Addy's Craft Book: A Look at Crafts from the Past With Projects You Can Make Today

American Girls Pastimes

by Geri Strigenz Bourget (Illustrator), Mark Salisbury (Illustrator), Rebecca Sample Bernstein (Editor)

In 184, Addy made crafts like hooked rugs and shadow puppets, and so can you with this craft book. It's full of historical fun facts, step-by-step instructions, and rich, full-color photographs.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Crafts, Childrens, Reference

44 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addy's books were stunning - she's every inch a queen and I miss her...but at least there's a companion craft book based in her timeline so I can craft alongside her.

Addy's Craft Book starts with a section "Crafts from the Past" that teaches girls first about the significance of crafting for enslaved people. We learn about how most of the skilled craftspeople were black in the south and they were able to take those skills with them to the north when they went to freedom.

From there we transition into five main sections:

Home Comforts - we learn a little about how Addy and her family used crafts to beautify their various homes. From making clothes and bedcovers on the plantation to working as a seamstress in Philadelphia to learning how to make a hooked rug in the boarding house.

--A Hooked Rug (starting with rug canvas, yarn and a latch hook, learn how to make a miniature rug perfect for a doll. This one has a canary pattern like M'Dear's darling bird).
--Spatterwork Picture (put a silhouette of a chicken on a piece of paper and splatter paint on it. When you're done, lift up the stencil and you'll have the outline of a nice bird)

Paper Pastimes - here we learn about why wallpaper boxes were fun for people to make and the significance of a newspaper in Addy's time. We also get to see a few examples of paper dolls that Addy would likely have played with in that era.

--Wallpaper Box (use wallpaper to decorate a small wooden box to store trinkets in)
--Revolving Serpent (using a circular piece of paper, cut a spiral into it and when you unfold, we see a fun dangling serpent)
--Animal Chains (fold a piece of paper several times and cut out animal shapes. Unfold and they should all be attached end-to-end)

Playthings - this section shows what sort of toys Addy would play with -from homemade dolls and dollhouses drawn in dirt to factory made cloth dolls, china tea sets and building blocks. We get a bit of information about shadow puppets and "magic lanterns" (an early form of projectors.

--Shadow Puppet (a posable paper doll with jointed arms and a fun silhouette)
--Jacob's Ladder (attach four blocks with ribbons in such a way that they can move in an unique way (just google this one, it's hard to describe))
--Hobbyhorse (a homemade horse head on a stick that you can pretend to ride)

A Stitch in Time - we learn a bit more about the significance of sewing to Momma and Addy. Momma made almost all of Addy's clothes and fabric needs and we also learn about more famous women, such as Harriet Powers who made a bible quilt in the 1880s.

--Appliqued Pillow (a scene of a girl jumping rope attached to a homemade pillow)
--Drawstring Bag (a purse that pulls tight when you pull at the strings around the top)
--Cross-Stitch Bookmark (embroidered with 'for my friend' or whatever else you would like to add)

Games - Addy and her family had a very hard life but they did save some time for fun. We learn about how slave children would sing rhymes or make balls out of rags to play. When Addy and Momma escaped to freedom, she could play simple games like hopscotch and jump rope.

--Changeable Pictures (use pictures of magazine people and cut them into thirds to rearrange and make your own fashion design)
--Tangram (make seven shapes out of poster board and rearrange them to make shapes)
--Jump Rope (using a length of rope, add macramé beads as the 'handles' for a jump rope)

Note: The crafts that need patterns have them included in the back of the book.

Overall Thoughts:

Wow. I really enjoyed this book. I really liked how each set of crafts were accompanied by the historical context and that there'd frequently be blurbs about the individual crafts as well.

All in all, I'm really happy with this book and love that it's in my collection!

More reviews in the Addy-verse

Main Series:
Meet Addy - ★★★★☆
Addy Learns a Lesson - ★★★★☆
Addy's Surprise - ★★★★☆
Happy Birthday, Addy - ★★★★★
Addy Saves the Day - ★★★☆☆
Changes for Addy - ★★★★★
Addy's Boxed Set - ★★★★☆

Short Stories:
Addy Studies Freedom - ★★★★☆
Addy's Wedding Quilt - ★★★★★
Addy's Little Brother - ★★★☆☆
High Hopes for Addy - ★★★★☆
Addy's Summer Place - ★★★☆☆
Addy's Short Story Collection - ★★★★☆

Additional History Books
Addy's Cookbook - ★★★★★
Addy's Craft Book - ★★★★★
Addy's Theater Kit - ★★★★★
Real Stories from My Time: The Underground Railroad - ★★★☆☆
Welcome to Addy's World · 1864 - ★★★★★

Mystery Book:
Shadows on Society Hill - ★★☆☆☆

Beforever (Re-Release of Main Series in 2014)
Finding Freedom: An Addy Classic - ★★★☆☆
A Heart Full of Hope: An Addy Classic - ★★★☆☆

Abridged Version (Re-Release of Main Series in 2020)
Addy: Finding Freedom - ★★★★☆
Addy: A Heart Full of Hope - ★★★★☆

Beginner Reader & Picture Books
Freedom for Addy (Step Into Reading) - ★★★☆☆
Happy Birthday! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆
Happy Holidays! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★★
Time for School! (Little Golden Book) - ★★★★☆

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some pretty cool projects in this one, including a hooked rug, a hobby horse, an appliqued pillow, games, and some paper projects. You could change the designs to make them as simple or as complex as you like.

Very nice book.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1864 enslaved African Americans were often considered to be skilled crafts people, women made baskets, soap, clothes, quilts and thread that was hand-spun. Men were carvers potters blacksmiths and shoemakers. Today, some of these same crafts can be made and can help readers better understand what life would have been like during Addy's time.

The history of Addy and her family can be found throughout the pages. Readers will also see black and white photos of real pioneers and their actual homes along with old photos of crafts found in the book. The history of the crafts in the book have special meaning and that history is listed here too.

Readers can learn how to make appliqued pillows, shadow puppets, paper dolls, changeable pictures and more. Detailed instructions and patterns can be found inside this wonderful book. Parents and teachers will love this tool that can be utilized to discuss and relive history.

[Charlie - disableddaydreamer | itsbarbieparis (looking for mutuals) · Rating 3 out of 5]

my moms just glad i got ahold of this as an adult bc she would have been SICK of me

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children’s book on 19th century crafts! It’s also a good book for black history month.

[Cws]

J745.5Sal