With a rich history forged with needle and thread, Inspirations Studios publishes the world’s most beautiful needlework books and magazines. They are based in Australia; for more information visit www.inspirationsstudios.com.
Prepare yourself for Something Stunning. I’m telling you, this book
is all about beauty and presentation! If you want a needlework book
to drool over, to sigh over, to practically cry over – this is it.
A Passion for Needlework, published this year by Inspirations,
features a drop-dead-gorgeous collection of needlework projects
that will woo you into a dreamy world of dazzling, delightful,
sumptuous embroidery. Whether you buy this book for inspiration,
for instruction, or just for decoration, you’re definitely going to
want it in your library (or, more likely, on your coffee table!).
Put it on your Christmas wish list! When I pre-ordered A Passion
for Needlework from Book Depository, I really had no idea what to
expect from the book, beyond one thing: I knew it would be
beautiful. Why? Because it's coming from Inspirations. They publish
the world's most beautiful embroidery magazine. Their books have
always been equally beautiful. Meandering around one day through
lists of upcoming needlework books, I came across this one. I
thought, That will be a pretty book. And my readers will want to
know about it. And so I'll order it. That's as far as my thinking
process went. I pretty much forgot about the book until it arrived
week before last. When I opened the package, I just wasn't
prepared! I don't know if I've ever been flabbergasted by an
embroidery book. But I think this one did it. It's just that
pretty. See, the book is huge – and I don’t mean size-wise. While
it’s a nicely sized book (9.5″ x 11″, about 1/2″ thick, nice cover,
good quality paper, amazing color, and a satin ribbon bookmark to
boot), the huge impact comes from the photos of the needlework
within. This is a book that gets close and personal with all the
embroidery! The whole book revolves around the photography of the
twelve projects that unfold inside its cover. For every project,
you’ll find close-up photos that show astonishing stitching detail.
This is eye candy at it’s best! The projects in A Passion for
Needlework range from colorful silk embroidery, to whitework
embroidery, elegant monogramming, stumpwork, textured embroidery,
scenic embroidery. It is quite an array! For the floral enthusiast,
the book is a goldmine. You’ll find Jane Nicholas’s stumpwork
floral creations, Susan O’Connor’s contemporary interpretations of
17th century floral stitchery… …and floral accents on delicate
linen surrounding decorative initials. But there’s much more than
flowers here! Jenny McWhinney’s “Falling Leaves” projects – which
include a tree bedecked in autumn splendor and an owl surrounded by
fall foliage – is especially captivating this time of year! Other
projects include a whitework and drawn thread piece, stumpwork
berries and leaves, a highly textured beach scene, and a proud
peacock in stumpwork and other techniques, from designers Deborah
Love, Lorna Bateman, Judy Wilford, Alison Cole. You’ll find Trish
Burr doing what she does best, with one of her exquisite needle
painted birds; a sweet stumpwork posy by Julie Kniedl; a woodland
scene by Jo Butcher featuring birch bark so real you could almost
peel it. Twelve projects in all – and every one of them, gorgeous!
The book begins with a photographic overview of all the projects,
with a little blurb about each one. Then, it’s broken down into the
individual projects. Each project begins with a detailed list of
stitches used and materials required. The instructions for the
project follow next, with enough detail to follow along and succeed
in reproducing it. The book is not super-heavy on instruction,
though, making it more suitable, I think, for someone who is
already a fairly competent stitcher – although the projects range
in difficulty, so it really depends on your personal level and your
motivation to work the project! Some of the instructions rely more
on text than on visual aids. When reading through each project from
start to finish, though, the written instructions are clear. In
most cases, the designer takes you step by step through each
detail. Some projects include step-by-step photos for the various
techniques employed… …while others rely on small diagrams here and
there to clarify the text. In the back of the book, there’s a brief
stitch glossary with diagrams for all the basic stitches employed
in the various projects. And finally, in the very back of the book
– in true Inspirations fashion – you’ll find a pull out section
with all the patterns.
http://www.needlenthread.com/2016/11/a-passion-for-needlework-book-review.html
*Mary Corbet's Needle 'n Thread*
A tour de force of 12 breathtaking needlework projects. This
large format book is an inspiration to all who love to stitch. The
photography is sublime and the projects
are stunning. Exquisite hand-stitched masterpieces with
complete, detailed, how to instructions. From the stitched dogwood,
berries, flowers and birds to leaves and woodland scenes, the
projects enchant. These projects will become heirlooms.
Includes a lift-out pattern sheet. Simply beautiful just to look
at. This book is in a class of its own.
*YarnsandFabrics.co.uk*
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