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What some craft publishers fail
to tell you...
When you’re out there looking for craft books for yourself or to share
with others, it’s easy to get pulled and swayed by the Glitz and
glamour appearance of some ‘coffee table’ books. They look good
and they’re impressive, but how many of them come off the shelf
regularly to make them pay their way?
It’s true, pretty covers sell books, but they don’t sell themselves as
practical, sharable craft books. Most publishers either try to cram in
masses of activities which means they have to use a small text, or they
go for lush, beautiful photographs and sumptuous design. All that
glistens is not gold…!
Once you get beyond the ‘look’ of the book, you have to be clear on
what you’re looking for! If you’re after clear, no-nonsense
explanations, then frankly, many books can leave you cold.
The trouble is, not all craft instructions are written by crafters who
know how to teach. They might know how to MAKE the projects
they’re describing, but telling YOU how to make them is another matter
all together.
Even the most seasoned crafters sometimes can’t explain
things well and they presume a different starting point from the rest
of us. It’s often as if a whole chunk of stuff is missed
out. It seems as if there’s been an over-sight. Surely
there must be something else. But the reality is that what’s
missing is a real understanding of what the reader needs and how they
need it.
So what should you look for in a craft project layout?
For starters, don’t be fooled by the cover. What matters is the
content.
What about the layout?
Does it give you a brief introduction to tell you a little about the
project? This is important so that you can make your mind up about
whether it’s suitable. Does the explanation SOUND like something
you could do/teach? What could you change to make it work better?
Is there a photograph?
Photographs are essential as they give you a REAL idea of what you’re
thinking about making? Does it look right – is it appropriate,
appealing? Go by your gut feeling. If the intro and photo don’t
do it for you, think whether it really is something you could
share. If you aren’t enthusiastic, chances are you won’t ‘sell’
it to your class….
What do you need?
The list should include both specialist and easily accessible
items. This will help you to make a quick and informed decision
on whether you can get/buy/beg/borrow the things you need.
What about the instructions?
Are they clear, logical? Do they start at the beginning and take
you through everything? Does it make sense? Are the words easy to
understand and not written in some high prose style?
Are the steps small, bite-sized? You don’t want to have to read and
understand too much before applying that knowledge. Too much
crammed info can leave you confused, so that you need to re-read
everything … again…
Are they broken down into stages, and then
smaller instruction headings? Having a project in a list of (say)
24 numbered stages is enough to leave you cold. If it’s broken
down into smaller stages, AND THEN, also broken down into tiny steps,
it’s all so much less fazing. The smaller the stages, and the
fewer the steps, the more successful you are likely to be. You’ll
also find your place more easily - as you’ll know where you were.
Ask yourself if you’re really getting your money’s worth. Do the
instructions leave you cold, lukewarm or fired up ready to go…?
Layout
It’s not just the instructions that are important; it’s how it all
comes together. Is the layout easy-on-the-eye with lots of white space?
Would it be easy to get an idea of what the project’s all about by a
relatively quick once over, or does it need you to sit down with a cup
of coffee, a red pen, a notebook and some aspirin?
If you’re going to be sharing this with a group, could you look at the
project quickly to get a real idea of the stages you have to go through?
Sharing resources
You need to make the most of your precious resources.
And that doesn’t just mean your books and project ideas. It means
your teachers and leaders too.
Could you leave the project with a ‘non-crafter- and expect them to do
a good job? Are the projects transferable? If they are then
you’ve just freed up more staff to lead more craft sessions. It
means your craft sessions are now no longer limited to the arty-crafty
member of staff who has everything laid at their door. How
liberating!
I know that its tempting to save time by sticking with publishers that
you know, but sometimes ‘buying into’ other ways of presenting things
can save you more time, effort and money in the long run.
=====================================================
Geraldine Jozefiak is passionate about
crafts and their place in
education. Be part of raising standards in teaching and learning
by offering the best possible creative opportunities.
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Looking for
craft
projects, books, teaching manuals or courses? Need ideas on what
to teach and how to teach it?
"The Craft Teacher" can save you time and stress in teaching and
learning crafts.
Click Here => http://www.the-craft-teacher.com
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