Today, courtesy of Hedgehog Handworks, I’m giving away one copy of the out-of-print, highly coveted book on 17th century English embroidery, ‘Twixt Art and Nature: English Embroidery from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1580-1700.
The book is a combination historical-treatises-museum-catalog, focusing on embroidered pieces from 17th century England. It was published in conjunction with the exhibit at the Met from December, 2008 – April, 2009.
There is an ardent interest these days in 17th century embroidery, so the book was really popular when it came out, serving as a vicarious visit to the museum for those of us who couldn’t make it to the exhibit. And the book still remains popular among enthusiasts of this short – but very vivid – period of English embroidery.
Because it is out of print and because it contains much sought-after information (not to mention fantastic photos!), prices for the book, when you can find it, soar into the upper hundreds of dollars.
Throughout the book, you’ll find incredible images of 17th century embroidered clothing, caskets, gloves, mirrors, and whatnot, featuring a variety of techniques, from petit point, to goldwork, to stumpwork, blackwork… and more. The pieces featured in the book are a feast for the eyes!
But more than that, the written content of the book makes compelling reading for historical embroidery buffs or for those interested in the history of art or the history of textiles in general.
‘Twixt Art and Nature is not a technique book – though much inspiration and even insight into techniques can be gleaned from perusing the photos and reading the text – but rather a scholarly work on the period and the influences on the art of embroidery during the period.
Hedgehog Handworks has a limited number of new copies of ‘Twixt Art and Nature still available, and they have generously donated one to Needle ‘n Thread for a give-away! So, if you’d like a chance to add this tome on 17th century English embroidery to your library, please follow these guidelines for the give-away:
Give-Away Guidelines
1. Leave a comment below, on this article on Needle ‘n Thread (not via e-mail and not on any other article on Needle ‘n Thread – just follow this link directly to the comment box to get to the right place, if you’re unsure).
2. In your comment, tell us a bit about your interest in the book, using the following prompts:
Are you a specifically-17th-Century-Embroidery Enthusiast? Or just an Embroidery Enthusiast in general? or a Textile History Buff? What makes you desire the book? Is your desire more along the lines of Pictures, or Print? (Or Both?) What interests you most about this book – are you eager to see photos of the 17th century embroidered items within, or are you eager to read about the era and the items? Or both? Tell us something about your interests in a book on 17th century embroidery!
3. Please make sure you leave a recognizable name in the comment area, either in the name line on the comment form or in the comment box. Names like Sue, Barbara, Mary, Bob, Kathy, etc., are often duplicated in the comments and can lead to confusion when the winner is announced, so adding a last name or initial (Sue S.) or a location (Barb in Texas) helps to allay confusion.
4. Leave your comment by Monday, May 20, 2013, at 5:00 am Central Daylight Time (Kansas, USA). I’ll announce the winner on Monday!
Thanks to Joady at Hedgehog Handworks for the special opportunity to offer this chance to you!
