5 comments about Quick-Sew Denim: With No-Sew Options.

1. This book contains many ideas for reusing denim jeans as raw material for sewing projects. Chauncey provides an interesting short history of denim and jeans in the introduction to the book. Then she describes how to select denim for craft projects and some basic techniques for using denim. The main part of the book is divided into chapters containing directions for craft projects. These chapters include: around the house (pillows, bulletin boards, and organizers), handbags and totes, school stuff (scrap books, pencil case), denim Christmas (gift bags, Christmas tree skirt, ornaments), and gifts and things (picture frames, shaving tote, covered tin, basket). Each project starts with lists of required materials and supplies. The instructions for the projects are illustrated with high-quality color photographs. For most of the projects, Chauncey provides instructions for either sewing or gluing, so even non-sewers can try their hand. In order to undertake the projects in this book, a glue gun is practically indispensable, and a sewing machine highly recommended.
   
   Many of the projects seem geared to young teenagers, and the sewing skills required are minimal. As a beginning sewer myself, I found the projects were well within my capabilities (yes, I still sit with the sewing machine manual on my lap when I sew so that I can quickly look up how to thread the machine). One of the strongest features of the book is the ideas that Chauncey provides for using every scrap of jeans. She shows how seams can be made into handles for bags or baskets, and how belt loops can have innumerable uses. I've only followed one of the projects in the book exactly (the shaving tote), but I have borrowed many of the ideas and techniques from the other projects in my own creations. This book is ideal for crafters who are just getting started in reusing denim.



2. This book has a great assortment of ideas for using old jeans, from pillows and other household items to personal and gift items. All the projects are illustrated showing different steps in making the item.



3. If you are into purses & accessories this would be a good book for you. It didn't fit my needs as I was looking for a way to turn several pairs of jeans into skirts.



4. Thanks to this publication, I now know the abbreviated history behind denim and jeans. And why not? Many of us wear them all the time. They are a staple of my wardrobe.
   
   Because of the uniqueness of denim jeans, this has been an answer to my prayers. What to give a teenager for a gift -- it's here. How to dissect a pair of jeans to use its parts, resulting in a wonderful purse, pillow, or even a Christmas Tree skirt is all here in Ms. Chauncey's book.
   
   We're told how to select denim and techniques for denim crafting with projects that qualify as things around the house, handbags and totes, school stuff, denim Christmas, and gifts.
   
   Can't thank the author enough for sharing her creativity and ideas.
   
   This one is a keeper. If you love denim fabric like I do, you will love this book and the projects. My grandchildren love their gifts and so will your friends and loved ones.



5. I was interested in recycling my old jeans and based upon other reviews, I purchased this book. This book is pretty good for getting you started and covers all sorts of projects. I made some of the pocketbooks and thought they came out pretty good. I have no problem with using a glue gun along with sewing. With denim, some times you need to. Some of the projects were not for me, but I could see how they would appeal to other people. I think it is great for young people who like to be creative. I would purchase this book just to see if working with denim is for you. Gave me a lot of ideas. I would recommend it for beginners to sewing or crafting.

1 comments about Simply Scrappy Quilts.

1. Quilting has for the past 20+ years been one of my passions. When I started quilting here in Norway around 1980 there were very few quilters around. And I started in the most simple way, cutting fabrics and piecing it together.
   During the years quiltbooks came on the market, and it was always interesting to see new techniques.

   Then, I think it was in 1993 Nancy J. Martin came to Norway to give quilt classes. I spent a week-end with her and learned so many new things, a whole new world opened for me.

   Nancy J. Martin has written more than 25 books on quiltmaking, and she is the founder and president og That Patchwork Place Inc, the publisher of America's Best-Loved Quilt Books. Nancy introduced me to the Bias Square cutting ruler, for me, and many quilters with me, a totally new way of cutting your fabric and sewing it together again to make the most wonderful patterns.

   In this book Nancy J. Martin shows us the bias ruler - a way to make the most wonderful quilts with a scrappy look in her new and time-saving technique. From simple, but intricate looking friendship star quilts, to scrappy house quilts, Ocean Waves, Road to Oklahoma.....you find them all in this book. The book starts with a full color gallery section, and you also find color illustrations and photos all through the book. A must for every quilters book collection.

   Britt Arnhild Lindland

5 comments about Learn Needle Tatting Step by Step.

1. I have always wanted to learn tatting but had problems understanding the patterns and how to use a shuttle. This is an excellent book very easy to follow instructions and illistrations. I was able to create wonderful doilies and bookmarkers for family members and friends for gifts, they loved them. Wish there were more patterns. I would recommend this book to others.



2. I think this book is over-priced; the only reason I do not give it five stars. HOWEVER: This is an excellent book on the basics of needle tatting. If you do not have access to a teacher in your area, this is probably your best bet for starting off. I have purchased several tatting books, and those few that offer an explanation of needle tatting are bewhildering.

   Be advised that nearly every shuttle tatting pattern that I have tried is can be done with a needle, which is much faster than using a shuttle and also results in smoother joins.

   The only tatting patterns that have frustrated me as a needle tatter are the square medallions. The tatting needle is too long to be able to manipulate in the tight areas needed for such designs.




3. This book outlines a very easy system of needletatting. But it does make some odd claims that I cannot verify. Mainly that needle tatting was invented in the mid-nineteenth century -- referring to Mlle. Riego I presume, who did not needle tat but tatted with needles (BIG difference!). That needle tatting is faster than shuttle tatting --not for me, sorry. I also found that even with the recommended needle/thread combinations that my needle tatting looked quite chunky compared to my shuttle tatting, and certainly not as pretty. Many people like needle tatting though, and I hear it is good for people with disabilities. I guess it's just not my thing.



4. This book is aimed at the needle tatter who is picking up the tatting needle for the first time. It does not teach the 19th century method of tatting with needles which basically uses the needle as if it is a shuttle, but the method of forming double stitches on the tatting needle and pulling the needle through the stitches. Special needles are required for this lace which can be obtained from the author's online tatting lace shop, which is heavily promoted in the book.
   
   The instructions provided are very clear and profusely illustrated with many photographs of the lace being worked. There are few patterns and those which are included have been carefully chosen to teach the beginner essential techniques which are covered in the book. These include how to make the double stitch, form a true ring, how to form what is now called the self closing mock ring, how to make joins using the tatting needle (the methods taught are different from those used in shuttle tatting), how to make chains, how to finish ends, how to join in new threads and how to do two colour work. I am a little concerned at the introduction of new, trademarked terminology to describe some of these techniques as this confuses many beginners who join the online tatting mailing lists and groups.
   
   The book could have included more patterns and most people will master the techniques covered very quickly. This book therefore may not prove to be a lasting reference work but it's a good introduction to the art of tatting lace using a tatting needle and can be recommended for this purpose.



5. The presentation of pictures which accompanied the instructions are very clear. The written instructions are clear and straight forward. I would recommend this book to anyone.

No comments about Needlecrafts for Dummies.

1 comments about Craft in the Machine Age 1920-1945: The History of Twentieth-Century American Craft.

1. This book was published as a catalogue for a 1991 show at the American Craft Museum. The show's purpose was to look at Craft in the United States from 1920-1945. This was an exciting period when American industrial designers took many of the emerging ideas of European Modernism and gave these new theories a unique American character. This age known variously as Depression Modern, Streamline, Art Moderne and Art Deco.
   
   What makes this book interesting is that it focuses on craft. There are chapters on wood working, metal working, glass blowing, ceramics and textiles. As would be expected, this book covers the iconic works of the masters such as Teague, Deskey, Rhode and Wright. But there are also a number of less well known craftmen of the period. It is these more obscure figures that make this book compelling. Their contributions illustrate that fact that this was a movement as oppossed to the exceptional works of a few remarkable craftsmen.
   
   "Craft in the Machine Age" is filled with numerous photographs and has chapters on the different crafts written by museum curators and academics. As you would expect, it is a well made professional catalogue of a major art exhibition. This book is a must purchase for enthusiasts of American material culture in the years between the two World Wars. Highly recommended.

3 comments about Card Art: Create Treasured Greetings from Fabric & Paper (Create & Treasure (C&T Publishing)).

1. the introduction is fun, everything after that in the book is doable even for someone like me who is artistically challanged!!
   this is for those of us that are still making stick people, the patterns are great!



2. I love this book! The directions for making each card are clear and easy to follow. What I like most about this book is one doesn't need a lot of expensive materials to make the cards, which is not true of other books on the market. The author utilizes materials from around the house, nature and fabric scraps. I have had very positive remarks about the cards I have made so far and I am eager to make more for upcoming events. If you are a beginning card maker, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!



3. I expected more from this book than what it delivered. The cover has some cute cards and I thought there would be more of the same in the book but it left a lot to be desired. Cards were very folksy and used a lot of recycled items, which was good, but there was too much of the same. It wasn't what I expected.

3 comments about Oh Sew Easy Table Toppers: 27 Projects for Stylish Living (Oh Sew Easy).

1. The first time I looked at this book after receiving it I was so discouraged by the really ugly (to me) pictures in it that I decided to give it away. A quick second look shows that there is perhaps some good basic information - but I am still giving it away.



2. I agree the pictures are bad. The instrutions are good for people who don't sew very much. It just wasn't what I expected from Jean Wells.



3. Valori and Jean Wells give the reader easy-to-follow instructions for creating a very broad range of placemats, runners and tablecloths. Nearly all tabletop options are covered here, and, best of all, you can follow very closely or use the Wells' instructions as guidelines to customize your work.
   
   I made a set of side-panels placemats for one of my first sewing projects and found the instructions straight-forward and clear. Even better, the finished product looked professional without a lot of hard work. Use this book as a springboard for your own creativity (instant check on how much fabric you need for certain sized tablecloth, for example), or follow instructions exactly if you're hesitant.
   The pictures feature many Kaffe Fassett and Rowan fabrics -- great to see them outside of quilts -- and Valori and Jean give good advice on how to choose your fabric combinations (remember the dishes!).

No comments about Appliquilt in the Cabin: 8 Fresh and Fun Designs.

1 comments about Inspirational Silk Painting from Nature.

1. Silk painting seems so do-able after reading this book. The author starts by discussing tools and supplies needed and HOW they are used. Continuing into basics, "Designing from Nature" is covered, with discussion on composition, contrasts, applied embillishments, color composition, and then finding and translating designs. To close out the book, she discusses, "Motifs from Nature", using separate categories, the following are highlighted individually: 1) Rocks, stones and earth; 2) Water and clouds; 3) Trees; 4) Blossom and fruit; and 5) Animals. In each section, a number of photos are included to use as inspiration for your own work. The author includes not only her own work, but that of many other artists, creating a very broad swipe of exampled paintings. My personal favorite of the various techniques is the Trees section and the use of salt, wax and/or alcohol for special effects for various varieties. All in all, a wonderful book on silk painting.

No comments about Shibori Designs & Techniques.