A recent email from the Do Lectures pointed us in the direction of an article by Thomas Oppong entitled Prolific Productivity: The Secret Habits of Pablo Picasso.

The article had our attention at prolific productivity!

For most, Picasso’s name is instantly associated with his work as an artist, but ‘what many people don’t realise is that he was also a brilliant mind who developed a new way of thinking about progress.’ And as such, was able to produce an astounding 147,000+ pieces across his 78-year career!

As many of us know, creativity can be difficult to sustain, and we can struggle to incorporate it into our every day. Whilst unlike Pablo Picasso, for most of us our time with needle and thread is not our full-time occupation, the way in which Picasso was able to see the big picture and then execute small improvements towards achievement is something we can all learn from.

Whilst Picasso’s productivity can be attributed to a few simple things, for him, they all came down to his long work sessions. Although we’re not suggesting any of us should follow his method of little sleep and working up to 14 hours each day, we did appreciate that finding the time for sustained sessions of stitching might just be what is required from us at times as we look to increase our productivity.

Aside from the length of time spent creating, Picasso also ensured he had a dedicated space to work from, that he was surrounded by visual stimulation that allowed his creativity to flourish, and took breaks when necessary in order to safeguard his focus.

One of his best ‘hacks’ to ensure a productive work session, though, was to start his day with a clear purpose. He would decide the night before what he wanted to achieve the following day, which allowed him to start work without the distraction of trying to decide on what he would do to ensure an industrious day lay ahead.

Pablo Picasso is often referred to as ‘the genius of his time because of his unique ability to transform raw artistic materials into beautiful and original works’. Whilst we’re not aiming for ‘genius’, we definitely share Picasso’s passion for turning raw materials into something beautiful and think his ways of ensuring productivity might just help us achieve more with our needle and thread.

In All Stitched Up! issue #384, we shared the journey Phyl was about to embark on to pack up 60 years of collected embroidery memorabilia. Phyl was hoping someone might have some suggestions to make the difficult process of downsizing easier.

Our trusted Inspirations Community responded with some methods and places for donations to help ease Phyl’s downsizing dilemma. Not only will these ideas help point Phyl in the right direction, but as this is a process most of us will have to tackle at some point, will become a wealth of stored wisdom for us all.

Linda and Elizabeth both suggested local libraries that do summer programs or perhaps book sales who would be able to make use of the publications. Elizabeth also suggested checking nursing homes, rehabilitation centres or senior centres that would make use of the craft supplies for rehabilitation aids.

Middle school teacher, Alessandra, has a maker’s space for students at her school where they are given opportunities to do specific projects together or learn a particular skill. She suggests Phyl contact her local schools to find one that might collaborate with her or accept some of her supplies.

‘I think she would enjoy picking out supplies that students would like and coming up with a project they might enjoy making, with the help of teachers. She could even teach the teachers how to do the project! Phyl could ask to be sent photos of what the kids made with the supplies as she might enjoy seeing that.

Another group that might appreciate a donation, Alessandra notes, is a refugee resettlement charity. One of her local resettlement charities holds a market once a year to allow their clients to sell the goods they make. Many of the supplies the clients use have been donated to the charity.

‘Phyl’s supplies would make a tremendous difference in this case as not only would these people be able to earn much needed money, but also be able to do an activity that reconnects them with their past, pass those skills onto their children and bond with others.’

When facing her own such dilemma, Roxanne shared her solution - pick the items up and ask yourself if you would buy it today. ‘If yes, keep it! If not, pass it on. I returned to cross stitch back in 2020 and it's been amazing how much things have changed since the ‘70s and ‘80s.’

Linda has a 6-step method for making downsizing decisions easier that she says, ‘will help you move on to the next of life’s journeys with a smile on your face and pride in your heart for a job well done.’

Step 1: Quickly, with little thought, sort your supplies into three piles:

1 = Yes/Keep
2 = No/Toss
3 = Maybe/Can’t Decide

At this stage, pile 1 should always be tiny, pile 2, a bit larger, and pile 3 the biggest.

Step 2: Remove pile 2 - out of sight, out of mind!

Step 3: Tackle pile 3 using the same sorting method and once done, remove the No/Toss Pile immediately and add the Yes/Keep items to your original pile. Repeat Step 3 until your Maybe/Can’t Decide pile is empty.

Step 4: Now you must be ruthless. Take all your Yesses and repeat the process as many times as you need to, but this time ask yourself some hard questions about each item. For example: How many of this particular item do I really need to keep? Can I substitute something else for this? Will I actually do this project? How many books on this technique do I really need? Will I really take the time and effort to learn this new technique? Where will I put this in my new home? Again, repeat this process as many times as necessary until your Maybe pile is empty and your final Yes pile is a size that will comfortably fit in your new home.

Step 5: As quickly as you can, find people and places that will happily take your cast-offs and get them out of your house.

Step 6: Take a little time to mourn your losses, delight in the fact that others will love your treasures and bask in the memories of your sixty or so years of stitching.

As we were speaking of downsizing, it reminded us of Linda’s words in All Stitched Up! issue #331 when she told us she prefers not to refer to it as ‘downsizing’, rather she is ‘releasing her resources to the universe’.

Phyl, we hope some of these suggestions can help you lighten the physical and mental load of ‘releasing your resources’.

From whitework to Sashiko, there is no doubt that a Ready-To-Stitch kit makes projects so much easier to get stuck into. With the rise in popularity of Sashiko, the Inspirations kit team has decided to put something together for anyone who is interested in giving this Japanese-style embroidery a go.

Within each kit you’ll receive a 100% cotton panel designed by Hitomi Fujita and handprinted in Japan, eight assorted Sashiko needles and white Sashiko thread – all you need to do is start stitching!

The striking simplicity of the designs and the ease of stitching make these kits perfect for first time Sashiko stitchers or for that matter, anyone new to stitching or looking for a break from a more complex project.

With 13 different designs to choose from you’re bound to find a kit or two just perfect to help you get your Sashiko on.

PS - If you would rather use your own fabric to transfer Sashiko designs onto, we also have Sashiko Stencils #2 available, a set of nine durable plastic stencils each featuring a different traditional Japanese pattern for you to transfer.

Nestled amongst the range of adorable Corinne Lapierre kits we stock is her Beehive.

Corinne’s Beehive includes everything you need to create your very own, including DMC threads, super soft wool mix felt, needles, instructions, ribbon and toy filling.

If you’re looking for a project to work on together with a first-time stitcher, a gift for someone new to needlework or just a fun project you can finish in a weekend, Beehive is for you!

We recently shared the bounty of blankets available as digital patterns on our website. This week we’ve put together an assortment of comfy cushions to accompany your new blanket!

From florals and birds to clowns and pomegranates, our selection of over 60 cushions available as digital patterns is guaranteed to have something for everyone.

Perfect for adding a splash of colour to any couch or bedroom, cushions are also a fantastic way to display embroidered projects around your home.

All digital pattern designs are available to purchase and download instantly as PDF files, meaning your next project is just a click or two away.

If you’re looking to create a fabulous set of stitching accessories, our needlebook and scissor sheath blanks are the perfect place to start.

The needlebook kit includes all you need to create a beautiful silk needlebook with wool flannel pages and handy pockets for needle packets.

There is also a kit for the matching scissor sheath with a curved upper edge and sprinkle of paillettes to add regal elegance to house your most treasured needlework scissors.

Instructions for both kits are included in the book Flowers for Elizabeth including templates and construction info and you can either design your own motif to stitch on the front, or pick your favourite Flowers for Elizabeth motif to re-create.

The positively vibrant Louise Gardiner’s most recent community cape project, ‘The Cape Of Creative Courage’ is all about celebrating hope, courage and creativity. Based in the UK, Lou is a contemporary embroidery artist who is almost three years into her journey with cancer.

After being commissioned to create a cape by Marchmont House in the Scottish Borders alongside a flying acorn exhibition, Lou was diagnosed with stage four cancer. She said the cape was now ‘incredibly relevant’ and says she intends to ‘live a few years yet as I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that I am one of many creative people needed on this precious planet right now to help inspire people to live more creative and authentic lives.’

The flying acorn is the symbol of Marchmont House. Lou created the Acorn Army campaign, asking interested stitchers to send in stitched acorns to hang above the cape and to join Lou on her mission in creating ‘the best cape and flying acorn display in the world ever!’

Some twists and turns have unfolded along the way, however determined to finish her cape, Lou keeps everyone updated with her progress on her Instagram HERE and Facebook HERE or you can find her blog HERE.

Imagine if needlework was a building with many rooms. Within each room is a different stitching expression you can experience, ranging from techniques, designs, construction methods, materials to use and more.

There could be an entire floor of the building dedicated to lace techniques, another floor where surface embroidery is located and when we get to the materials floor, well that might have dozens of rooms across multiple levels.

Silk threads, stranded cottons, ribbons, beads, linen, canvas - room after room of variations with myriad projects behind each door, waiting for you to explore.

When you take a moment to break down all the individual permutations needlework has to offer, it’s a truly awesome thought. The options are endless. That’s before you even begin to consider the exponential expansion that occurs by putting combinations together.

We share all of this as a preamble to introduce the project Summerberry by Taetia McEwen from Inspirations issue #119.

In this piece, it’s as if Taetia visited our Willy Wonka needlework building, stopped by the materials floor and worked her way through room after room collecting an amazing assortment of goodies before getting to work.

To an outsider Summerberry is a graceful garland replete with plump berries, dainty blossoms, golden leaves and pretty seed pods that beautifully captures the delights of a summer day.

For example, several stems work their way in a circular motion to give the wreath its shape. This has been achieved by using hand-dyed gimp created by The Thread Studio. Never used gimp before? It’s essentially a thread core that is wrapped in more thread to create a stiff cord, which in this instance has been couched in place.

Next stop on our textiles adventure, Taetia deploys metallic mesh ribbon. This ribbon comes in tubular form that you unfurl and here Taetia fashions it into the shape of a leaf that is outlined and couched in place.

Then, we even have buttons that are overstitched and covered in ‘first blush’ coloured silk thread to form the berries delicately placed at regular intervals.

The list goes on, but all in all Summerberry is a gorgeous example of a restrained and intricate design coupled with a vivacious appetite to introduce a plethora of new fibres and textures to magnificent effect.

Wonderful to behold, a delight to stitch. This is one project that is guaranteed to expand your materials repertoire!

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Summerberry by Taetia McEwen is a summer garland in soft, shimmering shades using silk, beads, sequins and metallic mesh ribbon.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Summerberry includes everything* you need to re-create the delights of a summer day: Fabrics (unprinted), buttons, embroidery threads, beads, sequins and needles.

Angel's Breath by Taetia McEwen from Inspirations issue #111 is a pretty design where ribbon and velvet flowers are combined to decorate a lampshade and wreath.

Spring Song by Taetia McEwen from Inspirations issue #112 is a delightful spring scene of delicately shaded flowers, dainty bird and nest with three blue eggs.

Starlight by Taetia McEwen from the Handpicked Range is an enchanting lampshade with garden friends wishing on the first star.

Dream a Little Dream by Taetia McEwen from Inspirations issue #114 is an enchanting lampshade with characters dancing to the music of a frog band.

Creativity is at the very heart of needlework. Whether you are re-creating someone else’s design or creating your own, everything we do with needle and thread is a form of art.

For some, creating a completely new design is daunting. Today we have a line-up of stitchers who started out re-creating an existing design but after making it their own, finished up with pieces of art reflecting their own individual creativity.

‘As I was originally looking for a bigger piece, I enlarged the pattern to fit a 16 x 20 inch (40.6 x 50.8cm) frame. The only thing about enlarging a design is that it does take longer to finish.’

It’s so wonderful see how you have scaled up and modified the design to suit your own purposes, Bobbi. It looks wonderful in a frame and we’re sure you will get many years of joy from its display!

‘I didn’t do a trial before attempting the design. Most of the stitches were all new to me, and I wanted the piece to reflect my learning. It took me all year to complete, and I am very happy with the results.’

A wonderful choice, Joan! You’ve done a magnificent job of stitching Margaret Light’s design and it goes to show how her ingenious combinations of technique and glorious colour can look beautiful in an array of forms. Well done.

‘I did this one in a bit of a panic as I had read that the elephant required a reasonable bit of knowledge and I hadn’t done an awful lot of crewel embroidery!’

Ruth, your crewel work is lovely, and we’re glad you took on the challenge that we are sure was very rewarding to accomplish. We hope to see more of your work soon!

Have you changed the size of a design to suit your needs? Do you prefer to frame your projects? Or do you prefer finishing your projects exactly as the designer has?

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

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Premium 100% hand dyed stranded silk threads, available now in 14 individual colours.

Hydrangea by Ana Mallah is a beautifully shaded stem of hydrangea featuring stumpwork petals and beads.

Forty Winks by Anna Scott is a large, cosy blanket featuring flowers from the Proteaceae family.

~ Pablo Picasso ~

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