Hemp Jewelry. (Kids Can Do It). Judy Ann Sadler. Illustrated by June Bradford. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2005. 40 pp., pbk. & cl., $6.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (cl.). ISBN 1-55337-775-3 (pbk.), ISBN 1-55337-774-5 (cl.). Subject Headings: Macramé-Juvenile literature. Beadwork-Juvenile literature. Jewelry making-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-10 / Ages 8-15. Review by Grace Sheppard. **** /4

excerpt:

A fun part of creating hemp jewelry is finding just the right decorations to make your project perfect. Check craft-supply stores, specialty bead shops, bazaars and junk sales for glass, wood, ceramic, metal and acrylic beads, pendants and charms. It is easiest to thread beads with large holes, but if your beads have small holes, check page 22 for how to use them in your jewelry.

One of the newest titles in the popular "Kids Can Do It" series of craft books, Hemp Jewelry shows kids (and crafty librarians) how to knot their way to all sorts of cool bracelets, anklets, rings, necklaces, chokers, and earrings. Sadler even includes instructions for hemp watchstraps with or without beads.

     As with other books in this excellent series, this title is full of great ideas that will appeal to a broad range of crafters. Sadler gives readers tips for choosing materials and getting started, followed by instructions for 16 different jewelry projects. The skills learned in the projects build throughout the book, and so the square knot (eek! Macramé! Macramé!) you learn to tie on page 14 returns in projects later in the book.

     The finished projects are given the colour photograph treatment, and each of the step-by-step instructions is illustrated in colour. Sadler's writing is very clear and easy to follow, and, combined with June Bradford's excellent illustrations, will have readers tying up a storm of hip accessories. Most of the projects have a "More Ideas" section that gives readers options for those projects.

     Despite the possibility of macramé flashback for some readers, this book will be heavily used by crafters at school and public libraries.

Highly Recommended.

Grace Sheppard is a Children's Librarian with the Ottawa Public Library in Ottawa, ON. She almost never spends her lunch hours tying knots in string.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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