A Review and A Giveaway: Complete Embellishing

by Sister-Diane on August 4, 2008

in Craft Books

I’m super excited about this book! Kayte Terry is extremely talented, and she’s one of those great crafty generalists. Complete Embellishing is all about adding touches to clothes, accessories, and home decor, and it covers so much ground.

About the first half of the book is illustrated step-by-step instructions for a whole slew of embellishing techniques. You can see potato printing here, but there’s also: embroidery, crochet, needle felting, applique, image transfers, etching, making yo-yos, patchwork, sewing beads and sequins, embossing velvet, and that’s not even a complete list.

That right there is a huge value in a craft-book purchase.

Then there are 35 projects that mix and match all these techniques. Kayte’s work is always very elegant, with a sense of fun. I am in love with so many things here, like this stenciled and beaded jacket.

. . . And this cardigan, which is embellished with felted sweater scraps. Must. Add. Sweater. Ruffles. to everything I own now.

Love these appliqued flowers, too. Most of the projects in this book begin with a ready-made garment or bag or other object, so this book would be an awesome companion piece to a day of thrifting. Or, raiding your closet.

Needle-felting on a sweet cardigan. So adorable!!

Ooh – and this is Duplicate stitch, which you do on top of knitting to mimic intarsia. How freakin’ cool is that?

Okay – so I could go on and on here. I didn’t even show you the pillowcases, lampshade, or tea towels! You can get a sneak-peak at some other projects in the book over here and also search inside at Amazon.

Oh – and, need I say? Spiral binding! A++.

Kayte has generously offered a copy of this book for me to give away here. So – to get your name in the hat, just leave a comment here by Friday morning, 6:00 am PST. Good luck!

***********************UPDATE**************************

Congratulations to BeckyS, whose number came up in the random drawing! I’m emailing you now for your mailing address.

The rest of you – time to add it to your Amazon Wish List!

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  • CarrieG
    What a boon for Christmas giving! Thanks Kayte. Can't wait to see the book.
  • That book looks awesome!

    I can't believe I hadn't found your blog before. I really like it so far, off to look around!
  • Will love to have it! Great book and love the pics!
  • Keli
    thanks for the review, i've been wanting to check this book out!
  • Kim
    Ok, I'm in love with this book already, and I love the ruffly sweater. I love ruffles. On everything! And I love LOVE embellishing. I hope I win, and if not, I'm going to go buy it! Wonderful! Pick me!
  • Kelly
    Loving that book!! Sweater ruffles?! I'm in love!
  • aimee
    Me please!!
  • meg
    oh how I want the book--just for the ruffled sweater!
  • Samantha
    I love, love, love that ruffled sweater. And I really need to make that flowered bag, too. I need this book! :)
  • amy
    this looks like a great book!!!! count me in...
    thanks!!!
  • anna
    i love good craft books. and thorough reviews to sift thru the not-so-spectacular ones. this book seems like a good addition to my bookshelf. hope i win...
  • Oh wow! Please enter me in your drawing. The book looks great!
  • wow just seems like the book I need. Thanks for the opportunity to win it. Coooool. Very good post
  • how groovy! Let's embellish the whole world!
  • Ooooo this book looks absolutely lovely!
  • malinda
    I seriously love the red sweater with the big flower on it. No really - I think I must go find a pattern, like now. AND I need the book to make the flower exactly right ;)

    Awesome post!
  • Beadgirl
    Ooh, pick me, teacher! I'm ever so smart.
  • Embellishing Rules! Very cool book!
  • Guest
    I love the appliqued flowers on that tote. What a fantastic idea. This book would be great for me. Thank you for the chance.
  • gl.
    oo! embellishing! yes, please. love that needle-felted cardigan.
  • Have to throw my name in here, this book looks great.
  • Flo
    The book looks fantastic! I love that shirt on the cover!
  • Lauren
    I have just started crafting, making crochet animals and such, and this book would be PERFECT to take things to the next level!!

    Sign me up. :)
  • Gail
    What an appealing book!

    I just discovered your podcast and am learning and being inspired. Thanks for the good works.
  • Deanne
    The ideas you've shared from this book look so fun. I'd love to see it all! Please throw my name in the hat too. :D
  • What a wonderful book! I do hope I win :)
  • Please pick me!!! I would be so excited to own this! And it's exactly what I've been looking for!
  • Hen
    This looks fab! I love a bit of needle felting and I never thought to do it on a cardie before! Please add me to the virtual hat :o)
  • Avital
    What a great book! Thanks for reviewing it. It looks fantastic.
  • a wonderful review, especially because you feature many pictures :)
    get me into the drawing, this seems to be a book I need!
  • Me please, me please! It looks ace! Had totally forgotten about potatoe printing. x
  • please please sign me up! i have a cupboard full of clothes that need to be pimped. DESPERATELY! I'm crossing my fingers, erika
  • I usually am not the type to enter a give a way, but since I am always trying to improve and learn new techniques and crafts, and being that I am soo incredibly broke right now, it seems like a good thing to do...
    This book looks absolutely fabulous, and the way you reviewed it just made me join in on the fun!
    I visit your site often to listen (over & over again) to the wonderful podcasts you have done, they keep me inspired while I work on items for my shop at night, after my four little birds are sleeping.
    So if anything, I am glad that I get this opportunity to thank you for the work you do here, it has made a difference in this crafting, indiepreneur's life.
    Happy Summer ~
    xoxo
    georgia sakura
    :::::{ the Sparrows Nest }:::::
    http://littlesparrownest.etsy.com
    ::::::::} A t e l i e r * S a k u r a {::::::::
    http://gSakura.etsy.com
  • BeckyS
    What a great book! That looks like a must have for every serious (or even semi-serious) crafter out there! How cool are you to be giving one away. ;)
  • lee
    ooh ooh i want it!! that book looks right up my alley!
  • Lisa D.
    Looks like lots of great ideas and special touches. Especially a good resource for using all the odd bits I've collected. I didn't know I could be crafting with potatoes instead of just eating them!
  • Ilissa H.
    This looks like a great book. Please count me in! Thanks for the chance.
  • Oh! Pick me! The book is going on my wish list.
  • Wow wow wow this book looks fantastic. I think I could read it for days... and then embellish things for months! I would love to have it!
  • blueviolet
    The photos in the book are spectacular.
  • lhappel
    What great ideas!
  • Wow, what a great review! I totally want one now!
  • It looks so chock-full of inspiration i can hardly stand it. Dang.
  • Susanne
    Another book to add to my list! I'm in :)
  • Oh wow I need a book like that, please include me in too.
    thanks Karen
  • Holy crap, that ruffled cardigan has my name on it!!! This book looks sweet!
  • This book looks so great! Keeping my fingers crossed...
  • Yummy yummy eye candy! I would love to win!
  • The book sounds absolutely wonderful! I love the look of that sweater.
  • Kim
    Wow, looks like a great book! Name in hat: check!
  • Jenni
    pick me!
  • Oh! I am loving all of the projects pictured in this book! It's great that there are so *many* different kinds of crafts represented. Whee! Well, if I don't win, you just know I'm going to have to buy this...
  • The ruffled sweater! So fabulous! The other gals that commented don't really want this book as much as I do, okay? (((hugs)))
  • I want to do that duplicate stitch .. please. it looks so beautiful.
  • I'm hooked! If I don't win this one is going on my wishlist. Thanks!

    Harmony
  • Okay, that looks like a load of fun that I just need to have! Sign me up darling! :D
  • Oooo, exciting, another give away! I would love to spruce up my wardrobe! Thanks Diane and Kayte.
  • Ooh.. stencils and ruffles. Looks like a great book!
  • spiral binding!!!! a must to hold the book open. i can't wait to see it.

    please enter me in the drawing. thanks.
  • Looks like this book has a little something for everyone and lots of things that you can try on your own!
  • What an absolutely lovely book. I need something like this to get me out of my rut. Thanks for the chance to win it! Charlene
  • Jayme L.
    Since I'm not very adept at making a whole garment or bag, embellishing on something I've thrifted is a much better idea. Looks like a wonderful book and I'd love to have it.
  • These projects are SO beautiful! I LOVE red cardigan with ruffles. I think I'll be adding those to everything I own as well ;)
  • Madelyn
    This looks GREAT. I would love to try some of these projects!
  • Lee
    Ooh, I want everything pictured here. What a pretty, pretty book.
  • Anitra Budd
    Oooh, this is a tough one. On the one hand I want to try for a free copy of the book, but on the other hand it looks so awesome that I just want to go to Amazon and buy it right now!!! Must pry hands from credit card! :)
  • Ooh, lovely! Count me in.
  • Oh that ruffled sweater with the matching flower! So pretty.
    Sign me up. :)
  • Lisa
    Incredible! I love repurposing. Looking through my closet for potential raw material . . .
  • Juli
    I LOVE that flower tote!! *swoooon*
  • Oh, man. I opened the page and saw this and just about hyperventilated. You know I'm a sucker for books by now, don't you?

    Add me to the list, please, please, please, lol.
  • shut UP!!! This is wonderful! We have needed a book just on embellishing! And I'm not kidding. We all know how boring, grey, ordinary, things we can't afford to replace can actually become new with a bit of embellishing of the right sort. I am going to have to get this. In fact, I belong to the 'Craft Book of the Week Club', and I'm stunned they didn't have this one on their list.

    Chris

    p.s. Or maybe it's just that I BUY a craft book every week. I always get those mixed up.
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