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ISSUE 151, AUGUST 17 2018
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Hi There,
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Someone we know is often heard telling their children that ‘life is out there and not in here’, as they encourage them to leave their screens and engage with the ‘real’ world.
It’s a timely reminder for us all, screens or no screens, that life is meant to be lived outside of ourselves, outside of the usual places we inhabit. Yet as creatures of comfort, sometimes the choice to go ‘out there’ seems all too difficult.
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Most of us like the familiar and it’s not until we make the choice to go beyond that we realise there’s a lot to be said for out there!
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Sometimes we find the next big thing, whilst at other times it’s the smallest observations or the shortest conversations that make us think differently, albeit if only slightly. Whichever it may be, inspiration and change are rarely possible when we continue to inhabit our places of comfort.
Depending on how we define comfort, ‘out there’ differs for each of us, but we should all schedule the time to see what’s waiting for us on the other side of familiar - we think our day to day lives and our stitching will be all the better for it!
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Silk Embroidered Postcards from the Trenches
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Written by Nancy Williams
2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, heralding the end of the Great War in Europe. Most of us are familiar with images of battles and the trenches, but there are reminders of the War which are far more delicate and personal. Collections of embroidered silk postcards are held in museums around the world which stand as that reminder of the human face behind the turmoil.
Embroidered postcards became popular in the early 1900s, following on from the development of woven silk postcards first produced in Germany in 1898. Stitched on a fine silk gauze or organza background, the embroideries were cut out, stuck to cards and framed with embossed paper.
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New Year greetings – silk embroidered postcard from the TRC Collection, Leiden ( source) |
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The postcards carried a range of designs. Popular images included flags, regimental badges, romantic depictions of flowers and butterflies, and sentiments in various European languages. The designs were worked in colourful silks and incorporated a number of stitches, including satin stitch, herringbone stitch, back stitch and running stitch.
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Silk embroidered postcard – Australian Commonwealth Military Forces, from the AWM Collection ( source) |
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Curiously, when we started researching this topic, the first few resources stated that the embroidered designs were thought to have been worked by French peasant women or refugees. Apparently, they laboriously stitched the same design up to 25 times on a strip of silk mesh before sending their completed work to a factory for cutting and mounting.
However, the Textile Research Centre in Leiden argues convincingly that it is more likely these postcards were made by machine, set up to appear as if they had been hand sewn. With no evidence of underdrawing, it would have been challenging for an individual to stitch each design so consistently.
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And all sources agree that some 10,000,000 cards were produced between 1915 and 1919 in various languages.
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Perhaps it was possible that the women in France were so prolific, but the museum has examples of uncut sheets of designs which suggests a manufacturing process was involved.
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Uncut sheets of embroidered designs, from the TRC Collection, Leiden ( source) |
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Nevertheless, whether completed by hand or machine, nothing can take away from the importance of these fragile pieces of history. Imagine the comfort a worried wife or mother would have received when one of these embroidered postcards dropped through the letterbox. It was a beautiful way to let her know that the sender was alive and thinking of her.
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Silk embroidered postcards ‘From your loving Son’, AWM Collection ( source) |
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DID YOU KNOW?
One of the props used in the photo shoot for ‘In Flanders Fields’ from issue #99 is an original WWI stitched post card?
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Special thanks to our stylist Fiona Fagan who does an incredible job finding the most amazing accessories and tiny treasures to help bring the photos in the magazine to life.
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New Digital Patterns
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Take a ride with us in our time machine back to 1996, as this week we release two projects from Inspirations Magazine issue #10 as digital patterns for the first time:
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‘Eternity’ by Gurli Miller is a spectacular meeting of elegance and practicality resulting in an elegant heirloom blouse of pure white linen.
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READY-TO-STITCH-KITS
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Eternity
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‘The White Rabbit’ by Elina Akselrod makes a regular appearance in our What Are You Stitching? segment, such is the enduring popularity of this ornate flower-filled felt rabbit.
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READY-TO-STITCH-KITS
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The White Rabbit
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Mathematical Knitting
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Knit one, purl one, knit two together…it seems pretty mathematical already, doesn’t it? And for anyone who has tried complex lace knitting, it sometimes feels like it is about as easy to figure out as a quadratic equation. But there is a young lady who has taken mathematical knitting to the extreme.
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Fabienne with her industrial knitting machine ( source) |
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Fabienne Serriere uses her computer programming skills to create unique knitted pieces. Worked on an industrial knitting machine, each piece comes with the source code used to create the pattern (in case you need it!).
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She calls it ‘generative knitwear’. We call it amazing.
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Rule 105 Scarf #470, Elementary Cellular Automata Knit - second by KnitYak ( source) |
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I don’t know about you, but I think I might go back to knit one, purl one and leave these unusual designs to those with the mathematical knowhow.
To learn more about Fabienne and her computational knitwear, check out her website KnitYak HERE. |
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Final Call - Issue 98 Kits
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Kits from Inspirations #98 are becoming as rare as hen’s teeth, so if you were thinking about stitching something from this very popular issue, there are now only three projects with kits still available to choose from.
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Get in quick before the hen flies the coop!
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READY-TO-STITCH-KITS
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Inspirations #98
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In All Stitched Up! #148 ( HERE) we were looking forward to the 30th July as we anticipated World Embroidery Day 2018, but there was something we were looking forward to even more… our annual update on how Carla Crowther, Nancy Fisher and Peggy Kimble celebrated this special day!
Since 2015, the girls have let us know how they’ve taken their stitching to the streets – or the shores of Georgian Bay as the case may be – and again this year, they did not disappoint. |
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‘Once again we took a pause in our busy summer to spend some quiet time together with stitching sisters to enjoy the sensations of embroidery.
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We listened to the waves lapping over the rocks on the shores of Georgian Bay while we felt the thread moving through our fingers. We listened to a cardinal singing as we handled the fabric.
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It was a beautiful day and we were in our element. Peggy lured passers-by with her homemade butter tarts and we explained about all the myriad ways to embroider. There were examples of Shisha, Temari, Israeli Yemeni, Sashiko, Cross Stitch, Surface Embroidery, Stumpwork, Crewel Embroidery, Cut Work and Pulled Thread. It was wonderful to share our love of this art both with ourselves and with folk out for a walk.
Our project for this year was chosen rather last minute from the most recent Inspirations Newsletter and was the design from The San Francisco School of Needlework.’
Carla, Nancy and Peggy, we love that you’re always so willing to evangelise embroidery beyond yourselves and hope Peggy’s butter tarts helped to convince a person or two they should take up their own needle and thread!
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In Flanders Fields by Jo Butcher
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One of the magnificent things about needlework is that every stitcher and every project they stitch has a story. And we love sharing those stories.
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This week we’re featuring the project ‘In Flanders Fields’ from Inspirations #99 by the very talented Jo Butcher, along with Jo’s own personal back story to this stunning piece.
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| ‘In 2014 I saw the Tower of London Poppy Tribute art installation which featured 888,246 ceramic poppies, each one representing a Commonwealth military fatality during the war. With 2018 being the centenary since the end of the war it seemed fitting to stitch my own tribute.
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Whilst I was sewing this project, it was made even more poignant, as my daughter Sophie was on a school history trip to Belgium and the WWI battlefields. She visited many of the commonwealth cemeteries and found my Great Uncle, her Great, Great Uncle James’ name commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial.
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She then had the honour of laying a wreath, at the last post ceremony held daily at the Menin Gate memorial, which bears the names of 54,389 officers and men from United Kingdom and Commonwealth Forces.’
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In Flanders Fields is worked over a painted background with the stalks of wheat and flowers stitched from background to foreground, building up layers of thread. Blue sky, ripening wheat and the bright splashes of red poppies form an idyllic scene in this beautiful embroidered panel.
Jo was also kind enough to also give us a few expert tips on how to go about creating our own Flanders Field:
‘When it comes to painting, have plenty of fabric to practise on. And relax, crafting is therapy, basically it’s grown up play!
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Build the layers slowly and take breaks to assess your composition, it’s important not to over sew, sometimes a little less is more!
A temporary mount is a great way to focus the eyes on the composition. Put it in place when you pause or have finished for the day and then prop it up. This way when you see it again you’ll look at it with fresh eyes and will be able to assess what needs adding and where.’
Thank you, Jo for yet another ‘oh so Jo-beautiful’ project. With so much emotion and significance in this piece, it is sure to find a place in the hearts of many of us as we look to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War later this year.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The name ‘In Flanders Fields’ comes from Lieutenant-Colonel
John McCrae’s beautiful poem which he wrote during World War I and has gone on to immortalise the red poppy as the iconic symbol of remembrance.
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In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
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Make Your Own | In Flanders Fields
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Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions
In Flanders Fields by Jo Butcher is a beckoning meadow scene filled with red poppies and golden wheat.
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PRINTED MAGAZINE
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Inspirations Issue 99
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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In Flanders Fields
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Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit
The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for In Flanders Fields includes everything you need to re-create this idyllic scene: Fabric (unprinted), embroidery threads and needles.
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READY-TO-STITCH KIT
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In Flanders Fields
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Looking for More Jo Butcher
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You can catch up with Jo at the Country Living Christmas Fair in the Business Design Centre, Islington, London from November 7th – 11th where she’ll be selling her original pictures, cards, calendar and kits.
Plus, you can visit her website HERE.
Other projects by Jo Butcher include: |
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Two Hearts by Jo Butcher from Inspirations #85 is two dainty heart designs for you to stitch with ease.
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Two Hearts
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How to Sew a Meadow by Jo Butcher from Inspirations #83 is a charming stitched meadow worked onto a painted background.
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PRINTED MAGAZINE
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Inspirations Issue 83
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Woodland by Jo Butcher from A Passion for Needlework is a charming scene of foxgloves amongst birch trees.
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PRINTED BOOK
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A Passion for Needlework
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READY-TO-STITCH-KITS
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Woodland
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Having indulged our love of all things floral with the beauty of Jo Butcher’s poppies in this week’s Featured Project, we were inspired to continue our walk-through nature’s garden as we share the other things that have bloomed from the needles and threads of the Inspirations Community…
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Angela Grasse | Canada
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‘I love a good challenge as it helps to keep me focused, so in 2017 I joined a Stitch a Day Challenge. Throughout the year I worked on a six-inch square each month. Each piece of cloth came from my fabric stash and it felt good to finally put them to use!’
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‘Trees and kaleidoscopes were some of my favourite subject matter. One of the trees was done with French Knots which became rather tedious, so I won't be doing something like that again! I now have a lovely collection of stitched squares and need to decide upon a way to put them all together.’
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Angela, the individual squares you’ve created throughout the challenge are just gorgeous and we look forward to seeing how they come together as a whole piece.
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Deborah Tirico | USA
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‘I was educated as a graphic designer and began quilting in 1993 when I took my first quilt class at the local high school. I longed for a creative outlet that utilized the precision, color and measuring work I employed in my professional life and, since business moved to computer graphics, quilting provided that opportunity.’
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‘I continued to study appliqué attending the Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy for eight years and in 2002 I joined the joined the EGA. Taking a class in wool appliqué at the national seminar, this technique immediately became my favorite medium! I began designing my own pieces in 2006 and authored my first pattern book in 2015 called Gorgeous Wool Appliqué, A Visual Guide to Adding Dimension and Unique Embroidery.’
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‘I live in northeast Pennsylvania USA with my husband and son and enjoy all forms of applique, hand quilting, samplers, tatting and being creative with needlework.’
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Deborah, we love that you were able to use needle and thread to indulge your love of precision, colour and measurement. Your work is incredibly vibrant and brings with it instant joy!
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Evelyn Hoy
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‘I’ve been embroidering since I was a child, some 40+ years now. Like others, I love a kit or designer pattern, but I recently starting using adult colouring books as a template and either copying the pattern directly onto my fabric or composing a piece incorporating elements from these books.’
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‘This little giraffe was my first attempt using part of a pattern from Millie Marotta’s Animal Kingdom.’
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‘I then used a pattern from the same book for my Silk Stag. Using only silk threads, the stags nose is in the colours of spring, his shoulders in summer, the haunches in autumn and tail/heel in winter. I love him - he positively glows!’
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‘The final piece is a seahorse which I made as a gift for a friend’s birthday. This time I used a combination of colouring book elements and some sketching of my own. It was worked in a wide combination of silks, cotton, metal threads and spangles.’
Evelyn, we love the way you’ve combined flora and fauna with such success! It’s a joy to see your progression throughout the pieces and look forward to seeing what’s next from your needle and thread.
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Elena
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‘For a long time, I read Inspirations magazine learning from its numerous projects and articles. Finally, I've worked up the courage to share my own work! Once I came upon a wonderful kit where you only stitch some parts of the picture as the rest is already painted on the canvas. I just loved the idea. But I really wanted to make something unique and then it struck me, I can paint the background myself - not that I'm a very good painter, but still.’
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‘It's amazing what introducing paints into my work did to the result. It added depth and the embroidered elements really stood out. It's funny though that the painting usually takes much longer than stitching! The inspiration for this piece came from Japan - the country I love with all my heart.’
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Elena, just like Jo Butcher, you’ve mixed the mediums of paint and thread with ease and beauty! What a spectacular way to honour the country you love.
Have you created something from nature’s garden with your needle and thread? We’d love to see it! Email photos of what’s blooming in your needlework garden along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com
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Subscribe to Inspirations Magazine
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Not a Subscriber? Join Today!
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Become part of the Inspirations family by subscribing to the magazine... we'd love to have you join us!
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Fine Tradition by Pat Olski includes two brooch, and three button designs.
These pretty floral designs, worked in a contemporary twist on Dorset buttons, display inventive wrapping and weaving to create stylised flowers or a base on which further embroidery can be worked.
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PRINTED MAGAZINE
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Inspirations Issue 99
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Fine Tradition
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READY-TO-STICH-KITS
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Browse Fine Tradition Kits
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Victoriana by Anne Davies from Inspirations #94 is two enchanting silk ribbon brooches edged with delicate beading.
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Victoriana
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READY-TO-STITCH KIT
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Victoriana: Rose Bouquet
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Buttercup by Jenny Adin-Christie from Inspirations #84 is a delicate whitework button brooch embellished with pearls and sequins.
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PRINTED MAGAZINE
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Inspirations Issue 84
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Birdsong by Gary Clarke from Inspirations #93 is three fabulous brooches featuring Australian birds.
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PRINTED MAGAZINE
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Inspirations Issue 93
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FREE DOWNLOADABLE DESIGN
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Birdsong (design only)
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The Dandelyne Mini Hoops range includes brooch sets in four sizes. Each hoop comes with an insert, backing, pin clasp and brass nuts and a bolt to create a beautifully finished piece that you will love to wear – all you need to provide is a little bit of imagination and the needles and thread for the embroidery.
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WARES
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Dandelyne Mini Hoops
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Just spectacular embroidery
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Laura Baverstock ... Tropical moth in stump work, love how different this is.
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‘Life is out there waiting so go and get it.’
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~ Mary Poppins ~
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NOW TO 26 AUG
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Jan Taminiau | Reflections Exhibition
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A major exhibition on the work of Jan Taminiau
Centraal Museum
Agnietenstraat 1, 3512 XA Utrecht, The Netherlands
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NOW TO 31 AUG
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Hanging Thread: Gillian Creelman
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San Francisco School of Needlework & Design
Suite 604/360 Post Street, San Francisco
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1 TO 30 SEP
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Burlesque Exhibition
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Stitch-at-Home Challenge
San Francisco School of Needlework & Design
Suite 604/360 Post Street, San Francisco
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7 TO 9 SEP | 10:00 TO 4:00
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Romancing the Threads Exhibition
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E.A Hunt Hall, Tocal College
Tocal Road Paterson, New South Wales
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15 TO 22 SEP
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FACT and Friends Exhibition
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Fibre Artists Cape Town
Nova Constantia (next to Buitenverwachting)
Cape Town, South Africa
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sheilaq@telkomsa.net
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22 TO 29 SEP
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Endeavour’s First Voyage
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Merseyside Embroiderers’ Guild Exhibition | Endeavour’s First Voyage
Anglican Cathedral
Liverpool, UK
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© 2018 Inspirations Studios
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