Embroidered & Embellished

Christen Brown teaches embroidery, quilting, crazy quilting, ribbon work, mixed media, and beadwork in her best-selling books. With a degree in fashion design, she has shown her work in galleries and fashion shows internationally. She lives in Escondido, California.For more information visit www.christenbrown.com

May 13The second book by Brown (Ribbonwork Gardens) is a cornucopia of fancy stitches, which she has divided into four styles of embroidery: traditional; silk ribbon; raised and textured; and bead. Twenty or so stitches per style are carefully demonstrated in full-color photos of each step of stitching. Even experienced stitchers are likely to learn something new: for example, the Spiderweb Rose, or how to couch ribbon. Brown also provides a thorough overview of the ribbons, floss, threads, and tools likely to be needed, along with idiosyncratic advice taken from her many years of sewing. As a catalogue of possibility for stitching, this is a wonderful addition to a crafting library.