Product Description

Drawing inspiration from the past and blending it with contemporary ideas and her own unique style, Helen Stevens has created an amazing collection of new embroideries with vivid images explored in stunning detail. "An essential book for art or nature lovers" --New Stitches

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1110813 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 144 pages

From Library Journal
This is the third embroidery book by British textile artist Stevens (after The Embroiderer's Countryside, David & Charles, 1992, and The Embroiderer's Country Album, David & Charles, 1994). She excels in the naturalistic type of embroidery known as needlepainting. Worked in silk using several classic straight stitches, her flowers and animals are delicate and exquisite. This is not a book of projects but a clearly delineated album of Stevens's works with notes on technique in the accompanying text. As such, it is an inspiration to experienced needleworkers, proving a level of expertise and artistry rarely seen in modern embroidery books. Highly recommended for all decorative arts collections.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Stevens' third book is a meditation set within a broad historical context: from Saxon to modern times. The author begins her discussion with an explanation of the preferred design styles of Britain, her native country, which she follows with an examination of particular motifs. In every chapter there are innumerable pauses to scrutinize how to stitch different trees and leaves, fruits and animals, from the interstices of a pine cone to the black-and-white hairs of a badger family. Nature is her primary subject matter--and Stevens very graciously shows us its realistic and three-dimensional treatments in embroidery. For experienced stitchers and large library collections. Barbara Jacobs

Customer Reviews

Magnificent, inspirational and easy to follow.
This book is a feast for embroiderers be they new to the art or experienced stitchers. It allows you to see how projects can be worked with a whole new slant, using a multitude of threads and fabrics. You can set about designing your own projects using similar techniques, proving that experimentation can be fun and successful. A must have for needlewomen!!

I was very pleased
Goes into great detail, and I got some great design ideas, too.