The New Silk Flower Book

Provides silk-flower projects, design tips and techniques, a list of tools and materials, and information on handling and maintaining silk flowers

This beginner's guide to making silk flowers includes a range of colours and shapes that can be made from silk and other fine fabrics. Instructions in the form of text and illustrations demonstrate how to prepare the fabric, cut from templates, dye and tint the fabric, curl and shape the fabric with heated tools and assemble the finished flowers. Advice is given on experimenting with shapes and colours - old sheets, pillow cases, scraps and even old clothing with a suitable texture, can be used instead of silk. Instructions for 22 different flowers including the rose, narcissus, carnation, cornflower, clematis, lily, sweet pea, ivy leaves, poppy and daisy are included.

Perfect for beginners, this project guide features step-by-step instructions and stunning close-up photography for more than 30 flowers designs in a wide variety of styles. A comprehensive tutorial on techniques covers all of the basic skills needed to make beautiful ribbon flowers, including how to handle and work with ribbon, transfer a design to fabric using a template, and paint ribbons and backgrounds to achieve different effects. Each design includes a template and diagrams while inspirational ideas for variations on the main design expand the range and style of the projects. Information on ribbon stitches and gathering techniques and types of materials rounds out this useful reference.

Be it a single delicate bud in a simple clear vase or an explosion of colorful blossoms, a brilliant bouquet accents an atmosphere and brightens the mood like nothing else. The beauty of flowers has inspired artists, designers, poets, and myriad other creators for centuries: the Dutch masters of the 1600s and impressionist painters from Manet to Van Gogh, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, botanical illustrator Georg Dionysius Ehret, even the inimitable Andy Warhol. Flowers: Art & Bouquets showcases a glorious profusion of floral images and interpretations across a spectrum of artistic media and time periods. Design writer Sixtine Dubly chronicles the evolution of floral design in this remarkable compendium, which also features stunning work by more than forty contemporary floral artists in London, Paris, and New York, from minimalist to elaborate. This treasury of gorgeous imagery blooms in resplendent color before the reader’s eyes.

Thread painting embroidery is one of the most beautiful embroidery techniques. Often mistaken for painted art, it shows off the true skill of an embroiderer. This book demystifies the technique and shows how easy it is to start embroidering your own stitched masterpieces. For the true beginner and the experienced stitcher alike it will be a treasured guide, explaining the techniques and providing the inspiration to master this exquisite form of embroidery. Over 600 colour photographs support twenty step-by-step projects that range from a simply shaded topiary tree to a three-dimensional hydrangea bouquet. Guide to getting started introduces equipment you may need, explains how to transfer designs to fabric and demonstrates the long stitch and short stitch. Advice on blending colours and stitching shades together to achieve depth and vitality. Provides inspiration and encourages experimentation to create your own designs. Illustrates historical examples and explains how to reproduce and learn from these pieces, while also showcasing contemporary techniques and ideas for finished embroidery. Over 600 colour photographs support twenty step-by-step projects that range from a simply shaded topiary tree to a three-dimensional hydrangea bouquet.

Flowers breathe fresh air into our home décor, but constantly replacing and maintaining fresh flowers can be expensive and tricky. With today’s faux florals becoming more realistic than ever, you can make lovely, long-lasting home décor with silk flowers! Learn how to create beautiful flower arrangements, wreaths, garlands, wall hangings, tabletop centerpieces, and other innovative projects using faux flowers that fresh flowers can’t accomplish. Arranged by spring, summer, autumn, and winter DIY creations, this book also includes step-by-step instructions, helpful design, color scheme, texture, technique, and composition tips, and beautifully staged in-home photography to help you see all the possibilities and let your creativity bloom year-round! Written by an interior designer based out of York, Pennsylvania, author Stevie Storck has been featured in the Huffington Post, Susquehanna Style, Lancaster Online, and Houzz. In this book, she provides her expertise and passion for making good design simple so you can take advantage of silk flowers’ longevity and create stunning home décor!