A TECHNIQUE DRIVEN Blog dedicated to mastery of surface design techniques. First we dye, overdye, paint, stitch, resist, tie, fold, silk screen, stamp, thermofax, batik, bejewel, stretch, shrink, sprinkle, Smooch, fuse, slice, dice, AND then we set it on fire using a variety of heat tools.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Day 4 Book Review and Giveaway


Review of “Create your own hand-printed cloth” by Rayna Gillman



I love to dye fabric and clothing!  I began my tie-dye business in 1998, and spent several years focused on just dyeing clothing.  But in 2007, I took a class in Surface Design techniques, and my direction shifted to include fabric, primarily for art and landscape quilts.  I was intrigued by the various aspects of Surface Design, and when Rayna Gillman’s book “Create your own hand-printed cloth” came out in 2008, I ordered a copy from her and it has become one of my primary reference books.  Rayna was not the first author to write a book of this type, and she won’t be the last, I’m sure.  But she has created a thorough, interesting and inspiring book that I never tire of browsing for ideas and information.  Rayna covers such topics as stamping and stenciling with found objects, soy wax batik and screen printing with thickened dyes, among others.  Thanks to her recipes, I have finally learned how to mix sodium alginate so that it is not full of lumps, and my thickened dyes come out with much better color intensity than I was getting before. 
Rayna has produced a collection of instructions that covers the basics of each technique in an easy to follow, step-by-step description, combined with photos that work with the text to help the reader to see the process clearly.  I highly recommend “Create your own hand-printed cloth” for anyone who is new to Surface Design, but also for those for more experienced in the techniques to use as a  frequent resource.   Rayna’s book can be found at amazon.com and C&T Publishers.


Leave a comment here and you will be eligible to win a copy of Rayna’s book compliments of C & T Publishing!  I will put all participating names in a basket and draw the winner on December 11th.  Then I will post the winner’s name  here so you can contact me with your mailing info.  
Be sure to come back tomorrow for Judith's Book Review and Giveaway!

45 comments:

  1. What a lovely book. Just what I am looking to find! Please throw my name in the hat!

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  2. I feel like I want to start just now with all the exercises in the book. So I would love to be the winner of this book

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  3. I agree with you, Rayna's book is excellent!

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  4. Nice review. The book sounds great!

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  5. Exploring surface design is exciting and this would be a great addition to my library. Love Rayna's books!

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  6. Pitty that you only can win in the USA. Why not in Europe too? I should love to have this book greetings from Liesbeth

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  7. Colour, fabric bits and design savvy - what hugely creative gifts of design play Rayna has included in this new book. Having seen some of the samples at Fibre Philadlphia, I would love to add the book to our St. Lawrence college Textile Design Library.
    Bethany Garner
    textiledesignslc@gmail.com

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  8. Sorry, Liesbeth... the publisher who is giving the book for the drawing will only mail to the U.S.

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  9. This is a great book! I have both of Rayna's books and I love them!

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  10. This is a great book, sorry to read that it can only be won in the USA.

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  11. Judy, thanks for your review of Rayna's book, if it inspires you, then I want it too. Am loving so many things about this tour. Most of all, just finding 'And Then We Set It on Fire'. I can see this surface design site becoming one I have to check into daily. Enjoyed your posts about dyeing the leaves and look forward to your hosting in February.

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  12. To all who have commented from outside the U.S., I have contacted the publisher's rep to see if she would be willing to send the book to me to forward to the winner if they happen to be outside the U.S. I will post an update when I hear from her, so check back and put your name in if you want to be considered...

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  13. I'd love to try some of Rayna's technique's!

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  14. I'd LOVE a chance to win this book!! I am always looking for new ways to play with color and fabric.

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  15. I would love to have a chance to try Rayna's techniques but because I live in Canada I can't enter this giveaway so I will just have to buy the book myself. Mary Ann

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  16. I whished I was living in the U.S

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  17. I would love to win this book. My fabric dyeing needs a boost, but mostly a good book to inspire new ideas.

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  18. Oh how fun! Thanks for the great review and giveaway shop(at)betoncat(dotcom)

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  19. Love Rayna's work and would love to win the book! Otherwise will have to buy it for my library.

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  20. I would love the book but as I live in UK I did nto enter but now I hear you may be able to send overseas if I am lucky - keeping fingers crossed as I read back through your delicious blog

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  21. Rayna is delightful and her book should be a wonderful resource.

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  22. What a wonderful book by a great artist and teacher. How nice to be able to participate in this giveaway.
    Thank you for making the offer.
    Kristin F.

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  23. I have her DVD on monoprinting and if this book is anything like the detail in this workshop, then you can bet it will be a keeper for anyone's reference library!

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  24. Thank you for writing this honest review and
    for giving everyone the opportunity to win a
    great resource like this. This book review idea
    is wonderful!
    Marcella
    TheArtIncubator@gmail.com

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  25. It would be great to win Rayna's book. I love following her blog.

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  26. Love Rayna's art, and approach to life. This would be the next best thing to participating in one of her workshops. I hope, I hope, I hope I win it. ;-) Thank-you for offering this opportunity. Hugs, Diane

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  27. I use this as a reference as well as for inspiration! Great book!

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  28. I too love dying! I dye anything & everything - nothing is safe in my house! =0) Would love a copy of this book, looks like a great reference source. Thanks for the giveaways!

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  29. Thanks for a chance to win, I am in Canada. I would love a copy. I just played with marbling fabric for the first time last week.

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  30. I have so much to learn about printing, I would love to win the book.

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  31. great that we outside the USA kan participate too, love it, greetings Lita from the Netherlands

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  32. That's great!
    I was really diappointed i couldn'nt participate. seems like a wonderful book

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  33. Boy, would I love to win this book! So happy to read the Re: although I live in the Netherlands, I can win this book. Thank you for the review and the give-away. 'Create your own hand-printed cloth' is on my wish list for sure. Thanks again, Esther

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  34. I've just seen your note that I can enter this now!
    Yippee! and thanks to the publisher!

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  35. Yah here too! Just found out that I(who live in Canada) can enter this draw too. It looks like a great book!

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  36. I would love to win the book. Throw my name in the hat, too. Take a look at my site, www.bucketsgonewild.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/bgw.patterns and www.bucketsgonewild.com.

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  37. I like to make chlothes and to paint fabrics. I would love to win this book.

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  38. I love Rayna's work and her book looks amazing as well. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  39. Your review makes it sound like a must have book. I like books that serve as a jumping off point rather than project based so would not love to be entered in draw.

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  40. That seems like agreat book I could learn a lot from!

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  41. Love to play with all sorts of surface design.....nothing better than choosing from one of a kind fabrics for our projects!

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  43. It seems to me a clear and inspiring book to finally get started with experiment with colors.

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