At the end of last week, we took an up-close, personal look at Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães by Yvette Stanton. Today, because I know you’re just dying to add this book to your needlework library, it’s time for a give-away!
If you’d like a chance to win your own copy of Yvette’s new book, Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães, courtesy of Vetty Creations, here’s your opportunity! It’s really easy to enter for the drawing – just follow these simple steps:
1. Leave a comment below, on this article, on the website. You can follow this link to go directly to the comment form. Please do not send comments via e-mail (in reply, for example, to the daily newsletter) or on other articles on the website. Just follow this link and you’ll go right to the correct comment form.
2. In your comment, please answer the following question:
What appeals to you most about the book – are you attracted by the style of the embroidery, the projects included in the book, or by the instruction? Or is it a combination of everything about the book that appeals?
3. Please make sure you leave a recognizable name with your comment, either in the comment area or on the line for “name” on the comment form. For example, if your name happens to be Mary, there are lots of Marys out there, so you might sign “Mary in Ohio” or something along those lines.
4. The give-away closes on Friday, May 11th, at 5:00 am (CDT in Kansas, USA), and, after choosing via random drawing, the winner will be announced on Friday morning. You’ll have to check back on Friday to see if you’ve won, so that you can contact me with your mailing address.
That’s all there is to it! So if you’d like a chance to land your own copy of Portuguese Whitework, do leave a comment below, before Friday morning! And who knows? By next week, you could have a beautiful new book to add to your needlework library and to inspire you with gorgeous projects for years to come!
Good luck!
The give-away is now over – thanks for participating!
The book looks great, can’t wait to buy it. But what I think is brilliant is the fact it seems to be mainly bullion knots.
Thanks for the lovely give away, Mary BUT I was so taken with your write up that I already ordered it! So, don’t enter my name … just wanted to say hi! I love Yvette’s books, and I LOVE your news every morning. Hope the medallion is coming along splendidly.
I would just love that book I love all forms of white work it just looks so clean and nice. The book looks good.
Thank you for running this give away it is so kind of you to share your knowledge of needlework
This book is beautiful! I want it because everything about it appeals to me. I love the look Portugese Whitework and Mary’s review has me chomping at the bit to get a copy. Thank you for opportunity to win it!
I love this book! I am just learning to do other kinds of embroidery and I would love to have this in my collection!
I have Portuguese ancestry, but did not know that Guimarães had a particular type of white embroidery with bullions. I have a couple of embroidered tablecloths bought in Portugal by my grandmother many years ago, as well as some embroidered tea towels. I would love to have a look at this book, and the history aspect interests me very much.
I’m intrigued by the technique and love the projects. For me, its a combination. I will definitely be picking up this book if I don’t win!
Hello Mary!
I think the combination of the Bullion Knots and Whitework is lovely. The designs seem bold and elegant at the same time. I also like the designs done in colored threads. The designs seem very accessible as the instructions look good. I would love to try this type of stitchery.
Jan B. in Florida
I love whitework embroidery, and I find it’s really interesting there’s a new and different one about Portuguese whitework (sometimes forgotten).
Thank you!!
I believe whitework is the loveliest form of embroidery. (I must have spent a good half hour at the museum in Williamsburg gazing at and admiring the white work on display there.) I completed my first piece of drawn thread embroidery last year. Because the book combines both types of embroidery, I would dearly love to have it so that I could do one–or more–of its lovely projects. And I know I’ll spend hours reading the book cover to cover for the sheer enjoyment.
The photos you showed of the directions made it look really easy to follow which is such a help when you’re trying to learn a new technique on your own. The projects looked incredible, it would be fun to try some of these as well. Overall, the book looks like great eye candy!!
Dear Mary, I hadn’t tried a bullion knot until recently on a jacobean piece i was completing finishing. I love how uniform and neat they look but the way in which i used them was very boring. Wow, how inspiring this book is with the way Yvette has used these knots in so many ways. If i was to own this book the first thing i would try is the biscornu pin cushions, they look so fun to make. thanks Mary for the chance to win this beautiful book.
I’d love to win this book for a few different reasons. First of all I have always loved whitework. I love the laciness of the finished project and the detail involed to make the stitches/designs stand out on the white fabric. This book is intriguing to me because of the small applications/projects. I love to dabble in many types of needlework so large projects are not practical. I also work full time and small projects provide a way to make hand-made gifts which I prefer sharing with close friends and family.
I love the picture with the blue flowers on the white background and the little bag shown on the same page. These are projects I could actually complete while perfecting the stitches and learning the technique.
Thanks for the opportunity to win.
I have always wanted to try my hand at this. A friend gave me a small piece of white work from Portugal as a present some years ago. It is beautiful and I think this book really shows it well with clear instructions, projects and details. I’d just love to win a copy of this book to start me on the road.
Maryann from Australia
Hi Mary – What an exquisite book. Yvette is a wonderful embroiderer and her books without doubt are one of the best instructional books on the market. Her knowledge and research done in this book is excellent and the book would be a wonderful addition to any home library. I like her diagrams and projects from beginner to advance, thus catering for all levels of embroiderer. This I would love and cherish in my library.
Chris
As a member of EGA I have taken numerous cultural needlearts classes. Until this time, my favorites were Blackwork and Ukaranian Embroidery. I love geometric designs in bold primary colors! I would love to expand my knowledge/experience with “Portuguese Whitework: Bullion Embroidery from Guimarães”. Please consider me for your drawing.
This Portuguese White work looks amazing! It is unlike anything I have ever done before! One tends to get so bound down in certain techniques and materials, so this book would be a wonderful motivation for a very bored and unstimulated embriderer in sunny South Africa!!
bonjour,
Je suis très attirée par le style de broderie ,par les projets du livre,et surtout j’adore la broderie blanche et je suis très curieuse des techniques en broderie.
J’ai dèja le livre d’Yvette sur le moutnmellick et jai aimé car très bien expliqué et c’est vrai que en France les livres comme celui si ne sont pas facile à trouver.
c’est pour cela que je vous remercie de nous faire partager ces jolies broderies.
amities Marie Christine
Hi Mary,
I absolutely love the look of all white needlework. It has a sheen and show up the intricate detail of all the stitches.
Thanks.
Colleen
Hi Mary,
I love the antique looking nature of whitework. It always looks so delicate.
Thanks for the blog.
This style of work looks so beautiful. I am not good at Bullion, I would really like to improve my skills, try a different type of embroidery, learning from a lady who shares her expertice so well.
I love whitework and fell in love with this book when you first showed it to us. I would love to possess something so beautiful in my needlework basket and I already get that feeling of ‘peaches and cream’ when I think of doing the stitching. I need this book
Elsa South Africa
I have been longing to learn how to do whitework and drawn thread work! Your review of this book makes it sound like just what I need to motivate this beginner to try by explaining how to work it in a step-by-step manner.
I love the white on white dimensional look of this embroidery technique. So Lovely! It inspires many ideas for using this stitch in my quilt pattern designs. A love for all these wonderful embroidery stitches has been growing in me to the point that I believe it is time to begin putting needle to cloth to try it for myself rather than just admiring your wonderful work. Thanks so much for this opportunity to possibly win this book.
Blessings, Deanna
I’m not only a crafter myself, but I have always had a soft spot for folk culture. I have even studied folk art. I love all kinds of embroideries and would love to expand my knowledge on Portuguese whitework. That way I also immediately have a new project to start after my ‘balkan style embroidered wool black-white-and-red blanket’ is finished.
This book is awesome. I would love to learn how to do this type of needle work. It reminds me of the doilies, and covers for the back and arms of chairs in the days gone by. The book is presented so one can easily learn. Nice photos and projects to be made by all. Thank you.
A friend does several types of white work and soon will be leading an EGA group correspondence class in Schwalm embroidery. She has several books in her collection and this would be a nice addition.
Since being introduced to your website, I have been given many opportunities to try new projects. While considered to be a determined beginner, this kind of stitching appeals to me. The white work seems so pure and elegant and from yesteryear which is where I think I really belong. To have this book would open that eara to me and I know I would embark upon those projects with great enthusiam. Surely am happy to be a possible winner on this one. Thanks for this wonderful opportunity and sharing all that you do.
Hi Mary,
Lovely giveaway.. Loved the embroidery style, bullions and was so attracted by the various projects that was detailed in the book. When I read your review I had decided I need to try some of them.. Hope I am able to fulfill it!
Regards,
Hello Mary,
Thank you for one more beautiful book..
What I love more about the book is the style of the embroidery. I am follower of yvette’s blog and loved her works.
Lakshmi Sadala
I have always been interested in ethnic based embroideery from Hardanger to Ukranian and anythin in between. The Portuguese work fits right in with that.
This book with both instructions and projects looks fascinating. I’ve enjoyed Hardanger and drawn thread work, and this looks so crisp and clean! The clear instructions are just what I would need to begin.
Thanks for your review and for this opportunity.
The most beautiful placemats I have ever seen -were a Christmas gift to my mother. They were handmade in Portugal. The work appears effortless and flowing like the person doing the needlework did this every day – I want to make these lovely things – and each time I see the placemats I think – where to start? how to plan and get to the end …now there is a source. At this time, I own a small collection of embroidery books – not one discusses in detail pulled thread work with embroidered components. It is really a different feeling – there are so many possibilities. Please enter my name in your drawing. The patterns give a beginning point and the detailed instructions are essential…I love everything about this book. Charlotte
I just love the look of the whitework. I’m not sure how good I’ll be at the bullions but a small project to start would be fun. Maybe by then I’ll have the hang of it!
Wow! Have never seen this type of embroidery and would love to try it. Love the white on white – so crisp and clean! I would just love to win this book. Thanks for the giveaways – your site is always so informative and helpful to me – thanks for ALL you do!
Barbara in TN
I would love to have this book because of the style of embroidery and the projects. I’m not accomplished at embroidery, but I think I could manage this and I love the fact that there are very small projects as well as large impressive ones in the book so that I could work my way up to the more impressive ones.
I just LOVE white work embroidery and love Yvette’s books. Her instructions are so clear & the projects SO BEAUTIFUL. As I’ve told you earlier, I’m working through her Mountmellick book right now and this was on the cards for next year but nothing like winning it. Hope I’m lucky this time…because I really really REALLY would love to own this book.
The book appeals to me for several reasons…..I’m drawn to it because I love white work, and a combination of the designs, projects and Yvette’s fantastic instructions and knowledge of the technique & its history is unbeatable!
thanks for the give-away.
OMG this is stunning. Would love a chance to win!
Knowing Stanton’s work is enough for me to seriously want to add this book to my collection. I’m sure her instruction will improve my bullion knots and her projects are always drool-worthy.
I had an old white linen blouse that was tattered. I loved this blouse. I decided to try and mend it using white floss. I became so intrigued by white on white that I’ve started to learn portugese whitework. I hope to win this book to learn more! Thanks for the drawing!
Hi Mary! What a wondeful giveaway! What appeals to me most is the bullions! I love the look of them, and would like to work on them! I’ve only done them once before, and like the way they look. Need to practice more! Thanks for the chance to win such a fabulous resource!
Melissa J. from SW Ontario, Canada
hello
It is my frist time try this. my English is not too good, I live in Israel love all kind of neddlework but this one is amaizing i never saw such a nice way to use the bulion stitch.
i konw the writer she have very good book, unfortently we can’t buy it in Israel we allways need to bay neddlework stuff from Europe or USA .
I love this Portuguese Whitework since i love the best white work like pulled trhead and so on.
thank you for writing every day interesting article
best regard
Elian from Israel
Greetings Mary,
I have been doing hardanger for over twenty years, and feel an affinity for many types of whitework. You can really see how they’re related from one area to the next. The Portuguese whitework in this book is truly stunning and I’d love to add it to my repertoire. Additionally, the directions look amazing.
Thank you so much for the time you spend on this blog sharing your talents for stitching, writing and teaching. You have a passion for all three, and it really shows.
Peace,
Keli M. from Minnesota
I don’t actually want to win the book – I have quite enough copies in my possession already! I just wanted to subscribe to the comments.
Good luck everyone!
Yvette
Thank you for putting together such a fantastic book! I’ve changed my home page so that your book comes up every time my husband logs on. Think he’ll get the hint?
I’ve always wanted to do more whitework and make some of my own heirlooms to pass to my daughter. I love how the book gives the history of the art which makes our craft a lot more interesting than just putting stitches into fabric.
How beautiful if the work, I have never seen it before. I love white on white and some of those designs look really wonderful. It would be interesting to know why they did white work and what thread was used originally. It would be the most welcome addition to my home.
Oh, Mary, what a gorgeous looking book. I’ve often looked at whitework as something I’d like to try. Portuguese Whitework looks inspiring! You offer such wonderful opportunities to try new things. Thank You!
Norma
I would love to have this book. It is so thorough in providing a history, instructions on the stitches and projects that range in abilities. What I like the most is that it is well illustrated with examples, techniques and projects. I am a visual person and it is easier for me to pick up techniques from good illustrated examples.
I have always loved whitework but had no idea of what is out there. Your website and daily blog educational as well as encouraging. This book will be on my wish list.
Thank you for offering this book as a giveaway. The designs look beautiful. Thanks, too, for consistently putting out one of the very best embroidery blogs!
For me, all three aspects of this book appeal! The projects look gorgeous, and I have never done this form of embroidery, so the novelty is exciting. Mostly, I would love to own this book so that I could make some Portuguese embroidery for my dear neighbours who are themselves from Portugal and have shown my family such kindness over the years. Thank you for this give away!
Ho già altri libri di Yvette e so che sarà sicuramente curato nei dettagli. E’ una nuova forma di Whitework che io non conosco e questa sarebbe proprio una bella occasione. Ciao.
Hi Mary,
Here in Brazil we have difficult to get books and threads to do embroideries like this.I would love to win this give away for the instructions of this book.I love white work and I already made some motifs like a sample,but the instructions of a master are always welcome.Sorry about my english.Thanks a lot
Valquiria
Having read and reread last weeks article on the book and doing a lot of whitework myself I would very much like to add it to my library. The other reason is that she includes the history as well which to me is very much a part of any type of embroidery especially whitework. The book has excellent photo’s as well as instructions.
My Mom did whitework before I was born and I have been facinated by it ever since. I now own a small piece that she apparently did. And so this book would be a good starter for me as I have never found anyone else who has done this work to teach me or who is even doing it in my world here in the North Georgia mountain area.
Thank you, Mary, for bringing us into the world of old and new embroidery.
I have just constucted a white cotton bag in which to keep my current project, with the idea of keeping it clean and everything tidy when I have finished a session of stitching. I have been wondering what to do with the flap. When I read the review of the book, I was inspired, and decided that a zigzag hemstitch was required, then maybe a design. So this lovely book would give me further inspiration, and the confidence to get on and try something new
What a beautiful book. I have tried white work in the past, and loved it. What a joy to own a book devoted to nothing but. Thanks for the chance to have this book in my collection.
Hi Mary, I’m checking amazon uk everyday because that book is not arrived yet in Europe. I simply love to embroider and ajour and hardanger are my favourite points. I didn’t know this kind of embroider so I’m so curious about Portuguese whitework. I follow your newsletters and your medaillon look so beatiful.
I hope to get that book.
Thank you and ciao from Italy
Love this! Who doesn’t love those needlework bars and cute petals! I would use this style to cover everything that is white!
Thanks again Mary for the opportunity to win such a wonderful book!! I would love to add this to my collection and if I don’t win it, I will have to order it!! White on White is such a crisp lovely form of embroidery and I have always been drawn to it and would love to learn more about the Portuguese style of embroidery
thanks again Mary!! happy stitching to all
This book is fabulous. Just the cover makes me want it!! I’m such an avid stitcher of hardanger and whitework that this book would be a perfect gift for me. I’m always looking for new ideas and techniques to challenge my Needkework mind. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to win this wonderful book.
Patti Dagg
Hi Mary,
This is the type of book which I love, because it has clear instructions. For people like me who don’t have the opportunity to be “instructed”, having access to this type of material makes life easier. The Portuguese Whitework is perfect for placematts and tablecloths, which are my favorite. I hope I will be the lucky one. Thanks for your website.
Salvador
Hi Salvador, You have such a portuguese name… where are you from? just out of curiosity of course.
regards
elsa
I love the cover! This is such a lovely piece. Would love to see more and learn how to do this! Thanks so much for the chance!
What’s not to like about this book?
The projects are beautiful, the style of this stitching is amazing and from what I’ve seen of the stitching instructions, they are clear and easy to follow.
I have a feeling that this would be an amazing teaching aide.
I thought I pretty much knew every style of stitching out there after all these years…but here’s one I haven’t researched before.
Love the pictures of the projects! Love doing whitework, but haven’t tried this particular branch of the whitework family–so this would be an excellent way to get into it–especially after visiting her website and drooling . . .
BEAUTIFUL ! This is the kind of book I need. I have done all types of embroidery since I was a little girl but this one is unknown to me. And I am ready to give it a try. I have seen your medallion project take form every day. What an enthusiastic teacher you are ! Bravo !
Hi Mary,
After reading your review of this book, I can see that I NEED this book. The designs are lovely and the instructions appear to be very clear. The sampler project really appeals to me as do all samplers! Thanks for the chance to win this book.
I have 3 of Yvette’s other books, so I know how good they are. This whitework looks absolutely beautiful. I would love to try it.
Well! It’s easy: whitework is my actual love and job. I really want to become expert in all branches of white work and, I confess, before your articole I’ve never heard about Portuguese whitework. So thank you. But if I could also have the book… Wow!
Elisabetta
Hi Mary – This looks like a wonderful book. I am a book collector so adding this to my embroidery book collection would be great. I would also like to learn whitework in the future. Thank you for all your daily information. Deb
I love bullions and I’d really like to learn how to do all that open work. This but is a must have.
I never heard of Portuguese embroidery before, but I am fascinated with all white work, and would like to learn more about it and how to do it. Thanks you for all you do for furthering hand embroidery.
I have loved bullion knots for a long, long time, so to discover there is a type of regional embroidery that uses them as much as this is very exciting. Yvette does such a wonderful job researching for her books, that I can’t wait to see the book for real.
Oh, I would so love to have this beautiful book. I do hardanger, and love the look of the openwork and filling stitches. This is similar. The projects in the book are beautiful, and I would love to learn this type of embroidery too.
Judi
This is such a beautiful book that I would love to own it! The projects and instruction have great appeal to me. Thanks!
I like the book because I would like the opportunity to try a new open embroidery like this.
First and foremost I love this style of embroidery
and from your description of the book Yvette’s has very good stitch explanation which is what I need.
The projects seems very interesting for some summer projects!
Thanks for giving me the chance to win.
Love your newsletter! I have shared it with many of my “embroidery friends”.
Johanne from Montreal
Beautiful Bullion Embroidery book!! Love working with BDE and any book would help working with Bullions.
What struck me most about the book is that it is something entirely new to me–an embroidery technique I never before heard of. That alone makes me want to read and study the book. In addition to that, I like whitework and drawn thread work and this is a beautiful technique that I think I would like to try. The reviews sound as though the book contains excellent instructions and some projects to try. JoyceAnne
Hi Mary, The white work is really beautiful and I would love to be able to make a perfect bullion stitch. The book looks lovely and thanks for sponsoring this give away. I appreciate all the work you must do in order to keep us informed about the various types of needlework.
I have several pieces of White Work from my Grandmother and would love to learn how to do it for my future generations.
I love the way this book lays out the instructions. It looks like it will be a great way to learn.
Love it.
Susan
The doors to embroidery and hand work land you have definitely opened for me. Thank you. The thing I like most about this book is the fact that I can learn something new and maybe, just maybe I can master the art of the bullion stitch. What a pleasure that would be. From what I have seen of the book, the diagrams are excellent. What a way to learn. Thanks for providing us all with this opportunity.
What a give-away!! I adore white-on-white embroidery, and to combine drawn thread with surface embroidery to me, is the height of everything I love about our world.
I love white on white and I’m finally learning to do bullion knots so I would love to win the book.
A technique I have ot tried, would be great to read about and try.
Thanks for yet another giveaway Mary! Knowing that I live only 50km away from Guimarães made me very proud that my country was referenced in your blog. I love this book and as I am learning embroidery this would be a great book to have around. If I don’t win I will defenitelly buy this one.
Oh PLEASE enter me in your giveaway! I would love to have this beautiful book
Thank you for this opportunity!
Oh, Mary, I would love to win this book! It appeals to me first because it’s surface embroidery, second because of the drawn thread work (I’ve been wanting to learn this technique) and also because I love white-on-white, and bullion knots.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to win.
I am intrigued by Portuguese Whitework. I come from a German background and my mother and aunt taught me a very similar style of embroidery. I would love to have this book to improve my very meager knowledge of this embroidery.
Thank you so much for the review of the book. If I don’t win it, I am putting it on my wishlist for Christmas!
Eunice Hayes, in Newark, Ohio
I just finished a wool quilt that had hundreds of bullion knots. Red and white is my personal fav. I wish I could just extract the picture and have it for my very own. I would love to try my hand at this and the book looks awesome! I ordered my own but having one for a special present for someone would be fantastic! Thanks for the try. Chris Beresford
Since I am of Norwegian stock, I have always regarded Hardanger embroidery close to my heart. I love doing it…perhaps because of the cut-work or the white thread used or a combination of the two. I can see the Schwalm Whitework book as a welcome addition to my ever-growing library of needlework. It would be much like a new recipe for me. The basic ingredients are the same but in some ways it will be completely different from any of my other pieces of stitchery. My library would be a good home for this lovely book.
The book looks wonderful and I particularly love the white on white. I always bring a project with me on holiday, and this year it is going to be Portuguese white work. Thank you for your very inspiring newsletter, I enjoy it with my coffee every morning.
Mary, I think that whitework is just so beautiful and this is really something I would like to know more about. This book seems like a wounderful way to learn. The projects that you have shown us from the book are inspiring.
Sharon
I have other books by Yvette Stanton and they are so very clear. White embroidery appeals to me.
I love all kinds of brodery. Most of all such fine one colour brodery. Blue or white I love the most. After many years of no handwork because of no time. I’m glad that I can make time for some handwork. The book is so fine and makes me smile because all the work that is shown is so beautiful. If I have not the chance to win this book I will go and look in the bookstores in Leuven (Belgium)to find the book. This website Needle ‘n tread is so refined. Thank you very much.
I love the look of this technique. I find it fascinating and I’d love to try some of the projects with my wonderful Brazilian threads!
I like hardanger, and this book seems to contain something similar to it.
Hi Mary,
Another great giveaway…how do you do it? The white work in this book is absolutely beautiful and something I would like to try. I also love the projects, including the small ornaments which should be a quick and easy way to start. Thanks again for doing this give away!
Sheila from CA
I have one of Yvette Stanton’s books and I love it. She is great, very helpful and inspiring. I would very much like to try whitework and I recently learned how to do bullion knots. Thank you Mary,
Shelia in Oklahoma
The project on the cover is soooo gorgeous that I will have to make it. If I don’t win I will have to buy it. Since I planning a trip to Spain and Portugal in 2013, the info inside the book will get my mind attuned to Portuguese culture.
This book looks great! I love the projects and the instructions look very detailed and clear. The finished work is just wonderful. I will be buying ths book if I don’t win.
Hi Mary,
This would be a great gift to receive. I am trying to get the supplies together to start a whitework project. This would be a wonderful help.
Besides that, having my birthday last week and Mothers day this week and a 40yr. Anniversary at the end of the month this would be a gift my family would never buy.
Thanks again!
I have not had a chance to view this book, however, Ms. Stanton’s reputation as an author is outstanding. I have recently purchased Left-Handed Embroiderer’s Companion, and I am impressed by the illustrations, the text explanations and the comprehensiveness. I would expect nothing less than similar care and pride in this production.
I am also looking forward to the project ideas, as this kind of work is lovely. The cover is beautiful.
Thank you for the opportunity to win a drawing for this treasure.
A fan in Grants NM,
Denise
after cross stitch, embroidery, red-work, Hardanger … this is my next step in my Needlework Journey. And this book looks to be my guide. Plus my birthday is the 13th
Whitework is beautiful for its for its striking elegance. I love seeing the creativity that flows from a monochrome palate and and limited number of stitches. I’d love to learn how to use the bullion knot to its greatest effect. Thank you for offering this giveaway.
This book on this type of embroidery, is the most beautiful I have seen! I look forward to another adventure in the stiching world.
grayce jahnke
I think the book is appealing because it is all white! I love the texture of the stitching, too! Beautiful. Thanks for the opportunity to look at the book. Laurie in California
For months I’ve been following Yvette’s blog as she created this book. Now that you have shown selected pages on Needle ‘n’ Thread, I can see that it’s even better than I’d hoped. The first thing that attracts me is her use of color throughout to display the whitework. Second, the thorough step-by-step instructions for a technique I would love to learn. Of course the main reason I want this book is to learn the technique. Thank you for sharing this review as well as the opportunity to win a copy of the book.
Cara Senhora,
pelo que pude ver até agora,
esse livro é fantástico…
Tantos pelos projetos como pelos ensinamentos….
Valerá a pena por tudo!!!!!
abraços de Maria Filomena
Dear Madam,
from what I see so far,
This book is fantastic …
For many projects such as the teachings ….
Is it worth for everything!!
Hugs Maria Filomena
Hi Mary,
What a wonderful giveaway! I’ve been coveting this book since first I read about it. The pictures are so attractive and inspiring. And I love the combination of drawn-work with surface work. And well, bullions are just plain awesome.
Please enter me in the draw. And thanks again for your terrific website and generous spirit.
I would love to win this book as it is like nothing I have seen before and would love to give it a try, the instructions and pictures look wonderful.
I love your website and just completed a monogram I found from visiting your sight. It was a big hit at the wedding of my granddaughter.
I am always looking to broaden my hand embroidery techniques and books such as this are a great aid to me. I am amazed at all the tips and stitches I have been learning.
It would be a privilege to add this book to my small embroidery collection.
Thank you,
Nellwyn Mills
I’m would like to learn the Whitework Embroidery from Guimara`es as it looks so beautiful. I can see from the illustrations it would take some practice and would be fun and challening.This book would be the perfect teaching tool and a treasure to own.
Terese in Ohio
I love making bullions, Mary! It’s one of my favorite stitches. Just the cover of the book alone is enough to make me drool. Thanks!
Yes, this book is on my “must have” list. I was excited about it from the first time I heard about it because (a) it is about embroidery!, (b) it is ethnic embroidery, (c) it is beautiful, and (d) I became a big fan of Yvette as I worked my way through her Ukranian Embroidery book. It was most excellent — how she goes through the process thoroughly AND in pictures. OH, I hope I win!!!
I love white work and have long been a fan of Portuguese embroidery so I was thrilled when I saw this book review. I’m most excited about the great photography and gaining a better understanding of the elements that go into this style of embroidery, the projects and step by step instructions are an added plus. I look forward to adding this to my library one way or another but winning a copy would certainly be nice!
The instructions as shown in the photos of the review look to be very clear andprecise, the projects are attractive and I love whitework. I would love to win a copy of this book, thanks for the opportunity….Shari
I have started making a portugese-style crazy quilt and would love to add some authentic white work to it. Your blog has been a great inspiration to me as I learn new embroidery skills. Your medallion is truly amazing!
I inherited some white work done by my grandmother and I thought it would be fun to try to duplicate the work but had no idea how to start.
It looks as if the book’s detailed instructions would answer most, if not all, of my questions.
Very interested in doing the techniques using the projects ect. I have always wanted to try this type of needlework. Have looked at the book at other places and still want it!
Avis in Va.
Thank you Mary for offering this book as a giveaway…Recently, I have become fascinated with any of the embroidery techniques from the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean basin. This is a new technique for me, about which I would love to learn more.
I would love to win this book. I love learning new techniques and this book appears to have very clear instruction and the patterns are a bonus! The book itself also looks to be inspirational.
I love whitework! It’s so delicate and so beautiful. OK, I’ve never tried it. I’ve tried just about everything else in embroidery, but never whitework. It intimidates me. I have tried bullion knots. The outcome of that was bullion knots 1 — Barbara 0. Can this book help even me?
I have no idea how “pulled thread” is done and I do enjoy just using a single color (seems to go faster than multi colors)so I’d like to try a project. Thanks for the give-away.
This book is such beautiful eye candy! Going beyond that, I tried doing bouillon work before and enjoyed it, but didn’t pursue it. I think this book would give me more structure with its projects — easy and more complicated — and with the instructions. I liked the photos included in the instructions as I am a visual learner. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the give-away.
This book intriques me as I have never done this technique before. I like to do non-counted forms of embroidery and this book would spur me on to try Portuguese Whitework.
I have been “playing” with embroidery Since my mother taught me when I was 10. I’m now 70 and have decided since I am now retired to get “serious” and try something that challenges me. This book looks to have very explicit instructions as well as beautiful pictures. I woukd love to own this book so I can learn how and to be able to pass the skill on to my randdaughters.
Thanks for you website. I look forward to my daily newdletter.
I have always loved whitework, although I have never tried the technique. Not yet anyway! In particular, I love the use of bullion knots for building up relief contrasted with the drawn thread work. Beautiful.
Oh, I am dying to get my hands on this book, I’ve seen Yvette’s Mountmellick book (which is high on my want to have list) and saw how excellent her instructions are. I am a keen embroiderer of whitework, am currently into Punto Antico and would love to continue with the Portugese bullion knots and drawn thread.
Thanks for a great blog and yet another give away!
Portugese embroidery is something I have yet to try and this book seems to have a lot of great ideas and all the information to start discovering this art form. Would love to try my hand at it and win this book!
You’ve named all my stitching passions (whitework, drawn thread and regional embroidery techniques). The publication’s “presentation” is eye-catching to say the least. Hardanger projects have been my favorites for some time. This technique looks equally as intriguing.
Hello Mary, this is another beautiful book, I love whitework and am doing some mountmellick work at the moment. I like this book for the projects and the clear instructions. Kind Regards Mandy Currie
I must say everything about this book appeals to me. The designs are especially beautiful and I’m sure after doing a project you will become very proficient in bullions!
Would love to win this book Mary. This, to me, would be such a challenge. Love to read about your medallion every day. It will be beautiful. Hope I am a “winner”.
I like everything about the book and would like to incorporate the techniques into my ecclesiastical embroidery. Thanks.
It looks like a wonderful book. I have not tried this technique. The projects displayed in the book appear to give you the opportunity to start small and then develop some wonderful examples.The book is on my wish list!
Thanks!
I would love this book because I have only done cross stitch and am feeling the need to branch out. I had never heard of Portugese Whitework and am very impressed with this. I love the pictures and am sure that the instructions will be clear enough for even a newbie like me to follow.
Just a glance at the gorgeous photo on front of this book and I know, already, how versatile, as well as beautiful, the skills and techniques within will prove to be. My mind is already bursting with inspiration, from the formal and elegant to the informal and quirky.
Love that the book has historical content, what looks to be a really nice technique section,patterns AND additional information. It’s jam-packed and I can’t wait to add it to my library. Thanks Mary!
Your review of this gorgeous work inspired me to start a project based on the Hungarian Drawn Thread Embroidery book you reviewed recently (and I bought!). It’s progressing nicely and I’m having fun.
I like the projects, and especially appreciate the instructions. I have struggled some with bullion knots and still feel a bit intimidated by them.
I would love to have this book! I looked it up and couldn’t justify the cost (having already bought so many technique books. . . .) but ooh la la it is an excellent thing.
Marilyn in Las Cruces NM
After reading your review, I put this book on my wish list. I really appreciate the number of small projects that allow one to practice but still result in a finished item.
Beautiful book! I have just recently learned drawn thread embroidery and feel this could be a natural progression in my ever growing stitch repretoir, plus the projects are so neat!
Dear Mary,
I love whitework so everything about Yvette’s book is a magnet, especially the history and clear instructions of the technique.
Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
My fingers and toes are still firmly crossed for the 15th May.
Louisa
I enjoy to see the style of the whitework. It has a special look comparing to other sort of whitework I have seen. It seems to be an ambithious book.
Portugese whitework is entirely new to me. How lovely can any needlework be? This is certainly tops in the list. Totally lovely and I would love to start learning how to make items using these skills. Thanks for all of the lovely things that we find through your newsletter. I had no idea many of these types of needlework existed.
Hi Mary; I enjoy your website & visit it often. Thanks. Keep up the good work. I am a fan of whitework. Have taken two courses, pleased with results, but much more to learn. I’m intrigued with the Portugese Whitework. I am working on a sampler (similar to one in the book) outlined with a peahole border / have 42 squares to fill. Some Portugese motifs would work wonderfully.
I love white on white work. I have never ventured the pulled thread before but up for new challenges. I think this book is beautiful and instructions look like it leaves no room for questions with so much detail.
I love books on techniques that I have tried yet. Whitework in it’s many forms has always been interesting to me because of the clean tone-on-tone embroidery. I can’t wait to purchase this book, it looks wonderful.
Jo Lyn in Texas
I love this book! I love whitework and I am looking forward to working on some this year. I especially love the sampler in this book.
Dawn C.
Southcoast, MA
this book is amazing, judging from your review, I would love to learn this technique..I have been stitching for a long time, but have just this past year started adding different styles of embroidery and I think this would be a wonderful book to teach me a new style..thanks for the giveaway…you are generous as always…Rebecca Keith in VA.
Mornin’Mary!
What do I like best? That it is a new technique (for me, anyway!) and I always like to broaden my knowledge of stitching. It is fun to learn new techniques and then find ways to incorporate them into projects!
Thanks for the opportunity!
I think this would be a great book to have because I am beginning to make linens for my daughter someday when she moves out on her own and would love to use this book for inspiration and for instruction on how to do this type of embroidery.
Dear Mary,
There are reasons I’d really like to own this book:
The combination of style, instructions and projects about a lovely form of embroidery is the PERFECT combination!
The idea that we can help keep a little known historical form of needlework alive in some small way is a powerful incentive for me, whether it’s Portuguese Whitework, Hardanger or other forms of embroidery. Hope to see some Portuguese Whitework in person next spring when we are considering a trip to Portugal … still to be decided.
As always, Mary, THANK YOU for your generosity!
Cathy in PA
I love the simplicity and elegance of white on white. I think it creates stunning linens and clothing. I’d love this book both for the inspiration and designs.
I love learning all kinds of stitching that I see but do not know how to do. The would be a great addition to my stitching and quilting library.
Thank you for this lovely give away offer.
I would love to get this for all the reasons. I love the look of drawn thread work, I’ve done a lot of Hardanger and would love to give this a try.
Oh my, a chance to win this book… I love collecting linens, especially ones I can put on my dressor. This technique is so intriguing. I have a friend who is of Portuguese descent and I would love to make her one of the little projects in the book. The instructions look like something that would be easily followed and I can do a boullion… I’d just like to become an expert. Again Mary, thank you for sharing your book reports (cause I’ll buy this one if I don’t win it) and for keeping us enthusiastic about our stitching! It’s sunny in Washington State today–yippee! Hope you have a great week.
I always like learning new techniques. They then get incorporated into my own style. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Mary:
I liked the cover of this book since you first mentioned it some weeks ago. I like Yvette Stanton’s work and own another book of hers which I have used iwth success. I love bullion knots and I am learning more drawnwork. I am also learning more about ethnic embroidery styles. And finally I like whitework. I would love to own this book. Thank you –
Anastasia in Utah
I have never seen this embroidery before. It is beautiful. I would love to learn to do this. I trust your comments on books so would love to have this book in my library.
What a fabulous opportunity! Everything about this book appeals to me. I love the whitework, love the bullions and love the fact that there are smaller scale projects. I’m working on a large project now, so smaller things would be perfect to do here and there as a break. Thanks for offering the chance to win this book and wish me luck!
SusieW
This would be a wonderful addition to my library. I don’t have anything about Portuguese embroidery. I have done Moutnmellnick Embroidery and done bullions, but never achieved such an elegant look.
I hope this time I will be a winner. Thanks Mary.
Esther B
Hi Mary,
The whitework book looks awesome. Some of the stitches look like something I have done and others that I could do, therefore, it looks DOABLE. Also, a nice learning opportunity to enhance my stitching knowledge.
Chris
What appeals me about the book is a combination of everything.
I’m Portuguese, lover of embroidery and would be wonderful if I was the happy winner! Win was a sort of early birthday present. If I do not win, the book will certainly be part of my wish list.
Thanks for the sharing of knowledge and dissemination of the art of embroidery.
Have a good week.
Teresa Carvalho
I like white. I like white on white embroidery and do many Christening gowns with white embroidery. This book is just lovely and has techniques I have never seen or know about. I also am program chair for the Napa Needlers and like to have something new for the ladies to learn and this would be perfect.
Andree
I would love to have this book. I currently do Portuguese stitch for rugs and I also do Hardanger. I think the Portuguese white work would be another type of ethnic embroidery that I would like. I would like to combine Hardanger and Portuguese white work to see just how they would work together.
Vicki S in Centennial CO
The beauty of whitework is the embroidery itself, the stitches. It doesn’t depend on color or metallic threads to attract. The purity of white against white, twisted, curved, raised creates its own appeal. Add drawn thread work and I’m hooked. I’ve done whitework with crewel and Hardanger projects. This would be the impetus to try Portuguese. Thank you for your inspiration. I share coffee with you every morning.
Beautiful projects, especially the ornaments. I also like how the patterns are presented on separate sheets in the book. Thank you for reviewing books. There hasn’t been one that I wouldn’t love to add to my collection!
Since I was a little girl,Portuguese whitework has fascinated me. My grandmother was Portuguese and loved to watch her do her embroidery. I have always wanted to learn more about the technique and this book looks like a perfect way for me to do this. I especially like the idea of telling the history of the region it comes from.
Je suis française et mon mari portugais.
Malheureusement, il ne connait pas la broderie.
J’aimerais lui faire plaisir en utilisant un modèle et une technique qui lui rappelle son pays.
Merci pour votre merveilleux site et plein d’amour à toutes.
What appeals to me about this book is a whole new technique I didn’t even know existed! The cover shot just makes me want to make one!
This looks like a very interesting form of embroidery. I adore the bullion stitch. I have never seen Portuguese Bullion Embroidery before.
When I was a young girl visiting my Aunt Rose in VT., she would show me her beautiful handwork like that in the book. I loved it but life got busy and she was a long way from my home town. In those days not a lot was available for instruction so I never learned how to do this type of work. Now I am retired and would like to learn. Learning never ends in needlework. I would like the instruction this book offers and would like to give it a whirl!
My EGA chapter has a white work group. I have always been entranced by white work and this stitching with its bullions looks like future projects for our group!! I hope I win the book but if I don’t I will buy it sometime in the near future.
I love the look of whitework, but haven’t really done any. I think the best part of the Portuguese White Work book is that it has projects with step by step instructions. That’s what I think makes a useful book.
I would love to win this book because I like to do boullions and the projects look wonderful.
Robin Marks
My grandson is Portuguese. I have visited Portugal several times. I had the chance to visit “boutiques de broderie” in Madeira. Wonderful. I am hooked: I collect embroidery books. I would like to add “Portuguese Whitework” in my collection. I hope to win it! Thank you Mary. Louise from Québec
This book on Whitework appeals to me because it looks to be so very clear. The work has a geometric balance and cleanliness that I would like to learn. I would start with the square mat, but probably not make cupcakes.
Debbie S.
Part of the appeal of this book is that the techniques I can see seem to be similar to techniques in my families heirloom embroideries (which unfortunately have little background information to them in terms of who stitched them, origins etc), and I love the idea of making my own version of family heirlooms so that at least one heirloom item comes with background information!
I think I’d make the tablecloth or tablerunner project to match the works my grandmother holds… They scream elegance and fragility, I just can’t go past them!
I’m attracted to this book because I love whitework/pulled work/reticella. One tablecloth that I own has some similar work on it and I’d like to see if it really is the same. Plus, this looks easier than reticella, bullions are a snap for me as I’ve been doing them since Grandma taught me as a child.
I love the general style overall. It so old and yet so fresh! The texture is alluring, I love the way the patterns rise up from the fabric. I am not intimidated by all the bullions, I think it is a wonderful way to fill an area. Thanks for the chance at this lovely book!
I am attracted to white work because it looks so vintage. I love vintage linens. The level of instruction is awesome since it is a new style of embroidery for me.
Thank you,
Melissa Bird
This book looks amazing. The white on white always appeals to me. The stiching looks so delicate.
I Love the concept of white work. It just looks clean. Thank you for the chance to win the book.
Whitework always reminds me of my Grandmother. Her doily’s, dresser scarves, sofa protectors, table linens were all white made of various laces and embroideries. I would love to learn from this book for the style it uses.
Thank You for the opportunity to win.
We were in Portugal last year which is such a great country to visit. I love whitework and the projects in this book look wonderful.
Thank you.
I would love to add this little gem to my currently limited needlework library. I just started building a library and am very selective on what I add to it. I’m only interested in books that I will actually use and projects that I REALLY want to do. This book will be and excellent addition since I love making BIG table clothes and I have not done one in Portuguese Whitework although I have one with some color in it. Portuguese needlework appeals to me due to my heritage and the absolute clean and delicate look of the piece once you’re done with it. Would LOVE a copy of this book!!!
I have worked several whitework pieces but have never done Portuguese whitework. I live the look of the bullion so would like to try this type of embroidery. As I live out in the middle of nowhere, I really prize books that have good instructions which can be used in self teaching.
The look of pulled thread with the bullion knots
is gorgeous! I can’t wait to try it in other solid colors beside white.
G’day Mary,
Even if I’d seen your review with my eyes closed I would have just so loved this book!
There’s a kind of enchanted mystery about whitework. It relies on shadows to bring texture and form to light.
The same with this book. One gets the feeling that many surprises will surprise.
Just love it all.
Thanks Yvette and Mary, Cheers, Kath.
Kath from Oz, I is!
I love this book, I would love to learn how to do white work. The book looks like a great resource for learning. I would love to try out the projects!
Thank you.
Rachel Lawrence
You are right…I would love to have this book in my collection. it can be found on “My Wish List” in My Favorites folders. I love to know the history of techniques and currently am researching the connection between Islam and black work. I wonder if there is any connection between the history of Moorish Spain and Portugal since they are geographically close.
I love the images I am seen from this book on various blogs, too.
And unlike many, I like stitching the bullion stitch. I enjoyed the sense of mastery once I got the technique down.
Thank you for this opportunity!
I must confess that, when Mary said that the book isn’t available yet in the U.S., I hoped there might be a giveaway because I feel quite desperate to get my hot little hands on this book.
Whitework is, by far, my favorite type of embroidery. It’s beautiful, and it’s functional: since it tends to be easy to wash, there’s no reason not to use it to make all sorts of beautiful projects for the home. The fact that several of the projects seem intended for just that reason, I’d love to try these techniques, and fill my home with whitework that’s just a bit different than I usually do.
The Portuguese Whitework book is appealing because is it whitework, but it also appears to be a great attempt to revive a traditional, ethnic style of embroidery, that just happens to be gorgeous. The mix of large and small projects is nice as well. Finally, Yvette’s reputation for excellent publications promises another wonderful, beautiful book that will inform the whole needlearts community. I would certainly like this book in my library.
I would say it’s the combination that appeals to me. The first thing that catches my eye about any book is the cover and photographs inside. This book has superb eye candy for all! Next, I scan the text to see how clearly the instructions are presented. I want to make an heirloom “drawn thread” type table runner and just learned to do the bullion knots. This looks like an excellent book. Thanks for sharing.
What appeals the most to me I think is that it’s whitework. I’m very fond of whitework, I think it looks very elegant. And I’m not scared of bullion knots!
Well the short answer is that it is a combination of all three but I think a give-away deserves the full answer.
Of, course the projects attract me, for what I have seen they are devine but I know that I would not have the time to make the tablecloth.
I already have the Right-handed Embroiderers Companion so I know how good Yvette’s instructions are, that is a big attraction.
The biggest attraction for me is the style of embroidery. It is one that I know nothing about yet and I am always keen learn other embroidery techniques, especially one as lovely as Portuguese Whitework.
Thanks to you and Yvette for another exciting give-away.
I would totally buy this book. I will most certainly be adding this book to my Library! If I do not win it, I will buy it!
What drew me to the book was the work and then how the instructions were written.
Thank you for the chance at a great give a way! The book’s main attraction in the detailed instruction which would certainly allow one to become a master at this style of embroidery. OK – so I do have to admit I LOVE the projects, too, …and the style of embroidery….and.. what’s not to love about this one?