Dahlstrom, Carol Field

PERSONAL:

Female.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Brave Ink Press, P.O. Box 663, Ankeny, IA 50021. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Brave Ink Press (publishing house), Ankeny, IA, president.

WRITINGS:

Christmas, Make It Sparkle: 225 Simple Crafts, Food & Decorating Ideas for Your Holiday Home, Brave Ink Press (Ankeny, IA), 2003.

An Ornament a Day: 25 Sparkling Holiday Trims to Make, Brave Ink Press (Ankeny, IA), 2004.

Beautiful Christmas: 250 Best Ideas for a Memorable Holiday, Brave Ink Press (Ankeny, IA), 2004.

Cool Crafts to Make: Even If You Don't Have a Creative Bone in Your Body! Or Even If You Do!, Brave Ink Press (Ankeny, IA), 2005.

College Kids Cook, Brave Ink Press (Ankeny, IA), 2005.

EDITOR

Mary Engelbreit, Mary Engelbreit Cross-Stitch for All Seasons, Meredith Press (Des Moines, IA), 1997.

Great Patchwork Collection: A Step-by-Step Guide to Quilting, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 1997.

101 Full-size Quilt Blocks and Borders, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 1998.

Simply Handmade: 365 Easy Gifts & Decorations You Can Make, Meredith Press (Des Moines, IA), 1998.

Mary Engelbreit, Hey, Kids! Come Craft with Me, Meredith Press (Des Moines, IA), 1999.

Mary Engelbreit, Crafts to Decorate Your Home, Meredith Press (Des Moines, IA), 1999.

Crafts to Make & Sell, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2000.

Halloween: 101 Frightfully Fun Ideas, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2000.

New Junior Craft Book, Meredith Press (Des Moines, IA), 2000.

Simply Handmade: 365 Easy Projects for Every Occasion, Meredith Press (Des Moines, IA), 2000.

501 Fun-to-Make Family Crafts, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2001.

Mary Engelbreit, Decorating Ideas: Projects to Make for Indoors and Out, Meredith Press (Des Moines, IA), 2001.

Stitching Pretty: 101 Lovely Cross-Stitch Projects to Make, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2002.

Paint It!: 101 Ideas, Designs, & Patterns for Decorating Any Surface, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2002.

Grandma's Best Full-Size Quilt Blocks: Pieces of the Past for Today's Quilter, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2002.

Collections: Projects & Ideas to Display Your Treasures, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2002.

Christmas Ornaments to Make: 101 Sparkling Holiday Trims, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2002.

Scrapbooking: Everything You Need to Know to Preserve Your Memories, Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA), 2002.

Ann Emery Smith, and others, Hip Knits: 65 Easy Projects from Hot Designers, Meredith Books (Des Moines, IA), 2004.

Susan M. Banker, Beautiful Cross-Stitch: Designs and Projects Inspired by the World around You, Meredith Books (Des Moines, IA), 2004.

Susan M. Banker, Two-Color Quilts, Meredith Books (Des Moines, IA), 2004.

Susan M. Banker, Scrapbooking for Girls Only, Meredith Books (Des Moines, IA), 2004.

Susan M. Banker, Crafts for Girls Only, Meredith Books (Des Moines, IA), 2004.

Susan M. Banker, Crafting with 4 Supplies, Meredith Books (Des Moines, IA), 2004.

SIDELIGHTS:

Carol Field Dahlstrom has made a career out of editing and writing crafts instruction books. Initially, she did this work for publishers Meredith Press and Better Homes and Gardens; but then she started her own publishing company, Brave Ink Press, which releases her authored works. Reviewers of Dahlstrom's books have praised them for their easy-to-follow instructions, helpful illustrations, and simple but highly creative project ideas that are fun for the whole family. For example, in a review of Simply Handmade: 365 Easy Gifts and Decorations You Can Make, which Dahlstrom edited, Booklist contributor Barbara Jacobs enjoyed the many ideas for making decorations from materials that are commonly found around the house: "Although few skills are required," Jacobs observed, "the rewards are great." A reviewer for the My Craft Book Web site similarly praised 501 Fun-to-Make Family Crafts, which was described as "excellent." The reviewer further noted that the book "demonstrates how the editor believes the projects will promote and encourage family togetherness."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, September 15, 1998, Barbara Jacobs, review of Simply Handmade: 365 Easy Gifts & Decorations You Can Make, p. 186.

ONLINE

Dancing Word Writers Network,http://www.dancingword.net/ (April 20, 2006), Laura V. Hilton, review of An Ornament a Day: 25 Sparkling Holiday Trims to Make.

MyCraftBook.com,http://www.mycraftbook.com/ (April 20, 2006), review of 501 Fun-to-MakeFamily Crafts.