In a recent email from The Tonic, they unpacked Charles Duhigg’s ideas on how small wins lead to big victories. Having just recently updated our Stitching To-Do Lists and feeling like there were some ‘big victories’ required, we read on.

After reading the opening sentence to the article - ‘maybe you’ve got such a long list that you don’t even know where to start or how you’re going to accomplish it all’ - there was a resounding ‘absolutely’ from us!

Charles recommends we start any ‘victory’ with some small wins. Although in and of themselves they may seem relatively insignificant, they have a snowballing effect that leads us to the victories we’re seeking.

Small wins are usually simple, many taking as little as 15 minutes to accomplish, but what they do is plug you into a winning cycle. Once you’ve accomplished something, it’s easier to keep the momentum going. This in turn leads to more action and therefore more results.

Unfortunately, the opposite is also true.

When we don’t take the action we often know we should, we experience little if any momentum. This in turn leads us to take less action and therefore experience less results.

The Tonic’s advice? Choose the easiest thing on your to-do list, get up and just do one simple thing towards achieving it. For Mike and Alec (founders of The Tonic), their simple wins include going for a quick walk, doing the dishes or a load of laundry, sweeping, journalling and meditating.

So, as we begin to contemplate what the small wins look like in the stitching before us, we’d love to hear what you consider the small wins to be in your time with needle and thread. We look forward to collectively collating a list that we can all use when the stitching before us requires a victory bigger than what feels possible!

Just in case any of you were unaware, all of our past issues of All Stitched Up! are available on our website. The reason we mention this is that sometimes we receive emails asking us to resend a newsletter or remind someone about an article, so we happily direct them to our archive. Here, you can go all the way back to the very first Inspirations newsletter and read all the articles as many times as you like.

Knowing this, we thought we should also tell you that if you have any thoughts, questions or responses to past newsletters – and it really doesn’t matter how long ago they were originally published – there is never any time limit. We welcome responses to ASU issue #245 or even ASU issue #145 just as much as those to last week’s issue.

This week, we received responses to various past newsletters, which really warms our heart. It is great to know that our articles continue to give you pleasure, even long after we’ve published them.

Jane Masenas read All Stitched Up! issue #339, which prompted her to share with us her recipe for needlework play.

A Crazy Needlepoint Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 thread palette of colours from your stash.
- 1 needlepoint canvas with the outside perimeter marked.
- As many needlepoint stitches as you like, which you may find enjoyable to experiment with.
- Several needlepoint books or internet pictures for inspiration.

Method:
Select any part of your canvas and stitch a small pattern. Fill in the block with compensating stitches around your pattern to make a rectangle. Repeat this step with different patterns and different sized rectangles.

Leave as much or as little space as you like between blocks to make borders. Nothing needs to be measured; just stitch anything that makes you smile. There are no mistakes. Play and have crazy fun.

Jenny Mann had seen the pictures in All Stitched Up! issue #342 that reminded her of a photo she had seen (above), taken by Sue Horder in April of 2017. It was taken in the Liberty department store in London. Jenny described it as ‘tactile and visual heaven’.

Sheila Southwell was inspired to write to us after reading All Stitched Up! issue #337 sharing her thread storage solution. She separates all of her colours into families i.e., pale green; yellow green; dark green; bronze green etc. She then puts each colour into strong plastic envelopes and stores them, light to dark. She puts a label on each envelope with the name of each colour family as well as a painted sample of the colours enclosed!

She goes through this process because, she says, it keeps the colours separate and very easy to find. She can’t bear to have her colours mixed up, so at the end of each session she puts the skeins away and ensures her envelopes go back in the right place.

We received a fascinating idea from Gerry Kendall who responded to the article about rituals in All Stitched Up! #329. Gerry said that every time she receives her magazine, she goes straight to the step-by-step stitch examples and she stitches them all. She then puts her samples into a binder for future reference. We thought this was a wonderful way to master the stitches and keep a fantastic record for the future.

Finally for this week, we received two emails in response to our segment on Challenges that appeared in All Stitched Up! #340. Irene Allie wrote from the Mayflower Sampler Guild in Massachusetts, USA. She said that her guild is currently running a UFO challenge. Members had to make a list of UFOs that they wanted to complete in 2022. Over the year they have been doing a show and tell of their progress and in January 2023 there is going to be a ‘big reveal’ of all the members’ finished pieces with prizes to be determined.

Anne Shields told us about a challenge that the Northumberland Hills Needlework Guild in Canada had set for its members. They were challenged to make a replica of their home in any needlework technique. Anne apologised as she only has photos of her own contribution, however we were particularly impressed by that. We can only imagine how fabulous all the entries must have been.

It doesn’t matter what you’d like to chat with us about, we always love to hear it, even if it’s after you’ve spent some time in our archive and would like to share any inspiration you gained from it. It’s never too late to get involved in the conversation.

Long term readers of All Stitched Up! with good memories may recall that the last time we had a kit sale was over 3 years ago when Inspirations was moving office.

For those who have been waiting for another sale ever since, today is finally your day!

When planning for this sale, we had two working titles:

- The Something Exciting is Happening Kit Sale
- The 40% off 40 Kits Sale

Both are true, and yes something exciting is happening here at Inspirations… we can’t tell you what it is just yet though. Suffice to say it has something to do with making room.

Are we moving office again? Adding new products? Having a baby?!

So many questions! And we will answer them all shortly.

For now, what we can tell you is, click on the link below to browse the range of 40 kits that are all on sale, with each one marked down 40% representing AMAZING value for money.

And for our overseas customers, as the Australian dollar is quite weak at present, you’ll enjoy the added benefit of the current exchange rate.

Buy, Save, Stitch & Enjoy!

PS – Subscriber discount does not apply to the 40 kits on sale, if we sold them any cheaper, we’d be paying you to take them!

One of the many wonderful things about working at Inspirations is that we get to see each new book the instant the advance copy arrives from the printers. It is a sheer joy being able to finally leaf through the pages and marvel at all the glorious projects in their magnificent, finished form.

A Passion for Needlework | The Whitehouse Daylesford is our fourth book in the Passion series and will be officially released on 23rd September. In anticipation of this exciting occasion, this week we wanted to share with you a few of the ‘behind the scenes’ moments that brought this book to fruition.

As one of our most celebrated publications, producing any of our Passion for Needlework books is truly rewarding. From the selection of the designers and their projects, scouting for the location, the planning, preparation and execution of the photo shoot, and then the compilation of all the elements into its final artwork, well yes, it is just that - a stunning work of art.

From the minute you see the luxurious cover, you’ll be captivated by the beauty of this book. The exquisite projects are presented so beautifully, you’ll be torn between wanting to pick up your needles to stitch immediately and taking your time to journey through the sumptuous presentation of this lush publication.

We can safely say we’ve gone above and beyond with A Passion for Needlework | The Whitehouse Daylesford. Passion is the operative word. Our hope is that the passion we felt as we put this book together emanates from every page, waiting to be transferred ten-fold to all of you as you enjoy this true masterpiece.

September is the month for Elizabethan glory, with this month’s calendar project being the absolutely gorgeous Serendipity by Susan O’Connor. This beautiful project first appeared in the original A Passion for Needlework book and has been a firm favourite ever since.

We think Serendipity is an ideal project for September as the first buds of Spring are appearing outside of the office at Inspirations HQ, and our friends in the northern hemisphere are enjoying the last of the warm weather with the late summer flowers blooming in glory.

Serendipity is a project that includes two colourful pinwheels decorated with two intricate Elizabethan floral designs. They are bursting with texture and colour and feature traditional Elizabethan motifs such as strawberries, pansies and rosehips. Utilising a range of surface stitches, and a beautiful array of colours, each pinwheel has some extra sparkle with glittering paillettes dotting the background.

We are pleased to release Serendipity as a digital pattern so you can download and start stitching straight away. You too can enjoy the splendour of September with your needle and thread and this lovely, iconic project.

Many of the projects featured in our past magazines have been released as digital patterns. We’ve produced them as people have put in requests, or as stocks of the printed magazine have sold out.

There are a few issues that have never had any of their projects released digitally, so it is pretty exciting when they are.

Postcard From Provence by Susan O’Connor is a unique and beautiful project featuring stumpwork sunflowers that burst from the frame. Employing a range of embroidery stitches, this project will brighten any room with its sunny brilliance.

Chantilly by Carolyn Pearce is a stunning covered coat hanger festooned with ribbon embroidered flowers and finished with lace. It would make a gorgeous gift or add a touch of luxury to any wardrobe.

Finally for this week, lovers of Jo Butcher will be thrilled by How to Sew a Meadow. This was one of Jo’s earlier projects and includes detailed instructions on how to produce a gorgeous meadow scene, including offering a step-by-step for painting your own fabric.

Look out for more projects from Inspirations issue #83 next week, but while you’re waiting, you can now purchase and download those above immediately and begin enjoying the work of some of your favourite Inspirations designers.

Many people love to stitch the ocean. Usually, they stitch beach scenes or ocean vistas, but embroidery artist, Danielle, likes to take a different viewpoint. This Canada-based artist takes a broader view, creating mesmerising stitched pieces representing the ocean from high up in the sky.

Each piece shows the whirling currents and waves and a variety of colours representing different depths and the play of light on the water. Although they appear abstract at first glance, it only takes a moment to recognise the ocean in its majestic beauty within each of Danielle’s frames.

Worked almost exclusively in threadpainting, Danielle uses a huge variety of colours and shades to achieve the three-dimensional effects. Her hauntingly beautiful, stitched artworks capture a mysterious part of the earth from the viewpoint of a satellite.

If you would like to see more of Danielle’s work, you can follow her on Instagram, or read more about her at My Modern Met.

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

As long-time readers of Inspirations magazine will know, Australian designer Alison Cole hails from Victoria, a beautiful part of Australia situated in the south-east of the country. As well as its landscapes and stunning coastline, Victoria is famous for its abundant and unusual flora and fauna.

Alison, who finds inspiration for her designs wherever she looks, is often captivated by the wildflowers she sees in her own garden and surrounding areas.

In Inspirations issue #115, Alison has spoiled us again with one of her gorgeous, stumpwork re-creations of a uniquely Australian wildflower. The golden moth orchid is a delicate flower with sunny yellow petals that grows in Alison’s home state.

Diuris protena likes moist places, in particular grasslands and forests. It features dainty yellow flowers that grow on tall, straight stems surrounded by elegant narrow leaves.

Although the golden moth orchid used to be common, it has suffered a catastrophic decline in range and abundance in recent years due to the disturbance and destruction of its habitat, grazing, weed invasion and altered fire regimes. The Victorian government has put in place a national recovery plan to reinvigorate this beautiful little flower and ensure its survival for the future.

Alison has paid homage to the golden moth orchid in this latest stumpwork project. Worked on hand-dyed silk twill to give a dappled effect, the study features three perfect blooms with detached petals and sepals. The elegant stalks sweep downwards to the cluster of sword-like leaves at the base, which are created using a combination of detached and surface elements.

Like all of Alison’s gorgeous projects, she suggests the order in which you should work, starting with the surface embroidery, and then taking the time to create all the detached elements.

Only once you’ve completed stitching them does she suggest cutting them out and assembling them on your frame. This way you can make fine adjustments from the perspective of the overall study, ensuring that each flower sits perfectly in relation to its neighbours and each leaf stands just right to give a realistic effect.

Collecting of wildflowers is no longer encouraged as many species are now protected so they can continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. Alison’s Golden Moth Orchid allows you to ‘collect’ your flowers and display them, knowing that they will retain their fresh, golden glory forever while the real golden moth orchids continue to bloom and grow each season in the woodlands and meadows outside.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Golden Moth Orchid by Alison Cole is a superb stumpwork study of a golden Australian orchid.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Golden Moth Orchid includes everything* you need to re-create this striking flower: Fabrics (unprinted), wire, embroidery threads and needles.

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

Roses and Old Lace by Alison Cole from Inspirations issue #98 is a dainty combination of raised silk embroidered roses highlighted with goldwork and gold lace.

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

Clematis by Alison Cole from Inspirations issue #78 is a magnificent stumpwork picture of trailing blooms and goldwork stems and dragonflies.

When we hear about counted embroidery, many of us immediately think of cross stitch. However, there are a multitude of other counted techniques which offer the pleasure of counted stitching, yet produce a very different result to traditional cross stitch. Here are a few examples our readers have sent in.

That is very impressive, Lorraine! I think most of us would struggle if we were forced to stitch with our non-dominant hand, but you’ve done it beautifully.

‘Being a retired maths teacher, my favourite technique is counted thread work. I think that I like it due to the preciseness of it. I recently completed this piece, designed by Tanja Berlin.’

This is a lovely piece, Susan. There is a wonderful preciseness with counted work, isn’t there? It produces exquisite results as your gorgeous sampler demonstrates.

‘I gave each bird a name as I worked on them. Meet Timothy Robin(s), Christopher Wren, Cheryl Crow, Taylor Swift, Larry Bird, Peter Finch, Ethan Hawk, Clarice Starling, Florence Nightingale, and Dean Martin.’

Your names really made us laugh, Terry. This is such a bright and colourful project. It must make you smile every time you see it on the wall.

Do you like doing counted work? Do you enjoy the preciseness and accuracy that comes from working your stitches into evenly spaced holes in the fabric? Or do you prefer the freedom of surface stitching?

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

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Michelle Staub’s new book shows you just how easy it is to stitch a special portrait of your favourite furry friend. With projects for both beginner and experienced stitchers, it is suitable for whatever type of portrait you’d like to create.

Ophelia's Fox by Phillipa Turnbull is a crewel embroidery panel of a red fox in his woodland territory.

Jacobean Stag by Phillipa Turnbull from Inspirations issue #101 is an elegant crewel panel featuring a splendid stag overlooking leafy hillocks.

Autumn Gold by Phillipa Turnbull from Inspirations issue #40 is a charming crewel cushion worked in pastel colours and featuring a traditional design of leaves and flowers.

Garden of Earthly Delights by Margaret Light from Inspirations issue #62 is a stunning handbag or cushion, with a wonderful design featuring colourful parrots amidst stems of exotic foliage, flowers and berries.

Silver Threads by June Godwin from Inspirations issue #45 is an elegant needlecase with Jacobean style embroidery.

~ Charles Duhigg ~

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