Gretchen Ruben had an epiphany one rainy afternoon… ‘Time is passing and I’m not focusing on the things that really matter.’ In that moment she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project. Her book, ‘The Happiness Project’ chronicles her lively and compelling account of that year. From being serious about play, right through to pursuing a passion, each month Gretchen focused on a resolution she believed would improve her life.

We wondered if it would be possible to use Gretchen’s ‘formula’ for happiness and apply it to our stitching, and we think it just may be!

While each of our happiness projects will be unique, Gretchen suggests we ask ourselves the following questions that will help us create a road map for own journey to happiness:

What makes you feel good? What stitching do you find fun, satisfying or energising?

What makes you feel bad? What is it about the needle and thread that has become a source of anger, irritation, boredom, frustration or anxiety?

Is there any way in which you don’t feel right about your stitching? Are you living up to your expectations for yourself?

Do you have sources that provide an atmosphere of growth? In what elements of your stitching do you find progress, learning, challenge, improvement and increased mastery?

While the stitching references above have been added in by us, we think you’ll agree that your answers to Gretchen’s questions may just be the food for thought needed to establish your own resolutions that will become a part of your stitching’s Happiness Project.

We look forward to hearing where your Happiness Project takes you…

It’s been said many times over that needlework is a wonderful storyteller. Looking at the work of a fellow stitcher can reveal a lot about their interests, their passions and even their personality. Looking more broadly at a collection of needlework across someone’s lifetime provides further fascinating insight into their journey and often documents the different seasons in one’s life.

These observations have taken on a much more personal meaning for us here at Inspirations, when last year we learned of the passing of designer Julie Kniedl. Julie was only part way through her own incredible needlework journey when her time here on earth ended unexpectedly, yet we have since discovered her stitching legacy has many, many more stories to be told.

This beautiful three-dimensional white magnolia is an amazing, life-like replica of the sculpturally elegant ‘magnolia grandiflora’ whose origins date back to 1759, and, translated from Latin, simply means ‘big flower’.

Julie’s design perfectly captures the soft white petals by using cream shaded woollen threads, with the carpels and stamens in the centre of the flower created using stranded silk threads and ribbon.

During her continual quest for achieving perfection, in Julie’s latter designs she began incorporating real elements of nature with tremendous effect.

As such, in the requirements list for Grandiflora, we’ve added ‘17cm (6 ¾”) forked dry wooden branch’ as an element among the supplies needed to create the project. The instructions also explain how to prepare your branch and how to attach the stitched flower and leaves to the branch, which is done by drilling two small holes and looping thread in and out until firmly fixed. The buds are then secured in place by drilling an indent into the end of a branch and using glue, affixing the wire into the drilled hole.

For some this may mean stepping out of your comfort zone a little when it comes to the final construction, but we can assure you the end result is magnificent! Grandiflora is a wonderful example of combining traditional techniques of stumpwork with the contemporary approach of three-dimensional stitching to create a lasting representation of this graceful flower.

In celebration of Julie Kniedl’s incredible pioneering work with three-dimensional embroidery, we are currently working on a brand-new three-dimensional needlework how-to guide.

Showcasing numerous projects by Julie that have never been published before, we’ll take you on a journey to re-create nature using your needle and thread in such realistic ways you never thought possible.

With an anticipated release date of February 2019, stay tuned to this newsletter for updates.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Grandiflora by Julie Kniedl is a beautiful three-dimensional magnolia.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch Kit for Grandiflora includes almost everything (excluding the tree branch!) you need to re-create this stunning magnolia: Fabrics (unprinted), wool felts, beading wire, embroidery threads, ribbon and needle.

One of the incredible privileges of working at Inspirations is seeing the projects that appear in our books and magazines in real life. As good as the images in our publications are, they often don’t do justice to their size, intricacy and workmanship. Seeing each piece individually is one thing, but it takes your breath away when, on a rare occasion, a collection of pieces is seen together! Inspired by a collection of Julie Kniedl originals that we’ve recently had the privilege of photographing, this week’s ‘What Are You Stitching?’ looks at some of the collections the Inspirations Community have created with their needles and threads.

Diane, you definitely love a construction challenge! What an incredible collection of intricate sewing accessories you’ve created. We look forward to seeing Gloriana and the Tooth Fairy Boxes once they’re complete.

Hilary, we love that your needles and threads have assembled a collection of Inspirations projects! Each one of your pieces is as picture perfect as the original.

‘This collection started out as being just the decorative camels, then came the wise men and of course the rest of the nativity scene followed.’

Judi, we love that your nativity scene has grown over the years, and what a bright and festive nativity it is! No pressure, but we look forward to seeing what Christmas 2018 heralds from your ladies’ needles and threads.

‘You can imagine my surprise when I opened this Christmas gift which I did not know anything about, what was in it or where it came from. You see after my Dad died, Mom depended on me to do all her Christmas shopping and wrapping, so I always knew what I was being given for Christmas. That Christmas I started work on the top of the box and it was my project for the next while. Mom and I spent many Wednesday evenings talking while I worked on this piece. I finished it just before my birthday that year and my Mom was thrilled when I showed her the finished box.’

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Touch of Gold by Lucy Barter is a delightful floral study using goldwork and stumpwork techniques.

~ Gretchen Ruben ~

Stay informed of upcoming needlework events taking place all around the world in our new What’s On page on the Inspirations Studios Website HERE.