We recently happened upon a segment on the radio where they were discussing gadgets.

Whilst we didn’t catch the beginning of the conversation, we entered as the host and her listeners were eagerly discussing the oldest gadgets that were still in use in their homes.

The first caller commented that he was the oldest gadget still in use at his house!

From there, there was no shortage of gadgets being put forward. The two most noteworthy were a light bulb that was still lighting a laundry after 35 years of continuous use and a fridge, bought in the 1920’s, whose power source had been converted from kerosene to gas and was only now being retired in favour of an electric model.

Naturally, this got us thinking about the gadgets we use, and it wasn’t long before stitching gadgets became front and centre of our ponderings.

Whilst not in use today, one of Inspirations’ team members remembered her Knitting Nancy, also known as a French Knitter, that was given to her as a child.

Although we wouldn’t want to divulge her age by dating ‘Nancy’, let’s just say it’s older than the light bulb mentioned above, but nowhere near as old as the kerosene refrigerator!

We would love to know what gadgets from yesteryear are still in use in your stitching toolbox. Is it possible that you have the oldest gadget within the Inspirations community?! Email the details, age and perhaps even a photo of your gadget to news@inspirationsstudios.com. No matter how simple or complex, we can’t wait to see your go-to gadget!

One of the results of the internet age is that we can enjoy learning about the work of others regardless of the country they live. However, despite more than 50% of the information on the internet being written in English – a startling statistic, seeing as only 20% of the world actually speaks the language – there is still a lot of information which is unreachable due to language barriers.

For our purposes, this means that there are a lot of embroidery artists out there who we simply don’t know about because either the information written on them is not in English, or because they are a member of the majority which doesn’t communicate in English. As such, their stories are much harder for us to discover.

At Inspirations Studios we do our best to bring you profiles of artists from different countries, as well as featuring designs from all parts of the world, but we are very conscious of our own limitations in this regard.

One way of rectifying this is to connect with those incredible people who are bi- or multi-lingual and who can help to introduce us to needlework artisans whose language and life experiences differ from our own.

For instance, one of our international collaborators is Claire De Pourtales from Le Temps de Broder, who works hard to showcase French speaking textile artists. Claire recently translated her interview with Céline Lepage for us. Céline is an embroidery artist whose colourful works have been highly influenced by her travels in Turkey, Morocco and India. Céline, who now exhibits and teaches, has developed her own style from these influences, as well as classes she took to learn Glazig, a style of embroidery from Brittany.

Although many needlework techniques that are common in the English-speaking world stemmed from non-English speaking countries, such as Hardanger, Kantha and Chinese Silk embroidery to name but a few, there are so many more techniques out there to discover. Céline’s work with Glazig embroidery is one example. Our recent article in All Stitched Up! issue #237 on Toda embroidery from Tamil Nadu in India is another.

But there are many others carrying on traditional needlework techniques passed down from their ancestors as well as others inventing and developing new needlework traditions from all over the world.

Claire’s efforts are so important. Although there is such a thing as Google Translate, it is by no means perfect, so being able to openly share the information from her is a tiny step forward in realising the universality of our craft. And this is something that each and every one of us can help with by sharing our work visually.

Although it might seem intimidating to open a website or a book, or even a conversation, and be met with a language we don’t understand, there might just be a treasure within it, waiting to be discovered.

A wonderful way of starting that journey is to explore highly visual resources such as Instagram. It doesn’t matter what language someone’s profile is written in – everyone can understand the beauty of the photographs and the work depicted therein.

The visual medium is a way for us to communicate without the difficulty of words and acts as a first step to connecting with other embroiderers from all over the world. When people share a passion, they will always find ways to understand each other which transcend mere verbal communication.

We all need to make the effort to see beyond what we might not understand, in order to realise how much we share.

If you’d like to read more about Céline Lepage, you can find the translated article on our website HERE.

Also, Claire’s website Le Temps de Broder which translates to ‘Time to Stitch’, offers the perfect way to start discovering non-English speaking artists and embroiderers. You can check it out HERE.

It is in French but is filled with images and stories which you may never have seen before, although you might find a few of your favourite Inspirations digital patterns available there – in French of course!

2020 has definitely started out as a year for the history books, and while we’re only just over halfway, here at Inspirations we’re already looking ahead to 2021.

So to help you make a start in that direction, today we’re launching the Inspirations 2021 wall calendar.

Our 2021 calendar is filled with stunning images of some of your favourite projects from Inspirations books and magazines. You’ll start the year with Maria Rita Faleri’s gorgeous knotted key fobs from Inspirations issue #103, delight over Jenny Adin-Christie’s Blackwell Roundel from A Passion For Needlework – Factoria VII just before Easter, and then celebrate with Betsy Morgan’s Christmas Spirit from Inspirations issue #104 as the year draws to a close.

For some of us, thinking about 2021 is still a bit too far away, but it will be here before we know it, so why not get in early and purchase a calendar that will bring you inspiration and joy each and every month.

Inspirations 2021 calendars are now in stock and are the perfect gift for all your friends, family and of course yourself to enjoy throughout the coming year.

It’s cold! Well, here at Inspirations HQ it’s cold! We envy all of you across the world who are well into summer right now, but we’re shivering away, huddling near the fire at night and peering through the fog in order to get to work in the morning.

Because it is so cold, our minds have turned to blankets, and we have got the perfect book if you’re planning on starting a cosy blanket for that little person in your life. Lynne Rowe’s ‘Fairytale Blankets to Crochet’ is filled with easy-to-hook, corner-to-corner projects which simply explode with cuddle-factor!

It doesn’t matter what they’re into – unicorns, wolves, dragons or princesses, one of these hooded blankets will surely suit. Each project includes a pattern for matching bunting, so the lucky recipient can decorate their room before snuggling down with their blanket and their favourite story.

Any child would be enchanted to receive one of these crocheted blankets, there’s no doubt. But there’s probably an adult or two out there who would be just as eager to cuddle up with a really good book, a hot cup of tea and a snuggly warm fairytale blanket over their knee. Just don’t tell the kids…

As many of us around the world are beginning to enjoy the benefits of less restrictions, we’re also now starting to see some of the amazing creations that came out of the enforced lockdown.

Like many, textile artist Anne Kelly’s work dried up and her freedom to head out for supplies was curtailed, so she put her creativity to work and, using materials she had at hand, made a ‘Quarantine Quilt.’

Using an old quilt of her grandmother’s as the base, Anne put together previously worked embroideries and samples to create this colourful, personal piece.

It is wonderful to see what kind of creative work comes out of a difficult situation. Not to mention what we can do when just limited to our own stash!

You can read more about Anne and her Quarantine Quilt HERE.

It is hard to believe that it has been three years since we lost the extraordinarily talented Julie Kniedl. Julie is missed as acutely today as ever, but her unrivalled skills live on in the range of exquisite projects which she designed, so many of which have been preserved in her book ‘Botanica’.

After releasing Botanica in 2019, it has continued to be one of our most popular publications. We never tire of seeing the many pictures of finished projects from this book worked so lovingly by our community, who embrace Julie’s amazing three-dimensional pieces with a passion.

Each project is so lifelike, with the tiny details rendered so perfectly, it is little wonder that the book has remained a constant favourite.

Take the elegant Lemon for instance. This project consists not just of the ripe fruit itself, but includes a glossy leaf, a delicate lemon blossom and several bursting floral buds to complete the piece.

The lemon element is constructed on a felt base, stitched over using long and short stitch to achieve the perfect texture. One can almost smell the tangy citrus scent arising from the skin.

The detached leaf is worked in a perfect shade of deep green, and the blossom is replete with stamens laden with pollen just waiting for a visiting bee.

The Lemon is just one of several fruits which feature in Botanica, allowing the embroiderer to recreate the abundance of nature with perfect verisimilitude, but without any chance of the fruit withering, rotting or being eaten! These projects really are the ideal way of celebrating and preserving the miracle of nature.

Three-dimensional embroidery is the technique which marries real life and art in a way unlike any other. This lemon isn’t just an image of real life, it is real life, simply rendered in a way that makes it everlasting and endlessly beautiful.

We will always be in awe of Julie Kniedl’s imagination and ability to create reality with a needle. Now, every flower or fruit stitched from one of her patterns, carries just a little bit of Julie wrapped up in the love and care of the stitcher who lovingly created it.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Delicate, waxy flowers contrast with the ripe, yellow citrus fruit in this stunning Lemon by Julie Kniedl from Botanica.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Lemon includes everything* you need to re-create this life-like fruit: Fabrics (unprinted), wool felt, wire, beads, crimper, embroidery threads and needles.

*Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the book.

Festive Fruit by Denise Forsyth from Inspirations issue #96 is a selection of fabulous strawberries made from linen textured with pulled thread embroidery.

An Apple a Day by Julie Kniedl from Inspirations issue #103 is an irresistible red apple in three-dimensional embroidery.

Fruit of the Vine by Maria Rita Faleri from the Handpicked range is two bunches of luscious grapes formed with clever knots.

Cherries by Julie Kniedl from Botanica is four luscious red cherries with a bright green leaf.

Not every embroiderer quilts, and not every quilter embroiders, but when the two do come together they can make magic. Inspired by the book, Fairytale Blankets to Crochet, we’re continuing the theme of quilts and blankets with a showcase of some of the fabulous, quilted creations from the Inspirations community:

‘Some years back I made a memory quilt for my husband on his 50th birthday. I made a block for each of the 50 years, getting photographs printed onto cloth wherever possible.’

‘For the early years for which I could find no photos, I embroidered the relevant details, like the postcard announcing his birth or what I imagined his first school looked like. Each block celebrates the most important event of the year, our marriage, the birth of our children, his career highlights, the marriage of his sisters etc.’

‘Every so often at night, I catch him looking intently at one or the other blocks and I know he sleeps warmed by happy memories!’

What an incredible gift, Anuradha. We couldn’t think of a better way of preserving memories and celebrating milestones. This really is a family heirloom. Well done!

‘I have taken crazy-quilt courses through Kathy at shawkl.com and I have attached two examples. The bunny pattern is from Kim at string-or-nothing.com.’

‘I am now working on the final embellishments before turning my project into a wall hanging. I made up the grapevine following advice from Kathy about creating wisteria and using what little knowledge I have of stumpwork practices.’

There’s such creativity in crazy quilting, isn’t there. It is the perfect way of bringing together so many different skills. We look forward to seeing the completed wall hanging.

‘I discovered Trish Burr and long and short stitch when I embroidered the blue bird from an Inspirations magazine. I loved doing it so bought Trish's book of needlepainting and worked my way through all the projects learning more as I went.’

‘I wondered what do with all the pieces so I made a knee quilt which is actually called a ‘quillo’ as it folds up into a cushion. I am quite pleased with the result especially as it was all constructed by hand.’

This is a really creative way of displaying your work, Serena. Your quillo reminds us of the first time we ever heard of such a thing back in Inspirations issue #17 – a very clever idea!

‘I’ve been working on a crazy quilt using thirteen silkies that were designed by Maureen Christie. I embroidered and highlighted the bird silkies using long and short stitch with a single strand of DMC floss.’

‘I chose fabrics for each block that complemented the silkies and then did all the crazy quilting. There are 13 bird blocks in total. I made Russian leaves for butterfly wings and floral leaves.’

The colours are brilliant and the finished quilt is breathtaking, Kathleen. It must have been a lot of fun to be able to use so many different materials and techniques.

‘I love embroidery, whether it is my work or the work of someone else. When a piece gets damaged or dirtied, but the embroidery is intact, I look for ways to recreate the piece.’

‘An antique dealer friend knew of my passion and would supply me with damaged pieces she had acquired. So, over the years I managed to collect enough pieces to finally create this quilt. It contains embroidery pieces that are sentimental to me, and others where I just admired the unknown embroiderer’s design, colours or technique.’

‘I am so happy to be able to cherish the embroidery of so many in a new way. This quilt not only keeps me warm but provides me with constant embroidery inspiration.’

It gives us such joy to see embroiderers preserving the work of their forbears, whether known or anonymous. This is really a wonderful quilt, Marla. Thank you for sharing it with us.

If you are both an embroiderer and a quilter, an embroiderer who loves to quilt, vice versa, or even if you just refuse to see any difference between the techniques, we’d love to see your work. Send your photos with a brief story about your project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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Helix Etui by Betsy Morgan is a vibrant etui pouch with unique spiral construction and matching accessories.

Christmas Spirit by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #104 is a delightful counted thread etui with festive motifs in the colours of Christmas.

Tall Year Square by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #93 is a superbly detailed counted work etui that will take you through the four seasons.

Maria Katarin's Reticule by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #103 is a gorgeous counted work pouch with matching scissor fob, thread winder and ruler.

Gloriana by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #98 is an elegant counted work reticule with needlebook and scissor fob inspired by Mary, Queen of Scots.

~ Neil Degrasse Tyson ~

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.