Last week, Andrea’s Impressions from the current issue of Needlepoint Now transported us to her back deck in Duane, and this week they’re schooling us in some of the lessons that can be taken from Mother Nature.

As Andrea sat on her back deck admiring the view, she was reminded of how much water inspires her as there is ‘so much to take in and many life lessons to be learned.’

As the waves moved back and forth with the shifting tide, Andrea thought about how important waiting and being patient is, and how life shouldn’t always be rushed. As she saw fish and birds moving in groups together, she was reminded that life is better together and that everyone should be included, no matter the size of the group.

As swans practiced taking flight across the water before her, thoughts of determination and the refusal to give up, even when what’s before you is difficult, came to mind. The sounds from people around her, as well as their laughter, became an important reminder about sharing your life’s journey with someone alongside you.

Andrea then went on to explore the ways in which these lessons applied to her time with needle and thread.

Finding ways to connect with like-minded people is a gift as long as we ensure that everyone who shares our passion for stitching is welcomed and feel as if they belong. Remembering the simple adage that nothing is learned or picked up immediately, will provide the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ of our determination to hone our skill with needle and thread.

Finally, remembering to be grateful for the community across the globe who share our passion for all things stitching, whether that be in person or online, will mean we’ll always have someone alongside us on our journey.

As we pondered Andrea’s learnings and how they applied to our own time with needle and thread, we found ourselves wondering what lessons you’ve learned in life that you’ve applied to your stitching, or perhaps what lessons stitching has taught you that you now find yourself drawing on in ‘real’ life.

We look forward to reading your email as we continue to school ourselves in the lesson of all things needle and thread.

One of the things we love about our newsletter is never knowing which articles, questions or ideas will inspire someone to write in with their own thoughts, memories, or answers. This week we’ve collated a wonderful collection of responses that we’ve received since sending out All Stitched Up! issue #388.

After reading about stitching frames in ASU #388, it seems Judy has been invigorated to dust off her old frame…

‘In 1981 my oldest son died at the age of 19. My mother saved my sanity by introducing me to embroidery. I spent many a solitary hour in the wee small hours with needle and thread in hand. Soon I had joined the local chapter of the EGA and haunted the five or six embroidery and needle point/tapestry stores within a half hour’s drive from my home.

One of the members of our EGA chapter worked at one of these stores, Needle Arts Inc in Dearborn, Michigan. Owned and operated by the renowned Shay Pendray, teacher, author, and PBS star of her own TV show. Her husband developed a wooden floor stand that she used in her studio for all her students. I paid a small fortune for mine and although it is cumbersome, it allows you to sit comfortably in a chair and have your stitching sit in its frame directly over your lap, thus allowing for easy two-handed stitching.

My frame had sat forgotten way back in the closet that houses much of my stash. To be honest, my rooms are somewhat small and can barely accommodate my furniture, but now that there is no one here but my little dog and myself, who cares right?! Now I think I’ll give the frame another go and see if it helps these ancient hands and eyes manifest the longings of my heart.’

Peter emailed in with a suggestion for Marjan who was wondering how to stop her tabletop stand from falling over. Peter’s suggestion was to ‘Try putting it on a rubber mat so it doesn’t move.’

We were pleased to receive a ‘completed’ photo from Sara, whose chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America was featured in ‘What Are You Stitching?’ in ASU #388. Her chapter had a community event coming up and decided to create an identification banner with a different technique stitched on each pennant.

She also included the most ‘attention getting’ pennant. ‘Chris Day’s cross-stitched pennant is an actual functioning QR Code that fair attendees could snap with their smartphones and be instantly transported to our chapter’s website! Now, how modern can you get?’

To finish this week’s ‘Have Your Say’, we have a query from Elizabeth after she found herself thinking about the conversation that often unfolds when one says, ‘I am an embroiderer.’

‘When people ask me what I do for work, I used to say, ‘I'm a housewife, but by profession I'm a Chinese teacher.’ Since beginning serious embroidery training with the RSN and others, I've started to see myself differently. I now consider myself to be an embroiderer, albeit still in training.

In my experience there are three types of response to ‘I'm an embroiderer’: Those who don't get it at all, those who immediately ask if I'll do x or y for them and offer to buy the threads (even though they just asked for 100 or more hours of my time and work for free!), and those precious individuals who actually do get it. I wonder what reactions other readers get?’

And on that note, we look forward to hearing if anyone can empathise with Elizabeth, or maybe you have an entirely different experience with saying ‘I’m an embroiderer’ you’d like to share with the Inspirations Community.

Trish Burr’s recently released Kew Book of Nature Samplers has been created in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew. This is a follow-up to her Kew Book of Embroidered Flowers with Trish’s expert embroidery back to further explore more of the world-famous Kew Garden.

Including butterflies, bugs, birds, a rabbit and a hedgehog; lotuses, foxgloves, poppies, toadstools, and numerous wildflowers, this book is a nature-lovers dream.

Each stitch used is explained with step-by-step instructions, and there are reusable iron-on transfers included for each project. Trish further shares her expertise and gives advice on selecting the best fabrics and threads to use, almost as if she’s right by your side throughout the whole process.

If you’d like to re-create Trish’s iconic embroideries yourself, her book is now available to order on our website.

PS – As our first shipment of this book sold out faster than a bee on its way to nectar, place your order today to avoid missing out and we’ll ship your copy when more stock arrives around late September.

While we’re on the topic of Trish Burr, did you know that we have an exclusive range of her kits available on our website?

Specialising in whitework with colour and threadpainting, Trish’s designs are among some of the most popular projects ever released.

With a range of designs to choose from, there’s guaranteed to be something that takes your fancy. Browse our full selection of Trish Burr kits on our website now.

It would seem we just can’t get enough of Trish Burr this week! With September arriving next week, it’s time to turn our calendars to September’s featured project, Trish Burr’s Pretty in Pink.

Featuring an elegant Australian Rose Robin sitting on a vibrant, threadpainted magnolia, this project is a flora and fauna lover’s dream.

Featuring eye-catching shades of pink, fuchsia and mauve with subtle hints of green, the nearly 50 different shades of threads used in this project bring a stunning layer of depth and texture to the work.

Instructions for Pretty in Pink are in Inspirations issue #109 with printed copies still available, or a digital pattern is also available for purchase online.

Who can forget that stunning beetle adorning the cover of Inspirations issue #116?

Tania Cohen’s Balthazar has quickly become one of our all-time most popular projects with ready-to-stitch kits constantly sold out and very difficult to get your hands on ever since its release.

This exquisite goldwork Christmas beetle brooch is simply irresistible, embellished with shimmering sequins and ornate beads. Perfect for any time of year, this eye-catching wearable piece is sure to attract attention anywhere you go.

Currently live on our website and unsurprisingly, selling out fast, order your kit today.

No matter how much we scroll, we never get to the bottom of the social media barrel. It amazes us how many new exciting artists we can find each day and there’s no sign of them slowing... only it does make it hard for us to pick just a few each month!

@danniribeirostudio: A window into the world of Danni Ribeiro. Beautiful blossoms are her specialty.

@vanessabarragao_work: Vanessa Barragão is a Portuguese artist whose creative work is combined with her passion for sustainability. Her giant ‘unconventional’ tapestries are astonishing.

@cocoa_room: This Tokyo designer knows how to do cute animals! Needle felted companions dressed in their cheerful yellows about to go on an adventure.

@kingafoldi: Kinga Földi, based in Budapest, creates these breathtaking silk sculptures resembling floral and animal shapes. Her aim is to ‘create objects, that are worthy of being observed long and slowly.’

Don’t forget to follow Inspirations on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to receive your daily dose of the world’s most beautiful needlework from all over the world wide web.

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

Over the years flowers have been assigned a range of different character traits. For example, a rose is a symbol of love and romance, a sunflower denotes confidence and joy, and an orchid can convey mystery and intrigue.

We might even refer to ourselves as a certain type of flower, from feeling fresh as a daisy, smelling like a rose or looking pretty as a petal.

This week we’re hoping to add a new flower to your association repertoire - the Littleleaf Sensitive Briar.

Native to North America, Littleleaf Sensitive Briar is a perennial herb that is part of the legume family and typically grows in dry woodlands and forests.

Its name is derived from the plant’s ability to quickly fold its leaves inward whenever touched or disturbed, thought to provide protection from herbivores or environmental stressors.

The flowers of the Littleleaf Sensitive Briar are pink to lavender in colour, are arranged in small, round spherical clusters and typically appear from late spring to early summer.

Now in case you’ve tuned into All Stitched Up! for the first time, no this is not a gardening newsletter… although if you are into gardening, stick around because botany is a HUGE subject featured in needlework!

Katherine shared with us how she came to stitch this plant that many of us have never heard of before:

‘While taking a morning walk down my street this spring, I came upon a new roadside plant that just begged to be stitched. The bright, happy, colourful pom-pom-like flowers were dotted with golden bits of pollen. Their foliage of groupings of lots of tiny leaves had my mind off and running with how I could interpret this ground cover plant using stitch.’

What a serendipitous discovery Katherine, and we just adore the way you have approached re-creating this delicate plant.

The predominant technique here is surface embroidery with goldwork embellishments, but what amazed us is the finish Katherine has achieved with the use of only three different stitch techniques and eight threads.

All the green leaves are created using detached chain stitch, the stems feature pearl purl couched in place and then there are the spectacular flowers…

Straight stitch is used to create the base of each flower with spokes radiating from the centre, upon which upright spokes are formed using a metal thread that is tubular in construction that you slide your needle through and add a chip to the end to make a stamen.

If you’ve never used goldwork before, this is the perfect project to start with as the majority of the piece is formed using basic embroidery stitches with some contemporary goldwork added for effect.

Next time you’re feeling a little fragile you can let people know you’re having a Littleleaf Sensitive Briar day and need to be treated with care lest your leaves start to recoil and close up. And the best remedy for a fragile day? Stitching your own Littleleaf Sensitive Briar of course!

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Littleleaf Sensitive Briar by Katherine Diuguid is a botanical stem with a selection of goldwork techniques to enhance the foliage and flowers.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Littleleaf Sensitive Briar includes everything* you need to re-create this delicate beauty: Fabric (unprinted), embroidery threads and needles.

Simply Irresistible by Cynthia Jackson from Inspirations issue #105 raises the humble pea plant to glorious heights with a stunning combination of silk embroidery and goldwork.

Oiseau de Paradis by Margaret Lee from the book The Art of Chinese Embroidery 2 | Intermediate Level is a striking study of the complex Bird of Paradise flower.

Sweet Succulents by Ana Mallah from the book A Passion for Needlework 3 | Blakiston Creamery is three handmade trinket pots topped with lifelike stumpwork succulents.

Needlepainted Plants and Pollinators by Victoria Matthewson features nine stunning plant and pollinator projects that shine with vibrant colour and life.

Trish Burr’s designs have become somewhat of a ‘regular’ to the ‘What Are You Stitching?’ segment, once again proving how much we all love her wonderful projects. Luckily her latest book will provide even more designs to continue to spread the Burr magic! For now, here is some more fan mail for you to enjoy.

‘I've now one more quilt left in my project holder. The goal... get it done before the end of year... I've many more waiting to be started!’

So many pleasurable hours stitching Trish’s designs, Ann! They are beautiful cards that frame your magnificent stitches. Lovely keepsakes for whoever has the pleasure of receiving them.

A thoughtful gift from your daughters, MaryAnn! You’ve stitched them both beautifully and we love that you have them hanging side by side.

What a beautiful and impressive finish, and great to hear you have found a solution for your construction dilemma! It sounds like the experience has sparked a new passion for you and we look forward to seeing your book collection one day. Thank you for sharing your stitching journey with us, Carol.

Do you enjoy threadpainting? Have you stitched any of the samplers from Trish’s most recent book? How do you like to finish your stitched nature studies?

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!

Fantastic paperweights to showcase your embroidery in both a pretty and practical way! We’ve got a range of quality paperweights to choose from.

Nature’s Delight by Colleen Goy is a glorious collection of flowers and insects with gleaming beads, a rainbow of stranded cotton and metallic threads.

~ Henry Ford ~

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