Customer Reviews

Helen M. Stevens' Embroidered Butterflies (Helen Stevens' Masterclass Embroidery)

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I want to collect all of Helen M. Stevens' books on embroidery because (1) I've been embroidering for many years, but I can still learn so much from her; (2) Her books are beautiful works of art.

I already owned two of her Masterclass Embroidery books: Helen M. Stevens' Embroiderer's Year: Exquisite Embroideries Celebrating the Ever-Changing Seasons and "Helen M. Stevens' Embroidered Gardens (Masterclass Embroidery)" when I bought "Embroidered Butterflies" and now I realize that I should have started with this book--it is the second book in the series (after Helen M. Stevens Embroidered Flowers (The Masterclass Embroidery Series)), and it contains simpler subject material than my first two books. It also shows the embroidery-in-progress, so I know where to start.

Stevens reminds me of my favorite watercolorist, Charles Burchfield in her use of natural themes that are suffused with inner light. Her silken leaves, butterflies, and flowers spin a fantasy of a perfect garden, even though some of her leaves have been munched by caterpillars. If you look closely at her flowers and butterflies in this book, you can see the core of each, spun with different shades of silk as a musician spins variations of sound from an original theme.

The color plates are profuse and gorgeous. Her directions are very detailed, and there are appendices at the back of the book listing "Materials," "Basic Techniques," and "Stitch Variations."

This author has a website at helenmstevens.co.uk where you can view more samples of her work, and buy embroidery supplies or sign up for classes. I've ordered one of her basic butterfly/flower kits for my birthday, and I can't wait to get started on it.

This is a beautifully illustrated book with instructions that are easily understood. Makes you want to start embroidering right away. A very creative book that makes one more observant of your surroundings and possible subjects to embroider.