I ran out of steam writing the last (and first) new blog entry so here is the promised part 2.   I know I am 2 days late, what else is new?

This one is about my always growing Out-Of-Print & Rare book collection.  I think a few of your know that in the last year I began writing an article for Needlepoint Now Magazine on Classic Books.

At first it was every other issue but starting with the current issue, it will be every issue.   

While there are some terrific Needlepoint and Needlework books currently being published, they do seem to all focus on the *obsession of the moment* which right now seems to be amazing, decorative stitches.

There are so many incredible old books out there, covering an umimaginable array of subjects having to do with Needlepoint and Needlework.  

First among them is Mary Kay Davis' The Needlework Doctor

There is no other book like it, that I know of anyway.  I consider it an essential book.  This book has saved me a few times and taught me things I needed to know and a few things I didn't know I needed to know.

It is quite rare now, I have watched the price for this book rise & rise on the used book markets, I suppose some of that is my fault.  I have sold many copies of it.  I try to always have this book in stock to sell.  A few times I sold my own copy and had to replace it.

I am huge fan of books by Margaret Boyles.  I taught myself Bargello Needlepoint from her book: Bargello, an Explosion in Color going from the beginner patterns to advanced in a matter of weeks.

Mrs Boyles has a number of other books on both Needlepoint, Embroidery & Crewel Work but the one I want to mention is Needlepoint Stitchery from 1974.

This is first book I remember as showing decorative stitching.  The cover says it all.  The difference between plain stitching and decorative.  She was way ahead of her time.

The Needlepoint Design books by Elizabeth Bradley are exceptional.  Most people are familiar with the Beth Russell books, less so with Elizabeth Bradley.  

She has a book on Needlework Antique Flowers with charted designs for needlepoint, cross stitch or counted thread.

Decorative Victorian Needlework, a book I can safely calll breathtaking.

and Needlework Animals, again charted designs for several kinds of stitchery.  One of the things I noticed in my years of selling Needlepoint Canvases & Kits is that Animal themes seem to be the best sellers.    I thought it would have been flowers but it's not.

There are other wonderful Bradely books out there but these are the three I currently stock

This blog entry would be sadly lacking if I didn't mention the many & varied books by B. Bossuck.

She is the author of 97 Needlepoint Alphabets, 1001 Designs for Needlepoint and Cross Stitch and Needlework Monograms Unlimited.

She is also the author of The Star of David Needlepoint Book & Picture Your Dog In Needlework, neither of which I can keep in stock.  As soon as I list them, they sell.   

Most people are familiar with the fine books by Maggie Lane, Mrs Lane was raised in China and her books of oriental design are outstanding as is her Gold & Silver Needlepoint book, from 1983, predating the rush of Gold Work books currently being published.   

Here's something most people don't know.    Shirlee Lantz's 1973 book, A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint Canvases is often considered (or used to be) the Needlepoint Bible.   The diagrams in this famous book are by Maggie Lane.

This is just skimming the surface of Out-Of-Print needlework books.  I have no idea how many different titles I have.  

I have not yet listed the book collection I bought from Carol Korman, a former president of the ANG & the EGA.  She had great books some of which have sold before I could get them listed.

It absolutely burns my butt to watch these books disappear.  (how's that as an alternative to the really bad words I want to use?).

There is a wealth of instruction, design and knowledge in these old books.   These books fading away and forgotten is a real loss to the Needlework Community

I ran out of steam writing the last (and first) new blog entry so here is the promised part 2.   I know I am 2 days late, what else is new?

This one is about my always growing Out-Of-Print & Rare book collection.  I think a few of your know that in the last year I began writing an article for Needlepoint Now Magazine on Classic Books.

At first it was every other issue but starting with the current issue, it will be every issue.   

While there are some terrific Needlepoint and Needlework books currently being published, they do seem to all focus on the *obsession of the moment* which right now seems to be amazing, decorative stitches.

There are so many incredible old books out there, covering an umimaginable array of subjects having to do with Needlepoint and Needlework.  

First among them is Mary Kay Davis' The Needlework Doctor

There is no other book like it, that I know of anyway.  I consider it an essential book.  This book has saved me a few times and taught me things I needed to know and a few things I didn't know I needed to know.

It is quite rare now, I have watched the price for this book rise & rise on the used book markets, I suppose some of that is my fault.  I have sold many copies of it.  I try to always have this book in stock to sell.  A few times I sold my own copy and had to replace it.

I am huge fan of books by Margaret Boyles.  I taught myself Bargello Needlepoint from her book: Bargello, an Explosion in Color going from the beginner patterns to advanced in a matter of weeks.

Mrs Boyles has a number of other books on both Needlepoint, Embroidery & Crewel Work but the one I want to mention is Needlepoint Stitchery from 1974.

This is first book I remember as showing decorative stitching.  The cover says it all.  The difference between plain stitching and decorative.  She was way ahead of her time.

The Needlepoint Design books by Elizabeth Bradley are exceptional.  Most people are familiar with the Beth Russell books, less so with Elizabeth Bradley.  

She has a book on Needlework Antique Flowers with charted designs for needlepoint, cross stitch or counted thread.

Decorative Victorian Needlework, a book I can safely calll breathtaking.

and Needlework Animals, again charted designs for several kinds of stitchery.  One of the things I noticed in my years of selling Needlepoint Canvases & Kits is that Animal themes seem to be the best sellers.    I thought it would have been flowers but it's not.

There are other wonderful Bradely books out there but these are the three I currently stock

This blog entry would be sadly lacking if I didn't mention the many & varied books by B. Bossuck.

She is the author of 97 Needlepoint Alphabets, 1001 Designs for Needlepoint and Cross Stitch and Needlework Monograms Unlimited.

She is also the author of The Star of David Needlepoint Book & Picture Your Dog In Needlework, neither of which I can keep in stock.  As soon as I list them, they sell.   

Most people are familiar with the fine books by Maggie Lane, Mrs Lane was raised in China and her books of oriental design are outstanding as is her Gold & Silver Needlepoint book, from 1983, predating the rush of Gold Work books currently being published.   

Here's something most people don't know.    Shirlee Lantz's 1973 book, A Pageant of Pattern for Needlepoint Canvases is often considered (or used to be) the Needlepoint Bible.   The diagrams in this famous book are by Maggie Lane.

This is just skimming the surface of Out-Of-Print needlework books.  I have no idea how many different titles I have.  

I have not yet listed the book collection I bought from Carol Korman, a former president of the ANG & the EGA.  She had great books some of which have sold before I could get them listed.

It absolutely burns my butt to watch these books disappear.  (how's that as an alternative to the really bad words I want to use?).

There is a wealth of instruction, design and knowledge in these old books.   These books fading away and forgotten is a real loss to the Needlework Community