Vladimir Arkhipov's book, Home-made: Contemporary Russian Folk Artifacts is a catalogue of everyday objects created by users from the materials at hand. This includes a lampshade made from a straw hat, a toothpaste squeezer made from bits of wood and a ski bob made from a bicycle.

Now I find that there is a sequel, Home Made Europe. These books are a fascinating representation of resourcefulness and a testament to what can be created without a trip to the shopping mall. And whilst the makers of these objects obviously did so partly for reasons of poverty, it is clear that they also possess a wealth in skills and ingenuity.

Arkhipov writes, "They are part of that special class of functional objects in the world that were not made to be sold". And that is why they look so unusual and special now.