Birds

This title is the third in the successful theme-based Stitched Textiles series. It contains a comprehensive techniques section, six beautiful step-by-step projects and galleries of inspirational pieces that are vibrant, contemporary, and beautifully executed.

Birds are an enduring theme in art and textile work and this book will appeal to any textile artist interested in exploring their design possibilities. Featuring a range of birds including much-loved garden blackbirds, characterful chickens, cute and curious puffins and cheeky seagulls, this book captures these feathered friends in a range of habitats. Fresh and innovative in its approach, it covers the design process itself, from inspiration to final design, and provides information on the materials used and step-by-step demonstrations of a whole range of techniques including dyeing, using dissolvable interfacing, using found objects, piecing and stitching.

The book is broken down into three chapters: ‘Creating character’, ‘Depicting a scene’ and ‘Telling a story’. Each chapter contains two step-by-step projects and a gallery of other inspiring, vibrant pieces. The purpose of each chapter is to capture a different aspect of the characters of the birds we love to watch, either in our gardens, as pets or in the wild. Very much aimed at the contemporary textile artist, this beautiful book is designed to inspire and encourage.

Rachel Sumner grew up in Oundle in rural Northamptonshire, and completed an arts foundation course at Northampton School of Art before going on to study for a BA Hons. in Fine Art at Maidstone in Kent. During her three years there she studied textiles as a subsidiary subject, and this became a great influence on her work; using felt making, dyeing and weaving to express her ideas.

Rachel's inspiration comes from the Devon countryside where she lives. She exhibits in galleries across the West Country and participates in North Devon's Open Studios and Art in Action in Oxfordshire. She also undertakes private commissions. Her creations have ended up as far afield as South Korea, USA and Australia.

Images of Rachel's work can be seen on her website at rachelsumner.org. Here you'll also find links to articles about Rachel's work inEmbroidery (the Embroiderers' Guild magazine) and Devon Life.