First, set aside any thoughts that using photos in quilts is limited to the black and white or color photographs of friends and loved ones. Next, lose the thoughts that the process of printing photos onto fabric using the computer might be difficult. And if you are one of those who has been thinking using photos transferred onto fabric in a quilt is something which would NEVER interest you, be prepared to have your thoughts turned around all together!

Mary Ellen Krantz and Cheryl Hayes have come up with a brilliant book, BLENDING PHOTOS WITH FABRIC, which takes printing photos onto fabric out of the hands of the techno savvy, and places it in the hands of "so" and "not-so" experienced with computers (and/or cameras) alike. It also takes the creativity of using photos in quilts not just up to a whole new level, but I would say kicked up a few levels, times ten. But before I go on to try and cover even a few of the book's comprehensive features, let me say this: though this book may contain technical information, its language is always User Friendly!

Let's start with some confidence. Krantz and Hayes begin infusing it into you right from the book's introduction and continue it throughout the entire book. There's no chance to get apprehensive about any part of the process! Need help taking better pictures? A portion of the book is devoted to taking pictures with good composition, including tips on lighting, camera settings, and things to pay attention to which you might not have thought about before. Wondering how to use the computer? The book covers everything from mouses to computer settings, as well as how to use your scanner, how to save the pictures on your computer, how to crop photos or make them larger, and even how to find the pictures on the computer when you want them!

So you have the pictures...now what? Krantz and Hayes take you through the process of choosing the fabrics from your stash which will blend best with your photos, and suggest creative ways to use portions of your photo fabrics which aren't the focal point and blending them into the quilt along with the "featured subject." Krantz and Hayes cover some tips on designing quilts to "go with" your photo, and even have some quilt patterns thrown into the book for good measure.

"O.K., but what about getting the photograph onto the fabric? Of course you have to use specially treated fabric!" With admirable expertise and a bit of humor thrown in, Krantz and Hayes cover a variety of the fabric sheet products on the market today and how to use them to get the best results. Even better, they also explain how to prepare your own fabric sheets, with a lot less hassle than you might imagine! There are even a few web sites included to help keep you up to date on the latest products.

If you're still not convinced using photographs in quilts can be interesting or creative, I now direct you to pages 70 through 75, page 86, and let me throw in pages 106, 114, and 43 for good measure. With a little manipulation or the right settings, even ordinary pictures can become extraordinary quilts! Likewise, by manipulating photos or scanning objects into your computer, you can come up with fabrics that are totally original! The possibilities are endless.

While this book doesn't cover a lot of information about "how to quilt", the techniques within it can be appreciated by both beginners and experienced quilters. I'm guessing at least a few of the bees, especially, are going to be having a lot of fun experimenting with everything there is to learn from BLENDING PHOTOS WITH FABRIC!