Two for the Price of One

In addition to enjoying crafting, we wayward girls also love reading. I double my pleasure by reading novels about crafters! This is a new and growing sub-genre. There are series about lots and lots of crafts. (I just read one about a button collector!) Here are some books that I have really enjoyed. I like mysteries, so several of these are mystery series.

This was the first book I read by Jennifer Chiaverini. She writes the Elm Creek Quilters books. (Actually I listened to it while I walked. It made me want to walk more.) I loved it! This is one of those books that tells the stories of 4 or 5 people whose lives intertwine at the end of the book. Several women apply for the position at a quilting camp (that I want to go to!) There is a whole series of books that span generations in a family. She has also published quilt pattern books.


Another quilting series that I enjoy is by Marie Bostwick. This book is also told from the point of view of several characters who work or shop in a quilt shop.










I just discovered this scrapbooking series that is pretty good. I am not a big scrapbooker, but I enjoy reading about life in a scrapbook shop. After every few chapters, there are directions on how to do a special project or technique. I plan to try some of them. I am pretty excited right now because I saw on Amazon there are several books in the series that I haven't read yet.
This is the Kiki Lowenstein series by Joanna Campbell Slan.






Even though Jordan and Brooke can both knit, I can't at all. But after reading these books, I kind of want to try again. These are set in Fort Collins, Colorado. I have learned all about knitting and spinning wool by reading them.
This one is the 5th book in the series by Maggie Sefton. The all have clever titles.





This book by Laura Childs is also about scrapbooking. I didn't like it as much as the other series, but it is ok.









One other sub-genre that is huge now is cooking novels. I won't go into those, but if you like cooking and reading, try these authors: Joanna Fluke or Diane Mott Davidson. The stories are fun and they have some interesting recipes, too.

So how do you find these books? Most libraries have online search engines. Just put in the craft that you like and the word novel or fiction and see what pops up. Let me know if you find some that you love!