-Bending Mavericks, and Cult Classics We Love by David Sterritt and John Anderson

Alyse Wax — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:39:17 EST

A subpar collection of essays on "B-List" movies.
The B List: The National Society of Film Critics on the Low-Budget Beauties, Genre-Bending Mavericks, and Cult Classics We Love is a collection of essays on some of the most influential, bizarre, and low-brow films in history. Edited by David Sterritt and John Anderson, contributors include David Ansen, Jami Bernard, Roger Ebert, Carrie Rickey,...