Books – Foxs cottage

The Handpicked Collection 7

Izzy — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:40:05 +0000

Superb projects created by talented designers with a wonderful variety of needlework techniques to discover and enjoy.

Life In Seasons – Summer Autumn

Izzy — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:40:03 +0000

n Life in Seasons | Winter/Spring, Nicola brought her morning adventures to life, capturing the sights and wonders she encountered in a collection of exquisite embroidery designs.

Now, we rejoin Nicola and her beloved golden retriever, Quince, for the next volume in the series, Life in Seasons | Summer/Autumn.

Nicola presents eight brand-new projects celebrating local wildlife and their habitats, each one reflecting her trademark design style with flowing lines and intricate patterns, masterfully stitched onto printed panels.

From a dormouse sleeping in its nest made from local flora, magpies frolicking amongst ornamental leaves, a moth and a snail taking respite in ivy through to a bountiful orchard visited by a majestic goldfinch.

A world of wonder and natural beauty awaits as you stitch your way through the second volume of a Life in Seasons.

Featured Projects

Binswood Honey Bee – Honey bee with bead and sequins adorning her glorious wings

Cubbington Dormouse – Highly textured Dormouse sleeping amongst blossoms and berries.

Loveday Orchard – Bountiful allotment garden with visiting goldfinch in a tree of life design

Blackdown Ivy – A moth and snail explore an ivy plant in goldwork embroidery

Hunningham Hare – Hare draped in the foliage of the wild hedge he rests beneath

Edge Hill Hoglet – Exquisitely depicted hedgehog emerging from the undergrowth

Jacobean Magpies – Two for joy… A pair of magpies amongst Jacobean-inspired foliage

Langdon Lane Pheasant – Pheasants with bright, gleaming plumage command attention on a late autumn day

A Passion For Needlework 4

Izzy — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:40:00 +0000

Indulge your needlework passion with our fourth book in the series.

‘The Whitehouse Daylesford’ tells the story of 12 exceptional needlework pieces by 12 exceptional designers, all in one remarkable location.

A new passion awaits…

A Passion For Needlework 2

Izzy — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:39:57 +0000

Indulge your needlework passion with this the second book in the Inspirations A Passion for Needlework series.

‘Factoria VII’ tells the story of beautiful, sophisticated needlework in a rustic hide-away cottage.

12 extraordinary needlework projects. 1 unified aesthetic. A new adventure awaits…

Crewel Animal Portraits by Hazel Blomkamp

Izzy — Wed, 27 May 2026 03:43:48 +0000

Renowned embroiderer and best-selling author, Hazel Blomkamp, is back with a brand new book in the popular Crewel series.

In this fifth title in Hazel Blomkamp’s series on crewel embroidery with a twist, the focus is on animal portraits. Crewel Animal Portraits is a celebration of Hazel’s signature techniques: a wide variety of surface/crewel stitches, some of which are brand new, and many with a different take, or different ways of combining stitches to make them more interesting.

Also included are needle lace techniques used as embroidery stitches, loom weaving techniques modified for embroidery, and unique combinations of both of these. The incorporation of beads and crystals adds even more dazzle to the intricate designs. There are six projects, each explained with detailed step-by-step instructions and clear photographs, with design templates and a full stitch gallery providing everything readers need to recreate them with ease. The sumptuous and inspiring projects comprise a tiger, lion, zebra, giraffe, monkey and leopard.

For embroiderers looking for something different and new to stitch, and for those keen to challenge themselves with more complex embroidery techniques, this book is a must-have.

Half Yard Home – Debbie Shore

Izzy — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:58:16 +0000

Sewing superstar, Debbie Shore, has designed 31 gorgeous home accessories that can be made using half a yard of fabric or less. The projects are divided into accessories for the Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen and Bedroom, with a special section for picnics. Clear step by step instructions and beautiful photography make it easy to create desirable projects from a tablecloth, magazine box, chair slip, napkins, napkin ring, oven mitt, apron, tea cosy, cafe curtain and jewellery roll, to a picnic place mat, bread bag and bottle bag, and more. Debbie’s flair for design and eye for fresh, beautiful fabrics make these home accessories that readers will make to run up for themselves.

The Complete Quilter – Jessica Alexandrakis

Izzy — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:53:56 +0000

Quilting can often seem overwhelming, but it truly is a craft that anyone can do. Taken a step at a time, this fantastic hobby is really quite accessible. The Complete Quilter takes you on a steady path to learning the essential techniques, tricks, and tested methods of quilt making, focusing on one skill at a time. This book covers fabric selection, cutting, pressing, sewing by hand and machine, joining blocks, basting, hand and machine quilting, and binding and making labels.

All-New 20 To Make One-Patch Quilts – Carolyn Forster

Izzy — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:43:05 +0000

Calling all quilters looking for ready-to-trace templates and contemporary one-patch quilting inspiration! This gorgeous book, from quilting guru and best-selling author Carolyn Forster, contains 20 different patchwork shapes, from triangles and diamonds, to tumblers, clamshells and apple cores, each made up into an attractive one-patch design.

The designs are perfect for working on-the-go, and for each of the 20 shapes you get:

A full-size template, ready to trace off and use
Piecing instructions to help you put together your one-patch designs with ease
Layout variations to inspire you to use each shape in numerous ways
Clear photographic visuals showcasing Carolyn’s chosen layout and fabric.

A complete quilting primer makes this book accessible for beginners, with advice on scaling the templates up and down, and both hand and machine sewing. Also included is a complete one-patch quilt project, with full making-up instructions and sumptuous photography, created using a selection of the one-patch blocks, and easy to adapt.

Granny Squares Weekend – Emma Varnam

Izzy — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:35:48 +0000

If you need an emergency craft fix, then this book has the answer! Armed with a crochet hook and some yarn you can rustle up these gorgeous projects in next to no time. Granny squares are a simple and fun way to get creative when time is short, whill offering a fashionable way to use up your yarn stash. From hats and coasters to cute toys and decorations, Granny Squares Weekend is packed with inspiring projects that can be finished in a couple of days. As well as iconic granny square patterns, this book explores the scope of the technique, using it as an edging for blankets and in chic single-colour projects.

Transfer & Stitch – Search Press

Izzy — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:27:13 +0000

Perfect for embroiderers of any ability, these easy-to-use designs will add that perfect finishing touch to your clothing, linens, cushion covers or blankets; all you need to do is cut your chosen design out and iron it on! With your design in place, use the step-by-step stitch guide and the finished examples to inspire and guide you to create your own unique designs.

All the necessary know-how is included, such as guidance on tools and materials, instructions for preparing your embroidery hoop and essential stitches with step-by-step illustrations included.
140 stunning, sweet, fun designs to choose from, including hearts, flowers, borders, insects and more: take inspiration from the full-colour photographs or choose your own stitch and colour combinations.