Art Instruction
HEATHER HALLIDAY, American Jewish Historical Soc., New York
Palmer, Matthew. Painting Without Paint: Landscapes with Your Tablet. Search. May 2016. 128p. illus. index. ISBN 9781782212843. pap. $25.95. ART INSTRUCTION
Artist Palmer’s book introduces a method of digital picture-making that can feel very similar to traditional painting but harnesses the advantages and conveniences of tablet computers. The first half of the guide covers the basics: materials, which consist solely of a tablet or a smart phone and a special stylus with a brush tip; general and landscape-specific techniques; commonly used apps and how they work; and building a picture using digital layers. The book’s second half provides several step-by-step landscape projects. Palmer includes lots of clever advice, and readers can also scan a QR (Quick Response) code to view tips on video. VERDICT Anyone who has wondered how they could squeeze a bit of creativity out of their tablet or smartphone will enjoy this book.
Van Patten, James. The Acrylic Painter: Tools and Techniques for the Most Versatile Medium. Watson-Guptill: Crown. Apr. 2016. 176p. illus. index. ISBN 9780385346115. pap. $22.99; ebk. ISBN 9780385346122. ART INSTRUCTION
Artist Van Patten (painting, Sch. of Visual Arts) explores painting by way of versatile and easy-to-use acrylics. Approximately half the book is devoted to painting basics, with chapters on acrylic paint itself and its various additives; tools, including palettes and brushes; painting surfaces; and color theory. These chapters clue readers in to loads of helpful information. Other chapters help to understand how seeing and perception function; offer advice about choosing a style and subjects; detail techniques specific to acrylics; and discuss finishing works and long-term care of acrylic paintings. Thorough exercises and completed paintings by a variety of artists are featured throughout. VERDICT While appropriate for readers of all skill levels, beginners and intermediate artists stand to gain the most from this guide.
Crafts
NANETTE DONOHUE, Champaign P.L., IL
Powers, Heather. Bead-Making Lab: 52 Explorations for Crafting Beads from Polymer Clay, Plastic, Paper, Stone, Wood, Fiber, and Wire. Quarry: Quarto. May 2016. 144p. illus. index. ISBN 9781631591143. pap. $24.99; ebk. ISBN 9781631591822. CRAFTS
Powers’s (Jewelry Designs from Nature) book covers beadmaking using polymer clay, paper, shrink plastic, resin, wire, fiber and textiles, and natural materials such as pebbles and wood. Each section focuses on a particular material, with a brief overview of the basics, followed by beadmaking projects. They include a full supply list, a color photo of a completed bead, and written instructions with photos of key steps. Most use supplies that are readily available at craft stores, and there’s enough variety here that most crafters will find a beadmaking project that suits their style, budget, and abilities. VERDICT A useful book for jewelrymakers who are interested in customizing their own beads and would like to try out an array of techniques.
DIY
KAREN ELLIS, Taylor P.L., TX
Nerjordet, Arne & Carlos Zachrison. Make Your Own Ideabook with Arne & Carlos: Create Handmade Art Journals and Bound Keepsakes To Store Inspiration and Memories. Trafalgar Square. Jun. 2016. 168p. tr. from Norwegian. illus. ISBN 9781570767616. pap. $22.95. DIY
For readers who want an alternative to scrapbooking, Norwegian duo Nerjordet and Zachrison here offer a backdoor view of their design process with their ideabooks. An ideabook can be many things—an art book, a collection of recipes, memories of trips or experiences, or style and design inspiration. An introduction to the concept is followed by instruction on how to assemble a simple sewn volume using recycled materials. Some supplies cited lack a U.S. equivalent, but construction tips are well illustrated. The bulk of the book covers examples of possible ideabook themes. VERDICT This highly graphic, very exciting guide has enough variety with simple technique to match any interest. It will appeal to budding artists and seasoned crafters alike.
Fiber Crafts
NANETTE DONOHUE, Champaign P.L., IL
Cox, Lisa. A Spoonful of Sugar: Sew 20 Simple Projects To Sweeten Your Surroundings Zakka Style. Fons & Porter. Apr. 2016. 128p. illus. index. w/CD. ISBN 9781440243653. pap. $24.99. fiber crafts
Sewing blogger Cox presents a series of projects in zakka style—a term that, in the crafting world, is generally defined as “useful but cute.” Her focus is on machine-sewn projects, with hand-sewn or embroidered details, designed for the kitchen, bedroom, and craft room, with catch-all chapters for general home decor and projects for kids. Each project includes a difficulty rating; cutting instructions (printable patterns are included on a CD); and guidelines for piecing, sewing, and embellishment. Basic knowledge of patchwork and sewing are assumed, and Cox’s simple tutorials for the embellishment techniques used should be enough to get beginners started. VERDICT Sewists looking for quirky, delightful home accessories will find a nice selection, and the tutorials on methods such as sashiko add appeal for crafters interested in hand-embroidered decoration.
Dackson, Elizabeth. The Quilter’s Paper-Piecing Workbook: Paper Piece with Confidence To Create 18 Gorgeous Quilted Projects. Fons & Porter. May 2016. 176p. illus. ISBN 9781632501806. pap. $25.99. w/CD. FIBER CRAFTS
Modern quilter Dackson (Becoming a Confident Quilter) shares her paper-piecing wisdom, beginning with a straightforward overview that breaks the process down into a series of six steps to achieve precise results with minimal fuss. The projects are set up with Dackson first walking quilters through a simple block, featuring written and illustrated descriptions of each step, followed by the project. These include mug rugs, tote bags, and zipper pouches, as well as mini- through twin-sized quilts. Each section is color-coded by skill level, and Dackson’s helpful tips are contained as call-outs and within the instructions. VERDICT The progressive difficulty level in this classroom-in-a-book gives novices the opportunity to build confidence, and experienced paper-piecers will find plenty of challenges and expert hints.
Highland Knits: Knitwear Inspired by the Outlander Series. Interweave. May 2016. 112p. illus. index. ISBN 9781632504593. pap. $22.99; ebk. ISBN 9781632504616. FIBER CRAFTS
This collection capitalizes on the passion for Diana Gabaldon’s epic “Outlander” series, with 16 projects that evoke a similar feel to the cozy accessories seen on the Starz TV show. The majority are knit from bulky or superbulky yarn, so they’re cozy and quick to knit but lose the drapey feel typical of the show’s costuming. Included are cowls, shawls, capelets, and shrugs, as well as a pair of worsted-weight socks, two pairs of boot cuffs, and three pairs of gauntlets/wrist warmers. Many designs feature beginner-friendly stockinette stitch with simple shaping; there are a few with cabled panels, simple lace, and allover cabling. VERDICT Knitters may be drawn by the “Outlander” theme, but their interest here will depend on their willingness to work with extra-large needles (several designs use a size 19 needle) and bulky yarn.
Howell, Vickie. Wee Garter Stitch: Must-Have Knits for Modern Babies & Toddlers. Sixth&Spring. May 2016. 96p. illus. index. ISBN 9781942021926. pap. $17.95. FIBER CRAFTS
Howell (Step It Up Knits) was at the vanguard of the current knitting craze—her show Knitty Gritty (2004–08) brought knitting to basic cable. Here she presents a series of clothing and accessories for babies and toddlers, knit primarily in garter stitch, a stitch ideal for beginners. Howell peps up her projects with interesting stitch patterns; colorful, easy-care yarns; and a touch of whimsy. The garments range in size from newborn–2T, with a few items in sizes up to 4T, and the small accessories (e.g., the slippers and diaper cover) are only available in a single, smaller size. Howell’s directions walk knitters through each section of the project; charts and schematics are provided as needed. VERDICT Knitters looking for fun, quick-to-knit, and stylish baby and toddler projects will appreciate this collection.
Johansen, Linda. Favorite Fabric Bowls, Boxes & Vases: 15 Quick-To-Make Projects; 45 Inspiring Variations. C&T. May 2016. 80p. illus. ISBN 9781617452499. pap. $24.95. FIBER CRAFTS
Johansen (Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Vases) introduces the basics of sewing bowls, boxes, and vases. Cotton fabric and mediumweight or heavyweight interfacing are combined to give pieces shape and style. In each section, techniques are introduced via a simpler pattern leading sewists through the basics, followed by a series of more complex designs. The instructions are clear and thorough and make frequent reference to core information presented in the introduction. The steps are consistently grouped with subheadings, and photos of key steps are included with each project. While the designs are accessible to sewists of all skill levels, familiarity with sewing curves, basic free-motion quilting, and working with interfacing are helpful. VERDICT Johansen’s step-by-step guidance will help sewists develop a thorough understanding of creating these three-dimensional pieces.
Leinhauser, Jean. Embellishment Stitch Guide. Leisure Arts. Mar. 2016. 96p. illus. photos by Carol Wilson Mansfield. ISBN 9781464738852. pap. $9.99. FIBER CRAFTS
Leinhauser’s pocket-size stitch guide provides directions for a variety of crochet embellishments, including decorative motifs such as flowers and leaves, as well as edgings used for finishing larger items such as afghans. Each chapter focuses on a particular style of embellishment, including borders, bands, braids, cords, and tassels and fringes. The individual patterns contain a full-color photograph of the completed pattern, with multiple repeats for edgings, followed by easy-to-follow instructions. Suggested uses for the embellishments are included at the beginning of each section. A guide to basic crochet stitches is appended; instructions for specialty stitches (e.g., shell stitch and popcorn stitch) are provided where they appear in the patterns. VERDICT This focused, user-friendly guide will be useful to crocheters interested in adding extra flair to projects.
Volckening, Bill. Modern Roots: Today’s Quilts from Yesterday’s Inspiration; 12 Projects Inspired by Patchwork from 1840 to 1970. Stash: C&T. May 2016. 112p. illus. ISBN 9781617452031. pap. $27.95. FIBER CRAFTS
Volckening shares some of the highlights of his vintage-quilt collection in this book, which includes brief historical essays about each of the quilts, as well as a “modern-made” adaptation. Volckening and his collaborators have updated the techniques to reflect current quilting fabrics, tools, and practices, and the construction ranges from straightforward patchwork to complex curved piecing or foundation paper piecing. Each pattern also includes a small-scale adaptation, such as a mini quilt or a table runner, perfect for quilters who are drawn to a design but don’t want a full-size quilt. VERDICT The glimpses at Volckening’s quilt collection are engaging, and his writings about the original quilts are fascinating, but the patterns are the star—and they may inspire modern quilters to look to the past for further inspiration.
Zientara, Sharon. Modern Baby Crochet: 18 Crocheted Baby Garments, Blankets, Accessories, and More! Interweave. (3 Skeins or Less). May 2016. 128p. illus. index. ISBN 9781632502179. pap. $22.99; ebk. ISBN 9781632502209. FIBER CRAFTS
Zientara (It Girl Crochet) focuses on crochet for babies, including traditional items such as blankets, sweaters, hats, and booties, as well as quirky accessory patterns such as an amigurumi-style octopus rattle and a cleverly constructed, retrostyle burp cloth. The majority of the projects are unisex, and the focus is on wearability (for garments) and usability (for accessories)—there are no heirloom showpieces here, just cute, comfortable babywear. The simpler projects are ideal for beginners interested in trying out a new technique, while the more complex designs are suitable for experienced crocheters desiring a small-scale challenge. Written instructions, with sizes clearly marked, are provided for all projects; charts and schematics are included where useful. VERDICT A great collection for crocheters seeking stylish, comfortable clothing and accessories for babies and toddlers.
