As we continued to make our way through the pages of the July/August issue of Needlepoint Now over the last week, we came across Debbie Preissinger’s article that gave us some food for thought.

Titled ‘Keeping the Motivation Going’, Debbie opened her article with a simple question, ‘Do you find yourself overwhelmed and unsure where to go with your needle arts project?’

Like Debbie, we realised there are times when the thought of needle and thread can feel a little overwhelming. Sometimes it’s the complexity of a particular stitch or technique that brings with it a sense of unease, or perhaps an intricate project has us questioning our resolve to see it through to completion, or maybe it’s simply the myriad options laying before us that make deciding what project is next a seemingly impossible decision to make.

Whilst Debbie went on to unpack some of the ways she keeps her motivation going, it was the statement that she closed her article with that was somewhat of a lightbulb moment for us.

To be honest, we’re not sure we’d ever considered seeing the work before us in such a light. Sure, we’ve abandoned learning new techniques in frustration, given up on a complex project as we doubted our ability to finish it, or continued the stitching before us with but nothing but a sense of obligation urging us onward, but we just don’t think we’ve used joy or happiness to inform our decisions. That, however, is going to change as Debbie’s closing words have given us permission to do just that!

Whilst we’re not suggesting there’s not ever a time to ‘fight’ our way through the overwhelming feelings needle and thread can sometimes bring with it, there are times making the decision to choose happiness and joy in our stitching might just be the circuit breaker we need. After all, they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and maybe a little time away from the ‘joyless’ project before us might just be what we need to maintain our motivation to keep laying stitch after stitch through to its completion?!

If nothing else, reminding ourselves that the pleasure our time with needle and thread affords is one of the many reasons we stitch, choosing happiness and joy above all else shouldn’t feel like such a difficult decision to make after all.

In this weeks’ Have Your Say we have a few needlework stories, a dilemma, a tale about a dog and Carol’s journey with a monkey. Oh, and a needlework recipe. We hope you enjoy reading the emails from our mixed goodie bag this week!

We open with a story from Marcia, who studied in the creative field because of her grandmother’s textile teachings.

‘My very earliest experiences in needlework originate from my paternal grandmother. She was an alterationist in the ‘40s to ‘60s at a major department store in downtown Indianapolis, USA. She would bring home scraps of exotic fabrics, silks, furs, linens, etc and save them for us to learn to make clothes for our dolls. She even bought doll clothing patterns for us.

I learned to knit when I was about 10 years old and she asked me to show her how, in exchange for showing me how to crochet and do tatting. I still have her tatting shuttle. When I grew up, I majored in textiles and clothing at university because of her.

My maternal grandmother always had a sewing machine and did mending for us. I still have her thimble and the way I know which one is hers as opposed to my others, is that it has a little hole in it - you have to be careful not to poke yourself!’

We also received an email from Debbie that included some reminiscing and a dilemma she’d greatly appreciate any ideas/help for.

‘I was never exposed to sewing as a child. My mum and nana were both knitters and both loathed sewing of any kind. I was always interested, so as a young adult I bought myself a second-hand sewing machine and taught myself to embroider.

A few years ago, I found a Sophie Digard scarf that I fell in love with but could never afford, so I decided to make my own. I’m not very good at drawing, so out came my collection of magazines to find a design to use. I found a pattern called Spring Harvest, which I then had to figure out how to adapt from wool embroidery to linen.

Over many hours I created my scarf, which I love. Recently I took it out only to discover that it has some mildew! I have taken it to my local dry cleaners however he won’t touch it because of the raspberry/plum threads.’

If you are able to help Debbie with suggestions on how to remove the mildew from her scarf, send us an email and hopefully we can help point her in the right direction.

Sometimes our stitching has to be put on hold for life events or in Velia’s instance, a dog named Luna!

‘I have a new puppy that came to me via the Humane Society. A retriever and corgi mix, that I named Luna, who was doomed to be euthanised. I said, ‘no way, she’s coming home with me!’ Since last September, my embroidery, quilting, and doll-making have gone by the wayside. I used to spend days on end doing these things, and now? I am spending hours of pleasure talking to Luna, walking her, and making her happy, something I had not felt in such a long time. She sleeps with me, her little head on my shoulder, and if I move, she moves her body to be next to mine.’

Veila we love that Luna has shown you there are many ways to be happy and enjoy life one day at a time.

From a dog to a monkey – now that’s a line you never thought you’d read in a needlework newsletter! – Carol shares her story about a monkey that lives on her shoulder.

‘I have worked in sales most of my adult life and there has always been a monkey on my shoulder. This is the monkey who constantly tells me about all the things I should be doing and things like ‘I told you so’.

Well now I'm retired, sort of, and that monkey is still there. He's now telling me that the stitching piece I just finished wasn't as perfect as it should be.

I started to stitch a book by Trish Burr, The Covid Journal, featuring flowers from Kew Gardens. The pages of the book were slowly piling up and I did quite a few more needle painted flowers than Trish recommended, but as learning needle painting is a process and the results are so rewarding, I wanted to take it as far as I could.

To bind the book, Trish's directions weren’t going to work because of all the additional pages I stitched, so while the cover looked amazing, I didn’t like how the pages of my book refused to lie flat.

That was two years ago, and the monkey hasn't shut up since the day I ‘finished’ the book! I finally found someone who had done some book binding and they pointed me in the direction of a YouTube class. One day I unpicked the book from its binding and got to work fixing it, all the while the monkey firmly sitting on top. As I bound the pages one at a time, guess what?! The book is now perfect!

Carol has now moved onto a ‘very complicated and potentially beautiful whitework project that the monkey is still overseeing’ but this time we hope he won’t have as much of a say!

Finally, if you ‘find it hard to visualise blackwork patterns on fabric or embroidered with different threads and colours’, Jane’s back with another recipe to help with just that.

Crazy Blackwork Sampler Recipe

‘I like to see my stitches on practise fabric with the threads before I embroider an actual piece. I have a notebook with plastic sleeves to hold practise samples. I like practising with samplers so I can hang them in my studio to inspire me as I design.’

Materials

- Images of patterns
- Fabric (with outside perimeter marked)
- Various threads (‘I experimented with 6 strand cotton, floche, metallic and silk.’)

Method

1. Choose motifs and borders that you might like to include. Stitch different blackwork patterns in the different motifs.
2. Pick a word or two to and see if this adds to your piece.
3. With random patterns, frame the motifs and construct an outside border for the sampler.
4. If desired, embellish the sampler with beads. (‘I embellished mine with black beads and abalone shells to tie the designs together.’)

‘The excellent thing about this sampler is that if you are not satisfied with either the look of the stitch or the motif, rip it out, and choose another stitch or thread. You don’t have to worry about damaging an actual piece. I hope you have fun experimenting!’

We hope you have enjoyed the reminiscence of our goodie bag this week. Maybe animals have been a part of your stitching journey? Or maybe you have something else to add to the conversation. Whatever it may be, we’d love to hear from you! Your emails help keep the cups of tea flowing…

For those who, like us, instantly fell in love with Tatiana Popova’s project The Blue Bead featured on the front cover of Inspirations issue #119, we have a special treat for you.

We’ve added a new book to our collection, Tatiana Popova’s Crewel Embroidery.

Featuring over 90 stitches, this book is full of wonder, awe and endless inspiration for your stitching journey. With the inclusion of detailed stitch diagrams and alternative ways of working each part of the embroidery, Tatiana’s book is perfect for both new and experienced stitchers.

All projects in the book use stranded cotton and perlé cotton thread, rather than traditional crewel wool, giving her designs a unique and playful appearance.

For more information, check out our review of this book on page 15 of Inspirations magazine #119 and then click below to purchase your very own copy of this fabulous publication.

For Christmas 2023, we have the perfect way to celebrate…

From nutcrackers to wreaths, trees to bonbons, 12 of the world’s most talented designers have shared their celebration of Christmas through the eye of their needle, creating some of the most exquisite, breathtaking embroidery you’ve seen.

Never before have we dedicated an entire book to the festivity and beauty of a stitched Christmas and we can’t wait to tell you more about this remarkable project in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, pre-order away!

Corinne Lapierre’s Folk Birds are simply irresistible and seemingly always in demand!

The floral designs on their wings are perfect for practising various stitching techniques, and the ease of stitching on felt makes them perfect for those new to the art of embroidery.

All of Corinne’s kits include everything you need to recreate her designs, including needle and threads, ribbon, high quality wool-felt mix, toy filling and instructions.

Get your Corinne kits today, before they fly off our shelves… again!

Ever since Ana Mallah’s Inspirations magazine debut back in issue #96, her gorgeous projects have continually been at the top of everyone’s To Stitch lists.

From Ana’s beginner friendly projects such as Little Birds and Crewel Whimsy, to her more complex pieces, like Hydrangea and Rose & Daisies, there’s bound to be something to suit your style and cater to your abilities.

Click below to browse all our Ana Mallah kits currently in stock, or click HERE to check out the digital patterns we have of her projects as well.

Once again it was lovely to hear the stories from people around the world celebrating World Embroidery Day.

On the local front, our very own Embroiderers’ Guild of South Australia took the opportunity to gather in public and celebrate the joy of needle and thread for all to see.

‘Happy World Embroidery Day! What fun, stitching at Plant 4 in Bowden with members of the Sunday Stitchers from The Embroiderers’ Guild of South Australia. Great coffee, great company!’

Further north, as part of their World Embroidery Day celebrations, members of The Embroiderers’ Guild of Queensland were set a challenge to upcycle a second-hand kit into something usable and pleasing.

Once completed, the challenge entries were displayed, and the public were invited to enjoy their handiwork on World Embroidery Day with around 200 visitors in attendance.

Some of the entries included hats, toys, clothing, bags, tablecloths, wall hangings, sewing accessories, plant holders and Christmas decorations.

We look forward to another day of celebrations in July next year!

This week we’re departing from the usual format of our featured project articles to bring you a very personal story of the designer behind the piece.

The Blue Bead, adorning the cover of Inspirations issue #119, is a beautiful Jacobean design utilising numerous shades of blue thread and a huge array of diverse and fascinating stitches.

Following is Tatiana’s life story in her own words, sharing how stitching has transformed her life in remarkable ways, including the hope and support she has received from the needlework community after fleeing the war in Ukraine:

‘My name is Tatiana Popova. I was born in Kiev, the capital of the Ukrainian republic, during the last decades of existence of the country called the Soviet Union. It was huge, like an empire, with quite a number of restrictions and limitations for its citizens concerning their lifestyle and the way to earn their living.’

Tatiana, it has been such a privilege for us to read all about your needlework journey and learn how through it all you’ve always found joy in both nature and your needle and thread. The resolve you have and your positive outlook despite the circumstance is evident through your beautiful expressions of stitched art.

Thank you for inspiring us all and for your wonderful piece, The Blue Bead.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

The Blue Bead by Tatiana Popova is a flowing design utilising a wonderful variety of stitches inspired by a magical children’s story.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for The Blue Bead includes everything* you need to re-create this beautiful Jacobean design: Fabrics (inc. with pre-printed design), embroidery threads and needles.

Fantasia by Hazel Blomkamp from Inspirations issue #98 is a stunning cushion adorned with ornate Jacobean embroidery.

Garden Sonnet by June Godwin from Inspirations issue #77 is a gorgeous needlecase with traditional Jacobean motifs.

Mandala Musings by Hazel Blomkamp from Inspirations issue #93 is an opulent, beaded Jacobean design with needleweaving and needlelace.

Golden Needles by June Godwin from Inspirations issue #45 is a superb pinwheel, the perfect companion to Silver Threads.

We love seeing the recreations of designs featured in our publications make it into the homes of stitchers all around the world. Here are a few recent ones for you to enjoy…

‘It was a wonderful design and a challenging project. I finished it except for the twisted cord on the blue leaf at the bottom. Tatiana is a terrific and talented designer!’

Jeanne, you’ve done a beautiful job of recreating one of our most popular projects from the latest issue of Inspirations. And you’re right, Tatiana is terrific! It’s been our privilege to share both her design and her story with the Inspirations community.

‘My childhood Christmases were always enhanced by this wonderful beetle but unfortunately these days it is seldom seen or is missing its wonderful colour. I now have mine to remind me of those years passed.’

Your Balthazar beetle is fantastic, Linda. It is wonderful that your newly stitched creation brings with it memories of past holidays. We’re sure Balthazar will make regular appearances at your festivities for many years to come.

‘I bought a set of linen samples from Mary Corbet, so I used one of them for the front piece. I had all of the DMC flosses and pearl cotton, I only had to buy some beads. I did really enjoy it. I am considering one of the projects from A Passion for Needlework 2 | Factoria VII as an upcoming project.’

A triumphant pincushion for sure, Janet. With pristine stitching and a shimmering beaded edge, you should indeed be proud of it. And by the sounds of it, kept far away from any pins!

Have you stitched a project from one of our publications? Do you have a particular designer you love to stitch?

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!

Trish Burr’s recently released Kew Book of Nature Samplers includes designs of a vast array of flora and fauna all in Trish’s signature, elegant style.

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

~ Henri Nouwen ~

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