Textile arts and artworks Books

Book SynopsisIn the far east of France, close to the German and Swiss borders, lies the historic city of Mulhouse. During the early 19th century, it became one of the leading centres of textile manufacture in the country. Today it is home to the Musée de l'Impression sur Étoffes, a museum dedicated entirely to the history of fabric printing from the 17th century right up to the present day.Few are the serious fashion designers who have not come to visit this astonishing temple to textiles. This book, however, gives you the key to those vaults, presenting on its broad pages perfectly captured images of its collections that span four different continents recounting a fascinating artistic and technological adventure across the world, from its origins in India to the most contemporary creations.Across two volumes, you'll discover nine luxuriantly illustrated chapters that being to glorious life a chronological and thematic overview of the Musée's unprecedented retrospective

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Book SynopsisA creative guide to a unique and beautiful form of Korean art, steeped in ancient tradition.Bojagi are textiles that wrap, cover, carry, or store objects. Some are made from whole pieces of fabric and some are patched together from small scraps of cloth - they are a unique form of Korean textile art. The careful arrangement of shapes and colours shows an abstract composition which has made bojagi popular with textile artists and quilters today. In this book, experienced artist and educator Youngmin Lee gives you comprehensive step-by-step instructions on traditional bojagi techniques and materials, and provides a history of the art form in Korean culture - which dates back to the Joseon dynasty - where it continues to occupy a prominent place in the daily lives of Koreans. Learn hand stitch techniques, seam finishes and decorative motifs on a range of materials from ramie, hemp and cotton to silk and naturally dyed, eco-printed materials.Youngmin intr

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis exquisite book, a follow-up to the hugely successful Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers, is written by needlework expert Trish Burr in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It features a starter project that introduces the reader to the most commonly used stitches, including long-and-short stitch, split stitch, satin stitch, bullions and French knots, then nine full sampler projects. The samplers feature a vast array of fauna and flora, including butterflies, bugs, birds, a rabbit and a hedgehog; lotuses, foxgloves, poppies, toadstools, and numerous wildflowers. The book explains all the stitches needed, and gives thorough advice on preparation and choosing fabrics and threads. All the projects are shown step-by-step, with an order of work diagram given where appropriate. All the reusable iron-on transfers needed are kept safely together with the book in an attractive hardback folder. The enclosed reusable iron-on transfer papers offer embroiderers a fast and accurate method of transferring the designs – the transfers simply need ironing on to fabric so that the reader can start embroidering straight away. The templates are also included at full size at the back of both editions of the book. This stunning yet practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing the intricacy of nature in thread. Trade ReviewWhether you are a beginner or experienced embroiderer, this book will guide you through the various stages of creating beautiful samplers. It has certainly encouraged me to take up embroidery again after many years. Not only are there photos of the various stages to creating a beautiful piece of work, but also samplers to trace and there are also iron-on samplers included. What a treat for anyone who loves to embroider. -- Sally Bunyan * Customer Review *This book is absolutely stunning and bigger and much more extensive than I was expecting. I have a number of embroidery books now and although some are really good, I’ve never found one that had everything in that a beginner needs to know. I think my search for that is over as I’m yet to think of a single thing that Trish hasn’t covered in this amazing book. It really is a one-stop-shop and while it assumes you know nothing, it’s also not patronising or over detailed and so I’m sure it would suit any skill or experience level because there’s always something new you can learn. The book itself is a hardback folder design with an elastic strap closure which keeps the whole thing together or can be used as a make-shift bookmark to mark your place. On opening the folder the left sleeve contains the iron-on transfers. I’ve not yet had a chance to use the iron-on transfers but having used them in the previous title in this series, there’s a bit of an art to using them but they work really well if you follow the included instructions and don’t move the iron whilst pressing them as this causes blurring. There are detailed instructions in the book and on Trish’s website which explain two different methods to get a good transfer. These aren’t single-use and Trish says that they can be used 2 or 3 times each which is ideal when practising. The back of the paperback book is tucked into the sleeve on the right side of the folder so it can either remain where it is or be removed to use loose. The book contains absolutely heaps of photos, information, tutorials, tips and so much more. It covers everything from how to naturally dye fabric, what fabrics and threads to use, to step-by-step stitch instructions, how to mount, frame and display your pieces as well as loads of information about what to do and not to do and crucially, why. Often in techniques books it feels like a lot of rules and they’re not really explained and I’ve been left feeling silly wondering why it has to be done that specific way. Trish has explained a lot of these things as well as showing where things are preference rather than a better or worse way of doing something. It contains such a wealth of information, experience and knowledge, it’s just jam-packed and so well curated! The designs themselves are absolute works of art. They look so real and lifelike and while they look very overwhelming to attempt, the step-by-step instructions accompanied by thread lists, stitching details and loads of in progress colour photos of the work, mean that you can’t go wrong stitching along. The book contains 10 projects which doesn’t sound like a great deal but one of them actually consists of 11 different elements. The patterns include lots of different flowers and seed pods, a bee, some butterflies, an owl, a hedgehog, a rabbit, a wren and some insects so individually it’s actually more like 54 projects (plus 9 aspects of the stitch sampler to practice) when you break it down. They’re arranged into 3 different difficulty levels and they range from simpler projects to large, advanced samplers that are packed with detail and technique. It would be an amazing project to work your way through all of the tutorials and I’m sure it would massively improve your technique. Overall, I can’t speak highly enough of this book. If you only want one book on the subject, this is most definitely the one to get as it tells you everything you could possibly need to know, I love it! -- Lucy Fyles * Customer Review *This stunning book is for anyone interested in capturing nature in thread. The starter project introduces all commonly used stitches. Reusable iron-on transfers are in a hardback folder, along with full-size templates. * Machine Knitting Monthly, October 2023 *Table of ContentsForeword 6 Introduction 8 What is needle painting? 10 Tools and materials 10 Preparation 16 Mounting your embroidery in a wooden hoop 20 Stitch instructions 22 Outlines 32 Raised embroidery 34 Natural dyeing 36 Stitching the projects 40 Useful advice before you start 40 SIMPLE PROJECTS 42 Starter stitch sampler 44, Poppy sampler 54, Wildflower Sampler 60, Sacred lotus flower sampler 68, Breadseed poppy sampler 76 INTERMEDIATE PROJECTS 88 Barn owl sampler 90, Bunny sampler 104, Butterfly sampler 118 ADVANCED PROJECTS 134 Pelargonium sampler 136, Dragonfly sampler 152 The templates 168 Using iron-on transfers 176

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful and inspirational book written by a doyenne of British textile design explores the art of painting and making patterns on cloth. Fabrics bring colour and vibrance to our lives, adding inventiveness and charm to both our clothes and our domestic interiors. In this book, lifelong textile designer Sarah Campbell takes you through her world of pattern and colour to uncover the joys of design from dots, stripes and checks to more surprising decorative solutions. Painting straight onto fabric is a very different experience to designing for digital production. Everything is unique, the placing of the patterns and colours is in your hands. The beauty is that the pattern doesn’t have to repeat - there can be just one bird or just one square, if it’s in the right place. Beautifully illustrated with Sarah’s colourful and internationally acclaimed work, her fabric designs show the comforting rhythm and universal language of pattern. - Learn how to create your own unique designs using a range of tools and techniques including brushes and potato-cuts, stencils and simple ‘kitchen cupboard’ resists. - Explore the delights of painting on different fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk and calico/muslin. - Develop your understanding of scale, colour, tonality and the organisation of pattern ideas, alongside suggestions on how to use your finished fabrics.Trade ReviewI cannot think of a better artist than Sarah Campbell to introduce would-be designers to produce hand-painted textiles. Sarah has made a career focusing on the delights of pattern in simple, but deliciously varied, directions. Anyone who notices pattern will have spotted her witty designs on so many furnishing items. Here she stimulates her readers to play with basic brushstrokes, creating bold geometry, and arming them with techniques to create endless personal flights of fancy. My fingers itch to play with all the possibilities that dance in my head each time I thumb through this delightful book. * Kaffe Fassett MBE, Artist & Author *Hand-painted Textiles by Sarah Campbell is just the sort of book I’ve wanted. Jam-packed with Sarah’s signature hand-painted style, giving all her techniques and inspiration to inspire anyone to have a go. My eye is dancing with possibility. * Brandon Mably, Designer & Author *This book is the perfect result of Sarah’s ability to create uplifting and joyful patterns combined with her passion for sharing her enthusiasm for making them. Sarah embraces hand painting and printing, guiding the reader through wide ranging techniques and considerations for design projects. Visually rich and highly accessible, the pages are full of flowers, geometrics, birds & beasts to inspire the reader. With an impressive back catalogue of highly successful textile designs for industry some of which are included, Sarah helps you to be brave and playful, sharing in her joy of colour, rhythm and motif on cloth. * Kate Farley, Designer & Academic *with brush, paint and fabric [Sarah] shows us how to get hands-on with joyful and playful pattern * UPPERCASE Magazine *Flicking through the pages of this book makes you want to grab your brushes and get painting. * Handprinted *Table of ContentsIntroduction The Tools of My Trade 1. Making a Start with Making a Mark 2. Potatoes 3. Masking Tapes 4. Stencils 5. Freezer Paper Stencils 6. Stencils and Paste Resist 7. Silks 8. Pattern and Colour Placement 9. A Pattern to Match a Pattern 10. Painting with Bleach 11. Painting a T-shirt 12. Freehand Painting 13. Pieced and Patched 14. Painted Fabric as a Base for Decorative Stitching 15. In the Theatre of Pattern Conclusion Sources & Materials

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Book SynopsisThis sumptuous and inspiring book, written by needlework expert Trish Burr and created in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a stunning, contemporary guide to embroidering flowers. All the reusable iron-on transfers needed are kept safely together with the book in an attractive hardback folder. Focusing mainly on long-and-short stitch and Trish's delicate, considered use of silk shading, the book contains all the clearly-illustrated stitches needed, and gives thorough advice on preparation and choosing fabrics and threads – including a handy thread conversion chart. The embroideries are reworkings of botanical artworks from Kew's Art Collection. There is one 'starter' project to encourage readers to try out the techniques, one large sampler containing 18 small elements that can be worked individually or as a group, and nine further projects – including a striking spider chrysanthemum, an elegant waterlily and an opulent magnolia. All the projects are shown step-by-step, with an order of work diagram given where appropriate. The enclosed reusable iron-on transfer papers offer embroiderers a fast and accurate method of transferring the designs - the transfers simply need ironing on to fabric so that the reader can start embroidering straight away. The templates are also included at full size at the back of the book. This stunning yet practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread.Trade ReviewTake inspiration from the natural world with needlework expert Trish Burr's embroidery guide, made in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Learn new stitching methods while creating intricate spider chrysanthemums, striking magnolias and much more. The book also comes with reusable iron-on transfer papers so you can get started straight away. * Sew Magazine *Another fantastic Search Press craft book. The photos are beautiful and detailed and the instructions are clear to follow. The author has given step-by-step instructions for beginners but the projects will appeal to more experienced embroiders too. A gorgeous book with lovely projects to make. -- Louise Coyle * Amazon *This is a beautifully written and illustrated book, very clear instructions for beginners and improvers! Lots of information about threads and stitches before you start on a new project, can’t wait for my new threads to come to start on a simple project, as I have only done a little hand embroidery in the past I look forward to accomplishing some more intricate projects in the future. -- Sandra Wood * Amazon *We have to admit, we will never get enough of Trish’s exquisite needlepainting, and this book doesn’t disappoint. This time, she’s combined her prodigious talent with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, to bring you 11 gorgeous floral projects rendered in her easy-to-follow yet photographically perfect way. For the Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers, Trish has chosen a range of unusual designs which can be worked individually or as one spectacular botanical study, packed with colour and life. Trish’s books are known for their uncomplicated instructions and the gentle progression from simple to complex, and this book is no different. You can begin with the starter project – a vivid purple Japanese Anemone, then work, step-by-step through the book, mastering flowers, plants and insects until you reach the magnificent Magnolia and intricate Poppy sampler at the end. Beautifully presented in a hardcover folder, the book also comes with a set of reusable iron-on transfers tucked into the elegant cover slip, so you don’t have to hand draw your patterns on to your fabric. Naturally, if you prefer, all of the patterns are also provided for you in the back of the book so you are really spoilt for choice. It is difficult to decide which of these striking botanical studies is our favourite, so taken are we by each and every piece. This is a must for any Trish Burr lover, as well as any lover of floral and botanical imagery. Make sure to secure your copy now. * Inspirations *The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers is a beautiful book exploring botanical textile art through needle painting (a form of surface embroidery). The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have a special place in my heart (after I got engaged there) so I had high expectations of this book to do justice to such a beautiful setting with a vast collection of botanicals and botanical illustrations. The botanical illustrations within Kew’s Library, Art and Archives collection have offered inspiration for many makers, crafters and artists since it was established in the mid-19th century. Trish Burr offers a new and inspiring insight into Kew’s botanical illustrations through her 11 embroidery projects. The book starts off with a beautifully detailed section explaining terminologies, materials, tools, and preparation activities. Trish then begins to explain the different stitches. I found these pages not only visually stunning, but clear and accessible. Each stitch is explained with clear tips, methods, diagrams, and photos both how-to for the stitch and for the finished flower using that stitch. Once all these areas have been covered, Trish then starts to guide you through the projects! These projects are grouped according to their difficulty and range from “simple projects” through to “advanced projects”. Each project is so sumptuously presented with beautiful stitching, a clear information list (about materials, project size), information about the illustration that inspired Trish’s textile interpretation and a step-by-step guide for stitching the botanical for yourself. I love how each project also has an accompanying, reusable transfer sheet (with information about how to use the transfer sheet) so that you don’t have to worry about getting the botanical shape correct… you can just start stitching! This really is a breath-taking book and the photography, the information, the projects, and the overall feel of the book is absolutely flawless! A true 5* book which is going to be a beautiful book for anyone interested in art, making, botanicals, Kew, sewing and creating! -- Naomi Clarke * naomialice.com *As well as sewing and quilting, I am very interested in botanical painting and I often indulge myself in painting flowers and botanical subjects. I also love flowers and gardening, so I was very excited to see Trish's interpretation of the Kew collection of fine art botanical subjects in embroidery. When the book arrived, I was struck by the luxury of it - a sumptuous edition with the book wrapped in a practical hard-backed folder to store all the embroidery transfers you need for the projects in the book. There is an elastic closure on the folder to hold the book and transfers neatly in place. Beautiful it certainly is, but it's also a highly practical source book, packed with techniques for you to re-create Trish's stunning embroideries in stitch. As well as sewing and quilting, I am very interested in botanical painting and I often indulge myself in painting flowers and botanical subjects. I also love flowers and gardening, so I was very excited to see Trish's interpretation of the Kew collection of fine art botanical subjects in embroidery. When the book arrived, I was struck by the luxury of it - a sumptuous edition with the book wrapped in a practical hard-backed folder to store all the embroidery transfers you need for the projects in the book. There is an elastic closure on the folder to hold the book and transfers neatly in place. Beautiful it certainly is, but it's also a highly practical source book, packed with techniques for you to re-create Trish's stunning embroideries in stitch. The book includes eleven wonderful projects for beginners and beyond, including embroideries of a camellia, waterlily, and magnolia. I particularly love the Flower Sampler that consists of eighteen small elements in a stunning completed project, or that can be stitched individually. I decided I'm going to have a go at stitching the blackberry. For a small design, it uses twelve colours of thread to build up a stunning design and richness of colour. The folder edition of the book includes all the iron-on transfers you need plus outlines of each design. The iron-on transfers are on thick paper and can be stored in the cellophane envelope that comes with the book. I used the iron-on transfer to get the blackberry design onto a piece of fabric I had actually dyed with real blackberry juice! I will be using this in a special book about the hedgerows that I am making. The instructions for using the transfers are at the end of the book and were very clear to follow. The iron-on design is useable more than once as I prepared a second blackberry for my project. Each design in the book is photographed in excellent detail with step-by-step images to guide you through each stage. The final project in the book is a poppy sampler in the style of a botanical plate and is exquisite. You can achieve this yourself with the comprehensive instructions in the book. I am in awe of this book - it is stunning to look at in itself for anyone with a love of flowers and gardening, but the designs within are so well illustrated and explained that, with some practice, anyone who loves to embroider will be able to achieve them. -- Julie Briggs * The Sewing Directory *In association with The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, here's the ultimate guide to embroidering flowers. The reusable iron-on transfers are in a hardback folder, ready to use. Full size templates are also included. This stunning, practical book is a must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread. * Machine Knitting Monthly *Trish Burr reinterprets botanical artworks from the archives at Kew Gardens through her delicate and detailed needle paintings; bringing out their colours and giving them a three dimensional quality. A must-have for anyone interested in capturing flowers in thread. * Stitch *Every once in a while a book arrives that you cannot wait to open – The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers by Trish Burr is such a book, this is a beautiful book, everything from the actual production and presentation of the book, to the illustrations inside, is truly inspiring. Kew’s Library, Art & Archives was established in the 1850’s and now forms one of the greatest collections of botanical information found anywhere.As well as supporting the work of Kew’s scientists and horticulturalists it is also accessed by thousands of researchers, garden enthusiasts, historians and the general public around the world. It is from this collection that Trish Burr’s beautiful embroideries have taken their inspiration. The illustrations are exquisite and the detailed instructions contain everything to encourage any embroiderer to want to create their own examples. The contents include a Foreword by Kew detailing their work. An Introduction from Trish explaining her own journey and encouraging everyone from beginner to advanced to become involved in creating their own work. Trish uses a technique called needle painting, this is a technique of surface embroidery like painting a picture on fabric with a needle and thread, this is also known as silk shading, long-and-short shading, or thread painting. She also includes very comprehensive details including everything you need to know to enable you to get started; including tools and materials, preparation, stitch instructions, how to practise the stitches, outlines, raised embroidery, anatomy of a flower, and useful advice before you start. The projects are then divided into: Simple projects including: Japanese anemone, Flower sampler, Clematis, Camellia Intermediate projects including: Rhododendron, Waterlily, Iris, Spider chrysanthemum Advanced projects including: Rose, Magnolia, Poppy Finally there are details on thread substitutes, the collection of templates and how to use the iron-on transfers. The detail is so helpful, the step-by-step instructions take you through each stage of creating the pieces and the illustrations themselves are outstanding. Embroidery is such a satisfying and wonderful activity and this gorgeous book is destined to become a beautiful heirloom providing inspiration for many generations to come, we absolutely adored it! Highly Recommended! * Beautiful Heirloom Home *Trish Burr is a needlework designer in South Africa, and she has written many, many books, most notably about needlepainting, which is her specialty. With her vast experience, her ever-developing style and approach, and her exquisite sense of colour combinations for shading, it is no wonder that Trish would be the needle artist to delve into the Kew Archives (from the Royal Botanic Gardens), in order to reproduce some of their botanical illustrations in needle and thread. The resulting book, published by Search Press as part of their 50th Anniversary line-up of stellar art and craft books, is a wonderful collection of floral and garden-related cameos for the embroiderer to stitch. The book is extra-special, thanks to a few nuances and extras that we don’t often find in this type of embroidery book. So, let’s take a look at it! First, let’s talk about what’s different. The physical properties of the folio edition of the book are different. Most of us, if we are getting the book now, are most likely going to go for this folio edition, which is the one that’s available for pre-order. The other edition – it’s a straightforward hardbound edition for libraries – lacks this outer folder that holds both the soft-bound version of the book and a packet of iron-on transfers, to make your journey into the projects much easier! The hard-board folio cover protects the book and the transfers and closes with an elastic band. It’s a lot like a moleskin notebook… a very large moleskin notebook. The folio cover and the presence of iron-on transfers are probably the greatest differences you’ll notice right away with this book, but there are other nuances within the book itself that are slightly different from Trish’s previous books. You might not notice it right off the bat, because many art and craft books these days have morphed into this approach, but some of the photos in here are larger than life. They are big, making it easy to see the details of the embroidery. The little berry element, for example, which is part of the Floral Sampler found under Simple Projects, is about 1.5″ high from the tip of the stem to the base of the berry when transferred at the given size. In the book, the photo of the berry is around 5.5 – 6″ from tip of stem to base of berry. So, it’s super enlarged, and you can’t miss the details! This is a good thing, I think. Seeing details is helpful when it comes to exploring a technique, especially as a beginner. But it can give you a sense of discombobulation when you set about embroidering. You don’t necessarily realize that the item you’re about to embroider is significantly smaller than the image of it, until you transfer it. This is one of the problems I run into with blogging, too. Close-up photos of embroidery shown on a website tend to give the sense that the piece is much larger than it actually is, and when you sit down to stitch it, there’s a period of adjustment while you get used to the difference in the real size versus the perceived size. Still, I’d rather have too much detail than too little, especially when I’m learning something new! Ok, let’s look at what’s in the book! The Kew book is both an instructional book and a project book. The projects range from simple to advanced. If you are a beginner in needlepainting, you can start at the beginning of the book to get your feet wet, and then move into deeper waters. If you are experienced, you can jump in anywhere. At the beginning of the book, you’ll find introductions to Kew, to Trish and the book’s contents, and to needlepainting in general. Before getting into the projects, you’ll find the background information for getting started, from fabrics, threads, tools, and basic techniques. Much of the preliminary instruction is offered via diagrams and via close-up photos that demonstrate the techniques. It’s all very clear, as you would expect. Trish goes into detail demonstrating approaches to shading, to colour combinations, stitch direction, and so forth. There are ‘11 inspiring projects’ within the book… technically. Really, there are 28. There are two projects in the book that really excite me the most, although they are all beautiful in their own way. The first is under ‘Simple Projects’, and it’s called the ‘Flower Sampler’. It encompasses 18 embroidered elements (20, if you count each individual embroidered element), each of which can be taken out of sampler context and used as its own little practice project. I love this sampler. I love the idea of it. I love the beauty of the finished, whole sampler. And I love the fact that each element could really stand on its own as a mini project. For each element in the sampler – some of which are not necessarily flowers – you get a materials list, the design, and step-by-step instructions on how to stitch it. You’ll also get a larger-than-life photo with clear details of the embroidery, which will serve well to help you successfully stitch your version. There’s a magnificent bee, by the way… Now, this is where Trish’s artistry really shines. I mean, it shines everywhere, but I’m especially besotted with the bee. Check out the bee wing. It’s solidly embroidered. There’s no translucent anything there – the threads are solid colours. But it is a wonder to behold. It looks translucent, thanks to her subtle shading, drawing in the colours behind the wing and bringing them to the forefront while stitching it. It’s fabulous! There are many simple projects in the book, then, if you consider the sampler as individual projects, too. Then, there are intermediate projects that build on the knowledge and skills you’ve gleaned from the first section of the book. There are four intermediate projects, including studies of the rhododendron, the waterlily, the iris, and the spider chrysanthemum which graces the cover of the book. For those of you who have followed Trish for years, you’ll probably notice some slight adjustments in her style and approach here and there throughout the book. The rhododendron, for example, has a definite contemporary and somewhat trendy look to it. So, you can expect to see some variation in Trish’s interpretations – they are not necessarily all sketchy-botanical looking. Some pieces are very boldly contemporary. There are three advanced projects: a rose, a magnolia, and a poppy sampler. The poppy sampler is my second favourite in the book! It’s just lovely. And it would be a wonderful study in long and short shading. I think I have A Thing for things called samplers. The poppy sampler can also be broken down into at least two – if not more – projects. In the more advanced projects, you’ll see that Au Ver a Soie silks enter the materials lists. Yay! I’m a huge fan of needlepainting with silk. I know there is a school of thought out there that favours stranded cotton for needlepainting (also called “silk shading”) but I’ve always thought that there’s nothing quite as beautiful as silk shading worked with silk! In the back of the book, Trish offers a list of thread substitutions for those who wish to work some of the projects in silk. This is handy! Thread substitutions are never absolutely exact, but it’s a nice springboard for those who like to adjust their own colour palettes and thread types. Finally, of course, there’s the pattern section. If you have the folio edition of the book, though, thankfully, you won’t have to go through a meticulous transfer process! Wow! Heaven! I’m not going to pro and con this book. If you love needlepainting, if you want to explore needlepainting fully, if you love botanicals, you’re going to love this book. You’re going to want the special folio edition. And you’ll find it a treasure. -- Mary Corbet * Needle 'n' Thread *Sometimes Search Press really goes the whole nine yards and produces a book with extra wow factor. From its larger format, sturdy colourful covers, and elastic to keep it closed like a box you know that something special hides within, and you won’t be disappointed. Inside is a pocket full of transfers for stitching eleven stunning studies of flowers from Kew Garden’s botanical illustration collection. The lush colours and elegant layouts of 18th and 19th century botanical art are just made to be captured in embroidery, especially the thread painting style worked mostly in long and short stitch. The author promises that this is not too difficult for even a beginner to master, and there are not many stitches to learn. Mostly it is a case of practising getting the shading right and there are quite a few staged photographs to show the right way. You won’t need many tools and materials; a slate frame or hoop, six stranded cotton floss and fabric is most of what you will require. You can learn how to work the various stitches as well as prepare a hoop, use transfers, choose materials and care for your finished work. To limber you up for the actual projects there are several simple pieces, all with captioned photographs as well as a diagram showing the order of work, list of threads and anything else you need. All sizes are given in both imperial and metric, and after the first project there is an option of working a sampler featuring another 18 small studies plus two simpler larger projects. Following this are two more chapters containing the intermediate and advanced projects, the latter of which concludes with another sampler. Full projects typically have photographic stages with arrows indicating what colour floss, essential when working on complex, variegated flowers with a lot of different shades. Each finished piece is shown in a large format, often over two pages so you can appreciate its beauty and see what you are working to achieve. At the back is a handy table of thread substitutes so you can opt for DMC instead of the more costly and harder to source (at least in the UK) Au Ver A Soie thread. When your transfers have worn out, or you want to work on a dark background there are also full-sized outlines for tracing, showing that the author has thought of everything! This is one of my top choices for this year and a book to treasure. -- Rachel A Hyde * myshelf.com *I was delighted to be asked to review this book. Having grown up less than seven miles from Kew gardens I have happy memories of family visits to Kew. I have been aware of Trish’s books for a while. I was always a bit daunted by the pictures I had seen. How could I possibly even think about starting one of her projects and achieve such amazing results? With this book think that it might just be possible! The book itself starts with hints and tips for stitching, predominantly using silk shading (also known as needle painting). The most beautiful flower projects are given, all inspired by the library of art and archives at Kew Gardens, the largest collection of its type. Trish begins with good explanation of the types of fabrics you could use for your project, setting out the pros and cons of each. She goes on to explain the threads used and how to use them. Also covered is the types of frames, needles, and other accessories to use as well as tips for when you have finished such as how to wash, block and mount your completed work. There are detailed instructions, photos and line drawings explaining the stitches used, with tips for those perhaps new silk shading – starting with simple leaves and petals, showing direction of stitch and colour changes. This then builds to introduce additional stitches to enhance your embroidery – French knots, satin stitch, padding and outlining. Next on to the set projects – starting with a lovely Japanese anemone. It is so well photographed at every stage, that a flower could otherwise appear daunting, is achievable. The projects then build as you work through the book. There is a sampler with 18 separate elements including some insects as wells as flowers that could be stitched individually or as the intended sampler. Trish then moves onto the intermediate projects which begin to use silks rather than stranded cottons but could be completed with stranded cotton if wished. Finally, we have advanced projects, rose, magnolia, and poppy all with comprehensive shading instructions and photos including very detailed close up pictures. Everything is so clearly illustrated with instructions and pictures, even the advanced projects seem achievable. In the winter when I personally find stitching more difficult with lack of natural light, I can see myself just sitting down and turning its pages. It is beautiful, inspiring, well put together and every purchase supports the work of Kew saving plants and fungi around the world. -- Alison Cross * The SEW Region Magazine - Book Threads *A beautifully illustrated book that will inspire all embroiderers, this book is the result of an invitation to Trish Burr from the Royal Botanic Gardens to examine their extensive collection of botanical illustrations and to reproduce a selection of the illustrations as embroideries. While principally a book on thread painting, the author has used other stitches where appropriate to bring the subjects to life. The details found in the botanical illustrations have been faithfully reproduced in the embroidered works. Rather than being too prescriptive with respect to the materials required to complete the projects, the author provides a good discussion on the pros and cons on background fabric, thread and hoop/frame options. This book has been designed for use by embroiderers of all skill levels. There is an excellent tutorial at the beginning of the book covering the stitches required to complete the projects. The illustrations are excellent and there are examples of petal shapes that can be used to practise shading and colour blending before starting a project. There are 11 projects divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced sections. The photos of the finished projects leap off the page. They are all well presented with easy to follow step-by-step directions and beautiful macro photos of each of the steps, providing excellent guidance on stitch and colour placement. Trish has used the silk threads of Au Ver à Soie in a number of the projects and the subtle colour movement across the embroidered petals gives the smooth, lush appearance of newly unfurled petals just before they are damaged by weathering and insects. The intricate details recorded in the original botanical illustrations have been superbly translated into stitch and the choice of colours and subtle blending of colour throughout the projects is true to nature. There is one particularly good illustration of this in the selection of colours for the bee wings. By selecting a lighter shade of the same tones as the rest of the abdomen of the bee and then outlining the edges and veins of the wings with straight stitch, the wings appear to be transparent. It looks amazing. Each project references the botanical illustration and artist, but I love botanical and zoological drawings as they help you focus on the details in the original subject material and would have loved to see the original illustration beside the embroidered reproduction. (Editor: To see these visit Kew’s website). For anyone who wants to learn or further develop their thread painting skills, this book will help give you the confidence to develop your own projects. -- Sue Swann * Threads *Table of ContentsForeword by Kew 6 Introduction 8 What is needle painting? 10 Tools and materials 10 Preparation 16 Stitch instructions 20 Securing your thread Long-and-short stitch Split stitch Satin stitch French knots Bullion stitch Practise the stitches Outlines 30 Raised embroidery 32 Anatomy of a flower 34 Useful advice before you start 35 Simple projects 36 Japanese anemone 38 Flower sampler 44 Clematis 94 Camellia 100 Intermediate projects 106 Rhododendron 108 Waterlily 116 Iris 122 Spider chrysanthemum 128 Advanced projects 134 Rose 136 Magnolia 144 Poppy 154 Thread substitutes 163 The templates 164 Using the iron-on transfers 176

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Book SynopsisIn this visually stunning book, Moy Mackay reveals how you too can create beautiful pictures using felt. Characterised by her wonderful use of colour, Moy’s work is breathtaking and includes still-lifes, animals and landscapes inspired by the dramatic scenery of the Scottish Borders where she lives and works. Moy takes you through every step of the process, including the materials and tools you need, the feltmaking process itself (which is easier than you’d imagine), and how to put together four fabulous felt paintings of your own. There is guidance on stitching, including both hand- and machine-stitching, as well as how to use colour and introduce texture in the form of different fibres and threads. There are numerous examples of Moy’s work through the book, and by the end you will not fail to be inspired to create gorgeous felt paintings of your own. "Moy's passionate use of colour and the deep texture created by felting are what draw me to her work. I also like the way that she concentrates on her surroundings for her subject matter – her work is very free." - Kaffe FassettTrade ReviewWe love this refreshing take on how we can use our own photographs as inspiration, creating unique felt versions. We think its fresh and we are drawn in by Mackay’s passion for her subject. This isn’t an artist simply producing a book for the sake of it, this seems to be her life and love. For the full review click here. -- Ailish Henderson * www.mrxstitch.com *May 12 'Art in Felt & Stitch' by Moy Mackay is a colourful splash of fleece, fibre and thread. The book involves wet felting with wool tops and machine stitching on top of the picture created with it. The book has very clear instructions at the beginning and is excellent if you are thinking of starting to felt pictures. There are six projects in the book with quite a few pages on each one and there is a very clear photographic step-by-step process to follow. What irritates me sometimes about art books is that they can show you how to draw or paint a complex picture and only show four stages. Suddenly they've finished the picture and you wonder how many stages they've skipped over while your picture looks nothing like the final shot in the book. Moy has photographed each stage so if you are a beginner you won't feel lost or frustrated. Each layer is shown and you get a feel for what she has done in each step. Moy explains her inspiration for using felt in the book: "My 'felt paintings', as I call them, are [...] a way of placing the strokes of coloured fibres as one would place brushstrokes. The results are strikingly rich in colour and texture, and as my passion is for colour, there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had from working with this medium in this way." If you love texture and colour I can't imagine why you wouldn't love this book. A three-dimensional soft intricate woollen picture looks amazing and can look more dramatic than an oil painting. * sewingisforgirls.blogspot.com *Summer 13 Vivid colours and dramatic scenery attracted me to this book. Moy’s enthusiastic introduction describes how her love of painting, drawing and ‘making things’ from an early age progressed to ‘create work that utilises colour and subjects in an uplifting, inspiring way.’ Her bio explains that ‘Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art with a BA (Hons) degree in Design, she has lived and worked as a full time artist in the beautiful Scottish Borders, which are the main source of inspiration for her work.’ Moy hopes that her book will inspire and guide you to create in felt, and that through it she can pass on the positive encouragement given by her creative mother and uncle who nurtured her early efforts. The clear contents page outlines a natural progression of topics to inspire even those who have been previously hesitant, to create their own ‘felt painting’. The first few chapters give full details of the materials and equipment required. Chapters with advice on source of inspiration, colour, texture, composition and techniques follow. Projects are grouped under the headings of landscapes, birds, flowers and still life. Clear, easy to follow, step by step instructions accompany photographs to guide you through all the basic techniques. These include the felting process itself as well as how to embellish it to create form and structure with machine and hand stitching. Plentiful inspiring photos of Moy’s own felt paintings enhance the book. I think that this book is suitable for people with all ranges of experience and it has certainly inspired me. Linda Russell, Gwent Guild * Journal for Weavers, Spinners & Dyers *Sept 12 This book is a refreshing take on still life and art. Moy Mackay creates her pictures using felting and stitch and gives guidance in the book on how these beautiful works are created. The book begins with an introduction to all the materials and equipment you would need to tackle this kind of work. There is an interesting section where you can see, via instruction and photographs, the progression from wool tops to finished piece. It is quite surprising that the majority of design work is completed prior to felting, and what follows from that is embellishment. It covers the process of wet felting, needle felting, machine and hand stitching, and how each technique adds to the picture. After the initial tutorial, there are three project sections that cover Landscapes, Birds and Flowers. You are guided through these with step-by-step photographs and there is also a gallery of a series of works to illustrate each section. It is a wonderful book to read, with good clear instruction to guide you, and to see the finished pieces which are so colourful and perfectly executed is impetus for the reader to try their own. * Workshop On The Web *May 2015 Since learning to needle felt I have wanted to take it to the next level. This book takes me to that next level and far beyond. Moy gives you everything you need to make the most amazing felted pictures. She uses everything from needle felting, wet felting & sewing to create the most amazing pictures. She takes you through step-by-step each of the techniques so that you'll be able to create each of the pictures in the book. She also gives you all this knowledge so that you can create your own. II love the pictures that you can create. They look amazing! I haven't used some of the techniques in the book but after reading the instructions I feel confident that I will be able to perform them. Moy's use of colours is amazing. I can't wait to try her colour mixes. I feel they will give me more confidence to use more colours in my own projects. I can't believe the amazing looks she gets from her techniques in this book. I've already ordered the items I'll need to make my first picture. I just hope I can do justice to her amazing book. * Crochet Addict UK *June 12 Moy Mackay creates beautiful works of art using fleece, fiber and threads in her book "Art in Felt & Stitch". It is filled with colorful felt paintings of still-life, animals and landscapes inspired by her home in the Scottish Borders. See how she uses various felt techniques to achieve her paintings. Felt is one of the earliest fabrics and is older than weaving, spinning and knitting. The book itself is a work of art with the fiber colors jumping off the page in the numerous photographs. Four step by step projects are included with instructional pictures that are clear, detailed and inspiring and numerous. Also included are many examples of her finished pieces. Moy walks you through the materials and equipment you will need. She explains about fibers and texture, composition and technique. Wool, bamboo and silk are just a few of the fibers she works with. Learn about needle and wet felting and using machine and hand stitching to strengthen the highlights and shadows and creating depth. Her flowers are lovely and landscapes breath taking. It is her project of the Birds with berries and her felt painting of Waxwing with Cherry and Lime Blossom that will make you sigh. If you have been thinking about trying your hand at felting or felting pictures in particular, you will enjoy every page of her book. * www.examiner.com/knitting-in-hartford *May 13 Moy's passionate use of colour and the deep texture created by felting are what draw me to her work. I also like the way that she concentrates on her surroundings for her subject matter - her work is very free. (Kaffe Fassett) * Author *June 12 This is a lovely book. It is beautifully produced with Moy's felt paintings vibrantly reproduced. The book takes the reader through all the processes beginning with a full description of her colour blending and all materials used in her work. There may be a little too much detail on the techniques of hand carding but that is only a slight criticism. Moy is exceptionally generous with her descriptions and tips, which are scattered around the pages. The reader is taken step by step through all the elements of her work from the designing, preparation, laying of fibres, felting, embellishing, needle felting and embroidery with hand and machine. The projects start with a quite simple scene of bucolic bliss, proceeding onto a patchwork landscape and then on to more complicated designs. These exercises are interspersed with some wonderful nature pieces and landscapes of exceptional beauty. She is a very talented artist and colourist. This is a book which will inspire, delight and instruct and may lead the reader on to experiments of their own or you can just enjoy it for its wonderful images. * Felt Matters *Apr 12 It is fabulous. If you like contemporary art, with vivid colour and lots of texture then this book is for you. There are lots of pictures of Moys work, and plenty of supporting text. Additionally, there are four diverse projects which detail, step-by-step, how to create similar work using felting, embellishing and stitching techniques. I'm awaiting the delivery of some wool and silk tops, so I can get started.-"BushBabyJane", Amazon * Customer *Jun/Jul 12 Moy Mackay's unique and vibrant 'felt paintings' are created by replacing paint as a medium with fleece, fibres and threads and combining traditional felting techniques with fine art. The result is an exquisite fusion of art, felt and stitch that is both up-lifting and inspiring. There is clear guidance through all of the basic techniques, including the felting process itself and how to use machine and hand stitching to further create form and texture. The four projects and numerous examples of Moy's work complete this visual feast, which cannot fail to inspire and excite painters and textile artists alike. * Fabrications *Jun/Jul 12 Hot water and soap have a profound effect on wool. If your favourite sweater has accidentally been treated that way, you are probably less than thrilled with the outcome. But, if the process was intentional, you've probably been experimenting with the art of felting – and creating one of the earliest fabrics known to man. Dry needle-felting using a felting needle or embellisher machine is currently very popular, but the techniques in this book use the traditional wet-felting methods. Every step of the process is clearly described and illustrated with step-by-step photos. The results are simply beautiful and the 'fibre paintings' range from softly impressionistic landscapes to still-lifes of teacups and bold flowers. Needle-felting is used to refine the shapes and simple hand and machine stitching add definition, details and, of course, texture. Moy shares the techniques that she uses to create her beautiful pictures, and every stage is beautifully illustrated with clear photographs. She begins at the very beginning, showing how to card the fibres, lay them down to form the picture and finally felt the piece. When the felting process is complete, more photos show the process of needle-felting to add details and stitching to create definition in the finished piece. There are four projects, which take you through the processes used to create a patchwork landscape, birds, flowers and a still-life (teacup and cakes). If this book doesn't persuade you to explore the creativity of felting, nothing will. * Stitch *Jun/Jul 12 Using fleece, fibres and threads, Moy creates stunning felt ‘paintings’, combining felt-making with fine art in a unique way. Comprehensive step-by-step instructions guide the reader through the basic techniques and continue with four projects, where Moy shows how to use machine and hand embroidery to produce landscapes, still-life studies of flowers and animals. This colourful and exciting book will inspire the felt-maker to try a different approach to their craft. * East Kent Embroiderer's Guild *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Materials and equipment 10 Inspiration 20 Colour 22 Texture 26 Composition 28 Techniques 30 Landscapes 52 Birds 76 Flowers 92 Still life 110 Index 128

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Book SynopsisBrimming with over 300 botanical motifs, this wonderful resource will provide inspiration and instructions for embroidery artists and flower ladies everywhere. This collection features designs including flowers, ferns, succulents, leaves, bees and garden scenes. The books includes basic embroidery instruction for stitches and transferring designs onto fabric. Original designs and clear instructions make this book a must have for any embroidery enthusiast's library. Trade Review"Little touches, not major statements, are the essence of this book. And what a beauty it is. Tiny projects you can finish in moments, which will leave you feeling like you've been sitting in the parlour with the Bronte sisters for an afternoon!" * Thrive Magazine *Table of ContentsRoses Orchids & Chrysanthemums Spring Flowers Summer Flowers Autumn & Winter Flowers Flower Branches Fruit Trees Herbs Wild Flowers & Mushrooms Cacti & Succulents Tropical Plants Foliage Plants Aquatic Plants English Garden Project Inspiration Gallery Tools & Materials Getting Started Embroidery Stitch Guide How to Use This Book Thread Conversion Chart Motifs & Templates

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Book SynopsisV&A Pattern: Spitalfields Silks, displays delightful floral designs alongside quirky, strikingly modern silks, all produced in eighteenth-century London. A source of inspiration for designers from William Morris to Alexander McQueen, the V&A holds over three million designs for textiles, decorations, wallpapers and prints. Now beautifully re-presented, the bestselling V&A Pattern series invites you to appreciate the work of some of the greatest names and styles in design history, highlighting interesting and imaginative works that are all too rarely seen. Each pocket-sized book features 66 carefully selected patterns, and has a concise expert introduction, making these an invaluable source of inspiration for creatives - and the perfect gift for pattern-lovers.

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Book SynopsisLine is an essential component of textile art. When used effectively, it can convey texture, tone, form, movement and mood. Drawn to Stitch is a practical guide to the uses of line in embroidery and textile art, presented as a structured series of exercises designed to help the reader explore line’s potential and develop their own creativity. It covers line and mark-making tools, materials and processes – including printing and mixed-media techniques – and then moves into stitch, explaining how to interpret different line qualities from crisp and sharp to soft and diffused, from raised and overlaid to recessed and inlaid. Full of inspiring ideas, the book is illustrated with stunning examples of stitched-textile work.

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Book SynopsisA guide to harnessing the world of nature to create sustainable textile art. Textile artist Alice Fox shows how to work with found, foraged, gathered and grown materials to create fabulous textile pieces that are inspired by, and made from, nature. She encourages crafters to be open minded and experimental, using local (and sometimes) unconventional materials, working with the seasons and learning what materials are available at different times of year to ground artists in natural cycles and integrate creative activity with a strong sense of place and character. Alongside advice on growing your own plants (such as flax or nettles) for creative work, the book is packed with practical ideas for foraging – from weeds, dandelions and other plants useful for making cordage, or leaves that can be stitched, quilted and shaped into vessels, to grass, wool, plastics and mud that can be gathered and delightfully repurposed by the textile artist. Other ideas for found materials include stones, shells and wood that can be wrapped or woven into, as well as a multitude of urban treasures that find a new life in creative hands.Trade Review‘A masterclass in harnessing nature to create sustainable art’ Wildflower ‘A book with such depth of meaning – this is a mindful tome.’ Ailish Henderson Blog 'If you would like to take a more sustainable approach in your textile work, this beautiful book offers plenty of inspiration and advice’ The Quilter ‘Advice on how to work with foraged, gathered and grown materials to create fabulous textile art pieces. You’ll be amazed by the possibilities!’ Textile Artist

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Book SynopsisPopular author Corinne Lapierre creates a charming range of 20 exquisite folk embroidered felt birds, including a swan, a hen, a goose, a partridge, an owl, a dove, a peacock and a flamingo. Beautifully made in lovely, soft colours, the birds are filled with toy stuffing and embellished with folk-style surface embroidery in different-coloured threads. The stitches include chain, feather, fly running, blanket, French knots and satin stitch. There are also bead and sequin embellishments on some birds. The book includes pretty hand-drawn step-by-step illustrations and there are same-size templates at the back of the book for all the designs. The birds all have optional ribbon hangers for display.Trade ReviewWhether or not you make your own felt or just enjoy stitching, the twenty different birds featured in this book might appeal as characters with a folksy feel. In designing the projects the author, Corinne Lapierre, has combined her love of felt, folk embroidery and birds. The first part of the book lists the necessary materials, tools and equipment required before moving on to the basic techniques for making the birds.This is followed by instructions for the embroidery stitches used in each project. Throughout this section the author adds a series of tips to help the maker work through the different techniques smoothly. The second part of the book concentrates on the different bird projects. For each bird there is a list of the materials and equipment required followed by step-by-step instructions for making. Cutting templates are also provided at the end of the book. The author points out that the birds themselves are relatively easy to make, but their characters are defined by the colours and embroidery stitches used. The information provided throughout the book is clearly presented and well illustrated. Each fun project should be achievable for anyone with a basic knowledge of stitch and embroidery. * Journal of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers *This book is a delight from cover to cover. It starts by explaining what items are needed to complete the projects and then goes on, in simple terms, to talk about techniques from drawing templates to cutting out the felt, to embellishing with hand sewn embroidery. These stitches are clearly explained at the beginning of the book in easy to follow instructions and photos. There are even simple instructions for making birds feet. Once this has all be laid out for you, there follows 20 easy to make colourful birds which are so pleasing to the eye! I particularly like the use of sequins on the pigeon to add texture and shimmer. All of the templates needed to complete the projects are at the back of the book, these can easily be copied or traced as they are so simple. All in all, a lovely book! -- Shirley Marriott * Customer review *A great little book. Every process is clearly described, with beautiful photos and diagrams. Perfect for experienced and beginners alike. The patterns are clear and easy to follow. The birds are beautiful - I love the robin - that will be the one I will make first. All of the templates to make each bird, are at the back of the book, and they can be easily traced, or scanned so that you don't need to damage such a lovely book. -- Sue Rowland * Customer review *What a superb book, the techniques section is very informative and will certainly be a great help for me, a novice embroiderer. The illustrations are bright and clear, fantastic photography. At the back of the book you will find the templates for each of the projects. I can’t wait to make my first bird, which I think will be the peacock. -- Sandra Dennis * Customer review *Folk Embroidered Felt Birds is a beautiful book full of lovely birds to create. The techniques are clear with lots of pictures and step-by-step instructions to follow for the basic creating, then each bird has its own instructions that are easy to follow. I would recommend to anyone who wanted to have a go. Hooray - all patterns are full scale and easy to copy from the book, no upscaling, popping to the library, or giving up and leaving on the shelf. -- Helen Harries * Customer review *If you want a book to help you sew felt into beautiful birds... look no further!! The clear photographs and instructions are just so easy to follow. This book would be a lovely present and you could give the person a few felt squares, some thread and let them start creating right away!! Love it!! -- Moyra Blayney * Customer review *Received my book today the projects are lovely and more importantly achievable. I love the fact that the project is all hand stitched. My nieces and I have already picked which ones we are going to do and are off out to get our materials this afternoon. These projects are going to provide many happy sewing hours for us and some great little gifts which we plan to give away as random acts of kindness. Search Press have produced yet another fab book. -- Wendy Burt * Customer review *The square format of this beautiful book makes it feel different and inside it is filled with the enthusiasm of the author for her felt birds. There are twenty very attractive birds to make. Each of them a pleasing mix of well chosen felt colours and embroidery stitches. Techniques and stitches used are illustrated with excellent photographs and easy to follow instructions. The hand drawn illustrations add a personal touch to the book. Full size templates are included for each project. This is a book to make you smile. A clever use of simple embroidery stitches such as fly, seed, chain and French knots are used effectively to give each of the birds their individual characters. I very much liked the proud peacock, a pheasant with attitude and the trendy flamingo. Making felt birds is not my usual thing but I could be tempted by my favourite, the hen, whose comforting shape and embroidery really epitomises 'folk art'. -- Carol Winter * SEW Region Magazine (June 2019) * Time for a book review! And today’s book review is all about fun! Folk Embroidered Felt Birds is a new book packed full of – you guessed it! – folk embroidered felt birds! And they’re delightful! If you love birds (I love birds) and you like the look of folk embroidery, and you like working with felt to make three dimensional objects, then you need to add this book to your library. It’s one of those books that just makes me happy when I flip through it. Folk Embroidered Felt Birds is a project book. The projects are small, three-dimensional birds made from felt, stuffed and embroidered. The cover is the seller for me. I know, I know! Don’t judge a book by its cover and all that. But really – a flamingo AND a puffin? With those legs? And those feet? I see this book being perfect for those who like to make. The birds are perfect for whimsical ornaments and delightful gifts. What a great way to pass on a bit of cheer to a friend on a birthday – or out of the blue for no reason at all! The book features a fairly vast array of projects focusing on twenty different types of birds, which are all recognizable. From the humble robin, to the pheasant and flamingo, the parrot, the toucan, the gentle dove and the flamboyant peacock, the gangly stork, the majestic swan, the hen, the goose, the owl, the gull and goldfinch – they’re all there, waiting for you to bring them to life! Like any good project book, Folk Embroidered Felt Birds begins with a section on materials. There’s nothing too out of the ordinary here – felt (the author recommends a wool / viscose blend); embroidery floss; wire (for legs), filling, ribbon, sequins, wire tape, and other very regular stuff. From materials and tools, we move into techniques: transferring the template designs to felt, to sewing, filling, stuffing, making legs and feet, appliqué, and all the techniques necessary for creating a three dimensional bird. Every aspect of instruction is presented in very clear, step-by-step photos with text. The text is succinct quite minimal; it’s very precise and easy to follow. And of course, there’s a selection of embroidery stitch instructions with step-by-step photos as well. And then – the projects! For each project, you’ll find a list of tools and supplies required to make the bird, along with a list of the templates to use from the back of the book. The templates in the back of the book are clean line drawings of the different bird parts, that you trace and cut out for patterns. Along with the materials and templates lists, you’ll find a page of instructions that take you through constructing the bird, referring to the techniques covered at the beginning of the book. The projects in the book are all darling! And the instructions are excellent and very accessible. If you enjoy making things and you like birds, folk art, and felt, this book would be right up your alley! I’m pretty sure it will put a smile on your face! See the full review here. -- Mary Corbet * Mary Corbet's Needle n Thread *Anybody who cut their sewing teeth on felt will enjoy this book; inside it are twenty folk art style birds to make up and display. If, like me you have loved working with felt since early childhood you will probably want to dive in but if you are new to it read the first section of the book before picking up a needle. This will tell you what type of felt to use (a mix of viscose and wool sold on the author’s website) and how to work with it, do several embroidery stitches, sew up the patterns and make the wire legs and feet. When you have the basics sorted you can progress to the patterns. Each one features a page-sized photograph of the bird in a suitable setting, a list of materials, tools and templates and written instructions. These usually come with a simple diagram or two, but unless you are a total beginner you won’t have problems making them up. The first section lays it all out very clearly with staged photographs, including some excellent ones for the embroidery stitches which are so good I wish there was a whole book of them! I think the family pet could learn how to embroider with these…the birds themselves are mostly those familiar to UK residents including robin, blue tit, heron, swan, peacock, hen, goose, herring gull and owl. A few exotics are included such as a flamingo, toucan and parrot, and many are suitable for certain occasions such as Christmas (robin and dove) Easter (hen and goose) and new baby (stork). At the front is a handy double page spread showing all the birds for easy choice, and at the back are all the templates life size. No sewing machine is required for these projects, and all are ideal quick makes for somebody who knows a few basics but is not confident enough for larger projects including older children (be careful with that wire though). Anybody in more need of something easier can go to the author’s website and buy kits of some of these birds as well as lots of other creatures and Christmas decorations. Bundles of wool/viscose felt and kits are available from www.corinnelapierre.com -- Rachel Hyde * myshelf.com *Tweet, Tweet You're guranteed to love Corinne Lapierre's latest book, Folk Embroidered Felt Birds! This read contains 20 flighty friends which you can whip up an afternoon, including swans, hens, flamingos, peacocks and many more. This book also has hand-drawn step-by-step illustrations and traceable templates to make embroidering these pretty birdies fuss-free. * Sew *Corinne Lapierre's easy-to-stitch folk birds include templates for a swan, a hen, a goose, a partridge, an owl, a dove, a peacock and a flamingo among others, making this book ideal for beginners or youngsters. * The Textile Art Magazine - Embroidery *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Materials & tools 8 Techniques 10 Embroidery stitches 17 Projects 24 Robin 26 Blue Tit 30 Goldfinch 34 Chaffinch 36 Swan 38 Hen 42 Pigeon 46 Goose 48 Flamingo 50 Peacock 54 Owl 58 Pheasant 60 Thrush 64 Dove 66 Stork 68 Parrot 72 Heron 76 Toucan 78 Puffin 80 Seagull 84 Templates 88

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Book SynopsisA celebration of art traditionally devalued as too domestic or feminine to be taken seriously and the innovative, brilliant artists reclaiming the idea of ‘women’s work’. Table of ContentsGee’s Bend Quilters Maria Martinez Elsa Schiaparelli Anni Albers Lucie Rie Lenore Tawney Dorothea Tanning Louise Bourgeois Rut Bryk Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian Miriam Schapiro Yayoi Kusama Faith Ringgold Magdalena Abakanowicz Olga de Amaral Sheila Hicks Eva Hesse Marva Lee Pitchford-Jolly Judy Chicago Judith Scott Annette Messager Isabelle de Borchgrave Dindga McCannon Cecilia Vicuña Mrinalini Mukherjee Polly Apfelbaum Sarah Lucas Yin Xiuzhen Simone Leigh Billie Zangewa Otobong Nkanga Alexandra Kehayoglou Sarah Zapata Tschabalala Self Hannah Hill More artists to explore Bibliography Index Picture credits Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisKaffe Fassett uses the colourful Venetian island of Burano to form the backdrop of another stunning collection of new quilt designs from the Kaffe Fassett Studio. In this 22nd installment of Kaffe Fassett's ever-popular series of patchwork and quilting books, the quilts have been photographed on location in Burano, a tiny island in Italy's Venetian archipelago, famous for its lace making but also for its brilliantly painted houses in a myriad jewel colours. The colourful house walls, sometimes distressed and occasionally decorated with murals, form the backdrop, along with the canals, bridges, and boats of this special Venetian island, to another wonderful selection of Kaffe's new quilt designs. The collection of 19 quilts features both new fabric designs from the Kaffe Collective and some of his Classics. Bali Brocade makes a fantastic background to Kaffe's sumptuous Shimmer Star quilt with its ripples of pattern in contrasting prints. His two versions of a very simple quilt,comes in two very different colorways. Hot Steps is a riot of colour, whereas by contrast its sister quilt, Cool Steps, in dusty blues, greens, and greys has an dreamy quality. Liza Prior Lucy's rich and dark Turkish Coffee quilt, with its hint of Eastern promise, fussy cuts Kaffe's new Turkish Delight fabric to brilliant effect. Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Burano provides all the instructional text, diagrams, and templates to make the quilts, plus a section on basic patchwork techniques for less experienced quilters. AUTHOR: San Francisco-born artist Kaffe Fassett is a name every quilter knows. His work has been commissioned by the British monarchy, American fashion designers, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has written numerous best-sellers including Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Italy, Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Morocco, and Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Cotswold's. SELLING POINTS: . The stunning photos are just the start: Each pattern features a sumptuous photo of the project, a materials list, and carefully written instructions with useful tips, plus colour diagrams and templates for piecing the quilt . Kaffe Fassett is a world-renowned textile artist whose work has been commissioned by British Royalty, American fashion designers as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company. His works have been exhibited in museums around the world and have drawn record-breaking crowds . Best-Seeling author Kaffe Fassett delivers another stunning set of Quilt Designs highlighting his new fabric line

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Book SynopsisGillian Vogelsang-Eastwood is Director of the Textile Research Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.Willem Vogelsang is former Deputy Director of the International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden, The Netherlands.

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Book SynopsisTextile Landscapes demonstrates how to develop your approach to textile art with a focus on using found objects and paint and stitch on cloth and paper. Cas explains how to exploit the contrast between the hands-on textural quality of working with fabrics and threads and the spontaneity and movement of brush marks to lend a painterly quality to your work. She begins with the basics – keeping a sketchbook to generate ideas, painting and stitching on cloth and on paper and working digitally; Inspiring Landscapes looks at natural and urban space, the changing seasons and great landscapes as well as intimate spaces and travel diaries; Painting and Marking with Cloth explains the practical aspects of painting and dyeing cloth and how to make connections between paint, print, dye, stencil and stitch; Stitch-scapes looks at the different forms of landscape, experimenting with photographs and prints and how to translate those images using ink, stitch, abstract and collage techniques and then at how to transform the image using digital techniques; On Closer Inspection covers using elements and details from landscape and the environment as found objects and for research; finally People and Place explores the relationship we have with the outdoors and the built environment, as well as personal interpretations of place. The book includes artworks by the author that explore the UK, USA, Europe and Australia, as well as works by other internationally renowned textile artists. A creative guide ideal for textile artists of all levels – students, teachers and practising artists and makers – to make unique and beautiful work inspired by the world around us.Trade Review'Cas Holmes always comes up with an excellent book and this one is no exception.' * Workshop on the Web *‘Packed with instruction, inspiration and gorgeous imagery.' * TextileArtist Blog *‘Another delightful book by Cas Holmes.’ * Sew Region Magazine *'The textile interpretation of landscape through your hands and your eyes is her ultimate goal, and with this book that goal should be well within your grasp.' * Inspirational *‘Each page is packed with inspiration.' * Embroidery *

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Book SynopsisWith his unerring eye, Kaffe has succeeded in finding the perfect location for his exquisite new collection of quilts, featuring both his scintillating new fabric designs and his classics, all in his unique colour palette. This time he has chosen the medieval English village of Lavenham in Suffolk, where the 19 quilts in this book are set off against the ancient half-timbered Tudor houses. They are displayed in all their glory in a sumptuous eye-catching quilt gallery. Included in this set of new designs are many very special ones by Kaffe, and several by his long-time friend and co-designer, Liza Prior Lucy. Kaffe's Starry Night, featured on the cover, fussy cuts some of his brilliant floral fabrics in deep rich colours to great effect, setting them off by surrounding stars in his Shot Cottons. Shards translates the traditional Broken Dishes design into deliciously soft and subtle blends of pastel fabrics, shown off to perfection against the pale plaster and weathered timbers of the Lavenham houses. In a quite different vein, the boldly contrasting background stripes in black and white fabric in Blooming Columns make a dramatic contrast to the huge fussy-cut flowers appliquéd onto it. This book - the 23rd in the series - includes a range of quilts for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Shaded Squares is one such lovely quilt for first timers, with its cleverly shaded squares each made up from two large triangles, one plain and one striped in Kaffe's Shot Cotton and Wide Stripe fabrics. Flat shots, a practical know-how section and glossary, back up the fully illustrated, step-by-step instructions for each quilt. AUTHOR: San Francisco-born artist Kaffe Fassett is a name every quilter knows. His work has been commissioned by the British monarchy, American fashion designers, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has written numerous best-sellers including Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Italy, Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Morocco, and Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Cotswold's. SELLING POINTS: . Kaffe Fassett is a world-renowned texture artist whose work has been commissioned by British royalty, American fashion designers as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company. His works have been exhibited in museums around the world and have drawn record-breaking attendances . This is the 23rd book in Kaffe Fassett's P&Q book collections

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Book Synopsis''I have never read such a stimulating short guide to art'' Lynn Barber, Sunday Times Now Grayson Perry is a fully paid-up member of the art establishment, he wants to show that any of us can appreciate art (after all, there is a reason he''s called this book Playing to the Gallery and not ''Sucking up to an Academic Elite''). Based on his hugely popular BBC Radio 4 Reith Lectures and full of pictures, this funny, personal journey through the art world answers the basic questions that might occur to us in an art gallery but seem too embarrassing to ask.Trade ReviewThis book is full of good jokes, full of cartoons, full of memorable epigrams, but above all full of thought-provoking ideas that make you want to pause on every page and say: "Discuss." I have never read such a stimulating short guide to art. It should be issued as a set text in every school -- Lynn Barber * Sunday Times *A visual and intellectual delight * Time Out *Punchy, mischievous ... Hugely entertaining. You could, genuinely, take an aphorism or a quote from every second page ... This is splendid, transgressive stuff ... a love letter to art ... a thing of pleasure: petite, luxuriously printed, a mischievous little hymn to 21st-century inclusivity -- Melanie Reid * The Times *It reveals Perry to be not just an artist but a wordsmith, too... It is acute and funny at the same time. This, I think, is why people love Perry so much. * Daily Telegraph *A joy to read * New Statesman *A polemic for inclusivity... The great thing about Perry's statement of it here is that you are always convinced that he believes it and lives by it * Observer *It's unputdownable! It's really relevant to anyone who does anything ... A great book ... Grayson is brilliant -- Stewart Lee

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Book SynopsisBy teaching you the foundations of natural dyeing, and guiding you through the simple stitch techniques, this book will allow you to dip in and out of projects while learning how to forage for and grow your own dye plants. In The Wild Dyer, Abigail Booth demystifies the `magic'' of natural dyeing and shows how to use the results to stunning effect in 15 exquisite patchwork and stitch projects, including a drawstring forager''s bag, an apron, samplers, cushions and a reversible patchwork blanket. Focusing on how to grow or gather your own dyeing materials - from onion and avocado skins to chamomile and comfrey, nettles and acorns - as well as scouring, mordanting (using fixative) and setting up a dye vat, Abigail explains how to create effective dyes. And once you have them, how you can produce beautiful, contemporary textiles that can then be used to create projects that build on your skills.

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Book SynopsisThe transformative power of contemporary textiles is the subject of this exhibition catalog that examines how and why textile has been a fertile medium for artists to question regimes of power and hierarchies of value.Bringing together more than 100 works by a diverse range of international practitioners, this eye-opening volume explores how textile art can be as discomforting as it is beautiful, and how age-old materials and processes are being reimagined with boundary-smashing innovations. From intimate hand-crafted works to large-scale sculptural installations, this book celebrates the legacies of artists such as Pacita Abad, the arpilleristas, and José Leonilson. Also featured here are works by living artists such as Igshaan Adams, Tracey Emin, and Cecilia Vicuña.Featuring new essays by Julia Bryan-Wilson, Miguel A. Lopez and Denise Ferriera da Silva, and texts by Michelle Adler, Diego Chocano, Wells Fray-Smith, Lotte Johnson and Amanda Pinatih, this

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Book SynopsisA beautifully concise guide to the luxury fashion house, its heritage and iconic pieces.

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Book SynopsisRick Owens remains one of the most daring and influential fashion designers working today. This new book of photographs describes an exceptionally fertile and transformational period in his career, one that saw him experiment with new shapes, the application of new materials, and an unprecedented use of color.Lavishly documenting men’s and women’s collections and featuring Owens’s continuing collaboration with the photographer Danielle Levitt, this book is an unabashed love letter to one of the most devoted followings in contemporary fashion.Picking up where Rizzoli’s previous monograph on Owens’s work left off, looks from his critically lauded homage to the rock-and-roll designer Larry Legaspi set a frenzied visual pace that never lets up—right through the pandemic, when Owens memorably staged shows on the Lido di Venezia.Here, the continued evolution of nearly three decades of Owens’s “grunge-meets-glTrade Review"Documenting Rick Owen’s longtime collaboration with photographer Danielle Levitt, this latest book (which picks up where 2011’ Rick Owens left off) captures the rock-and-roll-meets-glam approach that the designer has been known for throughout his 30-year career." —THE ZOE REPORT "An oeuvre as revolutionary as Rick Owens’s could never be contained in just one book. That’s why we need More Rick Owens, the follow-up to the designer’s eponymous 2019 monograph. Through the precise lens of Danielle Levitt, Owens’s daring recent looks come into sharp focus. Alien headpieces and off-kilter silhouettes are tamed through impeccable tailoring and visionary detail. The typical goth-glam aesthetic of the anti-fashion designer is reinvigorated with splashes of color, while unexpected materials—think fish hides and goat hair—propel his work squarely into the realm of the avant-garde. Nearly three decades into his career, Owens continues to leave us begging for more." —V MAGAZINE"In a continuation of his first volume of photographs, the designer Rick Owens teams up with the photographer Danielle Levitt to delight in provocation. Prepare for louche poses and leather, daring silhouettes and spikes." —NY TIMES"A new Rizzoli tome — “More Rick Owens,” Owens’s second with the publisher — captured by his longtime collaborator, photographer Danielle Levitt, features some of his most audacious collections on those subjects, made between 2019 and 2023. It includes what Owens calls “our covid quartet”: four shows that Owens produced during the height of the pandemic." —THE WASHINGTON POST"More so than many comparable titles on other designers, the physical production of the volume beautifully reflects the essence of the Owens brand: the cover is raw cardboard with unfinished edges; the title is understated and small but gorgeously embossed, blending rich black ink with luminescent metallic in a clean, sans-serif, ultra-modern typeface. This blend of restrained, cool modernity with rugged utilitarianism is an overarching theme in Owens’s work, and echoing it in the actual materiality of the book was a wise move by Rizzoli. It makes it the too-cool volume to add to your coffee table stack, the book that will make you feel very Berlin or—dare we say—Scandi (an interesting complement given that Owens is, himself, from California)." —NY JOURNAL OF BOOKS

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Book SynopsisA quirky and engaging book about creating stories in stitch, from an up-and-coming young textile artist.Bring your personal story to life in colorful, vibrant textile art.In this gorgeous book, Ailish Henderson explains her working methods and how you can harness them in your own work to create unique, deeply personal textile art pieces. She encourages you to draw on your own personal memorabilia to create work that is meaningful to you?the intention is to capture a moment in time, a memory to treasure, a look on a face, a glance of love from a pet.Along with work from the author, the book also showcases work from textile artists such as Mandy Pattullo, Bridget Harvey, Jenni Dutton, and the hugely popular Mr. X Stitch (Jamie Chalmers). It includes: Materials: where to source cloth, using found and recycled materials, curating vintage fabric, incorporating precious family pieces in your work. Processes: finding inspiration, creating mood boards, keeping sketchbooks, developing work from drawings, capturing character. Techniques: Screen printing, hand and machine stitching, appliqué, mixed-media collage. Subject matter: the narrative line, self-portraits, family snapshots, history, identity, travel, favorite animals, even famous faces.

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Book Synopsis'This book will provide you with enough inspiration to keep you sewing all through the year.'Popular PatchworkMake 37 gorgeous Scandi-style felt decorations, embellished with simple but stunning embroidery stitches.

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Book SynopsisGet your crochet off to a flying start with 8 simple projects and multiple techniques to master. A must-have guide for those new to crochet stitches, techniques and projects, or those wanting a recap. In this complete course, crochet expert Claire Montgomerie covers all the basics from selecting the right tools and materials to holding your hook, making those crucial first stitches, fastening off, and reading a pattern. Clear step-by-step photographs and a handy fold-out flap with crochet abbreviations make it accessible for all, whether you are hooking your first stitch or revisiting the basics. Claire's approachable and friendly guidance is complemented by a delightful array of modern projects that will leave you inspired. As you build your skills, you'll be amazed at the progress you make while creating 8 stunning designs, each one teaching and reinforcing a new technique- from increasing and decreasing to changing color and joining seams. Choose from a diverse range of projects that will captivate your imagination:Craft eco-friendly washcloths and makeup pads, perfect for pampering yourself or gifting to loved ones or knit a ribbed beanie with a whimsical pompom, keeping you cozy and stylish in colder months. Or even unlesh your creativity and crochet a lovable cuddly toy that will bring joy to children and adults alike. Once you've gained confidence in your crochet skills, it's time to have some fun! Explore a world of eye-catching yarns and vibrant hooks as you embark on inspiring projects that showcase your newfound expertise. Start stitching today and unlock a world of endless possibilities.Trade ReviewIf 2024 is the year you plan to get started on crochet, or you'd like to inspire a friend to take up this craft, Claire Montgomerie's brilliant new guide for beginners provides a complete short course. Claire is an experienced textiles designer, author and teacher and provides friendly, expert guidance throughout, using clear step-by-step photography. [...] This well-crafted, useful and inspiring book is perfect for those looking to refresh their crochet skills or learn ones from scratch, with projects that are gorgeous to make and use. -- Inside Crochet * Issue 165 *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Tools and materials 8 Getting started 16 Techniques and projects 34 Washcloths 40 Make-up Pads 56 Scarf 64 Beanie 74 Chevron Blanket 82 Mesh Bag 88 Flowers 98 Granny Square coasters, Blanket and Pillow 108 Teddy 120 Moving on 125 Index 128

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Book SynopsisA practical and inspirational book to learn how to develop a variety of textile techniques from personal visual sources. This book teaches you how to develop a diverse range of textile surface design techniques from personal visual inspiration sources, and apply them to your projects. Discover an assortment of traditional and unconventional methods, from smocking to soldering, through projects such as fashion and interiors items and textile art. The book encourages you to explore visual sources to discover their potential for imagery, texture, structure and manipulation, supporting you in the development and creation of your own unique pieces. Learn how to explore alternative possibilities, manipulate existing textile surfaces or create new ones. Whether you are a student, experienced artist or maker looking for new inspiration and techniques, this is an essential practical book.Trade Review[T]his is an exceedingly useful book that is well presented, with plenty of inspiring images of results you can achieve. * Textile Fibre Forum *Table of ContentsIntroduction Visual Research Repeat Structures Building Surfaces From Scratch Decorating Existing Surfaces Manipulating Surfaces Through Stitch Deconstructing and Disrupting Surfaces Trims and Edges Suppliers Gallery About the Authors Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisBound in real Murray of Atholl Ancient tartan cloth supplied with the authority of Kinloch Anderson, this hardback notebook is 21 x 13cm, with 192 pages - each spread has left blank, right ruled. Has stained edges, ribbon marker, bookmark and inner note holder. Eight perforated end leaves and expandable inner note holder. Each includes a removable booklet and bookmark giving information on the specific tartan used for the binding. With 192 pages, acid-free threadsewn, 80 gsm cream shade pages, with round-cornered cover and bookblock corners, and a matching elastic closure. The tartan cloth is supplied by and produced with the authority of Kinloch Anderson who are tailors and kiltmakers in Edinburgh.

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In this 21st installment of Kaffe Fassett's ever-popular series of patchwork and quilting books, Kaffe has chosen to show off his latest range of fabrics by revisiting many of his favorite medallion quilt blocks. Photographed on location at the world-famous Hidcote Manor Garden in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, these delectable quilts find their perfect setting among the brilliant flower borders, avenues of trees, and stunning architectural features that make Hidcote one of the most visited gardens in the U.K. Medallion quilts have universal appeal and the simple framework of the medallion design makes a great vehicle for Kaffe's eye-catching color combinations in his brilliant range of fabric designs. Assisted by his team of designers and makers, Kaffe has created an exquisite and varied range of 19 medallion designs, among them: the rich Berry Ice Cream quilt, photographed in Hidcote's world famous Red Border the dramatic Dark Gameboard, photographed against the geometric precision of Hidcote's famous topiary hedges the soft Flowery Jar, its pink and blue themed design echoing the colors of the flowers in Hidcote's early summer border Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Cotswolds provides all the basic instructional text, diagrams, and templates to make the quilts, plus a section on basic patchwork techniques for less experienced quilters.

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Book SynopsisThe Red Dress: 380 Embroiderers, 51 countries, 1 dressConceived by British artist Kirstie Macleod,TheRed Dressoffers a platform for people, mostly women, who are vulnerable and live in poverty to share their stories through embroidery.

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Book SynopsisBound in Stewart Modern Camel tartan cloth made in British mills, this large hardback notebook is 21 x 13cm, with 192 pages - each spread has left blank, right ruled. Has stained edges, ribbon marker, bookmark and inner note holder. Eight perforated end leaves and expandable inner note holder. Each includes a removable booklet and bookmark giving information on the specific tartan used for the binding. With 192 pages, acid-free threadsewn, 80 gsm cream shade pages, with round-cornered cover and bookblock corners, and a matching elastic closure. The tartan cloth is supplied by and produced with the authority of Kinloch Anderson who are tailors and kiltmakers in Edinburgh.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“One of the strengths is the inclusion of academic theory, briefly outlined, to explain how developments with fashion occurred…a useful reference, perhaps something of a fashion history primer.”—Dr. Benjamin Linley Wild, The Journal of Dress History

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Book SynopsisDiscover 65 beautiful Japanese-style fabric flowers to make from French artist Sylvie Blondeau. Projects include clear instructions with stunning accompanying photography. 'Japanese Fabric Flowers is one of those books that is just a joy to look at. The beautiful designs are stunning and really amazing', Tracy Shephard Postcard Reviews The Japanese word 'kanzashi' originally referred to decorative pins as part of the traditional female hairstyles. These pins were often works of art in themselves, holding in place elaborate floral arrangements made with natural or silk flowers. Today, kanzashi encompasses flowers made from regular fabrics. Sylvie Blondeau shows you how to make 65 of these simply stunning designs. The projects are so easy and fun to make that you will soon be making them for every occasion! They are perfect as accessories on clothing, jewellery, home decorations or table adornments for special occasions.Trade ReviewKanzashi flowers are a traditional Japanese craft originally used as a hair ornament. In this collection, French costume designer Blondeau presents the basics of kanzashi making, including designs ranging from simple to complex. Basic kanzashi flowers require simple supplies that most sewists will have on hand—fabric scraps (medium-weight fabrics such as cotton poplin or raw silk are ideal), fabric glue, and a hand sewing kit. As the flowers become more complex, kanzashi flower makers, which are plastic templates in five different shapes corresponding to a specific petal type, are used. Flowers can be finished with beads or buttons and incorporated into numerous projects, including jewelry or handbags, or used as an embellishment or an accessory. Step-by-step directions for sewing 16 different kanzashi are provided; 12 projects supply ideas for using the finished flowers as well as further variations. VERDICT Crafters with an interest in embellishment or in traditional Japanese crafts will enjoy this collection. * Library Journal USA *I adore fabric flowers and I am always amazed by the very effective and beautiful results achieved by the manipulation of small pieces of fabric. Kanzashi is the Japanese art of making these divine creations, and even though they look intricate and difficult to make they really are quite simple. Use them to adorn your bags, hats and home decor, you can even make earrings and necklaces which could be given as gifts to your favourite friends. Japanese Fabric Flowers is one of those books that is just a joy to look at. The beautiful designs are stunning and really amazing. Each design has a pattern, including tools needed and extra advice on cutting your fabric and even using embellishments. Templates are included and with simple visual diagrams there is no reason for you not to create something wonderful. This is a beautiful craft and well worth the effort as the final results are just stunning. -- Tracy Shephard * Postcard Reviews *Wow 65 different flowers to decorate things with. Sylvie brings together her skills to show you how to make beautiful flowers that can be easily be made with regular fabric. Not only does Sylvie share her step by step instructions to make beautiful flowers you also get step-by-step instructions for making different projects to add your flowers to. Sylvie explains the history behind these beautiful flowers and talks you through creating and using templates. Some of the flowers use the clover kanzashi (the name of the beautiful flowers) flower makers. These templates make it easier for you to make matching flowers all the time. In the book clear instructions are given so that you can make the flowers very easily. Each of the 65 designs have their own look Some look like specific types of flower and others are unique. Sylvie also takes you through using other materials to finish off your designs. You can use everything from buttons to chain. The book makes the flowers in multiple colours to create different designs. Plain fabric is used and then on others patterned fabric is used to create a completely different look. The flowers are fantastic to make with scraps of fabric and can be easily altered to match your decor or outfit. With so many flowers to make and so many projects to use them on this book offers so much. The book is full of amazing colours! For the full review and images please visit: www.crochetaddictuk.com * Crochet Addict UK *Kanzashi flowers are those beautiful fabric flowers associated with traditional Japanese hairstyles, especially those of geishas. They are not hard to make, and can be used to adorn more than hair decorations; they are also a great way of using up oddments of fabric. This book, translated from the French shows you how to make both the styles with just fabric, and those using the plastic Clover Flower Makers. There are sixteen different flowers to choose from, plus the more Western yoyo (aka Suffolk puff), rosette and padded “pumpkin” shape reminiscent of pincushions. Each flower has a series of captioned diagrams that are well laid out on the page but would be even better if they were all in a dark line color rather than red, pink or orange. There is a handy gallery of all the finished types, and then it is on with the projects. All these are illustrated with large photographs, often giving more than one view of the finished piece and separate parts. The print is quite small, and instructions don’t always feature staged diagrams so some sewing experience is essential for the more challenging projects. You won’t find any Japanese style hair decorations in here and the hanging “falls” are omitted, but instead there are many ingenious ways of using the flowers to decorate all kinds of other things. These are beautiful and unusual – waterlily table decorations, lots of jewelry, Christmas decorations, Peter Pan collar with flower and a crafter’s bag to name some. If you have always wanted to make your own kanzashi this is the place to discover how, and also how they fit into modern Western life. * Rachel Hyde - Myshelf.com *Great value book with full colour photos and instructions to make 65 fabulous flowers. Some you can make with card, for others it recommends a template maker. Love the ideas and end results in this book. Use your fabric stash and scraps, you need 3 inch diameter circles. You learn the basics first - rounded petals, pointed petals and so on and then specific flowers. I love them all. Easy to make flowers that match your handmade outfits. * Karen Platt- yarnsandfabrics.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisThe artist Celia Pym lives in London and has been exploring damage and repair in textiles since 2007. Working with garments that belong to individuals as well as items in museum archives, she has broad experience with stories of damage, from moth holes to accidents with fire. Textile language crops up in the body: mending language works on the body as well as on garments. We describe the body as mending after illness or injury – ‘I’m on the mend,’ someone might say if they’re feeling better. You might hear a doctor or nurse describe a broken bone as ‘mending well’, or broken bones are often described as knitting back together as the break heals. Pym is interested in exploring the varied evidence of damage, and how repair draws attention to the places where garments and cloth wear down and grow thin. These personal tales document the intimate damage caused to clothing by everyday use and the parallels with the consequent wear and tear on the body. Mending work builds on what is left behind. It’s not replacing, or remaking, or cutting apart and putting back together, instead it is slow work that makes things better. It conjures an unhurried recovery or change. In textiles, the act of mending wear-and-tear, thinning cloth or accidental damage builds on what already exists, anchoring threads and yarn into the robust healthy fabric and filling in the holes or reinforcing the areas that are weak. ‘Darning is small acts of care,’ she says, ‘and paying close attention.’ Trade Review'Celia Pym sees touch as an act of tenderness, whether that’s mending clothes or caring for others. Mending clothes that once belonged to someone you loved can take on a different significance. “It used to sit on the skin of someone you loved, it’s like a diffused kind of touch,” says Celia. “Touch isn’t only through your hands – your skin is your biggest organ – and clothing will take on the shape and the smell of someone and become an evocative reminder of the owner.” In her book, Celia tells the story of ten special items she’s mended. One that really illustrates the connection of touch to memory: “I mended my mother’s childhood sweater that my brother also wore – it was so small I couldn’t imagine my mother ever wearing it, but I could picture struggling to hold my brother when he was one and I was three,” she recalls. “The tactility of the sweater really conjured up that memory.”' Katie Antoniou, The Simple Things; Pym has been exploring mending since 2007 and has extensive experience of repairing small holes at heels, elbows and inside pockets, as well as working on more dramatic damage, whether it be from water, animals or moths. For Pym, the greater the damage, the better. Pym studied sculpture at Harvard and has an MA in constructed textiles from the Royal College of Art. She was a finalist in the Woman's Hour Craft Prize (2017) and Loewe Craft Prize (2017). Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Nouveau Muse National de Monaco and the Textile Arts Centre, New York and the Curator's Cube in Tokyo.' Toast Magazine; 'Pym acknowledges that in the process of mending she is, in fact, mending more than just the garment. The process enables people to approach her for advice and also to talk candidly about the meaning implied in restoring a treasured piece of clothing. Sometimes, the garment will have been the property of a loved one who has died, so repairing it, she says, enables the relationship to continue. The act of mending artfully is a form of caring and memorialisation.' Janet McKenzie, Studio InternationalTable of ContentsIntroduction Stories Roly’s Sweater Elizabeth’s Cardigan Hope’s Sweater The Norwegian Sweater Bill’s Sweater The Gold Cape Lara and Lolu’s backpacks Siri’s Sweater Vivien Leigh’s Suit Freddie’s Family Rugs

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Book SynopsisLavish photography and groundbreaking texts unlock the magic of the island cultures of Indonesia, Malaysia, and East Timor through examples of textiles, sculpture, and metalwork from this prestigious collection.

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Book SynopsisMartina Mondadori is the founder and editor of limited-edition design magazine Cabana. She grew up in Milan, where her father was chairman of one of Italy's biggest publishing houses. After an early career in publishing and luxury branding, she launched Cabana in 2014 to great acclaim. She lives in Milan. Aerin Lauder is the style and image director for Estee Lauder Companies and founder of the global luxury lifestyle brand Aerin, which develops curated collections in the worlds of beauty, fashion accessories, and home decor.

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully concise guide tells the story of the couturier Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel and the luxury fashion brand she founded.

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