Illuminated manuscripts of the medieval era provide the inspiration for Jane Nicholas's glorious stumpwork. There are eight botanical specimens, which display the buds, blossoms and seed cases of the flower; the embroideries, like the illustrations that inspired them, offer wonderful surprises, and close inspection reveals an assortment of beetles and creepy-crawlies nestling in the foliage. Another three embroideries, exquisitely stitched panels, are accompanied by beautiful illustrations showing the illuminated pages that inspired them. The techniques used to create the embroideries are clearly explained and, with the necessary skills at your fingertips, the elements in the book could be combined in numerous ways to create your own designs.-Stitch