Raising Maine

Reduce, reuse, recycle has become the catchphrase of the 21st century. Portland author Amanda Blake Soule has tweaked that a bit with her new book, “Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures.” Her three Rs are reduce, reuse and redecorate.

Soule, a mother of four and founder of SouleMama.com, offers up 30 inexpensive and green-friendly projects using materials found in the average home. Items you can create with this book and some spare time with your family include: a family art table runner (because “no refrigerator ever has enough spots for children’s art”); a towel rug for the bathroom; cozy wallpockets to keep all in order; and a memory tree quilt.

Sewing is required for most of the projects but there are also paper crafts included. Most have been inspired by Soule’s children, some are for parents and children to do together and others are specific creations for children to finish and use.

Each project comes complete with pattern templates found at the back of the book and is shown in its finished state with full-color photos. If the fun, easy projects don’t inspire you and your family ... well, lets hope you have common interests other than crafting.

The book is published by Trumpeter Books and can be found in local bookstores for $21.95. Also check out her first book, “The Creative Family,” and watch for her third book, a yearlong cycle of family crafts and activities Soule is writing with her husband, Steve.