Quilting & Crafting  Book Reviews  

Generally, when I review two books on my site, they differ from one another. Occasionally, the two books may present a general topic in common such as gardens, or applique. However, this month, it was irresistible to present both these excellent, comprehensive books about photographic imagery for quilts---together as they have so much in common and do so much helping readers learn how to turn images into quilts. At first I wondered why C&T Publications wanted to publish two such similar titles. Reading the books carefully, cover to cover, provides the answer proving this publisher's usual good judgment. Both authors provide inspiring, well explained details about the image-to-fabric process but each offers a different emphasis---both simply fascinating.

Both books present the all important issues of choosing cameras, printers, copy machines and scanners in the beginning. Though expensive pieces of equipment, these are the tools of the trade if you want to become proficient at transferring images, photos, drawings, flowers, leaves and even more to fabric. Once done, you have innovative, original and personal designs to embellish, embroider, applique and/or quilt.

Author, Cyndy Rymer, explains in details why she prefers to use "All-in-Ones," the name used to describe a multi-use piece of office equipment that can scan, copy, enlarge, reduce, color, (or not) plus is a printer as well...thus, the "all-on-one," term. I cannot live without my own HP All-in-One, but did not know it is valuable even without a computer! Cyndy explains how to feed pretreated fabric sheets into the machine as if it were a sheet of paper. Worried about size limitations? Don't. She also explains how to enlarge and reduce images of fruit, leaves, flowers and memorabilia taking these all the way to poster printing. Cyndy makes it clear how to make maximum use of a scanner every step of the way.

In addition to specially treated fabric, you will learn a great deal about photo-editing software programs such as her own preferred brand, Adobe Photoshop Elements. She even directs her readers on how to download a 30-day free trial version of the program. She also recommends the user-friendly program, Picasa, preloaded and free with all new Vista computers. Cyndy's instructions about how to use the commands in Adobe Photoshop Elements are even easier to follow and understand than those that come with the software itself in print, or online. She takes the mystery out of megapixels, resolution and DPI, something we all need to understand.

Using photo-editing filters, well explained and illustrated, is new information to me and what can be done from turning photos or pictures into marbled designs is nothing short of miraculous. I never understood about "layers" in the different photo programs I have used but Cyndy's definitions and instructions provide wonderful tools for quilters and appliqué  lovers.

The middle section of this book offers instructions for 13 projects from beautiful, floral wreath designs starting with photos of real garden flowers to imaginative ways to use Angelina fibers for lovely, impressionistic landscapes. A gallery of stunning quilts ends this book but not to be missed---the incomparable Gloria Hansen's quilt, "Going in Circles," a truly unbelievable work of art.

Beth Wheeler's book is organized differently with more emphasis on sewing and quilting but sections on altering and preparing photos and images become quilts are also comprehensive. Beth also chooses Adobe Photoshop Elements software so that reading both books, gives the firm impression that this is the ideal software to go from paper images to cloth quilts. She not only explains the use of pretreated fabric but guides readers into treating their fabric themselves, should they want to. Reading the steps involved gives one a healthy respect for the price to buy it!

Using portrait photos of loved ones receives a lot of careful attention in this book and the section on how to achieve kaleidoscopic imagery is marvelous with inspirational instruction on colorization by preparing and adjusting color. Adding words directly over the image such as having a touching message in the center of a rose fascinates.

Beth adds a chapter about "Adding Thread Details," which translates into, [my words] adding realistic detail, shading and texture to images that have been transferred to fabric. The effects are stunning. The back of this book offers easy to make projects featuring altered images on fabric and fabricated into handbags, greeting cards, pillow shams plus a glorious gallery of completed quilts, but wait! There is one more surprise Beth has tucked into the back cover of her book---a CD! It is the trial version of Adobe Photoshop Elements, 5.0. Thanks to Beth's forethought and C&T's, generosity her book leaves us with the opportunity to learn more about the very photo software program that both of this month's talented fiber artists use so well. My question: Will we be able to achieve the same stunning results as Cyndy and Beth?

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