The art of embroidery design A workshop for developing your own original stitching

Johnson's (Mystical Stitches) second book is a fresh take on embroidery instruction. Rather than a work full of patterns and instructions, this is one about design. Created in workshop style, it takes readers through the steps of creating their own embroidery patterns and designs that will be full of personal meaning. Covering color choices, design principles, stitched line and texture, and sketching exercises to develop the eye, the book offers a thorough route to developing individual creativity and includes a technique guide for a variety of stitches at the end. Illustrated with many examples of Johnson's recognizable work, this is also a beautiful book that's meant to inspire. It's complete and well-organized and will leave readers brimming with new ideas. No premade patterns are included; instead, Johnson encourages readers to develop their own motifs. VERDICT A must-have for creative readers, this successful guidebook by a respected artist will find an eager audience.--Melanie Kindrachuk