This is another book I've recently purchased, and it's exquisite. The author, Di van Niekerk, took five pictures (first published in 1923) by the artist Cicely Mary Barker and created ribbon embroidery and stumpwork pictures from them.

The pictures are available in the book to be copied, and includes stitch diagrams and complete descriptions of how to do duplicate her work, but the book is useful for creating your own pictures as well. I don't know how I'm going to use this book yet, but as a book lover, I just enjoy looking at it. Well worth being in my "collection."

Below is a sample of one of the full-size illustrations of her rendition of the fairy pictures, designed to be copied and used as a pattern. This one's my favorite.

I'm copying an idea from Karen South and showing some recently purchased books.

Judith Baker Montano's latest is her best yet. I recently attended a Victoria Stitchery retreat in Wichita, Kansas. I took a two-day class from Ms. Montano and her supply of books sold out.

One of the new features in this book is a discussion of using a computer to manipulate images that you then can use to create a picture with fabric. I was impressed not only with Judith's willingness to overcome computer-phobia and learn this difficult program, but to pass her knowledge on to us.

I'm accustomed to Judith's needle skills, but was totally "wowed" by the chapter division pages, which are her own personal photographs. She told us that photography is really her "first love," and these photos prove it.

Gorgeous pictures to look at, and useful not only as eye candy, but motivating for using our own photography skills as a beginning point for our work. (She has a chapter on good photography as well.)

I highly recommend this book. Not only is it full of information on moving ahead in fiber art, it's beautifully produced, and like all of her books, designed to lie flat for easy use. No pinning the book down with one hand or your elbow while you try to work. This is a classy book.