Don't forget to find the discount code for a 20% discount on any new book.
WELCOME ! WELCOME!
Please Welcome Plants and Flowers into your Embroidery as Well as your Home and Garden.
"You're only here for a short visit. Don't hurry, don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way."
"Walter Hagen"
Every time I see a piece of cement poured where land used to be or see a tree removed, I shiver. Without our green world we won't have enough air left to breathe. I watch the rain forest disappear (called our lungs) and I worry about the world for my grandchildren. I'm sure most everyone is aware of this but what can we do about it? Besides donating money to a cause, we have the option of keeping our home full of green inside and out. I speak out of guilt since I've been SO busy with business and life I haven't done enough with "green" inside and outside of my own home. In fact, inside I have one measly cactus blooming. 
What brought me to this realization to see what was lacking in my own life? I was browsing through the current issue of Inspirations Magazine issue #107 ( Who can resist perusing that magazine!) and it happened that this new issue was full of embroidery themes using plants and flowers of all kinds. I felt so happy after looking at these incredible beautifully done embroideries of the natural world I turned back to the beginning and looked at it again. That's when it hit me, I didn't have enough of nature inside my house. As I looked out my office window I saw plants and bushes but they definitely needed more tender loving care. Yes, I've got lots of to do, but so does most everybody. This lack needed to change. 
I figured I could start small with adding plants inside the house and when Phoenix cools down in September get started on the outside - one small step at a time. But we also need the color of greens and flowers on our walls, on pillows, coverlets, sweaters, etc. Sort of a constant reminder of the natural world about us and how we can't survive without it. We need to plant flowers, grow then, tend to them, press them and of course, embroider, quilt and bead them. What would a wedding be like with them. In fact, most holidays and special events and a number of other life passages are marked by flowers. Think December and poinsettias come to mind; Easter - lilies; Love: roses. Smell a flower and an event in your life flashes before your eyes: marriage, prom, a baby's birth, a particular Valentine's Day. If you've ever gotten a corsage, or a bouquet of flowers or a plant as a gift or a token I'm sure you remember that warm, happy feeling that gift brought. Funerals are barren without flower arrangements. Even early man placed flowers in the graves of their loves ones. 
I have a dear friend, Maria who I met in Egypt in 1987, and now lives in the Houston area. She loves gardening and unless the weather defeats her she is out there tending to her "plant children". She even talks to them as she works. If you think that sounds crazy, I checked out talking to plants on-line. Guess what? The Royal Horticultural Society, researchers at two universities in Korea and other researchers have discovered that plants respond to sound whether our voices or music. No, they don't have ears but they respond to vibrations. The plants grew stronger and taller. Tomatoes grew better with music. Another study seemed to prove that plants can detect one sound from another. Plants can also warn other plants about predators. And beware what you say in front of them. Exposed to kind statements they flourished while the ones exposed to nasty talk withered up. So Maria is absolutely right about talking to her plants. Don't forget the music!Our green world is amazing and beautiful. No wonder artists whether, painters, beaders, quilters, or embroiderers go back time and again for inspiration from nature, as do writers and musicians.
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| My Beloved Poinciana Trees |
So in honor of all the wonderful plants and flowers in our lives I would like to dedicate this issue to all the wonderful designers, needleworkers, quilters and beaders in Inspirations Magazine and all of you needleworkers, quilters, and beaders out there that bring the green in our world alive with your art. I wish I could send each of you a flowering plant in thanks for being a part of my needlework world but I can only write this blog and hope it helps you remember the wonderful green world we live in. Below you will find lots of wonderful needlework books that focus on our wonderful green work to inspire your art.
Aoki, Kazuko - Embroidered Wild Flowers: Patterns Inspired by Field and Forest - This is a repeat of a recent blog book since the embroidery motifs offered here evoke wildflower meadows and woodland walks. With life-like flowers, as well as mushrooms, leaves, trees, and birds, the flora and fauna presented here offer a delightful and beautiful range of motifs drawn from photographs, clear step-by step instructions, and detailed diagrams, this book will be an inspiring guide for those new to embroidery and a fresh new look for these more experienced with needle and thread. $21.95
Bateman, Lorna - Embroidered Country Gardens: Create Beautiful hand-Stitched Floral Designs Inspired by Nature - This author's teaching has taken her all over the UK to South Africa, as well as to Russia, France and the USA. This is her beautiful book and a thorough when it comes to instruction for this type of free-style surface embroidery and these instructions are clear and easy to follow. There is plenty of scope in the book for personalizing your embroidery projects and making them unique, since the elements in the embroidery can all be combined in myriad ways whether you are a beginner or more advanced needleworker. You will learn how to create individual flowers and how to make them into beautiful gardens. $26.95
Burr, Trish - The Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers: 11 Inspiring Projects with Reuseable Iron-On Transfers - I just wrote this book up in another blog but had to run it again because if anyone knows flowers and embroidery it is Trish Burr who lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa. These embroideries are reworkings of botanical artworks from Kew's Art Collection. There is one "starter" project to encourage readers to try out techniques and eighteen small elements that can be worked individually or as a group, and nine further projects. All the projects are shown step-by-step, with an order of work diagram given where appropriate. The templates are included at full size at the back of the book. $40.00
Gula, Kristen - 200 Embroidered Flowers: Hand Embroidery Stitches and Projects for Flowers, Leaves and Foliage - Learn how to stitch all your favorite flowers, leaves and foliage, with this collection of tutorials for 200 embroidered flowers and foliage. Some included are: roses, daisies, daffodils, pansies and buttercups as well as more exotic blooms. This author and embroidery expert teaches you to create these gorgeous flowers with using less than 10 embroidery stitches. Choose from a collar motif, pillow cover, table decoration, shoe embellishments and many more! $24.99
Higuchi, Yumiko - Embroidered Botanicals: Beautiful Motifs that Explore Stitching with Wool, Cotton, and Metallic Threads - This author is celebrated for her striking embroidery designs with a Scandinavian flair. The motifs and patterns she offers here are true to her style: simple and graphic yet soft imagery drawn from nature. Here she creates different motifs for different tyes of thread-wool, cotton, pearl cotton, and metallic. Clear step-by-step instructions and detailed diagrams, this book will be an inspiring guide for those new to embroidery and a fresh and unique offering for those experienced needleworkers. $21.95
Hughes, Joyce - Thread Painting a Garden Quilt: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Realistic 6-Block Project - Written by an award-winning quilter, designer, teacher and author, Joyce provides detailed descriptions for needed supplies and how to use each item so that even beginner quilters can enjoy her technique. Her instructions are very clear and she incorporates knowledge that really show the readers the progressions of depth as you add each color/type of thread. As you work through this book, you'll be amazed at how your skills with your machine are improved. $24.99
Grisola, Georgia - Bead Tapestry Patterns Peyote Water Lilies by Monet - This woman beader is incredible. Her beadwork of famous artists paintings is so amazing and she does her patterns in large print so those who will be her work don't have to wear their eyes out trying to bead these Miyuku Delica size 11 beads. The final beading project is 12x12 with 65 matte colors. There are large images, a lot of the color numbers with amounts and Word charts. I plan on doing more on her and her work and life in a later blog. But here is your chance to become an artist in your own right. $22.00 
Li, Fen - Bead Flora: The Revival of French Beaded Flowers - Something as simple as seed beads can be transformed into flowers. Learn the old-world art of French beaded flowers with revitalized techniques and patterns. Welcome to Fen Li's dazzling world of everlasting flowers. What you will discover is a rich variety of stunning shapes and colors, as well as a versatile craft. Learning to create these flowers will, in fact, get you carrying on a tradition rooted in the Middle Ages, winding through European monasteries and eventually crossing the Atlantic. Fen brings you classically inspired yet subtly innovation patterns. $39.00
Meadow, Katie - Crafting with Flowers: Pressed Flower Decorations, Herbariums, and Gifts for Every Season - make your own unique, whimsical jewelry and gifts inspired by nature's beauty! Everyone could add a bit of brightness to their life. This book will introduce different methods of drying and pressing flowers and the more modern technique of microwaving! The crafts are organized seasonally, so you can happily craft all year round, and always have gifts at hand. Learn lovely spring crafts using bright, beautiful flowers, summer crafts aimed more at weddings, celebrations, and festivals, and autumn will move to more cozy self-care crafts like bath melts and dried flower body scrubs, and winter will include crafts such as bookmarks and soaps. This author is an artist based in Lancashire, England, who creates botanical jewelry and keepsakes, so the wearer can take a little bit of nature with them wherever they go. $19.99
THE AMAZING MRS. DELANY AND HER PAPER FLOWER MOSAICS I couldn't leave the world of green without writing about Mrs. Mary Delany. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Delany's paper flowers you have missed some amazing art. No one before her or one since her has ever had the patience and enormous talent to create botanically correct flowers out of paper. She called them her paper mosaics. She loved to garden and from this love she constructed flowers on paper. Amazingly, she didn't start this craft until she was in her seventies! See, it is never too late to begin something new. (discount code: green20)
Mary was born in 1700 in England into a privileged family distantly related to royalty. But her fortunate birth, like most things in life, was both fortunate and unfortunate. The fortunate thing was she never had to make a bed, wash a dish, or work at anything she didn't like to do: in fact all that was expected of her was to maintain a good reputation. The unfortunate thing was her family, even with the proper lineage, lacked a good income and forced her, at the tender age of seventeen, to marry an elderly, titled, moneyed drunk. a relationship that thankfully only lasted until she was twenty-four.
As a respectable widow, Mary lived a life of parties, operas, games and educated conversations and company. Although her income was small she had the correct background, was attractive, entertaining so she was invited to the best estates for long visits and never expected to pay for anything. Her small home was closed up in her absence to save money. Her dearest friendship was with the Duchess of Portland. They had common interests in botany,
She was courted by many gentlemen but marriage was extremely distasteful to her. She was in no hurry to wed although in her society that was highly approved of. But suddenly at the age of forty-two she married a Dr. Delany, a move that surprised everyone. They admired each other for "proper manners and breeding". The good doctor sent Mary a proposal of marriage by mail and apparently ready for "proper" companionship, she accepted. This was far from a love match but they did like each other. Whatever the relationship was, it worked for the duration of their marriage. Childless, it has been hinted at, she probably didn't want any.
When widowed for the second time, Mary spent much time with the Duchess. During that time, and into her seventies, she invented her famous paper botanical masterpieces, 970 in all, of which, 110 of these are proudly owned by the British Museum. How did Mary make them? She used tiny pieces of colored paper to represent the parts of the plant or flower, using lighter and darker paper to form shading and all these pieces were placed on a black background. Each "mosaic" was botanically accurate to the last detail. On the back of each picture she recorded all the historical and botanical information about the plant. What an amazing feat. In fact, she's my inspiration that some of us are "late bloomers" and it is never too late to try something new. One last note. Her paper flowers were admired by the Tiffany Studios and they created plates, cups and saucers, vases and more using her botanical flowers. I wouldn't mind having a set of those!
I've included some books below so you can enjoy this amazing personality.
Peacock, Molly - The Paper Garden: An Artist Begins Her Life's Work at 72 - In 1772 upon the death of her second husband, Mary Delaney arose from her grief, picked up a pair of scissors, and, at the age of 72, created a new craft. Over the next decade, Mrs. Delany produced an astonishing 985 botanically correct, breathtaking cut-paper flowers, now housed in the British Museum. Internationally acclaimed poet Molly Peacock weaves in delicate prose creates a profound and beautiful examination of the nature of creativity and art. This gorgeously designed book, featuring over thirty-five full-color illustrations is presented and designed on fine paper, with colophons and decorations as well as a gripping memoir. $25.00
Princeton Architectural Press - Paper Flowers Cards and Envelopes: The Art of Mary Delany - Each exquisite paper flower in this elegant collection blooms with extraordinary detail and color. Eighteenth-century British artist Mary Delany created those lovely flowers from tiny pierces of paper on black ink backgrounds. The fine shading and depth are as intricately detailed as a botanical illustration and scientifically accurate. This set of twelve of her flowers features sunflowers, rhododendron, cornflowers, water lilies, and more. Gorgeous! $16.95
Turner, Tiffanie - The Fine Art of Paper Flowers: A Guide to Making Beautiful and Lifelike Botanicals - If you want to create your own paper flowers, Tiffanie Turner, is a licensed California architect, fine artist and instructor in the art of paper flower making in the United States and worldwide and who has been exhibited. She includes step-by-step instructions for over 30 of her wonderful paper flowers from bougainvillea to English roses to zinnias. These stunning creations can be made from simple and inexpensive materials and the book's detailed tutorials and beautiful photography make lifelike results. $25.00
POTPOURRI OF NEW BOOK
Ashford, Julie - Spellbound Beaded Tassels - This book is packed full of projects. All of them have detailed recipes and are fully illustrated with step-by-step instructions, and all are graded for difficulty. The basics are explained from terminology to techniques and design ideas and inspirations are provided throughout. Each chapter starts with a main project which introduces the theme and takes you step-by-step through the construction projects and others to simple ideas that you can develop further. With full colour photography the author has also included handy tips and hints. $19.95
Ashford, Julie - Spellbound Festive Beading - Follow the clear step-by-step instructions to make a dazzling array of beaded beauties, stars, icicles, and snowflakes, and an adorable beaded Christmas Tree, Santa, Angel and Christmas Pudding design that look great as earrings and work equally well as small decorations. Learn how to take the designs further by changing the bauble size, create mobiles, make beautiful beaded tassels, or simply take your favorite element of a design and create a beautiful piece of jewellery. $19,95
Ashford, Julie - Spellbound Festive Beading Three - Packed with beautiful ideas to create stunning designs perfect for Christmas, this book brings great beading projects perfect for Christmas. There are beautiful projects for the beginners and those perfect for the more experienced beader. Each major project is fully illustrated with step-by-step instructions with lots of diagrams to guide the beader through the making process. The book is in full-colour with foolproof instructions and diagrams. $19.95
Ashford, Julie - Spellbound Floral Beaded Jewellery - Create your own beautiful floral jewellery with small beads, needle and thread. Each major project has fully illustrated step-by-step instructions with lots of diagrams to guide you through the making process, and is followed by further instructions to create even more pieces inspired by, and related to, the major project. There are beginner through advanced projects. To complete the collection there is even a very cute Bee Hive beaded box with a hinged lid. How neat is that! Having been a beekeeper I like that! $19,95
Burr, Trish - Trish Burr's Embroidery Transfers - This great resource book contains over 70 of Trish Burr's fabulous embroidery designs on easy-to-use iron-on transfer paper, with full-colour stitch inspiration for each. There are over 70 neat designs from her books plus 6 new bonus designs. Choose from a wonderful range of inspiring designs, including flowers, birds, figures, animals and small vignettes. At the book's start is a short section which gives colour inspiration for every design plus advice on using the transfers. $16.95
C and T Publishing - Stitch a Masterpiece: 25+ Iron-on Embroidery Designs from Famous Artists; Van Gogh, Monet, Matiesse, Cezanne and More - Transfer and embroider famous art from around the world! Over 25 embroidery designs from some of the most visually stunning paintings of all time. Celebrated works from Cezanne, and Klimt are now available as iron-on transfers to make stitching their artwork a breeze. Transfer and embroider beautiful paintings from such artists as Van Gogh. Includes line-drawings come in multiple sizes and watches and color guide to get you stitch. Full-color paintings with stitched up inspirations iron-ons will transfer several times. $19.95
Dalby, Kathryn Chipinka - Star Signs Embroidery: Zodiac Patterns to Customize and Create - Create a beautiful piece of art to hang on a wall, or a personalized gift for a friend. The traditional art of embroidery is easy to learn with this fun kit for two projects: 10 skeins of embroidery floss, 2 needles, 2 pieces of fabric, a 6-inch embroidery hoop, 24 seed beads, and water-soluble transfers for anything you want to embellish! Mix and match zodiac signs and names with the design patterns to create something unique and special! The great directions and beautiful photos make it easy to create your own work of art that can be enjoyed for generations to come. $19.99
Healey, Elizabeth - Lace Reimagined - This original and exciting guide to lace is a visual feast of inspiring step-by-step projects; it will encourage you to experiment, inspire you with handy tips, and provide sources for further inspiration. The 30 projects in this book span the colour spectrum and make use of a range of media including paper, fabric, thread and even concrete! This book includes in-depth features and fascinating asides relating to the history of lace and it will encourage you to experiment and inspire you with handy tips for these inspiring step-by-step projects. The projects use bobbin lace, needle lace, needle weaving and drawn-thread work, all of which are clearly illustrated for beginners. Some projects feature techniques such as using concrete and paper-mache; some feature ready-made lace, either entirely, or as something that can be added to. $19.95 
Henry, Charles and Elin Petronella - Mindful Embroidery: Stitch Your Way to Relaxation with Charming European Street Scenes - Escape the chaos of everyday life by embroidering yourself a romantic and tranquil getaway. Allow Charles Henry and Elin Petronella to whisk you away to a French countryside. Discover the hidden gems of Paris, stroll down the colorful tiled streets of Lisbon or float along the canals of Venice. Beginners can confidently complete any design and enjoy the meditative process of creating something gorgeous one stitch, and breath, at a time. $22.99
Higuchi, Yumiko - Simply Stitched with Embroidery: Embroidery Motifs for Purses and More - This book introduces Japanese embroidery artists newest collection of motifs, showcased on a variety of purses, wallets and bags, Enjoy her simple, folk-inspired floral and animal designs stitched in her signature style, as well as nine lovely bag patterns inspired by the motifs. Beautiful step-by-step photos clearly explain Yumiko's favorite techniques for sewing bags, installing metal purse clasps, and making pompoms for the bags and a helpful embroidery stitch guide outlines the eight basic stitches used in creating these designs in this book. Full-size templates are included for all 20 embroidery designs. $19.99
Horrox, Jan - How to Make Cloth Dolls - Here is a practical guide to cloth doll making by renowned artist Jan Horrox. This book contains 6 wonderful step-by-step projects and ideas for many more, this highly practical guide is aimed at those who are new to doll making as well as more experienced needlecrafters. jan's dolls are exquisitely made, yet by breaking down the process down into easy-to-follow steps, they become surprisingly easy to achieve. Full of character and life, Jan's dolls are made using a wide range of colourful fabrics, trims, ribbons and buttons and are ideal for using up scraps and oddments of materials. There are clear, step-by-step instructions for making hands and feet, making hair, and needlesculpting and painting the exquisite face to really bring the dolls to life. There are also instructions for making webbed fingers and delicate fairy wings as well as a mermaid's tail. Full-size templates for all the body pieces are supplied at the back of the book. With 6 projects to choose from, including fairies, wood nymphs, mermaids, witches and s steampunk doll, this book provides all the means and inspiration you need to make your own gorgeous dolls. $23.95
Landry, Wendy - Velvet on My Mind, Velvet on My Loom: Velvet Weaving Past and Present - For over 1000 years, velvet textiles were woven by hand with great ingenuity and artistry. This book recounts a transcontinental story of their development into one of the most beautiful, luxurious and economically important products of the medieval and Renaissance periods, in constant demand at courts throughout Europe and Asia. Velvet expert Landry offers a consistent theory of the origin and spread of this weaving technique and the technological innovations that accompanied it. The instructions feature techniques and equipment accessible to ordinary handweavers and introduce ways to attain complex results without complex equipment. $70.00
Morita, Miw - Enchanting Embroidery Designs: Whimsical Animal and Plant Motifs to Stitch - Create your own world using bright thread colors and imaginative stitches. This book is full of motifs that are both simple and playful, from zany crocodiles, and cuddly cats to big-eared bats and stealthy ravens. This books invites you to be creative with its whimsical designs and instructions . You can use these projects as visible mending techniques or simply to add interest to a piece. Simple how-tos take you through every recommended stitch. $14.99
Ray, Aimee - Doodle Stitching Embroidery Art: Move Beyond the Pattern with Aimee Ray - Use floss like a boss! Hand stitching ideas with best-selling Aimee Ray. With her help, you'll move beyond the pattern to reflect on your artistic self-making hoop framed embroidery art, decorative charms, and fabric scrapbooks. Create artwork you'll display in every room of the house! Mix and match motifs and personalize wall art with lettering and numbers. With 20 projects to chose from Embroidery Art will intrigue both beginners and seasoned embroiderers. $19.95 
Redford, Catherine - Butterfly stitches: Hand Embroidery and Wool Applique Designs - Beautify with butterflies! Applique and embroidery designs for nature lovers. Let your creativity take flight with a rainbow of embroidered butterflies! Internationally recognized teacher instills a passion for embroidery and embellished wool applique. Embroidery, applique or a combination of both? The choice is yours, as you customize 12 designs for 36 unique looks! With an overview of materials, basic stitches, and a robust gallery of ideas, you'll be ready to unwind in the lure of hand stitching. Have fun! $19.95
Thompson, Cindy-Lou - A Masterclass in Needle Felting Dogs - If you have ever wanted to improve your needle felting and take it to a whole new level to create more lifelike dogs this is your book. Covering different breeds of dogs with step-by-step instructions and photos, you will be taken through body shapes, proportions, armatures, coats and blending. You will be shown how to create realistic accessories such as eyes, noses, mouths, ears and nails with a professional finish with different textures costs, clipping and shaping, and finishing off, using a variety of mediums and methods, some of which have never been revealed until now. $17.00
West, Stacy - Buttermilk Basin's Ornament Extravaganza: 45 Easy-To-Stitch Designs! - Add vintage flair to your holiday home with 45 wool-applique ornaments. Embellish wool applique with hand-embroidery stitches, buttons, and trims to add vintage flair to your holiday décor. Traditional Christmas designs, including snowmen, stockings, and ugly sweaters to round out the mix of lovely little fusible applique motifs that will bring you joy. Complete with tips for wool applique and embroidery basic stitches are fun to make, give, or display. $25.99Thanks for Visiting Us!
If this was your first visit I'd like to introduce you to our book business of almost 27 years. During this time we've set up many bookshops for the ANG and EGA seminars and a variety of other needlework organizations as well as doing this blog now.
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.
Call us Monday thru 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.
MOST IMPORTANT! Remember to look for the discount code hidden somewhere in this blog that gives you a 20% discount on any new books you order from this blog or the previous ones still available on this site - on the right.
PLEASE COME BACK - NEXT BLOG IS DUE OUT in OCTOBER.
