The Gentle Arts: Australian craft history book - eBay Other Craft Books, Crafts, Nonfiction Books, Books. (end time 09-Oct-09 14:21:37 AEDST)


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Item specifics - Non-Fiction Books

Format:	Hardcover	Publication Year:	1988
Subject:	Hobbies & Crafts	Special Attributes:	--
	--	Language:	English
	--	Condition:	Used

The Gentle Arts is a celebration of women’s art work over the 200 years from the first European settlement of Australia up until 1987.

Published to celebrate the Australian Bi-Centenary, it traces the story of women’s arts in Australia from the early settlers who, through having to make do with very basic materials, managed to make wonderful embroidery, beaded milk jug covers, bedspreads and clothing for their children to women in the 20^th Century who embroidered tablecloths, made fancy work d’oyleys and decorated their homes with cushion covers, samplers and screens.

The material comes from all over Australia, the work of grandmothers, great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers.

The book is really a celebration of “making” and there are more than 500 works included in this book.

This book will transport you to a time some will have difficulty imagining, when women made every single thing their family needed because they had no other choice.

Much of this art has been “hidden” from general view because it was only done for the family. So only friends and visitors saw the beautiful embroidery, lace, clothing and home embellishments that women across the generations have made. For that reason it has been undervalued and not thought of as “art” at all. The Gentle Arts redresses that imbalance.


The poignant Changi Prison Camp Quilt, now in the National War Museum in Canberra, is proud testament to the courage of the women prisoners of war who even managed to produce a beautiful work of art under such apalling and seemingly hopeless conditions.

The arts pictured and discussed within the pages of this book are too numerous to list but a sample includes - gum nut and pine cone mosaic - scrap albums - stencilled furniture – appliqué - silk embroidery – macramé – hooking - filet crochet – fancywork - drawn thread work – knitting – samplers - botanical journaling - botanical drawing – painting – illustration - shell craft - dried flowers - floral carpet display for shows - Broderie Anglaise - jug covers – crochet – patchwork – mending - cake decoration – toys - crazy patchwork - lace making – tapestry – beadwork - carved eggs – decoupage - poker work – woodcarving - fabric printing – leatherwork – ceramics - seagrass and raffia weaving …

Contents-

· Preface

· Hearth And Home
· The Woman In The Garden
· The Flower Arts

· Custom, Tradition And Necessity
· Nourishment And Nurture
· Comfort And Warmth

· Plain And Fancy

· White On White

· Embroidery

· "For a Higher Cause" - Religious Arts

· Our Bit - Women's Arts In Wartime

· Decorative Arts And The Home

· Commemorating People And Events
· Sharing And Showing
· Notes And Sources

· Bibliography.

This is not a “how to” book (though the needleworkers and crafts people among you will find much inspiration within these pages!) - it is a why book.

A hard cover edition with dust jacket the book itself is in pretty fair condition although a little sun darkened on the edges. The pages are tight, well sewn and the pictures are bright and clear.

The dust jacket shows some wear commensurate with age and there is slight foxing to the dust jacket and the end boards.



I own a copy of this book. I have spent many, many hours marvelling at the beautiful work depicted within the pages and marvelling at the skill and love which such items portray.

I am delighted to be able to make this copy available for others to enjoy.
You don't have to be able to sew, knit, crochet quilt … to enjoy this book, it is a great read and will be a welcome addition to your library. 224 pages 24 cm x 31 cm x 2 cm

Postage and handling

Item location: Collingwood, Victoria, Australia

Posting to: Australia

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AU $9.00	Australia	Regular	Varies Delivers within 1-6 days after seller ships item

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