Jane Nicholas has long been fascinated by beetles. This book features the beetle not only in stumpwork but in many other forms of embroidery: glittering goldwork, beaded beetles from mosaic buttons, redwork beetles and beetles in surface stitchery using lustrous silk and metallic threads.
For the ancient Egyptians the beetle symbolized life, rebirth, and immortality, and for centuries, artisans have used the scarab motif to adorn everything from textiles and jewelry to the tombs of kings. This definitive collection of beetle-themed designs offers instructions for using the 17th century art of raised stumpwork embroidery, the metallic threads of goldwork, and glittering beadwork to create lifelike designs. Hundreds of color and black-and-white illustrations will teach embroiderers all about the craft: tools and equipment needed, special beading techniques, creating dimensional designs with appliqué, mounting their images, and more.
