Customer Reviews

The Art of Fabric Collage: An Easy Introduction to Creative Sewing

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book is one of the most inspiring I have seen in years, and I have bought a lot of books about various aspects of creating art with fabric. The focus is on making wearable art but the techniques work perfectly for wall art as well, and the examples of the author's work are so inspiring that you will want to get started on your own work right away.

One of the best aspects of the book is the clear and do-able explanation of exactly how to make a collage. All too many instruction books gloss over the actual creation of an original piece. This book tells you exactly how to select fabrics, choose motifs, lay them out, fill in with background fabrics, assemble the piece, and finish the edges.

Ever since this book arrived in the mail I have been sitting up late at night cutting up fabrics and playing with motifs. And I have been looking at my curtains and household linens with a speculative gleam in my eye--this method does not limit you to using just quilter's cottons.

In fact, many of the techniques and ideas in the book can carry over to other art forms. I am using her ideas and processes in paper collage as well. All in all, this book is one of the best investments a fiber artist can make.

The Art of Fabric Collage: An Easy Introduction to Creative Sewing is one of those books that can change the way you look at sewing, at fabrics, and at wearable art. She gives clear instructions and never intimidates. It's easy to see that she has taught these techniques to other sewers, as she answers the questions you were about to ask. She talks about fabric collage as being "renegade sewing" instead of the "grown-up sewing" that we learned in home ec. She really sets you free to play and create. I'm hooked; just finishing my first collaged vest, and beginning to plan some more.

A terrific book. The illustrations are beautiful and the pictures of the author's wearable art are inspirational. What I like is that the technique sounds do-able. Even with limited sewing skills, I feel that this is something I can tackle and be creative at. One thing that I liked was that there is so much information in this book. It's not about making one thing. It's about learning techniques you can use in other kinds of sewing. What was really interesting was the section on the elements that make a design work. I haven't seen that before. Just looking at the book is a real treat.

Most of the examples in this book are vests (which I don't typically wear) but if you translate the design concepts into other projects, this book then becomes an inspirational resource.

I have quite a stash of fabrics, both garment & upholstery/drapery pieces...I crazy quilt, but many items in my "stash" include large motifs or motifs on background colors that I don't particularly like. This book has given me the ideas and techniques to use those pieces in more creative ways.

One of the most incredible parts of each example piece the author displays are the LININGS! I'd never thought about embellishing the interior of garments but as a result of this book, I'm planning to do so on a swing-coat I'm about to make (using crazy quilting). What a wonderful way of dealing with the exposed underside of garments that have movement.

And, by the way, unlike one reviewer suggested, I'm not a "surburban housewife" or a friend of the author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have taken pleasure in this book many times and have used many of the techniques. Not only is the book beautiful, with many wonderful pictures, but it is a book that can be used over and over again. The inspirations I have had by looking at the pictures and reading the techniques in this book are not to be believed. Rosemary's concept that there are no mistakes, just new opportunities to be creative, encourages your spirit to roam free and sometimes with reckless abandon. I recommend you get this book and then enjoy the freedom to create your own masterpieces.

Rosemary's designs are stunning in their originality. When I first saw this book, all I could do was study all of the pictures over and over. These garments were just my style, and I almost put the book down, because surely they would be too difficult for a beginning sewer. Then as I started scanning her project guidelines, I was so pleased to see that while her finished garments look quite complex, her techniques are really deceptively uncomplicated and any sewer of any skill level who enjoys art to wear should add this book to their library.
You can be as exuberant and over the top as you like using Rosemary's techniques, or you can go for a more monochromatic look with simpler, fewer shapes, and both looks would be stunning and best of all completely unique to you.
One of the best things I learned using this book was about choosing colors using her design system. Find a fabulous print that you just love and look at the selvedge edge - the printers' registration marks islolate each individual color used to build the print. Use these marks when looking for supplemental fabrics, and you are on your way!

From the time I opened the book I had a hard time putting it down. This is the first book on fabric designing I've read from cover to cover. I loved all of Rosemary's ideas and the way it was presented. At times I felt as though I was in the studio designing with her.

She is truly an artist and a teacher.

It's a beautiful book just to sit and look at, but it also gets the creative juices flowing. Rosemary gives clear,concise directions for techniques that produce beautiful, interesting and unusual results. I've received many compliments on the vests I've made and have thoroughly enjoyed combining my penchant for collage with my love of fabric. When I found out she was teaching a workshop in a town where I used to live, I dropped everything, registered for the class, packed my bags, and drove 1600 miles (over the Rockies in January) to attend. It was great!

This book pushed me into taking a class from Rosemary at Beyond the Surface 2000. As usual, Rosemary has presented a complicated technique in uncomplicated fashion. She is an excellent instructor, author, and artist. A must read for anyone interested in creating outstanding textile art, wearable or not!

Here is a great book for creative quilting techniques. I'm working on my second piece after reading. Although I do not construct garments, the techniques can be used in quilting making.