Miniature needle painting embroidery; vintage portraits, florals and birds.

Binda, NSW, Sally Milner Publishing, 2014  ISBN: 97 818635 147 05

If, like me, you delight in the work of South African embroiderer, Trish Burr, this book will not disappoint. The detail in her exquisite silk painting is breath taking. So too, is her attention to detail in the instructions, which makes what could be a daunting technique, accessible to any embroiderer with the courage to try. 

This book, as all Trish’s books, starts with clearly illustrated general directions, which threads to use (all easily available and not expensive), fabrics (ditto), hoops and needles. She urges the use of a doodle cloth to try out stitches and colours. There are explicit instructions on how to work long and short stitch, the basis for all her pictures, followed with all the other stitches used. These instructions, with diagrams and photos, take any fear out of the process. 

The projects in the book are all inspired by carefully selected Victorian postcards, produced by Raphael Tuck & Sons, www.tuckdb.org. If you have never done needle painting before, Trish starts you off gently with ‘starter projects’ especially designed to introduce you to the art. The main projects, of which there are eighteen, are of people (mainly children), birds or flowers. Each one is prefaced with a very clear coloured photo, followed by an outline, the actual size of the picture, for tracing, fabric needed and a list of all threads used. Then come detailed instructions for working each picture. The projects sections finishes with one devoted to pansies.  And the last chapter gives detailed instructions on how to make a very pretty needlecase.

The book finishes with a chart listing all the threads used for all the projects, as well as a brief list of suppliers and a little history of the artists whose work Trish has chosen to embroider.

I love this book! I borrowed it from our wonderful Public Libraries. Although it is currently out of stock (at the time I wrote this review, but do check) at Book Depository, I am sure Ribbon Rose will be able to get it should you want to purchase a copy. Given the volatility of the NZ$, I shan’t include a price for you. Sorry. 

Erica Marsden