If you’re a fan of DIY tutorials, you’re going to love this. Made By Yourself by Peter Fehrentz is a book filled with 48 creative makes for your home – from cardboard vases and wire animal sculptures right through to concrete lamp bases and metal clothes rails.
It’s split into eight sections: glass and ceramics, wood, leather, paper, fabric, metal, stone, and plastic. The double-spread photographs, step-by-step tutorials, lists of materials, time and cost ratings make it simple to follow. But it’s not really about following instructions to the letter – it’s about inspiring you to make and create. Even the intro encourages you to be creatively subversive: “A good cook does not religiously follow a recipe. The same principle applies to every creative action. Dare to be different!”
The whole book is beautifully photographed and put together, with a soft industrial aesthetic where bare concrete walls sit next to chintzy florals and porcelain dogs. It’s a delight to look at and dream through.
We’re thrilled to have three copies to give away (unless we decide to keep one for ourselves… Folksy HQ could do with some dip-dyed curtains). To be in with a chance of winning, leave a comment on this post or email us at competitions@folksy.co.uk with the subject line “I want to make it!” The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 30th March. Winners will be chosen at random on Monday 1st April.
In the meantime, here’s a taster project from the book to try out…
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Rope Tray
This beautifully ethnic tray looks like the real thing, but instead of hemp we used poly hemp rope – it’s easier to work with, and cheaper as well!
LEVEL 02 TIME 04 H COST 03
MATERIAL
15 m poly hemp rope diameter 16-mm,
35 m braided line diameter 3-mm,
hot glue
TOOLS
1 large leather sewing needle,
hot-glue gun
Step 01 / Shape one end of the rope into a tight spiral, securing it every so often with a dab of hot glue.
Step 02 / Carry on coiling the rope around the centre. Thread the braided line through a large needle and sew two layers of rope together every few centimetres, pulling the work tight as you go. Don’t place the stitches too close together.
Step 03 / Carry on stitching and gluing in this way. Prevent the rope coil from unravelling by gluing the rope layers together every 8 cm or so.
Step 04 / When the base is large enough (about 45 cm in diameter), start building up the border using the same stitching and gluing technique. To finish off, shape the end of the rope into a loop and glue to the rim of the tray. Secure the end with a few stitches and cut the braided line.
Tip / Seal the end of the poly hemp rope with a few dabs of hot glue to prevent it from fraying.
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Made By Yourself by Peter Fehrentz is published by Jacqui Small (£18) and is out now.
96 comments
It sounds a great and inspirational book. I wholeheartedly agree with this ‘“A good cook does not religiously follow a recipe. […] Dare to be different!”’
Always love to have new inspiration and learn a new skill. If I don’t win I’ll have to get myself a copy ;)
I want to make it!
I want it! I love it! I need it! I’m just setting up my own business and I need all the help and inspiration I can get! X
I love books! Kindles are great but they can never beat the smell, texture, feel & the simple extravagance of a beautiful hardback book, I could offer one of your copies a loving home
make stuff not war
Fingers crossed xxx
I want to make it! What an inspirational book!
Looks like a lovely book :) is this how I enter? Xxx
It is!
I want it! Starting out as a rookie crafter, I would love this book 2 help point me in the right direction and help the creative juices flow! Id sew love a copy ;)
This book looks wonderful and I’d love to be in with a chance of winning a copy! Although there is such a wealth of ideas online, you still can’t beat a book in my opinion!
Just what I need to help make the new house feel like home!
I love finding new craft books! And this one looks like it will have lots of inspiration for our Thursday night ‘craft club’. Please pick me!!
I love books like these!! You can never have too many :-)
I definitely want to make it!
looks fantastic, lot’s of new crafts to try!
I can’t resist craft book and this one sounds like it has some fab ideas to try in it :)
Looks so inspiring! I want to make it :)!!
Looks like a fab and inspirational book!
I want to make it! This looks like a really awesome book :) xx
Wow, it looks amazing! Keeping my fingers crossed ;-)
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would love this book please xxxxxxxx
I want to make it!
“I want to make it” – what a great book, brilliant and inspirational, great reference book for my collection :-)
It would be incredible to win this book!
inspiring—thank you
Wow, it sounds like an amazing book, would love to win a copy. :)
This book looks great. Id love to own it, it looks very inspirational!
Would love to win this! My crafty fingers are itching! :)
I want to make it! I would love this book for some fab ideas for around my home
Crossing fingers and toes, the book looks wonderful!
Love the tray, want to have a go straight away!
Looks like a fantastic book with lots of great makes!
What a lovely looking book, I want it!
Wow this book would be perfect. Just got in to upcycling furniture and this would take it to a new level. Also loving the Mothers Day ideas. Thanks
Really like the cover of this book, and the rope tray is fantastic. Thanks for the giveaway.
Nice looking book, fingers crossed and good look everyone!
Im so curious whats inside that book! Rope tray looks great. I have too see other ideas!
I have everything crossed including my eyes!!!
I want to make it!
Looks a great book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I’m in. I looove the book!
thank you
The book and particularly the rope tray instructions look very interesting. Just a thought – using a slightly smaller diameter rope and omitting the border you could make some matching table mats!
Sounds like a lovely inspiring book! I love to make presents for birthdays and Christmas so it would be great to have some fresh ideas :)
What a fab looking book. The tray project looks great and I’m sure you could resize it to use in other ways.
I want to make it!
I want to make it! Looks great fun
Always looking for fab new ideas. Awesome giveaway :)
“I want to make it” I am sure I will find things to add another unique aspect to my products,
I want to make it . cos I love making things….
It sounds great !! I too would love to win it and have a go at any of the ideas. Keeping my fingers crossed also xxxx
Ooh, I would very much like this book please.
brilliant. i want to make it.
Count me in! This book would keep me busy for days!
Could do with some inspiration, looks like a great book. I do actually want to make it!
Would love to win this book!
I want to make it.
I would love to win this because I love handmaking things and my home could really use some inspiration right now.
Ooh yes please …
I want to make it! Looks like a fab book:)
I want to make it
This is a great book idea. If I win this book I will share it with my Mum, we love having things that we’ve made. So different and more interesting than having store bought mass market stuff.
I want to make it too! I could do with some inspiration :0)
I want to make this tray! Would love to see what else I can make in this book!
Love making all types of objects, would love this book………..
The possibilities are endless. My mind is running away now with things I could make for my new house. I want to make it.
Beautiful book! Lots of inspiration, looking forward to giving the rope tray a go :)
You dangled the rope and I grasped it! Wow amazing rope tray and book! Would love to win this and get crafting again!!! An inspiration! :)
Would love a copy of this book x
Loves great i’d love this!
I want to make it! :D Please let me win this!
Sounds so inspirational, would love to win!
I would love one of these.
I love to mix up my crafts. I’m always on the look out for new things to try.
Would be so lovely to win this super book and share the inspiration on every page with my grand daughter who is a budding craftaholic like me.
I want to make it! please…..
Thank you Folksy. What a fabulous site! I love arts and crafts and would love to have this stunning book. Thank you for giving me a chance by entering in your competition.
I want to make it! Would love to add this to my library – and make it ALL!
Inspiration for letting out some creativity – bring it on :)
Just looks lovely wish it was mine!
I want to make it!
Looks full of amazingly creative projects – fingers crossed!!
Wonderful inspirational book…..would really like this please.
I’d love this! x
Oh no, another book I’m going to have to make room on my shelves for ;-)
Id love to win a copy of this. Thank you.
More new skills and tricks to learn – I can’t wait. Please please please let it be me xx
What a brilliantly inspiring book!
I definitely want to make it!! :-)
Oh, I soo need this book in my life! I want to make them all!!
Looks like its a great book, fingers crossed I win! :)
On days when my mood needs a lift or if the drizzle outside won’t stop, this book would be just what I need. To win it would simply make my month! Thank you muchly.
I want to make!
Looks great, I’d love a copy :)
I really want to make it!
I could always use some inspiration! This book looks filled to the brim with good ideas~ thank you for the opportunity to snag one!
Cheers :o)
I want to make it! I want to glue it! I want to shimmy it! I want to glitter it!
All I wanna do is create it!!
The competition is now closed! Thanks to everyone who entered, and we’ll be announcing the winners very soon!
Congratulations to April Hollier, Tracey Hodges and Charlotte Tessla! You are the winners, and your books are on their way.
Comments are closed.