Thursday, August 23, 2007

A Review of "Find Your Groove" by Kitty Foster & Wendy McKeehan

Find Your GrooveFind Your Groove: A Guide to Discovering Your Scrapbook Style by Kitty Foster & Wendy McKeehan

Amazon Description:
*First book on the market about a hot topic--identifying your scrapbook style is a regular topic of threads on scrapbooking message boards
*Inspirational artwork illustrates a variety of styles
Once a scrapbooker knows her style, scrapbooking becomes easier and more focused. In Find Your Groove, authors Kitty Foster and Wendy McKeehan take readers on a journey of discovery with fun exercises, prompts and lots of page examples. This inspiring guide takes readers by the hand with engaging writing, insightful sidebars, and examples of art from a variety of designers to help them find their own unique and distinctive scrapbooking style.

MY REVIEW:
Although I'm not sure I buy the Amazon's claim that is the 'first book on the market' on the topic, IT IS A GREAT BOOK! It is divided into 6 chapters that cover discovering your own personal style (including a FUN QUIZ) to stretching yourself beyond your personal style and finding inspiration in your own and other styles as well. The book outlines 9 common styles:
  1. Clean Lines
  2. Graphic
  3. Eclectic
  4. Classic
  5. Shabby
  6. Old World
  7. Hip & Trendy
  8. Anything Goes
  9. Journalistic
With over 120 layouts, the book is high on inspiration and if I were to classify its 'style' based on their descriptions, I would have to call it a Eclectic/Hip & Trendy combination. the book is well-organized and full of fun swirls and doodles and well as lots of many illustrations with a hand-drawn, water colored look.

Honestly, I can't really think of any 'CONS' for this book. It was informative, inspirational and FUN!

MY RANKING:
5 STARS!! Worth Every Penny!

7 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review! I will have to go purchase this book!

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  2. I just got the book yesterday and love it!!! It really helped me figure out my style!

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  3. Hi Jill. Although I can't take credit for Wendy and Kitty's great book ... I just wanted to chime in here and say hey - I've designed quite a few of the books on your recommended reading list here and I want to say thanks for taking notice and giving the books I've designed 4 or 5 stars.

    Memory Makers Books was my main focus last year at this time in my full time job (as their art director) and although the road has been rocky for the magazine, I'm glad that people are taking note that the books we've been putting out inspires the artist in us all (my goal from the beginning when M Makers moved from Denver to Cincy!)

    Thanks again, and keep on checking out our books. I'm working on Kitty and Wendy's 2nd book right now!

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  4. @marissa ~
    So happy that you stopped by my blog and thank you for your comment! Find Your Groove has been definitely one of my favorites over that past year...and I do think that at least part of that is due to the great design!!

    Although I was quite disheartened with MM's changes in their magazine late last year, I have to say that it has improved exponentially over the past few months. Although different from the MM many of us knew and loved, the magazine is back on my list of favorite scrapbooking mags...great job!!

    Take care and hope you'll visit my blog again!
    Jill

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  5. @chelemom~
    Glad you found the review helpful...don't believe you'll be dissappointed. :-)
    Jill

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  6. @nicole~
    Isn't it great?! This is probably my favorite book from the past year or so...this one's definitely a keeper!
    Jill

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  7. So agree with your review...it is an amazing book!!!

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