craft

Last weekend, as I sat and ate my lunch in Bryant Park, I had the unexpected treat of listening to Geoffrey Hayes read from his children’s comic book Benny and Penny in Just Pretend. The day’s readings and activities were linked to Children’s Book Week, which runs all this week. And I left the park thinking about children’s books that I loved when I was little—books that encouraged me to make, create, and play.

One of the books that I spent hours and hours with as a youngster was Steven Caney’s Play Book, which I have become reacquainted with thanks to the copy at the Children’s Center at 42nd Street. This book is one of several creative play books by Caney, a noted toy maker and designer. His projects all encourage hands-on building, pretending, playing, and inventing, and most draw upon everday materials that a family might already have on hand. Paging through it, I remembered the fun and discovery I felt as I tackled many of the projects—from secret codes to musical nails, from salt gardens to bottle gardens.

Do you have a favorite DIY book from when you were small? Perhaps we have it at NYPL—come into the library or look in our catalogs (Leo or Catnyp) and see what books, both new and old, we have waiting for you and the young makers in your life.

A flea market from New York City's past. (NYPL Digital Gallery)

This past weekend saw the launch of The Flea, a new indie market set in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Fort Greene that will take place each Sunday this spring and summer. If the inaugural weekend is any indication, this Flea's going to be a monster success. I went with a friend who was visiting from Philadelphia (a town known for its own massive flea markets), and we were overwhelmed by the crowds of enthusiastic junk and craft seekers.
What I like so much about the Flea is that it incorporates indie crafters' wares into the mix of flea market finds, antiques, and foods. Two vendors I was especially thrilled to visit were Greenjeans, whose handmade items are super and whose blog on sustainability and DIY is a source worth visiting, and Lotta Jansdotter , with her appealing screenprinted fabric creations I love. And Etsy, of course, was there as well, connecting makers with buyers.
Speaking of buyers, if YOU have been considering turning your hobby into your livelihood, the Library can help. And since April 21-25 is National Small Business Week, now might be a good time to get busy. There are books such as Start and Run a Craft Business and many others at NYPL's Science, Industry, and Business Library. But also be sure to take advantage of the information and services available through the Small Business Resource Center and SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business, a volunteer, non-profit association dedicated to providing guidance to those interested in starting a business.