If the name Kit Kemp was to come up in conversation, what comes to mind?

Kit Kemp is the founder and creative director of Firmdale Hotels whose interiors are renowned for being rich in colour and pattern, all featuring bold inclusions of embroidery.

But alas, we admire her work from afar via Instagram and the occasional article we find in magazines as we’ve not yet had the privilege of calling one of her unique rooms home, even if only for a night!

Recently, however, we took one step closer to enjoying the magic Kit creates as the owners of Al-Ru Farm, whose gorgeous venue we use for much of the photography in our publications, had just returned from a stay at Number Sixteen in London, and Ruth was only too eager to share the delights of her stay.

Ruth shared photos and details of Kit’s attention to each and every aspect of the hotel from her boldly framed artworks, courageous use of colour, the luxuriously upholstered bed heads that set the tone for each of the rooms, right down to the hand embroidered cushions that add a level of extravagance to the beds and furniture rarely seen in individual homes, let alone commercial hotels.

Kit is keeping the art of colour and detail in our surrounds well and truly alive, but more than that, she’s championing the use of hand embroidery as a must-have in any balanced and harmonious space, and for that we’re incredibly grateful!

If you’ve been lucky enough to stay at a Firmdale Hotel, we’d love to hear all about it. Email news@inspirationsstudios.com – we can’t wait to experience the magic of Kit through your eyes!

‘I told her that I would do my best to find the pattern for the house. I searched the internet, but could only find photos of the finished piece, and not the pattern. So, through Facebook I reached out to the members of the Strictly Crewel and Freestyle Embroidery Group, asking if any of them knew where I could find the pattern. I received a lot of helpful answers, including one who suggested I get in touch with Penny Cornell. And then, lo and behold, Penny herself replied and told me it was her design!

It seems she had stitched it for herself, but it had proved so popular she had turned it into a chart which was for sale. We got in touch via mail and I have just received the pattern which is now printed and ready to give to Rosa. I know social media gets some bad press, but there are also times when it restores your faith in human nature.

Even my small embroidery group here in Barcelona have taken me in and made me feel part of their Catalan family. I am so happy to have been able to help a friend and have such a great pastime. Embroidery really does cross all frontiers and boundaries!’

Kate, we couldn’t agree more! Embroidery really does provide a common thread that knows no frontiers or boundaries and we’re ever grateful to be part of its tribe.

Taking up their needles, 12 finalists from around the world danced to heavy metal whilst displaying their yarncraft skills in outlandish yet creative ways. Although Japanese band Giga Body Metal took the final prize, already bands are casting on and tuning up ready for next year.

Or Nué, or shaded gold, is a style of goldwork embroidery that dates back to medieval times.

The technique required the embroiderer to lay pairs of gold passing thread in careful lines and then couch it down with coloured silks. From these silk stitches, the detail of the image appeared. Through positioning and colouring, the artist achieved the perfect blend of light, shade and gold.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Paisley by Susan Davis is an exquisite piece of Or Nué embroidery; the perfect introduction to this technique.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Paisley includes everything you need to re-create this stunning design: Fabric (unprinted), felt, embroidery threads and needles.

Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step details on how to create this project, please refer to our magazine or digital pattern.

Pure Gold by Hanneke Schoeber from Inspirations issue #76 is an enchanting floral motif created with beautiful metallic gold and silk threads.

The Golden Pomegranate by Margaret Cobleigh from Inspirations issue #61 is a stunning pomegranate, beautifully represented in this richly ornamented goldwork study.

Touch of Gold by Lucy Barter from Inspirations issue #99 is a delightful floral study using goldwork and stumpwork techniques.

A-Z of Goldwork with Silk Embroidery is full of practical expertise on how to create beautiful goldwork embroideries, enhanced with silk embroidery, while conveying the history and tradition of goldwork down the years.

One of the most exciting things about the project ‘Paisley’ by Susan Davis being featured in issue #104 is not just how exquisite her design is, but the fact that this is Susan’s debut in Inspirations magazine. Congratulations Susan!

So, in this week’s ‘What Are You Stitching?’ we’ve decided to feature some of our own debut artists and include projects stitched by those in the Inspirations community who are appearing in our newsletter for the first time.

A special welcome to our each of our debutants…

‘My picture which is entitled ‘The Road Goes Ever On and On’ is the title of a poem by JRR Tolkien from Lord of the Rings. It is based on a photo taken on a ramble here in Dorset and the fact that you could see the track disappearing in the distance really made me think of this poem.

I like to make pictures of our countryside which is always beautiful. The basics of the picture are done in wet felt and needlefelt and details are then added with needle and thread, some of which are hand spun when I could not find the exact colour I needed.

I blend the fibres and mix my own colours both for the felt and yarns. Great fun to do, but very frustrating not to get the results accepted as Art! Keep up the good work with your newsletter, I love to see what you send us each week.’

Ann, although you couldn’t get your piece classified as art as you’d hoped, it was a well deserving winner - not only for the techniques you used, but also for its artistic merit. Your piece is rich in colour, texture and story-telling detail.

‘In answer to your recent call for needlework projects, here is my latest hand embroidery project. The Green Woman is worked on 100% cotton muslin using Weeks Dye Works over dyed floss. I chose the colors named for herbs and other greenery which I felt was apt to the project.

The eyes are done in DMC variegated floss to give the appearance of amber and the acorns are also done in DMC floss. I hope this piece inspires someone to start stitching today, I know I have had many inspired moments paging through your magazine and newsletter.’

Deb, we love that you chose threads whose names were apt to your subject! This approach has allowed you to create a piece that is harmonious and balanced.

‘The news of the launch of Laura Bateman’s book ‘Embroidered Country Gardens’ in Inspirations All Stitched Up! issue #199 struck a chord for me, as I have just completed a stitched garden which I have been working on, and - often - off, as pieces for other people took precedence, for about 10 years.

I had inherited from my mother-in-law a sewing box made for her sometime in the 1940s by my father-in-law. My father-in-law had inserted a piece of fabric into a recess on the underside of the lid and I dreamt up the idea of embroidering a secret garden, seen only when the box is opened, to replace it. Both my in-laws were very keen gardeners and my husband carries on that tradition with great flair.’

‘My good fortune was that, just as I had this idea, Jenny Adin-Christie was beginning her solo career and I was lucky enough to become one of a small group of students who attended her first monthly studio classes, then held in a village hall.

The garden is worked in a wide variety of stitches, threads and techniques and as the years have gone by, under Jenny’s tutorship and with the encouragement of those pioneering classmates, I have so enjoyed creating these little plants, celebrating the riot of colour and form an inspiring garden gives.

The rejuvenated box was unveiled at a family gathering recently and I think we all feel it has many more years ahead as a useful workbox, but with a surprise inside!’

Janet, we love that so many skilled hands have played a part in a piece that is equal parts form and function – from your father-in-law’s construction, Jenny’s design right through to your meticulous stitching, it proves that it really does take a village! It’s a workbox that no doubt will be used by generations to come.

‘A year ago, as a male approaching 70, I was visiting a friend who teaches Japanese Embroidery. There was a collection of work she had done around her house which were so superb, I asked if she ever sold any.

Although threading a needle was one big problem, my wife laughed and bought me a basic kit to start. I surprised her and here is my finished result which she insists on using in the hallway for flowers to go on.’

‘I attended a class in Dublin at the Annual Knitting and Stitching Show, which caused quite a stir as they do not seem to have many male attendees! I then visited my tutor and had a basic lesson and set off on the journey. I have learnt how to unpick errors on many occasions, but I hope this tale inspires others to try.’

Lionel, we love that you answered the call of needle and thread in your late sixties! It proves that it’s never too late to put our hands to something new. We can’t wait to see where your journey with needle and thread take you next.

Are you yet to make your debut in All Stitched Up? What are waiting for?! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread along with a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com. We can’t wait to share your work with the Inspirations Community.

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Autumn Flowers by Ana Mallah is a glorious stumpwork garland celebrating stunning autumn leaves.

Autumn Leaves by Monique Johnston from Inspirations issue #97 is a fabulous doorstop featuring a harvest of acorns, blackberries, rose hips and maple leaves.

Autumn Feast by Kelly Fletcher from Inspirations issue #67 is a delightful set of linen and cotton placemats, embroidered in rich autumnal shades.

Autumn Harvest by Helen Eriksson from Inspirations issue #71 is a graceful spray of flowers and berries in subtle shades of gold, olive green, brick, terracotta and cream.

Jacobean Leaves by Anna Scott from Inspirations issue #41 is a richly coloured crewelwork cushion exploring a vast variety of stitches.

~ Kit Kemp ~

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.