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Book List
Listed under: One Voice
Published: Thursday, June 10, 2010
Christine Marshall gives us her take on the latest craft publication
This Month: Fabulous Bags to Stitch and Make by Jenny Rolfe, reviewed by Christine Marshall of Reticule in Kendal
The Read
This is an excellent book for learning new techniques and is ideal for those with basic machine skills who want to become more experienced and adventurous. Aimed at the textile crafter who is not yet confident designing a bag, but wants to produce unique items with a personal touch, it encourages readers to follow the instructions, whilst also experimenting with a range of different colours and embellishments.
The Look
The front cover doesn't really clearly communicate the diverse range of projects inside and I actually found the design on the back more exciting! However, the pages are very appealing when you look inside, and the photography and illustrations are excellent. The instructions are simple to follow, with some of the most basic tasks pictured as 'works in progress', making them far easier to understand.
The Sell
Equivalent to three books in one, it is excellent value for money and would be easy to sell to beginners and more experienced crafters alike. There is definitely a market for this title and I have personally sold a number of the writer's bag and purse books, and seen many of the projects completed by relatively inexperienced customers.
The only downside is that many of the projects are the same as those in the original publications, which will be disappointing for those who have already purchased them. However, the technique section is an excellent addition and fantastic selling point, especially for businesses stocking machine embroidery threads, cords, and fusible webs. My customers will, and do, buy this book, and I would highly recommend it to others.
The Read
This is an excellent book for learning new techniques and is ideal for those with basic machine skills who want to become more experienced and adventurous. Aimed at the textile crafter who is not yet confident designing a bag, but wants to produce unique items with a personal touch, it encourages readers to follow the instructions, whilst also experimenting with a range of different colours and embellishments.
The Look
The front cover doesn't really clearly communicate the diverse range of projects inside and I actually found the design on the back more exciting! However, the pages are very appealing when you look inside, and the photography and illustrations are excellent. The instructions are simple to follow, with some of the most basic tasks pictured as 'works in progress', making them far easier to understand.
The Sell
Equivalent to three books in one, it is excellent value for money and would be easy to sell to beginners and more experienced crafters alike. There is definitely a market for this title and I have personally sold a number of the writer's bag and purse books, and seen many of the projects completed by relatively inexperienced customers.
The only downside is that many of the projects are the same as those in the original publications, which will be disappointing for those who have already purchased them. However, the technique section is an excellent addition and fantastic selling point, especially for businesses stocking machine embroidery threads, cords, and fusible webs. My customers will, and do, buy this book, and I would highly recommend it to others.
