Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

Listen Whilst You Craft

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Thanks to Random House We have these amazing Audio listening books to review, but rather  than waste too much time actually reviewing each novel I am going to review Audio Books in General.

I am sure your wondering what Audio books such as Twilight and Harry Potter have to do with Craft?  I have only 3 words.  “HANDS FREE READING” Now you can craft, knit, sew, crochet, paint whilst listening to best sellers.

Imagine being at your next knitting group meet up and being able to throw in a little book club discussion. In today’s busy busy world finding time to craft is nearly impossible and finding time to read is left to commuting trips, car rides (if your not driving) and those sick winter days cause your stuck in bed under a pile of snotty tissues.

Make sure you add Audio books to your Christmas wish list so that the next time your looking for an excuse to knit, or an excuse to listen to a great novel you have something great to listen to.

Audio books are perfect Christmas presents for crafting loved ones too so check out some of the books below.

THE LOST SYMBOL

By Dan Brown

Read by Paul Michael

A fantastic new thriller from the author of The Da Vinci Code, this time set in Washington, D.C.

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE

By Stieg Larsson

Read by Simon Vance

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was one of my favorite books of last year—this is the second book in the trilogy.

THE TWILIGHT SAGA

By Stephenie Meyer

Read by Ilyana Kadushin

Vampire-werewolf rivalry, a love triangle and teen angst—try giving the audiobook a listen to get you in the mood for the New Moon movie release in November!

HARRY POTTER

By J.K. Rowling

Read by Jim Dale

This series not only gives you a lot of material (the entire series runs more than 117 hours!), but is one of the best audiobook productions of all time—Grammy winner Jim Dale narrates the series with over 134 voices (and holds a Guinness World Record for that feat).

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY

By Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Read by a full cast

This charming audiobook won an Audie Award last year for Best Fiction, and is written as a series of letters read by a full cast of colorful characters.

LAST NIGHT IN TWISTED RIVER

By John Irving

Read by Arthur Morey

John Irving returns with an audio that is epic in scope (over 24 hours long!)—it spans the past fifty years in America, and has at its center a complex father and son relationship written with great suspense and wry humor.

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Comments

  1. Children’s audio books mean eye-free reading with small children – when my eyes are too tired to read, or when I’m trying to finish sewing something, or when dinner has to be cooked and TV is not allowed!! My favourites come from Barefoot Books.

  3. I can’t knit without a book now! I love Jonathan Strange and Mr Norell by Susanna Clark and the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik. Cannot recommend them highly enough.

  4. I currently subscribe to several audiobook clubs. I can not sew without listening to books. I go through 3-4 a week. I will definitely check out audiobooks. Ps. Some really great listens are: Suzanne Collins “Hunger Games” so, so good, you’ll love it. The sequel is “Girl on Fire”. Also, Stephen King’s new one “under The Dome” It is a good book and is long which helps with my audiobook spending.

  5. Podcasts are amazing to sew to (if you don’t have patience to go through an entire book). My personal favorites are “This American Life” and “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” from NPR. Many of them are also free, conveniently enough.

Have you read?

Try This Fun Bake Off Drawing Challenge with a Group of Kids

My daughter is 16 and one of her favorite things to do on school breaks is watch The Great British Bake Off. It’s such a soothing show, as well as being creative and fun, and it’s low stakes enough that it isn’t stressful, which is just the thing you need when you’re on a break from school. 

If you don’t have an oven or want to do your own real Bake Off challenges, this baking show inspired drawing challenge from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls is a great alternative. This works best if you have a group of kids to play, but you could also do it along with a child at home. 

The post includes a bunch of different “baking” challenges for kids to draw. As an example: “Draw a dozen delicious doughnuts! Be sure to include at least two different flavors of icing. Challenge yourself to think of as many creative toppings as you can.” 

Give them a set amount of time (maybe 10-15 minutes) to draw their creations based on the prompt. Then have each child present their creation, explaining what they chose to draw and why (and what the different flavors are if it’s not obvious). 

There doesn’t have to be a winner, but kids can vote on their favorites or you can “award” things like most colorful, tallest creation, etc. Sarah suggests if doing this with little kids you can come up with an award for everyone, but there need not be prizes involved. 

With older kids you might do a couple of rounds and pick winners so that you can have a “star baker” just like in the show. 

This is a game that would be a lot of fun for kids of different ages, and you can do it multiple times with the different prompts. 

Get all the details and the challenge cards from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls. 

[Photo: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls]