For those of you who join us regularly for All Stitched Up!, Ingrid Fetell Lee may be a name that’s familiar to you. Her work focuses on joy, and whilst we’ve shared aspects of her work with you before, she recently brought a workbook to our attention that reminded us not only of the importance of finding joy in our everyday, but also how simple it can be.

The workbook showed us five ways to spot joy, savour the moments of joy we find, and make more of them each day.

Firstly, Ingrid reminded us that ‘The little things are the big things.’ Whilst we often spend our time chasing the ‘big’ dream, once-in-a-lifetime holiday or that best-day-ever moment, the truth is that most of our biggest moments are actually experienced through the smallest of fleeting details. And so, it’s important we tune in to what’s going on around us to ensure we don’t miss the moments of joy as they slip by.

The second of Ingrid’s lessons was that in order ‘to find more joy, you have to feel it.’ Whilst many of us would be able to describe what anxiety feels like, Ingrid questions whether we’d be able to pinpoint what moments of joy feel like. She suggests that if we’re able to tune in to moments of joy, the feelings associated with them will become more familiar and therefore more recognisable.

Ingrid’s third lesson was that ‘Joy is something you can create for yourself.’ Whilst we often think that joy is a little like luck – good to have but difficult to predict, research has shown that there are some things that universally bring joy. Sunsets, the smile of a baby or a sprinkles-covered ice cream being amongst them. As Ingrid went on to remind us that we don’t need to leave joy to chance, we quickly came to realise that for those of us who find joy in our time with needle and thread, it is but a stitch away.

Her fourth lesson was that ‘There’s more than enough joy to go around.’ Ingrid believes that when we understand that joy is abundant, we’re more likely to find opportunities to make it so and will come to realise that it will find us no matter what.

Ingrid’s last lesson of the five was that ‘Joy makes more joy.’ Like many of our emotions that build on each other, joy is no different. So, once we start to both create and notice the moments of joy around us, they’ll take on a momentum of their own.

Ingrid’s workbook was – dare we say it – a joy to read! It made us think about what it is that brings us joy and reignited our commitment to seek it out each and every day. We hope the lessons shared here will inspire you to do the same, whether that joy will be found through needle and thread or otherwise.

French General is a brand focused on creating beautiful products that celebrate a vintage French lifestyle.

When we added a selection of their wonderful linen samplers to our online store recently, they sold quicker than a fresh batch of macarons.

These pre-printed sampler panels are sold individually, so you can use your own thread and get as creative as you like with the colours.

Simple enough for those new to stitching, and involved enough for the more experienced stitcher, anyone who loves needlework will love these samplers.

They’re also perfect for practising and perfecting new techniques before using them in a project.

Click below to order your French General samplers today.

If you are a fan of the saying, ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’, we have a little something this week that might just make your heart sing.

We’ve just added two adorable wooden spools that make the perfect ornate scissor stand.

Whether you’re looking to re-create Lorna’s project, thinking about designing your own beautiful panel to wrap around the centre, or just love the idea of having an elegant stand for your scissors, these wooden spools are perfect.

The large spool is the one featured in In a Country Garden, but we also have a smaller version available as well, so now you can ensure your scissors have their own special, safe place to live where they’ll always be close at hand.

PS – If you are looking to re-create your own In a Country Garden, our Ready-To-Stitch kit includes both the large wooden spool and a printed pattern, or you can purchase just the pattern in print or digital individually. See our featured project below for more information about this wonderful design.

For those who prefer that tactile feeling of holding a paper copy of the instructions for a project in your hand, rather than referencing a digital version on a screen, we’ve got you covered.

Including projects from a wide range of Inspirations books and magazines, each pattern provides all the step-by-step instructions, beautiful photography and full-size pattern sheets when applicable, just like all our world’s most beautiful publications.

Don’t let anyone call you old-fashioned for preferring print – just tell them you prefer the authentic and original way of life!

With over 50 printed patterns available, there’s plenty to choose from, so click on the link below and enjoy the benefits of being a classic!

Have you been looking for some stitching-inspired décor for your home? These chic tape-measure tea towels are a great option.

Made from quality fabric and with a hook on each for ease of use, they’re as practical as they are pretty, and come in beautiful neutral shades of greys and beiges to match any kitchen.

Now available at both our online store and our Adelaide retail store The Bobbin Tree, click below or call in to purchase today.

In All Stitched Up! #382 we featured an article about Scarlet Deer Inn, a yet-to-be-released video game created entirely from stitched characters.

This week we’re travelling to the land of digital again, this time to check out an award-winning animated film by Eva Cvijanović, based on a short story by Branko Ćopić.

Hedgehog’s Home is a delightfully warming tale about a Hedgehog named Hedge and his contented life with a particular fondness for his home. This 10 minute stop motion film has been created with needle-felted characters and almost entirely needle-felted scenes!

Combining our love for all things needle and thread and exposing new audiences to its wonder, we are in awe of the detail Eva Cvijanović has implemented to capture this heartfelt story. It’s even had us thinking about what other stories could be told with our stitching…

To watch the film, click HERE.

There is always something alluring about a country garden. If we were to ask everyone to share some words to describe their idea of a country garden, it might be wide open spaces, vast acres of lush green lawn, neatly trimmed hedges and maybe even an orchard or two of beautiful fresh fruit.

Then there would be talk about perhaps the most important element, garden beds bursting with every type of vibrant flower imaginable, overflowing with colour and beauty.

When it comes to country gardens, Lorna Bateman is somewhat of an authority. She has planted so many of them, that if she was a horticulturist, she would be one of the most experienced on the planet.

Lorna’s even written a whole book about Country Gardens… the only catch of course is that all her gardens are stitched!

Within each garden Lorna has created, you’re bound to find her trademark French knot petals, bullion knot roses and a blanket stitch pinwheel petunia thrown in for good measure!

This week we’re bringing you Lorna’s latest project simply named In a Country Garden which has been released as part of our Handpicked collection.

Here, our master-gardener Lorna, has planted a series of gorgeous garlands blooming with roses, daisies, petunias and forget-me-knots arranged perfectly in a heart-shaped formation to adorn a scissor sheath, scissor stand and needle minder.

Soft pastels abound with an artful selection of thread colours that incorporate pale lavender, blush, cornflower blue and dusky rose just to name a few.

Asserting her authority as the master stitcher of gardens that she is, Lorna’s floral bouquets have even attracted the oh-so-vital chief pollinator himself. Look closely at each heart garland and you’ll see a band of bees buzzing around, hard at work keeping everything in harmony with nature.

Six classic surface embroidery techniques worked in cotton on natural fabric to create a series of needlework tools. It’s just one of those pretty, practical and perfect projects for anyone who has a passion for stitch.

PS – The Ready-To-Stitch kit for this project is a great way to re-create this design as not only does the kit include a printed booklet for the instructions, it also includes a magnet for the needle minder and even comes with the same wooden spool used for the scissor stand as shown in the photography, along with everything required to complete all three accessories.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

In a Country Garden by Lorna Bateman is trio of scissor sheath, needle minder and scissor stand sprinkled with dainty flowers.

Option 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit with Printed Pattern Included

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for In a Country Garden includes everything you need to re-create this charming trio: Fabrics (unprinted), wool felt, wooden spool, wadding, template plastic, firm card, buttons, magnets, sewing thread, embroidery threads, needles and printed instructions.

A Cottage Garden by Kris Richards from Inspirations issue #53 is a pretty needlecase with a cottage garden in full bloom.

Quilting Through the Garden by Jill Newtown is a magnificent, embroidered queen size quilt, matching cushions and bedroom accessories.

Topiary in the Border by Jo Butcher from Where Meadows & Gardens Grow features perfect topiary spheres rising above a colourful sea of iris, geum, verbena and echinacea flowers.

Potpourri by Lorna Bateman from Inspirations issue #85 is a monogrammed scissor sheath with matching fob, adorned with an abundance of garden flowers.

With needle and thread we hold the potential to convey passion, happiness, thoughts, comfort, ideas… the list goes on. This week’s What Are You Stitching? features designs from members of the Inspirations Community who have harnessed the power of their needle and thread to create some truly remarkable pieces.

‘The design is improvised using felted wool and my hand-dyed pearl cotton threads. And I enjoyed every stitch!’

Your bird is certainly cheerful and what wonderful colours the hand-dyed threads add to the piece. We’re so glad you enjoyed stitching it, Laura, and we look forward to hearing what other projects you uncover in your basket.

‘Aside from providing an excellent opportunity to learn needleturn appliqué, this quilt provided the gateway to embroidery for me, as I found myself learning more and more about how to embellish the appliqué. I'm now a devoted Inspirations subscriber and an enthusiastic participant in the Southern Maine (SOME) Chapter of the EGA.’

June, this is a fabulous project and what a great tip! We’re sure many of us would prefer not to have to get the iron out to remove design lines. We love the creativity and thoughtfulness put into each element of your quilt and it has been pieced together beautifully. Also, we are delighted to hear you are leaning into the world of embroidery and look forward to sharing the passion for all things needle and thread with you for many years to come.

‘I worked it in one strand of tapestry wool on a very fine canvas. I can't believe I did it now that I look at it! I certainly was a fearless embroiderer then and probably now, but the eyesight is preventing anything like what I did before. Still embroidering but on a bit larger scale.’

It is extraordinary, Sandra! You’ve stitched an incredible amount of detail into such a small space and your Tudor doll house must be an opulent and magical place for this piece to call home!

Have any tips or hacks to share when stitching? Or have you recreated famous or historical works with your needle and thread? If yes, we’d love to hear from you!

Email us with any stories, projects and photos of what you’re stitching to news@inspirationsstudios.com

Become part of the Inspirations family by subscribing to the magazine... we'd love to have you join us!

We have now added another title by Maria Rita Faleri to our online store.

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

~ Ingrid Fetell Lee ~

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