Sunday, March 6, 2011

Penland Books

Have you ever seen any of the Penland Books from Lark Crafts? These are beautiful books that function as master classes in technique. The Penland School of Crafts is an influential and highly respected center for craft instruction in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Each of the books showcase the work of 10 instructors who have taught at Penland and offer hands on technique sections by each of these artists. In addition, the books are filled with relevant technical information and plenty of inspirational examples created by other talented artists. These are just two of the books in the series - they are wonderful - see the end of this post for special surprise!

I love the Penland Book of Jewelry. It has been a favorite of mine since it was first published in 2005. Lark recently released it in a sturdy paperbound version. In this book, you'll experience the teaching of Marilyn da Silva, John Cogswell, and Tom McCarthy to name a few, along with seven other wonderfully talented instructors. The book is filled with page after page of inspiration - if you're a jewelry lover, you won't be disappointed.

 Marilyn da Silva

John Cogswell






Tom McCarthy




Until recently, I'd never seen any of the other books in the Penland series. The Penland Book of Glass is amazing too. I really like glass, though my experience is limited to enamel (both kiln and torch work) and some very basic lampworking - I was totally in awe of these flamework techniques. Like the jewelry book, it's filled with beautiful examples and wonderful instruction by talented masters (and was just released in paperback too). Some of my favorite pieces from the book are shown below.

Elizabeth Ryland Mears
Kristina Logan
Shane Fero
Here's the best part about sharing these two books with you: Through the generosity of Lark Books, I can really share them - Lark provided a copy of each to give away! Post a comment on the blog by March 18th (indicate which book you'd like to win if you have a preference). I'll announce the winners (drawn at random) on March 19th. Good luck!
at

22 comments:

  1. Kim BaxterMarch 8, 2011 at 11:39 AM

    Hey Cathy, currently I am enjoying your blog on the ring challenge. Keep up the good work. I would love to win a copy of the Penland Book of Jewelry BTW.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vickie HallmarkMarch 8, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    I think my heart skipped a beat! I LOVE my copy of the Penland Book of Jewelry, but I don't have the glass version. How could I not even know about it???? Please let me win. Otherwise I'll have to order it right away.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CathyMarch 8, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    VIckie, your odds are pretty high so far!!! :) Be patient...

    ReplyDelete
  4. ChristinaMarch 9, 2011 at 4:47 PM

    I haven't had a chance to add these books of inspiration to my library. I have been fortunate enough to peruse friends' copies of Penland books & I always wondered what it would be like to actually have a piece of artwork featured in one! How awe-striking!

    ReplyDelete
  5. TaraMarch 9, 2011 at 4:56 PM

    The Penland books are absolutely stunning. For some odd reason I originally thought that the 'Book of Jewelry' was another 'look at pretty things' book. (While I love those, I've had to limit the amount of them I pick up these days) I was happily impressed when I actually got to take a look at it in person and saw that it not only features really exceptional work, but has some great lessons from fantastic teachers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. katie hanrahanMarch 9, 2011 at 5:16 PM

    Hey Cathy, I'm with you... the Penland Book of Jewelry is one of my favorites, too!! Fabulous book. Didn't know about the glass one but I'll bet it is equally as wonderful and I would love to own it. So toss my name in the hat for the glass one please! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Karen WoodsMarch 9, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    THe Penland book of Jewelry looks amazing! I would love the book and even more a week at Penland! Putting it on my wish list....

    ReplyDelete
  8. nightowlMarch 9, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    I'd be happy to win either book!
    winit6 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. lauraMarch 9, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    i would love love love to own either of these books!!! stunning work and such talented artists!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. sunshine on my windowMarch 9, 2011 at 5:28 PM

    i would love the jewelry one! i have all the "1000" book series but i would love an over view!! big fan.

    ReplyDelete
  11. AlorinnaMarch 9, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    I love all the Penland books. The only one I don't have is the glass one, and it looks amazing! Glad to find your blog - off to read it now :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. PamMarch 9, 2011 at 6:53 PM

    Hi Cath!

    How fun to read about your review on my FB page via Lark! YAY you! Thanks for doing the review...I didn't know about either book. Now I do! Both look amazing! Hmmm, if I were to win one... glass please. Yes, definitely. You know my love affair with glass (I see some of my favorite artists in the sample pics you provided. Yum!) Of course I love jewelry too. But I get downright drooly over glass. Hahaha! Hope you are well!

    ReplyDelete
  13. RebeccaMarch 9, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    Penland is a wonderful place for artists to expand their skills. The art showcased in the books is breaktaking and inspirational eye candy.

    ReplyDelete
  14. CharleneMarch 9, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    I have seen the Penland Book of Jewelry and found myself in awe of all the artists and the techniques they represent. Would love to have a copy of my own.

    ReplyDelete
  15. EvelynMarch 9, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    i have the glass book which is awesome, i'd love to have the jewellery one!

    ReplyDelete
  16. AtelierYasonMarch 9, 2011 at 11:49 PM

    I hope the bookstores in my country, the Philippines, will stock at least either one.

    ReplyDelete
  17. astaMarch 9, 2011 at 11:55 PM

    I currently have the Penland book of Jewelry on loan from my library, but it's due back in a few days. If I don't win the book, I'm going to have to reserve it again so I can continue to swoon over the beautiful photos.

    ReplyDelete
  18. ValerieMarch 10, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    I would LOVE a copy of the Penland book of jewelry. I'm on a mission to try to collect as many Lark books as I can as it's like owning a museum of lovely work on my bookshelf.

    valerietylerdesigns (at) YAHOO DOT (COM)

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownMarch 10, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Hey Cathy I would love a chance to review these books for the media. They look fantastic!

    Diane Prokop

    ReplyDelete
  20. Kim ReidMarch 10, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    I would love to enter for either of these books, but if I must pick one - it would be the Penland Book of Glass.
    Thanks :)
    kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. CathyMarch 11, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    On behalf of Marilyn who had trouble getting her comment to post: "I enjoyed your review of the Penland school books and would love to win a copy of the jewelry book. So add my name to your drawing hat"

    ReplyDelete
  22. LeslieMarch 11, 2011 at 8:24 PM

    Cathy - I didn't realize that the Penland book of Jewelry was a technique book so please put my name in the hat for that drawing. Thanks for letting us know about these. Leslie McG

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)