Stumpwork Medieval Flora

About Jane Nicholas

Jane Nicholas is one of the world’s leading embroiderers and has worked in the field for over 30 years, specializing in stumpwork and goldwork. She has written ten books and has contributed widely to journals and magazines. She teaches in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US, and continues to research and develop new techniques, particularly in stumpwork. In 2005, Jane was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), for her 'services to hand embroidery as an artist, teacher and author'. Jane lives in New South Wales, Australia. For more information visit her website www.janenicholas.com

YarnsandFabrics.co.uk

Inspired principally by the medieval 'Book of Hours' Jane has selected eight flowers and given them a new lease of life in stumpwork embroidery. Five of the subjects are botanical specimens with Latin names, the other three are worked as illuminated panels. The embroideries are worked in rich colours, embellished with gold thread and beads. Each stunning piece includes an insect. The requirements for making each project are given in detail with drawings, tracing patterns and diagrams. Beautiful illustrations throughout.

Stitch

Dec 09/Jan 10

Illuminated manuscripts of the medieval era provide the inspiration for Jane Nicholas's glorious stumpwork. There are eight botanical specimens, which display the buds, blossoms and seed cases of the flower; the embroideries, like the illustrations that inspired them, offer wonderful surprises, and close inspection reveals an assortment of beetles and creepy-crawlies nestling in the foliage. Another three embroideries, exquisitely stitched panels, are accompanied by beautiful illustrations showing the illuminated pages that inspired them. The techniques used to create the embroideries are clearly explained and, with the necessary skills at your fingertips, the elements in the book could be combined in numerous ways to create your own designs.