In November 2010, Grand Central Publishing released a coffee table book unlike anything the lifestyle publishing world had ever seen. Titled Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People, the lavishly photographed volume was written by **Amy Sedaris** with longtime partner **Paul Dinello**, who served as co-author, creative collaborator, and primary photographic model.

Arriving four years after Sedaris’s New York Times bestseller I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence, Simple Times pushed domestic satire into uncharted territories of brilliant, deadpan absurdity.

The Concept: Parodying the Domestic Lifestyle Industry

For decades, the domestic craft movement—led by Martha Stewart, lifestyle magazines, and suburban mommy bloggers—promoted the illusion that hand-gluing seashell centerpieces and sewing burlap drapery was a pathway to spiritual fulfillment.

Sedaris and Dinello took that precious, condescending tone and inverted it: * The Target Audience: “Poor people, shut-ins, delinquents, and the criminally crafty.” * The Crafting Materials: Tin foil, rusty coat hangers, popsicle sticks, dried macaroni, dog hair, and half-empty pill bottles. * The Moral Tone: Encouraging readers to use crafting not to beautify their homes, but to distract themselves from overwhelming emotional and financial ruin.

5 Unforgettable Projects from ‘Simple Times’

  1. The Rusty Nail Wind Chime: A front porch security system and melodic decoration made from scrap yard debris that tetanus dreams are made of.
  2. The Foraged Marshmallow Snowman: How to construct winter lawn ornaments using stale marshmallows found behind kitchen baseboards.
  3. The Sausage Meat Cover-Up: Clever needlepoint designs intended solely to disguise expired processed meats on holiday buffet platters.
  4. The Burlap Pant Leg Tote: Turning discarded work trousers into high-fashion grocery sacks.
  5. The Cardboard Television Mockup: For households unable to afford cable, Dinello and Sedaris provided instructions on hand-drawing television dramas on cereal boxes for evening family entertainment.

Dinello’s Visual Genius: Directing the Chaos

While Amy was the charismatic face on the book jacket, Paul Dinello’s visual direction shaped every page. Together with photographer Todd Oldham, Dinello helped stage hyper-saturated, 1970s Sears-catalog style photo shoots.

In several of the book’s most memorable spreads, Dinello appears alongside Sedaris in elaborate costumes: playing a severe woodsman, an anxious crafting assistant, and a suburban handyman struggling with rudimentary hot-glue burns.

Critical and Commercial Impact

Simple Times debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list and became an instant cult classic. More than just a gag gift, the book is celebrated by design critics for its immaculate typography, genuine appreciation for vintage kitsch, and the undeniable creative synergy between Sedaris and Dinello.

Further Reading