A few weeks ago I asked the question, “What is your favorite art/craft book?” There were lots of great suggestions and I thought I’d compile them into one big list (in several parts) in case you’re a book junkie like I am!
Tales of Adornment by Kristen Robinson
Tales of Adornment will guide you through incorporating resin into your jewelry designs with stunning results. Kristen Robinson shows you, step-by-step, how to use resin in jewelry construction, providing a wide range of options and applications: from floating words to encapsulating objects, and from casting new elements to replicating sea glass.
I had to do a bit of guessing for the next book. A number of people mentioned True Colors by Lynne Perella as one of their faves. I searched and searched the internet and finally determined that this is that book:
From Amazon: “Each artist created a book for her chosen palette, and then all the artists contributed pages for each others’ journals.”
Another Lynne Perella book that got some mentions was Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks.
Creative souls want and need a special place for recording and decoding their interior world—a place to download all their creative ideas, a place to remember the events of the day, or a place to doodle, to draw, and to dream. This book is for all these people—it’s an engaging and intimate glimpse into the personal pages of a wide variety of select artists and journal keepers whose works not only provide visual delight and inspiration but evidence the intensity and devotion that such personal journals invite.
Art + Quilt by Lyric Kinard
Simplifying the basic fundamentals of art and teaching the underlying principles of the visual language, this guide explores texture, shape, line, color, and value with examples and hands-on exercises.
Raw Art Journaling by Quinn McDonald
Raw Art Journaling will teach you how to embrace your art, confront negative self-talk (a.k.a., your gremlin) and make meaning with your words and with your art.
Altered Art Projects by Jill Haglund
Altered art is something that has changed from the original concept, creating something new and different. Projects featured in this book include birdhouses, shadowboxes, framed collages, scrapbook pages and much more.
The Usborne Book of Art Skills (Art Ideas) by Fiona Watt
“I absolutely love this book. I’m an elementary teacher and have recently received art (not to be confused with CRAFT) training. This book is an excellent extension to the training I received as it teaches skills and gives tips on basic art techniques such as drawing lines, practice using different types of brush strokes, experimenting with water colors, and using an entire space (visual perception/placement). While some of the skills/projects presented are definitely for older students (4th grade+), most can be modified for students as young as kindergarten (such as making a bird using cut slices of an apple, which also teaches shapes and fractions!).” – review on Amazon
Someone mentioned any crazy quilting book by Judith Baker Montano. I chose to highlight Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Stitch Tool.
Compact, take-anywhere guide to more than 180 stitches and stitch combinations for hand embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, and crazy quilting
Sew Wild by Alisa Burke — You may recall that I highlighted this book late last year.
Whether you’re already a rule-breaker or you’re looking to improvise, Sew Wild shows you how to create fabric and designs that explode with color, pattern, and soul.
Taking Flight by Kelly Rae Roberts
n Taking Flight, you’ll find overflowing inspiration–complete with a kindred spirit in author and mixed-media artist Kelly Rae Roberts. Join her on a fearless journey into the heart of creativity as you test your wings and learn to find the sacred in the ordinary, honor your memories, speak your truth and wrap yourself in the arms of community.
Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms by Alisa Golden
In as little as an afternoon, beginners will be on their way to folding, gluing, and sewing handmade books in a variety of shapes and styles, from rolled scrolls to Jacobs ladders, folded flexagons to case bindings. Complete with photographs of the authors own master books and statements by more than 40 established book artists, this collection is sure to inspire. Culled from the authors best-selling books Creating Handmade Books, Unique Handmade Books, and Expressive Handmade Books, these projects will fuel bookbinding adventures for years to come.
Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials by Jeannine Stein
Re-Bound is a beautiful book on bookbinding with a fun green twist-all the projects use recycled and upcycled materials.
Eco Books: Inventive Projects from the Recycling Bin by Terry Taylor
40 innovative book-making ideas using recycled and green materials! More than just earth-friendly, they’re also beautiful, clever, and witty, stitched with traditional binding techniques.
The Art of Layers by Ronda Palazzari
With five chapters, Art of Layers will help you build your skills, from various paper techniques, to working with fabric and adding embellishing, stamping, and experimenting with paints, mists and gesso. Accompanying projects show each technique in action and illustrate how they can be used in combination, to develop endless possibilities for an even grander project.
Happy reading and thanks for stopping by! I’ll bring you part two next week!
If you have read any of the books in today’s post, please leave a comment letting us know your opinion on the book!
Hi there from Germany…
I read Artists’ Journals and Sketchbooks about 2 years ago (when I had my leg broken and couldn’t walk and had to sit down and read a lot…) It was the very first time that I heard/read about Art Journaling and I was thrilled! Since then I would say: my life has changed. Because that’s exactly the way I can express myself and cope with difficult situations. And this book made it so easy for me to start with journaling.
It is one of the books I give away a lot to show others…
The other book I read is “Sew wild” – and something very similar happend. All the bounding around “sewing” like pattern, nice stitches… disappeard and I felt FREE! I have so much fun using my sewing machine like Alisa Burke (and some more of her ideas from e-courses…)
“Raw Art Journaling” and “Taking Flight” are GREAT books! I got alot of inspiration from them when I started art journaling earlier this year! Would definitely recommend both, especially to a new journaler!
Great post! I love learning about books from someone who has used them. I have Art of Layers and LOVE it! It is a source of inspiration when I feel stuck, and the projects and photos are clear and do-able. Two thumbs way, way up.
I also love May Flaum’s book (Scrapbook Workshop) in which our dear Julie is a contributor and her bright face is on on the cover.
I have read none of these books, but now plan to do so. What a great resource for both new and seasoned art journalers! Thanks!
UGH!!!!! like my cart at amazon isn’t ALREADY larger than my pocket book i will now be adding a few more! lol!
i have the embroidery and crazy quilt stitch tool book and i LOVE it! not only is it incredibly complete but it is just so well done. it is super easy to follow the instructions, has instructions for both right handed and left handed stitchers AND it is a perfect size – easily tucks into a bag to take with me. it also has some great ideas for combining stitches which i really like – i am a total newbie and need all the help i can get sometimes!
I have Sew Wild and really like that book for untraditional sewing. Raw Art Journal, I haven’t read, but she has a lot of good information on her blog. I have taken a class from her, as well, as learned some helpful info on journaling. I recommend both books.
True Colors is my all time favorite. It is the book that turned me onto art journaling in general, and the joy of collaborative work in particular.
Although I’m not a big fan of Kelly’s style, Taking Flight is full of great ideas and exercises, and provides a start for those times when you stare at a blank page, unsure of what to do.
I just picked True Colors out of my library/stash of art books and am enjoying it all over again. It is a book that I can turn to again and again for inspiration.
Taking Flight and Sew Wild!
I have Art of Layers by Rhonda Palazzari – I have find it to be a great addition to my collection. I have learned a lot how about to use items in my stash such a label stickers as part of a multi-object layer. I highly recommend it plus the layouts and cards are drop dead gorgeous!
As what is on here today I need Sew Wild that looks like a lot of fun!
I devoured Ronda Palazzari’s book “The Art of Layers” in one afternoon! It was FANTASTIC! I became less afraid of trying new techniques and ideas and started taking the plunge with creating. I recommend it as a fabulous “how – to” book for those wanting to jump start their creativity!!
I have both Taking Flight and Sew Wild and love both of them. The others look like great resources as well.
I have Taking Flight by KRR and I love it. It has so many inspiring ideas and a real go to for me.
Having just completed my first book-binding project I am drooling over those titles!
do you need a new fancy machine to be able to do the projects in this book?
i own 3 of these books: taking flight, artist journals & sketchbooks, & true colors. the true colors is a classic fave.it’s possibly inspired me to art journal in the first place. i’ve looked & studied it countless times throughout the years.
Gracias Julie, tengo alguno de los libros de encuadernación y son geniales.
I read Art of Layers by Ronda Palazzari. It’s an awesome book with many creative techniques. I love a book with instructions! Ronda is such a talented artist!
I have read Rebound and Taking FLight. I loved taking flight – I think Kelly is very open and honest int his book and if you are looking for inspiration in your creative life and how to move forward this is ia good read.
I also purchase re-bound but to be honest it is a little complicated if you are a begining book binder like me. I would love to hear others comments on the other book binding book you talk about, ie making handmade books
Julie – if you are taking more recommendations I have 2 books to recommend tht are great for inspiration – not how to books – just books to look at and be inspired!
Carolyne Quartermaine Revealed and Sibella Court – ETC!!
Beautiful books that I look at over and over
I have “Art of Layers” by Ronda…..also love her blog http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com/helpmeronda/ It is a constant source of inspiration. By the list here, I will be exploring Taking Flight & True Colors.
Thank you, Julie from a fellow Julie
II have had True Colors for 8 or 9 years. Every so often I go to it for an entertaining read. So I have probably read it 6 or 7 times. I am keeping your list for reference for future reads
II have had True Colors for 8 or 9 years. Every so often I go to it for an entertaining read. So I have probably read it 6 or 7 times. I am keeping your list for reference for future reads
I have and have read and reread 5 of these books: Sew Wild, Raw Art Journaling, Artist’s Journals & Sketchbooks, True Colors and Making Handmade books. I am still working my way through Making Handmade Books and will go get the Artist’s Journals etc and read again. AND NOW I have some books I haven’t read to go locate and read! Thank you so much for this post.
PS – just checked my shelves and True Colors is missing, must have passed it on…might have to get it again. sheesh.
I recommend ‘Raw art journaling’ to beginning art journalers (if you ‘work in the field’ longer, you will probably know most of the tips and trucs already). I haven’t read any of the other books but am drooling over the bookbinding books now… aaaahhh!
Judith Baker Montano’s. Embroidery & Crazy Quilt Tool stands by easel, and is my go-to book when stitching. It has photos , illustrations, and clear directions for left and right handed stitches for over 180 stitches and stitch combinations. I highly recommend it..
No, the stitching is done by hand!
I have “art of Layers” and it is always nearby. I am still finding new tidbits in it. Very inspiring.
oh my gosh I LOVE True Colors.
I bought it when it first came out and I had just started into the world of scrapbooking/altered books. I was just about to give up on scrapbooking and then I read this book and something just clicked for me. I realized I could scrapbook this way. Lynne Perella became such an inspiration to me. I also and have her Artists Journals and Sketchbooks. lots of good info.
I am a multi-media Art Teacher and own Re-Bound and Making Handmade books and love them both! I am always looking for new ideas to keep my returning students engaged and I found ideas in both of these. The other books you have listed have peaked my interest and are now on my wish list 😉
I’m blushing Julie you are so kind to include me in this lovely list of talent.
Thank you sweet one!
I have Taking Flight and just love it…many great and beautiful ideas and techniques. It is a well read favorite! Now I want all the others on your list!!!
I have ‘altered art projects’. Great pictures and step by step instructions with tons of inspiration! I LOVE this book. Projects are very vintage and beautiful!
I also have ‘Art of Layers’. A great resource guide to different techniques. I was a little disappointed that the techniques were so basic and not so much about layering but using basic supplies from your stash. I was hoping it would talk about the composition of layers and how to achieve a very layered look. But it is still a informative book with great pictures and examples.
I own most of the non quilting books including the usborne book which I bought second hand coz it looked cool. I will be tales of adorn,ent after seeing here and I am thinking about art of layers. I love them all. Any book by alisa golden is worth it. The same goes for Lynne perrella.
True Colors is simply the book that really got me into art. It is amazing. I just had to do what they did in the book. Sounds like you haven’t read it but you MUST. I think it was one of, if not the one, that made this whole altered art movement as big as it is today.
Oh, this is great! Thanks. I couldn’t remember author/artist or the name of her book when you asked for our reads, so I just found it on amazon – it is by Sherrill Kahn and called Creative Embellishments. She has other books, too and they are sooooo mixed media filled, I love that book.
I had heard so much about True Colors that I bought one on Amazon, recently, and I love it. Also, have ALL of Lynn Perella’s book because I am such a fan of her work. I have Re-bound, too, just got it a couple weeks ago. I’m not too sure that would be a book I would recommend. There are couple books on you list that I have been eyeing, maybe I’ll add them to my wish list!
I own copies of 7 of these books:
Artist Journals & Sketchbooks
Altered Art Projects
Sew Wild
Taking Flight
Making Handmade Books
Rebound
Eco Books
I am a total book fanatic myself, and my bookcases look like the art & craft section at the bookstore! I enjoyed all these books, but especially loved the 3 bookmaking titles. I also love Sew Wild and plan to use some of the techniques in the book very soon. Thanks for sharing this topic! I love reading about what other people are reading!
Hi Julie!
I’m a HUGE fan of yours (“Scrapbook Soup”—-and I’m not even a Scrapbooker—-nor do I have a desire to be—-but, I’m a fan of almost anything “artsy / craftsy”), and just found this / your blog, and have been on here, for HOURS!!
Anyway, I just wanted to suggest your becoming an associate (or, whatever it’s called) at Amazon, so that when you post a book or whatever and someone uses your link to buy it, you get paid for it (maybe only a few cents, but still).
Can’t wait to get your DVDs, and a couple of these books!!
Thanks for your sweetness, and extreme talent / creativity!!!
Thanks, Elaine!
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