Needlework Inspiration: A Thursday Thirteen

Yesterday someone was kind enough to link to me, mentioning that I was a crafter and a reader.  Lately I've only been a reader and not much of a crafter, or in my case, needleworker.  I had thought I would share some of my recent projects today (in case anyone clicked through hoping to see something creative), but as I am not far enough along in any of them to  make a very interesting post, I thought instead I would share some of my favorite needlework books.

I've got a small but very nice collection of needlework books.  Many are now out of print, and these all happen to be of the coffee table variety mostly.  I would love to collect more, but they can be very pricey (which is why it's better to get them when they're first published rather than OOP).  Either they are small print runs (and generally very nice, lavish volumes) or they're foreign (primarily French), which means I need to be very selective.  Since I've not been stitching much, I've not been visiting any online stores to tempt me with new designs and new books. I'm afraid to go look and see what's new (and I'm missing out on!).  It's always nice revisiting the books I already own, though. 

My books tend to concentrate mostly on samplers, since that is my favorite type of design to stitch, but I like most types of needlework as well as anything on textiles and needlework tools.

1. Sampler & Antique Needlework Volume II. -- Sampler and Antique Needlework Quarterly is my favorite needlework magazine.  They published two wonderful books of designs that are full of gorgeous charts you can stitch.  Volume I is impossible to find, but I lucked out and found a remaindered copy of Volume II.
2. Samplers from the Victoria and Albert Museum, Clare Browne. -- If you live in London, I'm envious.  I actually went to the V&A a long time ago.  It was before I was seriously into stitching, though, and I never bothered to look at their fine textile collection.  So, if you happen by there, please go take a peek at Jane Bostocke's sampler for me!
3. Embroideries and Patterns from 19th Century Vienna, Raffaella Serena. -- Needlework from the Biedermeier Period.
4. Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework 1650-1850, Betty Ring. -- If you are a serious needleworker (of samplers) this is THE book (actually it is a set of two) to own.  It's absolutely gorgeous with lots of text--the essential history of American samplers.
5. The Embroiderer's Story: Needlework from the Renaissance to the Present Day, Thomasina Beck. -- Another history of.
6. The Embroiderer's Garden, Thomasina Beck. -- Embroidery--and lovely gardens.
7. Gardening with Silk and Gold, Thomasina Beck. -- More embroidery.
8. British Embroidery: Curious Works from the Seventeenth Century, Kathleen Epstein. -- Another lavishly illustrated volume.
9. Sampler Motifs and Symbolism, Patricia Andrle. -- Did you know that often all the various motifs in samplers are chock full of symbolism?  This is a nice guide to understand what's what.
10. Quaker School Girl Samplers from Ackworth, Carol Humphrey. -- The Ackworth School samplers are quite famous now.  The school was founded in the late 1700s by the Quakers, and part of a girls education was to learn needlework.  Quaker samplers have a very distinct look (generally geometric medallions).  I think they're lovely and would like to stitch something in this style.
11. Common Thread/Common Ground: A Collection of Essays on Early Samplers and Historic Needlework, Marsha Van Valin. -- An excellent reference resource.
12. Samplers from A to Z (Museum of Fine Arts Boston), Pamela Parmal. -- Thin little volume, but with lovely samplers.
13. Du Point de Marque au Point de Croix: Catalogue de l'Exposition--Nancy 2000, Régine Deforges. -- I have a small collection of French needlework books, this is one with illustrations of samplers and other stitching that was part of an exhibition.

This makes me want to set my books aside (just for a little while) and stitch.

Comments

[Dorothy W.]

Nice way to combine your two interests! :) It looks like you have quite a nice collection of needleworking books.

[Danielle]

Dorothy--When I first started seriously stitching I also started buying books. I'm glad I did actually as now many of them are more expensive than I can afford. I still occasionally will buy a needlework book, but I consider those big splurges now!

[Brenda]

That stack of books looks amost just like mine. I love my Sampler books - am so glad I bought them when I did. They have been a great inspiration to me in my sampler stitching.

[Margaret Powling]

I am no needlewoman, but appreciate the skill of those who are. However, I do like antique needlework tools - not that I have any - and on this subject might I recommend Antique Needlework Tools and Embrioderies by Nerylla Taunton (published by Antique Collectors' Club in 1997.) Many of the tools are works of art in their own right.

[Jaimie]

Nice books! I have a stack also and it is fun to sometimes grab a handful and browse through them. I haven't had much time lately for cross stitch but I'm feeling the pull of the needle so maybe it is time to pick something up again.
Thanks for sharing your collection!

[Danielle]

Brenda--It's nice to just pull them out and look at the illustrations sometimes! I keep these books out of the way and up where they can't be damaged. And I love thinking about the lives of the girls and women that stitched those samplers!
Margaret--I will look out for that book. Yes, those tools can be absolutely amazing, and I wish I could afford to collect them. I only have new tools (lots of scissors), but I know stitchers who do have antique tools--and they're gorgeous!
Jaimie--I Want to stitch, but I can never seem to find the extra time. Looking through these books last night made me want to make time and work on the samplers I have started. I've got a couple reproduction samplers started but have been languishing! :(

[Stefanie]

Oh Danielle, a nice collection. I admire your needleworking desire and your skill. You make me want to pick up my knitting needles which I haven't done ina very long time because of tendonitis in my wrist which comes from spending too much time on a computer. Of course I don't help, I work on a computer all day and come home and turn on my computer. Sigh.

[Danielle]

Stefanie--I had no idea that you knitted. I would love to learn how, but I don't think I need anymore hobbies at the moment! I know people who have the same problem with their hands as you do who also stitch--I hope I don't get a problem like that--so far I've been lucky.

[iliana]

Danielle this is such a wonderful post! I don't do needlework but I really enjoy the pictures you post of your work and hearing about it. And, you've inspired me, if I manage to remember, I will do a post similar to yours but detail my books on bookbinding :)

[Danielle]

Iliana--That would be great! I'd love to see some of your bookbinding resources!!