Highly textured and incredibly detailed embroidery pieces inspired by nature.
Rich in texture and vibrant in colour, Emily Botelho’s stunning abstract embroideries are works of art in thread and have earned her a worldwide following. In this, her first book, she showcases 12 beautiful projects inspired by three distinct environments: coastal, mountain and urban. She leads the reader through her unique creative process, from finding inspiration and creating bespoke fabric backgrounds to embellishing each embroidery with a diverse range of stitches, beads and found items that capture a moment in time. Her use of intuitive, slow stitching and a vibrant palette, taken from sources as diverse as mossy rocks or peeling paint, make each of her pieces completely unique.
Filled with sumptuous photographs, creative insights and helpful advice, along with an additional gallery section, this book will inspire creative embroiderers of all abilities.
Emily (@salt_stitches) is a firm believer that you don't need to go far to be inspired and she encourages you to engage in close observation of the natural world on your doorstep, whether you have stitched before or not. Due to the abstract nature of the craft, there are no patterns to follow or step-by-step instructions. You decide when a piece is finished, which gives you complete freedom to explore the textures that you’re working with. Every single piece will be unique, and that’s the beauty of it!
A range of Emily's downloadable textures available on Bookmarked Hub: www.bookmarkedhub.com
Table of Contents
Introduction 6
Tools and materials 8
How I work 14
Photography: hints and tips 16
Composition and design 20
Techniques22
PROJECTS 30
Coastal 32
Coastal 1 34, Coastal 2 42, Coastal 3 50, Coastal 4 58
Alpine 66
Alpine 1 68, Alpine 2 76, Alpine 3 82, Alpine 4 88
Urban 94
Urban 1 96, Urban 2 104, Urban 3 110, Urban 4 118
Gallery 126
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About Emily Botelho
Emily Botelho, who works under the name Salt Stitches, formerly had a career in the fashion industry and turned to embroidery in 2018. She has built a substantial following, sharing and selling her hoop-based works on Instagram and via her website www.saltstitches.com. She teaches workshops all over the world, including the UK, US and Spain. In 2021, Emily emigrated to Canada where she stitches full time. Emily won the People’s Choice Award at the 100 Kellogg Lane Art Comp 2023.
@victoriaroserichards
This study in abstract embroidery was a joy! A key aspect of the book is the variety available to the reader the project sections with a range of colour combinations, hoop sizes, stitch types and textures means a new or intermediary stitcher can find something that appeals to them to explore, with the former helpfully equipped with all the techniques needed. And this book certainly inspires explorations! I believe abstract is something exciting for any artist to delve into: the freeness and loose direction allows creativity and the ability to experiment and run wild, and I think Emily demonstrates this exquisitely throughout her art from the mixed media of the coastal shell pieces to the most abstract and expressive section, her urban series.
This was the section that drew me in more than anything. While many of us artists already lean towards admiring, recreating and/or interpreting coastal and mountainous terrains, these being two very well-explored themes in embroidery already, turning something many people would pass in the street without thought or care into something just as gorgeous merits admiration! The chipped paint layers, mis-matched stone wall or old sink, all proving as worthy of these abstract studies and reconstructing through an artistic lens as shell-adorned beaches.
Emilys ability to view these mundane everyday objects as opportunities for beauty and how this can inspire those reading to also see more beauty in their everyday lives shows her to be a leader in her field, and this book a great outlet to let readers explore the abstract beauty around them.
The Bookseller's Circle
A beautiful introduction to this beautiful art of creating embroidery embellished with a diverse array of stitches, beads and found items that capture a moment in time. There are no strict rules making it an inexpensive art, and as demonstrated by the 12 projects featured, it can be a meditative and mindful activity that is just beautiful. A vibrant and stunning book with advice for beginners and experienced stitchers alike.
