Crafty Muslimahs

Assalamu Alaikum everyone!

It's Hanifah and today I'm here with another book recommendations post. In a world where everyone seems to be stuck in front of a screen, these books are truly a breath of fresh air. If you feel that you lack inspiration or that you need something to help you reconnect with the natural world then, insha'Allah, I believe these books will interest you.

1. The Daring Book for Girls

Our Grandma sent us this book many years ago and it is still one of my favourite activity books. This book is perfect for all girls who love the outdoors and is full of useful information on a variety of different subjects.

It contains many DIY projects and interesting activities as well as biographies of famous women in history, first-aid tips and advice.

I think that it is suitable for girls ages 10+. You can visit this website for more information.

2. Where My Wellies Take Me

This story follows eight-year-old Pippa on a walk through the countryside as she daydreams and admires the things she sees and the poems she is reminded of. The selected poems fit in perfectly with the tale and there are also lots of identification charts throughout it.

The book is almost like Pippa's junk journal/diary and the illustrations and collages by Olivia Lomenech Gill are absolutely beautiful and give the book a nice scrapbook-like feel.

The authors Clare and Michael Morpurgo invite you to "walk up windswept hillsides, to stomp through snow, squelch through muddy gateways, save tadpoles from shrinking puddles, and watch salmon rising in the river". In short, you're encouraged to unleash your inner-tomboy and this book makes you want to do just that.

This is a book for all ages but it would be best appreciated by older children and adults, so ages 12+ perhaps. You can purchase the book on Amazon and I definitely think it would make a lovely gift; especially for poetry lovers.

3. Secret Garden (colouring book)

This colouring book by Johanna Basford is perfect for nature lovers. I think that there is just something so therapeutic about colouring books like this one. The drawings are so beautiful and you can spend ages just looking through the book. Any time you want to sit quietly for a bit and daydream, you can do so while filling the pages with pretty colours. Once you complete a page you are sure to feel a sense of satisfaction, insha'Allah.

There are many other of her colouring books which might also interest you such as the Lost Ocean and the Magical Jungle. They are all very intricate and are therefore better for older children and adults.

4. How to be a Wildflower

Of all the books on this list this one is my absolute favourite and I had to save it for last. Our mother ordered this lovely book for us secretly and it was such a wonderful surprise. When we saw the trailer for it we were really excited as it was just what we wanted. Trust me when I tell you that it is all that it promises to be.

The book is, as the author and illustrator Katie Daisy describes it, a "field guide to the magic that surrounds us". It is full of beautiful illustrations, identification charts and quotes that are sure to inspire you and help you see the beauty in nature. I believe it is suitable for any age range and is colourful enough to entertain even younger readers.

There is, however, a small section on spirituality (spirit animals, magic crystals and things) which clashes obviously with our religious beliefs.

Other than that the book is perfect; I cannot praise it enough. You can visit this website for more information.

Well, that's it! I hope that you enjoyed this post and that you take a look at some of the books. They really are worth it!

Love and Wassalam,

Hanifah

Assalamu Alaikum!

Sumayyah here. I'm here to show you my handmade journals, so that you can get some inspiration. Some were given to me as Eid gifts and some were made by me(with help).

The first one I'll show you is my personal journal. It was my first journal; I made it last year with help from Hanifah and Zainab.

Here is the cover.

It's buckled with a lobster claw.

It has a secret pocket in the cover.

This is the first page. There is a bookmark that my mum made.

The journal has lots of pockets, a fold out page and one envelope(that isn't stuck in).

This is the last page with two pockets(one behind the other) where I keep some stuff.

Next we have my nature journal which my sister Maryam made me for Eid, masha'Allah. Here is the front.

The first page has an envelope and there are also some mini pages on the other.

Here are some more pages.

There is a tag and a mini pocket on the last page.

The next journal is my Dragon Princess journal which my sister Hanifah made for me for Eid, masha'Allah.

Here is the cover and some charms that are hanging from the journal.

This is the first page with a bookmark and two pockets(one in front of the other).

Here are some more pages.

Here are the last few pages with envelopes and mini notebooks.

The last journal is my Camicazi journal. Camicazi is a character in the book series How To Train Your Dragon. I made a journal where I pretend to be her.

Here is the cover and the first page.