The welcome in All Stitched Up! issue #269 encouraged us to be consistent in showing up for ourselves and unpacked the idea that whilst showing up doesn’t guarantee progress, it does mean we put ourselves in the right place and, more often than not, we find that’s all we need to start ourselves moving in the right direction.

Not long after penning those words, an email from Huit Denim pointed us in the direction of a video that made us realise just how important showing up really is.

Produced by Strayer University, it showed a chalkboard placed in the middle of New York City with ‘Write Your Biggest Regret?’ scrawled across the top. Over the course of a day, the video captured people contemplating then recording their responses.

As the board filled, the answers varied depending on whose story they represented but a common theme became apparent. Many of the regrets began with ‘not’. Three simple letters that meant something hadn’t been pursued.

After being given an eraser, those who wrote on the chalkboard were given the chance to wipe away their answer, and upon doing so realised a clean slate lay before them. A slate that offered the opportunity to do the things they’d regretted not doing.

Perhaps it’s a needle and thread not. A technique, project or class you’ve only dreamt of but are yet to make a reality. It may be that you’ve been waiting for the right time or place, but what if life continues to get in the way and that perfect time and/or place doesn’t eventuate?

It will mean that your ‘not’ will always remain just that. Something you’d wished you’d pursued but never gotten around to doing.

The video closed with a simple graphic, ‘It’s never too late to make it happen’. So why not use today as a clean slate, show up for yourself and start doing the things you’ll regret not doing?

‘A long time ago, on the small island known as Manhattan, there was a man who was attracted to shiny and bright, gold and silver threads…’

Thus, begins the story of a truly amazing store in the USA which caught our eye. In many ways it embodies the philosophy we’ve discussed in recent weeks about falling back in love with your stash. Tinsel Trading has been collecting and selling antique, historic and merely old metal threads, appliqués, ribbons, sequins and anything else shiny and wonderful for well over 80 years.

Arch J. Bergoffen bought The French Tinsel Company in 1933 after having worked there for a number of years. The original company had imported metal threads from France (commonly known as ‘tinsel’ at the time). By the time WWII began, Mr. B, as he was affectionately known, had collected and stockpiled thousands of spools of metal thread which he could now supply to the government for uniforms.

Despite the demand, it barely made a dent in Mr. B’s extensive collection. Once the war ended, it became necessary for him to expand his offering to include various embellishments, trims and ribbons, all in sparkling metallic and an array of different colours.

However, it soon became clear that not everyone was interested in metal trims, so Mr. B needed to expand his retail business. Rather than insisting on newly manufactured products, his love for antiques led him to seek out and accrue threads, trims and accessories of all kinds, as long as they had been manufactured before 1960. It turned out that he barely needed to leave home.

When Arch J. Bergoffen died in 1989, his granddaughter, Marcia, who had been working in the store since she was a child, carried his passion on.

One of her first tasks was to sort out the enormous amount of stock that was stored in every nook and cranny of their New York warehouse, filling the basement, spilling into aisles and almost reaching the ceiling. It took years to inventory everything but the result was a treasure trove, probably unmatched anywhere in the world.

Increasing rents and a need for space as the business grew led to a move across the country to Berkley, California. Tinsel Trading also embraced technology (‘kicking and screaming’ as Marcia admits) and eventually their unrivalled range of products became available to buy online, allowing people from all over the world to discover the perfect thread or trim, or a hidden gem they might never have discovered anywhere else.

You can spend hours looking through the catalogue on the Tinsel Trading website, and one can only imagine what other delights must be available in the actual store. But retail aside, what we loved so much about this story was how the owners of this business, past and present, valued items which they already had, and which were already in existence.

If we haven’t already encouraged you to go back to your stash, then maybe this wonderful story will help.

While you open up the boxes you haven’t looked at for years, or wind an old, unravelled thread back onto its bobbin, just imagine the sheer delight that Marcia must have experienced as she rediscovered some of the untouched treasures her grandfather had preserved so many years before.

It isn’t just about a new thread or button for your latest project. It is the holding of history, complete with the individual stories, in the palm of your hand.

You can learn more about Tinsel Trading by visiting their website HERE or check them out on Instagram HERE.

As the year settles into its rhythm and February moves into March, many of us will be looking for a project that breaks with routine and offers a real challenge. The March calendar project fits that requirement to perfection.

Designed by the immensely talented Jenny Adin-Christie, the delicate Blackwell Roundel is up there with the most breathtaking projects we’ve ever published. The project formed one of the many exquisite designs released in our book A Passion for Needlework 2 | Factoria VII.

The variation in stitches, materials and techniques in this piece is immense. Implementing a range of goldwork techniques, while blending a series of sublime autumnal colours with rich beading, glorious golden sparkles and delicate background stitching, the final result is beautiful beyond words.

Jenny was inspired by the design and décor of Blackwell, a house overlooking Lake Windemere in the Lake District in Cumbria, UK. This house represents the pinnacle of the Arts and Crafts Movement, filled with elements designed by every leading name in the Movement from the early Twentieth Century.

Jenny has sympathetically gained inspiration from her artistic forbears and brought them together in a project which will delight and challenge even the most skilful of stitchers.

Indoor plants are a fantastic thing to have – evidence shows that they bring calm to a room and reintroduce nature to built-up environments. However, remembering to water them can be a challenge so succulents are often chosen for indoor plants due to their low maintenance, although even they are subject to neglect.

Now, we are not suggesting that any of our readers neglect their plants! But wouldn’t it be nice to have the pleasure of indoor plants without having to worry about their ongoing care? What about crocheting a group of the cutest little succulents imaginable?

Crochet an Aloe Vera, a Fenestraria or a flowering Escobaria Abdita. There are 15 different types of plants to crochet, in an array of colours, styles and textures and all guaranteed to be easy care and to last forever.

One of these plants would make a perfect gift for the busy gardener or hook up the whole set and turn your office or workspace into a haven of green. While the crocheted version may not quite replicate the full botanic experience afforded by a living plant, they are a lovely place to start.

Inspirations has been publishing the world’s most beautiful embroidered blanket patterns from the very beginning, and today have one of the largest catalogues of needlework blanket designs available.

The good news is that as of today we can answer that question easily for you… from our website!

We are now stocking cut pieces of cashmere blanketing, sized perfectly for the majority of patterns published in Inspirations magazine and books.

Our cashmere blanketing is available in five different colours: cream; camel; baby pink; baby blue and navy blue. These gorgeous pieces are 15% cashmere and 85% wool and are so soft, even the most sensitive baby will be comforted.

Additionally, we also stock heavy doctor’s flannel in cream. These pieces are as warm as toast and are just perfect for cot blankets and lap blankets alike.

So now is the perfect time to revisit all those patterns you’ve loved but were unable to stitch as you didn’t have access to the blanketing. Click below to let the embroidered blanket boom begin!

There is no denying that COVID-19 disrupted all of our lives and continues to do so, so it is always a pleasure to be able to talk about members of the embroidery community working through the challenges.

The South Australian Embroiderers' Guild, like guilds and groups all over the world, has had its share of difficulties, one of which was the cancellation of its bi-annual exhibition in 2020. However, thanks to hard work, perseverance and a whole measure of passion, the exhibition is to be staged in 2021.

Entitled ‘Nature by Needle’, the exhibition will run at the SA Embroiderers' Guild’s beautiful premises in Mile End, Adelaide, from the 6th to the 21st March. On display will be a host of embroidered works, all inspired by the colours, textures and patterns of the natural world.

Included in the display will be many original works, all of which will be in the running to be selected for the coveted Peg Saddler award. Peg was one of the founding members of the Guild. Her presence is still celebrated throughout the organisation, not least in the spacious premises, where the exhibition is able to be held even during these continuingly difficult times.

If you are fortunate enough to be in Adelaide during the exhibition, it will be well worth a visit, with further details including opening times and group bookings available on their website HERE.

Even in the face of the largest challenges, the passion of the embroidery community shines through.

It’s that time again! Every month, we’re going to highlight a number of artists who are doing amazing things with their needle and threads, each of whom we’ve been eagerly following on social media. There really is simply no end to the talent out there…

@Tamembro demonstrates that exquisite embroidery need not be overly complicated or detailed. There is immense beauty in simplicity. Check out more of their work HERE.

Emma Freeman explores the art of fabric meditation. Her works encourage the process of being in the moment with one’s needle and thread, with stunning results. View more HERE.

You are guaranteed to enjoy Jessica Lee’s work Fables and Tales, a collection of embroidered knitwear for dolls. Even if you just marvel at how absolutely tiny her designs are! Click HERE for more.

Alex Morales from Texas, USA, specialises in handmade patches, as well as doing a bit of weaving on the side. View more of her work HERE.

For more Stitching on Social, don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook pages where our daily posts feature amazing designs, artists and projects created from all types of textiles to ensure you never run out of inspiration!

From wares to kits and all kinds of tricks, if it has recently come back in stock, you’ll discover it below.

Helen M. Stevens has been designing beautiful embroidery projects for decades. Her silk embroidery designs are so well known and loved that she rarely needs introduction as her magnificent projects virtually speak for themselves.

At Inspirations, we are always proud to showcase her work, and as one of our most popular regular contributors, we know you enjoy and appreciate her designs as well.

However, you might be asking yourself who Aetna is and why this study of English Fenland flowers carries the name. Although you’re undoubtedly aware of Helen’s skill as a designer, what you may not have realised is that she is also a talented writer of fiction as well.

Over the course of her long career, Helen has researched the 10th Century in Britain extensively as it informed a great deal of her work and ignited her passion.

In 2019, Helen collated all her incredible knowledge, built over her years of research, and wrote a historical novel entitled The Saxon Twins: The Needle and The Sword. In this novel, she weaves together fact and fiction in a sweeping story following the lives of twins Wulf and Aetna.

Aetna is left orphaned with her brother and in the care of their maternal uncle, the Ealdorman of Essex. The two children soon become entangled in court intrigues, conspiracies and power struggles as the new nation of England is slowly brought into being.

While Wulf fights with a sword, Aetna’s weapon of choice is her needle which she wields in surprising and effective ways. With sweeping descriptions and richly drawn characters, the story shows that strength and power come in many forms and brute force does not always win out.

Mignonette, Solomon’s seal, purple thistle and milk parsley are gathered together with an exquisite bow and are hovered over by a majestic swallowtail butterfly.

All of the elements of this incredible design are worked in shimmering silk. By employing an array of stitches resulting in a riot of different colours and textures, Aetna’s Bouquet represents Helen M. Stevens’s skill at its finest.

If you haven’t already, we highly recommend you track down a copy of Helen’s book. Allow yourself to be carried away into her fantastic world, filled with fascinating and thrilling characters and endless plot twists and turns. It will provide the perfect context for stitching Aetna’s Bouquet.

What better way to develop the perfect connection with your stitches than to immerse yourself into the world of the woman who gives her name to the project? And if you weren’t completely floored by Helen’s talent before, you certainly will be now.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Aetna’s Bouquet by Helen M. Stevens is a charming silk embroidery celebrating wildflowers from the fenlands of England.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Aetna’s Bouquet includes everything* you need to re-create this charming scene: Fabric (unprinted), seed pearls, 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 magazine/digital pattern.

Double Take by Helen M. Stevens from Inspirations issue #98 is a charming silk embroidered finch resting on sweet honeysuckle, in two colourways.

Peas & English Daisies by Susan O’Connor is a beautiful, embroidered pinwheel with Elizabethan inspired botanicals.

Bird of Paradise by Helen M. Stevens from Inspirations issue #43 is a glorious peacock worked in silk and gold threads.

Chatelaine by Susan O’Connor from Inspirations issue #89 is an elegant collection of scissor sheath, needle book and pinwheel.

When it comes to the harmony of the finish, the stitches you work are often just as important as the final shape of your embroidered project. Although it is often easier to frame rectangular or square designs, just look at how creative our readers have been when it comes to working circular projects…

You might remember that we featured a partially finished project from Christine in All Stitched Up! issue #260. She kindly sent us a picture of the completed piece which, you will have to admit, is fantastic.

‘My ‘Corona’ is now finished and I hope you like the way I completed it.’

Indeed we do, Christine. It is now beautiful, practical, and a wonderful reminder to you of all we overcame in 2020.

‘I do not remember a time when I did not have a needle and thread in my hand. I have been stitching and sewing since I was a small child. After retirement I joined the EGA and ANG and discovered a whole world of embroidery techniques I wanted to explore. My favourites are silk and metal and threadpainting but I also love needlelace.’

‘This piece came from my love of animals and nature. I have a large collection of seashells that I have acquired over the years, so I decided it would be nice to have them on display. My inspiration came from ‘Lace’ by Virginia Churchill Bath, published in 1974.’

It is a wonderfully unique piece, Rachel, and a creative way of displaying some of your treasured seashells. Well done!

‘Here are a few of my many ‘hooped projects’.’

‘This first one I designed for my granddaughter in 2018 when she turned 7 years old. I travelled from Canada to Australia to visit and brought it with me. My granddaughter loved it!’

‘The second was created as a gift for my niece-in-law. Since her favourite colour is green, her birthstone is the pearl and her birth flower is the rose, these were all included in the design. I love to create personal, one-of-a-kind gifts with my embroidery and tatting skills.’

‘The last one was stitched as a fund raiser for my Embroidery Guild, using an iron-on transfer for part of the design and stitched with variegated thread.

My journey with embroidery began in 2010 when I made a quilt block for a raffle in an online tatting group. That was when I fell in love with embroidery. From there, I began to crazy quilt and started building my skills through books, classes and the local Embroiderers’ Guild.’

All of your pieces are wonderfully personal and creative, Susan. We’re sure the recipients must have loved them just as much as we do!

‘My favourite sewing technique is Brazilian embroidery. Being in lockdown in Michigan, USA, has given me more time to stitch. I recently finished ‘Verana’ from Edmar. I used #15 seed beads instead of French knots.’

And the result is really exquisite, Kathleen! We’re glad you have used your time so productively.

Is shape important to you when you choose a project? Do you plan how you are going to mount it or construct it before you’ve even begun? Or do you just fall in love, start stitching, and worry about what you are going to do with it when it is complete?

However you like to stitch and whatever shape your projects take, we’d love to see them. Send us a photograph as well as a bit of information about the project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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The Great Charter by Mike Parr is a whitework needlebook and scissor fob, embellished with a kingly monogram inspired by the Magna Carta.

First Mate by Julie Graue from Inspirations issue #94 is a delightful baby romper with monogram and crown.

Love Letters by Elisabetta Sforza from Inspirations issue #89 features an elegant floral monogram on a pristine linen cushion.

Versailles Chatelaine by Susan O’Connor from A Passion for Needlework | Factoria VII is an elegant silk needlebook with a monogram, pinwheel, scissor sheath and fob.

Prized Possessions by Julie Graue from Inspirations issue #69 is a stunning monogrammed jewellery roll.

~ Chicken Shed Chronicles ~

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.