Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF

It is only kind of amusing. I was really disappointed. My husband is a DIY meets WTF everyday. This book is more like DIY meets crazy people but not funny crazy. Just weird. It was not for me.

First let me say that I've paid some serious attention to this book. The reason is that I'm a ...um... 'contributor.' I'm featured in it, so the book suddenly has some real impact on me. If this part will make you think I am more biased for the book, then you can stop reading here. April chose the item of mine she wanted to rip on, and I sent her some high resolution pictures and my consent. That's all the input I got as to what would be said about my stuff. I'm happy to say that she didn't make me cry! I also got to 'defend' my piece, but I honestly felt like I didn't need to defend it, so I spent that part in promoting my store. Hehe. This isn't some bit of Etsy bashing propaganda, and it's not just to make fun of the stuff on Etsy, either. It's a sort of a window into some of the more eccentric things you can find on Etsy. Sure, you can search Etsy for stuff yourself, and you'll find some weird things...but there's no way one person could find all of the 'treasures' in this book all by one's self. If you like shopping on line, and you like weird stuff, give it a look! It's good for a laugh at the very least.

This book far surpassed my expectations, and I expected quite a lot. I believed it would be funny, and it was hysterical. I assumed it would be interesting, and in fact I could not put it down. What I had not anticipated was the extent to which this book would be moving. And -- in all actuality -- inspirational. What makes the Regretsy site consistently laugh-out-loud funny, the brazen humor and bold perspective of author April Winchell, is present in full force. Also delightfully represented are the mind-boggling DIY arts and crafts that serve as fodder for conversation and amusement. But I believe that the best part of the Regretsy book lies in the poignant, insightful and absolutely riotous personal essays that introduce each chapter. The author's unique insight and candid commentary are hysterically funny and surprisingly poignant. But they don't go on long enough! Leaves me hoping the next book will be coming out very soon. I also truly enjoyed the Epilogue, and reading from the featured sellers themselves. It was very interesting to get the full picture of the Regretsy experience. I seriously doubt anyone could read this book without guffawing. It's that funny. Whether you're familiar with or passionate about Etsy, DIY, arts and crafts, or Regretsy, this book stands on its own and keeps you laughing. And, by the time you get through the Epilogue, chances are you'll be passionate about it all.

I, too, am a fan of regretsy and April Winchell. I have been for awhile. And what I love about the website has been cleverly bound and collected, making sure you'll be a fan as well. You see, it's not about making fun of others "lack of skill". Half of it is honest appreciation for the weird and weirdly iconic. The other half is truly a comment on the end result of society's obsession of being "nice" and "politically correct". When you see some of the items you can only imagine a group of friends, sitting around telling a gleaming crafter how wonderful a pile of mess is - then whispering in sympathetic tones when backs are turned. True Americana at it's best. From the fantastic to the mundane and past what is written, there are stories abound in the pictures in this book. All unique, wild and nearly unimaginable. It's a very enjoyable and continuously entertaining trip through the minds of many. I suggest you buy it.

I have been an ardent fan of the Regretsy blog for awhile now. I bought this book with the hopes that the humor from the blog would translate to the printed page. April Winchell not only managed to meet my expectations but to exceed them. The essays contained in this book are so fantabulous that they have me salivating for more. My husband who (sadly) reads about one book a year actually devoured this book in one sitting, which is the best review I can possibly think of. I'm looking forward to more from Ms. Winchell in the future.

I was wondering if I would like this book. I am a huge fan of the blog/website that is "Regrety" so this might be biased... but here it goes. Instead of just making fun of the stuff... which always makes for a good laugh, it opened some serious, dare I say "philosophical questions" about making things and there affect on the world around us. It does this without being pretentious and with a good sense of wit. I think this author has done something extra here, she documented how completely strange and unique humans are. More stuff like this please... maybe a TV show...? Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF