Customer Reviews

Beth Russell's William Morris Needlepoint

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

William Morris is well-known for his intricate designs and wonderful harmonies. He was also a dedicated designer for needlework of many types. In Beth Russell, Morris has found a faithful and dedicated translator of his work for today's stitchers. This book is full of wonderful designs and charts which allow you to create Morris designs for yourself. From the wonderful, enormous Raven tapestry, to the simple fruit pillows, this book is a treasure to dream over or stitch from

I got hooked on Needlepoint books once I discovered it was much cheaper to buy your own wools and canvases. Not to mention you don't have to try and figure out where all the printed lines REALLY belong!

First let me say that Beth Russell is not necessarily the place for beginners to start. The designs are detailed, and the charts are detailed, and the canvas is usually smaller than, say, Elizabeth Bradley. For those needlepointers with some experience, however, you will enjoy the challenge of translating these beautiful Morris-inspired designs into art for your home.

Some of the best I've done include the Morris Lion (a wonderful medieval-looking lion with an ornate tapestry background), the orange pillow (on the cover), and the woodpecker tapestry

I'll start by saying that I LOVE Beth Russell's interpretations of Arts and Crafts designs in this book as well as her other two. She's chosen wonderful motifs and arranged them into lovely, unique needlepoint projects. I speak from experience, as I'm now working on my third project from her books, the orange border design shown on the cover of this volume, worked on large canvas to make a rug. I highly recommend all three books for lovers of needlepoint, other charted needlework, arts and crafts design, or William Morris.

This book is beautifully laid out and lovely to page through and read, but its loveliness is one of its downfalls: The charts are printed in full color, without utilizing symbols to indicate yarn colors. Although this choice makes the charts pleasant to look at, the subtle differences between yarn colors are sometimes very hard to see in the charts, making working from them difficult. I spent too much time squinting at the latest chart, making little pencil dots on it to differentiate between LIGHT grey green and MEDIUM-LIGHT grey green!

I'll be proud of the resulting product, and will forgive Russell's editorial choice. Do consider buying this book, but be prepared for some challenges in using it.

Beth Russell is a master at creating easy to follow charts for needlepoint projects. Her color changes are particularly easy to follow. Any figure, flower or section of her designs can easily be separated and converted for use wherever wanted.

This book has several patterns that I plan on attempting in the next few projects. However, when I was considering the purchase of the book, I was unable to find a complete listing of the designs included in the book (always helpful when purchasing something like this). You can find part of the list, along with correspondeing pictures of the designs at the Beth Russell Needlepoint website under "Needlepoint Books." However, in an attempt to help other Amazon-ers, here is a list of the designs:

*Peacock
*Raven
*Lion
*African Marigold
*Flower Border
*Honeysuckle Border
*Orange Border
*Bees
*Arts & Crafts Alphabet
*Apples
*Vine
*Artichoke
*Fruit
*Kelmscott Frame
*Grape (bookmark)
*Rose (bookmark)
*Tulip
*Acanthus & Flower

If there was any issue I have with the book, it would be that it showcases certain projects that are not in the book (specifically, the dog from her "Forest" collection). However, this is such a minor issue, it would not detract me in the least from giving the designs it does have 5 stars.

Beth Russell's adaptations of William Morris designs are nothing less than spectacular. I have completed the Peacock and the Lion and am just stunned by their beauty.

With that said, this is not the place for a beginner to learn needlepoint. The charts, although beautiful, are challenging and not easy to follow in that many of the colors differ only by a shade. Although this makes for wonderful needlepoint pieces, it can be difficult to distinguish between shades and determine where one begins and another ends. I found this to be particularly difficult in the many shades of blue and green in the Peacock. And, admittedly, I changed a few colors solely because of personal preference.

All in all, Beth Russel designs spectacularly beautiful needlepoint pieces-each is an heirloom quality piece.

The third of Beth Russell's needlepoint books features directions for making her Designer's Forum creations, such as pillows, chair seats, rugs and wall hangings. Her patterns are high quality, sophisticated copies of William Morris' Arts and Crafts designs which she makes easy to follow. She recommends specific, name brand materials, such as canvas and yarn and also illustrates stitch options and further directions for finishing. Her needlepoint kits are estimated to be the finest on the market today and her books offer an inexpensive way to duplicate these products for much less.