Yes, yes I am working really hard on quite a number of new designs of which more later but I just want to share something which I am quite pleased with and which gave me a warm glow and pat of encouragement which I needed at the beginning of the week ... knowing I would be sat in front of the computer for many hours ...
I saw on Pinterest a front cover illustration for a book which got my radars twirling. Canvas Work by Jennifer Gray pub 1960.
Here it is below and you can see why I might be excited. Maybe not but it did it for me and I looked further, went to the wonderful
ABE BOOKS (secondhand books from all over the world) and found a copy for a few pounds £3.00 I think. What treasure! It came on Monday, and I was thrilled with it, my absolute tip top style of decoration and drawings good stitch explanations and diagrams, fantastic colour pallete.
THEN I saw a beautiful seat cover which immediately looked familiar in style and yes, it was by my mother! I have not seen this design before and it was worked during her time with the Needlework Development Scheme, and it is perfect. I spent the afternoon completely distracted by the whole thing and drew up the design in Illustrator, printed it onto white linen and am in the process of working it up hopefully turning into a design for our new range. Though it may be a lovely download too ... maybe both! But I will post the results very soon.
Enjoy the rest of the pages from the book I have scanned!
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| Front Cover |
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| My surprise, my mother's design for a seat cover! |
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| Detail |
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| Page from Canvas Work by Jennifer Gray 1960 Buildings |
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| Page from Canvas Work by Jennifer Gray 1960 ... Angels |
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| Page from Canvas Work by Jennifer Gray 1960 ... Flora and Fauna |
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| Page from Canvas Work by Jennifer Gray 1960 ... Birds |
Wow!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful book - love those sketchy designs! Its amazing (and quite worrying for my purse) how Pinterest has become responsible for many additions to my craftbook shelf. A pin catches my eye and leads me on to who knows where. I've arrived here in a similar way - a post on a fav blog Shelf Appeal brought to my notice a beautiful book illustration by your Father (Wines Syrups & Cordials), which took me to pinterest and your Mother's so-up-my-street embroidery and so on to your wonderful blog - now I'm about to try a download following your instructions for printing above! Fabulous! Oh, and on the way I've purchased three books including this one and have your Mum's book 'saved for later'!!! Ho hum.... how did we spend our hard earned cash before on-line shopping?!? ;o)
ReplyDeleteHi Ann! Yes I have the same guilty secret! But there are so many wonderful and informative older books out there with REAL content. Modern craft books seem to be all mouth and no trousers full of seductive photography but there is always something missing ... I am just about to post all about my father's wallpaper design so do stay with us!
DeleteHappy book hunting!
N x