Monday, April 9, 2012

I Spy DIY: Book Review and Giveaway

From the publisher:


Loved it on the runway? Seen it in a magazine?


Find fashion you love and do it yourself! With a few simple supplies and a range of clever ideas, DIY expert Jenni Radosevich shows you how to make style your own. Transform your basics into designer fashions. Turn hardware store finds into statement necklaces or embellishments for a chic dress. Recreate red carpet-ready looks and add your personal touch.

Filled with 30 step-by-step projects inspired by celebrities, designer runways, and classic styles, as well as tips from fashion insiders such as Rachel Roy, Olivia Palermo, and Rebecca Minkoff, I Spy DIY Style has everything you need for easy-to-make looks that will up your style quotient without sacrificing your budget.

Full disclosure, I received a copy of this book to review on the  blog. It'll be released for sale on April 17, 2012. If you follow Jenni Radosevich's blog, or are familiar with her work at Instyle, you'll already be familiar with her ability to take a RTW or runway look and replicate it for much, much less. The book takes her philosophy further, with a ton of fun projects and a lot of inspiration.

The project instructions are well-written and the photography is clear and helpful on the tutorials, and just plain fun everywhere else. The book is divided into sections:  Red Carpet Ready, Right from the Runway, A Touch of Classic and Update your Basics.  A few examples of projects: a grommet-threaded dress, rope belt, ribbon tank, embellished LBD, and many takes on necklaces, earrings and bags.  

For someone interested in DIY, sewing or crafts, but who doesn't think she can do it, this might be the perfect book. It's clearly illustrated, well-explained and completely non-threatening. None of the projects are overly complicated, and I can see this book being a huge confidence booster for someone who finds out that she can, after all, make things herself.

From the tweaking and tinkering of DIY, it's just a few steps on the slippery slope and your non-sewing, non-crafting, non-creative friend will be asking you for advice on purchasing a sewing machine and wanting to go fabric shopping.

And with that in mind, I'm offering this book up as a giveaway. If you want it - for yourself or as a gift to add one more person to the ranks of creative DIYers/sewists out there, leave me a comment telling me who it's for, and why you think they need it. Entries will close on Sunday, April 15th, and I'll let Lily the Sewing Room Cat pick a winner.

16 comments:

Sarah C said...

The book would most definitely be for myself! It sounds like something that is right up my ally crafting and sewing wise.

Claudia T said...

I would read it cover to cover, then I would give it to my friend Jenn. The first reason is that she is so appreciative of handmade gifts to her but she feels like she is not creative and can't make good things. Untrue! Also, the apartment she shares with my close friend is the main hangout meet up apartment, and in their bookshelf lots of other people would read this book. Its like our library.

MySummerTouch said...

I definitely want this book to try out myself! This would be the pusg to start making RTW knockoffs!

Mary Nanna said...

Sure, count me in, if you are including international visitors to you blog!

BeckyMc said...

My daughter in law Katie is just learning to sew and just gaining confidence in her own abilities to create. This book sounds like it was written just for her. I would peek at it before giving it to her, I couldn't resist.

Ronniie said...

I would love this book for myself. I am new to sewing and a little style challenged, so this book sounds perfect for me.

I must ask though.

Is this give-away open to international readers?

I sure hope so, if not I understand.

Thanks,

Ronnie
Ps. Good luck to all

renee said...

I'm another who would read it cover to cover, then give it to a friend. The young lady I have in mind is quite good at crafting, and just starting to develop an interest in style. This would be so much fun for her. Thank you so much for the giveaway!

Sewingelle said...

Lily, Lily, pick me! (thats if you're open to internationals of course!)

molly said...

Sounds like a great christmas present for my younger cousin! She at the age (middle school) where this would be really fun for her.

Beverly said...

My daughter in law is getting into crafts & sewing and she would love this book.

Maryissewfast said...

I would love to win it for my daughter who is at the beginning of her sewing life!

Marjie said...

I would love to read this book, and then pass it on to a friend in Virginia who is a great knitter. She's talking about maybe learning to sew next year, and this might be the incentive she needs!

PTK Designs said...

I would love to have this book. I am sewing more and more for my family including a new grand-daughter-in-law and her children.

lakaribane said...

I'd love to have this book. I really enjoy the concept of knockoffs but lack the imagination, I think. Hardware store items?!?!?

AnniinBC said...

I'd love to win it for my friend who just retired and is at a loss for something to do with her life and occasionally has expressed an interest in my sewing. Thanks

mlsafrancis said...

This would definitely be for myself. I am fairly new to sewing and love finding things with good instructions that I can carry over into other projects.