Aimee Ray

I was complaining about the state of embroidery and the lack of anything that I would actually be interested in making, and then, browsing aimlessly in a bookstore, what do I see but Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray. I loved almost every page, but some favorites were the sweet dreams baby pillow and the felt forest creatures. These are cute designs that aren't your traditional flowers and well... flowers, but they aren't the other extreme of the angry punk rock craze ala subversive cross stitch show more or the cheesy hula girls/goth/pirates ala sublime stitching. Just nice simple designs with practical uses. show less

Adult nonfiction; embroidery/sewing. Another embroidery primer that encourages modern girls to take up this lost art. The cover illustration is perhaps the best part of the book--the technique instruction is good but many of the projects themselves are uninspiring (and often not very attractively packaged). I would recommend Jenny Hart's Sublime Stitching instead.

When I received this book from Ken at Lark Crafts, I saw the cover and was really excited. The cover looks like a candy shop and 'sweet' is definitely how I would describe it. I have to say that I was a little disappointed that this wasn't a quilt book, but was glad to see that fabric is used in a number of the projects.

I have noticed a trend (can I call it that?) of including a visual table of contents in some recent books I have read and/or reviewed. [b:Purses Bags Totes|14443934|Purses, show more Bags, & Totes|Moya Workshop|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1373229322s/14443934.jpg|20086296] had one which really helped my navigation of the book as well as writing the review. I notice that this book has one s well.

Not only does this visual ToC, as we, in the Library biz call it, help with navigation, but it gives a potential buyer a little more information. I hope that Amazon and other online booksellers will include such information in their sales pages.

From the ToC, I can see that this book has more colorful projects than some of the other jewelry books I have read recently. This one uses fabric scraps in many of the projects, which adds to the color choices.

Like many other Lark Jewelry & Beading books, this has a comprehensive Basics, pg.10, section. I love the 'cover photo' that begins the section of a variety of supplies and embellishments. Many of the supplies can be found in your quiltmaking cupboard. Each subsection includes a couple of sentences about why you would use each material. Tools are listed separately, starting on pg.17, again with definitions of what they are and why you would use them.

Following Tools is another section on Techniques, pg.20-, which discusses embroidery, transferring templates and patterns, hooping , to knot or not to knot, stitches, working with clay type materials and a whole host of other techniques that may add to your creative jewelry designs.

After a very comprehensive 28 pages of Tools, Tips and Techniques, [a:Aimee Ray|754487|Aimee Ray|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg] launches into the projects. The first page of the section includes larger photos of a selection of the projects.

One of my favorite projects is the Felted Terrarium Necklace, pg.45. I wouldn't make it, but I like the look. It would also be great as a gift for a charm bracelet.

the projects consist of a large photo of the finished piece9s) and 1-2 pages of directions, which includes tips, a materials and tool list. Not being a jewelry maker, I cannot judge whether this is enough information to finish the project.

I also like the Cabochon Hairpins, pg.57. This is a really unique idea, perhaps because I have hatpins on the mind after reading [a:Jacqueline Winspear|5023|Jacqueline Winspear|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1272389408p2/5023.jpg]'s book, [b:Maisie Dobbs|462033|Maisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, #1)|Jacqueline Winspear|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312066155s/462033.jpg|976403] again. I have not seen anything like this before and give kudos to the designer, Kathy Sheldon for thinking outside the box.

This is also a very well designed book. I like the colors of the layout as well as the graphic embellishments and photography on the inner pages. Take a look at this book and be inspired. show less

Aimee Ray's "Doodle Stitching" is a great beginner's guide to embroidery, with clear, simple instructions and detailed images. It includes not only adorable designs to embroider, but instructions for fun projects as well.