Jill Gordon's Cross Stitch Pictures

Book excerpt: Jill Gordon, best known for her vivid portrayals of nature through her tapestry designs, now recreates her observations in cross stitch.Fourteen stunning new designs reflect Jill's unique interpretations of the natural world, encompassing animals, landscapes, gardens, fruit and flowers. With the whole fabric worked, the images produced are as full and vibrant as nature itself. Striking zebras quench their thirst at a shimmering savannah watering hole, and brightly coloured macaws inhabit the tropical beauty of a rainforest. Watchful owls are illuminated by moonlight, while a lizard lazes the day away in a succulent cactus garden of exotic aloes and yucca. Cows are found grazing beneath the blossoms of a summer orchard, and topiary hedges and trees adorn a formal garden. Jill's own watercolour sketches, from which she has taken the designs, offer extra inspiration.While many scenes are finished as simple framed pictures, Jill shows how easily the stitching can be transformed into eye-catching and unusual items to adorn the home. A wall hanging, footstool and box lid insert are just a few of the exciting ideas featured. Step-by-step instructions accompany every project, while the comprehensive techniques section includes hints and tips for successful stitching. However the finished work is displayed, these designs are guaranteed to bring the beauty of the outside world into any home.Jill Gordon started stitching and painting in 1971, producing her nature inspired art as beautifully in textiles as she does in watercolour. While designing kits for the John Lewis Partnership, she also produces her own needlepoint kits under her own name.Jill lives in Waterhouses, Staffordshire.