About the Book
This book explores Jane's extraordinary world, the materials she uses, her techniques, and her understanding and interpretation of nature. Packed with ideas, inspiration and information, it will appeal to all embroiderers and textile artists everywhere.
About the Author :
Jane E Hall studied at Bournemouth & Poole College of Art and Design, achieving a Diploma in Foundation Studies, and then moved on to Loughborough College of Art and Design where she received a Certificate in Design Embroidery, being awarded a distinction. Since leaving college she has worked professionally as a textile artist. She has held numerous exhibitions, has her work held in private collections, and has worked on significant commissions, three of which are on public display. Jane's work has been featured extensively on TV and in magazines. For more information visit www.clothofnature.com.
Review :
Stitch:Jane E. Hall brings the fleeting joy of nature to permanent life in stitch. Explore her spellbinding world of thistledown and daydreams...Textile addicted readers will empathise with Jane's enthusiasm upon unlocking the delights of the sewing box and using its contents to portray art.Merseyside Embroiderers Guild:Jane Hall has produced a beautiful book illustrating the way an Artist thinks and records the world around her. By her observations of nature, she develops her own interpretation of natural forms into magical textile pieces. Included in this book are photographs and illustrations showing how she works through her ideas to the final piece. The finished designs are three dimensional, very tactile and beautifully developed. Jane works by hand and evolves each piece slowly over time. She does not use traditional techniques, but works intuitively. This is not a project book, but would be an inspiration to anyone, gardener, embroiderer or nature lover. Well illustrated and containing lots of information about the artists thought processes, this is an inspiring read.Workbox:...Jane has presented a style and approach to her art that words such as "exciting", "exhilarating" and "unbelievable" are no overstatement in describing her achievements. Jane's world is extraordinary and her vision is timeless, as though beyond the physical characteristics of nature that surround her. The Clematis Reflection and Asrai studies are just two among many covering nature's year-long chantes. Others feature dragonflies, sunlight and other specific items and qualities found within nature.The completed works are unique in their finesse and interpretation of her subjects. It is not, therefore, by mere chance that Jane's work has been featured extensively.Myshelf.com:First and foremost, this is NOT a book of projects but a look at one artists unique depictions of nature. It is the sort of thing coffee tables were made for, and guaranteed to look impressive and bring joy to owner and guests alike. For all textile artists this is a book of inspiration, and shows what can be done with natural materials and fabric, wire, thread and more.In true Search Press style this is one handsome book, lavishly illustrated with suitably large photographs of the work. Read about how the artist works, her inspirations and the organization of her studio. There are photos of everything, including the studio and work in situ, plenty of shots of nature in all her glory as well as raw materials such as baskets of silk, antique sewing tools, boxes overflowing with inspirational items and sketchbooks. Leafing through, one feels that if Platos Symposium was the ideal for academic study, then Ms. Halls studio is surely the way all textile artists would work if they could. Personally, I find a book that shows how somebody working on a budget with only a cupboard and a kitchen table can still produce good results more inspiring but this is not a how-to book. It does show wonderfully how one persons limitless imagination can produce a very personal and attractive view of nature, and reading about how other people work is always fascinating.Workshop on the Web:Jane's ability to convert from actual to artificial is phenomenal. I first saw Jane's work at 'Art in Action' and thought then how lifelike it is. I even overheard someone ask how could she keep the flowers so fresh in the heat. Justification indeed to someone whose work is exceptional. The book begins with Jane's description of how she works and proceeds with a chapter on the materials she uses. Interesting chapters follow on how she finds inspiration and we get a glimpse of her studio. The work then divides into categories such as butterflies, insects, flowers, figures etc. before concentrating on particular pieces or aspects of Jane's work and the ways they were constructed. This section shows readers how to achieve these wonderful pieces of art. Sew Today:This book explores Jane's extraordinary world, the matrials she uses, her techniques and her understanding and interpretation of nature. The pieces featured are truly amazing and reflect the sheer magic of her work and awe-inspiring attention to detail. She works almost entirely by hand, evolving and adapting each piece, changing the image as it naturally develops. The pieces are stitched and woven in pure silk and gold threads on delicate fabrics, embellished with fragments of shell, irridescent feathers and semi-precious stones. Nature and the natural world are reflected throughout with flowers, leaves, grasses, toadstools, butterflies and bugs transformed into three dimensional scenes and panels. Enjoy the beauty of each piece, be inspired and read about the whys and wherefores behind their creation.Textile Directory:Jane's first book is a beautifully balanced combination of text and textile pieces. Her imagination is that of a child entranced by fairies and fantasy; her embroidery is that of an adult - intimate, reflective, meticulous - touched by nature's loveliness. Jane catches the poetic dance of flora and fauna transforming them with skilful fingers into small embroideries, yet keeping the dimension, space and freedom vital to her subject. Silks, chiffon, wire, pressed flowers, iridescent dyes, metallic threads and various fragile materials allow the butterflies, insects, flowers and leaves to sing with vibrant life. This is a book to treasure, a land of enchanted dreams and a terrific source of inspiration.Fabrications:Sheer brilliance! This is a fabulous insight into the amazing and truly magical works of Jane Hall. Stitched and woven in pure silk and gold threads on delicate fabrics, embellished with fragments of shell, iridescent feathers and semi-precious stones, her work takes on a quality that is both startling and memorable. Packed with information, ideas and inspiration...this book will certainly take pride of place on your bookshelf. Textile artists and embroiderers will be clamouring to secure their copy, so make sure you don't miss out!Pentacle:'A dozen or so pebbles arranged in picnic-rug square, acorn cups, oak-leaf saucers and petal plates weighted down with delicious morsels of snail shells and seeds, set neatly for fairy tea - one of my earliest memories of a creative childhood.' What a way to start an Introduction! Jane Hall's fabric creations are amazing, her butterflies seem ready to take flight, they are so realistic. This isn't a how-to but a book that will be inspirational to anyone who wants to create with fabric and embroidery, although you can, as you sit in awe looking at her work, wonder if you would ever be able to achieve creating anything as elegant, beautiful and close to nature. You are taken right into her work area, are introduced to how she creates and are given tips on using such things as frayed silk to interpret moss and silk fibres for spider webs. I will certainly return time and time again to this book to find inspiration and ideas.West Country Embroiderers:This is a delightful book which will appeal to both embroiderers and artists.If you have ever wanted to create an embroidered work of art this is the book to inspire you, filled with beautiful colour photographs. The sixteen projects it contains are an invitation to have a go.In each chapter Jane shows how to enhance your work using fabric dyes, wire ribbons and chiffons. All the embroideries, presented with poetic introductions, are accompanied by helpful photos and notes in which the author explains the basic techniques, from first steps to the finished project.Muse:[This book] is a fascinating insight into the world of the author's creativity and all that inspires it. Hers is a journey of discovery; from the earliest beginnings in childhood, setting acorn cups, oak-leaf saucers and petal plates for a fairy tea; to current creativity more sophisticated yet equally inspired by the richness of the natural world.Working now largely in silk with the occasional synthetic material and metal-weave fabric and incorporating semi-precious stones, fragments of shell and iridescent feathers, Jane's creations range from large tableaux of a scene in nature to the tiniest beetle perched on a leaf.Jane spends a great deal of time 'studying in the field' gathering resources for her work, making jottings and sketches, taking photographs and gathering specimens of common flora. The results of these expeditions are remarkable creations filled with flowers, leaves or bark and the small creatures which inhabit them which, at a glance, can look beguilingly real. Only when you move closer do you see the stitching and the weave of the fabric.The book is brimming with beautiful colour photographs, both of Jane's work and the natural elements that inspire her. And, most fascinating for me, images of her studio and work bench, crammed with the tools of her trade, sketchbooks and samples.Anyone with a creative bone in their body, or who just loves to look at beautiful, carefully worked creations, or those who love nature will all be delighted by this book. You'll never look at a daisy the same way again!
