Tag: Crafting

Let’s Get Crafty!

Posted on by Sarah

In 1994, the organization then known as the Craft & Hobby Association declared March to be National Craft Month.  In 2017, the organization rebranded to the Association for Creative Industries, and just last year they merged with the International Art Materials Association.  Despite the changes, National Craft Month is still going strong as a time for people to get creative with materials such as fabric and yarn…beads and jump rings…paper and paint…clay and glaze…or just plain found objects.

The adult, teen, and juvenile nonfiction areas at the Aurora Public Library District contain books on a variety of crafts from knitting to origami to pottery to rubber band looms, and everything in between.  Throughout March 2022, a selection of craft books is on display in the upper level of the Aurora Public Library.  You can also search our Online Catalog for the craft of your choice and place items on hold, stop in at either the Aurora Public Library or Dillsboro Public Library to browse the nonfiction sections (arts & crafts are in the 700s in the Dewey Decimal System), or request books we do not own through the Interlibrary Loan Form.

Here is a small sample of the craft books you can find at APLD:

Quillwork: the Craft of Paper Filigree by Janet and Alex D'Amato Steampunk Emporium: Creating Fantastical Jewelry, Devices and Oddments from Assorted Cogs, Gears and Other Curios by Jema Hewitt Mason-Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines: Patterns, Stories, Pictures, True Confessions, Tricky Bits, Whole New Worlds, and Familiar Ones, Too by Kay Gardiner & Ann Shayne

 

Loom Magic!: 25 Awesome, Never-Before-Seen Designs for an Amazing Rainbow of Projects by John McCann & Becky Thomas Print Workshop: Hand-Printing Techniques and Truly Original Projects by Christine Schmidt DIY Guide to Tie Dye Style: the Basics & Way Beyond by Liz Welker & Sam Spendlove

 

Rockin' Crafts: Everything You Need to Become a Rock-Painting Craft Star! by Diana Fisher DIY Box Creations: Fun and Creative Projects to Make Out of Really Big Boxes! by Courtney Sanchez Crayola Create It Yourself: 52 Colorful DIY Craft Projects for Kids to Create Throughout the Year

 

Whether you’re learning a new skill or further developing an old one, we would love to see your crafts this month!  You can submit pictures to jamie@eapld.org to be posted to our Facebook page, Aurora Public Library District.

Take It, Make It: May

Posted on by Jamie

Beginning on Saturday, May 1st, we will have a brand new Take It, Make It Activity available at both branches! Take It, Make It activities are projects that can be done at home with materials you can pick up at the library! You can also request curbside pick up. Just call 812-926-0646 (Aurora) or 812-954-4151 (Dillsboro) and let us know how many of the activities you need for your family!

Stop by the Aurora or Dillsboro Library anytime in May to pick up the supplies to make this beautiful butterfly! You can decorate your butterfly in any way you’d like. Check out Ms. Stephanie’s example above for inspiration!

If you want your butterfly to be featured on our social media, send a picture to Ms. Stephanie at stephanie@eapld.org. Please be sure to include if we have permission to share your picture and name on our Facebook and Instagram.

Take It, Make It: April

Posted on by Jamie

Beginning on Thursday April 1st, we will have a brand new Take It, Make It Activity available at both branches! Take It, Make It activities are projects that can be done at home with materials you can pick up at the library! You can also request curbside pick up. Just call 812-926-0646 (Aurora) or 812-954-4151 (Dillsboro) and let us know how many of the activities you need for your family!

Stop by the Aurora or Dillsboro Library anytime in April to pick up these fun flipbooks! The pictures in the flipbooks are all drawn by artist, Steve Harpster! You can find more of his work on his Facebook or Instagram. Color in the pictures and have fun creating different, silly faces by flipping the pages!

If you want your flipbook to be featured on our social media, send a picture to Ms. Stephanie at stephanie@eapld.org. Please be sure to include if we have permission to share your picture and name on our Facebook and Instagram. Pictures must be submitted by April 23, 2021.

Take It, Make It: March

Posted on by Jamie

Beginning on Monday, March 1st, we will have a spring inspired Take It, Make It Activity available at both branches! Take It, Make It activities are projects that can be done at home with materials you can pick up at the library! You can also request curbside pick up. Just call 812-926-0646 (Aurora) or 812-954-4151 (Dillsboro) and let us know how many of the activities you need for your family!

Stop by the Aurora or Dillsboro Library anytime in March to pick up the supplies to make this cute spring scene! All the pieces are included in your packet, but you will need glue to attach everything, and markers to color in the banner.

If you want your craft to be featured on our social media, send a picture to Ms. Stephanie at stephanie@eapld.org. Please be sure to include if we have permission to share your picture and name on our Facebook page. Pictures must be submitted by March 24, 2021.

Take It, Make It: Thanksgiving

Posted on by Jamie

Beginning on Monday, November 2, we will have a Thanksgiving Take It, Make It Activity available at both branches! Take It, Make It activities are projects that can be done at home with materials you can pick up at the library! You can also request curbside pick up. Just call 812-926-0646 (Aurora) or 812-954-4151 (Dillsboro) and let us know how many of the activities you need for your family!

Stop by the Aurora or Dillsboro Library November 2nd through the 25th to pick up the supplies to make this tremendous turkey! All the paper pieces and the googly eyes will be provided in your packet, but you will need glue to put it all together.

If you want your turkey to be featured on our social media, send a picture to Ms. Stephanie at stephanie@eapld.org. Please be sure to include if we have permission to share your picture and name on our Facebook page. Pictures must be submitted by November 30, 2020.

Take It, Make It: Halloween

Posted on by Jamie

Back by popular demand! Beginning on Tuesday, October 13th we will have a special Halloween Take It, Make It Activity available at both branches! Take It, Make It activities are projects that can be done at home with materials you can pick up at the library! You can also request curbside pick up. Just call 812-926-0646 (Aurora) or 812-954-4151 (Dillsboro) and let us know how many of the activities you need for your family!

Pick up your supplies to create a fun and spooky witch just like Ms. Stephanie’s! The paper pieces will be provided in your packet, but you will need glue to put it together and a marker, pen, or crayons for the mouth and eyes.

If you want your witch to be featured on our social media, send a picture to Ms. Stephanie at stephanie@eapld.org. Please be sure to include if we have permission to share your picture and name on our Facebook page. Pictures must be submitted by October 31, 2020.

Oversized Nonfiction

Posted on by Shelby

At the Aurora branch, there is a special section upstairs for various oversized nonfiction books that many might have overlooked. These books have to be shelved separately from books over similar topics because they don’t fit on our regular shelves, so you’ll find a wide variety of topics included in this small section that encompass the nonfiction library as a whole. These books are so large that you’ll feel like a miniature person holding a giant-sized book from some kind of fairy tale!

The catch: you won’t be able to search the oversized nonfiction shelf from the catalog but instead will have to make an old-fashioned trip to the physical shelf to peruse.

But it’s so easy to lose yourself in the stack because these books are filled with large, glossy pages of photographs and information on all topics, ranging from animals and bugs to history and biographies. Something is bound to peak your interest!

Are you interested in panoramic views and photography? What about songbooks that are big enough that you won’t have to squint while you’re playing or singing? How about books on travel with full color-spreads that let you see every detail of the places you aspire to go? Do you like history and are interested in viewing photographs events like World War II and the September 11 terrorist attacks? What about ancient history? Do you like flipping through ancient timelines and seeing photographs of ancient relics? We have books over these subjects and more in the oversized nonfiction section!

Maybe you enjoy working with your hands and crafting? You’ll find titles about jewelry-making, art, sculpture, decor, style, design, paper-making, and how to make rugs and wall hangings. What about movies and movie trivia? Or sports like baseball, curling, the Olympics, and NASCAR? There’s bound to be something for you!

The next time you visit the Aurora branch, head on upstairs and make your way to the west wing, where we keep the magazines and community center. As you turn right when you come up the stairs, you’ll find the Oversized Nonfiction section to your right, right behind the last magazine shelves. Or just stop by the desk for directions!

Happy Reading!

National I Love Yarn Day

Posted on by Shelby

There is a day to celebrate everything, and October 13 is National I Love Yarn Day! What could this day possibly have to do with the library?

If you love to craft, chances are you’ve checked out a how-to or DIY crafting book from us at one time or another. We have plenty of yarn crafting titles available for you to check out from the Library’s physical or digital collections for all levels:

A Beginner’s Book of Knitting and Crocheting by Xenia Ley Parker

Sewing with Yarn: An Introduction to Sewing by Hand by Barbara Carmer Schwartz

One Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn Shop Favorites

Yarn Crafts by Linda Hetzer

The Knitter’s Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn by Clara Parkes

Let’s Knot: A Macramé Book by Donna M. Lightbody

Sock Yarn: One Skein Wonders by Judith Durant

The Knitters’ Book of Socks by Clara Parkes

Knitting for Dummies by Pam Allen

Mastering Color Knitting by Melissa Leapman

Brave New Knits by Julie Turjoman

The Knitter’s Book of Wool by Clara Parkes

60 Crocheted Snowflakes by Barbara Christopher

Vampire Knits by Genevieve Miller

Christmas Ornaments to Crochet by Barbara Christopher

Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman

Luxury Yarn: One Skein Wonders by Judith Durant

And so much more! We also have magazines filled with patterns, designs, and project inspiration that you can check out, too! Discover a new hobby or rekindle an old one this October 13. Someone could always knit me a scarf or a blanket or something; I’m not picky!

Happy Reading!

DIY Holiday Gifts

Posted on by Shelby

The Aurora Public Library District has wonderful resources to get you in the crafty mood for the holidays. Maybe you’re on a budget but still want to get gifts for everyone on your list this year. A DIY gift is the perfect way to add a personal touch to your gifts without going over your budget, and the Aurora Public Library District is a great place to get started, whether you’re a beginner or an expert crafter.

We have plenty of materials on crafting with your children, like Ceramics for Kids, Super Simple Sewing for Kids, The Little Hands Big Fun Craft Book, and so much more! Make lasting memories with your children by creating crafts for your loved ones. (Or kids can even do some of these crafts by themselves to give to you!)

We have step-by-step books about crafting your own ceramics, knitting, macrame, stitchery, origami, jewelry, and more for beginners. We have books about painting rocks, creating sand art, “green,” or environmentally friendly, crafts, books about nature crafts, yarn crafts, creating bags and accessories, photography. There are books on hand weaving, whittling and wood carving, drawing and painting, cooking and baking, and so much more. Whatever you’re in the mood to craft, I’m sure we’ve got the how-to, whether you’re browsing the shelves at the library or browsing virtually with the Indiana Digital Download Center.

You can save a few bucks without looking cheap in front of your family and friends with these DIY gifts. You can add your own personal flair and make each gift personal and special. If you don’t see the kind of craft book you want to make on our shelves, we can always make a request through Interlibrary Loan.

Happy Crafting! Be sure to post pictures of your crafts in the comment section of this blog, or tag us and share with us on Facebook!