It’s that time of year: when we start to think about Christmas and Christmas gifts. If your mind is heading that direction, this is a beautiful book with step-by-step instructions for making historical ornaments, all modeled on early American ornaments found at the Abbey Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Williamsburg.
The photography is wonderful, and the “What You Need” lists are comprehensive with not only the consumables, but the tools as well. You won’t be caught unprepared in the middle of a project.
What I especially like about the book is the note about each of the historical objects, the artist(s), and the creative suggestions for making each project your own. It’s clear that Jan Gilliam (associate curator for toys at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) and Christina Westenberger (assistant manager for education for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) know their stuff. The projects vary widely, from punched paper to aluminum stars to cross-stitched miniature pillows. My favorite projects are the felt birds and the Scherenschnitte birds.
Disclaimer: Christina, an old friend who sang at our wedding, sent me a copy of the book last Christmas, but all opinions here are my own.
Learning As We Go 