Good morning and welcome to a Jolly Wednesday! It’s a little rainy, a little gloomy, but the perfect studio weather. I plan to get a lot of stitching done today.
But before hunkering down to that, I want to share with you a serendipitous find – a new-to-me book published back in January of 2024, called Stumpwork Embroidery and Thread Painting by Megan Zaniewski.
From instructions to projects, this book is a keeper! I’ll tell you how I discovered it (as late to the party as I am) and show you what it’s all about.
This book was really one of those happy discoveries.
It’s not that I didn’t know who Megan is – I have followed her work here and there out on the web for quite a while – but somehow, I missed that she had a book out.
I happened to be looking up “frog hand embroidery” one day and I fell down a veritable rabbit hole, as it always happens when searching something like that.
My search led me to this absolutely fabulous piece of frog embroidery worked by Megan. It’s the original piece for sale, and you can imagine that I was absolutely downright twitterpated with it. A frog in a tea cup?! Good grief! What’s not to love?
I had to give “One Lump or Two” (as the work is titled) a miss. Sigh! But the consolation prize was the discovery that Megan has a book out!
Note: The frog in the teacup is not in the book – just clarifying! But follow the link and see it – it’s a wonderfully executed piece of embroidery. When was the last time you saw a piece of embroidery that made you laugh out loud in delight? That’s what happened to me when I saw it – don’t miss it!
Stumpwork Embroidery and Thread Painting is both an instructional book and a project book…
…and the project line-up is delightful!
There are a total of 15 projects in the book. Most are relatively small projects, too, so they are very manageable, while still being complex enough to challenge and excite.
Cuteness Alert!
The book begins with a wealth of preliminary information, covering tools and materials…
…that include framing and finishing options…
…to lots of great information on color and design…
…to a bunch great suggestions for finishing for display…
…and finally all the technical information on setting up, transferring designs, and stitching projects.
In the section on techniques, you’ll find that all the instruction is presented with clear photographs on how to accomplish things. This includes all kinds of basic techniques for the beginner in embroidery, as well as more advanced techniques specific to the types of embroidery in the book.
And of course, you will find stitch guides for the various embroidery stitches used in the projects.
And then there are the projects!
First, you’ll find three projects that are technique-specific for learning the technique: the mallard duckling teaches thread painting; the monarch butterfly teaches stumpwork techniques; and the chipmunk pendant teaches miniature thread painting.
Then, you’ll find the rest of the projects in the book divided into two categories: Decor Projects and Accessory Projects.
Each project includes clear, beautiful, close up photos of the project itself, plus a materials list, the design (there is a pattern section in the back of the book), and step-by-step photos for creating the project.
The step-by-step photos include all the techniques involved, from any foundation or pre-work, through the embroidery, cutting out (when applicable) and finishing.
I love the photos of the progress of stitching! Having these available is a great way to grasp the order work and also to check your progress.
You can see that the progress photos are very clear!
And of course, you’ll end up with a very clear, large photo of the finished embroidery project.
Oh, be still my heart – what an adorable little duck!
Step-by-step photos in the stumpwork projects also provide very detailed photos of the technical side of stumpwork – the cutting and trimming and attaching and so forth!
I must stitch this chipmunk one day soon, just for the fun of it. He is so little and so cute!
I’m really besotted with some of these projects!
Not all the projects focus on critters – there are some gorgeous florals, too!
And there are some very interesting techniques, too – like how to create these transparent, iridescent dragonfly wings. So pretty!
In a Nutshell
On every level, I found this book to be a Must for my own library, and I think you’re going to love it, too!
The projects are beautiful and varied, the instruction is excellent, the book is affordable, and it’s just a pleasure to have it to browse through and to plan with.
Pros: Everything
Cons: None
Where To Find It
Well, here in the US, it’s available on Amazon, so I don’t carry it in the shop. You can find it on my Needlework Books Recommendation Page here on Amazon.
Around the world, I would imagine it is also available through Amazon in various countries, since it’s been out for a while now.
The link to my Amazon book recommendation page is an affiliate link, which means Needle ‘n Thread receives a small commission for purchases made through that link. Thanks!
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