Art Nouveau Cross Stitch: Decorative Designs from the Turn of the Century

This is a beautiful book! I've been inspired to incorporate some of the design suggestions into other works and I'm keen to stitch at least three of the projects from this book. Art Nouveau lends itself to counted work: the use of borders and both asymmetrical and symmetrical designs translate beautifully. The book includes information about the designers (including Tiffany, Crane and Makintosh) who've inspired Ms Hammet's counted designs. Many of the smaller designs will lend themselves to gifts such as bookmarks, box lids and motifs on napery while many of the larger pictures will make works of art in their own right. Highly recommended for stitchers who like Art Nouveau work. Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This is a fabulous book, very representational of Art Nouveau style (don't look for Frank Lloyd Wright here, his work is considered its own style). Many projects from a variety of artists. Check out the table of contents page link in the book description to get a better idea of the types of projects and artists. Clear diagrams with both color and symbols make projects a joy to work on - I'm doing the two Rose Pillows (Charles Rennie Mackintosh style) which will be two framed pieces - one is done and one WIP right now. I'm going to do the flowering box top on the cover (reminiscent of Tiffany's stained glass pieces) next - you can find evenweave or aida fabric in all sorts of colors at your local needlework shop, craft shop, or online with cross stitch retailers and on EBay. I like that the patterns use almost no beads, ribbons, "treasures" or specialty fibers -- just metallics in a very few designs. All you need is the fabric and either DMC or Anchor floss (design keys are labeled in both) to complete your own work of art. Also, besides all of the complete designs, the book ends with a pattern library of borders and motifs for you to use in endless variation. Want to decorate some towels? use waste canvas to put a motif on a shirt? make your own spot sampler of Art Nouveau motifs? You have plenty of source material here! I recommend this book for all levels of stitchers, from the beginner on up, since basic stitching instructions as well as finishing instructions for the projects are included. Definition: art nouveau (?r' nuvo') , decorative-art movement centered in Western Europe. It began in the 1880s. In general it was most successfully practiced in the decorative arts: furniture, jewelry, and book design and illustration. The style was richly ornamental and asymmetrical, characterized by a whiplash linearity reminiscent of twining plant tendrils. Its exponents chose themes fraught with symbolism, frequently of an erotic nature. They imbued their designs with dreamlike and exotic forms. The outstanding designers of art nouveau in England include the graphic artist Aubrey Beardsley, A. H. Mackmurdo, Charles Ricketts, Walter Crane, and the Scottish architect Charles R. Mackintosh; in Belgium the architects Henry Van de Velde and Victor Horta; in France the architect and designer of the Paris m?tro entrances, Hector Guimard, and the jewelry designer Ren? Lalique; in Austria the painter Gustav Klimt; in Spain the architect Antonio Gaud?; in Germany the illustrator Otto Eckmann and the architect Peter Behrens; in Italy the originator of the ornamental Floreale style, Giuseppe Sommaruga; and in the United States Louis Sullivan, whose architecture was dressed with art nouveau detail, and the designer of elegant glassware Louis C. Tiffany.

I have been looking for art nouveau projects, and I'm so happy I found this book! The designs reflect art in the style of Tiffany, Mackintosh, and other artists of the art nouveau period.1) The charts are clear and easy to use.2) The designs seem authentic and are used imaginatively to make a variety of projects.3) The book is well layed out and attractive.This is really a very nice book for stitchers looking for art nouveau projects. Another source for such projects is Ross Designs, who make cross-stitch charts for Alphonse Mucha prints.

This book has a wide range of designs based on actual art from the period. There are beautiful photographs of the finished pieces as well as photos of the items that inspired them. There are both large and small projects and every one is exquisite. The charts are large and easy to read - both symbols and colored squares are used so you can quickly see which thread color should be used for each stitch. Two thumbs up for this one!

I love to cross-stitch, yet I have trouble finding patterns that interest me. This book is such a wonderful find. It has a wide variety of patterns (the Klimt doesn't look anything like the Tiffanys on the cover) which are challenging enough for a stitcher who likes a more intricate pattern (like myself.) The patterns in this book are some of the best I've ever seen as far as artistry goes. The small motifs and decorative borders included at the back of the book encourage us to use our own creativity. I can't wait to make more of the projects in this book - right now I'm working on a pillow with one of the decorative borders.