Embroidered Portraits

Book excerpt: "With a different and delightfully practical approach to a traditional and time-honored subject, Jan Messent shows you how to create portraits in stitch. There are simple instructions for shaping and padding different-angled heads, creating faces, adding features and stitching the hair and garments, as well as explorations of the most suitable fabrics, stitches, threads and embellishments to use. Within this book you will discover a host of personalities, including a mysterious white Edwardian lady, the formidable Bess of Hardwicke and a 'book-box' that opens to reveal exquisite renditions of Cinderella and Prince Charming. All of Jan's portraits are filled with character and charm, and have a timeless appeal that will enthral and excite textile artists and embroiderers alike"--Dust jacket cover.