Artful Embroidery on Canvas: Get Creative with Thread, Fabric, Paper, Acrylic Mediums & More

The worlds of canvas art and embroidery merge in this thorough debut guide from Schlesinger, a Bay Area artist. Beginning stitchers will benefit from the “Stitching on Canvas” section, which explains how to make basic stitches, while advanced stitchers can find inspiration in the visual gallery of finished pieces. Large, attractive color layouts show the variety of materials used, such as thread, floss, and yarn. In addition to going over technique, Schlesinger gives suggestions on finding inspiration for projects, and on incorporating other mediums, such as glass bead gel. She outlines three sample projects—Start with a Heart, which uses paper and fabric on canvas; Calavera, a Day of the Dead–themed sugar skull made with embellishments like charms and mirrors; and Butterfly, which involves painting canvas—providing pictures of the finished products and step-by-step instructions for making them. These steps make each project suitable for beginners, but Schlesinger also provides variations for those desiring further ideas and challenges. Finally, Conner draws on her exhibition background for a detailed section of “Tips on Showing Your Art.” The result is a well-presented guidebook that those interested in artful embroidery will find inspiring. (Jan.)