Book winner!

We had our drawing this evening for the winner of a copy of Martha Sielman's new book, Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits.

Our Commenter #18 is Cathy Permutter!  Cathy, please email me within 3 days and let me know your mailing address.

Congratulations, Cathy!

Book Giveaway: People & Portraits

I just LOVE Martha Sielman's series of art quilt books.  I had already pre-ordered her newest one, "People & Portraits", but then received an extra copy from the publisher for review.  (They needn't worry about my review ... the book is absolutely gorgeous.)

Here's a link to Martha's website.

So now I have an extra copy, and will give it away, FREE to a Commenter.  The winner will be chosen by my Random Number Generator (aka "Fifi").  The drawing will be held this coming Monday, April 8, so please leave me a Comment if you would like this book.

And now for the review ... Well, I'm always impressed with Lark books in general, and with anything put out by Martha Sielman.  The combination of the two makes for a beautiful reading and browsing experience.  The paperback cover is sturdy and the pages are very high quality, so that the pictures (after all, that's what we buy these books for!) are large, sharp and clear.  As far as I can tell from the images of art quilts that I've actually seen in person, the color reproduction is spot-on.

There is a clear Table of Contents that is broken down by artist and by gallery type ... Happiness, Contemplation, Community, Icons, Family and Friends, Work, and Play.  I love being able to compare and contrast the individual works in these categories.  In addition, there is an alphabetical Artist Index, plus 21 well-written profiles of major artists.

Of course, I long for profiles on each of the other 100 artists, but you can only cram so much into a beautifully-produced art book, retail priced at $24.95!  Martha has done a masterful job of selecting the artists, the art, and the photography for this book ... not to mention the writing.  I am a happy owner of this new treasure, and it's definitely a "keeper"!

"Creative Quilting with Beads" - review & giveaway

Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader’s book on quilting with beads is now available in paperback format.  I’ve received a copy for review, and my first comment is that it is beautifully published on high-quality paper and with excellent photography … always my first requirement for any book to earn a place on my bookshelf.

The first part of the book, “The Basics”, truly is a simple, basic overview of tools and supplies, techniques, and even several easy options for hanging an art quilt.  There are no extensive bead-stitching instructions, but the basic techniques shown are well-illustrated and explained.

The second part, “The Projects”, contains 24 fun projects, including several purses, a vintage pillow, an apron, and a soft art-doll.  The rest are art quilts, at various levels from sweet-and-simple to sophisticated-and-striking.  One of the little handbags, by Veronica Hofman Ortega, actually serves as a sampler of beading techniques on the front of the elegant little bag.  There is a convenient “Templates” section in the back, for those who want to follow along with the projects, or you can just use the projects as inspiration.

As a somewhat experienced beader myself, I was most taken with the pieces by Sarah Ann Smith, Larkin Van Horn, and Deborah Boschert, but many of the other pieces would definitely appeal to beginning-to-intermediate beaders, traditional quilters who are looking for a slight twist to add to their work, and those who just want to experiment a bit.

The third section is the “Gallery”, with smaller images of some pretty exciting beaded artwork by other artists, including two of my favorites, Susan Shie and Susan Sorrell.  I have already found a lot of inspiration in these images, and look forward to going back through them again.

There is a nice section at the back (“About the Designers”) which gives background, website, and contact information for the designers who contributed. The actual Index only references “The Basics” section on tools and techniques, and it would have been helpful to have indexed the artists’ names with the page numbers of their artworks here.  This is really the only issue I have with the book, however, and consider it a very nice addition to my bookshelf.

Now, who would like to win a copy of this lovely book?  I want to mix it up a little this time, and have an actual contest instead of just a drawing.  Leave me a Comment with a haiku (5-7-5 syllables) and I will pick a winner.  It can be about art, beads or beading, quilts or sewing, anything that inspires you.  (Don’t worry about not being a poet … I’m not a tough grader!)

Here’s one to start you off:

            Calmly stitching beads.

            Nosy cat jumps in my lap …

            All beads on the floor.

If you’re new to haiku, it’s fun!  Sometimes it’s easier for me to start off with the last line, and build up to it.

Good luck!  I’m looking forward to reading your haiku, and sending this lovely book to the winner.

The Winner of "From Felt to Fabric" is Announced

With the helping hand of my Faithful Little Nugget, FiFi the Wonder Assistant, we have once again used our scientifically proven method of dumping teeny tiny little slips of numbered paper into the cat's food dish (don't get all excited, it's just DRY food, gosh!), and stirring them up very well with a wooden spoon.  FiFi then donned her disposable surgical gloves and drew the winning number.

... drumroll, please ... Contestant #6, "Laura".  Congratulations!  Will you please email me at linda.t.minton@gmail.com with your true identity and mailing address.  If I don't hear from you within 48 hours, another drawing will be held.

Thank you all so much for entering ... I hope to have another drawing soon, so stay tuned!

From Felt to Fabric - book giveaway!

Since I am not a felter, I thought I would provide the publisher's description of the book:

"Acclaimed fiber artist Catherine O'Leary introduces her distinctive, painterly approach to nuno felting with trademark techniques that make the craft easier to master, more creative, and more personal. Her exciting innovation, nuno pre-felts, integrates commercially printed fabric into the process and then uses these patterned pieces as design elements to create artful wearables and accessories. O'Leary explores principles of art and composition, like shape, color, and texture, and offers aspiring feltmakers inspirational projects plus a gallery of works illustrating the wide-ranging possibilities of her method."

All that is just to say that this looks like an easy, vibrant method of creating art-to-wear without the technical process being too complicated.  The instructions look clear and easy to follow, and there are tons of gorgeous pictures for illustration and inspiration.

As I said, I'm not a felter, so I'm giving this brand-new book away.  If you'd like a chance at winning it, just leave me a Comment below, and I'll have a drawing on Monday.  Good luck!

More blogs where you can win THE book!

Check out these two blogs in the next day or two, for more chances to win "Masters: Art Quilts, Vol. 2".

8/19: Cheryl Sleboda:  blog.muppin.com  (sorry, don't know why this URL doesn't appear "live", but just copy-and-paste, and it should take you there.)

8/22: Terri Stegmiller:  http://stegart.blogspot.com

Have fun!

And the winner of the Masters: Art Quilts Vol.2 book is ...

Oh, noooo, you're not going to find out in the first line of the post!  First I have to say how surprised and excited I was to get so many wonderful Comments ... some begging and pleading, some intellectual, some pretty hysterical ... this has been so much fun, I'm definitely going to have to do this again.

Well, after much to-ing and fro-ing, frantic hair-pulling, and indecision (OMG, I couldn't make up my mind!  So many great Comments!), I finally chickened out and the final winner has been decided by the Hand of Fate (with the helping hand of my Faithful Little Nugget, FiFi the Wonder Assistant).  We very scientifically put slips of paper with the numbers of each Commenter into a hat (well, actually it was the cat's food dish, but don't worry, it was relatively clean), and FiFi then drew the winning number.

Which was ... #2 YARNGODDESS!  Please send me your name and address privately, Yarngoddess, and I will see that you receive your book directly from Sterling Publishing.

And now ... MORE GREAT NEWS, which was even a surprise to me.  Sterling actually sent me MORE copies of the book to give away, so FiFi very kindly consented to draw again.. #16 KEVIN B and #43 GAIL MYR, step right up and claim your prizes!  I will mail these books to you myself, so please email me with your mailing information.

(If I don't hear from you within 3 days, I just assume you've already gone out and bought your own copy, and I'll then have to pick another name!)

Well, this was too much fun.  Thank you all for joining in the excitement ... if you didn't win this time, maybe next time!  Stay tuned ...

BOOK GIVEAWAY!

UPDATE, 8-18-11:  My giveaway drawing has now closed, with THREE winners!  Thank you all for participating.  If you didn't win here, you still have a chance at one of the next bloggers on the blog-hop for this beautiful book ... here are the next bloggers on the hop ...

8/19: Cheryl Sleboda: blog.muppin.com
8/22: Terri Stegmiller: http://stegart.blogspot.com
8/23: Stephanie Forsyth: thefibernation.blogspot.com
8/24: Janice Paine Dawes: http://thedistoriatedquilter.com/
8/25 Karen Stiehl Osborn: http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com
8/26: Kathy Loomis: artwithaneedle.blogspot.com
8/29: Diane Lochala http://dianedoodles.blogspot.com  
8/30: Sue Bleiweiss: http://www.suebleiweiss.com/blog
8/31: Gerrie Congdon: gericondesigns.com/weblog
9/1: Marilyn Wall: http://www.marilynhwall.blogspot.com
9/2: Laura Wasilowski: http://artfabrik.blogspot.com
9/6: Sherryl Buchler: http://skb2000.blogspot.com
9/7: Cheryl Lynch: http://www.CherylLynchQuilts.blogspot.com
9/8 Deborah Boschert: http://DeborahsJournal.blogspot.com
9/9: Brenda Gael Smith: http://serendipitypatchwork.com.au/

Good luck, and have FUN!
-------------------------------------------
8-15-11
I feel so lucky to have received this gorgeous book for review from Sterling Publishing (via Lark Crafts), and want to share the wealth.  Please see my review in my previous post of August 2, and if you would like to receive a copy, just leave me a scintillating, exciting, amusing, pathetic, intellectual, or downright begging  Comment, and maybe you will get lucky!

The Giveaway will be held at the end of the day, Wednesday, August 18.  Please be sure that your Comment is not "Anonymous", so that I can reach you to let you know that you won, or else be sure to check back here on August 19.  I will be traveling on the 19-20th, but will be checking the blog and emails.  If you win, your copy will be shipped to you directly from Sterling Publishing.  Good luck!  I can promise that you will LOVE this book!