Best books this year

All That Glitters, by Alison Cole (goldwork, stumpwork) Long and Short Stitch Embroidery, by Trish Burr Arts and Crafts Needlepoint, by Beth Russell (should be out this month) Check the Japanese Embroidery Center for the new book by Reiko Matsukawa on Japanese bead embroidery, and also for the new silk embroidery book from Kurenai Kai. Both are in Japanese, but the graphics are brilliant.

Haven't seen anything on cross stitch, but who needs a book when there are a million charts?

J

Nothing leaps to the front of my mind (sadly this is often the case), but if you browse the books at

I'm sure that you'll come across something you might like for a gift.

Joanne

So what are the 'best' embroidery books you've seen this year?

Dora

I have this one on my Amazon wish list

Cheryl

That on is in my wishlist as well. Bobbie V.

Does look good doesn't it!

Cheryl

Thanks for the suggestions. My family has a 'one person one gift' exchange, and as the family's Christmas Elf I try to have an exemplary list.

Good suggestions. I have the Beth Russell book on order already, and I haven't seen the Alison Cole book over on this side of the pond yet. It looks good though. I also enjoyed looking at the Japanese embroidery site - maybe some day but I have a feeling it is something I would have to buy for myself. The Trish Burr book is definitely going on the list though - I have the one on Redoute flowers already.

I took a look at the country bumpkin site and found a book on 19th century animal embroideries by Raffella Serena which I thought I would quite like, and it is available on Amazon/Chapters as well.

The knot gardens book would be worthwhile just to look at, I'm sure. A little beyond my skill level I'm afraid.

Thanks again. Dora

I've seen your work - you're being modest.

Cheryl

And you're being nice. Thank you. 8) However I've never done stumpwork and I'm sure I could grow those gardens faster than I could stitch them.

Rem> >

Nonsense. If you can do Redoute's flowers from Burr's book, you can do stumpwork. Stumpwork is fussy but not hard at all. And if needlelace scares you a bit, you don't have to use it. There are other ways around it.

It is time consuming (winding thread around a bead to create a berry is a tedious process), but it's not hard.

Dianne

Browsing through - me and my headache - saw this " In Praise of the Needlewoman: Embroiderers, Knitters, Lacemakers and Weavers in Art"

's by Gail Sirna, who's a great teacher, needleartist herself. Looksquite tempting.

Hmm - am going to try and look at this book somewhere - seems very intriguing for the gardener types amongst us. Can't tell if it's all surface embroidery, or applicable to all types of grounds (which I'm hopeing). The single reviewer likes it a lot. " The Embroiderer's Floral: Designs, Stitches & Motifs for Poular Flowers in Embroidery"

I took a look at the country bumpkin site and found a book on 19th> century animal embroideries by Raffella Serena which I thought I would> quite like, and it is available on Amazon/Chapters as well. You got me looking - I found it at The Needle Arts Book Shop - wow - some awesome illustrations. If you're up for this, then you're certainly up for the stumpwork knot gardens....

This is a link to the Rafaella Serena book (pricey book)

I don't think I want to get started on that set of projects... But, we've seen pix of your work - haven't we? You're up to it - if you want to....

Well, the still aching head (I'm out of my anti-vertigo med, so, just have to go lie down again) are going to leave this lovely book browsing chat...

Later, ellice

A dear friend of mine has the Rafaella Serena book of Embroideries and Patterns from 19th century Vienna, and it is beautifully illustrated and photographed, one of those books you can browse time and time again, if the animal book is produced in the same manner I'm sure it would be most welcome from the Christmas Fairies.

I too have lusted after the knot garden book, but one thing bothers me - what do you do with the finished product? (perhaps it is because I live in a very tiny house that I eschew creating things that can't be used, or perhaps it is just because I am bone idle and can't stand house cleaning)

Joanne

The knot gardens book would be worthwhile just to look at, I'm sure. A little beyond my skill level I'm afraid."

Just takes some creativity in "using". There are acrylic coasters and trivets which can turn small pieces into useful items.

Someone used MLI's Celtic Banner as an insert into a piece of clothing. As a teenager, I spent quite some time stitching a design onto the back of a light cotton jacket.

You can take four coordinating 6" or nine 4" squares and piece them together into a 12" pillow (or add sashing to make it 14" or 16" or

18"), or save up a whole box of smaller pieces and eventually assemble them into a quilt top.

I bought "In Praise of the Needlewoman" and like it very much. Each painting has a page, and the facing page tells about the painting. Some of the paintings are quite interesting.

Lynn > Browsing through - me and my headache - saw this " In Praise of the

Yes, I saw that book as well. I must admit what drew me into the animal one was that tiger on the front looking like he was going to take on a bowl of grapes. I guess I liked the combination of lurid color and fantasy. Dora

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I haven't actually completed a Redoute flower yet, mostly because I need about 3-5 more shades of green.

Meanwhile I've started making Xmas ornaments for 'little gifts'. I'm starting earlier than usual, but Christmas is going to come very very fast.

Dora

Dianne Lewandowski wrote:

I finished mine up last night and have started putting compost and manure on the beds. Then I'll start mulching. No curbside bag of leaves will be safe. Dora

Ah - another leaf perp!

Cheryl

Actually, there is an OK mystery that involves a gardener finding body parts in the bags of leaves she's picked up!

C