SIMPLE TIMES: A REVIEW

SIMPLE TIMES

Crafts for Poor People

BY AMY SEDARIS

ABOUT THE BOOK:

America's most delightfully unconventional hostess and the bestselling author of I Like You

You will discover how to make popular crafts, such as: crab-claw roach clips, tinfoil balls, and crepe-paper moccasins, and learn how to: get inspired (Spend time at a Renaissance Fair; Buy fruit, let it get old, and see what shapes it turns into); remember which kind of glue to use with which material (Tacky with Furry, Gummy with Gritty, Paste with Prickly, and always Gloppy with Sandy); create your own craft room and avoid the most common crafting accidents (sawdust fires, feather asphyxia, pine cone lodged in throat); and cook your own edible crafts, from a Crafty Candle Salad to Sugar Skulls, and many more recipes.

PLUS whole chapters full of more crafting ideas (Pompom Ringworms! Seashell Toilet Seat Covers!) that will inspire you to create your own hastily constructed obscure d'arts; and much, much more! delivers a new book that will forever change the world of crafting. According to Amy Sedaris, it's often been said that ugly people craft and attractive people have sex. In her new book, SIMPLE TIMES, she sets the record straight. Demonstrating that crafting is one of life's more pleasurable and constructive leisure activities, Sedaris shows that anyone with a couple of hours to kill and access to pipe cleaners can join the elite society of crafters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amy Sedaris has appeared in several movies and television shows, and, with Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert, is a co-author of the novel Wigfield. She also co-wrote Strangers with Candy, the hit show on Comedy Central. She lives in Manhattan.

 

A FAVORITE CRAFT OF AMY'S:

Here is one of Amy's favorite crafts from her book, "Rusty Nail Wind Chime":

Rusty Nail Wind Chime: On an emotional downswing, toss a fistful of nails into your backyard. At a later date, during a manic phase, search the yard for what are now rusty nails. Once collected, string them together to make a wind chime.

ABOUT MY CRAFT:

When it was suggested that reviewers try a craft themselves, I was stumped. I am neither crafty nor can I pretend to be. I can describe my attempt. I tried to make Amy's "Marshmallow Stars" (see Amy's below) which I thought I could make a little differently using gumdrops...and it worked, well, somewhat. What happened was every time I got the gumdrop on the toothpick, it looked so good that I ate it, so I never did quite complete a whole "star"...but you can get the idea with Amy's craft here.

MY REVIEW:
I found Amy's book to be clever and parts of it were quite funny. I do think the photos are well done and the sections do make it easy to decide what part you need to do "research" in. I also found it wasn't a one sit read as although it is quite enjoyable, I could only stick with it a little at a time. I believe I am more of a narrative reader and this was a bit disjointed for me. Although I did like what I read, there were parts that I could have done without. I very much enjoy Amy's comedy live or on television, but in reading it, a little went a long way for me. I do think it is important that although Amy says it is a book written for young kids on up, that this is an adult book and not one you want your 7 year old thumbing through. Reading SIMPLE TIMES a bit at a time, was fun and you can jump around in it so it does make it an enjoyable laugh from time to time. It would make a funny coffee table book assuming you don't have a home open to young children. For Amy's fans, be sure and check out Amy's unofficial website at AmySedarisRocks.com.