After alluding to Debbie Preissinger’s article ‘Keeping the Motivation Going’ in last week’s issue of All Stitched Up!, we heard from several of the Inspirations Community who wanted to know some of the ways Debbie does in fact do that – keep her motivation going in her time with needle and thread.

From time to time, don’t we all need advice on how to do just that?!

After being a ‘mono stitcher’ (which refers to working on a single project from beginning right through to completion) for many years, Debbie realised that working on more than one project at a time would allow her to complete more projects. After coming to this realisation, Debbie implemented some simple steps in her time with needle and thread that not only helped her to maintain her momentum, but also saw her truly enjoy the time she spent stitching.

The first thing Debbie did was to stop feeling guilty about the unfinished work in her stash, with her mantra becoming ‘this is my hobby and there is no guilt allowed’. From this foundation, Debbie then created a list of all her current projects in rotation. The list allowed her to see the bigger picture, and from there, she determined which projects were her top three.

Debbie suggests that one larger and two smaller projects might just be the perfect fit for a top three as ‘completing the smaller projects provides a sense of accomplishment that will motivate you to complete the larger’. Debbie also found that gathering all the materials for each project at the outset meant she was able to make the most of the time when the opportunity to stitch presented itself.

Switching between the three projects each day and stitching for as long as she was able on these days, meant that projects saw more stitches laid every week, thus helping her to ‘complete all the pretty patterns’ she was once worried she wouldn’t get to.

However, all this aside, it didn’t mean there weren’t times when the enjoyment of the projects before Debbie didn’t dissipate. It might have been that the small count of fabric caused her interest to wane or that the subject and/or colour of the stitching before her had lost their original appeal. And it was from here that Debbie found that even the smallest of changes can sometimes bring with them a renewed interest.

It might be as simple as taking a break from the stitching before you, changing the location where you stitch or simply finding the opportunity to stitch with others, that might just change your perspective and add new layers of interest to your stitching.

Debbie, we thank you for sharing the ways in which you keep your motivation going as we know they’ll be a wealth of information for the next time we find our momentum with needle and thread hard to maintain.

Niki McDonald, also known as Tapestry Girl, is a contemporary needlepoint artist based in Sydney, Australia. Textile art is her passion and Niki walks, talks and dreams about her art practice while she parents her two sons and works as a high school teacher.

Niki starts her creative process with photos and images from the layered urban landscape she finds so fascinating.

‘I am always inspired by the tagging, graffiti and ripped billboard posters from our streets and laneways; their images often have a limited colour palette and they bring it all together with key black lines.’

Her designs that grow from these images are then painted onto canvas, which are often limited to six colours, brought together with her signature black lines. She draws strong images of women’s faces over the backgrounds allowing the colour blocks to show through.

The colour blocks are applied with spray paint and the black lines are hand painted. It allows for a good stitch guide and where the wool is thin, the coloured canvas shows through and adds an extra dimension. Niki always stitches the black lines first. It helps keep the tension on the canvas and gives her a good idea of what colours to select.

She has a natural affinity for and an emotional connection to, working with wool but there are more practical considerations too. Wool is clean, needlepoint canvasses are portable and easy to work on-the-go – an important factor when you are a busy teacher and mother. Niki is also drawn to the mechanical nature of her textile practice; the repetition of the half-cross stitch emulates the pixilation in dot matrix.

Each body of work consists of about six pieces that she works on simultaneously, designing and painting over a few days. She then spends the next four or five months stitching them all, dipping in and out of different canvasses as she progresses.

Although she is inspired by the urban environment, Niki’s style is influenced by cartoons and comics – the limited colours and black outlines – as well as by the Pop Art movement. ‘It is bold and simplifies complex images and brings subjects and objects back to basics. But I’m actually more excited by the modern twists on Pop Art where artists take it further and use it as social commentary.’

‘The women featured in my tapestries are the archetypical mother, daughter, sister, aunt, niece or girlfriend. They are wide-eyed, true to themselves, on track and living life on purpose. They are curious, empowered, owning their sexuality yet not sexually exploited, inspired by, but not crushed by the urban landscape. Perhaps it would be fair to say that these women depicted in my tapestries are affirmations to myself.’

You can read the full version of this article HERE or you can find more information about Niki’s work on her website, Instagram or Facebook.

Maria Rita Faleri has graced the pages of Inspirations magazine on numerous occasions with her stunning designs created using traditional Italian needlework techniques.

Not only is she an accomplished designer, Maria has also published numerous books and this week we’re thrilled to be adding another title by her to our online store.

Esemplario Embroidery Manual has recently been translated from Italian to English and teaches a range of embroidery and lace techniques that Maria is renowned for.

Whilst each of her books are stand-alone, this is also the precursor to The Projects of Esemplario that features numerous projects utilising the techniques taught in Esemplario Embroidery Manual.

It’s a great joy to have books such as these available to purchase, as traditional regional techniques are often written in their native language and not always available in English.

Now with the addition of Esemplario Embroidery Manual you can enjoy all three of Maria’s fascinating books by clicking HERE or add this latest title to your collection using the link below.

If you’re as enamoured with Kaffe Fassett’s designs as we are, you’ll absolutely love these designer shopping bags.

As with everything Kaffe Fassett, these bags are a riot of colour and are nothing short of fabulously eye-catching.

Guaranteed to have people asking how and where you came across such a fun and loud tote bag, we can tell you these are a one off and in short supply.

So, click below to secure yourself a bit of Kaffe Fassett magic and take KF everywhere you go… his signature even appears on the side of the bag!

Needle ID cards are the perfect way to identify a needle in a haystack. If your needles are facing an identity crisis and neither of you know who’s who, we have a solution for you.

Simply grab your unidentified needle, hold it against the cards until you find a match, and you can quickly and easily identify the size and type of any needle in your collection.

Great to have in the top draw of your sewing desk, as part of your kit in your needlework bag or even tucked away in your purse, you’ll be surprised how often these come in handy.

Oh, and if you’re looking for an easier way to store your needles, our next piece was written just for you…

There are some things a stitcher just can’t live without. Needles, thread, fabric, and of course a pincushion. And, as with many things in life, the more the merrier!

To help in your quest of ‘whoever dies with the most pincushions wins’, we have a range of digital patterns featuring over 30 unique pincushion designs, ranging from florals to bluebirds, mushrooms to pears.

Covering off a range of techniques and difficulty levels from beginner right through to expert, click below to browse our range and once you’ve found that special one, you can purchase and download a PDF file instantly.

Struggling to get enough light to transfer a design onto your fabric? Looking to add some illumination to a project that you’re working on?

A light pad is a surprisingly useful tool to have on hand. Dimmable and capable of emanating a lot of light onto anything held above it, if you don’t have one as part of your stitching kit, it’s well worth adding!

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

A fine piece of art is transformative. It has the ability to arrest your attention and invoke a visceral emotional connection.

For those who own a copy of Inspirations magazine #119 and have ventured your way through to page 66, was your attention arrested? Were you beguiled by the embroidery and found yourself transported to Italy?

Elegant, simple and beautifully executed, this is a superbly textured embroidery stitched onto 25-count ecru linen using two weights of perlé cotton thread.

The pattern consists of 2 square blocks each repeated 6 times as they alternate their way around the rectangular mat measuring 23.5cm x 38.5cm (9¼” x 15 ¼”).

As with all great pieces of art, there are secret nuances at play here. Let’s take a closer look at what mastery Christine has hidden in the details.

To elevate the finish of Terrazzo, Christine has used a very clever technique of creating detached elements, that are not technically detached.

They are created by starting with two straight stitches laid diagonally 6 threads apart. Detached blanket stitch is then worked along these straight stitches without taking your needle through the fabric. This is repeated along each thread to give the petals width and, once completed, forms one petal.

Create four of these petals to form an X and finish them off with a wrapped bar, also known as Italian bullion stitch, to form the centre cross in each flower. One down, 125 to go!

Another beautiful touch on this piece is the pulled thread edging that perfectly frames the mat. Here you use double back stitch to create a picot edge then add two more rows of double back stitch, but in between these rows you pull the fabric firmly to open the weave and achieve that lovely spacious pulled thread result. Simple, yet so effective.

All the needlework in this piece is worked using a No. 24 tapestry needle, which is one of the benefits of using a 25 count linen as the stitches are laid in-between the fabric threads, rather than using the needle to pierce through them.

If you enjoy counted thread embroidery, this is a design that combines traditional elements you’ll be familiar with, along with some wonderful variations that you’re sure to find very satisfying.

And if you just happen to be anywhere near one of the spectacular piazzas in Italy with terrazzo tiles while you’re stitching it… well, does life get much better than that?

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Terrazzo by Christine P. Bishop is a highly textured, counted thread mat evoking an arrangement of Italian patterned floor tiles from the 15th century.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Terrazzo includes everything* you need to re-create this superbly textured design: Fabrics (unprinted), embroidery threads and needle.

Elizabethan Butterfly by Betsy Morgan from Inspirations issue #118 is a needlebook and scissor fob embellished with counted thread embroidery.

Red Treasure Box by Di Kirchner from Inspirations issue #116 is a beautiful, counted thread etui containing several needlework accessories.

Victorian Hearts by Kim Beamish from Inspirations issue #114 is a set of charming needlework accessories with pulled and counted thread techniques.

Cardinal Pocket by Betsy Morgan from Willing Hands 2 is a captivating pocket designed to be worn as a handy necklace, keeping stitching essentials close by.

This week we’re bringing you some projects to enjoy that are as unique as they are beautiful…

Wow, Lynn! What a beautiful example of how needlework can be used to interpret a scene one enjoys. The fantastic architecture took us right to the Basilica and we can imagine the sun streaming through your wonderfully stitched window arches. Love the technique, love the colours, love everything!

‘This was a very interesting and challenging drawn thread technique - someday I would like to try the Bissone linen.’

Tina, this is an amazing recreation of Maria Elide Melani’s design. Your ingenuity and persistence with the technique is a real credit to you and we thoroughly enjoyed seeing the results of your experimentation with different fabrics and threads. Well done!

We are delighted to hear the project spurred you into a year of stitching, Joan. The cover is wonderfully executed, and we look forward to seeing what you stitch next!

Have the architectural features of a building influenced your stitching? Or design elements from history? Or perhaps monuments visited on travels have inspired your work?

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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The second edition of our Design Collective series is now available for pre-order, celebrating Christmas in stitch with 12 exceptional projects.

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

~ Adam Braun ~

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