Crafting for cat ladies 35 purr-fect feline projects

This book takes its love of cats seriously yet maintains a sense of humor about the ways cat lovers advertise their affection through the things they wear and use. Most of the crafted items here are not subtle but will please those wishing to make a feline fashion statement. Many are actually ways to embellish existing clothing or objects with cat-related images, such as the Cats Rule Everything around Me tote bag and Look at Me Meow bejeweled shirt collar. Some, like the long-haired, faux-fur Persian Cat Wrap Skirt, are so over the top that they might be most appropriate as costume-party garb. The wide variety of craft techniques used includes hand and machine sewing, iron-on, embroidery, decoupage, stamping, fuse beads, macramé, and more. Clear, simple, step-by-step instructions are illustrated with color photos, and templates are provided for many of the projects. Puns abound, and the array of projects will suit a range of readers. Cat fans will appreciate the inclusion of bios of the feline models pictured throughout the book.--Heidemann, Anne Copyright 2010 Booklist

This compendium of cat-centric craft injects an infusion of the feline into a wide variety of handmade projects to wear, use, or admire. Craft enthusiast Roberts, who runs a blog titled We Can Re-Do It, disrupts the notion of a "cat lady" here with on-trend, fashion-forward ideas not commonly associated with the appellation. Some of the projects, such as the Purr-fect Place Card, need no more than some typical household materials and googly eyes to come to fruition. More elaborate and complex pieces, such as the Persian-cat wrap skirt, come with detailed instructions alongside step-by-step photos and templates to guide the reader to success. The color photos are all clean and bright, as are the projects themselves, which often make use of reusable or up-cycled materials. Roberts has not just written an effusive homage to the cat, but provides readers with a jumping-off point to apply the techniques taught here to future projects. All told Roberts promises a "liberal dose of cats" and delivers. Color photos. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.