Sunday, October 10, 2010

Books on Sunday

I'm a trifle distracted these days with too many deadlines, but I did want to tell you about a package that the postman brought earlier this week. The Customs Declaration said knitting book and DH suggested that I already had too many knitting books (preposterous, I'd say!). But honestly I didn't remember ordering the Art Quilt Collection book that was in the package.

 I spent some time looking through the book, lovely, yummy pictures and discovered this little gem on page 130! I had long forgotten having sent this in when I received a call for entry in Dec. 2009. So it was a wonderful surprise to not only get a book in the mail but discover that it had a quilt of mine too!

Window

There are many other illustrious artist in the book including my friend Daphne Greig (page 78), Elizabeth Barton (pages 38, 79), Marianne Burr (page 110), Lisa Call (page 41) and many more.

The back blurb states: Using the well-established methods and styles of the centuries-old handicraft, art quilts combine fabrics and other materials to create innovative, stunning, and contemporary results. Art Quilt Collection profiles several artists in the field-many of them award-winning-along with their creations, showing readers the step-by-step process by which scraps of fabric become vibrant works of art. Readers will be inspired to experiment with quilting techniques and create their own unique pieces.

This book would be a great addition to your art quilt collection.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Books on Sunday

Back again with another book....I figure I could post every Sunday for about 10 years and maybe get through my library. But, I have another friends who might still be working at it 20 years later......

I picked this book up on a whim, I loved the cover, stitch and paper and some yellow, rare in a book cover!

The Found Object in Textile Art by Cas Holmes

ISBN: 9781596683327

The back blurb says: Explore the elements and popular practice of using found objects in mixed-media and textile art with Cas Holmes. Cas, renowned for her use of "the found" and her many-layered, atmospheric pieces, presents a wealth of tips and ideas for this technique.

Inside you'll discover:
  • where to search for found objects and how to recycle previously used materials
  • techniques to conceive and build a piece around a found object
  • the range of found objects--from natural materials such as driftwood to manufactured pieces of machinery to even mundane objects like CD cases
  • how found objects can be used to create stunning pieces and lend deep meaning to a work
The Found Object in Textile Arts showcases how to combine mixed-media and fiber-arts techniques to create art with personal, narrative qualities.

What I like about the book:
     Lots of text and words, explanations, philosophy and concepts. Cas, the author, doesn't drive a car and so in walking has a different appreciation for her surroundings....interesting thought that we are insulated from our environment when we step into a vehicle.

My issue with this book and many others on the market is a lack of good foundations in design. A newcomer to mixed media might think that its all about putting "stuff" together. Art can never be just about that.

Would I recommend this book? Sure, borrow it from your library. If you want to buy it, then try: http://www.interweavestore.com/