Today, I’m happy to announce the winner of the book, ‘Twixt Art and Nature: English Embroidery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580 – 1700 from last week’s give-away.
The give-away was generously offered by the folks at Hedgehog Handworks – they still have a small number of this out-of-print-but-highly-coveted book in stock. To my knowledge, the only other place you can find it for purchase now is through used book outlets, where some of the prices listed for it are shocking.
This is one of the images in ‘Twixt Art and Nature – a 17th century embroidered, beaded, stumpwork basket. It’s amazing! The glass beads still retain their vivid colors. The basket strikes me as lush and whimsical with its abundance of flowers and greenery. It’s one of my favorite pieces in the book. I’d love to see it in person!
The winner of ‘Twixt Art and Nature (drawn randomly) is Maureen L. S., who commented thusly:
I would love to have this book to peruse through carefully and slowly. Savoring the text and pictures, being in wonder of the craftsmanship. It would be inspiring to me with my own embroidery projects, and I know other family members would enjoy looking through it also.
Oh, yes, Maureen, you’re right! I had my copy of the book out as a “coffee table” book for a while, and everyone who passed through the house went through it. It’s absorbing! I hope you enjoy it! Drop me a line with your mailing address and it will be on its way to you soon.
Thanks to all for participating! And thanks again to Joady at Hedgehog Handworks for offering the book!
Coming Up on Needle ‘n Thread
Coming up on Needle ‘n Thread, I’ll be sharing with you some Mission Rose progress and insights (including some thread talk), showing you a darling and fun little needlework accessory, reviewing a new book, and touching on sundry other needlework topics – maybe even a little bit of a fabric chat, if I can finish a work sample to illustrate a point about two different types of linen. And a fun little give-away!
Safe in Kansas
Thanks to all who inquired yesterday and the day before about me and my family’s safety in the path of the storms that ripped through much of the Plains this past weekend. All is well in my little patch of Kansas. Thankfully, we only experienced some severe storms with minor surrounding wind damage (trees and the like). There was no devastation. My heart goes out to those whom the storms impacted more seriously. I hope that each of you are safe. Thanks again for thinking of me!
That basket is amazing! Thank you for posting that picture. Can you enlarge it?
G’day Mary,
…and congratulations Maureen. Many hours of delightful browsing and enjoyment await you. I’m pleased for you.
Am at the granddaughters who turned 4 recently. My present is fabric with large, simple shaped, plain brightly coloured flowers on it. Matching and contrasting embr thread (DMC), a pony head thread keeper, her own special good scissors, like a mini shears rather than embr scissors. A hoop and a bag of bright coloured buttons of fun shapes and sizes to sew onto the middle of the flowers or where ever, after running stitching (for starters) around the flower outlines. She can draw lines/patterns on them too to stitch over. Also a practical storage box for all the bits and pieces. It’s very rough and tumble out here and ‘good’ things tend to get caught up in it all so must have a hard and fast rule that they’re to live in the container, especially too with a sibling arriving in 5mths time! Exciting as originally thought could not have another. So hoping all goes really well and we’ll be blessed with a second grandchild.
Got a bit caught up there sorry. Glad you’re safe from the storms.
Cheers, Kath.
Good morning Mary!
So good to read that you and your family are well–safe and sound after yesterday’s violent weather in the midwest. My heart goes out to those who have been affected by the storms.
So excited for Maureen S. having won the beautiful Met Museum book from Hedgehog! I just ordered my copy. Can’t wait to read it and study the photos. Just looks like a devine book to cherish! Thank you for telling us about it as I wasn’t aware of the book or of the exhibit from a few years back. Most interesting to research in my quest to deepen my embroidery awareness and skills. I do love to study historical embroidery. I feel such amazement!
Mary, continue to be well in Kansas this spring. So appreciative of your site, sharing your beautiful stitching and knowledge with all of us around the world! Sunshine to you today! 🙂
Thanks for the safety heads up, while not everyone may have written an inquiry I’m sure that those of us who have so enjoyed you and your work have been concerned.
Dear Mary
Congratulations to Marureen I really hope you enjoy your prize it looks lika a great book.
Mary I’m so sorry to hear about the storms in Kansas I hope and pray for those it has affected and hope that the damage is not so bad. I’m glad you have not been affected and I will think of those it has.
Regards Anita Simmance
Wonderful photo, Mary. It just goes to show that embroidery will lead you in many different directions and dimensions. You just need to believe in yourself.
Congratulations to Maureen on winning this book. For once I am happy not to have won as I ordered the book when Mary first wrote about it, and HH now tell me it is on its way. As Mary alluded to, I also checked the second hand shops but the prices were ridiculous, and my other favourites (Amazon and Book Depository) were out of stock so I ordered one from HH.
Even though it is totally out of her control, Joady was even apologetic about the almost $70.00 for postage.