Machine Embroidered Flowers, Woodlands and Landscapes: The Art of Alison Holt

Description

Drawing on material previously published as 'The Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Flowers', 'The Beginner's Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes' and 'Machine Embroidered Woodlands', this book provides a showcase of Alison Holt's exquisite machine embroideries. Learn how to create beautiful machine-embroidered pictures of gardens, flowers, landscapes and woodlands using various combinations of just two simple machine stitches. All the techniques are broken down into clear, step-by-step instructions, with numerous helpful photographs and a great range of inspirational pieces. Alison 'paints' her threads on to hand-coloured backgrounds, blending her stitches and achieving stunning results. The raised effects of the embroidery produce a beautiful three-dimensional look and her clever use of perspective is effective and easily achieved. This book covers everything, including the materials required; how to compose a picture from photographs that have inspired you; achieving perspective; light and shade; painting backgrounds; and all the basic stitch techniques you need to know. Detailed instructions explain how to create realistic flowers, trees, foliage and much more, and there are eight stunning step-by-step projects so that you can put into practice your newly acquired skills .This is a must-have instructional and inspirational book for anyone interested in free-motion embroidery.

Alison Holt studied Fine Art, Textiles and Embroidery at Goldsmiths College, London where she experimented with many textile techniques before choosing machine embroidery as a medium. She started to explore her love of gardens and the countryside through embroidery, finding it the perfect vehicle to express the various textures and forms she finds so fascinating. She now teaches machine embroidery, silk painting and surface decoration and runs courses at her studio. She also works to commission, and exhibits her embroideries in Britain and America. Her work is sold to private collectors all over the world.

This book is moving free-motion embroidery up another level, with detailed illustrations of flowers, woodlands and landscapes. As well as basic stitches Alison illustrates how to use photographs, silk painting, and three-dimensional images. There is amazing detail in her designs, which from a distance look like paintings, this is an amazingly inspirational book! * Hot Brands Cool Places *