Handmade – A Hands-On Guide

by Asa Christiana

Filled with both practical instruction and inspiring insights, this book offers guidance for anyone with the urge to make things by hand rather than buy them.

A former editor of Fine Woodworking magazine, Christiana begins by exploring what has become known as the maker revolution, tracing its development from pre-internet days through the craft revival of the 1970s and 1980s and into the digital age. He gives step-by-step instructions for 22 innovative projects created by 15 individual makers, showing how to make useful everyday objects.

The projects cover a wide range of materials and techniques from woodworking, welding and concrete casting to leatherworking, print-making, handcrafted lighting and using repurposed materials. Another section includes projects that incorporate design software, laser cutters and other digital tools. All projects are illustrated with color photos and supplemented by the makers’ stories and their reflections on creating things by hand.

Softcover, 8 1/2" × 11", 208 pages, 2018.