How to Make Small Things with Violet Mackerel
Violet Mackerel loves to make things - especially SMALL things. Let Violet show you how to make some of her favourite SMALL THINGS: SMALL THINGS to WEAR, SMALL THINGS to USE and SMALL THINGS to GIVE.
Packed full of crafty ideas and lots of thinking outside the square! All of the fun and SMALL things Violet shows you how to make can easily be created with things you have at home! Make small things to wear, like personalised wrist warmers; small things to use, like a chest of matchbox drawers. There are also small things to give to other people, like pencil toppers and gift tags.
Creators
Anna Branford was born in the Isle of Man and spent her early childhood in Sudan and Papua New Guinea before moving to Australia. Creative writing was her favourite subject at school and she wrote stories in all these different countries. Anna is a doll maker and a sociology lecturer at Victoria University. Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot was her first published work for Walker Books Australia and was Honour book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Book of the Year Awards, Younger Readers Notable Books for 2011.
Sarah Davis grew up in New Zealand, wearing gumboots and falling in rivers. She worked as a secondary school teacher before moving to Sydney. Sarah is a very busy, award-winning artist who has collaborated with Sue Whiting on Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (New Frontier) and Jennifer Poulter Mending Lucille (Lothian), for which Sarah won the 2009 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Crichton Award for Best New Illustrator. Most recently, Sarah’s title Fearless, written by Colin Thompson, was short-listed for the 2010 Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards. Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot was also Honour book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Book of the Year Awards, Younger Readers Notable Books for 2011.
Reviews
Each activity has step by step easy to read instructions and photographs. The ‘Thinking outside the square’ sections give extra ideas for each project such as alternate materials, or turning rings into brooches or crowns into door handle decorations. Violet Mackerel is excellent at thinking outside the square, and she often has very important ideas…great traits to encourage in our small people.
Childrens Books Daily
Not only are the projects doable for the younger set, they are actually really gorgeous. It’s a joy to see unique ideas in a craft world that’s generally so repetitive. Beautifully laid-out and designed, with excellent production values and a hardy cover, this is what mini-crafters dream of. Just gorgeous.
Kids' Book Review
When I saw this book I got really, really excited because it’s based on the small things that Violet Mackerel likes to make and it tells you how to make them yourself. My favourite thing in the book is the leaf necklace with a secret pocket.
Alphabet Soup
For fans of the thoughtful and interesting Violet Mackerel, this book reveals lots of interesting small items to make and at any time of the year.
103.1 FM
Follow the simple instructions in this beautifully illustrated and photographed book for lots of crafty fun.
Mother & Baby
A mini-crafters dream.
Tickle the Imagination
This is a charming activity book.
Magpies Magazine
Like all Violet Mackerel ventures, this resourceful book is a treasure
Bookrapt
a personal favourite because it does what it sets out to do – inspire, educate and entertain
Boomerang Blog
How to Make Small Things with Violet Mackerel’ outlines some gorgeous craft projects, most of which can be done with children from five years of age and older children will spend hours carefully reading instructions and creating lovely small things.
Children's Books Daily
This is a stunning little craft book for primary aged children- based around the character from much loved series
My Little Bookcase
This is a visually engaging book that would make a wonderful present.
ReadPlus
Writer Anna Branford has put together this delightfully whimsical craft book as a companion piece to her hugely successful Violet Mackerel’s Brilliant Plot.
The Hoopla
This book is filled with awesome DIYs you can make for yourself or gift to someone like your BFF.
Total Girl
My guess is any crafty little girl of around 6-11 will love this book.
Write and Read with Dale
