November/December 2014
Sarah Lawrence's gorgeous textile art is so richly decorated that it is impossible to guess how it has been created. In this book, she reveals the secrets, with clear step by step instructions on a multitude of innovative techniques from many different crafts, which are then combined to produce eleven beautiful projects. People who love textile art, rubber stamping, embroidery, gilding, embossing and many other crafts will be attracted to this book.
Sarah Lawrence uses mixed media, stitching and numerous innovative techniques to produce stunning textile art with the accent on shimmer and shine. Step by step photographs and clear instructions show how to make fabric from brown paper or by layering interlining with metal leaf, then demonstrate gilding techniques using mica, hot fusing adhesives and metal, various colouring techniques and machine stitching, free machine embroidery and creating unique embellishments. Beautiful finished pieces show the intricate, rich, bright and shiny results of the techniques used in various combinations, and then there are eleven sumptuous projects with full captions on the techniques used to produce them.
Sarah Lawrence spent ten years teaching art and textiles in secondary schools in Yorkshire, before leaving to start her family. She gained distinctions in her City & Guilds in Creative Embroidery, and is now a freelance textile artist and tutor, continuing to develop her own work, exhibiting widely, giving talks, demonstrations and workshops and undertaking commissions. Recently she has done a postgraduate course to support all the work she has done over the last ten years with the elderly and disadvantaged young people. Sarah runs many courses on felting, embroidery, beading and surface construction for a diverse range of groups.
* Workbox *
May 12
This colourful book is full of inspiration for mixed media artists. It covers many different techniques including free machining, fabric painting, gilding, using mica, stitching, embossing and stamping amongst others. There are step by step instructions and photos to guide you through each process. At the end of each chapter there are then images showing you how you can take the technique further and integrate into your designs. This book is intended to inspire you and give you the skills you need to create your own designs rather than give full projects. Although at the end of the book you will find some of the author's own beautiful makes with details of how she made them. If you are looking to learn new techniques or seeking inspiration this book is ideal.
* Sewing Directory, The *
November/December 2014
Sarah Lawrence's gorgeous textile art is so richly decorated that it is impossible to guess how it has been created. In this book, she reveals the secrets, with clear step-by-step instructions on a multitude of innovative techniques from many different crafts which are then combined to produce eleven beautiful projects. People who love textile art, rubber stamping, embroidery, gilding, embossing and many other crafts will be attracted to this book.
Sarah Lawrence uses mixed media, stitching and numerous innovative techniques to produce stunning textile art with the accent on shimmer and shine. Step by step photographs and clear instructions show how to make fabric from brown paper or by layering interlining with metal leaf then demonstrate gilding techniques, using mica, hot fusing adhesives and metal, various colouring techniques, hand machine stitching, free machine embroidery and creating unique embellishments. Beautiful finished pieces show the intricate, rich, bright and shiny results of the techniques used in various combinations, and then there are eleven sumptuous projects will full captions on the techniques used to produce them.
Sarah Lawrence spent ten years teaching art and textiles in secondary schools in Yorkshire, before leaving to start her family. She gained distinctions in her City & Guilds in Creative Embroidery, and is now a freelance textiles artist and tutor, continuing to develop her own work, exhibiting widely, giving talks, demonstrations and workshops and undertaking commissions. Recently she has done a postgraduate course to support all the work she has done over the last ten years with the elderly and disadvantaged young people. Sarah runs many courses on felting, embroidery, beading and surface construction for a diverse range of groups. Details can be found on her website www.sarah-lawrence.com. He also owns and runs craftnotions.com. She lives in Newark.
* Workbox *
Aug/Sep 12
Truly original, the eclectic plethora of ideas covered here is remarkable, and fantastic for sewers who need a little lift. Sarah Lawrence uses mixed media, stitching and numerous innovative techniques to produce textile art. Instructions cover how to make fabric from brown paper, gilding techniques, using mica, hot fusing adhesives and metal, free machine embroidery and creating unique embellishments. The book features 11 projects with full captions on the techniques used to produce them.
* Craft Focus *
April 12
Stitch, Cloth, Shimmer and Shine, just about covers it all doesn't it? This book really does cover it all. Sarah Lawrence of Crafty Notions fame put together this 'recipe book', but sadly passed away before its release. I think her description of it as a recipe book is brilliantly accurate, though there are some more project based sections at the back of the book if this is how you prefer to work. I have been to lots of shows and visited big name stands such as 'Art Van Go' and have been left a bit confused. All the pretty bottles, sparkling films, squirty bottles shiny plastics, very attractive but what was I meant to DO with them. More to the point did they relate in any way to my textiles? I used to think not.....after looking through this book though I'm more excited. I didn't have many of the supplies in my stash, no friendly plastic, no films and yet there were still new ideas which anyone could try. I used some coloured wire, wound around a knitting needle and strung with seed beads to make feature beads for these ear rings. This was quick, easy, cheap and has so many possibilities. There are many more ideas here I'd like to try and I will certainly be visiting some of those exciting stands and filling my basket with shimmery shiny supplies at the next big fair! This title is priced at GBP15.99 and is beautifully photographed. It takes its place very happily alongside other textile classics. It is a great addition to any fabric fiend's library!
* Jennyflowerblue.blogspot.com *
April 12
Have fun with needlecrafts and use a whole host of new and exciting materials to make your mark! Stitch by hand o use your sewing machine in conjunction with all the latest ways to paint, emboss, print, stick and gild.
This is not a book of projects to work through step by step. The author suggests that the reader thinks of it more in the way of a recipe book where you can use a bit of this idea and some of that to make your own special creation. If you are up to using a recipe book in this manner rather than plodding determinedly through a recipe point by point then you can consider yourself a reasonably competent chef, and this book is not aimed at the beginner stitcher. But as there are a vast number of books for beginners and fewer for advanced or even intermediate crafters then this one is very welcome. Lushly illustrated and large format with a hardcover, this is one for the shelf to inspire the crafter and instruct on how to use many techniques more aimed at the papercrafting market as a rule. Hand embossing on metal, using solvent markers or inks, rubbing gilding waxes, die cutting and rubber stamps are all methods used by cardmakers and scrapbookers, but you can also use them on fabric. Not all of these ideas are washable but will produce some wonderful pieces to hang on your wall. Chapters show you how to use these methods with a particular emphasis on cloth instead of paper, and there are lots of lovely examples of what it all looks like. The last few chapters do explain how some finished pieces are made, and there are also various methods explored that will be familiar to jewellery makers. The style is very abstract with lots of line and circles which has the effect of freeing up the crafter if drawing is a problem, and it is all pretty timeless too rather than the current fashion. A lovely book to inspire and instruct.
* Myshelf.com *
Apr/May 12
Gilding, metal manipulation and using mica are just a few of the techniques explored in this tempting pick 'n' mix of creative crafting and mixed media techniques. There's a huge range of products available but if you don't know how to use them, it's difficult to know where to start. The good news is that, with this book to hand, the problem will be knowing where to stop! The idea of the book is that it should be used like a recipe book; some 'recipes' can be followed, while others can be used to add something extra to a piece of work and spice it up. There's plenty of scope for creative exploration, but the basic information about the materials allows you to understand the properties of the media and choose the tecnique that will delivery the effect that you want. Most of the techniques can be mixed and matched to create a diverse range of vibrant combinations with plenty of shimmer and shine. The book is lavishly illustrated with step-by-step photographs and sample pieces for every type of media, and a selection of projects provides plenty of inspiration and ideas for ways to apply what you've learnt.
* Stitch *
Oct 12
Sarah's untimely death left a big hole in our lives, but this book is a reminder of her talent as well as giving inspiration and ideas for lots of lovely shiny textile projects. Always popular, this book is now back in stock. If you haven't got it yet, you must!
* Craft Arena craftarena.blogspot.co.uk *
Nov 12
This is an exciting book for the stitcher who wants to develop skills using experimental media. The author shows a wide range of stunning techniques including Gilding, Mica and Metal manipulation. Excellent illustrations show how she develops surface textures and works them into rich surfaces using both hand and machine embroidery. The emphasis is on shine and shimmer, which is achieved by mixing a wide variety of metallics and fabric. There are eleven projects, fully captioned to set you off experimenting. A truly inspirational book for any stitcher who wants to expand their range of effects.
* Merseyside Embroiderer's Guild (megonline.co.uk) *
