We recently came across a TED Talk by Catherine Price that had us thinking about fun with a whole new perspective.

Catherine believes that one of the ways we can feel truly alive, is to simply have fun. She does, however, challenge the way in which fun is defined.

As the dictionary describes fun as ‘amusement, enjoyment, or lighthearted pleasure’, Catherine has come to realise that it can be all too easy for us to see fun as frivolous or optional. However, after collecting countless stories from people the world over, through which they shared the moments they’d experienced the most fun, she came to see there was something far deeper going on.

The stories recounted some of the most joyful and treasured memories of people’s lives, and it was from here that Catherine came to realise just how intrinsically linked fun and feeling alive were.

She came to see that the serendipitous nature of fun is easily recognisable because those who experience it look as if they’re being illuminated from within as it produces a visceral lightness and joy within them.

When people told Catherine their stories of fun, though the details between them were different, there were three factors that were consistently present that she believes constitute a new definition of fun - playfulness, connection and flow.

By playfulness, Catherine was referring to doing something just for the sake of it, letting go of perfectionism and not caring too much about the outcome. Connection came when an experience was shared, whether that be with another person, the surroundings in which it was done, or simply with the activity itself. Flow is the state we find ourselves in when we are so engaged and focused on what’s before us that we lose track of time.

Upon hearing these, we couldn’t help but think of our time with needle and thread, as whilst many of us relish the connection and flow we experience, playfulness is rarely a term we’d used to describe our time spent stitching.

However, as Catherine came to appreciate that ‘when we experience all three at once, something magical happens’ that doesn't just feel good, but it is good for us, and that ‘fun is not just the result of human thriving, it's a cause’, we started to wonder how we could experience a greater sense of playfulness in our time with needle and thread.

For now, we think we might embark on a project simply for the joy of stitching. No predetermined outcome, no deadline, no pressure and simply see what comes of it.

The following is an extract from the article published in Inspirations issue 107, written by Ansie van der Walt.

Hannalie Taute, an award-winning South African artist working predominantly with embroidery on recycled rubber, is known to attend her exhibition openings dressed in fantasy costume that is an extension of the work on show. She doesn’t just make art, she becomes art.

Hannalie’s family moved around a lot when she was a child and she learned from a young age to enjoy her own company. ‘I had a happy childhood filled with play and fantasy. I could play with store bought toys as well as with mops, insects and dishcloths. I liked dressing up from a young age and would parade around the house in my mother’s clothes and high heels.’

It was during her rebellious teenage years while finding solace and an emotional outlet through music, that she also discovered her love of art. ‘I enjoyed heavy metal and hard rock. I used to copy the art on the CD covers, which usually contained a lot of skulls, in my diary.’

In 2013 her ground-breaking exhibition titled Rubber Ever After won the Kanna Award for best visual arts exhibition at the KKNK. This opened a lot of doors for her in the art world. Hannalie works with discarded inner tubes from cars, trucks and tractors that she sources from local tyre shops. ‘My husband is a diesel mechanic for an earth moving company, so whereas other husbands bring their wives flowers, he brings me inner tubes from earth moving vehicles.’

Contradiction and dichotomies are evident throughout Hannalie’s work. It starts with the concept of embroidered flowers on rubber then moves on to physical opposites like masculine/feminine, dark/light, industrial/natural, before it continues to include abstract concepts like self/other, life/death, human/divine, sacred/profane, pure/sullied. The list goes on…

Flowers, fairy tales, and play are themes that often recur in Hannalie’s work. ‘I find joy in the process of stitching a variety of blooms on smaller pieces of rubber and then later arranging them in bouquet-like pieces. Almost like building a puzzle. And, of course, there is the contradiction of stitching flowers onto rubber, which I like.’ It is also an ode to Hannalie’s late mother, to the carefree times in her childhood when her mother owned a florist shop.

‘I once read somewhere that fairy tales and horror prepare you to deal with death. I guess working with fairy tale themes and subverting them makes me able to cope with reality. I also stitch a lot of hybrid figures and monsters. I am fascinated by monsters!’

Like most artists, Hannalie has a personal relationship with her tools. ‘I have one needle that I prefer working with, but I don’t know the make or where I bought it and if I lose it, I will be distraught. I do have other needles as back up, but none of them are the exact length with the big eye that I prefer.’ Hannalie uses DMC stranded cotton for small pieces and her bigger pieces are stitched with a variety of threads and yarns.

The full version of this article is available HERE and to discover more of Hannalie’s art visit her website HERE.

There has been a lot of chatter on the needlework vine over the past several weeks about a collaboration between the Royal School of Needlework and Jenny Adin-Christie.

For those who are new to needlework, the RSN are like the Royal Family and Jenny is one of their Princesses whom we all love and adore.

Then there is whitework.

Now you’re going to hear a lot about this book for several reasons…

Jenny is one of the RSN’s most prominent and successful graduates who has blazed an incredible career for herself due to her extraordinary talent and magnificent designs.

When it comes to whitework, there are few embroiderers who are as skilled and knowledgeable as Jenny.

The release of this book has been timed to coincide with the RSN celebrating 150 years, which is an exceptional accolade.

Put it all together and you have one of the greatest artisans of our time, giving a master class in one of the most popular traditional techniques, honouring the teaching and love for embroidery she received thanks to the RSN.

Congrats to Jenny for pouring her heart and soul into it, the RSN for their 150th and to Search Press for publishing a literary great that will be valued by generations.

Next Thursday you will turn the page of your Inspirations 2022 calendar for the last time and officially usher in the beginning of the festive season.

And what could be a more fitting piece of embroidery to usher in December than the project O, Tannenbaum by Trish Burr from Inspirations issue #108.

Named after the classic German folk song O, Tannenbaum, which we sing in English as O Christmas tree, this beautiful piece is a Scandinavian-inspired Christmas tree stitched in an elegant palette of white, blue and gold.

As one of our most popular Trish Burr projects ever published, printed copies of the magazine have long since sold out.

All together now, ‘O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree’
Sing louder so we can all hear you…

As you’re singing click below to order your instructions and your kit and make it a wonderfully stitched Christmas.

If you enjoy reading about the project featured in the Inspirations wall calendar each month, that’s only part of the experience.

There is nothing like seeing the world’s most beautiful needlework up close and personal and no other publication we release gives you a more detailed and vivid representation of each project than the calendar.

Put simply – size matters. At 60cm x 30cm (24" x 12") the calendar is the largest of our publications and it really gives you a unique viewing perspective.

The other reason to order your 2023 Calendar now is to ensure it arrives in time so you can begin enjoying all the wonder the January project has to offer on January 1st.

Oh… and then there is the little problem of the calendars selling out…

Have we convinced you yet?

When we were fortunate enough to welcome The Bobbin Tree retail store into the Inspirations family, one of the benefits that readers of this newsletter will receive is all the new products we can now offer.

This week we’re bringing you some wonderful Giftable and Collectable tins that anyone who has visited The Bobbin Tree will recognise as just one of the many charming collections of items the store has on display.

Available in a wide range of different shapes and sizes, these premium quality tins are perfect to store all manner of different knick-knacks, tchotchkes and bits and bobs, be it needlework centric or otherwise.

With too many designs to tell you about, the best advice we can give is click on the link below and imagine yourself at The Bobbin Tree by Inspirations, enjoying a casual stroll down the Giftable & Collectable Tin aisle.

While you’re visiting us, grab a tea or a coffee and enjoy some of the best kind of Christmas shopping… Stitching Shopping!

There is a good chance we’ve lost some of our readers at this point having been squirreled away by all the shiny tins and fancy delights on our website.

So while we’re waiting for everyone to come back, we’ll make a PSA – not sure if everyone is familiar with that term, but in Australia it stands for Public Service Announcement.

CHRISTMAS SHIPPING
If you are planning on purchasing anything from our website as gifts for Christmas, you need to be ordering NOW!

Here’s the plan, for any orders received by this coming Sunday the 27th we’ll despatch them for you on Monday 28th and, while we can’t promise anything, we will do our level best to try and get them to you on time. Not applicable for products on backorder.

GIFT PACKS
Tis the season for a bargain and if you’re looking for knock-out value-for- money, our Gift Packs are that which you seek.

With six gift packs across a variety of different themes, and savings of up to 45% on offer, you’re sure to find something for that special someone… who might just be yourself!

And that brings us to the end of our PSA for this week… so for those still stuck in the shop, it’s time to hop back on the bus now, we’re off to our next segment!

Whether you are looking for a shot of motivation or some inspiration as to what to stitch next, here are a few suggestions of talented textile artists to check out on social media this week:

@baaftaab.handmades: this embroidery artist creates these lovely custom hair clips with colourful botanic designs.

@yukikusano_: Yuki Kusano from Tokyo, Japan creates these whimsical scenes of animals with a harmonious palette of pastel thread.

@embroiderytherapy: what do you get when you combine stitching with vintage botany books? Cristina’s wonderful work from Italy.

@gumleafstitchdesigns: from Australia myriad fantastic flora and fauna cross stitch patterns by designer Roslyn.

If you want even more inspiration, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to receive your daily dose of the world’s most beautiful needlework from all over the web.

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

As one of the leading ladies of needlework the world over, Jenny Adin-Christie is in high demand.

So much so, even we struggle to garnish enough of her attention to publish her projects, and after being absent from our pages for so long that there has been audible wailing and visible flailing by all and sundry, she is finally back!

Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives us great pleasure to present to you The Embroiderer’s Workbox by Jenny Adin-Christie as featured in Inspirations issue #116.

Let’s start with an overview. Created from five different types of white threads using the elegant technique of whitework, this is a timeless design depicting a collection of needlework tools shown here as an inset for a workbox that can also be finished as a framed piece.

Now that all sounds like standard fare, until you begin to study the intricacies and nuances of how these elements have been created.

Consider this, if you stitch a design on white fabric using white thread, what is it that makes it visible?

With The Embroiderer’s Workbox Jenny has such control over the light, it is practically dancing to her tune.

She achieves this through masterful restraint and purposeful placement of elements created from padding, withdrawn thread and lace techniques. These in turn deliver peaks and valleys and a variety of textures, some of the key elements light needs to perform its dance.

Again, this sounds straight forward enough, yet there is such mastery and complexity in this piece, we have been of two minds as to how to describe it to you.

On one hand we never want to scare anyone away from trying their hand at a project.

At the same time, we don’t want to set you up for failure either.

Therefore, the best way we can explain this project is for you to think about it as an incredibly fine whitework sampler that incorporates 18 different stitches and a range of needlework processes that may require several passes to perfect.

After all, this project has been designed and stitched by one of the most accomplished and talented whitework artisans of our generation. Even the RSN itself entrusted Jenny with the daunting task of single-handedly documenting the technique for prosperity as we read about earlier in the book review for Fine Whitework.

Ok – so there you have it. We’ve laid down the gauntlet. This project is not for the faint-hearted.

If you’re still reading, you may just be the person who relishes a good challenge and loves to ply your talent at something worthy of your own mastery. This is for you.

If there was more time, we would love to explain how each of the different elements are created and then converge to give this piece its brilliance. For that you’ll have to read the article in issue #116.

However, to offer some insight as to the scope of work involved, this is one of the largest projects by page count we have ever published occupying 15 in total, contrasting with the relatively diminutive finished diameter for the piece itself of just 9cm (3 ½”). That equates to a lot of technique per finished square inch!

Whether you examine The Embroiderer’s Workbox as a voyeur and appreciate its beauty and associated work from afar, or dive headfirst into what could well be one of your most intense and immensely satisfying stitching journeys yet, there is something for us all here.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

The Embroiderer’s Workbox by Jenny Adin-Christie showcases exquisite whitework textures and techniques in a circular design.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for The Embroiderer’s Workbox includes everything* you need to re-create this superb box lid insert: Fabrics (with pre-printed design), embroidery threads and needles.
NOTE: Kit does not include display box.

White Rose by Jenny Adin-Christie from Inspirations issue #100 is an exquisite rose button brooch using timeless whitework techniques.

Blossom by Gary Clarke from Inspirations issue #90 is a small, zipped bag stitched with a single flower from a stunning repeating design.

Sweet Strawberry by Deborah Love from Inspirations issue #76 is a captivating tablecloth featuring traditional Mountmellick stitches and motifs.

Songbirds by Marie Suarez from Inspirations issue #61 is a superb whitework cushion embroidered with a graceful tracery of flowers and leaves surrounding a pair of songbirds in flight.

From the monochromatic work of Jenny Adin-Christie’s Featured Project, we’re taking a walk to the other end of the colour spectrum as we showcase some of the polychromatic projects from the Inspirations Community.

Desiree, we love the idea of a project that is just for the love of needle and thread! The myriad colours used make your project are an absolute delight. You’ve created a garden that would be the pride of any horticulturalist, both amateur and professional alike.

Maddie, we love that you picked up needle and thread to fill your time during COVID! Your ‘A’ is bright and colourful and was the perfect way to share a little bit of yourself with your friend when you couldn’t be with her in person. We hope you continue to enjoy many hours of stitching joy and that All Stitched Up! will always provide a welcome relief to the pressures of everyday, Uni or otherwise.

Liz, what a beautiful way to welcome Maggie May into the world. The colour you’ve chosen complements the embroidered flowers perfectly, bringing with it a little bit of spring whenever it’s worn. Cute as a button is how we’d describe the cardigan, and no doubt how you’d refer to Maggie May!

Aurélie, the decision to make a career out of your love for needle and thread is so very courageous! The quality of your work speaks for itself and allows no room for any feelings of self-doubt you may have. We wish you every success with La Fabriquery and look forward to watching the school’s progress on your Instagram page.

Which end of the colour spectrum do you usually take your needle and thread? Do you prefer the simplicity of monochromatic stitching or perhaps the myriad colour threads available mean you couldn’t possibly choose only a single shade?

Whether it be one, two, three or more colours that fill the stitching you’ve created, we’d love to see it! Simply email a photo of what you’ve crafted along with a few details about your journey with needle and thread to news@inspirationsstudios.com

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

If you love silk, colour or just love to love, check out these three new Pipers Silks Thread Packs.

Chequerboard by Maria Rita Faleri is a stylish table mat with effective use of pulled thread embroidery.

Tulipan by Christine P. Bishop from the book A Passion for Needlework 3 | Blakiston Creamery is a superb table mat worked using Hedebo cutwork and needlelace techniques.

Field of Flowers by Deborah Love from Inspirations issue #106 is a whitework mat with flowers worked using a compelling variety of traditional Schwalm fillings.

Mind Games by Kim Beamish from Inspirations issue #109 is a whitework table mat or cushion front worked with Hardanger embroidery.

Saving Grace by Barbara Kershaw from Inspirations issue #99 is an elegant linen cloth embellished with drawn thread techniques.

~ Randy Pausch ~

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