Booklist (American Library Association)
Combine the notion of “slow” crafting with aesthetic freedom, and you have Botelho’s embrace of abstract embroidery. Essentially, it’s free-form stitching that takes inspiration from natural and human-made art. Her dozen projects here are divided into three groups: four with roots in the rock, sand, and greenery configurations of North Wales, four inspired by Swiss alpine mountain scenes, and the final four drawn from graffiti and other urban features. Though each pattern is accompanied by directions (of a sort), along with designated materials and equipment, none includes templates. (The author refers to a website for downloadable textures if crafters can’t find them in their own corners of the world. Much of Botelho’s striking work relies on individual visual interpretation and a willingness to bring forth colors (purple and pink, for instance) beyond what appears in reality. For experienced needleworkers who have the courage to experiment. — Barbara Jacobs
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