The Best of Teresa Wentzler: Fantasy Collection

Rating:
Summary: Options abound here!
Review: Even if you already own all or most of the individual leaflets that are in this collection, this book is well worth buying. The greatest improvement over the original leaflets is that the different colors of backstiching are all marked differently--no more guessing!

If you've never done any of Teresa Wentzler's designs, be forewarned that they are quite a challenge, but the results make the effort worthwhile. They contain a level of intricate detail that I have rarely encountered in cross-stitch patterns.

Rating:
Summary: Even if you already own the leaflets...
Review: Even if you already own all or most of the individual leaflets that are in this collection, this book is well worth buying. The greatest improvement over the original leaflets is that the different colors of backstiching are all marked differently--no more guessing!

If you've never done any of Teresa Wentzler's designs, be forewarned that they are quite a challenge, but the results make the effort worthwhile. They contain a level of intricate detail that I have rarely encountered in cross-stitch patterns.

Rating:
Summary: Good Designs, No Color Charts
Review: I was so excited to find a fantasy cross-stitch book. I had never stitched any of Ms. Wentzler's designs before. Usually I only purchase Leisure Arts design books because they have color coded charts. I was very disappointed when I received this book and found the charts were in black and white. The designs are beautiful and intricate, but the charts are complicated with many different symbols and lots of color combining of threads. It would be so much easier if the charts were in color. I was not at all disappointed in the designs, but color charts sure would make it less of a hassle to stitch these beautiful designs. I'm not going to let that stop me though! It's hard enough to find good projects worthy of all the hours of stitching we spend to let good designs go un-done. I hope Ms. Wentzler keeps coming up with great designs, but she really should have a talk with her publisher about color coding.

Rating:
Summary: The Best of Teresa Wentzler: Fantasy Collection
Review: I'm a huge fan of Teresa Wentzler and I'm now in the process of trying to find out of print issues of her designs. When this was published I instantly purchased it, as it contains patterns no longer available. If you enjoy challenging cross stitch patterns with heirloom quality results don't hesitate to purchase this product (or any Teresa Wentzler design).

Rating:
Summary: More pictures
Review: This book contains ten of the most fabulous fantasy designs I have ever found. Teresa Wentzler's designs are stunningly complex, intricate, and challenging, but the results are oh so beautiful.

For anyone who may be wondering, the Wentzler designs included in this book are:

Rapunzel; Day and Night (depicted as two ladies in flowing garb); Magical Night (pegasi draw a sleigh through the sky); Carousel; The Castle Sampler; Stroke of Midnight (Cinderella flees from the ball); The Castle (pictured on the cover); Pegasus; Unicorn

Picking a favorite out of these is next to impossible. I bought it on account of the gorgeous dragon in The Castle, but fell equally in love with the Unicorn, a wistful nighttime scene to be stitched on black fabric, and the Pegasus, who poses next to a forest pool with wings held high. Wentzler's designs are like oil paintings in their use of light, achieving an especially fine, sunlit effect in Pegasus and Rapunzel. There isn't a weak one in the entire bunch. The photos of the finished pieces are very nice, and this book would be worth getting just as an art book.

If there is any drawback to these designs, it's that they are on the difficult side to stitch. There is no color used on the charts, so you just have to keep track of all those different little markings, and Wentzler designs require a lot of blended threads and quarter stitches. Bear in mind the results are worth it! Beginning stitchers should not so much avoid this book as tuck it away in their collections as something to look forward to stitching once they have had more practice.

Rating:
Summary: Lets dream alittle
Review: What a glorious book to leave the real world in as you stitch.The detail leaves you in ore of it all.
Even though I can't buy the book,it's incredable.

Rating:
Summary: Options abound here!
Review: What a wonderful book! Clear, concise patterns that give so many options. You can either choose to do the entire Pegasus in the clearing, or just him in another setting, picking out other elements from other designs in the book, or by himself! This is just an example of the versatility of TW's designs. All however, are exquisite in their intended state.

Easy to follow(even at 3 in the morning and bleary eyed, I had no problem understanding the explanations), and not 'quaint' ; she approaches the topic of mythology in needlework in a very sober, mature manner. Bravo!!