On the Virtues of Gail Marsh's 18th Century Embroidery Techniques

I've browsed through it, and read the section on whitework. It is a fantastic book. I cannot recommend it enough. It has some period quotes, pictures of how to do different stitches, a section on equipment used, information about who did the work in the 18th century, as well as gorgeous photographs of extant examples with drawings as well to show the stitches used and details. It has sections for metal embroidery, silk embroidery, quilting, whitework, crewelwork, and novelty stitches like ribbon embroidery. It's a beautiful hardcover, filled with pictures, almost 200 pages long, and it's only about $25, or less, depending on which website you purchase it from. I could rhapsodize about this book for hours. If you have the chance go check it out for yourself.

I got some other great books for Christmas, including Lyra's Oxford (Philip Pullman), The Penelopeiad (Margaret Atwood), and The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgeson Burnett). I'm already done the first two and they were great. I recommend them as well. But in a non-sewing way.

Plus, I also received an enormously wonderful, breath-taking amount of gift cards for Chapters and McNally Robinson. (I think those are both Canadian booksellers, but they are THE Canadian booksellers so it pretty much means I can now buy any book I want.) I plan on getting Fashion in Detail: 17th and 18th century (Avril Hart and Susan North). I've seen the 19th century one, but I think I'd rather have the earlier one. Any advice on that? The "Look Inside" on Amazon made it look pretty awesome.

In sewing news, I'VE ACTUALLY DONE SOME! I did three eyelets today on my stays. I'm guessing that I'm getting better at it. The first 3 are a little lumpy at the back and the fabric puckers a little bit. But the last 2 lay really flat and smooth. I'm assuming that means they're better. :)