Granny Chic: Crafty Recipes and Inspiration for the Handmade Home

by Tif Fussell, Rachelle Blondel

More than just a "how to" guide, Granny Chic offers inspiration to keen crafters hoping to breathe new life into vintage fabrics and second-hand objects. From handmade notebooks to lace lampshades and pinnies made from tea towels, each of the craft "recipes" brings the granny chic look to life whilst allowing you to give them your own personal twist. This selection of 20 projects includes spruced-up coathangers, a "dingle dangle" door screen, a "patched and pieced" lampshade, and a crocheted tea cosy. In addition to the projects Granny Chic offers advice on the granny chic lifestyle, from befriending your local fabric shop to creating a handmade home. Packed full of ideas it will have you rustling in your vintage fabric to find your inner granny chic crafting soul.

Genres: Crafts, Nonfiction, Sewing, Creative

160 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Drew Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim at my local library on a hot day and it really gave me the up and go I needed to start on a few projects. Not only did it inspire me with its delicious photography and easy to achieve projects. There were a lot of projects in it that I can do over and over again, using things that I already own. I do love a good craft book that is packed full of tips, tricks, advice and little snippets of inspiration and the lovely ladies here have created a fantastic book here.

Granny Chic is a lifestyle I resonate with whole heartedly. I am a resourceful woman. I love creating art from second hand bits and pieces and I am obsessed with floral's and bright colours. Vintage trinkets and cute pieces that make my heart sing. I now live with rose coloured glasses on me at all times when on the hunt online or offline or even when just going through my little bits and pieces and the photographs of fabric storage and suitcases gave me a fantastic idea of how to use an old suitcase as a home for all my fabrics and laces.

This is a definite for your collection if you love Granny Chic and photography are a collector of everything and anything and love to try different and easy projects. The only downside for me was the crocheting projects which hold little interest in me. I would recommend this as a pick me up full of vibrancy, cuteness and joy as well as a great tool for finding ways to connect with your creative old soul, and possibly even your partner or kids in doing some of the projects. It is certainly a keeper for me and I will be picking up my own copy.

[Featherleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute little source for inspiration. I've been following Tif Fussel, or "Dottie Angel" for about a year now, and she is someone who I want to be like when I gain my footing in the adult world (i.e. Living on my own and such"). I can't recommend this more.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely my style...these gals are originals!

[Jayne Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some nice ideas in this, and a few that I wasn't keen on at all. I found the silly language annoying rather than cute or vintage or folksy.

[All Tomorrow’s Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet little keepsake of a book filled with crafts from years ago.

[Rachel Abercrombie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studio makeover inspiration!

[Shelly String · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am totally smitten with the whole "Granny Chic" concept and found this book to be an invaluable resource. I fully intend to keep it close to hand (next to my rose-coloured specs, naturally) so I can flick through for inspiration as needed. I particularly like the crafty recipe for the hard-wearing rug and as soon as I convince hubby it really can't be lived without any longer, I will indeed be embarking upon said project. Peachy ;-)

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've borrowed this book a couple of times from the library now and love it. I found that unlike a lot of other similar books, this had ideas for projects that I would do, eg covering a chair. I also yearn for a vintage caravan that would be my retro escape haven! It is an armchair craft book - one to sit and flick through to get ideas and with pages for you to make notes on.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first crafting book I've read cover to cover. Great photos and easy to follow instructions. I love the slang used by the authors - it really brought me to their world and the world of granny chic. I felt transported to a house where everything is seen with 'rose-tinted specks'. It was a delight.

[Helen Moyes]

Found this book visually cluttered and too much like a blog. Definately not worth buying, but could be worth a quick browse from the library.

There are some much better onlune blogs for chatty inspiration.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this one for myself after discovering it on a library shelf.
Love it's style, theme, philosophy, visuals and all the great nifty craft projects.
Colourful, Simple and Inspiring.
Have been putting it to good use!

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

too granny for me.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas and lovely, original, whimsical style. The use of the word, 'peachy,' is perhaps used one too many times, however....

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mooi boek met leuke creatieve ideetjes voor je woning (vooral met vintage stofjes en kantjes)
Voor mij net iets te veel kitch en vintage maar er zitten wel leuke ideetjes tussen.