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eila 's review for:
challenging
slow-paced
Unlike most embroidery (and needlecraft in general) books, 'Mystical Stitches' isn't so much a series of templates / patterns to follow but a meandering exploration of symbolism and the mystical / spiritual / meditative aspects of hand embroidery.
Johnson explores setting up your 'intention', what materials you will need, stitch methods, symbols you might wish to use, and brief colour theory that will help you create your own 'talisman'.
I'm a little torn about a few things: the risk of appropriation in several of the symbols (especially religious or Native iconography), the melding of various faiths and spiritual pathways (which, to be fair, is common in modern Wicca / western Neo-Paganism); and the lack of at least a few templates to get someone started.
The first concern is really up to the individual reader; many, I suspect, won't be at all bothered. I would personally find it uncomfortable, however, if someone from a religion / faith group that has historically oppressed my own used one of our recognised symbols as a talisman or clothing decoration. I suspect others, especially from minority faith groups, might feel the same way.
The second concern ties into the first: someone from a minority faith may have a harder time feeling that their spiritual / cultural symbols and meanings are being amalgamated - if anything, a clearer nod to the history and ritual importance to those groups of the various symbols would help readers make better-educated use of these symbols.
The third concern is likely the most universal. While I appreciate that Johnson would like us to go on a spiritual journey to feel out our own path for creating embroidery, I don't think I'm alone in wishing there were at least a few base templates to get one started - for example, perhaps something like an embroidered frame to outline the work area one can then put their own chosen symbols (talisman) in; or a few designs that look particularly nice when added to clothing (something more universal like planets, plants, or animals that should appeal to most). The novice embroiderer will likely struggle with things like separating threads out of an embroidery skein, blending colourways together, stitching through heavy fabrics (Johnson is keen on denim), and starting / finishing stitching in a way that keeps things from unravelling once washed.
All in all a beautiful book with a lot of ideas that would appeal primarily to Wiccans, Pagans, and anyone into Western mysticism.
Advance reader copy kindly provided by Storey Publishing.
Johnson explores setting up your 'intention', what materials you will need, stitch methods, symbols you might wish to use, and brief colour theory that will help you create your own 'talisman'.
I'm a little torn about a few things: the risk of appropriation in several of the symbols (especially religious or Native iconography), the melding of various faiths and spiritual pathways (which, to be fair, is common in modern Wicca / western Neo-Paganism); and the lack of at least a few templates to get someone started.
The first concern is really up to the individual reader; many, I suspect, won't be at all bothered. I would personally find it uncomfortable, however, if someone from a religion / faith group that has historically oppressed my own used one of our recognised symbols as a talisman or clothing decoration. I suspect others, especially from minority faith groups, might feel the same way.
The second concern ties into the first: someone from a minority faith may have a harder time feeling that their spiritual / cultural symbols and meanings are being amalgamated - if anything, a clearer nod to the history and ritual importance to those groups of the various symbols would help readers make better-educated use of these symbols.
The third concern is likely the most universal. While I appreciate that Johnson would like us to go on a spiritual journey to feel out our own path for creating embroidery, I don't think I'm alone in wishing there were at least a few base templates to get one started - for example, perhaps something like an embroidered frame to outline the work area one can then put their own chosen symbols (talisman) in; or a few designs that look particularly nice when added to clothing (something more universal like planets, plants, or animals that should appeal to most). The novice embroiderer will likely struggle with things like separating threads out of an embroidery skein, blending colourways together, stitching through heavy fabrics (Johnson is keen on denim), and starting / finishing stitching in a way that keeps things from unravelling once washed.
All in all a beautiful book with a lot of ideas that would appeal primarily to Wiccans, Pagans, and anyone into Western mysticism.
Advance reader copy kindly provided by Storey Publishing.