Spring 14
I really love the author's introduction to this book: 'In the past, I thought the word embellishment was somehow synonymous with gaudy'. For this very reason, I would not normally have picked up a book on such a subject. How pleasantly surprised I was. It is a lovely, colourful book where the author starts the reader off with a description of tools needed and explains fabric types. The following chapters are written by various artists, each specialising in different disciplines. The chapters cover designing patterns, printing patterns, dyeing and bleaching, embellishment and specialist techniques. All chapters have wonderful ideas with photos in full colour and comprehensive instructions on how to achieve them. Each artist has a colourful gallery of their work to inspire the reader and also gives a short interview on their creative inspiration. A nice book to have on your shelf even if you are not really into embellishment, but want inspiration and techniques for the occasional project, it's a book I'd like to have for occasional reference. Barbara Thomas, Brecknock and OnlineGuild
* Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers *
Feb 13
With the help of this comprehensive book and wealth of inspiration, crafters are fully equipped to make fabric projects from tote bags and clothes to cushion covers and soft furnishings. There's essential information combined with lots of techniques. Keen crafters who want to take their fabric designs to the next level are not forgotten. The book offers in-depth advice on how aspiring amateurs can best market and sell their own designs.
* Machine Knitting Monthly *
Feb 13
The ultimate guide for all crafters seeking to achieve the perfect finish for their fabric-based projects. Comprehensive step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed illustrations that introduce readers to an extensive range of fabric alteration and embellishment techniques, such as tie-dying, block printing, and beading. Galleries throughout the book feature examples of these techniques, demonstrating how they have been applied to fabric and providing readers with a wealth of inspiration.
* Merseyside Embroiderer's Guild (megonline.co.uk) *
Winter 2013
Laurie Wisbrun covers an enormous variety of ways to personalise and enhance your work. Each technique has a separate section, with an overview of the subject, examples of its use and, most importantly, exactly what tools and materials are needed to produce similar work. Most of the requirements are items you will already have in your sewing area (or kitchen) so that with one or two inexpensive additions you will be able to tackle most of the projects in the book. There are interviews with well-known textile artists specialising in each field, including website addresses to view more of their work. From understanding fabric types, through pattern design, we are led into dyeing and bleaching methods, then on to various printmaking techniques, including making natural dyes. New embellishment ideas with sequins, buttons, zips and beads are followed by studs, lace and ribbons. The last section is full of invaluable tips for going professional with your work, including the work of three amazing artists who have taken the art of embellishing fabric to the next level. Carefully illustrated with step-by-step instructions and examples of what has been achieved by well-known exponsents in each field, this is a book which may inspire you to look again at techniques you have already touched upon, as well as tempting you to try new ideas.
* Flair *
Mar 13
The subtitle of the book is 'Beads, Buttons, Sequins, Dyeing, Printing, Embroidery', which initially suggested to me that it would be a predominantly straightforward book focusing on embellishments and might not be particularly challenging. However, a thorough reading of this book did much to dispel that view. There are pages devoted to simple techniques in these areas. However, there are other chapters devoted to techniques that we have seen covered before, but incorporate a modern methodology in approaching them that is fresh. I am talking in particular about the section on printing on fabric. The screen-printing draws on the practical side of printing, but also how to take your printed design further and work on repeat patterns (both by hand and in paint programs such as Adobe Photoshop). The focus is very much on how you take your work and view it not as an isolated piece, but go beyond that and consider its commercial possibilities as well. Dyeing processes (including Cyanotope printing, which you do not see included very often in printing books) are also covered and I felt that this part of the book had a lot to offer. It describes them in a simple but clear manner, and for starting out, gives you the information you would need. Also dotted throughout the book are interviews with contemporary fabric designers, which give insight into how a crossover between the commercial, digital and creative worlds can be made. Much of their, and others', work are illustrated throughout the book. Their backgrounds and current work are explored, which makes for interesting reading.
* Workshop On The Web *
Mar 13
You might be thinking that you can already buy fabric that is printed, embellished or otherwise adorned, but how much more fun it is to do it yourself. It is possible to have whatever you want on your fabric, the only limit is your imagination and maybe not knowing how to achieve the right look. This book gives fabric crafters lots of ways to decorate their materials. Perhaps it spreads itself a bit thin covering so many different topics, but I look on it as a taster, giving you a glimpse of what is out there. At the beginning is a list of lists, telling you what you need to buy in order to do that particular method. This is very useful, letting you know what is possible with only a bit of shopping and what will entail buying expensive and/or hard to source items. Following that are sections on fabrics and ways of designing patterns by hand and on computer (Adobe Photoshop). Then there are the chapters dealing with the various grouped methods for printing, dyeing, and embellishing with an assortment of items and embroidery of many types. Each chapter includes a section with the work of a designer and an interview with them. Personally, I found that this added nothing to the book at all, and the section on Going struck me as a curious add-on for a book dealing with the basics in a number of disparate decoration methods. I was interested to see the staged photographs showing basic ways of doing each method and at the back are lists of useful books to take it further, websites in various countries and a glossary. A useful taster book that lets the reader know what is out there when it comes to decorating fabric.
* Myshelf.com *
Apr 13
Lauris Wisbrun's guide to textile embellishment ranges from the complex to the simple, meaning that advice and inspiration for every level of experience can be found in this title. The beautiful designs and inventive embellishments can be applied to everything from clothes and accessories to curtains and wall hangings, with extensive photographic guides and galleries of images providing inspiration to whet your appetite.
* SEWING WORLD *
Aug/Sept 2014
While more broadly inspirational, gallery-style titles that feature the work of a number of artists can be frustratingly light on practicalities. Herem Laurie Wisbrun blends the best of both approaches, with attractive projects, clear instructions and inspiring ideas for ways to use the techniques. A Hardworking reference guide covers numerous ways to personalise fabrics. Clear step-by-step tutorials take readers from dimensional techniques such as embroidery and applique through to surface patterning and colouring including cyanotype, block and screen printing, soy wax batik, shibori, dyeing and bleaching.
Working with all of the delights of the haberdashery counter, even the sections on features as prosaic as sewing on buttons have something fresh to offer. Interviews with a range of innovative textile professionals cover not only technical aspects of their craft, but also handy hints on turning a hobby into a marketable pursuit.
* Stitch *
