Free-Form Embroidery with Judith Baker Montano: Transforming Traditional Stitches into Fiber Art

Judith Baker Montano's book are incredible. This book is no exception. The stitches are beautiful and the instructions are well detailed. I used some of the stitches in the book to complete my Under The Sea Pincushion...the net stitch for fishing net and the feather stitch for coral. I am very pleased with the way they came out. I am looking forward to trying more of the stitches. Great book for surface embroidery regardless of the skill level.

I am a huge fan of Judith Baker Montano's, owning five of her books to date. I actually use her books, not just for inspiration, which is plentiful, but for instruction. In this book, Montano is branching off from strict embroidery or crazy quilting, though the works have elements of both, into fiber art pictures, landscapes and abstracts using embroidery, painting, dying and crazy quilting techniques. The results are phenomenal. Plus, it is a lovely book to look at with Montano's watercolor sketches of stitches, plants and landscapes.First materials are reviewed including, thread, ribbon, fabric and tools along with a bit of color theory. There is a good stitch guide encompassing surface embroidery and some ribbon embroidery of some sixty stitches, including some ideas about how to combine stitches as well as showcasing stitches in different materials and how it affects the results.Montano also covers the basics of constructing a fiber landscape using crazy quilting techniques. Montano also names the supplies she uses to get specific looks by brand and this is helpful as well. Montano also talks about thinking like a painter and constructing landscapes that have a discernible fore, middle and background, helpful for those of us with little experience in drawing. Montano goes into more depth in her single technique books and I would recommend getting one of Montano's a crazy quilt book for further techniques in construction of fiber landscapes, but this wonderful book does give the basics of construction.Another wow from Montano, one of my favorite embroiderers and fiber artists. This book is worth the price of admission alone for the lovely artwork and inspiration. As with all of her books, the reader gets the feeling that the writer is a generous teacher and sharer of techniques. Recommended to quilters, embroiderer's and fiber artists who want to take the next step in fiber construction. A solid A.

I love Judith Montano's books for their clear instruction, she really does "paint with thread." The samples of her work are a wonderful showcase of inspiration with useful suggestions for her readers to use in our own projects. It is fascinating to see seascapes, desertscapes, and mountainscapes all in the same book and so beautifully done. I can't wait to start my next project.

I was fortunate enough to take a Fabric Landscape class from Judith about 20 years ago. I had no idea who she was... just another teacher who I would probably forget all about, lol. I recreated a vacation picture of the Grand Tetons with fabric, threads and beads, and have used her books for learning and inspiration ever since. This book may have some duplicate methods (shown in her other books), but I am so pleased that it does. I want to know how all of the different methods relate to what I am trying to create, and having it all in one book is the best. Beautiful photos, wonderful hand-drawn images, excellent stitch instruction... I can't say enough nice things about it. I wanted this book since I first saw it, about a year ago. Finally was able to buy it, and I couldn't be more pleased! Worth every penny!

I first saw this book at a friends house in the hard cover, once I learned I could purchase it at the lower paperback price, I sent for itimmediately. Living on Social Security only allows paperbacks so it was greatly appreciated that I could obtain this GREAT book. Ihave been doing needlework for over 70 years, I just loved the new ways to use the stitches I already knew and the new ones thatwere in the book.

I ordered this book as I’m learning this art. I had speedy service. The book came on the 2nd and wasn’t due to arrive until the 5th! So it was early. The book is all I wanted it to be. I worked with the Seller and had excellent service too. I would highly recommend this seller.

Since getting absorbed in multi-media fabric art, I've brought back embroidery into my life. This book offers so many fabulous ideas to incorporate. Mostly I use her technique on top of fabric I have dry felted. The examples in the book are clear and illustrations most helpful. Even a beginning embroiderer can understand. This is one of those "must have" books for any fiber artist or for the novice interested in getting involved with needle and thread.

this book is visually beautiful but an instructional treasure. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. The examples are examples of a different vision of needlework..Works of needleart to be sure. I would recommend this book highly to anyone interested in taking their work to another level..it is extremely well done and easy to follow. truly one of the best books of this nature that I've seen so far.

The cover of this book is really inviting. I love the variety of styles, stitches, embellishments and designs in the book. Can't wait to try out some of them, but it will be very difficult choosing just one!

Disappointed with this book, full of illustrations of trees, flowers etc with worded descriptions of suggested materials to use. No actual photographs showing materials and techniques.

beautiful illustrations, easy to follow stitch guides, inspirational.

Innovative and imaginative ideas explained in a practical way. This writer thinks the same way I do, and I shall be reading this book over and over again, as well as using it as a reference book. ( I've already read it twice, and could not put it down.)

The ideas in the book are so contemporary. I've never enjoyed embroidery so bought this book to see if I could start to like it. I loved it - using traditional stitches in a new and exciting way was so creative.