Book excerpt: It's easy to see why so many stitchers have fallen in love with the artistry of Australian designer and author Gail Pan. Her embroideries are as sweet as birdsong on a summer morning, and in this follow-up to her previous best sellers she presents a dozen enchanting designs to top your table. Choose from a variety of shapes to suit your space--circles, squares, hexagons, and rectangles--and be inspired by projects ranging from dainty 8" doilies to a charming 14" x 33" table runner. Gail includes full-size patterns and covers all the basics of hand embroidery, so you can relax and enjoy stitching each whimsical bird, basket, flower, and plump little pumpkin. Perfect for brightening your home throughout the year or bestowing as gifts, these designs will bring joy and beauty to any table.