When scrolling through Netflix recently we came across a movie titled ‘The Kindness of Strangers’.

The premise of the movie is that a mother and her sons find love, comfort and kindness with a group of strangers who are each struggling to survive in wintry New York City.

Perhaps a long bow to draw, nonetheless we couldn’t help but recall the All Stitched Up! family in a similar light. Whilst we’re not suggesting we’ve saved anyone who was struggling to survive a cold New York winter, we did start to replay the countless acts of kindness that have played out through the very newsletter you’re now reading!

It's clear that many of our readers share the thoughts of the 14th Dalai Lama.

Sometimes the acts of kindness we recalled were as simple as taking the time to answer the questions posed in ‘Have Your Say’, at other times they stretched far further.

We were reminded of the generosity of one reader who offered to help settle a fellow ‘All Stitched Upper’ as she moved across the globe to Canada. What started as a simple query to be pointed in the direction of all things needle and thread, became an in-person relationship as someone took the time to welcome a stranger.

We remembered the meeting of two stitchers, one who had followed someone’s journey in All Stitched Up! only to realise she would be travelling through the same region of Italy they called home. They too met face to face over their shared passion for all things needle and thread.

Most recently, from All Stitched Up! issue #318, there were offers of Australian Smocking & Embroidery magazines for Lynda who was searching for issue numbers 1 to 25 to complete her collection. Even as we type this, there’s an email enquiring as to whether we’re still collecting bread tags - our answer is a resolute yes!

Through the generosity of those who took the time to collect bread tags when we first announced we were collecting them, we were able to donate 900g (2lb) of bread tags at the end of last year, only to find there were almost as many awaiting collection at our Post Office Box but a day later. Collecting the humble bread tag is an incredibly simple act, but it’s the ripple of kindness that extends from this that allows Aussie Bread Tags for Wheelchairs to use the proceeds from recycling them to purchase much needed wheelchairs for the disadvantaged in South Africa.

Given the news headlines of not only the last few years, but those that continue to unfold before us, acts of kindness, no matter how small they may seem at the time, can never be underestimated. Their ripple might extend far further than we ever thought possible and may just inspire another act of kindness, of which there can’t be too many.

Since we started sharing book recommendations, we’ve received a lot of emails from people who have read the books suggested and loved them. There does seem to be a natural affinity between stitchers and books about stitching! A reader recently endorsed the book The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier which we were sure we had mentioned in All Stitched Up! However, a search showed us that perhaps we’d misremembered.

So, we thought we should redress that omission! Tracy Chevalier is known for her historical fiction novels, many of which are woven around famous works of art. A lot of people will know of her book The Girl With the Pearl Earring which was made into a movie in 2003. The Lady and the Unicorn is equally as good and traces the story of the famous tapestries woven in France in the 1490s.

Tracy Chevalier combines her literary skills with the known facts to create a story filled with intrigue, romance and drama. But even without the additional story, the tapestries of La Dame à la licorne which now reside in the Musée de Cluny in Paris can still capture the imagination.

There are six tapestries in the collection. Five of them are usually interpreted as representing the five senses – taste, hearing, smell, sight and touch. The meaning of the sixth tapestry is more obscure. The words À mon seul désir appear on the tapestry which often leads to an interpretation of love or understanding.

The lady in this latter tapestry appears to be putting a necklace into a chest, which could mean she is renouncing the passions aroused by the other senses and asserting her free will. It could also represent the sixth sense of understanding, which was made popular in sermons delivered at the time.

Whatever the meaning of these famous works, their details and workmanship are exceptional. Woven in a style known as Millefleur, which literally means ‘thousand flowers’, each panel is teeming with foliage, blooms and hidden animals. This style was highly specific in region and time, appearing in France over the course of only about 150 years, with the year 1500 marking the zenith.

Where the tapestries had been from their creation in the fifteenth century to their rediscovery in the mid-1800s, no-one really knows. Nor does anyone know why they were forgotten, left in storage where they were subject to damp and mould. Once they were rediscovered, their notoriety grew when the novelist George Sand mentioned them in her works.

No-one is entirely sure who commissioned these works or for what purpose. Most historians agree that they were commissioned by the Le Viste family, but which member of that family undertook the project is still unknown.

It might have been Jean IV who wished to celebrate his new status in the 1490s, working for Parliament and later the king. Or they may have been commissioned by Antoine II in 1500 as a gift for his new bride to be. But the heraldic display, in particular the dominant colour red with three silver crescents on a diagonal band of blue, are undoubtedly from the Le Viste family.

Since their rediscovery, the six tapestries have served as a reminder of a period in French history which was marked by ideas of chivalry, romance and morality. It is difficult not to be captivated by the wonderful details, the elegant characters and the exquisite craftsmanship.

The images have been reproduced in a multitude of places, including in cross stitch and embroidery patterns, responding to the passion that needleworkers have for beautiful, historic textiles.

And if you haven’t spent some quality time exploring the imagery of these tapestries, then it is also worth doing so. Fortunately, you don’t have to travel to France to appreciate these tapestries as there are plenty of images on the internet which you can discover, although seeing them in the flesh must be an experience unto itself.

Have you been lucky enough to see these tapestries up close on one of their recent tours or in Paris itself? Have you read Tracy Chevalier’s book? Or have you paid homage to these historic works with your needle and thread, creating your own personal piece of history?

Whatever your experience, there is no doubt that the La Dame à la licorne tapestries are works of art loved by needleworkers the world over and they are sure to capture the imagination of generations to come.

It is still difficult to believe it was over 10 years ago that we first published Carolyn Pearce’s Home Sweet Home. Since then, the project has been stitched by hundreds of stitchers the world over.

Due to the popularity of our Home Sweet Home Ready-to-Stitch kits, they are currently all sold out. However, we do have some of the essential elements for sale to help you with your stitching of Home Sweet Home.

We have packs of card, laser cut precisely for the entire project. By purchasing your card pre-cut, you can be confident it is the exact size to ensure construction is a breeze. The pack includes all of the pieces required for the house itself, plus the internal tray and all of the accessories which require a firm card base.

Also available are packs of the gorgeous blue and white flower beads used on the walls of the cottage and a number of the accessories. Plus, we have the new 10th Anniversary edition fabric (Beautiful Basics Cotton - Scattered Dots) required for the project lining as well as the 28ct Permin Linen in Waterlily used for the cottage roof, both of which you can purchase by the half-metre.

Ensure that you have everything you need when you start this iconic project by stocking up on all of your Home Sweet Home supplies today.

Printed copies of the 10th Anniversary Edition of Home Sweet Home are still available. This new edition includes several new accessories as well as all of the instructions for the original project.

The photos have been optimised and a new introduction has been added to ensure that stitchers today will get as much pleasure out of Home Sweet Home as before.

This is an essential addition to your library and will likely go down in history as one of our most popular projects of all time.

The new digital patterns are arriving thick and fast on the Inspirations website. Inspirations issue #56 is the next one to be digitised, so you now have instant access to these wonderful favourites.

Rhapsody in Blue by Deborah Love is a stunning Deerfield cushion featuring traditional motifs in soft shades of blue. It uses a range of stitches including the traditional New England laid stitch and a border in characteristic Deerfield herringbone stitch.

Floribunda by Susan O’Conner is a stunning felted handbag, adorned with luscious, felted roses and pansies and lined with pink striped fabric.

Eglantyne by Kris Richards is a neat little pincushion decorated with bullion roses and highlighted with metallic threads. Stitched on elegant damask, this project works up in no time and would take pride of place in any sewing room.

Coffee Scrolls by Susan O’Conner is a modern and elegant table runner and tray cloth stitched all over with textured whipped chain stitch scrolls.

These fantastic projects are now all available as digital patterns for you to purchase and download immediately, so you can start stitching without delay.

150 years ago, Queen Victoria was still on the throne in Britain; most people travelled in horse-drawn vehicles or on foot; and women were dressed in huge bustles and cascades of frills and lace.

There was another notable event in 1872, and that was the founding of the Royal School of Needlework in London.

Since then, the RSN has undertaken projects as high profile as Queen Victoria’s funeral pall, the coronation robes of Edward VII, the Robe of State for Queen Elizabeth II (for which the RSN was awarded a Coronation medal) and more recently the wedding dress for the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

As well as these illustrious projects, the RSN has continued to teach the art of fine embroidery to people from all over the world. From the first gathering above a bonnet shop in Sloane Street, London, through to teaching online classes to students from every part of the globe simultaneously, the RSN has never forgotten its founding purpose.

This year, 2022, sees the RSN celebrate its 150th Anniversary. There are events, classes and celebrations planned all year to mark this momentous occasion. If you would like to see what events are happening, you will find them HERE. You can also learn about the history of the RSN HERE.

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

Alison Cole has been designing projects for Inspirations magazine for many years. Every time a new project arrives, we are taken aback by its beauty, detail and creativity. Alison, who hails from Invermay, near Ballarat in Victoria, Australia has been embroidering for over 30 years and over the period, her work has gone from strength to strength.

Alison has undertaken so many courses and been awarded so many prestigious prizes in her years of stitching, there are almost too many to count. All of these attest to the incredible design talents and abilities that she possesses. She has also published a number of books on goldwork and stumpwork, and has continued to teach classes all over Australia, the world and online throughout.

Window of the Blue Dragonflies is a stumpwork masterpiece, stitched on black fabric and using a rich array of colours, textures and stitches. Shaped like an arched window as you might find in a church or country home, the project includes Tudor style flowers framed by four sparkling dragonflies with gossamer wings and long, trailing abdomens.

Window of the Blue Dragonflies combines traditional goldwork techniques, such as chipping and couching, with glorious stumpwork elements.

The petals of the pansies and the wings of the dragonflies are stitched as slips and sit proud of the background. The fluffy thistle bloom is accentuated by the fine gold highlight on the stems and leaves. And right in the middle is a tiny ladybird, its wings just opening as if it is about to take flight and find its way home.

In order to get the most pleasure out of working Window of the Blue Dragonflies, Alison recommends that you use a hoop for all of your embroidery and see that your fabric is always pulled drum tight before you start stitching. This will ensure that your fabric doesn’t pucker and that your couched threads remain flat and smooth.

The slips are worked individually using a small hoop and only cut out once they are all complete and you are ready to attach them to the main project. This ensures they retain their perfect shape right up until the moment the entire picture comes together.

There is so much pleasure to be gained from working Alison’s designs. The process of forming tiny stitches and attaching all the elements including beads, slips, paillettes and gold brings immense joy.

Getting lost in the flow of this project is so easy to do that the stress of the rest of the world just falls away.

Window of the Blue Dragonflies offers you that stitching dream, guaranteed to bring you flow both during the process, and in the years afterwards as you admire it on your wall.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Window of the Blue Dragonflies by Alison Cole is a superb stumpwork panel featuring a rose, honeysuckle, thistle and pansy surrounded by dragonflies.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Window of the Blue Dragonflies includes everything* you need to re-create this elegant panel: Fabrics (unprinted), felt, fusible webbing, wires, embroidery threads, paillettes and needles.

Fireflower by Alison Cole from Inspirations Issue #110 is a stunning red-flowering gum with stumpwork leaves, blossoms and bee.

Invermay Wildflowers by Alison Cole from Inspirations issue #112 is a superb stumpwork study of Australian wildflowers in rich shades of purple and yellow.

Nodding Greenhood by Alison Cole from the book The Design Collective | Pincushions is an Australian bushland scene brought to life with a stumpwork study of native orchids on a wooden base.

Tree of Life by Alison Cole from Inspirations issue #105 is a superb goldwork embroidery showcasing a compelling variety of techniques and metal threads.

Yes, we know it’s not Christmas. But just because it isn’t December doesn’t mean you can’t start stitching your Christmas ornaments, does it? It’s better to be prepared! Not only that, but there’s a lot of pleasure to be had in stitching ornaments, as these projects from our readers will attest.

This is a clever way to display your work, Christa. It works just as well as a tree decoration as it did as a scissor fob and it brings a wonderful air of homemade festivity to your Christmas tree.

You’re so clever, Heather! These designs all look just as good hanging on the Christmas tree as they did in their original form.

Indeed it isn’t, Maureen. What a beautiful collection of Christmas ornaments. Your sister’s Christmas tree must look wonderful with all of these hanging on it.

Do you enjoy stitching Christmas ornaments, no matter what time of year it is? Do you love looking at a Christmas tree laden with hand stitched delights in a range of materials and techniques? Or do you leave Christmas stitching until Christmas time?

Whether you like to stitch for Christmas or not, and whatever time of the year you do it, we’d like to see it. Send us a picture of your work with a bit of information about the completed project to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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

These Sudberry pincushion bases are made from fine wood, turned and polished so they are flawlessly smooth. In two round shapes, the centre is a piece of foam cut exactly to size, all ready for you to mount your finished embroidery.

Woodland Strawberries by Margaret Light is a beautiful linen shoulder bag with crewel-embroidered luscious strawberries and flowers in full bloom.

Sweet Strawberry by Victoria Laine from The Design Collective | Pincushions is a pincushion with a colourful strawberry motif and background in counted thread embroidery with metal thread highlights.

Morris Magic by Brenda Sortwell from A Passion for Needlework 3 | Blakiston Creamery is a splendid crewel embroidery of thrushes with strawberries, inspired by an iconic William Morris design.

Rosehip Needlecase by Margaret Light is a timeless case with needle pages and pockets, featuring floral designs inspired by Indian block prints.

Gentle Thoughts by Carolyn Pearce from Inspirations issue #66 is a delightful pansy needlecase, stitched onto wool and cashmere velour with a multitude of silk, wool, cotton, rayon and metallic threads.

Woodland Berries by Barbara Jackson from Inspirations issue #67 is a charming crewel needlecase and strawberry shaped pincushion with stems of ripe red berries, creamy blossoms and fresh green leaves twining across the surface.

~ Aesop ~

Stay informed of upcoming needlework events taking place all around the world with our What’s On page on the Inspirations Studios Website HERE.