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Meet the Author
Hey there, can you introduce yourself?
I live and work in the UK - not too far from London. I'm married to Sharon and have two boys, Joshua aged 5 yrs and Dylan aged 9 yrs. By day I am Creative Director of Velti London (a digital and mobile ad agency) and by night the person behind whatimade.com, a quirky craft blog that won 2 Webby Awards in 2011, and became the inspiration behind Made by Dad.
Tell us a bit about the book?
Firstly, it's full of cool projects that should capture the imagination of both Dads and their kids, secondly it's full of detailed (but playful) hand drawn instructions that "make the making" fun! The projects themselves vary from easy to challenging, and are scattered with "pro-Dad tips". They mostly make use of materials you can find in your home (such as empty cereal boxes and tin cans) and beyond an exacto knife and glue gun, don't really require any specialised tools or techniques. My hope is that just flicking through the pages will provide Dad with enough motivation to attempt a project, that would be my dream result!
What was the inspiration behind it?
Once my blog started to generate some interest, I knew I'd love to do a book. However, it remained a dream until the fantastic team at Workman approached me with the idea to do a book aimed at getting Dad's making fun stuff for (and with their) kids!
Which is your favourite project?
Some of my personal favourites include the Bed Bunk Communicator, Ratapult (a catapult for rats), Eating Nemo (my nieces love this one) and the I "love you this much" card. The 1 TON Lampshade is also cool, I made a video of this project, it should give you a feel of what the book is all about.
What is your craft space like?
I can proudly say that my craft / writing space is a dining room table, and my toolbox is a cupboard drawer!
Have you always been creative?
Yes, as a kid I loved to draw - mainly crazy contraptions, such as "shark-catching submarine" (I was a big fan of Wile E Coyote's outrageous attempts to catch Roadrunner). When I was old enough to use a saw and hammer (without loosing an eye) I spent all my time trying to make these contraptions out of scraps of wood and other odds and ends that I found in my Dad's workshop. Later I went to Art College and pursued a career in the advertising and design industry.
When did you first start crafting?
I only started crafting regularly 4 years ago - it began with a simple stick house I made out of Starbucks stirring sticks, designed to keep kids occupied while I finished my Latte! This became one of the first things that I added to my blog, before it evolved into what it is today.
Who are your crafty heroes?
I grew up in the UK watching the Take Hart show, an art programme presented by Tony Hart, one of my first crafty heroes. I even got to meet Tony Hart and visit the studios where the show was recorded after winning a drawing competition sponsored by Kraft Cheese (I drew a crazy cheese factory!).
Where do you find inspiration?
I soak up things I see on the internet and the TV, but I don't consciously seek out inspiration, mainly because I love coming up with ideas myself and I prefer to have things sit in my sub-conscious rather than front of mind.
What's next for you?
This is my first book, so I'm trying to enjoy each phase - at the moment it's great to be able to talk to people, such as your readers, about Made by Dad, and hopefully get more Dads making things with their kids! Beyond that, I hope to start blogging more regularly again, and you never know, perhaps one day another book!
Publisher's Description
The Snail Soup Can Decoy to keep the candy stash safe. The Customizable “Keep Out” Sign to deter meddlesome siblings and parents. A Bunk Bed Communicator made from cardboard tubes (“Psst! Can you keep the snoring down?”). Clever, whimsical, and kind of genius, here are 67 unique projects that will turn any dad with DIY leanings into a mad scientist hero that his kid(s) will adore.
No screens, no hi-tech gadgetry. Made by Dad combines the rough-edged, handmade ethos of a Boy Scout manual or The Dangerous Book for Boys with a sly sense of humor that kids love. Scott Bedford, a creative director by day and Webby Award–winning blogger by nights and weekends, wields an X-ACTO knife, magic marker, and prodigious imagination to create endlessly delightful projects for his two sons. He knows that kids like contraptions and gadgets, things that are surprising—a chair that appears to be balanced on eggshells. Things that are complex—a multilevel city, with buildings, tunnels, and roads, built from old boxes around the legs of a table. And especially things with humor—the Snappy Toast Rack, made to resemble a crocodile’s gaping mouth.
The projects are shown in full-color photographs, and the instructions are illustrated in detailed line drawings that exude personality. Some are quick and simple enough to be done in a coffee shop; others are more of an afternoon project— yielding hours and hours of rich, imaginative playtime.
