Your Favorite Craft/Art Books: Part One

A few weeks ago I asked the question, "What is your favorite art/craft book?"  There were lots of great suggestions and I thought I'd compile them into one big list (in several parts) in case you're a book junkie like I am!  

Tales of Adornment by Kristen Robinson

From Amazon: "Tales of Adornment will guide you through incorporating resin into your jewelry designs with stunning results. Kristen Robinson shows you, step-by-step, how to use resin in jewelry construction, providing a wide range of options and applications: from floating words to encapsulating objects, and from casting new elements to replicating sea glass."

I had to do a bit of guessing for the next book.  A number of people mentioned True Colors by Lynne Perella as one of their faves.  I searched and searched the internet and finally determined that this is that book:

Amazon lists Kathryn Bold as the author, but in the table of contents, it shows that the foreword is by Lynne Perella, who was also the project organizer.  This is an art journaling book with multiple contributors.

From Amazon: "Each artist created a book for her chosen palette, and then all the artists contributed pages for each others' journals."

Another Lynne Perella book that got some mentions was Artists' Journals and Sketchbooks.

From Amazon: "Creative souls want and need a special place for recording and decoding their interior world—a place to download all their creative ideas, a place to remember the events of the day, or a place to doodle, to draw, and to dream. This book is for all these people—it's an engaging and intimate glimpse into the personal pages of a wide variety of select artists and journal keepers whose works not only provide visual delight and inspiration but evidence the intensity and devotion that such personal journals invite."

Art + Quilt by Lyric Kinard

From Amazon: "Simplifying the basic fundamentals of art and teaching the underlying principles of the visual language, this guide explores texture, shape, line, color, and value with examples and hands-on exercises."

Raw Art Journaling by Quinn McDonald

From Amazon: "In a raw-art journal, you don't need to know how to draw; you don't need to know how to write well. You don't need worry about messing up techniques you've never attempted before inside your raw-art journal. You just need to be you because raw art is you and it thrives on creative play, on experimentation and even on making mistakes."

Altered Art Projects by Jill Haglund

From Amazon: "These interesting; classic; charming; and even whimsical projects will tempt you to try your hand at altered art! Perfect for novice and more seasoned artists alike! Each project features detailed photography; instructions; and a materials list."

The Usborne Book of Art Skills (Art Ideas) by Fiona Watt

From Amazon: "A great-value miniature edition of this popular title in Usborne's Art Ideas series, packed with ideas for painting, drawing, printing and making collages. Young artists will develop their skills by following the simple step-by-step instructions to complete the inspiring projects. Includes suggestions for lots of exciting ways to use a variety of different art materials."

Someone mentioned any crazy quilting book by Judith Baker Montano.  I chose to highlight Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool.

From Amazon: "Fiber artist Judith Baker Montano is back with this handy little reference guide that belongs in every needleworker's sewing basket. You can always find the perfect stitch for your project, with dozens of flat, linked, cross, looped, composite, floral and silk ribbon stitches to choose from."

Sew Wild by Alisa Burke -- You may recall that I highlighted this book late last year.

From Amazon: "Whether you’re already a rule-breaker or you’re looking to improvise, Sew Wild shows you how to create fabric and designs that explode with color, pattern, and soul."

Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts 

From Amazon: "In Taking Flight, you'll find overflowing inspiration--complete with a kindred spirit in author and mixed-media artist Kelly Rae Roberts. Join her on a fearless journey into the heart of creativity as you test your wings and learn to find the sacred in the ordinary, honor your memories, speak your truth and wrap yourself in the arms of community."

Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms by Alisa Golden

From Amazon: "In as little as an afternoon, beginners will be on their way to folding, gluing, and sewing handmade books in a variety of shapes and styles, from rolled scrolls to Jacob's ladders, folded flexagons to case bindings. Complete with photographs of the author's own master books and statements by more than 40 established book artists, this collection is sure to inspire. Culled from the author's best-selling books Creating Handmade Books, Unique Handmade Books, and Expressive Handmade Books, these projects will fuel bookbinding adventures for years to come."

Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials by Jeannine Stein

From Amazon: "Re-Bound is a beautiful book on bookbinding with a fun green twist-all the projects use recycled and upcycled materials. This book shows you how to take everyday materials from around the house, flea markets, thrift stores, and hardware stores and turn them into clever and eye-catching hand-made books."

Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin by Terry Taylor

From Amazon: "40 innovative book-making ideas using recycled and green materials! More than just earth-friendly, they’re also beautiful, clever, and witty, stitched with traditional binding techniques.  Egg cartons, wood, beer cans, and cassette tapes morph into covers, while brown bags, coffee filters, and discarded newspapers are transformed into pages. Create a boxed set of cereal box books, an exposed stitch sketchbook out of cardboard and remnants, and even a faux leather journal made from teabags."

The Art of Layers by Ronda Palazzari

from Amazon: "Basic scrapbooking has you place photos and embellishments on cardstock or patterned paper - easy and...well, basic. The next step for most scrapbookers is layering. But trying to get that rich, interesting layered look can be very intimidating. Where do you even start? Art of Layers teaches scrapbookers and beginning mixed media artists just how easy it is to get to that layered look in any papercrafting project."

Happy reading and thanks for stopping by!  I'll bring you part two next week!

If you have read any of the books in today's post, please leave a comment letting us know your opinion on the book!