With this fun collection of projects in field-guide format, stitch your favorite animal, bird, fish, and plant species based on the ecosystems you love or live in.
Organized according to seven North American ecosystems--desert, mountain, forest, waterways, prairie, ocean, and urban--the 52 beautifully accurate designs by naturalist Kemper include popular species (think bears, manatees, and river otters) and some that are less well known or are potentially threatened.
Beginner-level patterns coexist with intermediate and advanced patterns. Learn the materials, stitches (including the one-of-a-kind "fur stitch," which renders mammal fur beautifully!), and techniques. Measuring approximately 3 inches, the creatures are perfect to adorn any stitchable surface.
A denim jacket with a snappy alligator? A cap featuring a herring gull and ocher sea stars? A tote sporting a Gila monster? Or perhaps there's a shirt pocket calling for a badger. These designs bring nature anywhere and allow you to wear your favorite wildlife species sustainably.
"Kemper's embroidery is so thoughtfully created that the creatures come to life on the fabric . . . What a gift it is to have any one of these lovely species grace us with their presence on our apparel!"--Mary E. Pendergast, PhD, Ecologist, Sageland Collaborative
Jessica Kemper brings awareness to threatened species via wildlife-themed embroidery. She holds degrees in horticulture and environmental studies and has worked at zoos and conservation organizations. Her business Field Guide Embroidery sells hand-embroidered goods featuring her designs. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia. fieldguideembroidery.com