Book Review: Precut Patchwork Party: Projects to Sew and Craft with Fabric Strips, Squares and Fat Quarters by Elaine Schmidt

   I love that the new book "Precut Patchwork Party: Projects to Sew and Craft with Fabric Strips, Squares, and Fat Quarters" by Elaine Schmidt utilizes the often overlooked gorgeous precut fabric squares and shows the reader how to use them to make fun and easy projects in a short time frame. What is even more exciting is that this book inspires me to cut old shirts into useable strips that I can apply to projects to upcycle old fabric into something useful. 
     These days, the selection of beautiful fabric patterns that are available in precut fabric squares is amazing. However, I do not have time to make a quilt. Thankfully this book shows the reader how to utilize some of those squares and make them into useful home décor and gift items. Most of the projects can be done in an afternoon, which is about all the time I can spend on a project with my schedule. Here is a list of the projects offered in this cute book:

Home Decor Projects

• Reversible table runner
• Mix and Match placemats, napkins and napkin rings
• Patchwork Table Topper
• Director's chair cover
• Modern patchwork pillow and lampshade
• Window valence and pillows
• Modular headboard and accent pillows
• Tea cozy, trivet, and tea towel,

Accessories, Weables, and Gifts

• Pretty pleated purse
• Reversible tote and clutch bag
• Hobo bag
• Easy, breezy little girl's dress
• Roll and ruffle skirt
• Snuggle Blanket and soft blocks
• Duffle bag and pillowcase
• Bargello Yoga mat bag
• Tisket tasket fabric basket
• Mommy and me aprons, pot holder and oven mitt

    The author, Elaine Schmidt, explains the difference between fat quarters, strips, squares and fat eighths to the reader, as well as how to prepare for sewing. There is also a section on sewing supplies. I really like the way the author kept this section simple.
    There is also a general techniques section that has some great photo's which offer a visual of the various techniques. I especially liked the explanation on how to make box pleats, it was simple and straight to the point. The author made the directions for this are simple and easy to follow, even for a beginner level sewer.

    Precut Patchwork Party: Projects to Sew and Craft with Fabric Strips, Squares and Fat Quarters includes projects that will appeal to a variety of different level sewers. I think that advance sewers would already know a lot of the techniques in the book but might enjoy the fun projects. It is really a matter of what a person is looking for in a project. 

     My daughter, who is a beginner sewer, loved the rosette project. It is a great way to use those left over pieces of fabric.  It would also be a great project for use with recycled fabric from old clothing.

    As you can see it is a simple project that can be completed in less than a half hour with minimal hand sewing skills. Some of the other projects are a little more complicated and I would recommend working with your child if they want to make them. 
    This book also includes a few patterns. There is a pattern for the "roll and ruffle skirt", the pot holders, the duffle bag and the pillow case.  Most of the projects are made from squares or strips, so you do not really need a pattern since the directions are so straight forward and easy to follow. 
Another great example of how is the directions are, is the tea cozy project, where all you need to do is measure the tea cozy and use pre-measured strips of fabric to sew it together.  It is a project that is easily completed in an afternoon.  I really enjoyed reading this book.  The book has a lot of straight sewing and beginner level techniques which provides a nice foundation for my daughter and I to do some of the projects together. There is also a very cute "pretty pleated purse" project that I am hoping to find time to make. That one will take an afternoon.
     I would recommend "Precut Patchwork Party" to any beginner level sewer who wants to be able to complete a cute project within a short time span. 


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One Zentangle A Day by Beckah Krahula : Recycled Puzzle Project and Book Review

 "One Zentangle A Day: A 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun (One A Day) by Beckah Krahula (certfied Zentangle instructor) is a helpful and fun zentangle book for those seeking to be introduced to zentangle.  My daughter made the recycled puzzle piece wall decoration below using the concepts from this book.

Recycled Puzzle Zentangle Wall Decoration

    A few months ago,  I had the pleasure of attending a presentation given by Beckah Krahula at the "Craft & Hobby Association 2013" show in Anaheim, California.  She was demonstrating some of the various patterns that she teaches in her new book "One Zentangle a Day"

One Zentangle A Day by Beckah Krahula

      Beckah Krahula, CZT, is a mixed media artist, published writer, product designer, and so much

more.  She has taught students both nationally and internationally.  In 2008, She began doing Zentangle and was certified as a Zentangle teacher in 2011.

She has a relaxed style of teaching and encourages her students to think outside of the box.  In her class session at the Winter CHA 2013 show, we learned to do a few of the Zentangle patterns from her book.  Below is a quick view of her demonstrating the Keeko pattern for the students.



   Beckah Krahula also stresses that it is the process that is important.  For some, doing Zentangle can be a form of meditation because you are practicing focus and meditation through the process of drawing repetitive lines.  These marks are called a tangles and can incorporate different techniques.  Such as drawing circles, straight lines, etc.  She talks about the originators of the Zentangle art form, Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas.
    One of the interesting things about her book is the way it is organized it.  It is an easy read and written so that the reader can read it in short intervals.  Each chapter is further broken down into a series of one lesson formats that covers subject matters like "tools, patterns (tonal values), and more."  If you have only a small amount of time to devote to learning a new art form, then this book is for you.  The picture below features only a small portion of the step by step pics of three of the many patterns that are taught in her new book.

Sample Patterns from "One Zentangle A Day".

My daughter wanted to try out some of the patterns, so we raided her babysitting kit and found an old plastic foam dollar store puzzle.  She decided to recycle the puzzle and give a new life as wall art by using the back side to draw the zentagle patterns.

       She painted the puzzle with a single coat of white acrylic paint to make the surface a little less porous. (Note: you may need to do more depending on the acrylic paint you use.)
      Then she took the individual puzzle pieces and using a permanent marker, she drew a different pattern on each piece.

Recycled Puzzle with Zentangle Pattern drawn on.

Once that was done, she re-assembled the puzzle.  The fun part for her is that she can change the way the final piece looks just by changing where she connects the puzzle piece.

Zentangle Recycled Puzzle Project

Since it is foam, it is very easy for her to hang on the wall by piercing it with a couple of holes and stringing some cotton twine through it.
        As you can see, the Zentangle piece is created by using repeated patterns, a process that is actually a very relaxing process. The book starts with simple patterns and builds from there.  Throughout the book, the reader is encouraged to play with water color, pencils, inks, and other materials that take the process just one step further.  The book includes a short inspiration gallery that features work from other artists.  It is an excellent resource for anyone who likes to doodle. I recommend it for kids and teens, as a fun way to teach them patterns.  The meditative value of the process is very helpful for anyone who needs a different way to meditate and be creative.
    The reader really can learn a lot about the process by following the recommended the six week format.  Reading the book is like taking a workshop for a much smaller investment. Beckah covers a lot of information in this book.   If you follow all the lessons you will get more than your money's worth with this book.  I found that the process is a wonderful way to quiet my mind and just focus on the moment while creating one of these cool tiles.
    Also, if you prefer working with a kit, the publishers released a Tangle Art: A Meditative Drawing Kit by Beckah Krahula.  Tangle Art  A Meditative Drawing Kit  includes: a full-color, 40-page instructional booklet containing beautiful art samples and techniques ((with 8 blank sketchbook pages to practice your drawing), drawing pens in two sizes, and a pencil and eraser.  The new kit Tangle Art can be pre-ordered on Amazon.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. I am not employed or associated with Zentangle or Beckah. I just love her books. I paid for all my purchases with my own funds.  Also the links listed in this review may pay me a penny or two.  You do not need to use my links, and can do a google search to find the book or kit somewhere near you.

Book Review: Art Lab For Little Kids by Susan Schwake

 Art Lab for Little Kids by Susan Schwake is a great resource for home schooling parents who are looking for art book they can use to explore age appropriate art techniques for their preschool aged children.

·      The 52 Labs from Art Lab for Little Kids (Lab Series) are created to stand-alone and are accessible by readers of all ages who work with young children.  This is a technique-based book that offers 52 opportunities to learn different techniques using a variety of materials. Because of this, parents don’t have to worry about their children being exposed to age inappropriate material or nudity. If you go to Amazon, you can see the table of contents for this book.
    

    Also, even if you don’t have an art background this book is great for parents who want to encourage their young children to explores different areas in art like: collage, drawing, mixed media, painting, paper art, pastels, and even print making.   The book has great photos of what the finished projects might look like (see above), the emphasis being on each child creating their own masterpiece rather than reproducing the author’s work.  Since the author wants to inspire creativity, there are enough step-by-step photo to get an idea of the process without going to the extreme like you might find other craft books.  Each lab gives some background information on the artist who inspired the lab. 
    

    This is a wonderful way to inspire creativity in young children and encourage them to express themselves through art. Once the lab is mastered, you can work beyond it. 
        It is also a wonderful way to incorporate recycling with kid friendly crafting projects.  My daughter wanted to find a way to use up some of the brown paper bags we get when we go the farmers market.  The bags vary in size but they are all blank. She also wanted to create a project she could do with a four year old she babysits.  
        We took ideas and inspirations from Lab 44 (Torn paper collage) and combined it with Lab 43 (Sewing Cards) and Lab 32 (Fabric Collage) to create a "Father's Day" gift bag from a recycled brown bag.  These labs gave her inspiration to combine color, lines, patterns and squares for her project. Then she reviewed some of the basic techniques for coloring so she could come up with her project using the materials she had on hand which were markers. 
        The book helped her figure out how to create the project and how to teach it to a young child.  The author makes it easy to importance of keeping projects simple and manageable when working with young children.

   Recycled Brown Bag Father's Day Gift Bag project:
    
   Supplies needed:
   Brown Bag (we used bags from the Farmers Market)
   Paint or markers
   Hole Punch
   Ribbon
I  Iron
   
    Step 1: Iron out the brown bag to remove creases.
    Step 2: Plan out your design and color it in with paints or markers. She choose to add some patterning on top of the colors to make it look more interesting for the 4 year old.

    Step 4: Help the child write "Dad" or personalize it with a name. I find teaching round letters is easier for little ones to learn.  Don't be tempted to personalize it for them.  Let them practice their writing skills.
    Step 5: Punch holes into the top of the bag so there are holes to weave in the ribbon. Once the gift is in the bag, just help the child weave the ribbon into the bag.  Depending on the age of the child, you may want tie it off with a decoration or take this opportunity to practice tying a simple bow.
    

    This book has a large selection of ideas and projects that are easy to follow. It also offers an accessible list of materials that are easy to find and affordable.  The author provides hints on how to make it easier for parents to be more organized when doing art projects and minimize potential accidents.  I like the fact that the author does not talk down to the reader, like other books do. She also offers some great additional ideas for the parent to try beyond the projects in the book. 

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