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  • I Wanna Make My Own Clothes, and: I Wanna Re-Do My Room
  • Karen Coats
Hantman, Clea I Wanna Make My Own Clothes; illus. by Azadeh Houshyar. Simon, 2006134p Paper ed. ISBN 0-689-87462-6$9.99 R Gr. 4-8
I Wanna Re-Do My Room; illus. by Azadeh Houshyar. Simon, 2006 [144p] Paper ed. ISBN 0-689-87463-4$9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 4-8

Clever ideas and craft projects abound in these unassuming books that are the first in a series that promises at least one more book on making gifts. In I Wanna Make My Own Clothes, Hantman provides step-by-step, easy-to-follow directions for revamping and gussying up ready-to-wear t-shirts, jeans, sweaters, and old ties into way cool original designs. None of her remakes requires a sewing machine, special tools, or adult help, and the hand-sewing instructions are clear and simple. Best of all, she provides a chart in the back that starts with what you have (a t-shirt that's too small, or too big, or too plain, too-short jeans, etc.) and directs you to the patterns in the book that will revive your look. The room re-do projects are a bit more complicated and at least require permissions and a trip to the local thrift or hardware store, but they are still ultimately do-able and fun. She shows how to make a canopy for a bed, how to play with paint, how to make original and changeable artwork. Her tone throughout is chatty and hip without being strained or glib; she sounds like your cool older sister back from college ready to help you make some changes. The line illustrations lend visual support to the textual directions, making them even easier to work through (though it would have been nice to have photos to give a clear idea of the resulting effects, especially in Room). This series is a real boon for Girl Scout troops, birthday parties in need of quick crafts, and anyone who wants to beat boredom by getting crafty.

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