Straits Chinese Beadwork and Embroidery

By Wing Meng Ho and Ho Wing Meng

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9812324801
• ISBN13: 9789812324801
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Times Books International
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 2.95 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Chinese Culture - Beading & Embroidery

This is a great book if you're looking for Inspiration, as well as, some knowledge & insight into a distinctive Chinese Handicraft. This is NOT a "How To" book in the genre of artists like Jean Campbell, Cynthia Rutledge, et al or the big Beading magazines such as Beadwork or Bead and Button, to name a few. There are NO patterns to follow and stitch. The photos are luscious & sharp enough to see detail that might allow you to reproduce some of the items, but, ONLY after significant work drafting your own pattern. Personally, I love to see examples of other cultures' beadwork, jewelry making & embroidery styles & techniques; and for ME, that is the value of this volume. It covers a specific set/subset (?) of Chinese needlework, namely "Straits Chinese", and even the Author confesses that there is disagreement among "experts" as to whether or not the pieces he showcases are "strictly" Straits Chinese. Lovely book with excellent photos and a LOT of writing on the items chosen; their use & sometimes construction, materials used. HOWEVER, this can be a rather pricey volume, as can be seen at other "big box book" websites. I managed to stumble upon a copy for under $20.00 five years back (at a local independent bookseller who no longer carries such stock). Should you find a copy of similar price point OR if price is no object for Inspiration, then I highly recommend this book. In keeping with Full Disclosure: I have NOT read every single page; mostly studied the photos & skimmed thru the text, but enough to still recommend this book. In terms of text to picture ratio, I would have to say this item is about 65-75% written word to 35-25% great pics.