Customer Reviews

Complete Embellishing: Techniques and Projects

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Very doable projects.Gorgeouse photos and styling to inspire creativity and I was actualy wowed at the re-use ideas.

I actualy pulled out a skirt that still had tags on it-that I decided just didnt suit me-and cut it up,did this adorable bird applique(in about 2hrs!) and I have worn it twice already!That skirt had been sitting in the closet with tags on for a year!

The instructions and diagrams are very clear.I think this book would suit a lot of people,weather new or seasoned sewers/crafters/revampers/embelishers of clothing or new at it.It has a lot to offer.Again.I LOVE the pictures!

Oh AND the hard cover with the spiral bound pages inside was a big plus for me.The pages stay open so I can refer to it while working o my project!

LOVE IT!

Some books are eye-candy and some are How-To manuals. This book really falls in the How-To category, which surprised me because I expected it to be filled with luscious projects that I couldn't wait to duplicate. I had mixed feelings about the featured projects - though there are some lovely embellishments and some good ideas; it is more about the process of embellishment, rather than the end result itself. The style of the projects weren't all to my cup of tea but the way they were changed, enhanced and updated is what makes them interesting. I probably won't run out to recreate most of the projects (though the Lord and Lady Pillowcases and the Victoriana Cardigan are contenders) but I will definitely keep this book for the primer on applique techniques, beading, basic sewing, crochet and embroidery stitches, etc. Tons of useful information even if the final product photographed isn't what you might have chosen for yourself.

For me, that makes this a solid book - not just something to leaf through and keep on the coffee table, but something to use in the craft room, referring to for How-To advice and inspiration.

The market is flooded with a ton of craft books these days, but the projects rarely combine both excellent design and an inspired use of materials. Complete Embellishing really stands out because there are so many projects that tweak ho-hum things, like canvas bags, pillowcases, and sweaters, and transform them into something really special. I immediately wanted to make the Lord and Lady Pillowcases, how can you resist combining silhouettes and felt? Also, the photographs are gorgeous and the instructions are incredibly easy to follow, which is key with craft books. A must for any craft hound!

I just got this new crafting book and I love it! First of all, it is a great-looking book - lots of fab photos of the finished projects and the how-tos, sort of Amy Butler-style - very beautiful. I can't wait to try some of these really creative projects, many of which I don't think I would have been clever enough to have thought of myself or could have figured out how to pull off on my own, but the instructions are so well illustrated and the explanations so clear, I know that I am going to jump back into the crafty fray right away! Kudos to Kayte Terry, our next crafty queen.

I loved MOST of this book. Some of the embellishing ideas in the book are a little outdated or juvenile, but for the most part, it had some good ideas. The tutorials in the beginning of the book were very helpful. I hope there is a follow up book in the future!

Tight budget? Bored with your current wardrobe and home accessories? Just want to stand out from the mall crowd? Creative Embellishing by Kayte Terry was written just for you. It contains "easy techniques and over 25 great projects." The adorable headband on the cover is what really caught my eye what with headbands being all the rage now. It has a very Anthropologie feel to me.

The book starts with tools and techniques and a comprehensive section on sewing basics. This includes a variety of things such as hand-sewing, machine sewing, making pockets, patchwork, embroidery, crochet, felting, fabric printing, and basic appliqué. There are also simple directions for using beads, buttons, and sequins.

The rest of the book is divided into Garments, Accessories, and Home Furnishings. Each project is rated by its difficulty - Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced. There is a complete material list for each one that includes metric as well as standard measurements. The instructions are detailed enough that even the advanced projects are easy to understand and follow.

This book really embraces the DIY culture that is so popular at the moment. Most of the garments and accessories have a romantic feel to them while the 5 or so home furnishings are more modern. There's a youthful vibe to the book as a whole. If you're looking for that little bit extra that makes you unique, look no further. Creative Embellishing can help.

I am very pleased with this book! The projects are unusual and the instructions are simple to follow. It includes a reference section of stitches and skills at the beginning that is helpful as you proceed to the projects.

I haven't actually followed an exact project, which may be what I like most of all! I found a few different ideas that I liked, but wanted something a little different. I combined/tweaked and have been able to remake two old cardigans and a skirt. These instructions give a great outline and inspiration, but you aren't bound to follow them only. I've been inspired by it many different ways, and everyone I've shared it with loves it too!

I have never come across a book with a more appropriate title than Complete Embellishing: Techniques and Projects. Author Kayte Terry of the wondermous blog This is Love Forever and publisher Home Arts hit the nail on the head with the name. No embellishing stone is left unturned as the book covers everything from needle felting & potato stamping to stencils from freezer paper and glass etching. The book discusses techniques for wearables & home décor items. See I told you when they said complete embellishing they were not kidding.

From the moment I started flipping through the pages of Complete Embellishing my heart was going pitter patter. I have a bit of an addiction to craft books. First there was the fact that the book is spiral bound like a cook book, which I totally appreciate. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to follow instructions and hold a book open at the same time. The tools and techniques section of this book is 50 pages long. In most cases that might seem excessive but with Complete Embellishing I found the information indispensable. I can tell already that I will be using this book again and again as a reference while crafting. I was just getting ready to make some appliqué awesomeness happen and well what do ya know there are simple instructions in the book for basic and reverse appliqué. I have spent the weekend embroidering onesies barely conquering a basic split stitch and Complete Embellishing has 5 pages of tutorial for trickier moves like the feather stitch and ribbon embroidery. I'm gonna need more onesies.

Not just a reference book, Complete Embellishing is full of big colorful inspirational project pictures. Some books trying to tap into the DIY handmade market get the look all wrong and since Kayte Terry is a woman of the crafty people (just check out her articles on Get Crafty) she knows the look and aesthetic that appeals to this crowd and scene. In other words this book is chocked full of things I would actually make and wear. My favorite project might have to be the Bits and Pieces Scarf made with a variety of doilies. It reminds me of the Bouquet Light Shade by Nice that I have been eyeballing for quite sometime. A close second is the Rainy Day Skirt. Small print feedsack recycled onto a contrasting hounds tooth skirt was never cuter. Always a sucker for silhouettes I am completely smitten on the Quick Shoe Embellishments and Lord and Lady Pillowcases. Plus you know the way to my heart is through jewelry and there are a few pieces inside!

For people like me that love the look of an embellished wardrobe and home, but don't so much love the sewing machine Complete Embellishing is for you. Don't fret if you are a whiz at the machine, there is plenty inside these spiral bound pages that will curl your crafty toes as well. If a book can make a pregnant woman want to get up off the couch, change out of her pajamas and run to the nearest 24 hour Wal Mart at 10pm to score some fusible webbing you know it has to be good.

I find a lot of the modern craft books to be more style than substance, but this one does a good job of filling both shoes. The projects are fairly simple but creative, and leave room for experimentation and adaptation. These aren't dead end projects. The photographs and layout are lovely, too. If you want to "Anthropologize" your current wardrobe using materials already in your stash, this is a great book to have in your library. The book contains adult/home projects but they are great ideas for making and repurposing kids' apparel too.

Abstract and arty, sophisticated and stylish. Kayte Terry's book showcases a wide variety of embellishing techniques with clear instructions for final results that are really unique and attention getting. I love how this book focuses on beautiful items, not deconstructed, fraying, worn-out looks. I especially enjoyed all of the ideas for using vintage embroidered linens and crochet lace. Strong narrative voice and strong sense of the fashionable in life as well as in clothing.