MAY/JUNE 2020 BLOG
Don't Forget to Find the Discount Code in this Blog and get 20% Off All New Books!
Reading gives us someplace to go When we have to stay where we are.
Mason Cooley
I was reading the Sunday comics and discovered this wonderful saying in the "Mutts" comic strip. Of course, because of COVID19 we are staying home more but that hopefully gives us time to do things we've put off or things we always wanted to get started. Maybe there is a new needlework technique you wanted to learn or a book you wanted to read or both. Why not?
If you decide your not "in the mood" to work on a project don't listen to that voice. I'd like to share with you what two important creators had to say about that mood "thing".
While I was reading the little book, The Blank Canvas -Inviting the Muse by Anna Held Audette, I discovered this, "Contrary to popular myth, artists don't go to the studio only when they are in the right frame of mind. Francis Bacon said he was NEVER in the mood before he started. 'As you work, the mood grows on you. There are certain images which suddenly get hold of me and I really want to do them. But it's true to say that the excitement and possibilities are in the working and can come only in the working."
Okay, Francis Bacon, I hear you. I know the days when the "mood" colored my plans to get some writing done. Maybe some of you have been there too. Talent or the need to create, we think, should magically take over and lead us down the path to creating something beautiful. Wrong! Most of us have a hard time with the isolation that comes with our choice of creation. Anna Held Audette tells us, "of the two abilities, talent and the will to work, it is the latter that plays the more important role in an artist's development." She tells the story of a Chinese artist who is asked by a man to draw a rooster for him and upon agreeing the artist asked the man to come back in one month.
The man returned on the date decided and the artist drew him a magnificent rooster in a few minutes. The man didn't want to pay a large sum of money for something that was done so quickly. The artist quietly opened the door to another room where he saw hundreds of rooster drawings. What it takes to create something wonderful is lots of time alone working. I got the message and think about that every day I face a blank computer screen or a blank piece of canvas.
For Vincent Van Gogh he found the mood he needed to create in wandering the countryside and watching people. He spoke bluntly about it in a letter to his brother, "I don't know myself how I paint it. I just sit down with a white board in front of the spot that appeals to me. I look at what is in front of my eyes, and I say to myself that white board has got to turn into something. I come back, dissatisfied. I lay it to one side and when I have rested a bit, I go and look at it with a kind of awe." So, remember, you are not without ideas, they just haven't bubbled up yet! Just start thinking and doing! It'll come. 
So what inspired him. As I read more of his letters it became clear to me: Color! Color was his inspiration. Yes, he loved to paint nature and peasants but color was certainly one of his muses. In his letters he describes places, nature, people, seasons and even bugs in terms of color. He traveled widely in search of color. "Spring is tender, green, young corn and pink apple blossoms. Autumn is the contrast of the yellow leaves with violet tones. Winter is the snow with the black silhouettes. But now if summer is the contrast of blues with an element of orange in the golden bronze of the corn - one could paint a picture which expressed the mood of the seasons year each of the contrasts of the complementary colors. Walking directly on the spot all the time, I try to grasp what is essential. In the drawing later I fill in the spaces which are bounded by contours - either expressed or not, but in any case felt, with tones which are also simplified." I saw it suddenly, he didn't draw what he saw but what that made him FEEL, what inspired him went onto canvas. Little did he know how inspiring his letter would still be over a century later. I also discovered Van Gogh was not only a passionate artist but a passionate reader. I'm sure his love of reading gave him much inspiration too. I can't imagine a life without books. It's amazing how much inspiration I get out of reading. So to pass on some of this inspirations I've included these books that can hopefully inspire you to be more creative.
I have to make Frederick the Mouse by Leo Lionni the first book in this selection of books on getting creative. If you haven't read this children's book here's your golden opportunity. Frederick teaches his mice friends and us the power of creativity. The first time I read it I immediately related to Frederick. Like Frederick I am a dreamer and a memory storer. Maybe you are too. Take the pleasure in Frederick's simple but impressive story. Leo Lionni certainly has created a marvelous mouse story teller. $ 7.99 (Discount Code: Jun20)
Audette, Anna - The Blank Canvas - I love this little book. It has so much meat in it. Drawing upon demand from the wellspring of creativity is central to being an artist. The help and comfort offered in this book will benefit artist of all kinds whether you are suffering from an "artistic block", problems of creative expression, or overcoming self-doubt and criticism. $18.95
Mein, Annemieke - The Art of Annemieke Mein: Wildlife Artist in Textiles - This is a beautiful classic is brought back again by Search Press. This artist was the first artist to be accepted as a member in the Wildlife Art Society of Australia. Her astonishing three-dimensional creations are works of extraordinary skill, born
Picker, Adiana - Petal: A World of Flowers Through the Artist's Eye - This award-winning artist and illustrator whose clients range from Vogue and Gourmet Traveller, Mecca cosmetics and also works in film costume design. She loves flowers, if fact, she says she has had a lifelong obsession with them so I thought it would be very inspiring to see her "eye" for these plants, folklore, fame, scent and meaning behind our favorite blooms. $37.00
Norby, Jacob - The Creative Cure: How Finding and Freeing Your Inner Artist Can Heal Your Life - The author is a writer, creative coach, and teacher of the popular online course Creative UnBootcamp. He says that saying, "I'm just not creative" could not be further from the truth. He adds, "If we don't exercise our creativity regularly, our lives can feel dull, stagnant, and rote." There is a way out of that feeling, Jacob says. He is knows it for real. By his mid-thirties, he was running a successful mortgage company and lived in a big house and had fancy cars. He explains how he traded in his stagnant way of life for one full of meaning and purpose, and offers to help you find your own creative practice. This book arrives on September 15th, but you can place your order now. It's $18.95 but don't forget to use your 20% discount. 
Stosuy, Brandon - Make Time for Creativity: Finding Space for Your Most Meaningful Work (a self-guide) - Venture into a space that intimately discusses how to find time to express yourself and develop your talents. The author is the founder of The Creative Independent) and taps into working artists to provide perspective on how creativity can be prioritized among the other demands on your time. This book provides an inspiring framework for building your own creative process and using your time meaningfully. While be available on September 8th but can be ordered now. $16.99 Don't forget to use the 20% discount good on any new book you order. (No picture available yet.)
POTPORRI OF NEW BOOKS
Angell, Laura and Lynsey Angell - Bargello Needlepoint: A Pattern Directory for Dramatic Creations - These two sisters take us through a brief history of the technique as well as a great tutorial of the stitches and brings bargello designs up to date with 40 stitch patterns, graded from easy to advanced. A wealth of designs follow, enhanced with full-color photos and easy-to-read charts and also guidance for creating textures and smart finishes at edges and suggestions for using fancy and alternative yarns and experiments with freestyle patterns. $22.95
Arnfield, Catherine - Felted Animal Knits: 20 keep-forever friends to knit, felt and love - Learn how to combine knitting and felting to create stunning, realistic animals authored by textile designer and Knit2Felt founder, Catherine Arnfield. If you have basic knitting skills and are looking for fresh ideas and new techniques to try with only a few basic tools this book is for you. $23.95
Boden, Diane - Quilled Animals: 20 cute creatures to coil and shape - I know - this book isn't about needlework but I couldn't resist this 20 quilled animals that can be used for cards of pictures. There are clear step-by-step instructions to start and enjoy this craft so they are easy and fun to make. $11.95
Boutique-Sha - Modern Kogin: Sweet and Simple Sashiko Embroidery Designs and Projects - If you haven't already discover the art of kogin, a style of traditional Japanese sashiko embroidery with modern appeal, here is your chance.Historically, kogin was used as a pattern darning technique to add warmth to the clothing worn by farmers in the villages. $19.99
Envoldsen-Harris, Carina - Thread Doodling: 20 Modern Designs for Stitching in the Moment - Just think, with 1 needle, 15 stitches and 2 hoops, you can embroider over 20 different designs to discover your creativity in your calmness. The author also includes 11 extra transfer designs. If you love mandalas, geometric shapes, knot gardens, doodles and abstract patterns this book has them all including easy-to-follow techniques, plus a fuss-free, crash-course in straight-away stitching. $19.95 
Francis, Tina - Modern Bargello - How to Stitch 15 Colourful Projects - This tapestry needlepoint and textile artist has had her work exhibited around the UK. There is a project here whether you are new to bargello or have experience with it. Learn how to combine bold, bright colours in attractive, creating an illusion of 3-D. Use her easy-to-follow patterns and approachable instructions to master appealing designs, then turn your creations into wearable and interiors . The stitches take on a rhythm of their own which makes it extremely relaxing and only a handful of materials required - canvas, tapestry wool, tapestry needle, instructions. $16.95
Garland, Claire - Magical Woodland Knits: Knitting Patterns for 12 Wonderfully Lifelike Animals - A magical collection of 12 knitting patterns for wonderfully lifelike animals and birds accompanied by the author's sketches and studies of the natural world whether a bird, gray squirrel, barn owl, yellow-necked field mouse, wolf, fox, wild rabbit and even a roe deer fawn. $24.99
George, Kathleen - Mandala Bookmarks Vol 1: Large Print Cross Stitch Patterns - This book is an "Extra-Large-Print" cross stitch pattern. Stitching their beautiful cross stitch patterns is a labor of love and very time-consuming. The large grids and alphabetic symbols used in this cross stitch pattern book makes tackling such a large project much easier and more enjoyable. $19.99
George, Kathleen - Starry Night: Van Gogh cross stitch pattern - This author is the founder of Cross Stitch Collectibles, and designer of more than 5,000 fine art counted cross stitch patterns since 1998. She also began the successful international phenomenon of designing boldly-colored fractal cross stitch patterns . The book is an "etra-large print" cross stitch pattern. The large grids and alphabetic symbols used in this cross stitch pattern book makes tackling such a large project much easier and more enjoyable. $22.95
Healey, Elizabeth - Lace Reimagined: A Creative Guide to Making and Using Lace - This book is a practical exploration of lace and how to use it. It is packed full of inspiring projects and some basic lace-making techniques for beginners that makes this book unique on a trendy subject for textile artists, fashion designers, and embroiderers. Also included are in-depth features relating to the history of lace; it will encourage you to experiment, and inspire you with handy tips. $19.95
Hisako, Nishiko - Cross Stitch Wild Flower and Grasses: 32 beautiful cross stitch motifs - Stunning and trendy cross stitch designs for home and clothing embellishment with beautiful cross stitch step-by-step patterns for all levels and embellish any item with beautiful cross stitch design. $19.95
Johnson, Susan - 19th Century Charted Alphabets from Europe: for Needlepoint and Cross Stitch - This book is a compilation of several antique booklets and includes 46 alphabets in a variety of styles and sizes to give you letters perfect for everything. Please note that, like many antique alphabets, the letters "I" and "J" were considered interchangeable as you will see in this book. $26.95
Johns, Susie - Circus Embroidery: More Than 200 Motifs and Projects to Stitch - This book includes 12 embroidered projects, some practical and some decorative, using the motifs as embellishments. With spreads made up of template outlines on one side and the finished stitched items opposite, it couldn't be easier. Have fun with jugglers, tightrope workers, performing animals, banners, flags, tents, ticket office, signs, big cats, musicians, ringmasters, and more. $22.95
Kim, Minki - Zakka Wool Applique: 60+ Sweetly Stitched Designs - Admirers of Minki Kim's machine-sewn illustrations will adore her new Zakka motifs in wool, perfect for hand stitching and eash enough for beginners. She brings us 63 impossibly cute designs celebrate the best of everyday life, from morning rituals to nature's beauty. Display your work on six heartfelt projects, including a pretty purse, patchwork coasters, and a boxy sewing case. A robust gallery shows ideas for handmade gifts and even more fun ways to decorate your space. $25.95
Kubota, Hiroko - Cat in My Pocket Embroidery - Japanese embroidery artist, Hiroko Kubuta, was inspired by her son's love for cats and she designed the patterns for these remarkable shirts. She presents step-by-step directions for reproducing the playful designs. Her technique allows crafters to "paint with thread" by using a small needle and single strands of colorful embroidery floss. Ten original projects that transform ordinary items into works of art that feature adorable felines peering at you. How fun to travel with a kitty in your pocket. $21.95
Lapierre, Corinne - Felt Animal Families - Make six beautiful animal families in felt including a raccoon, a deer, a mouse, a ox, a bear and a rabbit. Learn to make easy-to-sew animals using small amounts of craft felt and lovely clothes and accessories to accompany the animals. $23.95
Larochette, Jean Pierre, Larochette, Yadin, Lurie, Yael - Anatomy of a Tapestry: Techniques, Materials, Care - The history, legacy, and boundless creativity of weavers over the centuries is the base in this helpful guide for new weavers. Jean Pierre Larochette is a fourth-generation French Aubusson tapestry weaver and he gives us a great glimpse into the multiple combination techniques that form the art of the weaver. Each technique is exemplified by diagrams, woven models, and examples. Larochette shares theories and approaches to conservation, including new scientific research to help in the much-needed task of preserving these creations for centuries to come. Along with distilling traditional information on the art, this book's precise written instructions and clear visual examples and flat binding - assist you in both creating and preserving your tapestries. $45.00
Newton, Amy - Cross Stitch Planner: Grid Graph Paper Squares, Design your own pattern, WIP Notebook Journal - The purpose of this book is to keep all of your cross stitch notes and information all in one place. It is a great way to record and keep track of your progress and stay organized. $19.99
Noguchi, Hikaru - Darning: Repair, Make, Mend - This is the first UK edition of the cult darning book whose author has become the guru of visible darning in Japan. With 12 different darning techniques and guide makes the methods easy to follow. The stylish photography shows off the artistic and minimalist style of the designer's work. This humble tradition of darning is elevated to an artform in this guide. She explores fundamental techniques to repair worn-out socks and moth-eaten sweaters and more that turn your darning stitches into attractive features on your clothing. $29.95
Pye, Lizzy - Goldwork Embroidery: Techniques and Projects - The author is a hand embroiderer and has graduated from the Royal School of Needlework and has taught embroidery in the UK and abroad. Here she brings us a guide to materials and equipment, advice on getting started, preparing fabrics, and transferring designs. She also includes helpful direction of design strategy. Step-by-step photographs to guide the reader through each technique. Great instructions show how to combine with goldwork, including silk shading and six projects that show how to use and combine the various goldwork techniques. $45.00
Quine, Becky - Crewelwork Embroidery - Crewelwork has a long history, but this book brings the technique right up to date. It mixes contemporary styles with older traditions to give an us an exciting, new beautiful style of embroidery. Advice on design is given along with working with color and how to plan and stitch a piece of embroidery and how to transfer a design onto fabric. There are step-by-step sequences to more than 40 different stitches ranging from filling to outlining stitches. The author is a tutor and conservator/restorer with the Royal School of Needlework. She found a Stitch in Quine, which specializes in hand embroidery kits. $45.00
Sidore, Micala, Bremer-David, Charissa - The Art is the Cloth: How To Look at and Understand Tapestries - This is a colorful guided tour from an expert, enabling weavers, textile lovers, and art lovers to notice and appreciate what tapestries can do and how they do it. They give us how-to strategies enabling weavers and non-weavers to notice and appreciate the meaning of these artworks. You'll discover much to enjoy in photos of more than 300 tapestries from over the centuries. Sidore enables you to think about the weavings in ways you have never before considered as she groups pieces that talk with each other. Through her wonderful teachings you will become increasingly sophisticated in understanding what you're seeing. Learn about the use of trompe l'oeil, the importance of the direction in which the weaver weaves, and more. $45.00
Everything has a history even the humble pincushion. As far as can be asserted they come to light in the Middle Ages of Europe and known by a variety of names such as: pin-pillows, pimpilowes, among others. There are some survivals of that time show they had elaborate embroidery. Highly popular were porcelain baskets with a pin cushion inside. Even rocking chairs were popular designs for the cushion. Usually the pincushion is filled with cotton, sawdust, wool, though some were filled with emery powder to clean and sharpen the pins. 
I think most all of us are familiar with the tomato and strawberry pincushion with the strawberry filled with emery to sharpen and clean pins and needles. I have my grandmother's and I think of her every time I pull a needle or pin from it. What I didn't know about this design was that it was designed in the Victorian Era. Some say this tomato design came from a belief that if you placed a tomato on the mantel of a new house. When tomatoes were out-of-season people made up a ball of red fabric filled with sand or sawdust that eventually became a place for pins. Was this true? We'll probably never know since different vegetables were common as pincushions then. Whatever their history, pincushions are here to stay. Below are a number of books with great pincushion designs just waiting to be created. Maybe you'll be inspired to create a design of your own. Have fun!
small useful projects from your stash and gifting them to others who share your love of sewing and quilting. This book contains lots of inspiration to create 13 unique pincushions and three needlebooks. Templates are given on a 30x21 inch insert. Have fun and let your creativity flow. $9.99
Haxell, Kate - Super-Cute Pincushions - Find 35 whimsical and creative pincushion projects that are pretty to look at as well as practical to use. Choose from an array of imaginative ideas, work with a range of materials including seed beads, buttons, lace, ticking, felt, and ribbon. Easy-to-follow, illustrated step-by-step instructions. $19.95
Hoey, Aneela - Stitched Sewing Organizers: Pretty Cases. Boxes, Pouches, Pincushions and More - Celebrate and use your sewing skills with Aneela Hoey's 15 stylish yet functional patterns for a wide variety of sewing organizers designed to work together and even fit into larger ones and can be made into a coordinating set. Showcase trendy fat quarters and half-yards or use up scraps of your favorite fabric as you make gifts for your friends or to bring to swaps. $26.95
Hunter's Design Studio - Chunky Wee Pincushions Pattern - These sweet wee pincushions are made of classic quilting blocks in three sizes: Large 4'x4' top 2" tall, Medium 3"x3" top 1 1/2" tall, Wee: 2"x2" top 1" tall. The blocks are foundation paper-pieced for greater accuracy. $12.00
Jangles, Jennifer LLC - Happy Camper Pin Cushion Needlecraft Kit - Well, we can't go very far but here is a pincushion ready to travel wherever your imagination will take you. This kit includes everything you need to create it but scissors. The finished camper is 3" tall. This makes a great gift as a kit or finished. Have fun! $19.95
Nyberg, Amanda Jean - Plenty of Pincushions - Vol. 1 - Pincusions are nearly instant gratification projects. Make several pincushions, some to keep and some to share with your sewing friend. Paper piecing skills are required for the flying geese and pineapple pincushions. This pattern includes instructions for 5 pincushions: Flying geese (4 in. finished), Friendship ( 3 3/4 in. finished), Diamond ( 4 1/2 in. finished), and Sailboat ( 4 in. finished). $10.00
Sudo, Kumiko - Thimbles and Things - This book allows you to create handmade treasures for all who love to sew. These 12 delightful, easy-to-sew projects make sewing even more fun! Showcase even the smallest scraps of your favorite fabrics. Each little project is created to please those who love to sew. There are thimbles, pin-cushions, needle cases, and every other needlework accessory you can imagine. $17.95
THANKS FOR VISITING US
If this was your first visit I'd like to introduce you to our book business of 27+ years. During this time we've set up numerous bookshops for ANG and EGA seminars and a variety of other needlework organizations as well as doing this bolog.
Can't find a certain book? Please give us a call and we'll go to work to find it for you whether it is in-print or out-of-print.
Give us a call Monday through Saturday at 602-943-0738. If you get the dreaded message machine, please don't be shy about leaving a message. I'll get back to you ASAP. OR you can e-mail me at rkern3@mindspring.com. OR mail your order to: Ruth Kern Books 7235 N. 9th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021.
DON'T FORGET! As a reader you get a 20% discount on your order of any new book(s) ordered. Just find the hidden code somewhere in this blog.
AGAIN, THANKS FOR VISITING! Next Time in August - out-of-print books and more new books.
I enjoyed your piece about making a start and the inspiraton will follow. I did a postgrad course some years ago and one of the first lectures we had was to keep at it, even if we were only working on our keeping our bibliography of our research up to date. It proved to be valuable advice.
ReplyDeleteSo many lovely books! If only there were more hours in the day.