The beauty and magic of nature seen through the eye of a needle. Colours of flowers and shapes of plants; bleached grass and golden cornfields at harvest time; spiders webs on the structures of decayed seedheads; a metallic green chafer beetle landing on a deep crimson rose; a shooting star. Beguiling discoveries that are part of the world full of secrets, minute details and the sumptuous colours and textures of nature that lend themselves to their translation into rich embroidery. This embroidered path of the seasons uses hand embroidery in its traditional role of storytelling to share nature's gifts. Each stitch holds the emotion of the moment and keeps a record. The book tells the story of the companionship and healing offered by the seasons during the enforced isolation of the pandemic, and how it enabled the artist to find beauty in solitude.

About the Author

A childhood spent in the Kent countryside meant that nature became a major part of Julia's life. She later spent time flying on Concorde, chasing moon shadows and seeing nature's wonders from the edge of space, but decided to rediscover the gift of the smaller, yet still miraculous, marvels that lay within her own garden instead. She found hand embroidery was the perfect way for her to share the beauty and magical life of nature, in all its sumptuous colour, texture and detail. It became her great passion to broider her findings.

She lives happily with her family of animals in an old cottage in Surrey.

Reviews
Like so many people the artist found solace in nature during the dark days of the pandemic lockdown. This stunningly illustrated book is her record of the magic and beauty she discovered on her own doorstep through the changing seasons. -- Zac Goldsmith
The beauty of the English countryside - its wild flowers, trees and fauna, its magic and folklore - explored and celebrated through the art of embroidery. A gorgeous, healing, inspiring book. -- Alex Martin, author of The Weaver's Trade
This is a beautifully illustrated, evocative and uplifting book that shows off the extraordinary power of simple country gardens to soar the soul. -- Piers Morgan
Very few positive things came from the response to Covid, but Julia's book is an example of how many of us turned our gaze to nature and found its healing properties for the body and mind. This book is an inspiration. -- Alex Saberi
To be in tune with the earth's energies and colours is the closest way to be part of something so complex and magical. With Seasons for the Soul, Julia shares with you this inspiring and beautiful universe we are all part of. -- Ronny de Koning, Artistic Director of Petersham Nurseries
Seasons for the Soul, Spells of Nature takes you on a delightful journey through the four seasons. The embroidered art of Julia Van Den Bosch is accompanied by stories and a treasure trove of information about the natural world. Julia encourages the reader to look beyond the pathways and explore all that nature has to offer, enjoying the journey and not just the destination. The book is a wonderful read, sharing Julia's flair for storytelling alongside her detailed embroidered art. Her skills as an embroiderer beautifully capture the tones and textures that nature brings us. -- Hayley Mills-Styles



Book Information
ISBN 9781916846043
Author Julia van den Bosch
Format Hardback
Page Count 128
Imprint Unicorn Publishing Group
Publisher Unicorn Publishing Group