My sewing passions are machine programmed, digitized and free motion embroidery, quilting,(primarily art quilts, crazy quilts) hand embroidery, fabric dying, heirloom sewing, dollmaking, beading and wearable art.

Since I have a major weakness for books, I now have 6 bookcases full of sewing related texts just in case at 2AM I feel the need to take up Kumihimo (yes, I do own the book and the supplies).  I'd like to share some of my favorites with you, so I thought a book review column would be fun.  To make this interesting, (actually I thought maybe I missed something) I'd like to hear your book reviews too.  So here's a form for you to submit a review of your favorite book.

To say I am excited by this book would be an understatement.  It's my very first book.  My co-author, Ann Poe, has written several books, but this is my maiden voyage.  Getting Ready for Baby has 50 quick and easy projects including everything needed for Baby from the layette and nursery to the christening gown and even Grandmother's baby guest room.  We tried to think of every necessity Baby needs for the first years.

The projects in this book are easy-to-sew.  It will help if you sew a little, but you don't need a lot of experience.  If you can turn on your sewing machine and sew a straight line, this book is for you.

Annemieke Mein is an incredible fiber artist.  Her textile works are extraordinary masterpieces depicting nature.  She faithfully reproduces her subject matter in a variety of materials using techniques including hand and machine embroidery, applique, quilting, trapunto, felting and beading.   This beautiful hardcover book includes full color photos throughout with great close up pictures showing great detail.

I remember buying this book in 1992.  It was originally published in Australia and not widely distributed in the U.S.  I ordered it at the Quilt Market in Houston and waited for six weeks for its arrival.  This book was worth the wait.  Now you can get it in 2-3 days.  What a treasure!
 

Although I own all of Judith’s books, this one is my favorite.  I do a lot of crazy quilting and silk ribbon embroidery, and I find this book to be a great source of inspiration and an excellent stitch reference.

This beautiful little book is a hardcover spiral bound design that allows it to lie flat while you’re working.  It includes wonderful color pictures and great drawings of each stitch.  I keep it in my silk ribbon embroidery basket so it is always handy while I’m stitching.
 

Recently a friend and I dyed over 200 yards of fabric to get ready for a Nancy Crow workshop at Quilt Surface Design in Columbus, Ohio.  We set up all our supplies and dyed on a ping-pong table set up in the garage.  For 5 days we were in heaven.  Our families thought we were nuts.

Ann Johnston’s book provided all the information we needed to quickly and efficiently dye mass quantities of fabric, socks, shirts and anything else we could find.  This little hardcover, spiral bound book is an provides an encyclopedia of information on quick and easy, serendipitous dying techniques that will enable you to produce spectacular, one-of-a-kind fabrics that will make your friends green with envy.
 

Ellen can draw with her sewing machine better than most people using a pencil and paper.  Her enchanting, magical creatures spring to life on wonderful quilted wall tapestries.  She shares her knowledge of threads, materials and techniques used to create her art quilts.  I’ve taken several classes with Ellen, and she is very giving in the information she presents.  The book is beautiful and the next best thing to being there.
 

This book is a ticket to the most glorious quilt show you’ve ever seen.  The massive 303-page
book is filled with full color quilts on every page.  Many of the quilts have not been previously
exhibited. 

The Art Quilt is a definitive work covering the development of the quilt as art over the last 25
years.  A retrospective including more than 200 art quilters and their work, it provides insight
into the artists and their influences.  The book covers the history, materials and methods used to
create art quilts. 

There is inspiration on every page.  It is a dazzling collection of quilts and historical information
covering the evolution of the quilt from the bed to the gallery.  It is the ultimate coffee table
book.  That’s where I keep mine so I can browse through it regularly.  If you love original,
non-traditional quilts, or if you salivate over the quilts in Visions and Quilt National you will
want to add this book to your library. 
 

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An accomplished teacher writes this book.  dj Bennett is a pioneer in the field of free motion machine embroidery.  The Machine Embroidery Handbook is a college course in that medium. 

Covering everything from color theory and composition to surface design and polymer clay, the author presents detailed instructions for each new technique including close up photos of her work illustrating the techniques.  Then she suggests samplers for you to practice them.  If you follow the text and complete the samplers, you will have an arsenal of knowledge to bring to your own original free motion machine embroidery.

If you only have one book in your machine embroidery technique library, this is the book.  If you ever thought that machine embroidery looked like something you wanted to try, this is the book.  If your are looking for inspiration or new directions in your own free motion machine embroidery work, this is the book.

This book is a recent addition to the field of books on traditional hand embroidery.  It is 191 pages of embroidery information presented in a logical and efficient manner.

The actual embroidery stitches are broken down and categorized beginning with the 10 basic stitches.  Then the stitches are grouped into six stitch families based on the 10 basic stitches.  There are large color illustrations and photos of actual samples for each stitch.

In addition to actual embroidery stitches and projects, the book includes information on ribbon embroidery, embellishment techniques, monogramming and, of course, the materials, design sources and basic information to get started.  Projects and instructions are included for all the stitches presented.  The book is filled with wonderful drawings and beautiful color photos leaving you inspired to pick up the needle.