The New York Times bestselling craft guide that inspired the hit new TV show, At Home With Amy Sedaris
It's often been said that ugly people craft and attractive people have sex. In Simple Times, Amy Sedaris sets the record straight and delivers a book that will forever change the world of crafting. Demonstrating that crafting is one of life's more pleasurable and constructive leisure activities, Sedaris shows that anyone with a couple of hours to kill and access to pipe cleaners can join the elite society of crafters.
You will discover how to make popular crafts such as Pompom Ringworms and Seashell Toilet Seat Covers, all while avoiding the most common crafting accidents (sawdust fires, feather asphyxia, pine cone lodged in throat). You will cook your own edible crafts, from a Crafty Candle Salad to Sugar Skulls, with many more recipes and craft ideas that will inspire you to create your very own hastily constructed obscure d'arts.
Praise for Simple Times
"Amy Sedaris is a kookier, kitschier version of Martha Stewart...Simple Times is an ideal gift for the crafter who has crafted everything." - Associated Press
"A wildly cheeky guide." -- InStyle
"For anyone who's ever collected hats crocheted together...or simply for fans of Amy Sedaris and her idiosyncratic sense of humor." -- New York Times Book Review
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"oh my what can a person say about this book. There is nothing in this book you would really want to make and display in your house....not really. That is unless you are going for that weird serial killer, crazy woman decor, then maybe this book has everything you need. I may not want to make anything that's in this book but I still love to share it with people, and place it on my coffee table because you can not look through this book without laughing out loud at something. Amy as always I love you."
— Libbie (5 out of 5 stars)
“Simple Times has strong potential as a gift for anyone who’s ever collected hats crocheted together, or Barbie dolls in knitted antebellum dresses designed to cover an extra roll of toilet paper—or simply for fans of Amy Sedaris and her idiosyncratic sense of humor.”
— New York Times Book Review“Imagine a Girl Scout jamboree suddenly overtaken by a band of circus freaks. That’s roughly the effect of Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, the colorful new craft book by comedian Amy Sedaris.”
— Wall Street Journal“Will leave readers in stitches.”
— Boston Herald“A wildly cheeky guide.”
— InStyle“Sedaris’ wildly wacky crafts and gift of side-splitting laughter are a perfect combination.”
— Audiofile“Those looking to make conventional crafts, obviously, should look elsewhere. Everyone else should sit down, have a laugh, and make your very own bean-and-leaf James Brown mosaic.”
— Booklist" This book is hilarious and it has some good craft ideas. "
— Jennifer, 2/18/2014" Amy Sedaris is cuckoo in a good way. This satirical book made me laugh hard in certain parts. Other sections of the book seemed as if they were just stuck in the middle to make the book a certain size. I wish I could see Amy do her comic act live - her quiky sense of humor takes me away from all the troubles of the world. "
— Clare, 1/30/2014" Absolutely hilarious. I'd never read anything by her before but I was cracking up listening to this audiobook about crafting. It's all one big joke (I didn't know it was going to be like that until after I got into reading it) but it was a great one. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes to make things. "
— Sarah, 1/28/2014" Simple Times is great for any crafter or anyone thinking about starting to make crafts. It caters to every audience including the disabled, teenagers and even disabled teenagers. Some of the crafts lack instructions. But Amy trains you in exercises to use your imagination. The book also includes some recipes for cookies, fudge cakes, and sausage to name a few. "
— Laura, 1/12/2014" It's slightly humorous, but I just couldn't enjoy to the fullest. Some interesting ideas, but otherwise--crap. "
— Krys, 1/7/2014" A funny little book of quirky crafts. Good for a laugh, and maybe a few strange gifts to give to friends. "
— Rebecca, 1/3/2014" Amy Sedaris is fun and cute. While I love the pictures and commentary, it's doubtful that I'd ever make any of these crafts. Somehow I don't think that's the point of this. Good times, good times. Not quite as good as "I Like You." "
— Megan, 1/3/2014" I laughed more at the ridiculous pictures of crafts and costumes than I did at her writing. "
— Alyssa, 1/2/2014" this book was not even worth my time. It had strange crafts that no one would ever make ... I know it was suppossed to be funny but I didn't think it was funny. "
— Keli, 12/19/2013" very funny, and an interesting POV "
— Mike, 12/14/2013" A few cheap laughs but not as clever as I hoped. "
— Jamie, 12/10/2013" I Like You was so much fun, this was just dumb. . . "
— Susie, 9/10/2013" This book is hysterical. The poem Sandbags by "Gene Woodchuck" (page 98) may be my favorite poem of all time. "
— Jillian, 7/31/2013" i hear you two are witches! Good times!! "
— Gwen, 2/23/2013" Amy Sedaris can do no wrong in my book. "
— Amanda, 2/1/2013" Simply horrid on every level. Boring. NOT funny. Mean spirited. "
— Valerie, 12/30/2012" I don't love it as much as "I Like You." I just can't picture myself making any of these things. "
— Polly, 12/12/2012" Very funny book, with some crafts included. The expected form of humor from Amy Sedaris. A little racy at times, but as I said, not unusual for Ms. Sedaris, at least in my experience. "
— Denise, 9/21/2012" Not as funny as Hospitality Under The Influence but still a hoot! "
— Jennifer, 7/30/2012" This book is hilarious. Odd photos, folksy corny crafts, "terrible" poems by Gene and Jean Woodchuck, sewing to sex advice, wheee! "
— Cicely, 6/26/2012" Amy Sedaris just kills me. She is wickedly absurd. The crafts, pictures, categories, and everything else in this book make it a hoot. I want to hang out with this woman. "
— DeAnna, 10/26/2011" Amy Sedaris is top-notch. Quite possibly more hilarious than her brother, David. "
— Paige, 6/27/2011" this book was not even worth my time. It had strange crafts that no one would ever make ... I know it was suppossed to be funny but I didn't think it was funny. "
— Keli, 6/21/2011" This book was almost useless as far as actual crafting goes, but it provided infinite amusement. I laughed til I cried. Luckily I had my Green Stamp Kleenex Box (Pg 80). I have to go now.... I'm Crafting For Jesus and Bible Bookends are within my grasp, if I can find some old bricks. "
— Candice, 5/28/2011" Amy Sedaris is top-notch. Quite possibly more hilarious than her brother, David. "
— Paige, 5/21/2011" What can i say <br/>The stretching poses alone are worth buying thus book<br/>Amy -let's be BFFs "
— Mary, 5/13/2011" i hear you two are witches! Good times!! "
— Gwen, 5/1/2011" Much funnier than her first book. I don't knowif i will actually make a roach clip from a crab claw, or a deathbed diarama for a dying mouse, but the idea is hilarious.<br/><br/>First book I've seen on crafts for fornication. Original. "
— Shelley, 4/23/2011" Irreverent, somewhat crass parody of all of those cheesy "thrifty" crafting books (or blogs!) that are floating around. I found some of it funny, but skipped some sections. "
— Jenn, 4/6/2011" Funny, but not as good as the first book. "
— Jessi, 4/3/2011" What a waste of good paper. "
— Eileen, 4/3/2011" If you love Amy Sedaris, you'll love this book. It is not simply a craft book, but a smart book full of humor. Very fun read! "
— Katie, 3/30/2011" Arch and sarcastic, funny but biting. Not sure how I feel about it. <br/> <br/>It was good in small doses, but sometimes it was a just a little too over the top. "
— Kevin, 3/30/2011" Funny. Classic Sedaris. Finally my love of cheap crafts and ridiculous humor have come together. Don't think I'll actually be making any of the items from this book, but that's not really the point. Gotta love that there's an entire chapter dedicated to crafting for rabbits. "
— Courtney, 3/27/2011Amy Sedaris has appeared frequently on screen, both large and small. She is co-creator, with Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, of Comedy Central’s hit show Strangers with Candy and half of the Obie-winning “Talent Family” playwright team, with her brother, David. Amy lives in Manhattan with her imaginary boyfriend, Ricky, and her pet rabbit, Dusty.
Alyson Silverman’s television and film credits include Sex and the City, Garmento, and Celebrity. Some of her theater credits include the off-Broadway production of Tony ’n’ Tina’s Wedding and the national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird with the National Theatre for the Performing Arts.