Staff Pick
Textile designer Lena Corwin has mastered the "so cute it makes you want to squeal" aesthetic, and thanks to the detailed instructions and full-color, step-by-step photographs in her debut book, Printing by Hand, you can too. This helpful guide covers the basics of printing, as well as the nuts and bolts of the author's three favorite methods: stamping, stenciling, and screen printing. In true Corwin style, the accompanying projects are, well... (squeal).
Note: Fans of Corwin's style might also enjoy Lotta Prints by self-taught Scandinavian designer Lotta Jansdotter. Recommended By Tove H., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Handmade cloth items always have a story, and many of us spend our lives hunting and gathering precious pieces and scraps to add that final touch of life to a special room or outfit. Cloth is an inspirational guide to the beauty, history, and utility of natural textiles. Woven throughout the five main sectionscotton, wool, silk, linen, and hideare more than 30 breathtaking sewing projects that make the most of each textiles properties, including waxed-cotton purses, Liberty-print cushions, silk scarves, linen bedcovers, and leather journals. With a guide full of invaluable information on where to buy antique fabrics and organic and well-sourced cloth, plus a toolkit of essential instructions on hand-dyeing fabric, Cloth is both a resource and an opportunity to create practical, precious, and personal items for mindful living.
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“The photographs in the book are beautiful.”
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“I am in love . . . This is a beautiful book. It was a visual pleasure to look through . . . and, easy to imagine that I could and, more importantly, would make the projects Ellis offers.”
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“Cloth is thoughtfully written and beautifully photographed. This would be a hard book to keep stashed in your studio. It could just as easily own a space on your coffee table, where you could share with your guests your affection for textiles.”
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“This exploration of the history and beauty of fabric is a unique addition to sewing collections, and savvy sewists will enjoy the challenging proposals.”
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“This book is truly beautiful. It is beautiful enough to get someone who knows nothing about sewing to learn to sew.”
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“Cloth is an inspirational guide to the beauty, history, and utility of natural textiles. Woven throughout the five main sections—cotton, wool, silk, linen, and hide—are more than 30 breathtaking sewing projects that make the most of each textile’s properties.”
Review
“Lavishly illustrated and full of practical tips, Cloth embodies the William Morris aesthetic by which Ellis lives: like the objects in its pages, it is both beautiful and useful.”
Review
“Artisan projects sewn from linen, cotton, silk, wool, and hide capture a modern tastemaker’s interpretation of traditional sewing endeavors.”
Review
In Stamp Stencil Paint, Anna Joyce makes the traditional hand-printing techniques we grew up with feel fresh and modern again. Her love of color and pattern is inspiring and makes me want to stop what Iand#39;m doing and start a project!
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As someone whoandrsquo;s always trying new printing and painting techniques, Iandrsquo;m thrilled to have Stamp Stencil Paint in my hands. This book is a gold mine of totally fresh projects that appeal to my passion for pattern and color without compromising ease and budget.
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Anna Joyce leads you through simple (yet not basic) projects so effortlessly, youand#39;ll feel like youand#39;re making something beautiful with your best friend on a sunny afternoon.
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The true beauty of this book can be found in the easy-to-understand instructions and incredible photography. Beginners will feel confident trying these projects and seasoned pros will find fresh new ideas. Gotta go! Need to stencil my walls now!
Synopsis
It s the natural inconsistenciesthe accidental differences between one finished piece and anotherthat make hand-printed fabrics, papers, furniture, and works of art so interesting. The quirks are what show the maker s intimate involvement in the process, and it s that unique quality that first attracted textile designer and illustrator Lena Corwin to hand-printing.
Even though decorative prints are more in vogue than ever, there was until now no up-to-date hand-printing guideno single source explaining the tools and materials that are used today, or reflecting a contemporary aesthetic. Corwin has given us that guide.
Using step-by-step instructions and up-close photos, Corwin teaches crafters everything they need to know to master stamping, stenciling, and screen printing, from making their own printing devices to trouble-shooting when plans go awry. Her inimitable collection of projects ranges from stamped stationery and simple-to-sew pouches, to stenciled tote bags and furniture, to screen-printed bed linens and upholstery fabric. There s even a silk-screened dog bed. The author has created original artwork for each project (full-size patterns are included in an envelope at the back of the book), so that every crafter can achieve the same beautiful results. Or maybe not quite the same. Remember: It s the subtle differences that make hand-printing so special and alluring.
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Synopsis
Textile artist Anna Joyceandrsquo;s design process is intuitive, relaxed, and rooted in the belief that we should live with color and pattern every day. Inspired by vintage fabric, folk art, shapes in nature, and exciting new color combinations, Joyceandrsquo;s distinctive projects showcase the beauty of the unexpected and the mark of the artistandrsquo;s hand. In
Stamp Stencil Paint, Joyce shares her signature hand-printing techniques and infectious enthusiasm for adding patterns to ready-made surfaces such as fabric, ceramics, paper, leather, furniture, walls, and more. Following beautiful step-by-step photography, crafters learn new, easy skills to stamp, stencil, and hand-paint wonderful projects for their homes, wardrobes, families, and friends.
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About the Author
Lena Corwin is a textile designer and illustrator based in Brooklyn. Among her clients are Marithand#233; + Franand#231;ois Girbaud, Calvin Klein, Jill Stuart, and Elle Decor magazine. She also illustrated Stewart, Tabori and Changand#8217;s Kids Crochet and Kids Weaving.
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Thayer Allyson Gowdy is a San Franciscoand#150;based photographer whose work has appeared in magazines such as Real Simple, Health, and Country Living, as well as Stewart, Tabori and Changand#8217;s Knitting Nature and Knitting Lingerie Style.