Fabric Surface Design

February 18, 2013
Rezendes’s handbook of techniques for making fabric one-of-a-kind is for crafters of all skill levels. Novices will see this and be grateful. Those who have just dipped paint to fabric will be bolstered by the assistance. And experienced fabric designers will have some “ah ha” moments as they build upon their knowledge of painting, stamping, resists, image transfer, marbling, batik, and so much more. Fiber artist Rezendes helps amateurs become pros, inviting different entries to the book: zero in on a subject or shop around the book’s pages, which cover everything from such basics as brushes and other supplies to advanced technical skills such as reverse photo imaging. Not to fear—the latter can be done in a darkened closet. The journey begins with the Song Dynasty in China and ends on the contemporary kitchen work surface, employing techniques and materials from Elmer’s School Glue and soy wax to house paint and photo emulsion. This is a good source for crafters wanting to extend their design skills beyond basic quilting, and the experienced who have not yet dabbled in this vast variety of techniques.

April 15, 2013

Many sewists, quilters, and other crafters appreciate hand-painted, one-of-a-kind textiles, but few have the equipment (or the space) to work with the dyes required to create them. In this how-to guide, Rezendes explores the use of fabric paints for embellishing silk and cotton fabrics. The book includes information on a variety of techniques, including stamping, stenciling, resist printing, image transfer, tie dyeing, and drawing. In addition to the how-tos and the photographs of her own work, there are also brief interviews with other fabric artists and samples of their work. VERDICT Rezendes's overview is surprisingly in-depth for such a broad array of topics, and artists interested in fabric embellishment will appreciate the less-muss-and-fuss approach of using paints and inks instead of dyes.

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