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ISSUE 361, 16 DECEMBER, 2022
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INSPIRATIONS. ALL Stitched Up!
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Hi There,
And seemingly just like that we find ourselves writing the last issue of All Stitched Up! for the year. In some ways the beginning of the New Year feels a lifetime ago, yet suddenly we find another year has passed.

There’s a dichotomy of time that’s often felt at the end of something that James Clear manages to sum up perfectly.
‘In the middle, it feels slow. In hindsight, it feels fast.’
We’re not sure about you, but that is an apt description for not only time, but also many of the ‘suddenlys’ that happen in life.

The babies we nursed through sleepless night after sleepless night have suddenly left home and we find ourselves adjusting to an empty nest. We relish each long, lazy day on holiday, only to find upon our return home that we suddenly feel like we never left. We count day after dawdling day as we await a special occasion only to find it’s suddenly over in all but the blink of an eye.

There are even times we lay stitch after incredibly slow stitch, feeling as if we’ll never finish the project before us, yet suddenly our time with needle and thread is over and the experience feels somewhat fleeting.
The truth is that time is constant, it’s only our perception and how we feel about it that varies.
After reading James’s quote and thinking about the year that’s almost behind us, it’s made us appreciate that each day has the same 24 hours in it and, for the most part, we get to choose how we spend those hours.

So, we need to spend them carefully, ensuring we’re present in each moment, relishing the slow we all too often try to hustle along as the next ‘suddenly’ will suddenly be upon us and we don’t want to feel as if the days leading up to it are fleeting.

Here's to savouring each moment of the holiday season before us whilst also looking forward to the suddenly when we’re back together again on 20 Jan ‘23 for All Stitched Up! issue #362…
 
Have Your Say
Loose Ends
With next week being our last in the office for 2022, we’re tidying up some loose ends at Inspirations HQ to ensure we finish the year well and set ourselves up for a successful return in the New Year.
To that end, we’re sharing the responses we received to the responses we published in response to some of our opening thoughts in a previous issue of All Stitched Up! Lost? So were we, for a moment anyway!

In short, we shared some thoughts about accountability in ASU #349. We then continued the conversation in ASU #355. This then encouraged some more responses from the Inspirations Community that we’re now sharing with you.
After reading Floss’s thoughts on accountability in ASU #355, Jill recognised a kindred spirit and left us with a few wise words of wisdom.

‘I am a person who came to stitching later in life after the trauma of taking 15 years to complete a doily in my late teens! Life is full of accountability, so for me, stitching projects has to be something that gives me pleasure. I usually only have one project on the go at a time and I focus completely on that. My stitching time is just prior to going to sleep most nights and it is a winding down, meditative time for me usually sitting in bed.
Just remember to keep track of your needles if you try this at home, as waking up feeling like you’ve had acupuncture all night isn’t a good sensation!’
We appreciate your words of advice Jill, and while we’re at it, we really must make sure we find some of those needles we dropped last time we stitched on the couch!
The thoughts on accountability encouraged Carol to take the time to share a favourite phrase her mother lived by, ‘Finish two projects for every one you start’.

These were words her mother lived by that ensured she was able to finish all but one project before she died. Wise words indeed! Now if we could just find the same discipline ourselves…
Mary found that having to set up her needle and thread each time she wanted to stitch was ‘a tremendous barrier to getting projects completed’, and since she lives on her own, Mary has found she’s able to organise her stitching life in a different way to many of us.
‘I have patchwork at the sewing machine, fine embroidery or goldwork on the dining room table, crewelwork by my armchair as well as a bit of mindless knitting to keep me company in the evening while I watch TV.’
We have to confess to being a little envious of your ‘everywhere’ approach to needle and thread, Mary! We can just imagine the bliss of moving from one project to the next without the time and effort required to set up and pack up each time.

And like you, Mary, we also find it ‘really interesting to read other folk’s comments each week’. We’re incredibly grateful for the conversations started and continued, and the wealth of information that’s shared through this newsletter - we love learning with and from the Inspirations Community each week.
After reading the ‘Accounts of Accountability’, Susan wrote in with a very personal story as to how she’s being accountable for her mental health and her desire to create, all at the tender age of 85!

‘I studied Art in London and throughout my life of marriage and kids, I have always worked creatively either painting or stitching.

Recently I have been tied to the job of dealing with a, now middle-aged, daughter with borderline personality disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a severely depressed husband. However, I somehow continued to devote time and energy to my creative life successfully.’
‘A few weeks ago I realised with shock that depression could be very infectious. And I decided that I just had to start looking after myself in a different way. I gave up my local Book Club meetings and said I would give up my art too in order to try meditation and stillness to relax my body and mind.
I remembered, however, reading emails from women who claimed that hand stitching was very soothing. This I should try!
I could do half an hour here and there, five minutes even if that’s all the time I had. I had to respect my need to create and believed these stitchers might just be right. I found an old piece of cotton, drew a design on it in pencil and have started stitching.
They were right, it is truly relaxing.
I am stitching like I used to paint - densely and colourfully, and it truly is stress reducing. I am accountable for my health, my mental health and my unstoppable desire to create. This is the first time I have looked at it like this and I am 85.
Thank you for your wonderful postings and indirectly for your help. I will not give up my art because I simply cannot.’
No Susan, thank you for taking the time to share your story. Your journey is a timely reminder to each of us to ensure, that amidst the hustle and bustle of the world around us, we’re creating the space to look after ourselves so we can better look after those who depend on us, and we can think of no better way we’d rather do it than with needle and thread.
We close this, our last Have Your Say for 2022, with a query from Edna who’s hoping someone can help her tame those sometimes-untameable threads!

‘On reading a recent newsletter I began to wonder if other sewers had problems with their cottons. I find mine tend to get very knotted together. A lot of my stitching only requires one strand at a time and the other strands seem to get tied up with the colours not being used at that precise time.
Am I the only person to find I have bird’s nests of cotton in my work bag?!
Whilst I use the little cardboard or plastic spools for winding the colours on to, I find it is when I am working on a piece of embroidery that has several different colours I switch in between is when my troubles begin.’

If you’re able to point Edna in the right direction, we know she’d love to hear from you!
As we break for the festive season, we’re going to miss our conversations with you, but we’ll be back on 20 Jan ’23 to do it all over again as we start and continue many a conversation on our love of life and all things needle and thread. Until then, we hope you enjoy many hours of stitching joy.
 
Needlework News
All Stitched Up! – Back 20th January 2023
Imagine how great it would be if every week all of us could meet in person for our weekly All Stitched Up! catch-up’s. If that were possible, today would be the end of year break up party.
We’d have cakes, scones and treats galore, tea, coffee and maybe even a bit of bubbly off to the side to celebrate the year that was. And then, it would be time to say goodbye until next year.
But don’t worry… we’ll all be together again in 35 sleeps time when All Stitched Up! returns on the 20th January 2023.
If absence makes the heart grow fonder, something tells us we’re all going to be feeling very fond by then indeed! We can’t wait to catch up with you again in the new year.
Inspirations Office Christmas Break
While Australia is often called the land of the long weekend and we’re famous for our long hot summers, the weather for most of the country this year has been a total fizzer.
So, we’re closing the office in protest until the good weather returns!
Ok... so maybe that’s not entirely true, after all if we waited for good weather we may never make it back. We are, however, closing the office for our regular Christmas/New Year break.
Please note in your diaries that both our office and The Bobbin Tree shop will be closed from 23rd December 2022 until 9th January 2023. Any calls, emails or orders received during that time will be attended to as soon as we get back.
New Issue of Inspirations Magazine
While we’re wrapping things up for the year, now would be a great time to thank all the Inspirations magazine subscribers out there who faithfully support us financially with the release of each and every issue. You are all legends!
If you are reading this newsletter and you’re not a magazine subscriber, please help us to give a round of applause for those who make free content like this possible (cue the sound of thunderous clapping).
Even better, we’d love you to become a subscriber and enjoy all the benefits including a 15% discount on kits.
To learn more about a magazine subscription, click HERE

Inspirations magazine issue #117 is just around the corner, with subscriber copies due to arrive towards the end of January and then appearing in newsagents and retail stores in the proceeding weeks.
Ideas for the Holiday Break
Don’t let yourself feel lonely or isolated over the Christmas/New Year holidays. Let’s use the power of technology for good and put it to work for our benefit.

Here are some ideas to help keep your needlework mojo fired up…
Year in Review | All Stitched Up! 2022

Every issue of All Stitched Up! is available on our website and we find that it’s quite enjoyable to go back to the first issue of the year and revisit all the news, projects and conversations that unfolded throughout 2022.

You can begin your 2022 re-cap HERE by clicking on issue #314 to get started.
Get Inspired

Another feature of our website you might enjoy is that every quote from the bottom of each newsletter is collated and published together in one spot. Each of the introductions (or welcomes as we call them) are all collated together as well.

For a bit of inspiration, you can check out all the quotes HERE and all the welcomes HERE.

Research Before You Stitch

Here’s a couple of handy hints that are worth doing before you stitch any project featured in our publications.

#1 – Check for Errata’s
Whenever an error in the instructions or pattern sheets we publish is identified, we publish an errata.

All the errata documents are available to download from our website and are worth looking through to see if the design you are working on has an update.

Click HERE to visit the errata page.
#2 – Read the Featured Project Articles
For some additional insight and information about each design, you can read the Featured Project articles on our website.

These are a great way to get a better feel for what each project involves and sometimes learn the backstory to the design.

Click HERE to visit the projects page.
Christmas Gifts in January

Finally, there is nothing like a decadent trip to your favourite needlework shop to bring joy and inspiration.

Don’t have a needlework shop nearby? The next best thing is the Inspirations online store.
If you’re looking for an instant purchase, check out our range of digital patterns HERE or digital books HERE.

Otherwise, shop until your heart’s content and we’ll despatch your order as soon as we return on 9th January and when your order arrives, it will feel just like Christmas day all over again.
Daydream Journals
Our sourcing team recently came across this new book by Tilly Rose in which she guides you through the process of creating your own daydream journal.
Well, we had no idea how popular they would be and our first batch sold out lickety-split!
We’ve only just received some more stock, but you need to get in quick if you want to purchase one.
What’s it about?

Most people buy an existing journal to use, whereas this book helps you create your very own personalised journal using techniques such as layering and collage, hand embroidery, stamping, appliqué, embellishing, patchwork and free motion machine embroidery.
The end result? A gorgeous, personalised collection of your own creative expression, both in what you record in the journal and the very creation of the journal itself. Clever!
Crewel Animal Portraits
Hands up all those readers who have stitched at least one Hazel Blomkamp project? Keep your hand raised if you’ve stitched two? Now how about more than two?
For those who couldn’t see all the hands raised, not only were there thousands of them, they remained raised for all three questions. Why? Because Hazel’s projects have three elements to success:

1/. – Her designs are fun and exciting
2/. – The techniques she uses are clever yet easy to follow
3/. – They are addictive… try stopping at just one
So for everyone who is hanging out for your next Hazel fix, this book is for you. And for anyone who is yet to try a Hazel design, yep, you guessed it, this book is for you!
Inspirations Calendar | January Project
Yes, it feels like we’re rushing ahead by talking about January when we haven’t even had Christmas yet, but as this is the last time we’ll be together until the 20th of January, we wanted to have a quick chat about the exciting project that awaits in your Inspirations 2023 wall calendar.
Bristol Bag Etui by Betsy Morgan from her book Willing Hands 2 is a stunning red and white linen bag etui.
We love this image because, while there is so much complexity in all the stitched elements and different shapes of the etui accessories, there is also a beautiful simplicity thanks to the crisp red against the stark white.

Lovely to behold, lovely to stitch! And a nice way to bring in the new year.
 
PRINTED BOOK
Willing Hands 2
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Bristol Bag Etui
 
Don’t have your 2023 Inspirations Calendar yet?

We can’t promise there will be any left by the time you click on the link below, but if it doesn’t say SOLD OUT, you should quickly order one!
 
WARES
Inspirations Calendar 2023
 
Stitching on Social | December
If you haven’t already embraced the Christmas festivities, this month’s social media picks are sure to get you into the spirit.

Whether you are finishing, starting, planning or picking a project over the Christmas break, we hope scrolling through the inspiration below can give you the motivation you need to get stitching! Now for our picks, ready, set, snow:
@ksenijaflowerstich: Ksenia specialises in creating these delightful hand embroidered hearts and purses.
@littleglitzbyamanda: From Australia, Amanda creates simply beautiful hoop art and jewellery in the theme of Christmas.
@olgachernenko1: Olya Chernenko creates truly breathtaking projects in cross stitch.
@saori_freetime77: Creating incredible works with pops of brilliant colour is Saori’s speciality. Including this Christmas wall decoration.
This Now In...
From wares to kits and all kinds of tricks, if it has recently come back in stock, you’ll discover it below.
 
WARES
Home Sweet Home Card Pack | Back in Stock
 
 
WARES
Home Sweet Home Blue & White Flower Beads | Back in Stock
 
 
Featured Project
Exact Change Etui by Betsy Morgan
It’s no secret that both Willing Hands 1 & 2 by Betsy Morgan have been hugely popular books throughout the global needlework community.
It’s also not surprising when you consider that Betsy had stored up a lifetime of projects and waited until just before she retired from teaching to publish a legacy of her work for generations to adore and admire.

This is probably a good time to tell those who are yet to purchase both books that that you are missing out big time! If that is you, quickly click HERE while no-one is looking…
For the rest of us, we want you to turn to page 48 in Willing Hands 2 as we’re going to take you back in time to when Betsy was still teaching.
Betsy is going to take us through the process of designing our own version of her etui Exact Change.
Now straight away we can hear a few students moaning… ‘I don’t want to design anything, I just want to re-create the existing design.’ Well, we’re glad you joined us today, because the very purpose of this project was so Betsy could help those who lacked confidence in designing, build up their abilities.
Here is how it works, Exact Change is basically a counted thread sampler that you turn into an etui with a series of accessories.

Betsy has put together a plethora of different bands, blocks, patterns alphabets, numbers and motifs arranged in a modular format so that you can easily switch in and out whichever elements you like.
Furthermore, she encourages all her students to consider using different coloured linens and threads, again to suit their own style.
There are pages of charts to select from, all of which are interchangeable.
Then there is the added thrill of determining which of your chosen elements will appear in which piece of the etui.
The etui itself houses four accessories, a needlebook, pincushion, scissor fob and waxer box.
You might decide to repeat a specific motif or pattern across each, use a selection of coordinated colours to tie them all together, or be completely random in your choices and see where that leads you. The combinations are endless.

And just to up the ante a little more and push you further out of your comfort zone, Betsy has used a total of 22 different stitches across her library of elements, all of which add layers of interest thanks to the wonderful variety of textures and finishes.
Hopefully anyone with design anxiety will feel calmer now that you realise the secret to this design is in its name – yes you can follow what Betsy has created but at the same time make 'Exact Changes' to her original piece based on your own selections. So it’s the same as hers, just… different! It’s yours.
Besty is inviting you on a stitching adventure and she’s holding your hand the entire time.
Why not accept the invitation and be amazed at how satisfying your needlework can be when you sit in the design chair and start making your own creative selections.
Who knows where all this might lead you…
Make Your Own Exact Change Etui
Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Exact Change Etui by Betsy Morgan is a biscornu-shaped etui with an exuberance of counted thread stitches to explore.
 
PRINTED BOOK
Willing Hands 2
 
Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Exact Change Etui includes everything* you need to re-create this biscornu-shaped etui: Fabrics (unprinted), interfacings, interlining, wool felt, beading thread, embroidery threads, bead and needles.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Exact Change Etui
 
*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 book.
Looking for More Betsy Morgan?
Helix Etui
Helix Etui by Betsy Morgan from Willing Hands is an etui pouch with unique spiral construction and matching accessories.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Helix Etui
 
 
PRINTED BOOK
Willing Hands
 
Tasmanian Needle Tidy
Tasmanian Needle Tidy by Betsy Morgan from Willing Hands 2 is a beautiful folding etui with twisted cord closure.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Tasmanian Needle Tidy
 
 
PRINTED BOOK
Willing Hands 2
 
Bargello & Blackwork
Bargello & Blackwork by Betsy Morgan from The Design Collective | Pincushions is an open box and scissor fob with elegant panels of counted thread and velvet pincushion.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Bargello & Blackwork
 
 
PRINTED BOOK
The Design Collective | Pincushions
 
Sweet Treats
Sweet Treats by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #92 is a collection of cute little pincushions showcasing a variety of counted thread designs.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Sweet Treats
 
 
PRINTED MAGAZINE
Inspirations Issue 92
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Sweet Treats
 
What Are You Stitching?
After choosing the projects for this week’s What Are You Stitching? segment, it would seem we subconsciously created our own stitching wish list for the holiday season that’s all but upon us at Inspirations HQ!

Christmas Stockings we wished we’d completed for Christmas this year, a thread wallet we might just need if we find the time to tidy our stash over the festive season, a bookmark that will help keep our place as we read our way through lazy summer afternoons, and some tiny hearts that encouraged us once again to use our needle and thread to stitch it forward.
Grovenore Flato
‘These are five crazy quilted Christmas stockings I've stitched since December 2021, which were in addition to the four I stitched the previous year.’
‘I learned to embroider, crochet, knit, cross stitch, bead and sew from the age of eight and I've always felt I spent my early years apprenticing for crazy quilting!’
‘Now each member of my family has a fancy Christmas stocking. Each stocking is made to reflect the interests of the recipient.’
‘These are for my great-granddaughter, granddaughter, daughter, myself, and my husband. I previously drafted the pattern and pieced and embellished stockings for my son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons. I enjoyed the process but am very happy they’re now finished!’

What an incredible labour of love, Grovenore! Not only have you poured your time and talent into making nine Christmas stockings, but you’ve thought about each recipient as you stitched them. Each one is incredibly unique and personal.
Ann Martin
‘I so enjoy reading your weekly newsletter and viewing the embroidery the community share, it’s so encouraging.’
‘I spend a couple of hours each night quietly stitching and one of the projects I’ve completed this year was designed by Lesley McConnell of Faeries in my Garden.’
Ann, what a sublime way to store your Cottage Garden thread collection! It’s an enchanting design that was enhanced by the colour and pattern palette you chose to use. It must be such a joy to use.
Jackie Irwin
‘Firstly, I want to thank you for the newsletter I receive each Friday evening - it is always something I look forward to as it gives me food for thought. Secondly, I wanted to share with you an idea my husband Ian gave me when I was tasked with choosing what thread to make a bookmark tassel from.’
‘The kit I followed, a vintage V&A kit for an Emperor based on their Oriental collection, simply suggested to choose my own colour. I was thinking about which minor colour to pick out and was choosing between the white and purple only to discover there wasn’t enough of either thread left to make a thick enough tassel.
A light bulb moment was when Ian said, why not make it from a bit of each?
I did what he suggested and was delighted with the result! Since then, I’ve made more bookmarks and it is now my habit to use a mix of all the remaining threads to make the tassel.

It solves the problem not only of what to do with those left-over threads but also ensures the tassel is an exact match to the bookmark. I thought you might enjoy hearing of this example of thinking outside the square as it ties in a with the theme from ASU issue #338.
Jackie, we absolutely enjoyed hearing about how Ian thought outside the square! Sometimes it’s the simplest of ideas and solutions that remain with us over time and often leave us wondering why it took us so long to discover them. The colours of the tassel are a lovely addition to the bookmark and, as you said, provide the perfect match to your stitching.
Jane Page
‘I was so inspired by the 1000 Hearts project you highlighted in ASU #279 that I have not been able to stop making little felt hearts! I gave them my own tweak with the addition of Tibetan silver dragonfly charms.’
Jane, we love that you were inspired to stitch it forward after reading about Sarah’s kindness project. Seeing the hearts you’ve so beautifully stitched and embellished, and revisiting the 1000 hearts website all over again has inspired us to put aside the time to stitch some hearts ourselves!

If you’d like to find out how to become a ‘heartist’ like Jane, simply click HERE for more information.
 
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You May Have Missed
Flowers for Elizabeth | New Release Coming Soon…
For anyone who enjoys exquisite floral Elizabethan inspired motifs that you can stitch on a blanket, pinwheel, scissor sheath, needlebook and more… this book has your name all over it.
The First Noël
The First Noël by Wendy Innes is a festive goldwork and stumpwork panel celebrating Christmas.
 
PRINTED MAGAZINE
Inspirations Issue 116
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
The First Noël
 
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
The First Noël
 
Mistletoe Bell
Mistletoe Bell by Julie Kniedl from Inspirations issue #100 is an elegant three-dimensional mistletoe decoration for Christmas.
 
PRINTED PATTERN
Mistletoe Bell
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Mistletoe Bell
 
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol by Susan O'Connor from Inspirations issue #72 is a charming sampler celebrating the songs of Christmas.
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
A Christmas Carol
 
Buon Natale
Buon Natale by Di Kirchner from Inspirations issue #112 is a beautiful reticella tree ornament worked in white and silver with a cord loop and beaded tassel.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Buon Natale
 
 
PRINTED PATTERN
Buon Natale
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Buon Natale
 
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells by Jenny McWhinney from Inspirations issue #60 is a joyful Christmas stocking featuring a luscious plum pudding topped with sprigs of holly and a sweetly singing robin.
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Jingle Bells
 
This Week on Social
 
Getting our Christmas cheer today from @littleglitzbyamanda who creates these little cross stitched goodies.
 
French inspired hoop designs by @embroidery_the
_garden.
 
Quote
‘No great thing happens suddenly.’

~ Rebecca West ~

What's On
Stay informed of upcoming needlework events taking place all around the world in our What’s On page on the Inspirations Studios Website HERE.
If you’re holding an event or would like to suggest one to be added, we’d love to hear about it. Email us the details at news@inspirationsstudios.com
INSPIRATIONS
© 2022 Inspirations Studios

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