• The original landscape covers of The Secret Life of Birds appear large against a quiet ivory background. Volume I features a peacock on teal linen; Volume II features a sunbittern on burgundy linen. Two-volume digital edition.
  • The swallow from Study 01 appears first as a drawing and then as its corresponding embroidery image. The two complete compositions are presented at a matching scale for close comparison.
  • A weaverbird hangs beside its unfinished nest in Study 21. The complete embroidery image is shown at a generous scale, with a small caption identifying Volume I, Studies 01–40.
  • The sunbittern opens its patterned wings in Study 74. The complete embroidery image is shown at a generous scale, with a small caption identifying Volume II, Studies 41–80.
  • A landscape editorial page from the book, titled A bird is more than its outline, introduces close observation of birds and their surroundings. The page is presented as a large, flat facsimile.
  • A restrained overview of the collection: 80 paired studies, two PDF volumes, 220 pages, English text and US Letter landscape pages. Both original covers appear below the details. Digital edition; no physical book.
  • Study 09, drawing. An osprey holds its wings above its body and reaches towards the water with open talons. The monochrome drawing presents the composition through line and shading.
  • Study 09, embroidery image. An osprey holds its wings above its body and reaches towards the water with open talons. The corresponding embroidery image interprets the scene in colour and textile texture.
  • Study 14, drawing. Two crowned cranes face one another in a ring of grasses, their crests and raised wings shaping the scene. The monochrome drawing presents the composition through line and shading.
  • Study 14, embroidery image. Two crowned cranes face one another in a ring of grasses, their crests and raised wings shaping the scene. The corresponding embroidery image interprets the scene in colour and textile texture.
  • Study 19, drawing. A pair of mandarin ducks floats beneath a maple branch, with fallen leaves and reflections across the water. The monochrome drawing presents the composition through line and shading.
  • Study 19, embroidery image. A pair of mandarin ducks floats beneath a maple branch, with fallen leaves and reflections across the water. The corresponding embroidery image interprets the scene in colour and textile texture.
  • Study 30, drawing. Sociable weavers gather around the openings of a large communal nest suspended beneath a branch. The monochrome drawing presents the composition through line and shading.
  • Study 30, embroidery image. Sociable weavers gather around the openings of a large communal nest suspended beneath a branch. The corresponding embroidery image interprets the scene in colour and textile texture.
  • Study 45, drawing. A secretarybird steps through sparse grasses beside a thorny branch, its long legs and crest in profile. The monochrome drawing presents the composition through line and shading.
  • Study 45, embroidery image. A secretarybird steps through sparse grasses beside a thorny branch, its long legs and crest in profile. The corresponding embroidery image interprets the scene in colour and textile texture.
  • Study 61, drawing. An Arctic tern stretches its wings above an ocean swell beneath a broad sky. The monochrome drawing presents the composition through line and shading.
  • Study 61, embroidery image. An Arctic tern stretches its wings above an ocean swell beneath a broad sky. The corresponding embroidery image interprets the scene in colour and textile texture.
  • Study 78, drawing. A kakapo stands beneath an arch of moss and fern fronds in a sheltered forest setting. The monochrome drawing presents the composition through line and shading.
  • Study 78, embroidery image. A kakapo stands beneath an arch of moss and fern fronds in a sheltered forest setting. The corresponding embroidery image interprets the scene in colour and textile texture.
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Stitchesly

The Secret Life of Birds, Bird Drawing & Embroidery Studies, Volumes I & II

The Secret Life of Birds, Bird Drawing & Embroidery Studies, Volumes I & II

$20.00 USD
$20.00 USD
Sale Ausverkauft
Inkl. Steuern.

The space beneath a wing. The weight of a bird on a bending stem. The quiet architecture of a nest.

The Secret Life of Birds brings together 80 bird studies in a two-volume collection of drawing and embroidery imagery. Each study begins with a monochrome drawing and returns as a corresponding embroidery image, inviting you to follow the same composition through line, colour and textile texture.

Across 220 pages, the collection offers 160 artwork plates and 30 editorial texts on birds, observation and creative practice. It is a book to read slowly, compare closely and return to while developing your own visual language.

Two volumes, one complete collection

Volume I: Studies 01–40. Forty paired studies, each presented as a drawing and an embroidery interpretation, with accompanying editorial writing.

Volume II: Studies 41–80. Forty further paired studies continue the collection across different birds, gestures and settings. Together, the volumes contain 80 drawings and 80 corresponding embroidery images.

What is included

  • Two high-quality PDF books in English, 110 pages per volume
  • 80 paired studies and 160 artwork plates in total
  • 30 editorial texts across the complete edition
  • Clickable contents, PDF bookmarks and a study index
  • US Letter landscape pages, 11 × 8.5 inches

A companion for your creative practice

Use the paired images to study composition, silhouette, movement and the relationship between a bird and its surroundings. Compare the drawing with its embroidery interpretation to explore how a line becomes a textured surface, how colour changes the balance of a scene, and how a small detail can hold a composition together.

The collection is intended for embroiderers, textile artists, illustrators and readers drawn to birds and nature-led art. Read it on a computer or tablet, or print selected pages for personal reference. Portrait compositions are placed within the book’s landscape page format.

About this digital edition

This purchase includes both PDF volumes. No physical book or materials will be shipped. The books are visual and editorial references; they do not include step-by-step stitching instructions, transfer patterns, stitch charts, thread codes or embroidery machine files.

For personal, non-commercial use only. The files and their contents may not be resold, redistributed or shared. Colours may vary between screens and printers.

Explore more digital embroidery books, read the Stitchesly journal, or browse our hand embroidery patterns and stitch guides for instructional projects.

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