I'm in a book! plus also: book giveaway

Books take a long time to go from planning to production, so I've known this was coming for a while now, but somehow, I never quite believe it until I have it in my own hot little hands. And here it is. Push Stitchery: 30 Artists Explore the Boundaries of Stitched Art. It hasn't officially been released yet, but you can pre-order it on Amazon. Or, keep reading to see how you can win an advance copy. 

It was curated by the amazing Jamie Chalmers, aka Mr. X Stitch. It contains work from artists who use the stitching or embroidery as their medium, from all over the world. It was not only very exciting to be included, but also really great to see the work of other artists of whom I was not aware. There is some truly mind blowing stuff in here. 

For example, the book kicks off with Cayce Zavaglia. I had never seen her work before and it is, without a doubt, epic.She is some kind of crazy crewel embroidery virtuoso. Yeah. That's embroidery. 

Also mind blowing is Severija Incirauskaite-Kriauneviciene (to whom I must appoligise because I cannot find half the punctuation marks on my keyboard that her name requires)
She is from Lithuania, and ya'll that is a car hood that she has embroidered on. A CAR!

Seriously. Amazing. 

Also Diem Chau's work is gorgeous. She is from Vietnam and the U.S. These delicate embroideries are done on organza and then stretched (I think) over porcelain dishware. Just lovely. 

These awesome quilts were done by Jimmy McBride, also American though according to his interview he "work(s) for an intergalactic shipping company, and I've got a lot of time on my hands. The views out my window provide an amazing inspiration for the quilts that I make." I really like that he's creating a narrative within which his work exists. 

I love his use of plaid fabric in this one.

Also there's this lady. Oh, that's me. 

Anyhow, I have an extra copy of this book to give away. If you are interested in winning it, just leave a comment and I will use a random number generator to choose the winning comment. Just for fun, you can make it a comment about textile based art you've seen recently, or maybe which sort of stitching you prefer to do. Or if you don't stitch at all, tell me about what kind of stitching you'd like to try if you could.

ps: I'll pay for the book shipping if you live in the continental North America, but if you are anywhere else, I'm afraid you'll have to pony up to have it shipped yourself.  I'll keep the comments open until, lets see, Wednesday night at 9:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time.

And the winner is commenter number 8, Annie! Congratulations lady. I'll be contacting you via e-mail for your mailing address so I can get the book out to you soon. Thanks to all of you for commenting and for your kind congratulations. You rock. 

Comments

[Karen]

Oooh oh, pick me, random number generator, pick me!

Congrats, by the way. I've always known that you are awesome.

[ShawnVS]

Ooo! Ooo! Pick me! Pick me! *thrusting-hand-in-the-air-all-Horshack-like* I like stitchery and whatnot. Little known fact: one of the first gifts I gave my husband, long before he was my husband, was a pillow. I made it. My Mom helped me. I was 34.

[Jihee]

I think best stitching ever is how hair grows on us. Pick me Pick me!! ^o^

[Laura]

Congrats Lady! My mother the fibre artist says being in a book is the best thing since you still get to keep your piece but share it with so many others.

[care]

Cross-stitch was one of the first artistic/creative endeavours I ever took on! It was the start of my anal, detail oriented work. Let's keep the cross-stitch circle growing!

[care]

P.S. And congratulations, my friend! Good for you! And I think I should win so I can add this book to the other book I have that features you in it! (pick me!)

[helene Brousseau]

congrats on the book, will be looking out for it!

[Annie]

congrats on the book, super exciting and it looks beautiful! I'm looking forward to reading about your new work.
On stitchery: I learned to embroider + crochet from my grandmother when I was 7. We make each other things; I've made her bears and slippers and she's made me leg warmers and a prom dress, although that wasn't crocheted... :)

[Alyssa in MTL]

Pick me! The book looks gorgeous! I've got a crewel embroidery kit that is calling my name. I better get to it!

[Cyn]

so cool to see you published (yet again):) you are one of the most creative people I know so its good to shared that around....
anyways now you also know how to get people to comment on the blog...
so pick me and you won't have to pay for shipping....
hugs to all, C

[Val]

This is fantastic...congratulations! I must admit, I've always been a colour-between the lines colourer, a paint by number painter, and a cross stitch/crewel kit completer. I almost feel artistic.

[Jen]

This book looks wonderful. The latest embroidery I did is here: http://chasingdomesticbliss.blogspot.com/2011/08/art-of-month-summer-gifts.html
just a little initial project for gifts.
I admire how your artistic career is coinciding with your mothering one. I'm still working on putting that together.

[Peggy MacKinnon]

I would love to get this book for my daughter, a NSCAD Grad who does great wearables.

[brooklyn_codger]

wow, awesome!

[Brandy]

This is awesome, congratulations! I could put it on the bookshelf in my living room next to your piece if you pick me.

I just finished my very first embroidery, it's a copy of a princess Leia picture that my 5 year old friend Alex drew for me. I can't wait to start on the Han Solo!

[jackie]

Oh I would so love to win this book - so many wonderful ways to use embroidery. I would keep it to hand and use it as inspiration regularly. I would willingly pay the postage to France of course.

[Chris Van Meggelen]

I'm more into knitting and weaving myself, but I do love beautiful embroidery.