Aug
18
You can still enter our active giveaways.
The winner of this giveaway is commenter #3, Muireann who said:
I think a jacket like this would look amazing – although I’d probably start with a bag first! Thanks for the chance to win!
Sew Wild: Creating with Stitch and Mixed Media by Alisa Burke is a visual and creative treat. Her style is artistic, but with an urban edge. Her projects are vibrant, raw, and utterly fabulous.
The book is both a technique resource and a project guide. I think this approach works well for creative types. Sometimes you want to learn a technique and see for yourself what you can do with it. Other times, you want the whole she-bang, learning a new technique and then practicing it while completing a project designed by someone else. An accompanying DVD includes videos of her demonstrating these techniques.
She starts with an in-depth discussion of the tools and materials you’ll need. If you’re crafty, you probably have most of these around your house already, though you might not have seen their potential for creative surface design.
After you’re familiar with the tools and materials, you can jump right in with the techniques. The next two sections give step-by-step instructions for a variety of surface design and stitching techniques.

In the Surface Design Techniques chapters, she describes ways you can make your own custom fabric prints and textures using techniques such as doodling and drawing, freewriting, monoprinting, and glue resist. There are a total of 13 different surface design techniques in this section.
In the section on Stitching Techniques, she explores ways you can use thread to add detail and texture to fabric or paper. Some of the stitching techniques I was most intrigued with were free motion quilting, creating layers of fabric and stitching, and graffiti quilting. (Graffiti quilting = MUST TRY!!) And while each technique is presented individually, they’re designed to be used together. The rich textures and patterns on her examples are achieved when you mix and match the surface design and stitching techniques.
The last section of the book puts it all together with a handful of awesome projects you can complete. Some of my favorite projects include her Smart and Wild Laptop and Phone Cases (sooo much cooler than the ones you can buy in the stores!), the Graffiti Zippered Bag, and her Improvisational Art Quilt.
The Giveaway
The folks at Interweave have a copy of Sew Wild to give away to one lucky Craft Gossip reader. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post telling me what kind of project you’d make using the techniques in this book. Bags? Home dec projects? Something to wear? I’ll choose one comment at random as the winner.
Deadline is midnight CST on Thursday, August 25, 2011.
[images from Sew Wild: Creating with Stitch and Mixed Media]
- Review & giveaway: Pretty Little Pillows
- Giveaway: Sew Liberated PLUS materials to make a project!
- Winner of the Sew Wild book giveaway
- Review & Giveaway: Closet Monsters by John Murphy
- Inspiration- Sewing Vintage Style
Comments
156 Comments so far








[...] I just posted a review of Sew Wild: Creating with Stitch and Mixed Media by Alisa Burke. It’s over in the Giveaways section here at Craft Gossip, and I’ve got a copy to give away to one lucky reader. Go check out the review and get yourself entered. [...]
I would make lots of clothes and bags. I am madly in love with Alisa Burke’s work. I have been cutting corners and saving up so I can take one of her workshops. I just love her!!
I think a jacket like this would look amazing – although I’d probably start with a bag first! Thanks for the chance to win!
I think an art quilt is appropriate! I would love to win this book!
Looks like a great book! I think I’d start with a wall hanging, then move on to something to wear!
What great works! I’d have to start small, but would love to grow to the point of designing something big like wall hangings for gifts!
I would love to make some home decor items. Our basement was flooded this summer, and we are just starting to plan out how we will rebuild and redecorate it.
That looks like a fun book! I think it would be cool to make a set of pillows with the technique.
stuffed little animals, of course! maybe with a zipper to use as a pencilcase… but they must have ears. long, flappy ears…
That looks like such a cool book! Something I would definitely use in mixed media projects and I always love making bags.
I love her work. I have her previous book and I have taken her online classes. She is the best. I would love to add this book to my collection.
I’d love to try out some things with paper and thread! Maybe holiday cards or hand made books.
What an awesome giveaway! I think these techniques would look amazing on some totes/purses.
i’m a huge fan of alisa burke’s! she’s the reason i want to learn how to sew. i’d loving using some of the techniques in this book in my mixed media projects…
I would love to make some cute t shirts with the techniques.
I think I would start with a bag for school
the graffiti technique and the quilt!
I would love to make a piece of wall art for my home using these techniques. What a great giveaway, keep up the good work!
i love alisa burke! didnt know she had a book out! would love to win this giveaway and see how it can be applied to clothing!
oh fun! I want to learn how to do the custom fabric printing! so I can make my items a bit more unique
My next project is going to be doggie beds for our 5 very spoiled dogs! Only the best for our hounds!
edie
The book looks wonderful! I would love to make bags, pen holders for my kids. Lunch bags for the whole family. Clothes for the kids would be really fun, bandanas.
I’ve had one of her books and DVD on my Amazon wishist for sooooo long. I’d LOVE to finally get my paws on her inspiration!
wow i didn’t know alisa burke had a book out, i love her blog!! i’d make bags!!
So cool ideas…..would love the chance to win this great book. I would like to make the Graffiti Zippered Bag for my 17 yr.old daughter. She wold love this. The kids are into vintage looking stuff now.
I would love to make some cute tote/diaper bags.
This looks so exciting! I’m getting into Steampunk design, and can visualize all sorts of cool bags, vests and other ideas coming from using these techniques.
I would love to try free motion quilting and some fun new bags. It looks like a great book!
I would love to win this book and video!! Alisa has amazing on line classes and videos on her blog. She is such a talented artist! I love for free stitching and quilting effect on the pieces featured!!!
oops typo – I’d love to the free stitching and quilting effect on the pieces featured!!
Oh my goodness – I don’t think this is me making the typos now!! eek feel free to correct as needed. “I’d love to learn the free stitching…..”
What a great book! I’d love to learn some new techniques and make my own device/phone cases.
I’ve been eyeing this book on amazon for about a week now. I’d love to learn all the techniques this book has to offer. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love her blog. This looks like a good book.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
i would love to make bags or a wall hanging!
It would be great to have this terrific book! I always love trying out new techniques. I would love to make a jacket or purse.
OOOh, I’d love a copy of this book. I’d take what I learned from this and do an art quilt and “design” my own fabric for some handy items.
This looks like a *really* good book. And pairing it with a DVD is cleverly awesome!!!!!!
Omg how cool would it be to make a phone cover!!!!!
I have always found shop covers so boring and $$, that would be my first 10 projects
I love the combination of sewing and paper! I think that would definitely be one of my first attempted projects!
I would love to bring graffiti to my laptop cover…i have a borning black one and does not reflect my personality at all….could you imagine an Alisa Burke inspired one in the boardroom!!!
)
i really would like to make a case for my laptop!! but maybe i could start with a little purse…:)
I would love to make some home projects! pillows would be great! thanks!
At our house, almost all things are for the kids
I love those pictures, I would use the book to help me try surface design for a quilt.
I’d teach the students in my upcycle club new techniques like graffiti quilting on ironed plastic!
I think they’d look great on pillows!
What a great book! I love to make decorations that express creative art. I would probably make a wall hanging/decoration. This book looks like it would provide great ideas for wonderful finished products. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book!
Love this! My mind is abuzz with ideas! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to make something for my home, art quilt wall hanging or pillows.
I would love to make some home decor projects from this book to add some flair to my home.
Great ideas and great to get kids to help
I’d love to start making my own fabric prints! Looks like a cool book!
I would love to make home dec and gift items. Cool book!
Ooh! i LOVE this. I would like to create a pencil pouch or small bag with/for my 8 year old daughter. I love the wild stitching and she loves bright colors. I think this is just so cool. Thanks for sharing.
I love the cover of the book! Very vibrant colors!
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing the review.
I’d make artsy clothes for my little girl.
I would definitely make something to wear (a skirt /dress) and bags! Alisa’s work is incredible! Thanks for the opportunity of winning this!
I would love to learn the techniques in this book and use them to make a throwover rug – winter is round the corner and a rug would be really useful to show my art
I will make a zipper pencil case….
Thanks for a giveaway!!
Great book – would start with something small like a bag and progress from there!
I like the idea of combining paper and stitching. Maybe a Christmas Ornament using this technique would be the first thing I would try. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Deb
Graffiti quilting! I’d love to learn that, and try my hand at some bags using that technique to embellish them.
Great book would love to win it, thanks
Ideas for any kind of work!
I can see myself making a wall-hanging. I’ve already picked out the spot where it would hang.
Looks like a fantastic book! I think I’d make a wall quilt first.
I’d like to make a small wall quilt. Thanks for the nice giveaway!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this! I’m thinking this would make some great stuff for my daughters room. (7th grade) Pillows, blankets, curtains, accent pieces…..
Awesome! I want it!!!
I subscribe to her blog and LOVE her ideas and techniques….. I think I would be making some wall art.
I actually like the pencil bag. I can’t stand the ones in the store and this is so different!!!
Love all new techniques- I´m a sponge at the moment – and would adore this book. Definitely would apply to home decor : art quilt!
Reminds me of my many years in New York City, only much prettier!
I would love to win this book. Love her work!
I would love to use these techniques for some home decor projects!
I would create an art piece for my wall in the living room…this book looks fantastic!
I’m thinking pillowcases and my favourite: tote bags. But that’s just to get me started. Lots of inspiration here. Thank you!
naslyyadid(at)gmail(dot)com
That is really Wild!
This book look interesting. I’d try my hand at making a vest. Thanks.
I would make bags and cards using these techniques-thanks for the chance to win!
I love the look of the graffiti zippered bag and would definitely want to make one of those!!
I would love to use some of the techniques to make a quilt. I think it would look fantastic on such a big scale!
Wow! That book sounds fantastic! Whoever wins it will be lucky. Hope it’s me.
Super Sweet! I team up with an art teacher and she paints the panels to my bags. This would be a great gift for her! Hope we win!
I love Alisa Burke’s work – so colourful and beautiful. I think I would start with something small, like a bag which would of course inspire me to tackle something bigger for the home. Thanks so much.
I have been reading Alisa Burke’s blog for a while now and have been coveting her new book. I would love to try her techniques to make a zippered pencil bag.
This book looks awesome! Very creative + refreshing.
Great book! I would like to make different things for my home! cushions, bags, pillow cases and such!
I would make something for the house a large piece for my bedroom wall. I have seen a lot of Alisa’s works and I love them. Thank you for the chance to win her book.
I think Id like to try a ragged edged wall hanging with lots of meaningful to me words amongst the fabrics. But though I can see it in minds eye – Id need guidance how to start!
Great looking book. Would probably start with a wallhanging.
What a great idea for a book! I have a friend who makes journal covers by sewing a bunch of threads together. It’s amazing how they turn out.
I would love to make a quilt of art, or perhaps a bag or two. What a wonderful book. Thanks for the chance to win one!
I think I would start small with a mug rug and work my way up to a larger project. Thanks for the chance to actually have the book for inspiration.
My sewing/craft/computer room needs some artwork and the book would be great inspiration to get it going – what better than fabric art?
Wow, I had no idea you could make your own custom fabric! I would love to make a bag or a pencil case.
I would use the techniques in quilts – likely on the labels especially. IT looks like a lot of fun!!
I love to make bags and skirts, this book/DVD set would be great for learning new techniques to add to my bag making!
doodling on fabric?! I’m in! I would definitely do something involving doodling or graffiti! thanks for the chance to win!
love her work a lot!!!!!!
Oh wow! I tend to think inside the box when it comes to sewing….I would LOVE to get a copy and start breaking down my barriers on a bag, or phone case! You can’t have too many phone cases! lol
Iwould love to win this.
This is such a great prize, with so many ideas of things to do. I would so like to win, thanks for the chance to win.
i love the bags that i see floating around everywhere, and the graffiti look of the projects here would be perfect!
I would LOVE to win this book, as I love Alisa’s work! I would make bags and journals which are what are on my to do list for fall and winter! thnx for such a fab-give-a way!
I would like to try the quilting tecniques. Also the laptop and phone cases.
I need a kindle case so I would use the book for ideas for one.
I’d try a wallhanging. Thanks for the chance!
i would definately make some punky bags! not just for me either all my friends would be made a unique bag for each of them!
I would definitely redo my bedroom
I would want to try on book and file covers, andof course on fabric postcards and ATCs.
Oh my God!! I would LOVE to win this book. I’ll probably end up making all the projects in it. It’s 2am and I am still up because I was finishing up sewing these cute little wallets Ive been making from scraps, as well as cuffs/bracelets also with scraps and found buttons from the thrift store. And before that I finished stitching over some photographs that my husband took. Please pick me to win the book.
I’d make pillows.
My daughter would love this book!
I am also trying to break out of my box and try new and creative projects. I think I would make a piece of wall art.
Thanks for the chance to win this book.
I would love to make some dresses like this! I have sort of a rocker chick style and I think this would really work!
I would make some children’s dresses for my photoshoots for my student photography class.
I really hope I win this book to add to my collection! These are really cool looking!!
thank you!
Grafitti quilting? Wow! I would really like to learn how to do that…..and I think I would make a really bright and colourful beadspread for my teenage daughter. Adding a few well put words here and there to make it a treat everytime she makes her bed
/ Jeanette
I would make mostly bags, but at least one crazy skirt. I mostly stick to the internet for sewing techniques, but this book looks amazing.
Oh! Looks like a fun, creative book. Thanks for the giveaway!
oops, I need to read closer. I would try some art on some boring tote bags I have here at the house…that might make grocery shopping a whole lot more fun!
I would make an out of the box quilt!
I would love to learn more! Please count this girl in!!
I consider myself a messy sewer in that I like it when the stitches are not perfect so I think this book is fab and would love to try something sim with mug rugs. Thanks for the chance
Creating custom prints on fabrics sounds right up my alley. i’ll take it!
would love to make some wall art. my high school project was ruined by the mold and mildew growing in my basement.
An inspiration! All the possibilities..wall hanging, postcards, even bangles! It’s like coloring with your sewing machine- and no coloring inside the lines!
What a fantastic book! Tons of inspiration!
I sew a lot of different stuff. I could imagine lots of projects that would profit from that new techniques I could learn here. ^^
This looks like the book for me! Thanks Susan
My first instinct is a graffiti skirt for my daughter to go back to school with! This looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
Love this free style sewing!
That book looks amazing. I would love to get my paws on it to try something new!
Bag, throw pillow, wall art.
I’m pretty sure I would start with a bag, I’ve become a bag fanatic of late. After that, probably something cool to send to my college kids…thx for the opportunity to win!
What a great resource! I would love to start with a bag, I’ve been needing a new one to carry books in! Thanks for the giveaway!
Beautiful! I’d use the techniques to make cute book covers for my altered art journals, or I’d make large textile pieces. I’d share this book with my mum too because she’s doing a textiles degree!
I would love to make a clutch or zippered pouch. Thanks for the giveaway!
Looks like a very interesting book that I would love to win
Something for the upcoming holiday season, like wreaths or maybe a wall quilt
Wow – some of these look like they’d really work for me… Home dec, of course!
I would make a few bags and maybe a wall hanging. Too cool!
I would make a messenger bag for me, and bookbags for the kids.
bags, clothing, bedspread, pillows…even a jacket for my dog
I would like to make a case/bag for my kindle!
I’d love to try some of these in quilts–maybe as a focal fabric, or maybe cut up and pieced back together!
Great looking book! I would start out by making a bag!
My Daughter would love this.
Would love to make bags
My daughter would LOVE this
Count me in please.
Messages on quilts. Oh so fun. Thanks for the offer and the info. Looks like a keeper.
As an screen print artist and designer what a great inspirational book. I been working on hand painted mouse pads and play mats with markers and paints. It’s been a challenge to find the right materials that will hold up on pads surface.
Sounds fascinating. I think I’d like to do a handbag, something I could show off.
Now this looks FUN! I love fabric and being able to add all kinds of media would be wonderful!
[...] winner of Sew Wild by Alisa Burke is none other [...]