I just snagged Amy Sedaris' newest book, Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, and it is absolutely freakin hilarious! She pokes fun at creating "useful things" out of pipe cleaners and pine cones while giving instructions on how to create a wide range of kitschy crafts. There is even a chapter on "The Healing Power of Crafting," which includes crafts targeted towards people with specific ailments/disorders, although most crafts are blatantly inappropriate for the group they are selected for, such as rusty nail wind chimes for people suffering from bipolar disorder. (they're supposed to be inappropriate, it's dark humor, dudes!)
Examples of crafts: donut squirrel feeders, crab claw roach clips, tin can stilts, "I can't do anything right" box, and a clothespin Jesus. Most crafts are ridiculous, some are offensive, but rest assured that you have seen several of these at your local high school or church craft fairs.
I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the cover of the book, which shows Sedaris creating yarn pom poms. (One of the crafts in my kit is a fuzzy yarn pom pom caterpillar) Should I be offended by the way she trivializes crafts while I've spent all semester working on a senior thesis that focuses on craft as a healing tool? NO flippin way!! She's funny and clever and reading her book reminded me not to take this craft thing so seriously. I love love luuuurve this book and recommend it to anyone who has ever painted a pine cone or hot glued macaroni to a plate (and isn't easily offended by tasteless jokes).
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