Creative Embroidery
I managed to get about 30 seconds in the adult stacks on a library trip last week, and this was the one book I grabbed. Creative Embroidery by Jean Nicholson, published in 1960. I opened it up immediately to this passage:
"in these days of mass production the assertion of one's individuality is very important....the desire to enrich an article or to make it more interesting, whatever it may be, should be strong enough to overcome any preliminary hesitation....anyone who has the creative ability necessary to perform the actual embroidery, and the desire to create something beautiful out of ordinary things, has the germ of an artist in her make-up. Often the materials themselves suggest a treatment, and really all that is necessary is to pause with a needle and thread in one hand and the material in the other. It is in that moment that the special qualities so valuable to the artist--awareness and inquisitiveness--are required......Perhaps you recall the charming design on the manhole cover just outside your front door. Another careful look at it, and then, with the aide of a dinner plate and pencil, a designe quite oringinal in it's employment can be made. All around us there are sources of inspiration...."
Right on.
She talks a lot about cut-outs for designs. Love these three...especially the middle one.
These remind me so much of the designs you would do with henna. The designs are all quite simple, really...but lovely and intricate to look at, I think.
I find both of these sets so beautiful.
These are napkin rings, but when I first saw them, I thought of wristbands. I might just have to make some as wristbands...
And this stuffed and embroidered cat? Oh my!
I thought the napkin rings were wristbands as well, and I think they would make AWESOME wristbands. Great idea.
Posted by: madorange | March 12, 2006 at 12:58 PM
Very cool, love the artwork!
Posted by: brenda | March 12, 2006 at 02:17 PM
I love looking at old craft books at the library-great sources of inspiration. The wrist band idea is great!
Posted by: Bessilu | March 12, 2006 at 02:23 PM
That book looks amazing! The cut out of chickens? ...or is it Peacocks? In any case, it looks great!
Posted by: Zoe | March 12, 2006 at 02:31 PM
What a neat book! Perhaps I'll find it here. Nothing like handmade, homemade goodness. The "desire to create something beautiful out of ordinary things". Everything I make has so much of my thoughts stitched into it, it's scary. I have a friend who adds a prayer to everything she makes. My good wishes and best intentions go into mine. I can see the wheels turning on your head Amanda...
Posted by: Lizette | March 12, 2006 at 03:11 PM
Nooo!! This is just too, too freaky!! I have just won this book on Ebay! I'd never seen it before last week when I won it and am just waiting for it to arrive - and here it is on your blog. How weird is that?????
Posted by: manda | March 12, 2006 at 03:11 PM
Neat book! I love the three bird designs and that cat is magnificent! Thanks for posting about it.
Posted by: abbyjane | March 12, 2006 at 03:32 PM
Yes, wristbands!! I was just having lovely thoughts about those this morning.
Posted by: Toni | March 12, 2006 at 03:45 PM
Aaaak what a find. ME jealous...um yep ;P
Posted by: Nicole | March 12, 2006 at 06:57 PM
i love books like that! not only is the embroidery cool, the illustrations are perfect for gocco screens too! that simple line art is just beautiful and so great. if you want something made, give me a holler. you could scan the images and email them to me.
Posted by: hannah | March 12, 2006 at 09:40 PM
Isn't it reasuring that, although times and styles change, the inbuilt need for us to enrich our lives through creativity remains the same?Great find!
Posted by: Kristy | March 13, 2006 at 02:38 AM
I have a copy of this book, only here in the UK it was called 'Contemporary Embroidery Design' (Batsford 1954), and I hadn't looked at it in ages. So seeing your pictures made me rush and dig it out - thank you for sparking my memory and creative juices.
Posted by: caroline | March 13, 2006 at 09:15 AM
I love older craft books! That one looks like it would be a lot of fun to flip through!
Posted by: scribblesnbits | March 13, 2006 at 09:49 AM
right on indeed. LOVe the images from this book. wow.
Posted by: lisa | March 13, 2006 at 12:00 PM
very cool. especially the trees. a lot of inspiration here!
Posted by: Stephanie | March 13, 2006 at 04:33 PM
that book is amazing! and now on my must have list. I love love love the trees. I might just have to do them from memory on some scrap of fabric because my fingers are just itching to re create them
Posted by: Emily | March 13, 2006 at 11:48 PM
many of these could be used on the letterpress as well ... might have to check that out!
Posted by: maria | March 14, 2006 at 10:24 PM
wow-how very cool and what a great quote! so fitting and so VERY right on.
Posted by: amy k. | March 16, 2006 at 11:21 PM