Wednesday, September 17, 2008

printing by hand

I think book week may be jinxed. Already on day two I fell off the book wagon. I have excuses, but excuses are boring. So here we go!

First of all, I stand corrected: "Zakka" means "household goods." Which goes to show that I should never write about a book when I'm in one location and the book is in another. Pardon me. And my thanks to the kind person who commented and then disappeared. You were correct; where did you go?


So have you seen this book yet? And are you familiar with Lena Corwin's work? She was writing for Bluelines, the now-defunct blog of the (also defunct) Blueprint magazine. And she's a blogger in her own right, too.

Well, Lena is a very talented textile artist and illustrator and the author of this recently published book. I haven't seen any other books like this before; in fact, the last good printmaking book I read was a college textbook (which was considerably less attractive and didn't have the great projects included, either). Lena's book covers stamping, stenciling, and screen printing, and the projects themselves are contemporary and inspiring. While some of the projects involve printing on paper, walls, and furniture, quite a few of them use fabric. Which, of course, makes me so happy.


Lena's work has a wonderful and unique style. The projects are varied, and they're presented beautifully. And envelope at the back of the book includes patterns for all of the designs (and there are a lot of them!), but you could easily make your own designs using Lena's techniques, if you're so inclined.

As an added bonus, my dear friend Brooke designed the book itself. Everything Brooke touches turns out perfectly (in my personal opinion--after all, Brooke does the visuals for Oliver + S, so I'm not biased in any way), and this book is no exception. The styling and photography are outstanding, and the page layouts are really clean and attractive.


See what I mean?


I dug out the dog fabric for this shot. This is vintage fabric purchased from Brooklyn General a while ago. Love dachshunds. Love dachshunds printed on fabric. Must print my own dachshunds on fabric one of these days. Can't wait to try Lena's techniques for it.

By chance, I ended up with two copies of this book. Actually, I purchased one while on vacation because I couldn't wait until I got home to read it, it's that good. So I have one to give away. Leave a comment of any sort, and The Great Dr. S and I will do a drawing in a few days. Just for fun. And because we like you.

Here's to book week. May it and the stock market settle down soon.

77 comments:

  1. I'm loving your books so far -- don't worry about falling off the wagon. :) Such a generous giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love that dog fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have always wanted to get into printmaking. From what you've shown the book looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  4. wow, looks great, it's nice reading a book like that that has great visuals- inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you for sharing with us. I would love a chance to win the book.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12:56 AM

    Thank you, what a lovely giveaway! I recently had my first try at printing on fabric - it was loads of fun.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I foresee a world of printing in my future.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What I need - another thing for my ccrafty to do list. Why not? This book looks like it could actually spur me on to completion.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've been looking at printmaking lately and trying to decide on a book...thanks for the wonderful suggestion. I love book week!! It just keeps getting better and better.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Whoa! Have a drawing and the lurkers come out! hehehee - Love your book week!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Both of those dachshund fabrics are SO FABULOUS! I must have that book (In other words, "Pick me, pick me!").

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love that fabric! I've had my eye on this book since it came out...it looks fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous7:21 AM

    I already checked out this book from our local library and it's really great. More inspiring than Lotta's book, I think. Lotta's book makes me think, oh handprinting seems like fun, while Lena's book makes me think , yes I can do this!
    I hope I win the book!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous7:40 AM

    What fun. I'm not sure that I would ever try printing fabric myself. But the process certainly is interesting.

    I always love your book weeks.

    ReplyDelete
  15. yipee!
    what a great looking book. throw my name in the hat :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oooh. I've this one on my "must read" list for awhile. You have such a terrific collection of books!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks like a whole lot of fun! Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your book weeks always make my bank account smaller. I think you were the one who posted about the Alabama Stitch Book. Ya. That set me back a little. But totally worth it. Everyone is getting an Alabama Xmas this year. :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love reading your blog! Thanks for sharing the book with all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous8:26 AM

    Thanks for the chance to win one!

    ReplyDelete
  21. enjoy the blog and hope I win!

    patty

    ReplyDelete
  22. That book looks lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  23. This books looks wonderful. It may even inspire me to make a dog bed for my mini dachshund.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for your review! I saw the book at Barnes and Noble, and it looked pretty good to me, but it is helpful to have an "expert" opinion!

    ReplyDelete
  25. oooh. what a pretty book. would love to win it. and try it out.

    ReplyDelete
  26. oh I'd love to win this book!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Ooh! I love the dachsunds too! My dad and his girlfriend have one, therefore I have a brother named Ross Weiner. I might have to blatantly copy that freezer paper stencil style for a Christmas present.

    ReplyDelete
  28. That dog fabric is SO cute, and I'm not even a huge dachshund fan. (MAN dachshund is hard to spell!)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous10:55 AM

    The book is fabulous! I would love to own it and return the library's copy. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Woohoo! You've inspired me to, um, go to Brooklyn General for some shopping. Actually, I think I put this book on our wedding registry--another thing to confuse our friends & family--but no takers so far. I think the most confusing part is that I'm the "artsy crafty" person in the house, where really I'm sure my husband is the one who'll use this book more.

    ReplyDelete
  31. i'll add my name to the contest! i've looked at this book many times online.

    ReplyDelete
  32. looks fantastic, i'll have to add it to my wishlist. thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Don't worry about falling off the wagon, but please keep sharing the book love. I always want to go to the bookstore after your book posts.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous12:19 PM

    That looks like a truly awesome book. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Just what I need - another creative idea for working with fabric! But the book looks great. Thanks for introducing us to all of your great finds!

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a great looking book!

    I use commercially available fabrics for my baby shoes (or reclaimed fabrics), but this review just gave me so many ideas!

    If I don't win it, I'll have to buy it!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I recently fell of the book wagon too. I couldn't decide between this book and the Alabama Stitch book. I went with the Alabama Stitch Book, and put this one on my "to buy" list ;)

    ReplyDelete
  38. i've had my eye on this book but have, thus far, resisted the temptation to delve into more projects. but if i won it... well that would be a different story!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I would love this book (it is currently in my Amazon wish list). It seems like a great start for doing your own printing! I also added the zakka book too to my wish list after seeing your post! Keep up the book week. So awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  40. The book looks great! Thanks for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  41. the book looks really cool, I love her creativity and help in sharing it with the rest of us. Thanks for your generosity.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I'd love a chance at winning the book. It is on my list of books to get...maybe I'll get this one!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love book week! Is it wrong to want to make a bed for a dog that I don't even have yet? :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Ohhh this book would be perfect to use with the alabama stitch book!!
    Don't you just love natalie?!

    What a great giveaway!

    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  45. THanks for continuing book week. So many books and projects, so little time...

    ReplyDelete
  46. I've been thinking about buying this book, actually, but have resisted thus far out of fear of adding more things to my endless craft to-do list. But how could I resist this?

    Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. Note to self: Must make dog bed fabric and then dog bed for my Black Lab, Reuben. My copy is on backorder, so I would loooove to get my hands on this book and then giveaway when it's my time.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I wonder if this would inspire more advanced fabric printing in me than the primitive potato print onsies. =)

    ReplyDelete
  49. I've been seeing this book around the blogs a lot lately and I must say, it looks amazing. Love that dachshund fabric too, must try some fabric stencil printing...

    ReplyDelete
  50. i have been trying to decide on a book like this to buy. lotta jansdotter's looks interesting too. but maybe this one has more variety? hmmm. . . decisions decisions. maybe i should get both? win one here ; ) buy one of amazon. . .

    ReplyDelete
  51. yay for giveaways :)

    ReplyDelete
  52. I have been so keenly interested in screenprinting lately and it sounds like this would be the perfect book to learn more about it and give it a go.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I've read very nice things about this book and am very intrigued by it.
    I'll cross my fingers and see what happens

    ReplyDelete
  54. Anonymous10:14 PM

    I've been dying to get my hands on this book!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I've been curious about this one! I would love to hear what you think about Lotta J.'s book in a future book week too!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Anonymous11:07 PM

    See how many people are inspired by you? (not just those of us who have the pleasure of knowing you "in person") =)

    please add my name to the list. I've recently re-discovered knitting and would love to discover a new love...I already love stamping (also, put on hold since child #2...) but since the kids are getting older (and love to craft- YEAH!!!) we are digging into my trove of supplies together an rediscovering together.

    Since we are all talking books, have you seen Knitting Never Felt Better : The Definitive Guide to Fabulous Felting by Nicky Epstein? Very inspiring and beautiful- I already have a knitting/felting project lined up next, as soon as I finish a sweater for my son. Have to finish this before he outgrows it, like last one. =) If only we still had our Knitting Circle...

    Keri

    ReplyDelete
  57. I have been lurking around here for a while, guess it is time to become more involved ;)
    I have been checking out both the "Zakka" and the printmaking book. Loved both. But since I was looking for a book on how to make books, I showed strength and resisted... Can't wait what you will show us next.
    By the way, I had a dachshund as a child named Hannchen vom Heiligenberg - short dog, long name!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I've been visiting here for a while, and haven't thought of any smart comments before, so I haven't left any. However, I would love to win that book. I think it will be the kick of inspiration I need to get out of my little uninspired "dry spell" Please pick me... you can call me a lurker if you want :)

    ReplyDelete
  59. What a beautiful book.
    Can't wait to use it.
    Thank you for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  60. OOOOh, it looks fantastic! Thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete
  61. oh I've been wanting that book!! Glad to hear it is so good.

    ReplyDelete
  62. What an awesome looking book! Thanks for the opportunity ;)

    ReplyDelete
  63. Thanks for the giveaway! I enjoy reading your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Thanks for the giveaway! I enjoy reading your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Your book week is going to get me in trouble. I am absolutely addicted to books and it's always neat to find books you didn't know about.

    ReplyDelete
  66. If I'm not too late, I'll add my comment in hopes I can win this awesome book.

    Love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  67. This book looks seriously great! Thank you so much for the hint.

    ReplyDelete
  68. I keep hearing about this book. Must add it to my ever-growing list of craft books to buy.

    ReplyDelete
  69. This book looks excellent. Thanks for giving the extra away!

    ReplyDelete
  70. Anonymous9:15 PM

    I've been dreaming of painting on my living room wall somehow, and my guess is that this book would be just the thing I'm looking for to help me start the project!

    ReplyDelete
  71. This books looks right up my daughter-in-laws alley. She is so talented and does a myriad of crafts. I'd love this book for a Christmas gift. I may be too late to post a comment but thought I would anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  72. Wow, this book has been on my wishlist for some time now... I had the change to see it when I was in NYC in August and I LOVED it!!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Oh I love book week as I'm not able to really do any sewing these days. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Now that DOES look like an awesome book! thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    I'm reminded of the time my then toddler came out to me with a multicoler pigment ink pad in ocean colors, likd off, and hands covered in blue and green thick pigment ink, pad in one colorful hand, other colorful hand held out to show and then reaching to touch anything and everything in sight . . . . . . before I cleaned her up I got some "prints" off of her for a scrapbook page about the incident, figure I may as well make use of the mess, lol! And have proof, for future blackmail, hee hee. I have pictures ,too, and you can see this colorful wet pigmented hand just reaching for the camera lens . . . . . as of course those inks take forever to dry!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Have you already given this away? I'm hoping to make new cushions for my kitchen chairs out of stenciled, stamped, or otherwise printed canvas dropcloth... but honestly I have no idea what I'm doing! I'd love to learn via this beautiful book.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I'm really into this book since I saw it days ago. It's a good treat of life.

    ReplyDelete