The opening paragraphs of last week’s All Stitched Up! saw us exploring the idea of making sure we don’t always let the seemingly urgent come before the important as we resolved to approach the year before us a little differently. After penning those words, we realised that ‘life’ had indeed gotten in the way of some of the things we once made a priority.

One of those priorities was setting aside the time to read the words of others as we looked for thoughts, ideas and inspiration as to how they approach the life before them. Much of this we’d then share with you through this very newsletter. It turns out we had a folder of emails from such people we’d not gotten around to reading and we realised just how much we were missing them!

Our resolve? Get reading! And that we have.

We hope you’ll find them as informative and inspirational as we did.

David Hieatt’s opening email of 2022 asked a simple question, ‘What do you want to learn this year?’ He was curious to know what we most wanted to learn about during the year before us. After reading his email, we were curious to know what we most wanted to learn about as well, as it wasn’t something we’d previously considered!

Although we’re yet to resolve what that will be, his question has given us something to ponder. We often think about what we will do or achieve in the 365 days before us, but rarely, if ever, do we deliberately set out to learn something new. We wonder what we’ll come up with?!

The title of Hannah Brencher’s first email this year was ‘Vegetables’, which piqued our curiosity instantly! Hannah then went on to unpack the idea that while she usually chooses a word for the year that is ‘weighty, theological and cerebral’ - such as home, rebuild, vision, prepared - she joked with friends as they passed around a plate of green beans and butternut squash on New Year’s Eve that her word for 2022 would be vegetables.

After giving it some more thought, Hannah settled on the word as she realised for the first time that ‘every new year doesn’t have to be a reset of your entire life, it can simply be a new beginning or a shift in a different direction.’ And so, for Hannah, this will be a year of more trips to the farmers’ market, home-cooked meals and challenging recipes.

We love that both David and Hannah encouraged us to think about the ‘not quite so new’ year before us in a different way than we had in previous years. Here’s to learning something new and simple shifts in different directions…

You may remember last year we discussed collecting books in All Stitched Up! issue #310, especially embroidery books, and how there seems to be a strong connection between the love of books and the love of needlework.

We were so thrilled to hear from our readers, and to learn that we weren’t alone in these twin passions.

Dorte Erichsen from Denmark wrote in to say that she was a fellow book lover and collected embroidery books as well. Her study shelves are filled with them, leaving the living room for art books and novels and the embroidery manuals she uses most often.

Dorte said that she owns embroidery books in many different languages too, even languages she can’t read such as Dutch and Chinese. Yet these books still have wonderful photos and illustrations that transcend language. She also has many ring binders filled with magazines, recipes, and course materials – enough to keep her busy for several lifetimes!

Barbara Wilson loved the photo of the overstuffed bookcase and admitted that hers looked very similar. Barbara doesn’t see it as an addiction, rather that we are a ‘support team’. We support all of those people involved in putting together good books, the printers, distributors and sellers included.

One quote Barbara uses to justify each book purchase is:

Barbara is correct in that many stitchers are also avid gardeners, and she says that all of these pursuits – stitching, reading and gardening – gladden the heart, bring beauty to the eye and feed the imagination. If only we could do all three at once! Imagine what we could achieve!

Jann Pardy admits she’s a bibliophile. She could never live in a small apartment as she’d never have enough room for all her books! She loves diving into her needlework and craft books, whether to help her with a technique or just enjoy some stitched loveliness.

Although she has a lot of fiction, she does give some away to friends or libraries so she has more room on her shelves. Jann says that books have always been her friend and comfort. One of her greatest loves is exploring second-hand book shops for old craft books. She also volunteers for library duty at her Guild, allowing her to spend days in a place that is simply her idea of heaven.

Margaret Blank was also comforted by the photos, as she also has a bookshelf that looks very similar. Isn’t it wonderful to know that so many of us are the same? Margaret has worked across various areas including cross stitch, embroidery, quilting, felting and knitting.

It means her studio bookshelves are filled with books and magazines on all of these topics, including design, composition, colour theory and many, many more. Recently, Margaret has tried culling her books, but only when she’s absolutely certain she won’t want to refer to any of them ever again.

Tastes, styles and interests do change, although she has found that even with this discipline, she hasn’t made much of a dent in her collection. However, the process has led her to organise her titles, especially the magazines. She’s found she’s less inclined to dig out one of her books if it is hidden in a jumble, so organisation is key.

Finally for this week, Mary Moore admitted that she is a great admirer of Helen M. Stevens. In fact, Mary had written to us earlier to thank us for bringing Helen’s online exhibition to her attention in All Stitched Up! issue #303.

Mary travelled to the Amazon when she was younger and had fallen in love with the passion flower that grows wild there. She has always loved Helen’s work, so managed to purchase the original Passion Flower picture.

But it isn’t just Helen M. Stevens’ embroidery that Mary loves. She also has a collection of Helen’s books, which are so beautifully produced that she never tires of looking through them.

On grey, winter days, these books brighten Mary’s spirits. They are full of gorgeous patterns and illustrations and provide endless inspiration.

We’ll bring you more stories from our community of embroidery book lovers next week. In the meantime, it may be time to wander over to the bookshelf and spend a few glorious minutes browsing. Any time is a good time for inspiration!

At Inspirations we love bringing you the finest threads on the market, to ensure that you have the best possible stitching experience. One company that well and truly fits the bill is Cascade House.

Cascade House produces some of the softest silk you’ll ever work with, in a dazzling range of hand-dyed colours. The company also produces ribbon, crewel wool and pearl silk, all in the most exquisite shades imaginable.

Cascade House have been producing hand-dyed embroidery threads since 1994. Robyn, the proprietor, has perfected her art so well that she can produce colours from her extensive knowledge alone, without having to resort to lists, records or colour charts. It just speaks to her skill and experience, particularly when you consider how many incredible colours she produces.

We’re stocking two packs of luxurious stranded silk with each pack containing five gorgeous colours. The first is ‘Sorbet’ with five pastel shades.

The second is ‘Macaron’ containing a range of delicious threads that will work with any project.

These packs are a perfect introduction to Cascade House silks, and we’re confident that once you’ve stitched with them, you’ll be looking for more.

Why not try out one of these packs today, or better still, why not try both? You deserve to stitch with the best, and once you have, you simply won’t want to go back.

Some of you may have undertaken the annual ‘spring clean’ over the Christmas break. With a bit of time on your hands, you may have gone through your stitching stash, getting rid of your old tired, poor-quality items and tidying everything up to make way for the new.

If that’s you, we have the perfect product range to consider.

Cohana embroidery tools are finely crafted in Japan and are made to be durable, long lasting and simply gorgeous.

They include pins, tape measures, mini-scissors and magnetic spools, all essential items for your embroidery kit. You can browse through our range of Cohana accessories on the website where you’ll find an assortment of different colours so you can coordinate your kit with fine, Japanese crafted products.

Whether it’s out with the old, in with the new, or simply more of the finest tools on the market, you’re guaranteed to enjoy your Cohana products each and every time you use them.

Needlework is our sanctuary. It’s a place we can go where everything is beautiful, everything is serene, and we enjoy our very own stitching wonderland.

It’s our mission here at Inspirations to help us all escape to our sanctuaries as often as we can, shut out all the world events and immerse ourselves in the world’s most beautiful needlework.

What better way to begin the new year than with the latest release of Inspirations magazine, issue #113 which is themed ‘Thread Melodies’.

If you’re looking for an exquisite challenge, you’re going to love Window of the Blue Dragonflies by Alison Cole, a stunning stumpwork piece stitched on striking black fabric.

If bags are your passion, Margaret Light’s Woodland Strawberries is a fabulous linen bag adorned with a lovely crewel design. And if Jo Butcher’s work makes your heart sing, then Allium Meadow will be just for you, timed perfectly to coincide with the release of her new book Where Meadows & Gardens Grow.

Anna Scott has created an intricate crewelwork cushion, entitled Mountain Oak using traditional crewel designs and motifs. Cynthia Jackson has produced another silk and gold wonder with Sweet Eglantine.

Christine P. Bishop has spoilt us once more with a gorgeous Reticella embroidery set in white and blue titled Wedgewood.

And in case you thought we weren’t bringing you enough ribbon embroidery, we’ve published a delightful project by Di van Niekerk entitled Wildflowers. This is a perfect introduction to the technique or a welcome new project for lovers of the craft.

Finally, Christine Burton has brought us a perfect little blackwork pincushion, Squarely Check, which offers an ideal project to start out the year taking pride of place on the cover of this issue.

But as you know, Inspirations isn’t just about the projects. It is also filled with fascinating articles, highlighting talented artists from all around the world. This issue you can read about exploring colour in goldwork with a feature on Katherine Diuguid.

You can marvel at the work of Mexican artist Victoria Villasana, and you can meet Hanny Newton, whose deep belief that the creation of art is a conversation between artist and materials will be an inspiration for all.

Inspirations issue #113 is currently shipping to subscribers the world over and will be on the shelves of newsagents and your local needlework store very soon.

Reading all about the fantastic projects in Inspirations issue #113 and salivating over the pictures is one thing. Actually getting your needle threaded and starting on the projects is quite another.

Because we know how eager you all are to get stitching as soon as your magazine arrives, we have Ready-to-Stitch kits for all the projects ready and waiting to ship.

Yes, our kits are always popular, yes they often sell out fast and yes we’re always striving to keep them in stock for you, but the best solution is placing your kit orders early to avoid disappointment.

Shipping delays, postal delays, supply chain delays, it seems all we ever hear at the moment is delays, delays, delays!

If you’re looking to skip the queue and pander to your instant gratification, digital patterns may just be the solution.

Every single one of the eight glorious projects from Inspirations issue #113 is now available as a digital pattern. Purchase them online and download them instantly. Just like that. After all… nothing should get in the way of an inspired stitcher and their next project!

Most New Year’s resolutions tend to revolve around getting healthier or fitter or giving up bad habits. However, one ambitious stitcher from Hull in the UK has decided to replicate Mucha’s Four Seasons in cross stitch to raise money for charity.

Anticipating around 1,000 hours of stitching and comprising over 120,000 stitches, Miranda van Rossum is no stranger to huge projects. She has already stitched a replica of Van Gogh’s The Starry Night, which raised £2,000 for the Hull Foodbank. This new project, which began on the 1st January 2022, will be stitched to benefit the same charity.

Miranda van Rossum is planning on doing a 24-hour stitch-a-thon, as well as some public stitching events in order to increase the amount of money raised. Not everyone is brave enough to take on a project of this size, but with the incentive of helping people less fortunate, Miranda is forging new ground.

You can read more about the project HERE and follow Miranda’s journey and donate at her Facebook page.

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

Behind the sublime simplicity of Jo Butcher’s landscape designs, a close inspection shows that they are filled with a range of different stitches, colours and fibres that combine to create a beautiful whole.

One of the results of this is that so many of her pieces are filled with countless different textures, just as you would find in nature.

Texture can be achieved many ways. In embroidered art it is usually created from the choice of stitches, however, it is also possible to create texture using contrast between background and foreground, as well as using different types of threads or fibres.

The eye jumps from one to another, seeing something smooth here; something jagged there; a sharp point up there or a soft surface lower down.

Jo doesn’t try to include every possible texture in her work, lest they be too busy. The reason her designs are so loved is that she keeps them simple and gives the impression that she’s creating an infinite number of textures through her carefully selected stitches.

It is thanks to the different textures that Jo has perfected, that the elements of each project stand out. For instance, if you look at Alliums & Topiary, you’ll first be captured by the pom-pom like tree in the centre of the design.

The fluffy effect has been achieved by Jo’s use of French knots, and is mirrored in the purple alliums that surround the tree. But texture works best when there is contrast, and in this piece, the plump round flowers are set against the long, slim, upright straight stitches that form the rest of the lush grass.

Finally, a cute twist is added to the tree’s stem that delights the eye and adds even more texture to this wonderful piece.

Similarly, the elegant project entitled Cow Parsley also uses contrasting textures to brilliant effect. It starts out with the painted fabric that, unlike many of the other projects, is part of the main subject rather than merely forming a backdrop.

The painted grasses appear to fade into the background, resulting in a subtle perspective and highlighting the textures of the stitched flowers. These are then created by liberally sprinkling French knots and detached chain stitches to form the flowers, stalks and leaves of the cow parsley. The result is a wonderful project filled with simple textures and tactile beauty.

Finally, Seascape also employs French knots to form the delicate flowers one finds in the dunes or near the shore. However, in this project, Jo switches fibres, including small areas of silk ribbon and perlé cotton to break up the stranded cotton stitches.

Indeed, she even switches fibres for the same flowers that places them in the foreground or drops them back, just as if you are really gazing out of your window on to a windswept ocean scene.

Although Jo offers clear instructions for each project, they are all designed so that you can give your own artistic abilities some room to play. You can be confident that no matter what texture you discover with your needle, it will exist in nature along with thousands of others just waiting to be created.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Alliums & Topiary by Jo Butcher features globes of purple allium flowers echoed in the neatly clipped sphere of a topiary ball.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Alliums & Topiary includes everything* you need to re-create this vibrant scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), fabric stabiliser, embroidery threads and needles.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Cow Parsley by Jo Butcher is a pretty field of wheat decorated with the delicate lace of white cow parsley flowers.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Cow Parsley includes everything* you need to re-create this pretty scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), embroidery threads and needles.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Seascape by Jo Butcher is stunning seaside scene where the water greets the sky surrounded by cow parsley, daisies and a scattering of tiny flowers.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Seascape includes everything* you need to re-create this stunning scene: Fabric panels (including pre-printed panel), ribbons, embroidery threads and needles.

Sweet Hydrangeas by Kris Richards from Inspirations issue #52 is a stylish linen handbag featuring pansies, white snowdrops and sprigs of delicate lavender surrounding a cluster of papery hydrangeas, stitched with French knots in myriad shades.

Lavender Delight by Marie Suarez from Inspirations issue #62 is a dainty embroidered sachet embellished with a lustrous satin stitch letter and French knot flowers.

The Four Seasons by Barbara Horn from Inspirations issue #31 is four tiny pictures portraying each season in French knots.

Does it seem like there are more embroidered bags being stitched these days because we’re all realising the value of bringing our own bags with us when we go shopping? Or perhaps we’re more determined to make our own purses fit any occasion? Or is it because it is a wonderful way to display our work that has a practical purpose as well? Whichever reason it may be, everyone loves stitching bags, and here are a few from our community to inspire you.

It’s been beautifully stitched and constructed, Kate. No doubt clear and easy to follow instructions are important, but that takes nothing away from the level of skill on display here, your talent has played a huge part in the results achieved.

It’s wonderful that these older, unfinished projects look just as good when we get them back out again as they did when we first started them, isn’t it? Well done, Norah.

These are stunning pouches, Susanne. Your stitching is magnificent and the complementary fabric choices are just divine.

Do you love making bags, pouches or purses? Do you have a different bag for every occasion, each beautifully stitched and displaying your embroidered work? Or do you prefer to mount your embroidery in frames?

However you like to finish your work and whatever you like to stitch, we’d like to see it. Send us a picture of your work with a bit of information about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com

Become part of the Inspirations family by subscribing to the magazine... we'd love to have you join us!

Daisies & Forget-me-nots by Ana Mallah is two enchanting pincushions, surrounded by pretty stumpwork flowers.

In Good Company by Carolyn Pearce from Inspirations issue #50 features forget-me-nots, in pastel blue, highlighted with glistening gold and dusky pink sprays of silk ribbon roses interspersed with rosebuds and leaves.

Petit Bouquet by Christine P. Bishop from Inspirations issue #79 is a lovely, counted thread pincushion adorned with a beautiful flower basket charm in the centre.

Floral-Sprigged Sewing Fold from the book A Fine Tradition includes a pincushion and pockets for scissors, thimble and accessories, with a bluebell emery fob, and is decorated with carnations, irises and bluebells.

Summer Blooms by Ana Mallah from Inspirations issue #110 is three charming needlework accessories featuring pretty garden flowers.

Perfect Pansies by Carolyn Pearce from the book A Passion for Needlework | Blakiston Creamery is a vibrant set of needlework accessories featuring velvety pansies, in rich shades of garnet and violet.

~ Michael Josephson ~

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.