The Nature Of Creativity written by Jane E Hall is a timely book for our age, focusing on how our connection with nature can inspire us and evoke creativity from within. She discusses how a number of things connect together, such as mindfulness and the power of nature to make us feel positive coupled with a desire to create art and craft. You will learn how to nurture creativity to become an artist, using inspiration starting on your own doorstep.
Paint With Thread by Emilie Ferris is a richly illustrated step-by-step guide with five main projects for readers to follow, all inspired by the changing of the seasons and its impact on nature. With detailed tutorials, a separate stitch guide and all the information required to begin and finish each embroidery project.
Resilient Stitch by Clare Wellesley Smith focuses on the connection between wellbeing and textiles and how the two can work in tandem, featuring both community and individual projects. Cas Holmes reviews this fascinating book for Mr X Stitch!
In Quarantine Quilts: Creativity In The Midst Of Chaos by Sandra Sider, learn directly from makers personal notes and quotes what moved them to create their individual art quilts, which are all inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover how the experiences which the artists went through enabled them to develop new ways of artistic thinking. Read how the pandemic experience has allowed them to connect to creativity. Topics include Home Is Where The Heart Is and Pandemic Landscapes.
In this Living for Dyeing column, writer Ailish Henderson explains what is Batik, history, how it can be used and teaches us the basic steps so that readers can have a go themselves.
The Kew Book Of Embroidered Flowers by Trish Burr is written in collaboration with Kew Gardens. In the book Trish uses needle painting techniques to recreate some stunning flowers in embroidery, and shares templates, techniques and tips that will encourage you to try them for yourself.
Fiber Art Today edited by Carol K.Russell is a substantial collection of contemporary textile and fiber art. With over 300 pictures and detailed descriptions of the work, it’s both a beautiful gallery book and a valuable resource for art practitioners.
Beautiful Embroidered Accessories by Lexi Mire Brantman will teach you how to hand embroider your hats, bandanas and any other pre-loved clothing which could do with a freshen up.
We are all aware of the struggles and challenges our earth faces. Emma Congdon focuses on this issue in her latest book, published by David and Charles. It has twenty designs to recreate, great for gifts and styling our home with. With large attractive photographs and all the info we require, will this be the one for you? Maybe this is your chance to step away from the old phone screen and focus on something new…..
Courtney Cox is an Austin-based embroidery artist who makes free hand portrait and figurative pieces that cast a critical eye on modern times. Find out more at Mr X Stitch!
There are a number of apps that will help you with the craft of cross stitch, there are a lot of apps that give you the chance to do cross stitch on your phone. It’s a curious phenomenon and if it makes people familiar with cross stitch, then that’s no bad thing, but we will actively encourage people to try the analog version of cross stitch (with a needle and thread) as a healthy pastime that doesn’t involve technology. With that in mind, let’s have a look at the best apps that support In Real Life cross stitching that are available on iOS and Android.
Christine Cunningham reviews Foolproof Flower Embroidery by Jennifer Clouston and says the book has “something for everyone, whether you are learning the basics or wish to extend your embroidery vocabulary”
