SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER BLOG 2017
He who has imagination without learning has wings but no feet Chinese Proverb
I couldn't say it better. Learning things is so important to me. Every day I try to learn at least one new thing. At the moment, its ants. Yes, ants. After being invaded by tiny ants in my kitchen, all over my counters, etc. I decided I had to learn about them. I'm reading Journey of the Ants, a Pulitzer Prize winning book. that has won many Science Awards. The authors: Bert Holldobler and Edward O. Wilson, are great writers so the book is fun as well as informational. Now I'm understanding about queens, warriors, and workers. I managed to rid my kitchen of the little critters by learning about them instead of using poisons.
My point is, the Chinese proverb is right, we need to learn about things before we jump in and do them. Needleworkers are great at this. While I was doing bookshops at needlework seminars, I visited classrooms full of eager students learning how to do a certain type of needlework from an expert. Needleworkers, I know, first hand, are great book readers too. And books are a great way to learn needlework or whatever we want our imagination to attach too.
That's why I love this business I've had for the past 23 plus years. It is so great to be surrounded by booklovers and needleworkers since I do both. I've never get bored. My job IS offering feet to the wings of all our imaginations.
So take a look at the books I've included and see if there is a book or more that will increase your learning in an area of your personal interest.
DON'T FORGET TO FIND THE HIDDEN CODE SOMEPLACE IN THIS BLOG AND GET A 20% DISCOUNT.
FIRST WE NEED TO VISIT WITH HAZEL BLOMKAMP WHO HAS NOT ONE BUT TWO NEEDLEWORK BOOKS COMING OUT.
Hazel refers to herself in her blogs as the "rebellious needlewoman". Not rebellious against needlework but the things that interrupt it. She had so many things going on in 2016 (including illness) she wrote that "she was in the seventh month of the year, that after having given it a six-month trial, she would like to send 2016 back - and get a refund." I think we all have those years. I remembered mine and laughed. Yes, there were times I would have liked a refund too.
Yet, if you look at the books she has brought out and the classes she managed to travel too, she must have the energy of two people. She lives in KwaZulu-Natal (a garden providence) of South Africa. She travels teaching embroidery to wonderful exotic places as diverse as South African Australia, Canada, Zimbabwe, England, France, Ukraine, Russia and on cruises down the Mekong River spanning Cambodia and Vietnam. I'd love to have been in one of her suitcase and enjoy those places with her.
She's a dog lover so I have that in common with her too except she goes through the adventure of breeding her boxers - eight puppies!That's where we go on different paths. I've been through raising dogs from puppyhood and I'm past that stage. Adult dogs - one or two at a time is all I can handle along with Mark's delightful Tuxedo cat, Selena. Hazel has to be a whirlwind to handle all that and her needlework business of books, kits, and classes. As she quips, she is surrounded by big, slobbery dogs (her words) so all her designs available on her website are washable. How great is that!
I would like to encourage you to visit her wonderful, informative website: hazelblomkamp.co.za. Her BlogSpot is: therebelliousneedlewoman.blogspot.com.
HER NEW BOOKS
NEEDLE WEAVING TECHNIQUES FOR HAND EMBROIDERY - Working from loom weaving graphs and patterns, Hazel Blomkamp has modified and documented 43 different needle weaving techniques and patterns for this book. This book begins with basic guidance on needle weaving techniques based on a single weaving method which Hazel has broken down into easy steps. All these patterns are described, each with a clear diagram and step-by-step instructions, and a photographed example of one of Hazel's beautiful woven pieces. All the stitches have been detailed on one side of the page only, allowing you to place your magnetic crossstitch board underneath. you can then use the magnetic rulers, that come with the board to mark the row that you are working on, making the instructions easier to follow. The book is wire-bound, allowing the pages to lie flat while you work, and the book's notebook-size fits perfectly in a workbag for easy transportation while stitching on the go. With all the stitches needed for needle weaving embroidery at their fingertips, both new and experienced embroiderers will find inspiration from this invaluable resource . $19.95
NEEDLE LACE TECHNIQUES FOR HAND EMBROIDERY - working from the Encyclopedia of Needlework by T.H. de Dillmont, originally published in the late 19th century, Hazel has compiled all of the key needle lace embroidery techniques into one handy and portable stitch book. This book begins with a basic guide to needle lace techniques, based on several stitches de Dillmont used which Hazel has broken down into easy steps. Over 40 needle lace stitches are then described, each with a clear diagram and step-by-step instructions. All have been detailed on one side of the page only, allowing the reader to place a magnetic cross-stitch board underneath. They can then use the magnetic rulers that come with the board to mark the row that they are working on, making the instructions easier to follow. The book is wire-bound, allowing the pages to lie flat while you work, and the book's notebook-sixe fits perfectly in a workbag for easy transportation while stitching on the go. Both new and experienced embroiders will find inspiration from this invaluable resource. $19.95 (discount code: (opal17)HER OTHER BOOKS
HAND STITCHED CRAZY PATCHWORK - Learn how to make ordinary patchwork extraordinary through a fabulous mix of embroidery techniques and bead embellishments. All the great five pieces in this book have been made with only a needle, thread, fabric, ribbons and beads. Also learn to use embroidery to create your own patchwork pieces from scratch. Hazel explains more than 160 techniques for bead embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, needle weaving and tatting as well as free-hand quilting and working from paper templates. $29.95
CREWEL TWISTS: Fresh ideas for Jacobean Embroidery - This free form of surface embroidery has been around for centuries and is still popular. In this book, Hazel uses a wide selection of materials of materials to update techniques and inspire embroiderers to explore whilst working loosely within the confines of crewel work styles. Learn how to be creative with fabric, threads, beads and alternative stitches, borrowing techniques from other forms of needlework, and still producing a product that is typical of the crewel or Jacobean style of embroidery. $29.95
CREWEL INTENTIONS - This book continues Hazel's concept in her first book (the one above), of using non-traditional techniques and materials in crewel or Jacobean embroidery. It showcases four large projects, each with an accompanying small project similar in technique, and shows needleworkers how to be creative with threads, alternative stitches and beads. Traditional techniques are explained but are extended with the use of bead embroidery, needle lace techniques, and stitches not normally used in crewel work. The book also explores weaving techniques used to create textures like twill and lace weaves, as well as patterns similar to tartan and houndstooth check. Every project is clearly explained with step-by-step instructions and lots of photos, and the completed embroideries are once again displayed in ways that are both decorative and functional in the home. Templates of the original designs complete this magnificent source for creative embroidery. $29.95 |
| I couldn't say any better! |
POTPOURRI OF NEW BOOKS
ATTENTION SAMPLER LOVERS
The Fitzwilliam Museum in England has released a fabulous new book, SAMPLED LIVES that showcases over 100 samplers (in gorgeous color) from the Fitzwilliam Museum's remarkable collection and shows the importance of samplers as documentary evidence of past lives. These beautifully embroidered and stitched samplers illuminate the lives of girls and women, from mid-17th century English Quakers to early 20th century school pupils, encompassing their education, employment, religion, family, societal status and needlework skills. It also highlights the individuality of each sampler, which in some cases is the only surviving document to record the existence of an ordinary young woman. $54.95ATTENTION NEEDLEPOINTERS
The Great NEEDLEPOINT BOOK is now available in paperback just in time for the holiday season! This is the paperback version of latest edition of this book considered the 'bible" for stitching that includes 436 stitches and 1,680 illustrations. Also included is a crash course on how to use new fibers; updated information on materials, as well as how to work with and care for them, dozens of new stitches; and diagrams and stitch guides for select projects included in this book. There are thirty-two pages of color photographs and a new ribbon stitch chapter. $35.00Another Great Book from Carolyn Hedge Baird
Her last book, Teeny Tiny Stitches, is a classic that sells constantly. Now I heard about a new Carolyn Hedge Baird from several customers and I checked it out. Sure enough, Carolyn has just released, Needlepoint Stitches: A Field Guide for Birds. This book includes all the stitches (graphed) you would need for all the birds your heart desires and what size bird you need them for. And don't forget beaks, eyes, legs, and feet. She covers all of these too.This is a large, heavy book but shipping will still be $3.50. The book is $56.95. Don't forget your 20% discount!
Welcome to More New Books!
Boggen, Sharon - The Visual Guide to Crazy Quilt Design - See It. Stitch it. Contemporary crazy-quilting stitches, photographed step-by-step. Embrace crazy quilting with 35 must-know stitches and endless variations, shown in clear, step-by-step photos for both right and left-handed stitchers. Sharon reveals design fundamentals to guide you in your process. Learn the theory and process behind this fascinating art- how to choose fabrics, piece stitch and flip blocks, and embellish seams with embroidery, beads, buttons, and charms. $29.95
Botbell, Valerie - Joyful Daily Stitching Seam By Seam -This book will inspire you to stitch daily, even for a few minutes! Choose from over 500 crazy-quilt seam treatments, each with a detailed photo and guide for the basic stitches included. Learn 61 basic embroidery stitches, including silk ribbon and beaded stitches, through step-by-step photos, plus get crazy-quit block piecing instructions and helpful information on tools and supplies. Then put it all together in a gorgeous, intricate sampler. $26.95
Elam, Kelsey - 100 Simple Paper Flowers - The author is the paper artist behind the company Moonflora, which makes and ships exquisite paper flowers all over the United States. From window displays to weddings, paper flowers are blooming everywhere. This great collection contains a bouquet of beautifully simple step-by-step projects, complete with templates. Whether you are looking to make a single perfect rose, a vaseful of daisies for your desk, or something even more elaborate, all it takes is a handful of techniques to create a colorful paper garden. $17.95
Johanson, Mollie - Stitch Love: Sweet Creatures Big and Small - Love stitching? Love animals? Then this sweet collection of creatures big and small is perfect for you! Featuring beginner-friendly embroidery patterns from a rising star in the craft community, it features a variety of irresistibly cute critters - pets, farm animals, dinosaurs, even mythical favorites like Pegasus and cute kitties and cows and cubs and more. There are 25 projects in all, from a hedgehog stroller quilt to a dachshund keyboard wrist rest, plus dozen of motifs. $16.95
Kettle, Liz - First Time Beading on Fabric - The author teaches nine beading techniques in nine easy lessons. Seed stitch, moss stitch, couching, moss stitch, backstitch bugle beads, stacks, fringe, picot edge and peyote stitch. Two beaded sampler projects are included, one beaded garden quilt. A dozen inspiring beading ideas. $24.95
Mayo, Lulu - A Million Cats - Chubby cats. Smiling cats. Cats on buses, pedaling bicycles, playing instruments, and napping happily on branches: lots of cats to color and love! Fans of fabulous felines will find kitties aplenty on these fun and whimsical pages. Each picture is rich in beautiful detail to spark the imagination. $9.95
Nico, Brooke - More Lovely Knitted Lace - This nationally known lace teacher and designer, presents 16 new projects that offer a fresh and original take on lace knitting. Think sweaters, capelets, tunics and cowls, knit in yarns both thick and thin - contemporary designs that give knitters a wealth of new possibilities. Organized by overall shape-circle, square, triangle, and rectangle- these lovely garments will change the way you look at lace knitting. Step-by-step illustrations clearly explain any advanced techniques, while every pattern regardless of difficulty contains both written and charted instructions. $19.95
Shapiro, Emilie - How To Create Your Own Jewelry Line - To develop a successful jewelry line, designers have to be more than just creative artists - they have to understand the ins and outs of running a crafts business. Emile detailed guide explores the many facets of creating a quality handmade collection that people will buy, including where to sell your work, how to do small-scale production, how to carry out market research and publicity, how to price and present your pieces for greatest effect. This is the perfect primer for budding jewelry entrepreneurs. $24.95
Spargo, Sue - Bird Dance Book - Sue writes, "After teaching in Orvieto in Umbria, I met my parents in Rome and we flew to Sicily. We enjoyed ten days touring that wonderful island and stayed at Agrituristmos, farms that also accommodate visitors. The last Agrituristmos we stayed at was an old olive farm called Fattoria Mose near the town of Agrigento. Every morning we climbed the top floor of the building for breakfast. The buffet was set spread out on large tables and I quickly noticed that the floor, which was quite extensive, was tiled. Interspersed among plain tiles were tiles depicting many species of birds. The birds had been hand-painted and had a distinctly folk-art appearance. Those birds became the inspiration for "Bird Dance". As you sew your quilt, I hope, like me, you experience a joyous sense of gratitude for all the delightful birds that enrich our lives. Creative Stitching book sold separately, is needed for embroidery stitch instruction." $28.00
Spargo, Sue - Creative Stitching - This goes with the Bird Dance Book. It includes step-by-step concise written instructions along with clear illustrations, for all 50 of Sue's favorite stitches. Included are close up, color, photographic examples of each of the stitches used, along with a detailed look into the needles and threads Sue uses. Spiral bound and small enough to take with you anywhere. Includes an alphabetical index in the back of the book along with a category breakdown of stitches in the front which allows you to choose a stitch by the effect you are looking for. $32.00
Van Niekerk, Diane and Toody Cassidy - The Textile Artist: The Art of Felting and Silk Ribbon Embroidery - Learn how to make flat nuno felting and felt surfaces, using wool, wool and silk and paper silk, and adorn these with exquisite silk ribbon designs. Beginning with detailed instructions on the felted backgrounds, followed by a step-by-step section on how to make the flowers and creatures in silk, this book then introduces readers to 16 stunning projects, from pieces to hang in your home through to accessories you can wear and keep, to practice and apply your newfound embroidery skills. Over 20 flowers included The stitch gallery includes spider web roses, ribbon stitch, pistil stitch, ribbon stitch with curled up tip, detached chain stitch, fly stitch rose, fly and ribbon stitch rose, French knots, grab stitch, loop stitch, grab stitch, stem stitch rose, twisted straight stitch, blanket/buttonhole stitch, crochet filling stitch, detached buttonhole and many more. $29.95PAINT YOUR CANVAS RED! (Or At Least Part of It)
"It is strange how deeply colors seem to penetrate one, like a scent." From George Eliot's Middlemarch.
In this blog and the next two issues of this blog I'm going to walk through the primary colors: red, blue, yellow in this issue beginning with red. What got me started on this quest was a friend of mine, Charlene, who painted a wall in her lovely home red. I loved it! And it made me see how important is selecting the right colors is for homes, paintings, and of course needlework. Red can be very welcoming as it is in Charlene's home.
Red is a BOLD color you can't miss. I learned that's why traffic lights use red for stop. and for fire extinguishers. In this country red can stand for anger. In China your wedding dress is red not white - for red stands for happiness. Red was the very first color to be named by all primitive languages. The cave paintings in Lascaux, France, were made from iron ore. But remember, you can be caught red-handed. or be red in the face: embarrassed. Red in the garden is a warm color in landscape design and is the complimentary color for green. According to psychologists driving a red car means you are sexy, high-energy and a dynamo! And we lay out the red carpet for an important person. A lot of our red coloring in our medicines, cosmetics, and candy comes from the dried, ground bodies of the scale insect Dacrylopius coccus, whose habitat is on cactus plants in places like Mexico and Peru but is also found in oak trees. Ugh, but true!
Red is very popular. But perhaps it can become overkill if it is overused. Like my writing this in red ink. So I'll return to black.
That's better! I'd like to recommend the following book on the color red. Next month will be about Blue.
Patoureau, Michel - Red: The History of A Color - I love this author's books on color that came out earlier this year. He is a historian and director of studies at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes de la Sorbonne in Paris and is a specialist in color. This book offers a social and cultural European history of red from antiquity to the twenty-first century. It contains treasures of forgotten lore and many enjoyable anecdotes. He demonstrates the multiple meanings of color and reveals delightful details about pigments and dyes and navigates centuries of powerful and complex symbolism. The wonderful reviews fill a page. $39.95 MY BOOK THE SECRET CODICES
My historical novel is selling and I'm getting very good reviews. Thanks to all of you who bought a copy.
For those who are reading this for the first time, the book takes place in the 4th A.D. in Roman occupied Egypt. It is the story of a young female scribe, Ankhasenna, asked by her blind grandfather, Epimachos, to transcribe ancient texts into Coptic, the language of the Egyptian people before they are destroyed by the Roman authorities. Her journey to save these codices (books) leads her on a dangerous adventure spanning Egypt from Alexandria in the northern delta, up the Nile to Nag Hammadi in the south. These books buried in the foothills of the mountains of Nag Hammadi, were discovered in the 19th century. This is my story how they got there. The times, the historical characters, the books themselves are historically accurate. That's what makes historical fiction interesting reading. I thoroughly researched this book, traveling through Egypt four times (even on camelback) to all the sites for a total of 18 months there.
 |
For more information on the book, I have a new website called: From My Pen at:ruthikern.blogspot.com. This will not only cover my travels and research on this book and the new books, but other historical novelists even some stories and articles. Hope you take a look.
The book is $15.95 with a 20% discount when you find the code in this blog. In fact, all the books in this blog get a 20% discount with that code.
MYSTERY CORNER
Abbott, Krish - Assault and Buttery (Popcorn Shop Mystery) - Repairs are under way at Rebecca Anderson's gourmet popcorn shop. With production of her tasty treats on hold, Rebecca has plenty of time to read the old diary she discovered hidden in the shop's walls. It's a fun peek into her town's history until the diary's abrupt ending leaves Rebecca whether she's actually stumbled on a cold case. Unfortunately for Rebecca, mysteries are popping up right and left. When local busybody, Lloyd McLaughlin is found dead, the police suspect he was poisoned by Rebecca's popcorn. But Rebecca has only made one batch of popcorn recently, and it wasn't intended for Lloyd. $7.99
Carlisle, Kate - Eaves of Destruction (Fixer-Upper #5) - As Lighthouse Cove prepares for its annual Victorian Home and Garden Tour, murder is on the to-do list when construction contractor Shannon Hammer looks for a killer. $7.99
Connolly, Sheila - A Late Frost (Orchard Mystery) - The usually quiet town of Granford, Massachusetts, is even drowsier during the colder months. But this year it's in for a jolt when Monica Whitman moves into town. She's a dynamo who wants to make friends fast in her new home, and she throws herself into community activities. Meg Corey, now Chapin after her marriage to Seth Chapin, is intrigued by the new arrival, who has already sold the town board on a new, fun way to bring in visitors during the off-season: Winterfare, which will feature local foods (such as Meg's apples) and crafts, as well as entertainment. Tragically, Monica falls ill and dies after the event in what looks like food poisoning. When all the food is tested it becomes clear that there's a more sinister explanation to the older woman's sudden demise. Meg's investigation uncovers a bushel of potential suspects, one of whom is rotten to the core. $7.99
Davis, Krista - Not A Creature Was Purring (Paws and Claws Mystery) - Sugar Maple Inn owner, Holly Miller, lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with a brood of cats and dogs, including a snoopy Jack Russell terrier and a nosy calico cat. Her friends and family complain about being guinea pigs for her recipes, but she notices that they keep coming back for more. Inspired by her German heritage, Holly's grandmother has arranged for Wagtail to have a Christkindl Market packed with goodies and decorations for the howliday tourists. But Holly's mood takes an unseasonable turn when she learns that her old flame and childhood friend Holmes Richardson has brought his fiancée home - and she will be staying at her inn. Then a dead body of a beloved businessman turns up in the pet-friendly town of Wagtail, Virginia. $7.99
Farrow, Sharon - Dying for Strawberries (Berry Basket Mystery #1) - Much has changed for Marlee Jacob since she returned to Oriole Point, Michigan, three years ago. Between running the Berry Basket, dodging local gossip, and whipping up strawberry muffins, smoothies, and margaritas to celebrate the town's first annual Strawberry Moon Bash, the twenty-nine year old hardly has time for her fiancé, let alone grim memories of her old life in New York. But unfortunately for Marlee, Oriole Point is muddled with secrets of its own. First, her friend Natasha disappears after an ominous dream. Next the seediest man in town threatens to crush her business. Then an unknown person nearly kills her on the night of the Bash. When she discovers a dead body while searching for Natasha, Marlee realizes she'll have to foil a killer's plot herself - before the past permanently stains her future. $7.99
Farrow, Sharon - Blackberry Burial (Berry Basket Mystery #2) -Between a booming art scene and elaborate Independence Day festivities in July in the lakeshore town of Oriole Point, Michigan, is always a blast. But when Marlee Jacob, owner of The Berry Basket, stumbles upon a dead body, she must rush to catch an elusive murderer. Includes berry recipes. $7.99
Meir, Leslie, Hollis, Lee, Ross, Barbara - Eggnog Murder - Cozy up with some eggnog and enjoy the spirit of murder with a treat perfect for winter holidays. This collection of mysteries by great cozy mystery writers. $7.99
Simon, Misty - Cremains of the Day (Tallie Graver Mystery #1) - Tallulah Graver married wealthy to get out of the family funeral home business. To make ends meet after her marriage fails, Tallie turns to cleaning the mansions of the snobby socialites she used to call friends. At least she doesn't have to be around dead bodies until she discovers one of her employers lying in a closet with a knife sticking out of her chest. $7.99
Wait, Lea - Thread the Halls - This Yuletide season there's no time for Angie Curtis and Patrick West to linger under the mistletoe. Patrick's being needled by his mother - movie star Skye West - to set the stage for a perfect white Christmas as she brings her costar, screenwriters, and director home for the holidays. With his mother's long list of wishes, Patrick's becoming unraveled. To help, the Mainely Needlepointers offer to decorate Skye's Victorian mansion and create needlepoint pillows as gifts for the guests. But not long after the celebrity celebrants invade Haven Harbor, an unscripted tragedy occurs. Then some questionable Christmas cookies make Patrick sick. Before Santa arrives on the town pier on a lobster boat, Angie and the Needlepointers need to trim down the naughty list, catch a cold-hearted killer, and wrap up the case. $7.99
Weiss, Kirsten - The Quiche and the Dead (Pie Town Mystery #1) - Valentine Harris' dream of opening a pie shop has become a reality after moving to the coastal California town of San Nicholas. But when one of her regulars keels over at the counter while eating a quiche, Val feels like she's living a nightmare. $7.99
McKinley, Jenn - Better Late than Never (Library Lover's Mystery) - During Briar Creek Public Library's overdue book amnesty day, a copy of The Catcher in the Rye, 20 years past due, catches Lindsey's attention. She learns the borrower was a murdered school teacher whose killer was never found. Now Lindsey wonders if it could provide a clue to the decades-old case. $7.99HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR VISIT WITH RUTH KERN BOOKS
If this is your first time with us I'd like to introduce you to our company: we've been in business for 24 years and have set up needlework bookshops at both the ANG and EGA seminars and for other needlework groups as well as having sites on the web. Can't find a certain book? Give us a call Monday thru Saturday at 602-943-0738 and if you need to leave a message, don't despair, I'm probably helping Mark, my husband with M.S. or running books to the post office. I will return your phone call ASAP. Or you can e-mail me at rkern3@mindspring.com. To reach us by mail: Ruth Kern Books 7235 N. 9th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021. Love to hear from you.
IMPORTANT! Don't forget to find the discount code hidden in this blog that gives you a 20% discount on any new book you order. Enjoy the fall!
