In a message dated 11/13/04 4:23:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> I have just been sent from The Embroiderers Guild their
> catalogue of the books that they sell. In the Stumpwork
> section there are two new books
>
> Stumpwork Face by May Maxell, Price 6.50 pounds...
>
> Stumpwork Beetles by Jane Nicholas
> Sally Nicholas Publishing Price 29.50 pounds.
>
> I could not believe how many books are published
> relating to embroidery.
>
Dear Lacemakers,
Since I enjoy both embroidery and lace, perhaps I should shed some light on
Stumpwork, and on this particular expert - Jane Nicholas of Australia.
I know that many people are not interested in needlelace techniques, but
there is so much to learn from stumpwork that I want to encourage needlelacers
to
investigate this subject. You may find new methods that are helpful in doing
needlelaces, plus inspiration for unique designs.
Stumpwork employs needlelace techniques. The needlelace pieces are made
separately and attached to a ground material in such a way as to be
3-dimensional.
A lot of color is employed. At it's height in the 17th C. (1600's), it was
the "graduation piece" for young upper-class embroiderers in England,
Scotland, and perhaps other countries, many of whom made caskets (like large
jewelry
boxes) and mirror surrounds featuring animals, flowers and Biblical scenes.
The ground material was usually a white satin. The people illustrated on these
works of art wore the fashionable clothing of the time when the stumpwork was
made, so there was gold and sometimes very tiny pieces of lace. It is thought
that most of the caskets and mirror surrounds were designed by professionals
and sold as what we would call "kits". If you search around, you'll find
examples, especially in the museums of England and Scotland. One place with a
wonderful collection is the Burrell Museum in Glasgow.
Today, stumpwork is enjoying a sort of revival amongst women looking for a
embroidery/lace challenge. (In the U.S., EGA offers classes in all forms of
needle-made laces, because they are made with a threaded needle and EGA regards
the use of a threaded needle as one of the criteria for making embroidery.)
Jane Nicholas is probably Australia's foremost teacher of stumpwork. She
enjoys a enthusiastic following in the U.S. She has actually authored three
hardcover books, all published by Sally Milner Publishing, Australia
(correction
of publisher name given in original message). The other two books are
"Stumpwork Embroidery - A Collection of Fruits, Flowers and Insects for
Contemporary
Raised Embroidery" ISBN 1-86351-183-0 and "Stumpwork Embroidery - Designs &
Projects" ISBN 1-86351-208-4. The full title of the beetle book is "The
Stumpwork, Goldwork & Surface Embroidery Beetle Collection" ISBN 1-86351-318-3.
These
three books should be readily available through InterLibrary Loan. I have
seen the Beetle Collection; it was displayed at a national seminar of The
Embroiderers' Guild of America about 8 years ago. The beetles were pinned on
display boards, using insect pins, and they looked very real!
There are certainly other experts and other authors of very nice books on
stumpwork, but I will stay with the contribution to this art from Australia in
this correspondence.
Country Bumpkin Publications, in Australia, publishes the most beautiful
quarterly magazine "Inspirations". (www.countrybumpkin.com.au) Until
recently,
it could be purchased in fine needlework shops in America. Now, it can be
found at Borders and Barnes & Noble (bookstores). It is very expensive at
$13.95
(U.S.), but more like a softcover book - the most recent issue being 96 pages.
The reason I'm writing about this is that they often have a stumpwork
project in this magazine - using the finest materials, and with detailed color
photographs of techniques. It seems that there are several wonderfully
talented
stumpwork experts in Australia, spreading the knowledge and appreciation of
this
particular art.
If you compare stumpwork books to a book like Catherine Barley's "Needlelace
- Designs & Techniques Classic & Contemporary" ISBN 0-7134-6810-6 Batsford,
you will see the similarities. (Catherine is a member of Arachne. Be sure you
have her book, if you make needlelace!)
Kind regards,
Jeri Ames in Maine USA
Lace & Embroidery Resource Center
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