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And so here we are, seemingly before we know it, at the end of another year.
At this time of the year it’s tempting to start looking forward to what the new year will bring - after all, there’s a new diary full of crisp, blank pages just waiting to be filled!
We have, however, realised that such ‘folly’ should wait until its appointed time.
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There’s power in reflection as it helps us to process what’s been, learn from our successes and failures, therefore making better informed choices going forward.
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So, at Inspirations we’ve taken a moment to reflect on the year that’s been before we shift our focus to 2020.
As always, it been a year filled with needle and thread as we sourced, photographed, wrote about, published and shared the world’s most beautiful needlework through our magazines, books, newsletter and social channels. Not only that though, it’s also been about the connections we’ve made with everyone who’s part of our tribe – and for that we couldn’t be more grateful.
Our last staff meeting for 2019 saw us pouring over facts and figures as we looked back on the year that’s been, learning where our successes lay and where there was some room for improvement. We then finished the day with some blue sky dreaming for what's possible going forward and we couldn’t be more excited, but you’ll have to stay tuned in 2020 to find out more.
We hope that amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season you’ll find the time and space to reflect on the year that’s been, working out what you’ll take with you into the new year and what fresh starts you’re looking forward to making – oh, and we look forward to seeing where your blue sky dreaming will take you into 2020 and beyond!
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Cross Stitch Beyond All Limits
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Cross stitch is a passion for a lot of embroiderers. Many others started out with cross stitch and moved on to other things. But whether you still do it, or you’ve not done it for years, there is no doubt that cross stitch is enormously popular across the world and is also the source of some pretty impressive records.
One of the Inspirations team is a mad keen cross stitcher who loves tackling enormous projects. She has one which was started a number of years ago. The chart, a re-creation of The Lady and the Unicorn: À mon seul désir, is 56 pages long. That is 56 full coverage pages with each stitch worked in a blend of two colours.
She was curious and did a few sums. After calculating the number of stitches and the time it took to stitch a 10 x 10 square, she worked out that if she stitched two hours a day, every single day, it would take approximately seven and a half years to complete.
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The Lady and the Unicorn: a mon seul desir (source)
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If you think that’s ambitions, it’s nothing in comparison to some of the cross stitch world record holders, most of whom have produced pieces that make The Lady and the Unicorn look like a weekend project.
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The largest cross stitch currently completed is a full-sized replica of the famous painting of The Battle of Grunewald.
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Measuring in at 9.2 x 4.05 metres, this gargantuan achievement took 1 year and 9 months to stitch between a group of stitchers in Poland. They estimated about four and a half years of working hours, which doesn’t factor in the months it took to create the chart and then to put all of the pieces together.
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Putting together the pieces of The Battle of Grunewald (source)
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Haven’t got a stitching group large enough (or willing enough) to help? You could try to challenge Peter Volna from the Slovak Republic. Peter single-handedly completed a replica of The Last Supper over the course of 10 years, stitching 3 hours per day. His masterpiece measures in at 1.94 x 1.34 metres and is apparently still for sale if you are at all interested.
If you’re feeling inspired to tackle something this momentous, Joanna Lopianowski-Roberts has published her chart of the entire Sistine Chapel ceiling which took her almost 10 years to stitch.
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This chart holds the record as the largest published chart publicly available.
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But never fear - the chart, for all its enormous size, has been broken up into 34 patterns, each intended to be stitched separately.
Just imagining the number of skeins of thread you’d need, the size of fabric and the sheer weight of the completed projects mentioned here boggles the mind. But it also demonstrates what dedicated and passionate stitchers are able to achieve, whether in a group or individually.
Don’t let anyone tell us that we are afraid of challenges or are unwilling to try something most people could barely conceive. By employing patience, care and love to our project, the sky is the limit to what each of us can achieve. You just need to start with a single cross.
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A single cross stitch is where it all starts
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All Stitched Up! – Back 24th Jan 2020
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While it’s true that this is the last issue of All Stitched Up! for 2019, as stitchers we’re never dwelling on the past, we’re too busy looking ahead at the next stitch!
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So, make sure you put 24th Jan 2020 in your dairy to check your email inbox, and we look forward to being back together with you then!
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Inspirations 2020 Calendar | January Project
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Speaking of January, for those of you lucky enough to have an Inspirations 2020 calendar, which is now sold out, here is what you can look forward to on 1st January…
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This magnificent image beautifully captures the fresh and vibrant project
‘Peas and English Daisies’ by Susan O’Connor.
Stitched onto silk fabric with silk threads, the embroidery is enhanced with sparkling gold paillettes and reflects Susan’s love for Elizabethan inspired botanicals.
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Combining beauty with purpose, this pinwheel keeps your pins safe while showing off fresh green peas and the delightful English daisy, Bellis perennis. What a terrific way to start the new year!
Originally released exclusively as a digital pattern, Peas and English Daisies is now also available to purchase as a printed pattern.
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Peas and English Daisies
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PRINTED PATTERN
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Peas and English Dasies
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Inspirations Office Christmas Break
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During the Christmas / New Year holidays, the Inspirations Studios office will be closed from Friday 20th Dec returning Monday 6th Jan. During this time if you email or leave a voice message, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible upon our return.
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For any orders placed while we’re away, please note that we’ll resume processing and shipping the week of 6th Jan. However, our digital products can always be purchased and downloaded at any time.
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Beating Around the Bush – Catalogue Review
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If you’re anything like us you’ve probably chosen way more projects to stitch during the holidays than you can possibly finish – but we need to add one more important thing to your to-do list!
Don’t forget to review the projects in the BATB 2020 catalogue so you’re all ready to go when registration opens on 3rd Feb.
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You can download a digital copy of the catalogue for free or purchase a printed copy to be shipped directly to you.
With more than 55 projects to choose from, this assignment might take you quite a while, so don’t forget to hang out your DO NOT DISTURB sign!
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New Issue of Inspirations Magazine
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To get 2020 off to a roaring start, subscribers will begin receiving the next issue of Inspirations Magazine mid-to-late January, with the digital issue released 30th January.
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The official release date for Inspirations issue #105 is 13th February, at which time it will be available in stores and newsstands.
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The Muncaster Bed Hanging
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Phillipa Turnbull is one of the world’s most talented designers of Jacobean Crewel embroidery. Her company is known for its exquisite re-creations of historic crewel embroideries, which they turn into kits for everyone to enjoy.
This year, Phillipa and her team have been working busily to create a project of a lifetime – the Muncaster Bed Hanging from Muncaster Castle in The Lake District.
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A section of the original hanging (source)
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Not for the faint of heart, the completed design measures 1.5 metres in height and a metre wide.
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It is a project that… “requires its own storage solution” and will take “months or even years to finish.”
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Not everyone would be brave enough to try it, but if you’re tempted, this incredible ‘monster kit’ is now available to purchase HERE for lovers of crewel embroidery and Phillipa’s work. |
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The team working on the project
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The Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordano – Back in Stock
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You’ve heard the hype, read the reviews, seen the amazing images and then went to order your copy only to find it was unavailable or out of stock! Never fear, Inspirations is here!
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We’re pleased to report that a new shipment of the stunning book ‘The Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordano’ has now arrived.
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Order your copy online and we’ll ship it to you as soon as we’re back in the office the week of 6th Jan – now that’s a great way to start your new year!
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PRINTED BOOK
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The Embroidered Art of Chloe Giordano
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In the last few issues of All Stitched Up! we’ve started a few conversations that the Inspirations Community were all too happy to continue, so enjoy the journey ahead as we share with you the resurgence of needlework that’s being seen the world over and the holiday traditions that are being enjoyed this festive season.
Then to kick off 2020, we’ll share some ideas for the perfect stitching retreat that might be just what the doctor ordered after the busyness of the festive season has come and gone!
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‘As a regular sailor with our 34’ sailing boat kept at the marina in Yamba, New South Wales Australia, I was thrilled to see a boat step in recently that had knitted covers for all its nine fenders. Done in several different colours - red, orange, green, blue and purple - with a chunky nylon yarn/rope, they looked fantastic. It was a woman at the helm who obviously used her sea time to great advantage!’
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‘I am a South African living in New York. I did ribbon embroidery with Di van Niekerk in Johannesburg many years ago and then attended classes with the late Leana Meintjies doing needle painting and modern crewel work.
Whilst living here in New York I have come across Floss Tube on YouTube and there seems to be a revival of counted cross stitch all over the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, so I definitely think the art of needle and thread is not dying out!
At the moment I am working on the Mill Hill Christmas Village, which is counted cross stitch and bead work. Take care and thank you for your wonderful articles which I receive via email in your weekly newsletter.’
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‘We have stitched in my family for generations. My daughter is a teacher in a charter school in Chicago in an underprivileged neighbourhood and has started an Embroidery Club to expose students to the craft.
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It is a raging success! The kids LOVE stitching and have found it a wonderful medium for expression.
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The beauty of stitching is that it has no boundaries and she is absolutely passing it onto the next generation.’
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‘All of our family live within a ten-mile radius of each other here in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, USA. This is a blessing – well, most of the time, but especially on Christmas Day! I still have two school age boys at home, so Christmas Day always begins with early morning presents at home. Then, we are off to lunch at my in-laws.
My husband is from a large, loud, country family that is welcoming to everyone, so Christmas not only includes the 27 immediate family members, but others who need a place to celebrate. There have been so many people in the house that you could barely squeeze through. There are deep fryers full of oysters and shrimp going in the garage, sweet potato casserole dripping with marshmallows in the oven, and peppered bacon green beans frying in a cast iron pan already to be slapped on a heavy-duty red plastic plate.
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There is plenty for all - both in food and shared joy!
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Then, on to Christmas dinner with my small family where the table is perfectly set with Mom's Christmas dishes. We all use cloth napkins, and everyone fits around the dining room table. The day is a whirlwind marathon of family, food, and celebration of Jesus' birth.
Working in the local public-school system means that I get a good break from work over Christmas. I have been working on a Christmas piece from Victoria Sampler (Jingle Bells Christmas Tree Farm) for years during each Christmas vacation. I bring it out each year to add more snowflakes, another row of Christmas trees, or a wreath on a covered bridge.
Some years I get more done than others, but this just might be the year that it is completed - what a bittersweet thought.
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Thanks so much for making my Fridays brighter and my stitchin' goals higher!’
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‘I am the cookie baker for the family. I start in November with Springerle (a German tradition), move on to fruit cake cookies, then six or seven other family favorites. I have many handmade ornaments - some surface embroidery, some cross stitch.
Over the years I have made lots of gifts including wedding samplers, sweaters, baby blankets and crewel wall hangings. I have taught my great niece to knit and we find time at the holidays to knit together.’
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‘We celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States and it is a beautiful holiday with food and family. After the preparations for a large group are complete, we’re able to relax and talk about what we are thankful for.
One of my grandniece twins said she was ‘glad to be unique’ a few years ago! It has become a tradition and we all have many things to be thankful for. Chanukah is also a holiday for us and is a great way to celebrate when it is cold and dark outside, and the menorah offers welcome light. I hope everyone at Inspirations has a wonderful holiday season.’
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‘Over the years various friends from the Embroiderers' Guild meet one evening in December and have dinner together and swap gifts. The gifts have to be handmade, Christmas tree ornaments, so each year I am able to add another gift from a friend to my tree.
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It's a lovely way to remember past and present friends.’
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To everyone who’s joined in on the conversation, not only this week, but throughout the last year, we can’t thank you enough! It’s our absolute joy to hear from you, learn from you and share in your joy of needle and thread and we look forward to starting and continuing many a new conversation in 2020.
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With Christmas just a few short days away, we thought it the perfect time to share a little seasonal stitching…
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‘I belong to the Hawkes Bay Embroiderers’ Guild in New Zealand. Each November our group make a Christmas decoration. This year Judy, who is one of our members, found a felt angel on the internet which we decided to use as our decoration.’
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‘I decided the wings were a little small in the original pattern and so used the pattern from Fairy Dreams from Inspirations issue #98, enlarging it 50%. They were such fun to stitch. I originally made them to give as presents, but so far have only parted with one - maybe I’ll be ready to part with them next year?!’
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Carolyn, not only do we love your Guild’s tradition of completing a Christmas ornament each year, but we think this year’s ornaments are just divine and aren’t surprised to hear you’re not ready to part with them… just yet anyway!
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‘Christmas projects completed! These have been stitched by a small group of ladies who meet at a local embroidery shop near York in the UK. All the stitchers are very pleased with results!’
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Shirley, you should all absolutely be pleased with the results as your versions of Christmas Bouquet and Mistletoe Bell are picture perfect! We look forward to seeing what project you put your needles and threads to next.
We were hoping to share some more seasonal stitching with you, but alas the stitching stocking is empty! If you’ve created something with needle and thread that celebrates Christmas, we’d love to see it. Email photos of what you’ve created that celebrates the festive season 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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Golden Glow by Penny Wolswinkel is an ornamental candle with gleaming goldwork - perfect for a Yuletide display.
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PRINTED MAGAZINE
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Inspirations Issue 104
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Golden Glow
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Deck the Halls by Jenny McWhinney from Inspirations issue #56 is a delightful Christmas table runner.
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Deck the Halls
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PRINTED MAGAZINE
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Inspirations Issue 56
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Good Tidings by Jenny Brown from Inspirations issue #24 is two gorgeous Christmas cards that depict the very essence of the festive season.
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Good Tidings
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Toy Chest Etui by Betsy Morgan is a charming box etui shaped like a toy chest with antique toy-inspired accessories.
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PRINTED BOOK
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Willing Hands
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READY-TO-STITCH KIT
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Toy Chest Etui
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Toy Soldiers by Susan O'Connor from Inspirations issue #13 is a superb blanket emblazoned with Grenadier guardsmen.
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Toy Soldiers
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Rock a Bye Baby by Kris Richards from Inspirations #29 is a nostalgic baby blanket featuring a charming rocking horse.
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DIGITAL PATTERN
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Rock a Bye Baby
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‘Reflection and action must never be undertaken independently.’
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~ Paulo Freire ~
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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.
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If you’re holding an event or would like to suggest one to be added, we’d love to hear about it. Email us the details at news@inspirationsstudios.com
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© 2019 Inspirations Studios
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