Whether it be at work or at home, when you look at the path in front of you, do you see obstacles or a way forward? Over recent weeks at Inspirations HQ, it seemed as if there were more obstacles on our path than usual. And if we’re honest, these obstacles were all we could see for a time!

A run of short work weeks at the office due to Easter and ANZAC day holidays saw us trying to squeeze our To Do Lists into fewer days. Then, when some unavoidable delays were added to our particularly tight production schedule, we felt as if we were scrambling to find a path forward.

Luckily an email from The Tonic pointed us in the direction of Simon Sinek who reminded us that obstacles are what we make of them.

Simon’s theory is built on the fact that you can’t tell the human brain not to do something. So, when we frame things in the negative, we actually reinforce them. To illustrate this, he uses the example of skiers going through trees.

Do you know how they do that? It’s surprisingly easy. They know that if they focus on the trees, all they’ll see are the trees. Instead, they focus on following the snow. That way, the only thing they see is the path before them.

Simon’s work encouraged us to take our eyes off the items on our To Do Lists we were yet to get to, and the inevitable delays we were experiencing. And do you know what we saw instead? The path forward.

We reprioritised the hours and tasks before us and came up with some creative solutions to bring our production schedules back on track, and what a welcome relief that was – no more hitting trees for us!

The email from The Tonic went on to remind us that we will always see what we look at. There will always be obstacles, but there’s always a path through the obstacles, so we must choose where we put our focus wisely.

We’re determined to remember this not only when it comes to all things Inspirations HQ related, but also in our time with needle and thread.

Next time we come up against an obstacle in our stitching, instead of focusing on the obstacle and saying, ‘I can’t do this’, we’re going to say ‘I’m going to keep doing this’, which will ensure our focus stays on the path before us. That way we’ll find ourselves continually moving forward, no matter how challenging the terrain on the path may be.

As a creative pursuit and as stitchers, we are continually refining skills and techniques so we can capture and re-create some of nature’s most unique and glorious creations in the most realistic way possible.

While some aspects of nature are more complex in their design than others, there is a selection of flora and fauna where their creation is nothing short of extravagant brilliance.

For anyone who has ever seen a Sturt’s Desert Pea in real life, we’re sure you will concur that this is a truly remarkable flower.

Piercing the harsh, arid, monotone landscape of the Australian outback, these iridescent, bright red, glossy beacons of life rise up and transform their barren surroundings into a riot of texture and colour.

Who then is brave enough to capture such a wonderous manifest of nature in stitched form?

Her piece ‘Sturt’s Desert Pea’ is presented in all its splendour and beauty for you to enjoy in Inspirations issue #118. It is such a visual masterpiece, to truly understand its technical brilliance you need to study the photographs and read the instructions to take in all that Denise has achieved.

For example, when observing the four main desert pea flowers, you’ll notice that each one has been stitched exquisitely and shaded perfectly in such a way they all look three dimensional.

Now look closer and you’ll notice the edging on the third pea from the left is different to the other three. See the blanket stitch running down each side? This little clue helps you to realise that this pea has been created using stumpwork and is in fact a detached, raised element. It blends in so seamlessly with the surface embroidered peas, the visual illusion is stunning.

Denise then proceeds to repeat this same design brilliance in the centre flower buds and with one of the green pea pods. Again, it’s only really the blanket stitch edging that reveals the stumpwork.

With so many other design nuances and perfectly chosen needlework techniques embedded throughout this piece, it’s an absolute pleasure to stitch every element and when complete, you will have captured your own piece of nature’s extravagant brilliance.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Sturt’s Desert Pea by Denise Mackey is a striking Australian desert flower featuring stumpwork elements and surface embroidery.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Sturt’s Desert Pea includes everything* you need to re-create this spectacular study: Fabrics (unprinted), wire, sewing thread, embroidery thread, beads and needle.

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

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

UK designer Jo Butcher creates the most enchanting, embroidered landscapes. A unique feature of Jo’s work is her watercolour backgrounds that she hand-paints and then embellishes with stitch.

These gorgeous painted backgrounds are works of art in their own right and are also available pre-printed onto fabric.

Perfect for completing a Jo Butcher project using your own thread collection, or as a background for one of your very own designs, these pre-printed fabrics are a wonderful base to create a stitched masterpiece.

With 10 exquisite designs now available to purchase on our website, click below to start your collection.

Hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society for five days each year, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show was first unveiled in 1912 and is renowned for being the world’s most prestigious flower and gardening show. Held on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the show has become a must-see destination for many, with 168,000 visitors attending each year.

Some of the most innovative gardens in the world are showcased, with the centrepiece of the show being the Great Pavilion that houses prize winning flowers and floral displays across 2.9 acres. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is also brimming with exclusive exhibitors selling beautiful blooms.

With this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show being held from 22 to 27 May, Jo’s ‘stress levels are quite high at the moment’ as the list of everything that needs doing prior to the show goes on and on and… but, when she needs to centre herself amidst the hustle and bustle of it all, she returns to her embroidery to ‘lower the heart rate, sooth the soul and create something beautiful’.

As a result, Jo has been busy capturing her love of flowers in her signature style, and these pieces will be displayed alongside some of the original samples from her book, Where Meadows & Gardens Grow. These Jo Butcher originals, along with the book itself will be available for purchase from her stand.

If you’re one of the fortunate 168,000 who’ll be attending this year’s show, make sure you stop by and see Jo and pass on our congratulations for another bucket list moment in her journey with needle and thread. Also, you might just want to indulge in a glass of champagne or Pimms, enjoy a clotted cream tea or a famous Chelsea bun that make the RHS Chelsea Flower Show such a quintessentially English experience!

To find out more and plan your trip to this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, click HERE.

But if, like us, you won’t be able to make it to this year’s show, you can shop Jo’s beautiful blooms using the links below.

Last week we rolled out the first of three rounds of digital pattern releases from Inspirations issue #84. This week we bring you the second instalment that comes with great fanfare as both projects are designed by needlework super stars and long-time contributors to Inspirations:

Buttercup by Jenny Adin-Christie is a delicate button brooch, embroidered with multiple whitework techniques. Featuring white organza, batiste and natural linen, this gorgeous design is embellished with pearls, tiny beads, and sequins around the edge.

Hazel Blomkamp’s beautiful paperweight, Papermate, features the traditional style of Jacobean embroidery seen in many of Hazel’s projects. Vibrant, colourful and elegant, the design is stitched onto cream silk using a variety of techniques, embellished with metallic thread.

Another second instalment we have for you this week is the release of more super-duper value for money, can’t believe how good they are, Inspirations Gift Packs.

Perfect to stitch yourself or for gifting to friends and loved ones, our new range of Gift Packs are guaranteed to offer something for everyone.

Here are two new Gift Packs to add to your collection:

Forever Flowers Gift Pack

1 x Kit for the project Daffodils & Violas by Wendy Innes
1 x Inspirations magazine issue #115 with instructions for Daffodils & Violas
1 x Kit for the project Sweet William by Hazel Blomkamp
1 x Sweet William Printed Pattern instruction booklet
1 x Gloriana Silk Threads ‘Sunset’ Sample Pack
1 x Lavender Sachet

Our Forever Flowers gift pack is perfect for those who love anything floral. This gift pack is valued at AU$331, but you can purchase it for just AU$185.

Animals Abound Gift Pack

1 x Kit for the project Ophelia’s Fox by Phillipa Turnbull
1 x Inspirations magazine issue #115 with instructions for Ophelia’s Fox
1 x Kit for the project Bush Beauties Cockatoo by Melissa Horton
1 x Inspirations magazine issue #114 with instructions for Bush Beauties Cockatoo
1 x Koala Stitchable Comforter – Grey
1 x Hummingbird Needlethreader – Pink

Animals Abound is a gift pack featuring a few of our favourite furry and feathered friends. Valued at $354, you can purchase this Gift Pack for just AU$210.

With four different Gift Packs now available to choose from, saving yourself money just got a whole lot easier. Happy shopping!

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

We hope you’ve been enjoying our recent articles exploring some of the wonderful projects featured in Margaret Light’s new book, A Fine Tradition 2.

It seems that every time we turn the pages of her book in preparation for writing about another project, there are yet more exotic techniques and locations to discover, some of which we’ve never had the opportunity to share before.

Whether you refer to it as Rasht, Rescht or Resht, this style of embroidery originates from a port city by the same name located on the Caspian Sea in the Gilan province of Iran.

A technique typically used for prayer rugs, tent panels, saddle cloths, wall hangings and the like, it is most commonly worked onto a background of wool felt, broadcloth or velvet.

Margaret has chosen felt for both her handbag and the jewellery roll along with the clever use of inlay instead of appliqué.

In this way, the process you follow is to cut out the shapes of the motifs from the felt ground fabric creating a stencil. Pieces of coloured felt are then cut into shapes matching the stencil and sit in the felt ground and are tacked in place.

Once in position, each element is secured with a variety of different embroidery stitches to both conceal the tacking stitches and add decorative embellishments to the edges.

You’ll notice that the edging stitches are wide enough to span both the edge of the stencil and the inlay pieces. This is achieved predominately through the use of chain stitch, double chain stitch and our personal favourite, magic chain stitch.

After all the inlaid elements are complete you’re ready for construction, the instructions for which are included on the pattern sheet for both the handbag and the jewellery roll, along with all the stencils and patterns for the cut outs.

We just love the bold statement these designs make with the vivid coloured motifs contrasting against the black, don’t you?

The end result is an eye catching, crowd stopping pair of stylish fashion accessories that are as practical as they are beautiful.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Resht Handbag & Jewellery Roll by Margaret Light are two stunning pieces featuring inlaid techniques.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kits for Resht Handbag & Jewellery Roll include everything* you need to re-create these beautiful Resht projects: Fabrics (unprinted), wool felts, bag batting, fusible webbing, cotton tape, buttons, zip (Jewellery Roll), acetate film, sewing threads, embroidery threads and needles.

Rhapsody by Kris Richards from Inspirations issue #45 is a chic embroidered linen handbag.

Prized Possessions by Julie Graue from Inspirations issue #69 elegantly combines natural linen and pristine white thread in this beautiful jewellery roll.

Watercolours and embroidery. A combination that for some may be a little intimidating, but not so for the stitchers in this week’s ‘What Are You Stitching?’. Find out how watercolour was used to match fabric and see some wonderful Jo Butcher designs on painted backgrounds right here, right now…

‘I found a very small bit of red kid leather in a huge bin of other pieces at my local fabric store (cost 46 cents). My husband had gold watercolour paint that I used to give the leather it's metallic look. Also, my friend Anne gave me the red Delica beads for the elytra as I didn't have the red purl.’

Bridget, we love your resourcefulness in recreating a superb Christmas beetle. Well done!

‘I enjoyed this design very much and thought it appropriate to mount it on some washed-out effect boards.’

A perfectly fitting way to display your wonderful stitching, we’re sure you will enjoy the ‘Sea View’ for many years to come. Thank you so much for sharing, Enda!

This is a lovely piece, Mary. Your interpretation of Jo Butcher’s design is just beautiful.

Have you made your own fabric to match a project before? Do you enjoy stitching on painted backgrounds? Have you mounted a project on boards or other interesting surfaces before?

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!

New Inspirations Gift Packs! Representing amazing value for money with a range of different needlework goodies it’s time to begin your gift pack shopping frenzy.

Burst of Colour by Laurence Lieblich is a small cushion with butterflies and dragonflies in a delightful celebration of colour.

~ Ryan Holiday ~

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