I don’t remember when I first heard that Tommy Scanlin was writing a book called Design Basics and Beyond but what I do remember was thinking, YES! Finally, a book to give new tapestry weavers some guidance so they can feel confident about their designs. 

I have been eagerly awaiting it ever since.

Years ago, early on in my own teaching, I learned that confidence held the key. It’s what led me to create my own course on designing for tapestry. Tommye’s byline for the book emphasizes this, too: Planning and Weaving with Confidence.

This week, I finally got to hold my own copy in my hands … and I have to say it is done exceptionally well! But then, I would have expected nothing less from Tommye. She has a wealth of experience in teaching tapestry technique and design in her in-person classes. This book gives tapestry weavers access to her knowledge where they might never have had the opportunity otherwise.

Thank you, Tommye. LOVE the book. I admit I have not had a chance to read it cover to cover but I did start out doing just that. And, oh my, what a beautiful written foreword by Rebecca Mezoff, another exceptional tapestry teacher, author, and artist!

I probably read word for word up to Part Two, “Design Explorations.” And had I not been in a car traveling home from Kansas City (where I had stopped in Lawrence to pick up the book I’d had on pre-order) I would have, no doubt read on and on. 

Back in my studio, I’ve continued to pick it up and read other sections of the book. I especially like the section on Critiques and Tommye’s example in evaluating one of her own weavings, Spring Profusion.

I had just finished a slide show for my class Elements: Art Through Tapestry and had included this piece in the slide show, so it was really kind of fun to compare my comments to hers.

It would have still been a good chapter on the process, expectations, and value of a critique. But the addition of a real-life example seen through both the eye of the artist AND the “teacher” was a real bonus to include.

I have to admit, as excited as I was to get my hands on this book… I was also a little nervous. I’d just begun to teach my own course focusing on the elements of art in design through tapestry. What if my course looks like a copy of her book? Whew. I was so relieved to learn that while a lot of information covers the same topics, our approach is very different.  And Tommye’s book is a perfect companion, even text-book -of-sorts, for Elements: Art Through Tapestry!

By the way, I mentioned Rebecca Mezoff above, and would also like to say her recent book, The Art of Tapestry Weaving, is also an excellent book. But then you probably already know that by now! The two of them together should sit proudly on any tapestry weaver’s shelf - no, not shelf- table- workspace! 

The other amazing thing about this book is that Tommye was writing it simultaneously as she wrote her Nature of Things memoir. Rebecca did a review of Design Basics and Beyond on this blog post and included a short clip from an interview where Tommye talks about how the two books came to be written together. No small feat! Blows my mind! 

Tapestry weavers today are very fortunate with the abundance of information on the internet and all the books that have been coming out over the past year. I remember learning tapestry with no internet- and come to think of it, no instruction! 

Last week my hat went off to Ellen Ramsey. This week, my kudos to you, Tommye Scanlin!