Friday 2 July 2010

A Sumptuous Feast.

, I have found the most wonderful book. The author is a friend of a friend and I was given a sneak look yesterday morning. I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of the book that I came home and ordered it straight away 'express delivery' - and it has arrived.

The book - published by Search Press - is The Art and Embroidery of Jan Messent.
For those who have not heard of Jan Messent, Jan has been a name in Embroidery and Textile Art since the early sixties and has written several books before this one.

This book is about Celtic, Viking and Anglo Saxon Embroidery and is full of information about the period - and more importantly for embroiderers maybe - examples of work which Jan herself has completed - both in sketch book form and in finished pieces. I have photographed one of the finished pieces above.###

Every page is a veritable feast of ideas, techniques, materials used, stitch patterns and finished pieces. In other words - every page is an inspiration to embroiderers and textile artists. I can't write any more because I want to take the book and a cup of tea out to the garden seat to sit in the sun and read it.

##After reading the foreword of the book, I see that no part of it may be reproduced for use on the internet, so I have deleted the pictures. Sorry about that - I would have thought a little sneak preview would have sold books - but I really had no alternative than to do a review without the pictures. You will have to imagine them.

6 comments:

mrsnesbitt said...

Sounds outstanding Pat! No doubt there will be lots of ideas you can use in your journl!

Pondside said...

It looks more like a treasure chest than a book! What a treat!

Elizabeth said...

A bit disappointing!!
I was getting all revved up to enjoy it.
Will look it up on Amazon

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I'll look it up!
Thanks!

Heather said...

It's a wonderful book isn't it Pat. I didn't think about reproducing it and put a picture of the front cover on my blog about two months ago. I haven't been arrested yet! I am hoping to use some of Jan Messent's techniques in my next project which could very well be a fabric book of the nine sacred Anglo-Saxon herbs. I must finish my pieces for our next group exhibition in October first. I know it's a long way off, but time flies and I want them all done - then I can play. Glad you love the book too.

BT said...

I have heard of this lady before and her books - she is always raved about. I'm afraid my embroidery isn't good enough to warrant the purchase though. I bet you are loving it.