Last week, Carol Shinn taught a class at the Quilt/Surface Design Symposium. Spread out around her trusty old sewing machine were these box lids full of cotton threads. Every time I entered her room, I was drawn to the jumble of spools with their soft sheen and subtle variations within each color grouping. This picture explains why so many of us have chosen to work in thread and fabric rather than acrylics or watercolors. Carol's photo-realistic artworks are awe-inspiring. She has written what will surely be considered the bible of machine embroidery. It's called "Freestyle Machine Embroidery." You need a copy. Trust me on this. I have never recommended a book before, but I am blown away by this one. To see Carol's art, go to www.carolshinn.com