Beginner's Guide to Traditional Japanese Embroidery (Beginner's Guide to Needlecrafts) - Tapa blanda

For Julia Gray silk is the finest of natural fibres and is full of life and shine. Embroidery on this beautiful fabric has been worked in many countries, but Julia finds the perfection aspired to in traditional Japanese embroidery a wonderful challenge. She learnt in Japan by copying the work of a master - her journey was both inspiring and enlightening. Julia found not only a way to stitch, but also a philosophy that allowed her to achieve balance and harmony in her everyday life. In this inspirational guide she shares her passion and in depth knowledge of the history and practise of this eastern art form. It covers everything from handling flat silk and twisting your own threads to working the different stitches and finishing off an embroidery. Japanese design is influenced by the four seasons but in addition to floral motifs traditional designs also use the colours and symbols associated with festivals - trees, dolls, fish, birds and mythical figures. A series of simple step-by-step projects, which include the story behind each motif, help the reader to develop their techniques and learn about the symbolism of a great tradition.

Julia D. Gray's passion for traditional Japanese embroidery was kindled by her interest in Art Nouveau (which was influenced by Japanese design) and further fuelled by the Great Japan Exhibition in London in 1981. She has studied for nine years with Kurenai-kai, graduating at their centre in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 1995. Julia researches thoroughly, travelling extensively in Japan to study embroidery and allied traditional crafts including sumi-e (ink painting), yuzen (silk painting), shibori (dyeing) and katazome (stencilling). She gives illustrated talks showing her collection of Japanese antique textiles and artefacts and demonstates at exhibitions throughout Britain. When not working, Julia enjoys photography, gardening and running her smallholding, all of which bring her close to nature - the inspiration for her work.