‘It takes a village’ is an African proverb that is familiar to many of us. Whilst it is most often used in relation to raising children, the truth is, it’s applicable to almost every area of our lives as the help and involvement of others is often needed if we’re to succeed at achieving our goals and dreams.

The value of taking the time to build a village was brought home in a recent email from Hannah Brencher. In her email, Hannah unpacked the moment she realised she needed a village and then took us on a journey through the steps she took to build one.

She started by getting honest with the people around her, letting them in on the ‘real’ Hannah rather than just ‘the parts of (her) that looked shiny and impressive’. From there, she worked on building relationships that went beyond a single coffee together. She made herself available to others by asking, ‘What need can I meet? How can I bless others?’ Instead of trying to do everything herself, Hannah said yes when others offered help. Most of all though, Hannah became consistent in simply showing up.

Before long she realised those small, intentional steps when put on repeat, allowed her relationships to blossom from acquaintance to tribe.

When we’re honest with those who share our passion about what we struggle with in our needlework journey, accept the help offered (whether it be perfecting a new technique, transferring a design or simply letting someone else thread that all too small needle!), offer help to those around us by sharing a skill that helps meet their needlework needs and simply show up consistently whether it be to our online community, local guild or stitch ‘n chat group, we too will build a village that will support our success with all things needle and thread.

And just like Hannah, we’ll find that ‘there’s beauty in the cycle . . . the village forms. The people come. The village gets stronger and bolder and brighter.’

We all need a village and it’s never too late to start building one.

Acts of kindness and compassion do not need to be huge. Sometimes, people are afraid to act because they fear their contribution won’t be enough to make a difference. But it only takes a small thing to make an enormous impact in the life of someone in need. This is what counsellor and stitcher Sarah de Jong realised when she first conceived of the 1000 Hearts project.

Sarah had spent many years working in non-profit organisations, including Lifeline and the Cancer Council in Tasmania, Australia.

Sarah started making tiny felt ‘pocket hearts’ which were stitched with love and good intentions. Her plan was to hand them to people in crisis to offer them kindness, compassion and love at the time they needed it most.

She hand-stitched 1000 hearts on her own, then gave them to volunteers who passed them on to people who they felt needed them most. It didn’t take long before the volunteers were asking for more, and very soon a community of stitchers grew, all of whom were making pocket hearts to hand out.

One might think that a tiny felt heart couldn’t achieve much, however symbols mean more than we realise in our society, and these little hearts are strong symbols of courage, hope, comfort and support. The fact that each one is made by hand rather than manufactured in a factory, and that each and every one of them is unique, infuses the symbol with even more importance. There is a wonderful connection which exists between the person making the heart and the person receiving it – something that doesn’t arise in a mass-produced item.

When you look at the gallery on the 1000 Hearts website, you can see that the hearts come in all colours, some with embroidered embellishments, others just plain. But each one is made with love and care by a ‘heartist’ who has given up their time to make a difference to a stranger who they will probably never meet.

Sarah says: ‘I have sent hearts to people impacted by the Orlando nightclub shooting, the bombing in Manchester and the Grenfell Tower inferno in London.’ They have also gone to charities, services and even individuals who just need a bit of love.

To date, the organisation has now handed out over 8000 hearts to people all over the world.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Sarah de Jong and the 1000 Hearts project, you can take a look at her website or Facebook page to see the work she’s been doing. There you can find information about how to get involved and become a ‘heartist’, including downloading the pattern template so you can start making your own hearts.

You can also get inspiration from the stories and the photos on the website, which introduce you to the people who have offered their time to get involved.

Sometimes we forget that it’s the little things that make all the difference. Perhaps you can think of a time in your own life when a tiny heart from a stranger would have made things seems a little bit better. We’re grateful to people like Sarah who have understood that, and made it happen.

Thank you to Prue Batten for bringing Sarah and her fantastic organisation to our attention.

When you take a needle out from your needlebook or grab one from your pincushion, how do you know what type of needle it is? While you can usually tell if it is a sharp or a tapestry needle, trying to determine the size often comes down to guess work.

Our original needle guide was first released around 8 years ago and has been extremely popular ever since, so we decided it was time for an update and redesign.

New Needles Added

Displaying everything from Milliner’s needles and Darners through to Tapestry needles and ‘Betweens’, the images are actual size so you can simply lay your unknown needle on the card to discover exactly what it is.

As part of our update, we have now added a range of beading needles as well as including some additional sizes in other categories to create a more comprehensive guide.

Two Designs Available

When our design team developed the concepts for the new Needle Guide, there were two final contenders to choose from. The first was based on the project Flowers of Panicale by Paola Matteucci and the other from Tree of Life by Margaret Light.

They were both so beautiful that rather than pick between the two, we have released both designs so that you can chose your own favourite or buy one of each!

Keep a card handy in your stitching bag and another one at home on your sewing table and you’ll always know you’re using the right needle for the project.

Essential for your kit and perfect as a gift, the new Inspirations Needle Guide Cards are now available for purchase below.

If you’re taking a break from stitching, but still feel the itch to create, then crochet could be just the thing you’re looking for. We were scanning our shelves the other day and noticed we still had a few copies of Stylish Succulents to Crochet available, so we thought we’d remind you about it.

Stylish Succulents to Crochet is filled with cute crochet patterns for you to create an entire greenhouse filled with colourful plants, only with no dirt and no need to worry about watering!

Easy to hook up and absolutely gorgeous to look at, these crocheted succulents are perfect for gardeners and non-gardeners alike. We’ve only got a few copies left so order yours today.

Nicola Jarvis is famous for her stunning studies of birds. Every one of her gorgeous projects combines different threads and stitches, and always incorporates plenty of sparkle, beads and metallic thread.

One of her most spectacular pieces is The Linnet from our book A Passion for Needlework 2 | Factoria VII and this week we’re excited to announce its release as a digital pattern.

The Linnet is an enchanting silk and goldwork bird, rendered in profile and sporting a gorgeous, sparkling crown atop his little head. He’s seated in a gilded cage and worked on a soft blue background that makes this project even more striking.

With its debut as a digital pattern, you can now download the instructions today and get started on The Linnet immediately. Better still, we even have a few kits still in stock which means you don’t have to source the materials yourself.

The Ready-To-Stitch kit contains all of the threads, beads, sequins and fabric you need to stitch Nicola’s little bird. Begin or complete your bird collection today with The Linnet.

Nicole McLaughlin is an artist who has spent her career bridging the mediums of ceramics and fibre, producing fascinating art works which speak to her Mexican-American heritage.

Understanding the permanence of ceramic and combining it with the flexibility of thread, Nicole’s art pays homage to her background, to the idea of the feminine and to questions of memory and personal history.

In particular, her embroidered vessels or Bordados mix brilliant colour with floral motifs, all of which have been inspired by the traditional dresses of Mexico that she remembers as a child.

Using inspiration from her own life, Nicole McLaughlin has created a body of work that is both unique and beautiful. You can view all of her work at her website or follow her on Instagram HERE.

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

Flowers come in all shapes and sizes, but most people imagine brightly coloured blooms with distinct petals that look stunning in bouquets or flower arrangements. However, plenty of flowers grow on trees rather than directly in the ground, and some of the most beautiful flowers, especially in Australia, don’t even have petals.

Australia is famous for its more than 700 species of Eucalyptus trees. These trees come in all shapes and sizes, from the enormous Eucalyptus regnans or ‘stringy gum’ with towering trunks, all the way through to the Bell Fruited Mallee which rarely grows to more than 3m in height.

What makes the flower of the Eucalyptus tree unique is the fact that they don’t have petals in the traditional sense. Rather, the colour comes from the stamens that attract bees or birds who act as pollinators for the plant. It is the petals that are fused together into a cap, known as the operculum. This cap is shed at the time that the stamens burst forth with their bright and attractive colours.

When it comes to flowering gum trees, one of the most vibrant and well known is the Red Flowering Gum or Corymbia ficifolia. Although this is a small tree, the fiery red floral display is breathtaking. This spectacular native is the subject of Alison Cole’s latest dramatic stumpwork project that appears in Inspirations issue #110.

Aptly titled Fireflower, Alison’s gorgeous design is worked on a black background that emphasises the brilliance of the colours. Alison has an incredible eye for natural detail, and this project demonstrates that perfectly. Combining detached elements and surface details in perfect harmony, Fireflower is a striking project that will look incredible in any room.

What sets this particular piece apart is the wonderful use of texture. By selecting different elements of the actual tree, including leaves at different stages of development, fully open flowers and ripe buds, Fireflower captures the Red Flowering Gum in all of its glory.

By using a variegated silk and long and short stitch, each leaf emerges with a unique colour pattern. The smoothness of the buds is rendered by working satin stitch blocks at right angles and in harmonious shades of red and pink.

Upon first glancing at this stunning project, what you might miss is the wonderful detail that Alison has worked in amongst the flowers. A closer look will reveal a busy bee, buzzing from bloom to bloom, collecting pollen as it goes.

The tiny wings are created using wire and organza and the body is formed from bullions and Ghiordes knots. Once you see him, your eye will go to him each time as he busily goes about his business in this beautiful native bouquet.

In order to successfully complete Fireflower, Alison recommends working the surface elements first and then attaching the detached elements afterwards. That way you will get the placement absolutely right and you can be sure each element will remain where they are supposed to be without any risk of them being knocked out of place.

Of course, you can work the detached elements separately first if you are eager to get going on them, but it is best if you only cut them out once they are all completed.

Despite the rugged landscape and hot, dry conditions that many Australian native trees face, the floral displays that they produce remains a sight to be seen. Fireflower allows you to immortalise that display and hang it in your own home, where you will get the pleasure of enjoying it all year around.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Fireflower by Alison Cole is a stunning red-flowering gum with stumpwork leaves, blossoms and bee.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Fireflower includes everything* you need to re-create this spectacular scene: Fabrics (unprinted), wool felt, wires, 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.

Golden Wattle by Julie Kniedl from Botanica is a graceful stem of wattle with fluffy yellow flowers, leaves and plump buds.

Flower Power by Judy Stephenson from Inspirations issue #58 is a lifelike study of a flowering gum.

Native Colour by Bev Stayner from Inspirations issue #73 captures the intense colour of Australian native flora in raised embroidery.

Old Friends by Jan Bergman from Inspirations issue #88 is a glorious dimensional basket of striking proteas and grevillea.

In art, landscape painting has been popular for centuries. Often rendered in watercolour, but just as frequently painted in oils, it doesn’t matter what gallery you attend, you’ll find walls filled with landscape paintings from all over the world.

But landscapes aren’t simply the preserve of painters – embroiderers love them too. Embroidered landscapes can be equally, if not more, stunning, so here are a few for you to enjoy:

‘Jo Butcher’s Sea View meadow scenes inspired me to do these four. I needed presents for four people that all live near coast lines here in the United States; three in California and one on the Gulf Coast. I didn’t want them all the same so I mixed it up a bit.’

‘I really enjoyed the painting for the backgrounds. I had never done that before. These kept me busy during this past crazy year. It made staying at home bearable.’

They are all so different and so lovely, Greta. It’s fabulous how you’ve taken one scene and added your own interpretation each time. Congratulations on creating some absolutely stunning gifts.

‘I have embroidered for about 50 years, wandering across various techniques from ribbon embroidery to crewel work. However, what I most enjoy working in the simple French knot.’

‘I design my own landscape embroideries and complete them primarily in this simple stitch. Here is a photo of an embroidery I have worked on for some time. It just needs to be framed as soon as we are out of lockdown.’

It’s hard to believe you have primarily used one stitch, Norma! What a wonderful result, that will look stunning when it is framed and hanging on the wall.

‘A dear friend taught me how to paint my fabric for In Flanders Fields by Jo Butcher that appeared in Inspirations issue #99. I loved every minute of working on this project. The poppies are so lovely and reminded me of my brother selling them every year for the Knights of Columbus in our city.’

The background is fantastic and the stitching is wonderful, Peggy. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

‘Here are a few examples of my embroidery. I started stitching as a student nurse on night duty in the late 1940s, and I have been enjoying it ever since.’

‘I stitched with a local group for many years and have always loved creating projects to sell or fundraise. I’ve always done embroidery for the enjoyment as I’d be completely lost without it.’

You produce beautiful work, Josie. With so much experience, it is a joy to see that you’re still getting pleasure out of your embroidery.

Do you enjoy stitching landscapes, or have you tried portraits instead? If landscapes are your thing, are there particular scenes or locations you love? Are they real or fantastical?

Whatever it is you like to stitch, we’d love to see what you’re doing. Send us a picture of your work and a bit of information about the project and your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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Limonera Pear by Christine Burton from the book A Passion for Needlework | Blakiston Creamery is an inventive three-dimensional pear pincushion featuring contemporary blackwork.

Eglantyne by Kris Richards from Inspirations issue #56 is an exquisite Victorian style pincushion.

Nero Fiore by Carol J. Young from Inspirations issue #76 is a beautiful pin cushion embroidered with classic blackwork motifs.

Renaissance by Elisabetta Holzer Spinelli from Inspirations issue #74 is a brightly coloured biscornu pincushion decorated with innovative Estense embroidery.

Sweet Treats by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #92 is a set of cute little pincushions showcasing a variety of counted thread designs.

~ Gina Bellman ~

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.