Review
...She has created projects with all beads in tapestry crochet. It is amazing what happens when you add the beads, pure magic! She also added instructions for felting tapestry crochet. Instructions and illustrations are provided for tapestry crochet, with and without beads, using both the right and left-hand. Carol explains gauge, adjusting tension, decreasing, increasing and loading beads onto thread, including the use of a bead spinner. By the way, that is one of my bead spinners in the photo. The paper, print, and photos are high quality, resulting in the projects appearing as if you could reach in and pull them out with your hands...For felting, there is a photo example of a bag before felting and one after felting. The difference is a real surprise. The felting brings a soft muted finish to the bag, whereas when worked without felting, the pattern has more clarity with an exacting appearance. My choice of bags is the "Let's Face It Tote"; the face is abstract and yet you can see the image. At the same time, the negative space can change your view of the face to see only shapes and diagonals lines instead. There are color graphs for each project; and patterns set up with each row/round listed separately instead of all jammed together in a paragraph or two. The hat has a beautiful brim and can be sized to fit any head size when felted. The reversible bead crocheted basket is great for interior design; the side with the beads can be set outside or inside; both sides, with and without beads are beautiful. Carol's baskets will be a real plus to your home. There are large oversized bags to very the small bags, all with unique handle designs; bags with zippers and those with fold-over flaps. You will find more than one bag you want to make. Carol has authored a dynamic, artistic book that you can't do without! I keep all three of her books where I can quickly grab them up and start crocheting. --Beadwrangler, March 2007
Carol Ventura's new book takes the art that she loves so much to a new level. In her first two books, Carol offered important historical information on how tapestry crochet has been practiced across the world, as well as in-depth instruction on creating colorwork patterns and designing your own charts. Because of crochet's tendency to slant, she also created a special template that allows one to make crochet "pictures" that look normal. The new book teaches how to combine tapestry crochet with beads, how to felt your crochet, and how to felt with beads, thus broadening the creative options in several directions. It has a strong how-to section for both right and left-handed crocheters. Carol's designs are inspired by everything from Salvador Dali to native art of Central America. Some of the most beautiful projects are her containers. There are stunning geometric patterns like her beaded Amulet bag, a chevron change purse, a diamond beaded bracelet, and lovely pictorial patterns like the "Let's Face it Tote," and the Breast Cancer Awareness purse. Carol self-publishes all her books and does a particularly fine job: layout, comprehensibility, and photos are all of the highest professional quality. --Crochet Insider, December 2006
With every new book Dr. Ventura outdoes herself! Even if you already own her earlier classics, this latest book will inspire and carefully guide you to incorporate beads in your tapestry crochet projects, or to felt them, or both. If you don t own her other books, or are new to tapestry crochet, all the necessary information is here even for beginners to start from scratch. Separate instructions for lefties are provided. Carol s signature tapestry crochet graph paper is included. There are 16 projects ranging from jewelry to flat bags to bowls and round-bottom bags. They re grouped in color-coded chapters of Rounds, Tubes, Circular Spiral, and Oblong Spiral. For me this format facilitates learning tapestry crochet and choosing my next project. The striking geometric patterns and symbols are enhanced with selective beading for a 3-D effect and sharpened color contrasts. Felting is a creative, fascinating option for tapestry crochet with or without beading. I tried to single out favorite designs and can t, but the Bead Diamond Bracelet makes me look for my hook to get started! A range of yarn weights, fiber types, and hook sizes are used, and it s easy to make substitutions. It's important to point out that this book benefits from being self-published because the author s extensive experience, teaching abilities, and strong vision shine through. --Crochet Guild of America Chain Link, September 2007
About the Author
Carol Ventura holds a PhD in Art, an MA in Ceramics, and an MFA in Printmaking, Papermaking, and Book Arts. A nationally exhibiting artist, teacher, and writer, Carol has taught crochet, basketry, weaving, ceramics, photography, printmaking, jewelry, and art appreciation. Carol is currently the art historian at Tennessee Technological University. Her articles appear in both scholarly journals and popular magazines.
