Artist Trading Cards - ATC's

1,000 Artist Trading Cards: Innovative and Inspired Mixed Media ATCs (1000 Series)

by: Patricia Bolton

Amazon Price: $13.93 (as of 05/27/2012)

A truly excellent crafting book which can jump-start any crafter's lull in creativity. I am in awe of all the different ATCs that were sent in to the author, who then put together this beautiful, and thick work of art.

Cloth Paper Scissors

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 05/27/2012)

Bravo to the folks at Quilting Arts, LLC, for another wonderful magazine! As with the inspiring Quilting Arts Magazine, Cloth/Paper/Scissors is filled with well-organized information about techniques, interesting articles about artists, etc., all beautifully photographed on quality paper. Well done!

Quilting Arts

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 05/27/2012)

Quilting Arts covers the latest techniques in art and embellished quilting, wearable arts, mixed media, surface design, and other textile arts. Features guest artists and teachers, and addresses a wide range of skills including surface embroidery, thread painting, stamping, and fabric painting.

I saw my first issue of Quilting Arts magazine at the International Quilt Festival in November 2001. My first impression was that the magazine had a wonderful "look": it is printed on high-quality paper, with beautful photography and a pleasing layout. I subscribed immediately, and picked up the first two issues at the quiltshow. Each new issues seems better than the previous one. A wide variety of fiber-artists are featured. Articles showcasing a particular technique are well-photographed, with easy to follow text. This should be must-have
for anyone interested fiber art.

Alphabetica: An A-Z Creativity Guide for Collage and Book Artists (Quarry Book S.)

by: Lynne Perrella

Amazon Price: $13.40 (as of 05/27/2012)

Your Muse will love you for putting Alphabetica on your creative plate! It is a book to be savored slowly, and many times. Featuring a delightful array of works done as part of a collaborative journal project undertaken by fourteen artists, it features page after page of rich color, sweet ideas, and delicious details and tidbits about the project itself, the artists' inspirations for their individual journals and work in each others' journals, and plenty of eye candy to satisfy your artistic sweet tooth.

The fun part is that all the artists have such widely varying styles--I love seeing how they interpreted themes for various letters of the alphabet. Not every artist's style appealed to me but I can appreciate their processes, their techniques, and the way their individual works fit into the whole.

Not a how-to book, but full of ideas. Highly recommended for those who are inspired by the work of others to find new possibilities, direction, and adventure in their own artistic endeavors.