Book :: Party Origami by Jessica Okui

Party Origami
by Jessica Okui
Chronicle Books
ISBN 978-1-4521-1681-5
Review by Jenny Doh

Open up the cute little exterior sleeve of Party Origami and find a small booklet filled with 14 origami projects that you can make ... for party decorations and just everyday fun. The booklet doesn't have color photographs but is loaded with illustrations and instructions that can help you learn how to fold all sorts of clever things including Boat Chopstick Rest, Napkin Ring, Star Candleholder, Lantern Butning and more. The most exciting part is that the booklet is accompanied by 75 sheets of super cute origami paper that is very NOW. I adore this entire collection as presented by ever talented Jessica Okui, who has a knack at making everyday projects feel super special.

Yay for Party Origami!

BOOK :: Perfect Health Diet

Perfect Health Diet
by Paul Jaminet & Shou-Ching Jaminet
Scribner
ISBN-13: 978-1451699142
448 Pages
Review by Jenny Doh

This is one of the most eye-opening books I've ever read. The co-authors do an incredible job offering science-based research that boils down to this:

• avoid wheat and most other grains except for white rice and white rice-derivatives
• avoid sugar and sugar-derivatives (hopefully it goes without saying that aspartame and other artificial sweeteners are not to be invited in, in place of sugar)
• avoid legumes
• avoid vegetable seed oils

Doesn't sound so fun, huh? That's what I thought at first too. I wondered how I could say goodbye to some foods that I have been eating and been emotionally attached to for quite some time. But you know what? It hasn't been that hard. In fact, it's been very fun challenging myself to develop meals and recipes with plenty of foods that are recommended in Perfect Health Diet (PHD) ... like all the fruits and vegetables that I love, all the meats and fish that I love, all the rice and potato-based foods that I love—all prepared in a manner that champions flavor, nourishment, and all within a context of portion control and moderation.

The authors base their recommendations on an evolutionary perspective as they ask the readers to consider where we came from, and how we used to eat. They set this foundational groundwork within the first two chapters as we learn about our Paleolithic ancestors—how they moved, how they hunted, how they gathered, how they fasted, and how they ate. 

So once you finish reading a highly scienctifically researched book such as PHD, you either believe it or you don't. I for one believe it. First, because the style and manner with which Jaminet and Jaminet have written and presented the chapters is smart and non-sensationalist. Second, because the book was recommended to me in the fist place by a smart and trusted friend.

But do you know why else I believe it? In just a few weeks of adopting their recommendations, I can already feel the nutritional benefits happening to me. More satisfied, more balanced, and more healthy and clean is how I feel as I have expunged all that is to be avoided out of my diet (for the most part) and embraced their recommendations.

Mind you, I had been a pretty healthy eater before reading this book. But I feel that PHD offers me a set of tools to fine-tune my diet to a level of near perfection that I didn't know how to achieve.

Bravo to Paul Jaminet and Shou-Ching Jaminet for a truly revolutionary book.

PRODUCT :: Stabilo All Marking Pencil

Stabilo All Marking Pencil
Review by Jenny Doh

The Stabilo All Marking Pencil feels kind of like a graphite pencil when you first use it. It makes a nice thick, black mark, as shown in the little penciled heart above.

You can use this pencil to make marks on practically anything like paper, glass, plastic, and metal. The other thing about this pencil is that it blends really really nicely with just a bit of water. A wonderful feature when you need a bit of forgiveness when sketching faces or other things.

One thing to keep in mind is that the pencil is water-soluble so once you are happy with the way things look, if you want it to not smudge anymore, you need to spray it with a workable fixative like this one.

Happy creating. :)

BOOK :: Outside the Lines Street Art Doodle Book by Dave the Chimp

Outside the Lines Street Art Doodle Book
by David Horwood/Dave the Chimp
Laurence King Publishing
ISBN978-1-85669-682-1
256 Pages
Review by Jenny Doh

I adore this book. It's cool, fun, and so inviting. It's like a gigantic coloring book where you can go in and color fantastic illustrations. It's also a journaling book/doodle book where lots of spreads invite you in to just react to what's on in the spread. It's also a comic book where some pages are filled with illustrations with text that tell fun little stories. It's also a coffee table book ... filled with really awesome street art that you can admire again and again.

It's all of this and more. It's a book that can be opened up in the middle, toward the front, toward the back ... a book without a real beginning or end ... a book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

BOOK :: Rachel Nelson-Smith's Bead Riffs

Rachel Nelson-Smith's Bead Riffs: Jewelry Projects in Peyote and Right Angle Weave
by Rachel Nelson-Smith
Lark Crafts
ISBN: 978-1-60059-783-1
128 Pages
Review by Sarah Meehan

In Rachel Nelson-Smith's Bead Riffs: Jewelry Projects in Peyote and Right Angle Weave, popular beading artist Rachel Nelson-Smith shares her unique, musically-inspired approach to jewelry design. This 128-page book features 23 bold, innovative, and downright funky beading projects, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pendants, and rings. It begins with a chapter entitled "The Setup," which guides you through the basic tools and supplies along with the various beading techniques that will be used throughout the book. From there, you dive right in to the projects themselves, all of which are presented with easy-to-follow instructions, helpful technical diagrams, and gorgeous, detailed photographs. Nelson-Smith blends her experience as a jazz musician into every design she features - from her creative project titles (such as "Five-Piece Band" and "Swing Time") to the "Riff It" sections that give you tips for making each piece your own. If you've been looking for a title that will give you a fresh perspective on beaded jewelry, then Rachel Nelson-Smith's Bead Riffs: Jewelry Projects in Peyote and Right Angle Weave might just strike a chord with you.

Learn more here.

BOOK :: Metal Clay Fusion by Gordon K. Uyehara

Metal Clay Fusion
by Gordon K. Uyehara
ISBN-13: 978-1600596971
Lark Crafts
144 Pages
Review by Sarah Meehan

If you're an experienced metal clay artist looking to take your work to the next level, then you'll love Metal Clay Fusion. As part of the Metal Clay Master Class Series, this inspiring title showcases 22 original projects by artist Gordon K. Uyehara - one of the most celebrated talents in modern metal clay. Metal Clay Fusion begins with a detailed overview of metal clay terms, tools, and techniques, spanning from design concepts to firing methods to repairing damaged pieces. From there, Uyehara dives right into his eye-catching projects, all of which are accompanied by detailed instructions and close-up, step-by-step photographs. Along with wearable projects like earrings and belt buckles, you'll also discover unexpected gems like chopstick rests and condiment spoons in this 144-page book. Metal Clay Fusion is a must-have for all metal clay artists who seek unique tutorials and tried-and-true techniques to help expand their own skills.

Learn more here.

BOOK :: Dinner for God by Rayme Sciaroni

Dinner for God
by Rayme Sciaroni
PublishingUnleashed
ISBN-13: 978-0985093112
290 Pages
Review by Jenny Doh

Rayme Sarconi is passionate about music, creativity, and faith. And true to his passions, he has authored a really sweet book titled Dinner for God. It's a story that begins when Jenny, the protagonist, receives an invitation from God for her to host a dinner that God would attend. How she prepares, and what she learns in the process of preparing and hosting this dinner is the story that Rayme presents playfully and joyfully. It's a story that serves as a vehicle for Sciaroni to share his own life lessons rooted in his faith.

The accompanying Songs from Dinner for God contains five original songs created by Sciaroni that help tell the story and get you humming right along.

Learn more about Dinner for God (botht the book and CD here).

BOOK :: PHOTOCRAFT BY Susan Tuttle and Chrysti Hydeck

Photocraft
by Susan Tuttle and Chrysti Hydeck
North Light
ISBN-13: 978-1440318702
144 Pages
Review by Jenny Doh

In a word, Photocraft by Susan Tuttle and Christy Hydeck is now. It's a book that helps us combine the wondrous world of photography with new and timeless mixed-media techniques. Tuttle and Hydeck do an excellent job presenting tips and ideas on how to take good photos, how to manipulate them in Photoshop Elements, and then how to use the manipulated photos to create exciting and unique photography-centered art projects.

The first forty pages of the book provides step-by-step information on how to use the various tools in Photoshop Elements so that you can manipulate your photos in the coolest ways, like removing unwanted pixels with the Clone Stamp Tool, mimicking shallow depth of field with the Blur Filter, and adding dreamy effects with Graient Fills. Additional digital techniuqes are interspersed throughout the book.

In addition, there are 13 stepped-out projects where you learn now to use photos to make the coolest art. Paint, wax, resin, sandpaper, rubber stams and more are just some of the materials that you learn to combine with photos to make projects that are fun and achievable. My very favorite project is the Quotable wood panel where photos and papers are collaged onto a wood board with a favorite quote painted to tie everything beautifully together.

Contributing artists also make valuable appearances in the book to provide expert tips on photography, photo manipulation, and appliation of photos into art. These contributing artists are Pam Carriker, Samantha Kira Harding, Misty Mawn, Claudine Hellmuth, Linda Plaisted, Madelyn Mulvaney, Susanna Gordon, Pilar Isabel Pollock, and Michele Beschen.

Bravo to Susan Tuttle and Chrysty Hydeck on producing a high quality book that is artistically relevenat to the now.

Learn more about Photocraft here.

 

BOOK :: Creative Thursday by Marisa Anne

Creative Thursday
by Marisa Anne
North Light
ISBN-13: 978-1440320996
128 pages
Review by Jenny Doh

I don't think that anyone would disagree with me when I say that Marisa Anne's art is beyond cute. It's downright adorable. From the beautiful cover to the interior pages of her new book, Creative Thursday, there are luscious photos that show the darling characters that Marisa is known for.

But this book isn't necessarily about how to make these cute characters. Rather, it's a book about how to cultivate a creative business. Her first two chapters set the groundwork for her many lessons, which is the importance of developing a path based on an honest intention. "An intention can be as simple as planning to have a good day or it can be as complex as following a life-long dream," says Marisa.

The book continues with additional lessons that Marisa has learned as she has maneuvered through the highs and lows of growing her business. Each lesson is presented from the heart, with some that include prompts and exercises that get you to transition dreams into action, frantic into balance, and exploration into a unique voice.

For anyone who has wanted to know exactly how an artist has paved her road to success, Creative Thursday is the book that offers an engaging and honest blueprint of how it happened for one and therefore how it can happen for many.

Learn more about Creative Thursday here.

PRODUCT :: Derwent Inktense Watersoluble Pencils

Derwent Inktense Watersoluble Pencils
Review by Jenny Doh

Derwent Inktense watersoluble pencils perform much like other watercolor pencils but with greater color intensity. You can use them to mark directly onto paper and then use a brush loaded with water to blend the mark ... like this.
You can rub a wet brush to the tip of the pencil like this ...

and then use the brush to add marks to a paper like this:


You can dip the pencil into water like this ...
and then use that dipped pencil to make a mark onto paper like this.


Two thumbs WAY UP for Derwent Inktense Watercoluble Pencils. Perfect for art journaling and other paper crafts.