Greetings to all,
I haven't been around most of this year due to being overwhelmed with too many deadlines, working on several projects at once, as well as reconfiguring my latest Mac....upgraded to a G-5 iMac desk unit this past April, my first one as I've been a laptop user from the very first Mac 100 series laptop all the way to the G4 version. It's a lot better reading off a large screen monitor than the constant scrolling on laptop screens.
Through these months I've acquired quite a pile of new books including some excellent needlework volumes. I'd like to share one of the best ones I've seen.....
Title: Silken Threads - a history of Embroidery in China, Korea, Japan &Vietnam Author: Young Yang Chung Publisher: Harry N Abrams, NY 2005 Price:US $75.00 ISBN: 0-8109-4330-1
This is one hefty, artistic volume filled with easy to read informative text and many beautiful close up pictures of Asian embroideries from the past to modern day including fine examples of the author's own needle. This beautifully done book is worth every penny (one can get this at discount too). A copy of this book makes a perfect partner with the author's previous volume, Painting with a Needle 2002 that showed the "how-to's" of Asian stitches.
Between these two books one can learn quite a lot about Asian design, culture and needlework. Even for someone like myself who grew up surrounded by Chinese needleworks has learned something about other Asian cultures, the different clothing styles, types of needlework and history behind it.
Having this book is similar to being given a private guided tour of Asian arts & embroideries.....a real treat to see the pics many of which have never been seen before along with a continuing commentary on what one is seeing.
One picture shows the author standing with the director of the Chinese Suzhou Embroidery Institute holding a side stretcher bar that's probably almost as high as the first story of an average house!
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I've been wondering why many of us in the US using frames stitch upright with the needlework frame parallel to one's body compared to the professional Asian stitchers that will stitch downwards into the fabric stretched across the frame similar to a table.
I've also noticed the same way of stitching downwards in the Lessage embroidery house where they make those famous beaded appliques and trims.
to be useful in laying flat stitches instead of the usual up in the air stitching.....I stitch both ways depending what I'm doing.