This issue of All Stitched Up! coincides with Good Friday.

In Australia, today is the first of two public holidays that are observed in honour of Easter. On both Good Friday and Easter Monday, most businesses and institutions are closed meaning many of us have a four-day weekend before us.

For some, the weekend will be marked with sacred observances that will take place across the weekend as we honour this significant event on the Christian calendar.

For others, it has become a tradition to travel with family and/or friends, as in the Southern Hemisphere the weekend often marks a shift of season as we find Summer falling away as Autumn begins to remind us of the Winter that will soon unfold.

Whilst others use the time to embark on projects that require more time than traditional two-day weekends afford.

Expanses of time such as Easter often bring with them the opportunity to pause and reflect on what’s important, offering an occasion to be more deliberate with how we use the time before us. As a result, we often find ourselves feeling rested and restored as we return to ‘normal’ life afterwards.

So, whether your attention has been captured by faith, the change of season, travel, or a specific project you’re hoping to complete, we hope this Easter brings with it the opportunity to involve yourself in something you’re passionate about and that the rest and restoration this affords brings with it a new momentum that you’ll carry into your day to day.

You may recall in All Stitched Up! issue #371 that we asked you to stay tuned as we promised to continue the continuing conservations. Well, this week we’re making good on that promise as we share some of the many emails that have come across our desk in recent weeks.

In ASU #367 we unpacked some thoughts on how we judge the results of our time with needle and thread. Realising that we’re often our own harshest critics, we encouraged each of us to take a gentler approach going forward. The thoughts we shared inspired a number of responses from the Inspirations Community.

Before sharing her thoughts on judging, Cristina painted a beautiful picture of where she found herself reading and replying to that issue of the newsletter.

‘It is snowing here today, and I am very happy. A cup of hot chocolate, the house wrapped in warmth, the sleeping cat, the husband busy with his hobbies and I with my embroidery and with you.’

Cristina then went on to share that when a project is finished, whether embroidery or otherwise, she’s rarely completely satisfied with the result. Over many years, however, she’s learnt that time between the completion of a piece and the judging of it can often help soften her response.

As Maddie thought about how we’re often our own harshest critics, it got her thinking about a piece she recently finished.

Mary and Ann both hold the same view on why it is we might be ‘not so gentle’ critics of the work we produce with needle and thread.

Like many of you reading this newsletter, they were taught from a young age not to boast about their own achievements. Mary did wonder, though, how many of us though outwardly modest, might just be willing to praise our achievements with a ‘Yes. I like it. It is good.’ when alone and out of the earshot of others!

After reading our thoughts on judging, Jackie found herself laughing.

‘Many years ago a friend and I were delegated to help with the catering tent at our local show. The previous day we realised there was no bread submitted for judging, so we both went home, unearthed our ‘Delia Compendium’, and proceeded to make bread. On the day of judging, a very auspicious judge, deemed our efforts inedible. Whilst there was not a kind word in sight, being mothers of farming sons, we retrieved our loaves which were eaten with much delight and laughter despite their inedibility!’

Reading our piece struck a very personal chord with Mieke who recently lost her home of 35 years to a house fire. Not only did she lose all the usual items a home that’s raised four children contains, as well as sentimental objects that had been passed down to her by family, but many of her stitched pieces were lost as well.

‘This is a photo of one of my Christmas pieces that I always look forward to taking out for the Holidays and had just put up before the fire. I had signed it with a piece of metallic thread that had been left to me by my grandmother.’

‘What is disappointing to me is that as far as the insurance goes, they have judged that none of my pieces are valued beyond the worth of their parts - the price of the linen, threads and framing.’

Whilst an event such as what Mieke has been through would challenge even the most resilient amongst us, we were heartened by her outlook to her time with needle and thread:

‘I had hoped that family and friends would continue to appreciate my stitching in years to come but that is now not to be. It is a very good thing that I always enjoy my stitching time for its own sake and would never consider it a waste. Although I have to admit that the views of the insurance company are disappointing, they will certainly not stop me from stitching or enjoying my time doing so!’

Next week we’ll be sharing the responses to Marcia’s struggle with needle and thread after cataract surgery left her far sighted. We think you’ll find it ‘eye opening’, so be sure not to miss it!

We’re always on the look-out for ways to help our community of stitchers and this week we are excited to share a new product that’s recently been added to our website, thanks to a recommendation from a fellow reader of this newsletter.

The Clover adjustable ring thimble is the perfect solution for anyone who finds regular thimbles a little too restrictive.

It comes highly recommended as a fantastic alternative to a traditional thimble and we think it’s a great example of how sometimes it’s the small and simple solutions that can make the biggest difference.

N0w, while we’re talking about Clover products, another elegant solution in their range is their pendant thread cutter.

This handy thread cutter has been so beautifully designed, we have it on good authority many stitchers wear them as a pendant not only while they’re stitching, but also as decorative jewellery!

As pretty as it is practical, it can be worn around your neck or attached to a string, so you’ll always know where it is.

Does it feel like you’ve seen this thread cutter before? That’s probably because you have! Carolyn Pearce incorporated this exact accessory into her project Home Sweet Home.

Both these handy tools are now available on our website via the links below.

A few weeks ago we gave everyone a heads up about a few items from our wares category that were running low on stock.

This week we’re doing the same only this time with some Ready-to-Stitch kits that are nearly sold out. So here are 5 kits with only 5 units or less remaining:

Crewel Whimsy: Pink Flower by Ana Mallah

Gorgeous crewel flower design suitable as a framed piece or journal cover.

Three charming needlework accessories featuring pretty garden flowers.

Stunning crewel cushion featuring vibrant fruits and acorns.

Elegant and richly shaded crewelwork panel on sturdy linen twill, perfect to use as a cushion or an insert for a wooden footstool base.

Swathes of flowers, large and small, meld together in perfect harmony.

If any of the above projects are on your To Stitch List, now would be the time to purchase your kits to avoid missing out.

Our digital pattern team have been working on releasing the remaining projects from Inspirations magazine issue #73. With four already available, this week we’re adding the following two projects:

A rare duo-designer project, Treasure Chest by Yvette Stanton and Janie Hubble brings a fun and vibrant twist to traditional Hardanger embroidery. Decorating a small box lid, this project is elegant but colourful, featuring additional embellishment with small cognac glass beads.

Going Dotty by Susan O’Connor is a modern and colourful throw utilising just one stitch. Made with cashmere velour and using chain stitch to create fun, two-coloured spots all over, this is the perfect project for beginners.

As with any issue of Inspirations magazine, we are humbled by how many readers absolutely loved the selection of projects our team curated for issue #117.

With the official release of #118 just around the corner, it’s time to do a Final Call for all the kits from issue #117. Including exquisite projects from a range of designers, there’s a little something for everyone.

If there are any projects you’ve been eyeing but haven’t purchased the kit for yet, we recommend doing so now before they all go.

by Taetia McEwen

I’m so incredibly excited to be sharing my delightful and whimsical embroidery at the inaugural World Needlework Convention in England later this year. Stitching in beautiful surroundings is always inspiring and I can’t think of anywhere more fitting to stitch fairies, dragons, flowers, birds, and beetles!

My childhood was filled with beautiful books and a rambling garden that inspired my passion for all things feminine and pretty. With an innate need to embellish practical things, the tactile art of embroidery has provided the perfect medium for me to create delightful scenes filled with creatures, flowers, butterflies, and birds – and all with just a touch of whimsy that I’ve become so well known for!

I’d love you to join me to create embroidered stories that will delight all, as we learn the charming art of making magical creatures leap off the background with silk thread, chenille, velvet, metal ribbon, sequins, feathers, beads, and organza.

I have been forever fascinated by the idea of a lampshade that changes scenes as it’s turned, something that beautifully marries functionality with creativity.

In The Fairies’ Pet, let me help you create a garden where fairies tend their diminutive dragon, haul carts full of berries, swing on magical threads and ride dragonflies through the sky. Stitch a little path through the garden to meet other creatures doing their thing. If you or the little people in your life need convincing that fairies really do exist, stitch a fairy story with me then take home your own pet dragon.

Dream A Little sets the scene for the frog band to entertain the audience as jitter bugs jive around on the dance floor, all while Miss Mousey, with her sparkling red shoes, dances into the wee hours with her beau.

Peer through a toadstool window to see what’s been baking and catch a glimpse of Ladybug as she goes for her evening stroll. With its host of adorable characters, and the well-known love song scattered amongst the sparkling stars, every time you gaze at it, there’s something new to be seen!

Finished as a lampshade or framed as a picture, this happy scene is fun to stitch and will delight everyone who sees it.

In Song of Spring, we’ll create a little wren singing her morning song as the dew dries on the stems of cornflowers, humble daisies and pink jasmine, sparkling with delicate beads and sequins. All whilst branches of pink blossom unfurl in the sunlight to reveal a tiny nest complete with three speckled eggs.

Join me 5 to 15 October as we indulge our love of needle and thread over 11 days in two stunning hotels - the Paddington Hilton in London and nearby Luton Hoo Estate.

We’ll also enjoy day trips to the Knitting and Stitching Show, Parham House and the City of London Livery Company. All that and so much more awaits. With both All Inclusive and Event Only options available, I can’t wait to stitch with you at the World Needlework Convention!

To find out more and to register click HERE.

If you have seen any of our adverts for the new book ‘A Fine Tradition 2’ you would have read the line ‘Margaret Light is taking us on another adventure...’

As catchy and intriguing as that sounds, when you begin to unpack the incredible diversity and cultural richness covered in this book, that promotional line quickly becomes an understatement.

This week, as we began to write this article about the featured project ‘Kantha Cushion’ we became completely immersed in Indian culture.

We read Margaret’s introduction to this piece on page 23 in the book where she gives a brief history of Kantha Embroidery, shares how she purchased an original mid-20th century kantha bedspread to study and visited early examples of the work in UK museums.

From there we began our own deep dive into Kantha Embroidery visiting fascinating websites such as Dehli based House of Wandering Silk where we discovered beautiful phrases such as:

‘Kantha was never commissioned by kings, nor ordered by landed gentry, but passed down in learning and dowry from mother to daughter’. (source)

As well as:

(source)

We also learned that ‘While the word kantha has no certain etymological root, it is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word kontha, meaning rags’.

And to really help teleport us to the streets of India, we played Bengali music all the while we were writing this piece, with the rest of the Inspirations office wondering what on earth we were doing!

Why are we sharing all of this with you instead of telling you about the project itself?

In case you don’t already know, needlework has to be one of the greatest endeavours one can ever pursue.

And to that point, Kantha is predominantly worked in straight stitch with running patterns that radiate around the design in such a way you stitch a little bit of each element as you go. It’s a technique that is easy to learn and fast to stitch with. Everything about it is continuous and flows in a beautiful motion.

So much more to say, so much more to share, but perhaps our best advice is to encourage you to go on your own journey to discover more about Kantha. This is such a wonderful project for so many reasons and in case you can’t tell… we are totally smitten by it!

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Kantha Cushion by Margaret Light is a colourful combination of traditional and modern motifs using a range of Kantha Embroidery stitches.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Kantha Cushion includes everything* you need to re-create these charmingly naïve motifs: Fabrics (unprinted), sewing thread, needles, embroidery thread and needles.

Rainbow Dreams by Margaret Light from Inspirations issue #65 is a colourful cot sheet and pillowcase in the style of Indian Kantha Embroidery.

Natural Wonder by Maria Rita Faleri from Inspirations issue #111 is a Catherine de’ Medici cushion cover featuring enchanting bird motifs and finished with hand-knotted tassels.

Spanish Lace by Christine Burton from Inspirations issue #105 is a gorgeous blackwork embroidered cushion with golden highlights.

Lavoro Nero by Bruna Scagnetti from Inspirations issue #68 is a fabulous contemporary cushion featuring stylised fuchsias worked in long and short stitch.

With Easter upon us, we thought we would bring you some of the egg-cellent pieces sent in by the Inspirations community.

‘As far as I know, I am the only one who embroiders on ostrich eggs as well as on budgerigar eggs. You can see more of my eggs on my Pinterest page.’

Your eggs are remarkable, Elisabeth. A truly delicate talent you have mastered. We love the cheerful colours of your hand dyed silk ribbons. Thank you for sending them in so we can all enjoy your wonderful work.

‘Here is a picture of my basket, also smocked, with eggs.’

Diana, your smocking is beautiful - it’s no wonder you could save up for the Pfaff machine! We love that the time you spent smocking for others was well rewarded.

Your blankets are delightful, MaryAnn. We’re so glad you’ve enjoyed stitching these adorable ducklings not just once but many times! Hopefully you can find more recipients for these thoughtful blankets so you can continue stitching them.

Do you stitch projects for Easter? Have you tried stitching on eggshells? Do you have a favourite pattern you’ve stitched multiple times?

Whatever you are stitching, we’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread along with a few details 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!

Filled with intricate and beautiful tassels of all shapes and sizes Maria Rita Faleri’s stunning book is available now.

Delft Tulip Tile by Margaret Light features a large vase with blue tulips and smaller flowers within a geometric shape, enhanced with small acorn sprays.

Pomegranate Still Life by Margaret Light is a superb still life beautifully combining colour and stitch to depict branches of cherry blossom in a large vase and needlelace pomegranates on a patterned dish.

~ Jo Saxton ~

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