Books-Press
My books including the most recent Soulful Stitch:Finding Creativity in Crisis by Cas Holmes and Deena Beverley (Oct 2024) and Embroidering the Everyday (2021), Batsford publications are available to order from leading online companies as well as local independent booksellers.
Soulful Stitch
Renowned British textile artists Cas Holmes and Deena Beverley, each well known for their richly textured, deeply evocative work in stitch, collaborate for the first time in this important and timely book. Beautifully illustrated with a wealth of work from both artists along with other embroiderers and textile artists from around the world, Soulful Stitch documents a wide range of stitched responses to crisis, both personal and global. With invaluable advice on how to develop your own work in times of trouble.
Embroidering the Everyday
Working as a ‘nomad at home’, Cas invites us to re-examine the world around us and use the limitations sometimes imposed by geographic area or individual circumstances as a rich resource to develop ideas for mixed media textiles in a more thoughtful way. Our connection to the ‘everyday’ things around is explored in her new book with Batsford publications 'Embroidering the Everyday'. A brief look into the book here.
We come to the foreword written by Deena Beverley who also contributes to the book. Her comments endear us and connect us to the book and its author, before we even begin. Cas brings a special quality to her writing and this is highlighted by Beverley’s comments….’An innate acceptance and even celebration of life’s imperfections is apparent throughout Cas’s approach.’ It takes a special artist to see ‘the world…in a grain of sand and heaven found in a wild flower’….we believe that when you grasp your own copy of this book, you will be taking on new values and new pathways of discovery, a new special way of seeing the beautiful.
From a review by Mr Xross Stitch Jamie Chalmers
‘If you’re feeling a bit short on inspiration, this book from Cas Holmes is just the thing to get you finding the wonderful in everyday items’
Simply Sewing
Textile Landscape
With her rich use of colour, stitch and mixed media, textile artist Cas Holmes exploits the tactile nature of textiles to turn traditional approaches to landscape on its head. Cas guides you through every stage of the creative process, building unique and beautiful works of art through observation and gathering material, experimenting in stitch, collage, screen printing and appliqué, and presenting small pieces and huge installations alike with their own sense of space, time and location.Her fascinating exploration of our relationship with our environment – and the effect of the local landscape on our own memories and imagination. Textile Landscape spans the UK, Europe, USA and Australia, including her own personal, local pieces and travel diaries as well as work from international artists.
We found it very difficult to choose which bits were the highlights to include in this review. It is impossible to decide on the priorities, the content is all so valuable! Holmes covers so much – yet this can only be a positive – Cas you cause us problems!
A short extract from an insightful review by John Hopper of Inspirational magazine (issue 18).
'The textile interpretation of landscape through your hands and your eyes is her ultimate goal, and with this book that goal should be well within your grasp'
Each page is packed with inspiration. * Embroidery Magazine*
We found it very difficult to choose which bits were the highlights to include in this review. It is impossible to decide on the priorities, the content is all so valuable! Holmes covers so much – yet this can only be a positive – Cas you cause us problems!
Mr XStitch review by Ailish Henderson. Full review here
Everything, from a walk in the park to an exotic trip, can provide inspiration for textile art. See how to record your experiences in sketchbooks, journals, and photographs to create personal narratives that become beautiful stitched-textile pieces. Acclaimed textile artist Cas Holmes discusses such techniques as creating layered collages, "sketching" in stitches, and working with composition and colour. The result will be unique—uniquely you!
'The exercises and tutorials are cocooned within a much broader exploration of what it is to create textile art that is meaningful to you, your community and the world. The book is infused with the ideas and thoughts of a group of textile artists, all of whom have a connection to people, places or objects and who communicate their feelings through their art....It is a highly absorbing read and I don't think you will even break the surface after one read.' Maggie Grey
Recent on line interviews on Stitchery Stories by Susan Weeks. Discover how Star Trek links to landscape and creativity and Arnolds Attic at the Knitting and Stitching Show.
I write for articles for a variety of magazines and on-line publications
Selected Videos and recordings:
Inspired to Create with Jennifer Steck
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Stitchery Stories by Susan Weeks. Discover how Star Trek links to landscape and creativity
Arnolds Attic looking at Textile Landscape at the Knitting and Stitching Show.
Arnolds Attic looking at Textile Landscape at the Knitting and Stitching Show.
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Press:
Embroidery Magazine Nov-Dec 2022
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Artist Profile by Cate Prato in October-November edition of Quilting Arts Magazine 2019
Strange Beauty in Hand/Eye magazine
Artist profile in Somerset Studio magazine (March April 2017). An interview by the Rice Freeman-Zachery.Sneak peak of some of the pages from an eight page spread.
