Stumpwork Embroidery & Thread painting ~ Book Review & Giveaway
You might be asking yourself, “What is stumpwork?” ..or perhaps.. “Does thread painting involve actual paint?”
Well, your questions are about to be answered, because embroidery artist and newly published author Megan Zaniewski is here to tell you all about it and help teach the fundamentals of what goes into these beautiful 3D creations.
Join me in discovering why this is the only stumpwork embroidery book you'll ever need, and enter for a chance to win your own copy below!
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Stumpwork has gained more traction across the internet recently, but a few years ago information on the subject wasn’t as readily available. I read blogs, watched tutorials, and was constantly on the hunt for more knowledge, but nothing I found really offered what I was looking for. I was still very much a beginner at this point, so I needed the basics, but also didn’t want to just embroider the more simple 3D flowers that seemed so prevalent in my research.. I wanted to create characters and the worlds they live in. Needless to say there wasn’t a sole place, person, or book that felt like it covered everything I needed... until now!
Stumpwork Embroidery & Thread Painting by Megan Zaniewski combines a wealth of of knowledge, years of experience, and 15 different patterns to showcase all the magic that modern stumpwork has to offer embroidery artists across the globe. Whether you’re a beginner or expert level stitcher, you’re sure to find inspiration within this wonderful book.
A Bit of Backstory
Embroidery has always fascinated me. As a young child I completed a few cross stitch kits (which were admittedly a lot of fun), but I often remember thinking embroidery could be so much more than that. The different textures and techniques simultaneously captivated and intimidated me, but it wasn’t until the winter of 2021 that I finally took the plunge and decided to try it out for myself.
I started making my own designs, heavily immersing myself into the fiber art community, and honestly there wasn’t a day that went ‘unstitched’ during that time. I discovered Megan’s Instagram early on, and was hopelessly mesmerized when I realized embroidery could be so three dimensional- Her work was simply unlike anything I’d ever seen! The beautiful plants and animals she stitched together leapt right out of their frames and straight into my heart.
From that moment on I knew I was going to embark on an incredible stumpwork journey, and that Megan was going to help take me there.
“The projects in this book introduce you to thread painting and stumpwork embroidery techniques. You’ll learn how to embroider realistic plants and animals by blending thread colors as a painter blends paint, create depth with padded foundations, add texture with different fibers, and create height with wire slips. The animals and plants you embroider with these step-by-step patterns will truly seem to come to life, stitch by stitch.”
~Megan Zaniewski
Let’s Dive In!
We start off with an introduction to stumpwork, thread painting, and discuss how inspiration can be found throughout daily life by the nature that surrounds us.. (I don’t know about you, but I’m always curious to know how and where other artists get their inspiration, so this part was particularly interesting to me.)
Next you’re provided with the tools, materials, and transfer methods you’ll need throughout the book, and to be honest I think this is the single most comprehensive list I’ve ever found! As a self-admitted embroidery snob I’m always on the hunt for the best of the best when it comes to materials, and Megan’s recommendations absolutely deliver. She packs more quality information in 4 simple pages than I think I’ve ever come across throughout my research, and manages to present it all in a very easy, concise way that would give even beginner embroidery artists the confidence to grab some wire and thread!
“Combine traditional embroidery with multiple stumpwork techniques to create a range of depth. For example, the antenna of the Rosy Maple Moth are embroidered flat against the base fabric. The body is elevated above the antennae with padding and turkey stitches, and the wings rise even higher above the body with wire slips. Include two or more levels of depth in a design to create a more striking three-dimensional effect.”
~Megan Zaniewski
Color and Design
Choosing a color palette is perhaps one of the most common struggles I see across the fiber art community, especially as it relates to thread painting, but even individuals familiar with color theory and design are sure to find something useful within this chapter of the book. It starts with an overview of subjects and references, giving ideas on how and where you can gather inspiration, then transitions into what I can only describe as the most thorough walk-through of pattern creation that I’ve seen in an embroidery book to date! Megan covers everything from composition, frames, and selecting your stumpwork elements, all the way to materials and best practices for selecting the color palettes for your fabric and thread.
As someone who has completed a number of stumpwork pieces myself, I know there can be an extra element of difficulty when designing a three dimensional piece, but this book breaks it down into easy, digestible segments that are sure to help bring your vision to life.
“Picking a setting for your embroidery is an important part of the design process. A frame should complement your design without overwhelming it.”
~Megan Zaniewski
Displaying Embroidery
Other embroidery books often gloss over the subject of display, as the majority of fiber artists are perfectly happy with keeping their creations in a regular hoop, but display can be a bit more important with stumpwork. After all, you’re putting a lot of time into creating a three dimensional design, so you want a display that’s going to help bring that scene to life! This chapter honestly surprised me because Megan covers the basics of framing in a hoop, as well as how to display your project in both a frame and jewelry setting.. something I had not seen before! The directions include step-by-step pictures and have clear instructions that are exceptionally easy for any beginner to follow.
Stitches and Techniques
Whether you got this book for stumpwork or other reasons, this is possibly the single most useful chapter for embroidery artists across the board. Step-by-step pictures are once again provided alongside detailed instructions that include everything from splitting threads, transferring patterns, and threading silk ribbon, all the way to how to conquer each stitch type that’s used throughout the book. Even a more seasoned stitching veteran such as myself found this chapter useful and learned a new stitch or two!
“Spotting a hummingbird often feels a bit magical to me. There is something special about these small, brightly colored pollinators. They are the most elusive birds that visit my backyard, and they never seem to dwell very long in one spot. Because they are such a rare sight, I wanted to honor these beautiful little birds by re-creating one to live forever in our home. This project combines thread painting, padded stumpwork, and wire-slip stumpwork to create a Broad-Billed Hummingbird that appears to hover above the frame, ready to flit away to the nearest flower.”
~Megan Zaniewski
Patterns and Projects
Obviously the patterns are one of the most anticipated parts of this book, and for good reason… Not only are there 15 different designs to choose from, but there are techniques shown that I’ve truly never seen before!
The first of these patterns includes Megan’s iconic thread painted Mallard Duckling. She’s stitched many ducklings over the years and now graciously shares this wonderful design with the world, but perhaps the most fascinating and flat out impressive pattern for me was the Emporer Dragonfly! I won’t spoil the surprise on this one, but let’s just say that the beautifully iridescent wings involve materials I’d never heard of before, as well as an open flame… the secrets of which shall be revealed to anyone who acquires a copy of the book, of course.
The patterns are broken out into multiple sections, making it easy to browse through similar project types and pick the one that best fits your style and skill level. This includes everything from Decor Projects such as the Luna Moth, White-Tailed Bumblebee, and Columbine Flower, all the way to the more whimsical Accessory Projects like the Dandelion Tote Bag, Buttercup Pendant, and Robins Nest Ring. With so many designs and techniques to explore, your creativity is sure to explode and leave you inspired for many projects to come!
“It is my hope that these techniques open up a world of creative possibilities for you. By completing the patterns in this book, you will gain the skills and confidence needed to embroider your own original designs. There is no shortage of inspiration to be found in the natural world, and there is no limit to your imagination. So, this book is your invitation to explore new techniques, have fun, and think outside the hoop. I hope you enjoy using this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you. Happy stitching!”
~Megan Zaniewski
With that said, thank you to everyone for taking the time to read my first review.. It’s truly been such an honor to be a part of this official launch and blog tour! You can find more of Megan’s work or order a copy of her book through the links below:
Support the Artist: https://www.instagram.com/megembroiders/
Purchase the Book: https://www.ctpub.com/stumpwork-embroidery-thread-painting/
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The Giveaway ~ CLOSED
Now is the time you’ve all been waiting for… the giveaway! To celebrate this amazing launch I’m going to be giving away not one, but TWO copies of Megan’s book for two lucky individuals to enjoy! One winner will receive a digital eBook and the other will receive a physical copy that’s available to ship anywhere in the world. ^-^
To Enter:
Subscribe to my blog: https://www.zeebam.com/subscribe
Leave a comment on this post below (it can be anything, but I’d love to hear what you’re most excited about in the book!)
That’s it! The giveaway starts on 1/31/2024 and will close at midnight (EST) on 2/2/2024. After submitting your comment you’ll be prompted to enter your name and email address - Please be sure to include the same email address that’s subscribed to my blog so I can confirm your entry (emails will be kept anonymous). Both winners will be contacted by email the next day on 2/3/2024. The winner of the physical copy will be asked to provide a shipping address at that time, while the winner of the eBook will be asked to confirm their name and email address to receive their digital eBook download from C&T Publishing.
Please note: I will not ask for any form of payment or confidential information. Both winners will be contacted from my direct email only: bc@zeebam.com
☆ ⋆ ☆ Good Luck! ☆ ⋆ ☆
