Boutique-Sha

The first craft book I bought for myself (as a teen!) was about ethnic embroidery that was very similar to this one: embroidery that reinforced fabric by adding overlay threads to the weft. I don't have that long-ago book but in my memory that techniques were the same. Maybe that book was about kogin.

In times past when good needles and colored thread were expensive and hard to find, embroiderers could still decorate, repair, and strengthen fabric by using small amounts of thread to follow the natural flow of the weft and warp. A large eye needle or even a fine hook would do because no new holes were needed.

Patterns that follow warp and weft are fractal: curves are suggested by little steps. But patterns can be varied and enriched through color and texture variations.

This book will appeal to people who enjoy needle work. It might be good for people whose fingers are not as flexible as they used to be. With some judicious selection of projects and materials, I think this might be a good book for an older child starting out in needle crafts. Low frustration.

I received a review copy of "Modern Kogin" by Boutique-Sha from Zakka Workshop through NetGalley.com.… (meer)

Doodle it all is a book that will show you how to doodle cute drawings. As with most how to books, the first section of doodle it all deals with materials and general information, such as how to colour or shade your drawings. The second part of the book contains the step by step guides, and there are lots! If you can think it, it’s probably in this book. I also really liked that there was an index at the back of the book to allow you to quickly find what page you need for a specific doodle.

The step by step instructions are perfect for beginners like me who wouldn’t know where to begin when drawing sushi, a camel or even the Eiffel Tower. I also really like that a lot of the doodles also showed different variations, for example how to draw a dog facing forwards, or a cat stretching. The book also touches on decorative frames and even some simple lettering.

These doodles would be perfect for use on your calendar, diary, mail, revision cards and lunchbox notes to name just a few!

Overall, an excellent book accessible to anyone young or old, who wants to learn how to draw cute doodles.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️… (meer)