Laura EulerArts and Crafts Embroidery

It took me a long time to 'flip' through this book on first look, because I kept searching for some of the source materials that I was unaware of. In one case I ordered a long-out-of-print used pattern book that I now treasure. The photos are mostly color and of excellent quality, and usually of a sufficient size to glean the details. I will be inspired for years. I would love a similar book for Jugenstil embroidery.

As I have gotten more serious about my Arts & Crafts creative work (quilting, embroidery, and maybe stained glass if I ever get back to it) I've been looking for a book that can give me both historical information and applicable design ideas (that is, what _am_ I going to do with the curtain for the kitchen window?). Laura Euler's book is precisely what I was looking for. I'm not even done reading it yet, but I easily can give it my most fervent recommendation.If nothing else, this is the best collection of Pretty Pictures of embroidery that I've encountered. I said "Oooooh!" on just about every page, flipping through the hundreds of detailed photos of period embroidery. Euler obviously understands my desire to see the piece as a whole (the entire curtain) and the detail of the design.Only afterwards could I begin to concentrate on the writing, which is authoritative, observant, and funny. For example, figure 338 is a (very pretty!) pillow design of tobacco leaves on brown cloth, half-complete with the words, "Smoke and cast away all care." Euler writes, "Please note the burn marks on the piece, evidence that the woman took the pillow's advice. In fact, she was apparently so carefree she couldn't even be bothered to finish the piece. Rock on, 1910s lady."Chapters are devoted to the genesis of the A&C movement; Morris embroideries; art needlework; societies and guilds; Liberty & Co.; Glasgow style; Candace Wheeler; American A&C embroidery; Dress (that is, embroidery on clothing); A&C embroidery today (which gives references to several of the kits I've used, such as from Ann Wallace and Dianne Ayres). If you care about any of these time periods, YOU WANT THIS BOOK. Heck, if I were into fashion design of the early 1900s I'd want it just for the chapter on Liberty.Highly recommended. Buy this. There's no reason to hesitate.

I've wanted a book about Arts and Crafts embroidered textiles, specifically clothing, for a long time. I have a very slim, small volume called Arts and Crafts Textiles by Ann Wallace that I like very much. But it is very limited in scope. This book is full of wonderful photos of actual period textiles, including clothing. I haven't had time to read the book yet, but have looked through it cover to cover and enjoyed looking at the photos. I will have to read it to determine whether I like the writing style. As I was very interested in finding a source of information and photos of embroidered clothing from this period, I already know it is superior to any other book I've seen in that area. It is a beautiful book and the photos of embroidered designs are clear. In addition to the chapter on Dress, it contains chapters on Candace Wheeler, Glasgow, and Liberty. It also covers American embroidery during the Arts and Crafts period, something else I wanted to find. There are many sources available on Morris, Mackintosh, etc., but finding something on clothing has been hard. So I am completely satisfied with this book.

As expected, this is not really a book you can use to replicate Arts Crafts style needlework, but that is ok. It is a gorgeous reference of mostly very high style, expensive embroidery. The expected Stickley style stuff is there, but the Morris style things were an unexpected surprise. Beautiful photos.

A useful book with a focus on A&C Embroidery in the UK and US. Not scholarly, but it's clear that the author has done a lot of research to track down various organizations, companies, and contemporary photographs of a wide range of examples as well as current photos of items from various personal collections. The writing is lighthearted and the author is not afraid to express her opinions. The information on the US silk industry and the history of familiar thread manufacturers was new to me--as were the various organizations devoted to encouraging and promoting embroidery and related needlework. There are many examples of the work of lesser-known artists and anonymous needleworkers as well as pieces that are familiar to readers familiar with the topic. At the end, there is a very brief account of the contemporary (20th century) A&C embroidery revival and the main proponents (well-known to folks who peruse the ads in American Bungalow and similar publications).

Book is a little bit pricey but it's no wonder because every page is full of photographs of the most gorgeous embroidery work, most of it in color, well lit, and well focussed, so that much detail can be seen. Some close-ups are so good that you can see the stitches used. The designs are stunning Arts and Crafts style as promised, and to me worth every penny. I enjoyed her witty style and found it made for lively reading. Not every craft book is so full of such really excellent photography. A great purchase I'll return to again and again.

If you love the arts & crafts movement or just love embroidery, this book is for you. I worked at a local university library in Mass. that has a large arts book collection. The book was purchased for the textile design students and I loved it so much I had to buy a copy for myself. The photos are very well done and show all the details of the stitches. I plan to use it to recreate my own artwork on pillows, wall hangings or clothing.

This book has a wide variety of very nice images, but the writing is disorganized and sloppy. I was not at all expecting this book to be "an academic treatment with footnotes" (author's introduction), but I did expect a professionally written and edited volume that served as an introduction to the topic. If you want a nice selection of photographs of Arts and Crafts needlework, this can serve as a good resource. If you want a well-written introduction to the movement and the place of needlework within it, look elsewhere.

The first part of this book is more impressive than the second. The second, however, contains examples of simple arts and crafts embroidery that people who collect will probably own, whereas the first is more about the magnificent, and therefore museum-quality/unobtainable.Someone else took issue with the author's style but I think it's charming. Warmly recommended but not perfect

Wonderful book

Delightful book. Lots of Inspiration and information. Love it!

New book good price and delivery was fine

Stunning book about my favourite period of time