Embroidered Portraits: Ideas, Inspiration and Techniques

Messent, Jan

ISBN 10: 1844487415 / ISBN 13: 9781844487417

Published by Search Press, 2012

Gut/Very good: Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit wenigen Gebrauchsspuren an Einband, Schutzumschlag oder Seiten. / Describes a book or dust jacket that does show some signs of wear on either the binding, dust jacket or pages. Seller Inventory # M01844487415-V

Synopsis:

With a different and delightfully practical approach to a traditional, time-honoured subject, Jan shows how to create a wonderful selection of portraits, all in realistic style and created using raised embroidery, applique and decorative hand stitches. Simple instructions for shaping different-angled heads, creating faces, adding features and stitching the hair are just the start. She goes on to show different hairstyles and wigs: straight, wavy, curly, free flowing and unkempt. Scale is important and there are full instructions on which threads and stitches to use. Moving on to poses, arms and hands, garments and accessories, there are full instructions and illustrations every step of the way. You learn how to personalise and embellish portraits with fabric, felt, lace, beads, braids and cords, and there is plenty of inspirational advice plus many new ideas. Whether you are new to stitching or an experienced embroiderer, you will find much here to enthrall and excite you in this very special book.

About the Author:

Jan Messent qualified as a teacher in the mid-50s and, after teaching Art, History and English, became deeply involved with embroidery as an art form. As a member of the Embroiderers’ Guild, she taught embroidery design to its members, wrote and illustrated design books, and lectured worldwide.

In 1996, she was commissioned by Madeira Threads to reconstruct the last and missing eight feet of The Bayeux Tapestry, which can be seen in James Cook Memorial Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK. In the process of making this stunning panel, she wrote the tour de force The Bayeux Tapestry Embroiderers' Story – an illustrated history on the embroiderers behind the masterpiece. This was first published in 1999 by Madeira Threads and later published in 2010 by Search Press.

Now, having retired from lecturing, Jan dedicates her time to a number of arts and crafts, including drawing, painting, embroidery, knitting and crochet. She's an avid lover of history and classical music, and Jan is the Hon. President of the Basingstoke Creative Stitchers.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Embroidered Portraits: Ideas, Inspiration ...
Publisher: Search Press
Publication Date: 2012
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: very good