Customer Reviews

Beautifully Embellished Landscapes: 125 Tips & Techniques to Create Stunning Quilts

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I bought this book because I love to quilt and I collect books about quilting. I never intended to make a landscape quilt, but after I read Joyce Becker's book "Beautifully Embellished Landscapes" I had to try at least one project. The directions are clear cut, well-worded and very understandable. Joyce does a wonderful job of walking the quilter through the entire process; ie: supplies needed, things you might need on hand, substitutes, creative alternatives, etc. When I made my quilt, I was able to look at the whole concept in an entirely different way. I was able to take a picture in my mind, transfer it to paper and then to a pattern. I used fabrics that I would never have thought of using before I read this book. I ended up with an original work of art. It was a lovely scene of a Tuscan villa that I made for my sister's 50th birthday. She was so impressed that she cried. I was amazed that I was able to make a beautiful one of a kind quilt like this and it is due entirely to Joyce Becker's book . I have also bought 2 of her other books, "Luscious Landscapes" and "Nature's Patterns". I highly recommend these books to those interested in something that will help you find your creative center. I did email Joyce with a couple of questions and she was very helpful. I can't wait til she writes another book. These are the best landscape quilting books I have found yet.

I first got into landscape quilting by watching the DVD that was taken from this book. I would highly recommend that as well. The techniques are simple, and very inspiring. There are patterns in the books but I would really recommend you break away from them and just use the techniques to create your own quilt art. That's really what this book is all about. Just getting in there and getting your hands dirty so to speak. The instructions are clear, the pictures very inspiring and there are tons of ideas to get the wheels in your head turning. A beginner could easily do just about anything in here... as long as you aren't afraid of breaking the traditional rules and just trying new things. Unleash your muse! Go for it.

I love to create landscape and portrait quilts from my own photos, and have been exploring ways to make more interesting and realistic water and foliage. I've also recently joined an artist postcard group and was looking for creative embellishment techniques to practice on these little "mini quilts." This book did not disappoint! It's jam packed with creative techniques that help you make your own unique expressions through landscape quilting. Want to make realistic waves? How about trying Angelina fibers ... or guaze ... or even dryer lint! Becker gives you so many great alternatives, with instructions and full color photos of the results. Whether you're a dabbler or a landscape pro, this book will be keep you busy exploring for months to come!

I have always wanted to make a landscape quilt, and this is the book to do it with. It is very detailed and easy to follow, with lots of tips and good photos. I highly recommend it.

This is my favourite book on this subject - heaps of ideas, tips and assistance to inspire me on a landscape quilt. Everything is well set out and clearly explained. Lots of examples to try out too.

One of the strongest aspects of this book -- what sets it apart from many others on landscape quilting -- is the use of work by a variety of artists and quilters. Most of the newer landscape quilting books are filled with excellent and beautiful illustrations, but they are often the work of a single person or, perhaps, two. Few quilters who take the time to write books also range widely in the style of their own work...so including many other quilters gives a variety that is helpful to the designer.
Chapter 9 includes clear instructions to reproduce a number of the quilts in both an "original" and an "easy" version. For those people who feel more comfortable working from a pattern, this is the book for you. Not quite "paint by number," but a reasonable quilting version of that. Since the quilts themselves are quite nice, it will result in something more artsy than craftsy.
Becker gives a number of quick and easy techniques that she has discovered over the years which can add options for one's own quilting, even if you do work quite different in style from hers. I also loved pp. 43-49 which gave some easy patterns for several types of trees...a great jump off point that helps a quilter LOOK at trees as blocks of color and shapes.
Equally helpful are the closeups of Becker at work, showing how a piece sits in the machine and the final product when applied to a quilt.
Perhaps the best part of this book, however, is that the quilts Becker has chosen to showcase are not way out on the cutting edge of design or technique, making it a good book for a novice or someone with less confidence in her or his own design ability. Anything here would fit in most homes -- especially since a large number of quilts are in the 15 inch X 20 inch range (or, at least, under 2 feet square). There are larger quilts, as well, but a good variety of sizes makes this a book for those with small work spaces as well as those with more spacious ones.

I bought this for a friend who has never quilted, but had an idea of a landscape quilt in her head. After reading it, I realized that this is just the right book to start-jump a "newbie" from the starting point to where ever her imagintation will take her. Also, after reading it I am buying another copy for myself. I quilt and do some art quilts also, and this book gave me many wonderful ideas. . Highly recommended [[ASIN:1571203605 Beautifully Embellished Landscapes: 125 Tips & Techniques to Create Stunning Quilts

I am enjoying this book and I want publishers to know that I purchased it because I was able to preview it.
Thanks, L. Shell

Easy to read and full of excellent information for the Landscape Quilting Artist

Using wonderful threads for natural elements, fiber and fabrics for additional depth and perspective, free-motion work with some theme fabrics as well as plain and hand dyed colors to make "want to touch" wall hangings and pictures. A joy to learn and experience. Very well written and great ideas.