Crafting a Patterned Home: Painting, Printing, and Stitching Projects to Enliven Every Room

This book is COLORFUL! If you are not into lots of bright and bold colors I would strongly recommend that you RUN for the nearest exit! If you love color as much as I do this book is full of some fantastic ideas. I already saw an idea for closet doors that I want to try on the door to my shed. And there is a floor idea that I am going to modify for my bedroom so it is well worth the purchase just for those 2 ideas.

I have been following Kristin Nicholas for years and her books never disappoint! Her projects are inspiring and actually achievable! Her knowledge is so thorough and writing so engaging that you just have to read it cover-to-cover! I can’t wait to get started on my first project!

This book made a great housewarming gift. My daughter incorporated ideas from it to brighten her home in Alaska where there are a lot of grey, rainy, days and long dark winters.

As always with Kristen's books, chock full of original, inspiring ideas, how-tos. For those who are color-phobic......Kristen will give you the courage and knowledge to overcome. Wonderful!!

Kristin's books are always filled with wonderful, colorful projects to do, whether it's knitting, embroidery, crochet, or painting, but there is something really spectacular about this one. The full-page photographs draw you in and make you want to observe every detail - and believe me, there are plenty. This gives a true picture into Kristin's home that she has crafted from scratch with love on every surface.Kristin's imaginative way of putting a special touch on everything from a colorful afghan throw to hand-creating fabric to upholster a piece of furniture is simply inspirational. Even if you don't want to do projects exactly as she has done them, she creates a spark that makes you look at your home in a different way and creates ideas for how you can make it unique. Not copying a project exactly can sometimes be hard to do, but her variety of different patterns throughout the book allows you to take a pattern from one project and combine it with another and replace the pattern on any project with the one you choose.Her instructions are always very clear and easy to follow and this book is no exception. I especially appreciated her directions for which paints and types of supplies to use on which materials, which I always find to be very difficult.Although not everyone wants their home to be quite as pattern and color-filled as Kristin's, she shows off some of her more muted rooms in this book as well to give an idea of what just an accent of color or pattern would do in a room. She also gives several ideas on how to mix and match pattern, which can sometimes be intimidating. Her instructions on which colors go together well are very useful in planning which colors to use on your project and which would go well with an existing color in a room.This book is definitely one of my favorites of Kristin's large collection and the variety of projects gives endless possibilities for adding a little pattern and color to your home! It is a great addition to the coffee table or book collection of anyone wanting to make their home a bit "homier."

Pattern is everywhere. No matter where you are on the pattern-mixing comfort scale, you can learn from Kristen Nicholas' newest book, Crafting a Patterned Home. Perhaps best known at Knitty for her colorful knitting [Felted Tea Cozy, Macarons], Kristin Nicholas is a multi-talented artist and experienced author. In this title, she invites you into her home to see how you can craft projects that will brighten your abode.Crafting a Patterned Home begins with an introduction to pattern. In this section you learn how different motifs, repeats, and scales can create various visual effects. There are also tips and tricks for how to begin to create your own patterns.Next, we enjoy a tour of Nicholas' home (a working farmhouse for Leyden Glen Farm), inside and out, and selected creative projects that you can do. You’ll discover the inspiration behind each project and why particular techniques are applied in certain situations. Even if you aren't familiar with a technique you are guided every step of the way. Each project includes the pattern style, the repeat format, the featured crafting technique (painting, print making, knitting, crochet, and embroidery are all represented), a list of tools, a list of tools and supplies, and a detailed tutorial.Nicholas invites you to add pattern to your home and understands that it may be overwhelming. Her expert guidance will help you begin to create a look that is cohesive and colorful, not garish. The beautiful photographs by Nikki Snyder add to the inspiration in this book. And the adorable kittens and farm cats help to remind me this beautiful home is one that's lived in and not just pretty inspiration.

Returned. Not what I expected.

Be prepared to be inspired.There is joy in color and great value in knowing how to do a craft for oneself! Let this collection of creative projects be your key to developing new skills.Kristin's use of color in her home is a delight and the projects she has provided are varied and do-able for any skill level or budget. Take the technique and make it your own- pull in the colors that are you- and create something uniquely yours.The first 40 pages provide valuable insights on training the eye to find design inspiration, working with colors, and references for the materials utilized in the book's projects. You'll know that Kristin has accomplished the project herself and provided the well thought out steps so that you can, too.Instructions are spot-on. Photos are wonderful.I'd recommend this book for anyone who wants to try something new this summer. Take Kristin's lead for technique and create a summer (a life) full of rich visual memories.