Inspired principally by the medieval 'Book of Hours' Jane has selected eight flowers and given them a new lease of life in stumpwork embroidery. Five of the subjects are botanical specimens with Latin names, the other three are worked as illuminated panels. The embroideries are worked in rich colours, embellished with gold thread and beads. Each stunning piece includes an insect. The requirements for making each project are given in detail with drawings, tracing patterns and diagrams. Beautiful illustrations throughout. * YarnsandFabrics.co.uk * Dec 09/Jan 10
Illuminated manuscripts of the medieval era provide the inspiration for Jane Nicholas's glorious stumpwork. There are eight botanical specimens, which display the buds, blossoms and seed cases of the flower; the embroideries, like the illustrations that inspired them, offer wonderful surprises, and close inspection reveals an assortment of beetles and creepy-crawlies nestling in the foliage. Another three embroideries, exquisitely stitched panels, are accompanied by beautiful illustrations showing the illuminated pages that inspired them. The techniques used to create the embroideries are clearly explained and, with the necessary skills at your fingertips, the elements in the book could be combined in numerous ways to create your own designs. * Stitch *
