DVD & Book Reviews: Fabric Photo Play by Julia C. Wood & Making Faces with Maria Elkins

I got lots of great feedback on my portrait quilt of my friend John and requests for more information on the subject.

John's quilt is the third quilt I have made using the method described in the book Fabric Photo Play by Julia C Wood.  I am not sure where it is available for purchase now, but I am pretty sure if you contact the author she will be able to direct you.  It is published by AQS and at the time I purchased it, cost $20.

DVD & BOOK REVIEW: BREAKDOWN PRINTING BY CLAIRE BENN & LESLIE MORGAN

In my review about Tray Dyeing, I said that there were other Committed To Cloth publications, more worthy of your money.  Breakdown Printing is it.

Breakdown printing, in its simplest form, is laying colour onto a screen, letting it harden, then removing it onto fabric, using paint, printing paste, discharging agents etc.  If you are just starting out along the surface design route, this would be an excellent first DVD to watch.  Claire takes you through why certain chemicals are used and how to mix them.  When I was making print paste by myself, I could't clearly see how it should look when first mixed and how runny or solid it should be when used.  This DVD clearly shows these sort of things.  The dvd also takes you through preparing your screens and cleaning them up at the end, as well as useful tools.  There are clear demonstrations on how to do the screening and the information and advice are really useful.  I can't wait to get started!

The DVD is available from Committed to Cloth for £14.50 and $25.20 from Dharma.  I recommend this as a really useful resource for your book/DVD library.

DVD REVIEW: TRAY DYEING WITH LESLIE MORGAN & CLAIRE BENN

After my enthusiasm  for Morgan & Benn's book/DVD combo Making Your Mark , I ordered another couple of their publications.

Tray Dyeing is a 44 page book with a 45 minute DVD.  My first feeling having watched the DVD was, is that it?  It really wasn't terribly inspiring.  I think the book is better than the DVD, especially as it contains a few colour recipes, but when it comes down to it, this method does seem a bit of a one trick pony, so there isn't much to tell.

The book costs $25 from Dharma, in the US and £16 direct from Committed to Cloth.  If you have a limited amount of money to spend, they have other publications more worthy of your money.

DVD REVIEW: MAKING YOUR MARK WITH CLAIRE BENN & LESLIE MORGAN

If you want to take up surface design but don't want to buy every book and DVD out there (er, does that sound like me?!), buy Making Your Mark.  Sorry scrap that.  Forget the reasons, just rush to Amazon or Claire and Leslie's website and buy this book.  You won't regret it, not for a single infinitesimal moment,  Yep I love it!