Finally, after a years-long conception and a particularly arduous delivery, my book on padded stitch is born.

For the first time, I am not embarrassed to call it a book, because the poor guy was born plump and almost looks like one.

I have called it The ABC of padded stitch and I have dressed it in the colours red and blue, which are those of the school pencils that when I see them immediately I’m briought back to the school desks, to giggling or frightening me underneath, to learn how to move between the letters and the proper tools to trace the lines.

I will calmly recount its vicissitudes: the slender idea that turned into an enterprise; a sample book that dragged with it the design of 11 alphabets; the technical novel that forced me to draw and colour more than 70 illustrations; the very romantic hidden thread.

Only the slender idea was premeditated.

But I will say no more, because here today I want to celebrate the birth with those who supported me in the undertaking and whom I wish to thank.

Laura Arnaldi, by now well known orchestra conductor, patient and magnanimous, of my photos and texts, of my ever new and nerve-wracking demands, who by now sends back to me contents that are not in straight line and who scolds me if the photos have blurred focus, has worked her graphic magic this time too. We reshuffled the pages at one point because the red and blue colour scheme was a gamble that ended up clashing alongside the old, indispensable coloured embroidery. We both knew that a solution would emerge and we allowed ourselves the luxury of turning and twisting the photos and shuffling the pages without restraint, until her delicate touch found the balance.

Beatrice D’Anna, on the other hand, turned my English text, which reflected the fatigue of an overlong engagement, jumping on the train running  with amiable and prompt dexterity. With her, my thoughts also fly to Cristina, who sifted through the words with a magnifying glass to unearth errors and who encouraged me when my attachment to the undertaking had reached an all-time low.

I thank the e-Graphic company, with particular reference to Enrico and Martina, but also remembering all the staff, who went through the shadows of my photos, giving them new light, and who took loving care of my urgent whims. Bergamo is safe, thanks to you all!

To the students of my padded stitch courses I send a hug full of gratitude, because they have taught me: they have forced me to make sense of my every movement, to justify every poorly stretched stitch, to find solutions.

I thank my children because, if they didn’t constantly drive me crazy, I would move in a sterile and unproductive ordinariness, in which I would still like to wallow every now and then… Get it?!

A hug to Massimiliano, because without him the back cover would not have the photo that crowns the adventure’s epilogue. But also and above all because… Without a firm foothold, I would have emerged from the crater with difficulty. Or I would have lost myself searching in the dungeon for a centre, missing all that was beautiful outside. However, I wanted to let them know, although this is not the right place, that ploughing the slopes of volcanoes by bike under the scorching summer sun bouncing off the bare rocks is a magnificent experience… That I will never repeat!

I would like to inform Maillboxes etc. of San Bonifacio, through Miriam, that I will light-heartedly entrust my parcels to your couriers and your impeccable professionalism, as always an excellent excuse to visit you!

And to all of you who follow me the first and last tribute, as tradition dictates, but dictated by my heart. Without your support, your words and your shining eyes, none of this would exist.

Thank you!

As usual, with the next post, the list of what you will find in the book, in the form of a ruthless self-review.