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ISSUE 379, 19 MAY, 2023
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INSPIRATIONS. ALL Stitched Up!
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Hi There,
We recently came across a video from Daily Stoic entitled ‘How Stoics Find Balance in their Life’. From time to time, we find ourselves searching for that seemingly elusive work-life balance, so we watched with interest.

Do you know what we discovered? Apart from considering how the virtues Daily Stoic unpacked would help in our quest to discover the perfect harmony between work and life, many of the virtues also applied to our time with needle and thread.

The stoics believed that one of the keys to a good life was balance. Not too much and not too little of any one thing, or the right amount of the right thing at the right time. They saw that this balance was where individuals tended to be at their most happy and were maximising their potential.

In regard to our time with needle and thread, we found ourselves wondering if it was possible to have too much of that one thing, but as we recalled fingers on the verge of blistering, cricks in our necks, strained eyes and a family enquiring about when dinner would be on the table - again - we realised that indeed it was!
When you take a good thing too far, it ceases to be a good thing.
As we watched on, with needle and thread now front of mind, we considered how some of the other virtues the Daily Stoic mentioned applied to our stitching.

Low Lows can Lead to Higher Highs | Similar to the adage of making lemonade from lemons, when we’re able to take the difficulties stitching sometimes throws our way yet continue to lay stitch after stitch through to completion, it’s possible our appreciation of the final result is enhanced.

Enjoy this Moment | This was a reminder to be present in what’s before us, to focus on the meditative push and pull of needle and thread through fabric with each stitch we lay, all whilst being grateful for the time we get to spend with needle and thread no matter what else is going on around us.

Little is Needed for Happiness | When Rufus, an ancient Roman philosopher, was exiled from Rome, he realised how much he’d taken for granted as he questioned whether he’d actually experienced Rome while he was there. For us, his experience serves as a reminder to appreciate our time spent stitching, as it’s the appreciation of our time with needle and thread that ultimately creates the joy we experience.

For us, the thoughts Daily Stoic shared reminded us that when our needle-life balance is in place, when we persist with the difficult stitches, are present and grateful during our time with needle and thread, the moments we stitch will always be enough. We’ll find we’re able to concentrate and enjoy the laying of each stitch and don’t need to be anywhere else or doing anything else, we’re exactly where we’re meant to be at that point in time.
 
Needlework News
The Ultimate Inspirations Experience
Inspirations Studios is home to the world’s most beautiful needlework publications.
We produce content for our global needlework community to enjoy daily via social media, weekly via this newsletter, quarterly via our magazine and three times a year through our books.

We also produce Ready-to-Stitch Kits, Printed and Digital Patterns plus we provide a huge range of Wares available through our website. We even have a retail store called The Bobbin Tree.
If you were to ask us which of all these expressions offer the ultimate, quintessential Inspirations experience, our answer is always going to be Inspirations magazine.

Apart from it being our namesake, Inspirations magazine represents the very essence of who we are as a company. It is both inspirational and aspirational. It showcases beautiful needlework in a format that is teachable and achievable for anyone to stitch.
Anyone who has a collection of Inspirations magazines, small or large, treats them like a treasured resource, their ultimate How To Guide and a never-ending source of ideas and inspiration.

Then there are the benefits you enjoy by becoming a subscriber to Inspirations magazine.
Subscribers receive 15% off all our Ready-to-Stitch kits and postage on subscriber copies is significantly cheaper than purchasing single issue copies.

Plus, you become a vital part of our community that helps to ensure initiatives like this newsletter remain free for those who are unable to contribute financially.

Discover more about becoming a subscriber at our FAQ page HERE and use the link below to sign up. We’d love you to join us!
New Book | Paint with Thread by Emillie Ferris
Emillie Ferris is a fabulously talented, self-taught embroidery artist based in the UK, who you might remember from her project ‘Helena Gum Moth’, which featured on the front cover of Inspirations issue #109.

Specialising in creating gorgeous threadpainted designs inspired by nature, this week we’re thrilled to announce her new book has just been added to our website.
‘Paint with Thread’ tells the story of each season of the year through the eye of Emillie’s needle.
‘Emillie’s designs are an exquisite display of how nature changes across the four seasons.’
Five new projects are featured, all incredibly rich in detail, yet whimsical and magical in appearance. The book includes detailed step-by-step instructions showing every stage of the embroidery process, making it suitable for those new to the world of needlework, or a joy for those more experienced.
Now available to purchase using the link below, this book is the perfect source of inspiration for your next project, or as a gift for a fellow stitcher.
Animal Giftables
We love how kind and generous the needlework community is and we often hear lovely stories about fellow stitchers doing nice things for each other, including buying gifts. That got us thinking about a few of the animal centric items we currently have on our website.
Our range of handcrafted Wildlife Garden animal hooks and Georgie Paws doggie bag dispensers are ideal giftables!
If any of your friends have a canine or a love of barnyard friends, this may just solve your ‘hard person to buy for’ problem.
Perfect as standalone gifts, or to accompany our new Animals Abound Gift Pack, these adorable little trinkets are bound to bring a smile to any animal lover’s face.
Shop the full range of each using the links below.
New Digital Patterns | Inspirations #84 – Part 3
Welcome back for the third and final instalment of Digital Patterns from Inspirations issue #84. Completing this round of patterns are some projects by two of our most prolific contributors to Inspirations publications, so without further ado…
A Taste of Honey by Christine P. Bishop is an exquisite workbox with matching stitching accessories featuring French knot blossoms, counted thread honeycomb and adorable enamel bees. Including a hexagonal workbox, linen pincushion, thimble box, scissor fob and ruler tassel, this project has all your stitching essentials covered.
Margaret Light’s Très Belle is an elegant linen pouch, featuring a natural-toned floral design. With subtle leaves, flowers and blooms adorning the side, this gorgeous, zippered pouch is completed with a metal zip and a small linen tab.
Travel Hacks – Styling Up, Cutting whilst Airborne, The World is Calling…
The work of William Morris includes some of the most iconic and best loved designs. Now you can travel in style with this gorgeous official Morris & Co passport holder and travel wallet.
Designed with both form and function in mind, these elegant yet durable accessories will keep all your travel documents safe and easily accessible.

The travel wallet features the enchanting William Morris Compton floral design and includes a removable coin purse, with the passport holder finished in the famous Strawberry Thief pattern.

Together, they make a stunning pair or are equally beautiful on their own.
Now, while we’re on the subject of travel, Louise (@louiseannestitches on Instagram) contacted us in response to an article we wrote a few weeks ago promoting the Clover Thread Cutter.
Louise shared a great hack she uses when travelling: ‘the Clover thread cutter is great for stitching on a plane when you can’t take scissors’. Now that is a fantastic idea to help stitch the time away while travelling.
Stylish passport holder, tick. Gorgeous travel wallet, tick. Clover thread cutter for airborne stitching, tick. All we need now is a destination… lucky for us the World Needlework Convention is calling.
What will entice you the most; selecting from 28 of the world’s most talented needlework tutors, choosing from a collection of 82 stunning projects to stitch, or immersing yourself in the rich culture and fascinating events on offer as we gather in England together?

The World Needlework Convention… the ultimate event for any stitcher.

Click HERE to discover more.
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.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Treasure | Back in Stock
 
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Lotus | Back in Stock
 
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Redoute’s Sweet Peas | Back in Stock
 
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Victorian Christmas | Available to Order
 
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Golden Lilies | Available to Order
 
 
Featured Project
Grand Tour by Christine P. Bishop
When it’s time to give each project featured in our books and magazine a name, it can sometimes be a challenge. With well over 1,000 projects already published and counting, coming up with something original for each one (no duplicates allowed!) is often a creative writing exercise.
Thankfully though, naming Christine P. Bishop’s latest design, featured in Inspirations issue #118, was an easy one. After our publishing team wrote the following description for this piece, the name practically chose itself…
‘Come on a European embroidery tour by working this delightful withdrawn and pulled thread mat. The design utilises techniques found in Italy, Germany and Cyprus.’
Grand Tour is the perfect name for a design that incorporates the technique Punto antico from Italy, the disciplines of withdrawn, pulled thread and whitework embroidery from Schwalm in Germany and the rather unique diagonal pulled four-sided stitch found on Lefkaritiko embroideries from Cyprus.
While all that may sound a little overwhelming, you may be surprised to know that this entire project is worked using only six different stitches, two sizes of needles and two weights of cotton thread with both in the same colour – DMC 712 cream.

What Christine has beautifully demonstrated in this multicultural piece is really somewhat of a modern-day phenomenon. Not that long ago embroidery pieces such as this would only feature techniques from a singular region as that is all the stitcher would have known.
Today, we have the benefit of accessing a plethora of information and educating ourselves across multi-disciplines of stitches and techniques. This affords us the luxury of picking and choosing from a huge variety of knowledge and blending and crossing over from one regional style to another, all in the one design.
It's the perfect example of using the transcendent language of embroidery to develop a modern syllabus on how designs can be created.
The other aspect to this piece we really like is the restrained approach Christine uses, despite her ‘Grand Tour’ taking in multiple regions.
Rather than getting giddy at the prospect of combining numerous regional techniques and being tempted to add in more to show more, she does the opposite. Christine uses less to show more which is evident in the elegant, delightful simplicity of the final piece.

We hope you enjoyed our tour, be sure to stop by the gift shop on the way out and purchase your copy of Inspirations issue #118 if you don’t already have one. And we even have Grand Tour Ready-to-Stitch kits available as a memento of your journey with us today!
Make Your Own Grand Tour
Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Grand Tour by Christine P. Bishop is a delightful withdrawn and pulled thread, rectangular mat.
 
PRINTED MAGAZINE
Inspirations Issue 118
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Grand Tour
 
Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit


The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Grand Tour includes everything* you need to re-create this elegant table mat: Fabrics (unprinted), embroidery threads and needles.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Grand Tour
 
*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 magazine/digital pattern.
Looking for More
Christine P. Bishop?
Wedgewood
Wedgewood by Christine P. Bishop from Inspirations issue #113 is a set of blue linen stitching accessories featuring exquisite reticella embroidery.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Wedgewood
 
 
PRINTED MAGAZINE
Inspirations Issue 113
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Wedgewood
 
Tulipan
Tulipan by Christine P. Bishop from A Passion for Needlework 3 | Blakiston Creamery is a superb table mat worked using Hedebo cutwork and needlelace techniques.
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Tulipan
 
 
PRINTED BOOK
A Passion for Needlework | Blakiston Creamery
 
Sollerösöm
Sollerösöm by Christine P. Bishop from Inspirations issue #101 is a pretty pincushion and pouch worked in a Swedish counted technique.
 
PRINTED MAGAZINE
Inspirations Issue 101
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Sollerösöm
 
Colours of Christmas
Colours of Christmas by Christine P. Bishop from Inspirations issue #112 is a biscornu pincushion and sachet with counted thread design celebrating the festive season.
 
PRINTED MAGAZINE
Inspirations Issue 112
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Colours of Christmas
 
What Are You Stitching?
All the travel talk earlier in this issue made us think that maybe our last stop together this week could include a journey that we can all go on right now! Let us take you to a land far, far away. Up over the clouds and through the sky to a magical place where the dragons live….
Pam Stevenson
‘It was in early December when it dawned on me that both my son and his partner would have their 50th birthday during January. I realised that I would have to get a move on as I wanted to make something special for them.’
‘I decided to embroider a Wyvern for my son as he was born in Somerset and this is depicted on the Somerset Flag. His partner was born in Wales therefore I chose the Welsh Dragon. Both were completed on time!’
‘Thank you for your lovely magazine which a friend told me about four years ago. The magazine and books have become old friends.’

What a fabulous project, Pam! Your decision to work them up using goldwork was the perfect technique to really give these magical dragons a sparkling glow. We’re sure they will be treasured gifts for many years to come.
Grovenore Flato
‘In All Stitched Up! issue #368 you asked, ‘Have you ever stitched a dragon?’ Yes! In fact, several. The first one was on the right sleeve of my very first crazy quilt project started in 2003. That jacket took seven years to complete. It was entered in several shows in 2010, winning first place at both as well as a Best of Show. The dragon was mostly stitched with DMC satin thread.’
‘More recently (2018) I stitched a dragon cushion using a batik print for the centre that I found at a local quilt show. There are several dragons on it, but that central one is stitched with seed beads and sequins.’
Both designs and the stitching are fantastic, Grovenore. We love the colours and textures you have created through the use of different needlework techniques. Very creative indeed.
Lizette van Biljon
‘I am enjoying your Inspirations magazine extremely. The patterns inspire me to learn more about embroidery and sewing in general.’
‘I was so lucky to have Colleen Goy as a teacher and needless to say – I absolutely love her designs and stitched quite a lot of them. I stitched The Jade Dragon; in fact, I stitched two in different colour schemes.’
These are fabulous, Lizette. We can see why you wanted to stitch this majestic dragon twice, each in brilliant colourways! It is also wonderful to hear how you’ve been inspired to learn more about embroidery and we look forward to hearing more about your stitching journey.

Do you like stitching mythical creatures? Are you inspired by dragons? Have you stitched something with a little shimmer to it?
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
 
Subscribe to Inspirations Magazine
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You May Have Missed
Jo Butcher’s Beautiful Backgrounds
UK designer Jo Butcher creates the most enchanting embroidered landscapes. We now have 10 exquisite, printed backgrounds from her book 'Where Meadows & Gardens Grow' just waiting for you to embroider.
Sturt’s Desert Pea
Sturt’s Desert Pea by Denise Mackey is a striking Australian desert flower featuring stumpwork elements and surface embroidery.
 
PRINTED MAGAZINE
Inspirations Issue 118
 
 
DIGITAL PATTERN
Sturt’s Desert Pea
 
Resht Handbag & Jewellery Roll
Resht Handbag & Jewellery Roll by Margaret Light are two stunning pieces featuring inlaid techniques.
 
PRINTED BOOK
A Fine Tradition 2
 
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Resht Handbag
 
 
READY-TO-STITCH KIT
Resht Jewellery Roll
 
This Week on Social
 
Nathalie's 'René Magritte' and her perfectly aligned photography.
 
A brightly coloured beauty by clever artist @ootsubu.no.eda.
 
Quote
‘The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you’ve lost it.’

~ Anonymous ~

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
© 2023 Inspirations Studios

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