Art & Photography Books

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Book SynopsisTom of Finland (born Tuoko Laaksonen, 1920–1991), was an iconic and ground-breaking artist who rose to cult status in the international queer community and beyond for his work celebrating the male figure and masculinity during a time when being homosexual was taboo. Created in partnership with Tom of Finland Foundation, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero is a beautifully detailed account full of never, or rarely seen, materials from his archive. The text was completed just a few months before the death of the artist and he was interviewed at length for it—making this book the only fully approved biography of the legend responsible for creating the muscled, mustachioed gay archetype of the 1960s and '70s. With a foreword by Jean Paul Gaultier, an extensive history, and provocative photos and illustrations, Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero brings to life the story of the icon whose erotic depictions of men influenced many artists, including Robert Mapplethorpe and Bruce Weber.

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Book SynopsisVanessa Baird is confrontational, morbidly funny, even infamous, with her sharp, oblique observations of herself and her times. Go Down with Me, the book accompanying MUNCH's exhibition of the same name, is richly illustrated with works from her whole career. This includes the installation You Must Never Go Down to the End of Town if You Don't Go Down with Me, created especially for MUNCH, which reflects on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.Also included are thought-provoking essays by Kari Brandtzæg, Jon Refsdal Moe, Trude Schjelderup Iversen and Vegard Vinge, demonstrating Baird's ceaseless productivity and unique ability to hit where it hurts the most.

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Book SynopsisAmanda Hislop’s Seascapes is a wonderful reference tool for all textile artists, whatever their skills level. Amanda puts particular emphasis on taking your work from initial inspiration through to the design stage. Her advice and guidance is all clearly explained through practical exercises and inspirational examples that then lead to projects which build upon and consolidate the lessons learned. Textile artists, embroiders, painters and quilters – whatever their skill level – will be inspired by Amanda’s deep love for and fascination with the varied moods of the sea and coastal landscapes. Exploration – both of technique and design – is at the heart of this book. Amanda reveals the skills and processes she uses to make her incredible textile seascapes. Featuring original projects, practical and enjoyable design exercises, and extensive sections on composition and mark-making, this instructional guide is brimming over with fabulous ideas for a stunning selection of fabric and stitch scenes.Trade ReviewI loved this book, it’s fabulous! It has some amazing photographs that make the book interesting to look at and the paper is very good quality printing. One of my favourite parts is all of the ideas to use unusual materials that I’ve taken inspiration from in helping students I work with in a secondary school and in my own crafts at home. I highly recommend this book and look forward to getting more of Amanda’s published works. The book has very easy to follow steps and information on how to develop each medium into your work effectively. -- Linda-Gordon Campbell * Customer review *A brilliant book for a stitcher who wants to learn using mixed media, excellent descriptions of the materials and their uses, with a good step by step guide in pictures to follow. Very informative on how to sketch your ideas when on location and how to transfer them into stitch and varied materials. -- Lyn Rochester * Customer review *I'm one of those lucky people living by the sea and enjoy walking on the beach almost daily. I take thousands of photos on my walks, as the sea is never boring. This book is exactly what I was looking for to encourage me to venture into the world of textile art beyond just photography. From opening the first pages I was gripped by this book. Of course the photographs are two dimensional but the photographs in this book are almost tactile and i just had to stroke them. The use of acrylic paint on stitched fabric might be a total novelty to many stitches as it is to me so I'm looking forwards trying that technique soon. I've picked up lots of tips and I'm still on the first chapter! Never heard of CMC thickener and now I can't wait to try it. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to start or improve their artistic stitching and explore outside one's comfort zone. Amanda's instructions are clear and encouraging exploration from simple mark making, creating personalised sketchbooks to various sources of inspiration. She explains the basic principles of composition, use of colour and stitches without being prescriptive. She gives plenty of examples and ideas for exploration. And now for the exciting part of the book - the projects. There are four projects all explained step by step but leaving the reader with the freedom to create a very personal piece of textile art The possibilities are endless. Each project leads you through the stages of processes but gives you the freedom to explore and create an unique piece of work if one wishes so. I found the chapter on creating dynamism very interesting. Amanda explains how to achieve a sense of movement and I feel empowered with knowledge to try her techniques and explore textile art even further than I ever dared. -- Mariola Beata Smith * Customer review *A beautiful textile art book, full of information from where the author finds inspiration, what tools to use and basic techniques to stage by stage photographic and written instructions to create stunning projects. Perfect as a gift, a resource or coffee table book. -- Zoe Ballard * Customer review *This is an outstanding book. Covers techniques and excellent instructions. Beautiful examples of sketchbooks and ideas. -- Jacqui Dove * Customer review *The book is beautifully presented with very clear instructions for different techniques. The illustrations are clear and useful for practical tasks. The book is inspirational to embroiders like myself or other kinds of textile artists. -- Pauline Pritchard * Customer review *This book more than lived up to the promise of the cover. Every image conjures up the taste of salt, the dampness of foam and the colours of the sea. This is a book for beginner and expert alike. She offers, not just a list of tools and materials needed to create such images, but the reasons for using each in differing circumstances. Many examples use found or recycled materials, extending the experience beyond the craft place. She shares the stages of her work from the sketch books she uses in the field to the building up of layers. With this multi-media approach, Amanda uses a mix of exercises and mark making to encourage experimenting with materials. There are projects described step by step, but Amanda also points out that working from your own experience, your own sketches or photographs, will produce more personal pieces with a greater sense of involvement. I can’t wait to put some of her ideas into practice and I am sure that I will refer to this book time and again. Amanda Hislop writes that she sets out to “create an atmospheric sense of place” in her artwork. She does not disappoint. -- Ann Williams * Customer review *If you like to paint and stitch, which many Silk Painters do, this is the book for you. Not into sewing, then the interpretation will capture your imagination. Amanda Hislop usese a restricted palette of blues, greys and ochres to create wonderful seascapes, working with sketchbooks from location visits. An extensive use of mark making, thumbnail sketches and moodboards leads to translating mark into stitch. This book is a lively interpretation of sea, shore, rocks and shells, taking note of mood and atmosphere. I have looked at this book many times and each time find something new that triggers ideas for a new painting. The colour palette certainly ensures the mind will consider new colours. Most of us love the sea, visiting it through another's eyes is exciting. -- Margaret Dunning * International Journal of the Guild of Silk Painters *The coast is a special place for many people, evoking memories of childhood vacations or time spent admiring its beauty. This latest entry in Search Press’ Stitched Textiles series explores one artist’s love affair with the seaside and how she creates pictures that express it in paint and thread. I always enjoy the books in this series, as I love the way that each book not only shows how to do it but gives an insight into an artist’s vision and methods of working. Everybody’s style is different, and a good primer will give the tools and understanding to do it yourself, but also see how the author does it. This is not a book about wearable, washable textiles but the sort of art you can hang on the wall so the list of materials includes things like different types of paper, many with a good wet strength. Reading through the lists of items Ms Hislop uses was fascinating, as it includes various types of wax, gauze and many other unusual things. Seeing them put through their paces to create art was quite an education, as was seeing the sketchbooks the artist makes of marks and patterns, and having a go at some of the exercises. There are chapters on her use of colour, composition rules, how she uses a sewing machine to free motion stitch and how to turn those sketch book marks into stitches. Other chapters look at dividing a page into sea, sky and shore and creating a series of pictures, working with texture and making the horizon your focal point. After all this learning it is time to have a go at some projects and there are four of these, interspersed with a look at how to get certain effects right. These include atmosphere, creating a sense of movement and items found on the shoreline. Each section has plenty of examples and the projects have the type of staged photographs Search Press do so well, and which give even a beginner a chance at making a decent fist of it. This is a very inspiring book that will give anybody many ideas to explore. If you cannot find a good range of embroidery and needlecraft materials locally try http://www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers. -- Rachel A Hyde * myshelf.com *The latest in this excellent Stitched Textiles series is Amanda’s first book showcasing her love of the sea as inspiration and packed with examples of her work. For anyone who loves the ever-changing moods of the sea and coastlines, then this is the book for you. Amanda shows us how to use a wide range of materials, including paints and papers, fabrics and threads, demonstrating how colour and texture can produce the effect we might wish to portray. Amanda enjoys depicting not just the sea and sky but the flotsam and jetsam of the seashore, including shells, pebbles, rocks and fossils. She guides us through the processes with four step-by-step projects, using a mixed-media approach, encouraging the reader to create their own satisfying interpretation of a favourite coastal area. Highly recommended. * East Kent Embroiderers' *Who doesn't love the sea? And the possibilities to create textile work from this natural wonder are endless. Amanda Hislop shares her wonderful techniques and inspiration in this latest Stitched Textiles publication from Search Press. Amanda uses a wide range of materials to create her seascape pieces and there is a comprehensive discussion about which base fabrics, threads, paints etc. and found materials to use in your work. Amanda's approach uses exercises to build up marks in a sketchbook and there are a few exercises to get you looking and starting to build up a set of references to use in your textile work. She guides you, even if you're not comfortable with drawing, and this section is a great help for loosening up! Composition is discussed in quite some detail to make you think about the balance between sea and sky, how much detail you want to show and takes you through basic principles to achieve a balanced picture. The book then goes on to talk about colour and how to approach the changes of light in a seascape. Developing the mark-making theme, Amanda guides us through doodling with your sewing machine to add line and texture to a textile piece. Again, there are exercises to walk you through the processes. As with the other books in this series, this book offers you the chance to follow four step-by-step projects to develop your skills before embarking on your own seascapes. Amanda covers the shoreline, man-made forms, textures and patterns to help your textile piece develop into an accomplished piece of work. Once again, this series of book have become 'must-reads' for those of us wishing to explore how to develop and improve techniques for textile art. Amanda's book covers a huge amount of ground and is accessible for those who don't feel particularly artistic! The step-by-step projects give you the confidence to have a go and really just relax and play! Highly recommended. * Julie Briggs - Sewing Directory *An exciting addition to this wonderful series that explores textile techniques and design. Step inside the wonderful world of seascapes with artist Amanda Hislop. Find original projects, step-by-step demonstrations, clear photographs and instructions and inspiration through design exercises. Discover how to capture the magic of the seaside, the shore and sea in stitch. Many wonderful samples of finished work and of how the artist works. Looks at inspiration, sketchbooks, drawing and mark making as well as methods. A delight for anyone who loves the sea and stitch. -- Karen Platt * karenplatt.co.uk *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Materials 8 Inspiration 14 Colours 38 Using stitch 46 The sea, the sky and the shore 56 Imagined Seascapes 66 Step-by-step project Mood and atmosphere 74 Stormy Seas, Waves Crash 84 Step-by-step project The shoreline 92 Elements of the Shore 102 Step-by-step project Rhythms, patterns and structures 110 Sand Banks in the Estuary 120 Step-by-step project Index 128

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Book SynopsisThis book comprises a timely and controversial assertion of beauty as vital to the energy of contemporary art. As such it surveys work by an international group of artists who share an intense and highly individualistic focus on the processes of making, authorship and aesthetic poise. An essay by Michael Bracewell shares with its subjects the return of aesthetics to the science of feelings; to the individual as opposed to identity'; and to a sensibility in visual art that is literary, flees the stereotype and rejects sociopolitical verbiage. It is a concept of beauty in some recent art that is less about representation than it is about memoir, fictional devices, cultural connoisseurship as praxis and the profundity of human relationships.

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Book SynopsisMarianne von Werefkin was not only a talented artist but also a shrewd free thinker and hostess: at the beginning of the twentieth century famous artists including Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Alfred Kubin, Adolf Erbslöh, Erma Bossi, Franz Marc and August Macke assembled in Marianne von Werefkin’s salon in the Schwabing district of Munich. After a long break from painting in order to further her companion Alexej Jawlensky, Werefkin returned to her own art in 1906 and created fascinating works in a new, expressive style. Descended from a family of Russian aristocrats, the artist was an important forerunner and co-founder of the “Neue Künstlervereinigung München” (Munich New Artist’s Association), from which the “Blauer Reiter” developed. In addition to the artist’s early works from Russia and the Expressionist pictures which resulted from her sojourns in the region around Murnau, the Werefkin specialist Brigitte Salmen presents an appreciation of the artist’s later work, which is less well known and which was created in Ascona, where she lived in exile in Switzerland.

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Book SynopsisFormgiving. An Architectural Future History by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), is a visionary attempt to look at the horizon of time. The Danish word for “design” is “formgivning,” which literally means to give form to that which has not yet taken shape. In other words, to give form to the future. Using our power to give form, rather than allowing the future to take shape, is more important now than ever, as humankind’s impact on the planet continues to increase and pose ever greater challenges to all life forms. Architecture plays a special role by proposing spaces for our lives that are fragments of the future in the making. William Gibson’s words embody architecture’s role perfectly: “The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed.” With Formgiving, BIG presents the last part of its trilogy, which began with Yes is More, one of the most successful architectural books of its generation, and continued with Hot to Cold. An Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation. The book is presented in a timeline, stretching from the Big Bang into the most distant future. Projects are structured around six strands of evolution—“Making,” “Sensing,” “Sustaining,” “Thinking,” “Healing,” and “Moving”—the multimedia-based, interdisciplinary concepts encompassing the building industry. Culture, climate, and landscape, as well as all the energies derived from the elements—the thermal mass of the ocean, the dynamics of currents, the energy and warmth of the sun, the power of the wind—are incorporated into these projects. Throughout more than 700 pages, Bjarke Ingels presents his personal selection of projects, including the 12,000-square-meter LEGO House in Denmark, the human-made ecosystems floating on oceans, the redesign of a World War II bunker into a contemplative museum, and the ski slope-infused power plant celebrating Copenhagen’s commitment to carbon neutrality. Through architecture and design, BIG gives shape to a sustainable and simultaneously colorful world. Bjarke Ingels: “To feel that we have license to imagine a future different from today, all we have to do is look back ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, to realize how radically different things were then than they are today. The same will be true if we can look ahead with the same clarity of vision. As we tackle the complexities of everyday life, these six evolutionary trajectories allow us to place a firm gaze on the horizon of time to prevent us from being derailed by the random distractions of today. Since we know from our past that our future is bound to be different from our present, rather than waiting for it to take shape on its own, we have the power to give it form.” More than 65 projects document BIG’s global work through the eyes of their users, from the drawing board to global construction sites and finished projects. Throughout the book are insights into developments that reach five, ten, or fifty years into the future, and evidence of BIG’s intransigence to reach beyond the ordinary, and beyond worlds, to contribute to the future with each project. Each step not only reveals a world that resembles our dreams but also already tries to realize these dreams pragmatically. We have the power to create the world of tomorrow! The book features: previously unpublished essays by Bjarke Ingels, award-winning photography by Laurian Ghinitoiu, Iwan Baan, and Rasmus Hjortshøj, among others, planetary proposals for habitats on the Moon and research centers on Mars, 20 LEGO master-builder models of BIG’s work, a glimpse of Masterplanet—BIG’s ongoing work on a collective, crowdsourced masterplan guide for sustaining our planet. Trade Review„Formgiving is a comprehensive and exciting insight into the universe and the way BIG thinks.“ * Topos *“This is a treasure trove of a book – a super-monograph which not only records the works and projects of a major global practice, but provides insights into the contexts and ideas which have informed their work and our existence.” * Paul Finch. Founder of the World Architecture Festival *“A Rosetta Stone of sorts on the cover shows a graphic evolution of the word ‘formgiving’ an English verbal combination calqued on the Danish term for design. The transition from archaic glyphs to the galactic typography of rocket augurs the incommensurate time horizon that this ambitious book by Bjarke Ingels’s ubiquitous firm purports to tackle.” * Arquitectura Viva *“A parking garage doubles up as a cultural hub, a museum is also a bridge, an incinerator is an urban park, etc. etc. Formgiving brings together over 100 of these synthesisations, raising, defining and answering a few big questions along the way and continuing a hunger for publishing as way of building an image.” * Wallpaper* *“Formgiving is the third instalment of the innovative office of BIG architects, part manifesto, part exhibition catalogue, part monograph, this interesting title takes us to the world of Bjarke Ingels and his colleagues, the architectural firm which has established itself as the optimist innovators in the architectural profession.” * Edgar Gonzalez Moreno *“If Hadid was the closest thing architecture previously had to a mainstream star, Ingels has gone supernova.” * Esquire *

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Book SynopsisBrooklyn is one of the most dynamic and ethnically diverse places on the planet. In fact, it’s estimated that one in every eight US families had relatives come through Brooklyn when settling in the country. Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb have been photographing this New York City borough for the past seven years, creating a profound and vibrant portrait. Alex Webb has traversed every corner of the borough, exploring its tremendous diversity. This parallels his work made in the past forty years, traveling to photograph different cultures around the world—all of which are represented in the place he now calls home. Contrasting with this approach, Rebecca Norris Webb photographed “the city within the city within the city,” the green heart of Brooklyn—the Botanic Garden, Green-Wood Cemetery, and Prospect Park, where Brooklynites of all walks of life cross paths as they find solace. Together, their photographs of Brooklyn tell a larger American story, one that touches on immigration, identity, and home.Trade Review“(The Webbs) have brought together their greatest images in a new book called Brooklyn: The City Within.” —The Guardian

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Book SynopsisThe Artist’s Garden offers an intriguing study into 20 gardens that have inspired and been home to some of the greatest painters of history. The most alluring image of an artist at work is surely one where he or she has come out of their studio, set up their easel on the garden path, pulled on a hat to shade their eyes from the sun and taken their brush and palette in hand. This sumptuously illustrated and fascinating book delves into the stories behind the gardens which inspired some of the most beautiful and important works of art. These gardens not only supplied the inspiration for creative works but also illuminate the professional motivation and private life of the artists themselves – from Cezanne’s house in the south of France to Childe Hassam at Celia Thaxter’s garden off the coast off Maine. Flowers and gardens have often been the first choice for artists looking for a subject. A garden close to the artist’s studio is not only convenient for daily material and ideas, but also has the advantage of changing through the seasons and over time. Claude Monet’s Giverny was the catalyst for hundreds of great paintings (by Monet and other artists), each one different from the one before. Sometimes a whole village becomes the focus for a colony of artists as at Gerberoy in Picardy and Skagen on the northernmost tip of Denmark. This book is about the real homes and gardens that inspired these great artists – gardens that can still be visited today. The relationship between artist and garden is a complex one. A few artists, including Pierre Bonnard and his neighbour Monet were keen gardeners, as much in love with their plants as their work, while for others like Sorolla in Madrid, his courtyard home was both a sanctuary and a source of ideas. This book is as unmissable for art lovers as it is for anyone who knows the joy of time spent in gardens, offering an intriguing insight into the lives of these great painters and the gardens which inspired them to their creative heights.Table of ContentsTHE ARTIST AT HOME AND AT WORK Leonardo da Vinci Amboise, France Peter Paul Rubens Antwerp, Belgium Paul Cezanne Aix-en Provence, France Pierre August Renoir Champagne and Le Côte d'Azur, France Max Liebermann Lake Wannsee, Germany Joaquin Sorolla Madrid, Spain Henri Le Sidaner Gerberoy, Picardie, France Emil Nolde Seebull, Nordfriesland, Germany Frida Kahlo The Blue House, Coyoacán, Mexico Salvador Dali Portlligat and Púbol, Spain THE ARTISTS' COMMUNITY Monet and friends Argenteuil, Vétheuil and Giverny, France The Skagen Painters North Jutland, Denmark The Kirkcudbright artists 156 Broughton House, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, UK William Morris and his circle 168 Kelmscott Manor, Oxfordshire, England, UK New England Impressionists 182 Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire, USA German Expressionists 194 Murnau, Bavaria, Germany The Charleston artists 206 Charleston, Sussex, England, UK Selected reading 218 Visiting details 218 Index 220 Acknowledgments and picture credits 224

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Book SynopsisPamela Taylor's exquisitely detailed and accurately observed pen-and-ink drawings of ancient and veteran trees from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire are accompanied by artistic and ecological observations telling stories of the trees themselves and the surrounding landscape, as well as spotlight sections and advice for artists.

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Book SynopsisThis sumptuous book by accomplished embroiderer Ayako Otsuka is full of incredibly delicate and beautiful whitework embroidery of all kinds. Whitework is simply embroidery worked in white thread on white fabric, and it is renowned for its calm beauty and simplicity. An ancient form of embroidery that was popular in the Middle Ages, Ayako has brought whitework completely up to date with her gorgeous examples. The projects include such items as a sampler, a tea cosy, a teddy bear cushion, a christening gown, a ring bearer’s pillow and a table runner. Some items are more complex than others, and there is a comprehensive techniques section with detailed step-by-step instructions, clear photographs and diagrams to guide you. Featuring drawn thread work, Schwalm, Ajour and Hedebo embroidery among other techniques, there is a wealth of information here for the keen embroiderer and 30 very beautiful projects to choose from. Trade ReviewCreate 30 exquisite whitework projects using traditional stitches and techniques under the guidance of accomplished embroiderer Ayako Otsuka. Using draw thread work, Schwalm embroidery, Ajour embroidery, Hedebo embroidery and other techniques, Otsuka includes step-by-step instructions, clear photographs and diagrams to guide you. * The Textile Art Magazine - Embroidery *Love the front cover, it is inviting you to sit and 'look at me' and enticing you to look inside. The photographs and descriptions offer delicious ideas to tempt a creative mind, for me as a novice to this embroidery. So often in craft books they begin with a chapter on tools and materials. I like the setup of the first section of your photos of projects at the beginning. This sparks my interest whilst my mind is thinking what do I need to get started, but let's turn another page and wow, more delicious ideas. To get started on a project, very little is required. Living in North Devon I haven't been able to find any suitable linen locally, so will have to search the internet instead. From page 88 the instructions for the projects are clear and well laid out. Any problems with the stitches are easily solved in the Basic Embroidery section where the colour of blue thread makes it clear to follow. I can see many of my friends and fellow crafters wanting a copy! -- Kath Harding * Customer review *Whitework embroidery is something I haven't tried before so I was eager to flick through this book and it hasn't disappointed. I love the idea of starting by creating a sampler to learn all the different stitches and techniques. There is a section on tools and materials and then an in-depth guide to the various stitches with clear photographs, and everything seems to be clearly explained. It all made sense to me even as a beginner. I especially loved the full-size templates in the back of the book as they will make it so much easier. The book is packed full of projects, I particularly loved the christening gown, it would make the perfect family heirloom. Even though this is a traditional technique I can see some of the projects in here being used as a centre panel of a cushion maybe surrounded by a bright modern print. The book is beautifully photographed and well thought out. -- Sarah Gage * Customer review *A beautiful book, featuring traditional and modern designs, with a comprehensive worksheet. Excellent step by step photos and diagrams, plus stitch glossary. Very good section on tools and materials. -- Lyn Rochester * Customer review *This is a beautiful looking book with many gorgeous, inspiring photographs. Some of these are of complete projects whilst many others form part of the very clear step by step instructions. Additionally, there are also many diagrams for each project with clear instructions for each step in the process. At the back of the book there are instructions for the basic embroidery stitches and also a set of patterns as required for projects in the book. The book includes a total of 30 designs with some which could be successfully attempted by a first time Whitework Embroiderer through to other more challenging designs. There are two samplers which give an opportunity to practice and demonstrate the skills learnt. I dream of one day being able to make the very beautiful Heritage Christening Gown. -- Louise Waters * Customer review *An extremely well laid out book for those of that have never attempted Whitework before but also I think for those with some previous experience too. Rather like having a workshop at home, which you can work through at your own pace, with clear instructions and excellent pictures as well. And of course there's no reason you couldn't transfer the skills learnt to use red, black or blue threads for example as you become more confident, accomplished or adventurous! -- Lyn Lewis * Customer review *This book is a great stand alone read before you even pick up a needle. It has sections on the history of whitework with examples of styles from different countries. Techniques included are Schwalm, Hedebo and Hvidsom as well as the more familiar broderie anglaise, pulled thread and drawn thread work. All are beautifully photographed to make your mouth water. There are 30 projects ranging from simple small bags, sachets and needlebooks to challenging projects for cushions babywear and samplers. Instructions are clearly presented with each step accompanied by colour photographs, and paper patterns for the projects are included at the back of the book. Materials and tools are discussed, these being fairly simple and readily available, making it an inexpensive craft. Stitches are mostly basic embroidery stitches and instructions for these are also included at the end of the book. The only thing missing is a list of suppliers but as most materials are readily available from local shops or online it's not really necessary. Even if you never attempted whitework before this book inspires the confidence to try it out while at the same time experienced whiteworkers will enjoy the more intricate designs. It's a beautiful, beautiful book I have thoroughly enjoyed reading, It will become a treasured part of my stitch book collection and I can't wait to get started on some of the projects. -- Carol Fenlon * Customer review *An absolutely beautiful book, full of detailed instructions, lovely photos/pictures. The introduction tells of the history behind the different stitches, its a fab coffee table book too. -- Jane Symonds * Customer review *What an amazing book! Just what I wanted to relight a passion for embroidery. All instructions very clear and even has templates included. I am getting it for a friend for Christmas I was that impressed. -- Emma Brown * Customer review *What a beautiful book this is. 30 gorgeous whitework embroidery designs for you to make. These interesting and varied designs use traditional stitches. The detailed techniques section is accompanied by step-by-step illustrations. The instructions show different types of whitework including drawn, counted and pulled. Two sampler patterns allow you to practice your skills. This book is suitable for beginner upwards. Handmade projects make perfect gifts and keepsakes and include table linens and items such as a teacosy, cushions, accessories, gifts for babies including a heirloom christening gown, and gifts for a wedding such as a ringbearer pillow. Embroiderers will find this book a pleasure to look at and practical with good projects and clear instructions. The projects are elegant. I have one niggle, all the photos are at the front followed by tools, materials, techniques and then the instructions and the back with only line drawings. I prefer clear photos with the project instructions. -- Karen Platt * karenplatt.co.uk *Understated, classic and beautiful – that is whitework, a traditional and often neglected style of embroidery. This book brings it up to date and shows how it can be used to adorn all kinds of useful and elegant items for the home and beyond. I confess that although I have tried many types of embroidery, I have never done any whitework. Fortunately, it says on the back cover that this book is ideal for anybody new to it or who needs a refresher. Like all the books I have seen that originated in Japan this one follows a particular layout. At the front are photographs of all the projects, followed by the instructions and patterns. Also, at the front is a short introduction to whitework, mentioning five different styles and where they originated from. You then get to try them all out in two samplers first which is a great idea as you then get a flavour of what they are like and how they are worked. There are thirty projects to make including cushions, sewing kit items such as a needle case and pincushion, heirloom pieces for christenings and weddings, table settings, sachets and more. Following the gallery is a section on what tools and materials you will need (not many) and all the stitches. These are grouped under the five styles, so you get to know which stitches are associated with each. There are many pages of staged photographs and diagrams, some of which might have been even better larger (ditto the print) but you will need sharp vision and a good light anyway for whitework. Many of the stitches are quite complex so it is good that so many stages are shown, together with tips for foolproof results. Last are the projects, each with a list of materials, finished size and written instructions, plus diagrams and at the back a pullout pattern sheet. To any real beginners all this might seem daunting; I would recommend anybody who has never done any type of embroidery to have a go at some freestyle first, as whitework is not one of the easiest types. Some of the more complex pieces such as the christening gown come with instructions and diagrams rather like those on a paper pattern. The simpler sections are given to mark out with measurements, the more complex parts appear on the pattern sheet. To make most of these projects you will need the usual sewing know-how plus a sewing machine. At the very back is an index of stitches plus diagrams for some freestyle stitches which are also featured in some projects. I have never done any whitework before as it seemed like such a bewilderingly huge topic with so many styles, but this book helps simplify it and I feel that I will at last take the plunge. Highly recommended for making the complex seem very doable. If you cannot find a good range of embroidery and needlecraft materials locally try http://www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers. -- Rachel A Hyde * Myshelf.com *Whitework Embroidery is an absolute beautiful thing to see. White embroidery on white fabric is just stunning. It gives an antique and millionaire feel to any home. Filled with techniques, this is a book that will advance your skills and enable you to complete a project with a stunning professional finish. There are 30 projects, the Baby layette is amazing, but that said all the designs are skilfully and expertly showcased. I just hope I can achieve the same result. The introduction to the book is an interesting read and gives some history on the craft. There are 2 samplers included which give the chance to practice and hone your embroidery. These can be as small or as large as you choose. Each project has a visual and written stitch guide included and a large double sided pattern sheet has the designs that can be easily traced. If you love embroidery then this book is for you. Even a beginner will appreciate the beauty of the work involved and it will inspire and motivate any stitcher. -- Tracy Shephard * Postcard Reviews *Table of ContentsWhitework Sampler I Doily Dish Covers Tea Pot Cosy Edged Placemats Buttonhole Scallop Coasters The Cushion Collection: Floral Cushion Snowflake Cushion Teddy Bear Cushion Hen Cushion Drawn Work Bolster Eyelet Cushion Envelope Pillow Whitework Sampler II Christening Gown Bib Bonnet Booties Sachets Drawstring Pouches Ring Bearer’s Pillow Table Runner Napkin Rings Pin Cushion Doily Embroidery Tool Case Cube Pin Cushions Needle Book Tools & Materials Whitework Techniques: Schwalm Embroidery Hedebo Embroidery Drawn Thread Work Eyelet Work Count Work Mask Work Ajour Embroidery Surface Embroidery Stitches

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Book SynopsisNamed to Fast Company's "most promising" books list for September 2019 From his early days working out of his dorm room and shooting on film to becoming a Nikon ambassador and official photographer of the historic Dawn Wall ascent, Corey Rich has been capturing iconic shots of adventure superstars for more than two decades. Now Corey tells how he got some of his favorite images of climbers, adventurers, skiers, performance artists, and more. He shares insights into the business of photography, photography tips, outdoor lessons, and what he has learned about human nature along the way. Featured outdoor athletes include: Tommy Caldwell Project Bandaloop Beth Rodden Lynn Hill Ashima Shiraishi Kelly Slater Bear Grylls Alex Honnold Fred Beckey and many more Read an interview with Corey. Read an excerpt from the book about working with Beth RoddenTrade ReviewCorey Rich is one of those rare breeds that marries multiple skills and somehow makes 2 and 2 add up to 5. As a true artist, he is as fine a photographer as he is a climber, teacher, mentor, speaker, and storyteller.--Rich Clarkson, former director of photography at National Geographic A life well lived is the reflection of a world-class person. That is Corey! His courage, creativity and photographic brilliance is inspirational. World class is the essence of story behind the image.--Tom Frost, Yosemite climbing and adventure photography pioneer Epic stories from a man who has lived and worked on the edge.--Bear Grylls, survival specialist and television personality Corey Rich is one of the best visual storytellers out there. Stories Behind the Images is a behind-the-scenes look that shows you that the person holding the camera is perhaps the biggest adventurer of them all. I absolutely love this book.--Tommy Caldwell, professional climber Corey Rich, the official photographer for the Dawn Wall ascent, shares lessons from his life's work in Stories Behind the Images. His subjects include some of the best known names in the outdoors.--Outdoor Project Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "Stories Behind the Images: Lessons from a Life in Adventure Photography" is an inherently fascinating and impressively informative read from first page to last.--Midwest Book Review You'll find in Corey Rich's newly released Stories Behind the Images: Lessons from a Life in Adventure Photography, a cross between eye-popping imagery and very readable essays on the process of bringing those photographs into being.--Rangefinder If you're looking to read about people, check out Corey Rich's Stories Behind the Images: Lessons from a Life in Adventure Photography. For over two decades he has snapped pictures of folks who attempt amazing feats, and now he's sharing the tales behind them.--Sara Barnes, "10 Art Books That Will Nourish Your Creative Soul" "My Modern Met "

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Book SynopsisAn indispensable introduction to the evolution of Buddhist imagery from its origins in India through its spread to China, Japan, and South Asia For more than 2,000 years, sublime works of art have been created to embody essential aspects of Buddhist thought, which developed and evolved as its practice spread from India to East Asia and beyond. How to Read Buddhist Art introduces this complex visual tradition to a general audience by examining sixty seminal works. Beginning with the origins of representations of the Buddha in India, and moving on to address the development of Buddhist art as the religion spread across Asia, this book conveys how Buddhist philosophy affected artistic works and practice across cultural boundaries. Reliquaries, sculptures, and paintings produced in China, the Himalayas, Japan, Korea, and South and Southeast Asia provide insight into the rich iconography of Buddhism, the technical virtuosity of their makers, and the social and political climate in which they were created. Beautiful photographs of the artworks, maps, and a glossary of the major Buddhist deities offer an engaging and informative setting in which readers—regardless of their familiarity with Buddhism—can better understand the art related to the religion’s practices and representations.Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press

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Book SynopsisIt was just like any other day, being stuck in Beirut traffic with nothing to do but look around when I noticed the Arabic word Mahrooseh (protected) on the back of a large truck in front of me. As I was there for a while, I started noticing the detailed art and hand-drawn vernacular calligraphy, the evil eye, the cedars and many decorative patterns. That was when I was inspired to begin this journey of photographing and documenting as many trucks as I could all over Lebanon. Lebanon, a country that is small in size, yet large in its cultural diversity. From its rare and beautiful traditions are the sayings on most trucks, especially the ones for goods transportation that are common across the country. Wherever you are you will rarely find a truck without a proverb painted on it; be it a saying, a joke, part of a song, or a passing thought. They are beautifully decorated to elaborate the meaning. But most of them are used to ward off the evil eye.

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