I was talking with the ladies in my beginner’s Hardanger class yesterday about my “depressing” list of books that I have to find time to write. (Its only depressing because it will take me 7-14 years to get through them all!) They wanted to know if any of them were Hardanger. I think there was one or two that were.
I told them how I had actually started writing one on Hardanger with sheer fabric overlays and then put it aside when I got CFS. As owners of my existing Hardanger book Elegant Hardanger Embroidery, they were familiar with the sheer fabric project in that book already, and loved the idea of a whole book about it.
I said that I had not really got back to the book as I wondered whether no-one other than me would be stupid enough to try such a difficult technique – it is hard to see through the overlay fabric to the evenweave underneath, making it quite a painstaking thing to do, though extremely lovely in appearance.
We moved on in the conversation, but later, one of the ladies brought me back to what I had said about others not wanting to do it. She said that while she might never be accomplished enough to do it herself, to her it would be a the type of thing that she would find inspiring to look at, even if she was never able to do it. She encouraged me that others need something to aspire to, even if to them it feels like “the impossible dream”.
She said that without something like that, that seems way beyond one’s own abilities, you never have something to reach for and to try harder for.
I thanked her for her ideas. It was really interesting to hear her thoughts.
It reminds me of a lovely lady who was browsing my stand at the craft show. We’d had a bit of a conversation and off she went. A second later she was back to say that she really wanted to say thank you to me for all the pleasure and enjoyment that I had given so many people with my books. I was completely touched by her words, and that she’d actually shared them with me. Being thankful is one thing, but these days I find that actually expressing that thanks is much rarer.
So, do you enjoy books as much for the inspiration they provide as for the things you can learn from them?
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
Yvette, I definitely enjoy books as much for the inspiration, and also for the enjoyment of seeing beautiful work. Sometimes you see something published that you wouldn’t even want to do yourself if you have the required skills (perhaps for example because it isn’t designed in your preferred style), but you enjoy admiring it; and also reading about how it was achieved. I know of someone who had an idea for a book that I think would be really lovely but last time we spoke about it she had been talked out of it by some people who didn’t think it would sell. I understand that is a major consideration when you’re going to invest all the time and funds needed to publish a book but I think it’s such a shame because I do believe it would be really lovely.
Absolutely!
I’d love to know what other subjects you plan to write books on, but I suppose you want to keep that under your hat. (Winter woolly beanie, right now!)
yeah, sorry, not letting those cats out of the bag just yet! 🙂 And yes, its cold here this morning. Something like the coldest June morning in 27 years, just beating yesterday’s low, which was also the coldest June morning in 27 years. Brrr….
I’ve two different thoughts on this – I love nothing better than a gorgeous craft, embroidery or costume book. I just don’t have the space or the time right now to make many of the big craft projects that I want to like large embroideries or a Regency pelisse (I wish!) but I find just looking at such books is really relaxing and that in itself is bringing some peace and beauty into my life! From the other angle, when I’ve been out giving talks on my book (Jane Austen’s Sewing Box) I’ve found it really really nice to bring a little bit of beauty and happiness into other people’s lives. Everybody escapes their day and their worries and cares for a bit of relaxation and inspiration dipping into the something they love – craft.
Oh heavens yes! Probably half my books are just to inspire me!!
😀
I have loads of books I look at just for ideas, inspiration and (very rarely) How Not To Do It. These days the only ones I actually study are strictly about technique.
I’d love to know what fits into your How Not To Do It category!
Yvette!
I’d just love a sequel to your Elegant Hardanger book. Although I’ve only started 3 of the pieces in this book, I’m still enjoying them so you will have PLENTY of time to write another Hardanger book as at the rate I’m progressing you have one or two decades before I finish the designs in the book!!!!! Well, my problem is working more than full time and having too many hobbies!
You are so talented, some books have only a few designs you like, but Elegant H. is full of beautiful designs. Keep up the good work, we DO appreciate it!
hugs
Julie in Australia
Thanks Julie! I guess I see that book with tired eyes – its been in my life for nearly ten years now. I am glad that you still love it and the designs are still all fresh for you! I cannot guarantee if or when I’ll do another Hardanger book, but your timeframe could work really well for me! 🙂
Hi, Yvette. I just discovered your blog today, though I had seen some of your books before. I buy books for both information and inspiration. I actually don’t buy many books with lots of projects in them, because I want the knowledge so that I can create my own projects. So I love indepth technical information, plus those books that have those designs that just inspire me to go on. It is great to know that there are some very talented needleworkers out there.
Hi Sandi, Thanks for your comments. I’m glad you’ve found my blog, and hope that you find enough to make you want to visit regularly!
Like Rachel and Sandi, I have many books and magazines for inspiration. I frequently go to the shelves and review several publications to get ideas or evaluate stitches. I am moving away from stitching the projects they present toward doing more of my own designs. However, I do learn or practice techniques that I find in the published projects. I often purchase a book or a pattern just to learn more about one technique, such as stitching hardanger through the organza overlay in your bolster project in Elegant Hardanger Embroidery. Inspiration from these publications, and even from pieces I find on internet blogs, challenges me to try new techniques or to practice more on a technique that I have not yet mastered (such as the looped picots.)
At the same time, I look for project ideas that will be useful. For example, one can use only so many pillows, pincushions, and doilies, but a blouse or skirt or dress with hardanger on the sleeves, hemline, and/or bodice, is a dream of mine.