Books we ♥ :: Handmade Living

Tell us a little bit about your book?
handmade living: a designer collective is like nothing Australia has seen before. It’s essentially a collection of projects and inspirational ideas from some of Australia’s best handmade talent. Handmade Canberra’s first publication, the book was designed to support and showcase the incredible and diverse range of Australian artisans and designers who make a living from handmade goods and services. handmade living is broken into thematic chapters from food to toys, homewares and papergoods, fashion and decorations… it’s a one-stop book for handmade ideas and the projects range from super easy to slightly complicated, making this a book everyone can enjoy, even kids. It’s a book that celebrates the resurgence of a more handmade lifestyle, which is very in vogue right now – not only for sustainability purposes, but because people are tired of generic, mass-produced stodge that fails to tug at our heartstrings. We want organic. We want original. We want heart-string tugging. We want beautiful. handmade living has it.
















When/Why did you publish your book?
We published this book because it needed to be done. Handmade designers frequently fall into the ‘cottage industry’ genre, meaning a large contingent of very talented people have little access to retail or any kind of marketing or media presence… we hope handmade living will allow these people to shine because they really deserve to be known about. There is a pile of gobsmacking items available in the handmade arena – whimsical, stunning, high on quality and originality. Sites like made it have allowed at-home-designers to approach the general public like never before and we wanted to create a compendium of designers that focuses this talent into yet another arena – the bookstores! This first book is only the beginning – we plan to launch one book every year – and in 2011, it will be A Handmade Christmas. Can you imagine?

The release date is 4 December at the Handmade Canberra Christmas Market, and the book will be available at Shop Handmade in Canberra City and Australia-wide from Monday 6 December.















What is the favourite part about writing/coordinating your book?
Gasping over the talent. I was truly, truly impressed with the projects submitted for this book. My other favourite part was witnessing the sheer exhilaration some of the designers showed about being in the book. This was just priceless and so tear-jerking! I also loved the design/layout process and the photography. I mean, who wouldn’t go bananas over shooting these products? They are a pleasure to shoot and the designers were a pleasure to work with. I loved treating their project like the precious baby it is.
















Why do you love handmade so much?
There is just nothing like it. That feeling of commitment, love and creativity that is poured into a handmade item… I mean, it’s priceless. I’ve made many handmade items for my children and will continue to do so (as well as buy handmade – I practically live at Shop Handmade in Canberra!). There’s something precious and timeless about a handmade item that makes you appreciate it more. And who wants to hand down a generic, mass-produced quilt when you can gift one that’s been exclusively designed and handmade, with unique, stunning fabrics and lots of love?
















Name 5 feelings that your readers will feel after they finish reading your book.
Inspired. Moved. Motivated. Tingling. Overcome!

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The call out for designers for A Handmade Christmas will begin mid-January 2011. Watch the website for more. www.handmadecanberra.com.au

Tania McCartney is the author and editor of handmade living.

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