A Look Back on Inspirations 2023

As the end of the year speeds toward us, we’ve spent some time looking back over all the books, magazines and kits we’ve released in 2023, and what a big year we’ve had! 

This week we’re taking a quick trip down memory lane to see which of the projects from our 2023 publications ended up on everyone’s To Stitch lists…

Inspirations Magazine

2023 kicked off with issue #117 titled Full Bloom and fittingly featured a stunning, three-dimensional daisy on the cover created by Ana Mallah. As it turned out both the daisy and her superb pink rose would become everyone’s firm favourites from this issue.

While issue #118 titled Flights of Fancy celebrated the natural world, it was a collection of European withdrawn and pull thread techniques that Christine P. Bishop used in her elegant table mat Grand Tour that proved the most enticing.

Stitching Stories was the perfect name for issue #119 as each project had so much to say, perhaps none more so than The Blue Bead by Ukrainian designer Tatiana Popova (another cover project) that clearly struck a chord with everyone based on its popularity.

It’s always exciting to celebrate a milestone like turning 30, and issue #120 did us proud with an outstanding line up of amazing projects, and it was only fitting that Susan O’Connor’s Busy Bees would become the talk of the needlework town.

Handpicked Projects

With a new Handpicked project released alongside each issue of Inspirations magazine, this range of fabulous standalone designs is continuing to grow in number and popularity.

With a superstar line up of designers contributing to our Handpicked collection this year, we were spoiled for choice. In the end, the sparkle of shimmering beads that Margaret Lee used to create her card wallet Treasure, captured the most attention.  

Treasure by Margaret Lee

Books

Here’s a quick rundown of books we released in 2023:

Flowers for Elizabeth by Susan O’Connor

From our very own Susan O’Connor, Flowers for Elizabeth has etched itself firmly as one of the all-time most popular needlework designs and this new, updated release featured Elizabethan-inspired botanical designs that you use to create either Susan’s iconic blanket, or a trio of accessories based on your favourite motifs.

A Fine Tradition 2 by Margaret Light

Inspired by art, architecture and needlework from around the world, Margaret Light took us all on another adventure with a superb collection of 12 new designs.

The Design Collective | Christmas

Our most recent release, the second volume of The Design Collective series, came just in time for the holiday season. Fittingly themed Christmas, this festive publication includes 12 brand new, stunning Christmas projects.

We look forward to bringing you even more of the world’s most beautiful needlework publications in 2024!