fruition /frʊˈɪʃn/ the realisation or fulfilment of a plan or project

This week sees The Design Collective | Christmas come to fruition as we mark its official release. And do you know what? We couldn’t be more excited to share it with you!

Initially our Editor, Susan O’Connor, reaches out to designers the world over inviting them to contribute a project for the publication, which is akin to starting the search for the instructions for that just right design. As the projects then begin arriving at Inspirations HQ, it’s somewhat like seeing images of those designs for the first time. Whilst they absolutely convince you that you’ve chosen the right project to put your needle and thread to, there’s a moment, albeit fleeting, where you just hope your stitching will do it justice!

Then there’s the process of production meetings, location scouting, prop sourcing, photography, graphic design, editing, colour correcting and printing that can each seem like single stitches being laid one at a time. Whilst you can see each of the individual stitches being formed, they’re somewhat in isolation from each other, which can make it difficult to picture the final result.

It’s the moment when we get to see the result of our ‘stitching’, and it’s at that point we appreciate afresh how each stitch forms part of the whole, and that no one stitch is more important than any other as they are each integral to the outcome.

The truth is though, that whilst the release of a book marks the official end to the production schedule for that publication, it’s actually just the beginning. It’s the launching pad to seeing the work of the designers, as well as the team at Inspirations HQ, go out into the world and return much fruit as needles and threads recreate the projects from within the book.

If you’re anything like us, we think you’ll find many a project from The Design Collective | Christmas to put your needle and thread to as they are simply the most divine way to celebrate Christmas in stitch.

Three years ago, the team here at Inspirations embarked on a bold, exciting new initiative called The Design Collective.

The quest was to create a series of books that would showcase a collection of the world’s most beautiful needlework projects, in a fresh and innovative way.

When you consider the pedigree of publications that have come from the Inspirations stable over the span of 35+ years, creating something different was always going to be a challenge.

At the core of our objective was the desire to combine three key elements:

- Ask 12 designers to stitch their own interpretation of a common theme
- Provide the reader with behind-the-scenes access to the design process
- Present the projects in a simplified, elegant, and powerful way

Straight away you know you’re about to experience something unique just by looking at the cover of the book. It too has been deliberately stripped back. It reveals nothing, yet it creates intrigue.

With The Design Collective, we’re elevating embroidery into the art and design world. It’s where it belongs.

After the launch of Volume 1 | Pincushions, we decided to go all out and tackle the biggest celebration on the annual calendar. Christmas.

Imagine a book with 12 of the world’s best designers, bringing their offering of celebration and praise interpreted in stitch.

A book that creates an experience as if you’re looking over the shoulder of each designer while they’re working and hear how they went about creating each masterpiece.

Next, fashion together a magical environment to capture each embroidered artwork in such a way that it conveys the most visceral emotion while at the same time gets you so close that you can count every stitch.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you The Design Collective | Volume 2 Christmas.

It truly is, the most magical time of the year…

If ever there was a needlework technique that has a highly distinctive look and a completely different finish to any other method of stitching, or nué would have to be a hot contender.

So when it came time for Canadian needlework artisan Natalie Dupuis to create her project for The Design Collective 2 | Christmas, it was only fitting that she would choose a magical technique to commemorate such a magical festivity.

Or nué, or shaded gold, is a beautiful thread technique where pairs of metal threads are couched to the fabric with silk or cotton, with the positioning and colour of the couching stitches forming the design.

In some ways this is not an easy technique to explain, as the core principle is to use couching stitches, which are usually designed to be hidden when holding elements in place, as a mosaic to build up an image.

Here is how it works… you begin by transferring the design, which is a little more detailed than your standard outline. This will include filling in some of the areas in colour as well as adding grid lines.

From there, you lay horizontal rows of metal threads sitting snugly next to each other, with couching threads strategically placed vertically along each row in different colours to form the design.

It’s a little bit like a digital picture, where each couching stitch is one pixel and as you lay more and more stitches, or pixels, the overall image begins to take shape.

While the technique itself does require an exacting approach and is well suited to anyone who enjoys counted techniques, it is also highly addictive. As the design is worked row by row, it’s one of those cathartic activities where you say to yourself, ‘I’ll just do one more row then finish up… ok, maybe one more… really just one more row now’… you know how it goes!

Now, let’s talk about the stunning image that Natalie has blessed us with. The Nutcracker is resplendent in all his glory as he stands at full attention dressed in a regal uniform complete with sparkling paillettes on his boots and hat and shimmering gold thread epaulettes on his jacket.

Natalie is an absolute master at designing the most beautiful and intricate imagery specifically for or nué, and her latest piece, The Nutcracker, is quite possibly one of her finest accomplishments to date.

Read all about her backstory as to how the Nutcracker came to be and enjoy detailed step-by-step images to help you re-create this joyous, festive project, all in our new book The Design Collective 2 | Christmas.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

The Nutcracker by Natalie Dupuis is small panel featuring the beloved Christmas decoration.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for The Nutcracker includes everything* you need to re-create the festive panel: Fabrics (unprinted), wool felt, mount board, feathers, tissue paper, embroidery threads, paillettes and needles.

Paisley by Susan Davis from Inspirations issue #104 is a stunning, introductory design to the goldwork technique of or nué.

Bright Baubles by Natalie Dupuis from Inspirations issue #108 is a gleaming or nué design of Christmas baubles worked over silver threads.

It’s hard to believe that when Inspirations magazine issue #120 is released next month, we will be commemorating the 30th birthday of the world’s most beautiful needlework magazine.

There are many, many words that can be written about this milestone and lots of different ways to reflect on the last 30 years of needlework and the role Inspirations has played in the modern-day expression of embroidery.

That’s right, you. The person reading these words. The fact you’re even taking the time to read this newsletter is the reason any of this is possible. Everything starts and ends with the needlework community.

Everything we do here at Inspirations is in celebration of the beauty and wonder of, not just the art of needle and thread, but the outworking and daily impartation of needlework through and in our lives.

So we wanted to begin our 30th birthday celebrations with a way of giving back. Over the next several weeks, we will be having a different promotion each week that will hopefully make needlework just that little more affordable and accessible for all.

And it all starts right now…

If you’ve been thinking about buying something from our Wares category, now is the time!

To claim your discount, simply enter and apply the coupon code: 30BDAYWEEK1 at checkout before finalising payment.

Please note that any orders placed without using the coupon code at time of purchase may not be eligible for a retrospective discount and coupon expires 12am 28th September.

If you need help using the coupon, check out our FAQ page HERE or email us HERE.

Happy birthday Inspirations Magazine and happy discounted wares shopping!

When it comes to cutting metal threads, it’s most definitely a case of needing to use the right tool for the job.

These specialised scissors have a serrated edge to help cut through metal threads.

Using non-serrated edged scissors for any type of metal threads will not only blunt the blades, but can also permanently damage them.

So before starting your next goldwork or metal thread project, tool up with these beautiful gold work embroidery scissors that are fit for purpose.

If you’re looking to elevate your next needlework project, why not consider adding some premium threads to your materials list.

When you see the spectacular finish designer Betsy Morgan achieves on her projects featured in the Willing Hands books, it’s no secret that part of their beauty is thanks to the use of Gloriana Threads.

Whether you’re working on any of Betsy’s projects or love the quality of the finish and tones of colour they come in, Gloriana Threads are the go.

Now available as individual skeins and in sets of three, check out the range of eye-catching colours we have on our website.

Lemon chiffon, black satin, tweed and red velvet are just a few of the names we use for cake, but have you ever wondered why so many are named after fabric? We came across an interesting article the other day by Brandon Summers-Miller HERE about how this occurred.

These days, recipes are accompanied with a plethora of videos and high-resolution photos to clearly show how our baking should turn out. Recipes in the 19th century however, relied on an individual’s kitchen technology, embodied knowledge and volumetric unit systems all varying for every household.

Bradon learnt from food historian and writer Hysmith, that recipe authors during this time assumed their audiences were women who had both learned to bake and sew and the universal knowledge from the textile world would help explain what texture different cakes should resemble. ‘It helped to know whether your cake batter should resemble more of a tight, glossy silk, or an airy, frothy chiffon.’

So, there you have it, the textile world once again proving its importance in helping society in more ways than one. Fabric helped bakers so we could help ourselves to a slice of fluffy chiffon cake while we work on our stitching. It just makes us all the more in awe of our craft… and also cake!

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

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then the designer of a holly sprig inspired bronze gold brooch from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is going to be well pleased with themselves, thanks to our next featured project.

It all started with a visit to New York and the search for a Christmas present. Susan O’Connor was in the Met and came across a stunning brooch. It was perfect and she knew her mother would love it, which she most certainly did as she gleefully unwrapped it on Christmas day.

Several years later, Susan was mulling over what project she would create for The Design Collective 2 | Christmas when she remembered the holly brooch. Next thing you know… viola! We had a stunning silk embroidered piece called Sprig of Holly in the office ready for photography.

Diminutive in size and with only a handful of elements on the requirements list, this project is not only ideal for anyone trying three- dimensional embroidery for the first time, but also a wholly manageable project to stitch as a gift for someone.

First tip for newbies at making wearable embroidery, make sure you use wire thick enough to hold the shape of each element firmly. Decorative embroidery is one thing, but when you are making something wearable it has to be both robust in its construction and durable in its use.

The order of work is relatively straight forward in that you create the leaves first, then each berry, bind the three berries together, attach the small leaf followed by the large, and finally add in the medium leaf. The twig is added at the end with the project finished off by affixing a long narrow clasp, ensuing it is positioned in such a way as to remain hidden when worn.

Sprig of Holly is one of those perennial favourite projects that, thanks to its subtle olive hues and classic design, is not confined purely to Christmas festivities.

It is in fact a magnificent wearable artwork that you can add to any outfit any time of year, and when everyone asks where you found such an exquisite brooch, you’ll have the perfect invitation to tell all about your extraordinary world of needlework.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Sprig of Holly by Susan O’Connor is an elegant brooch with holly berries and leaves worked with silk threads.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Sprig of Holly includes everything* you need to re-create this elegant brooch: Fabric (unprinted), wires, locking brooch pin, embroidery threads, beads and needle.

Remember by Philippa Todd from Inspirations issue #109 is an elegant three-dimensional poppy that can be worn as a brooch.

Triple Treat by Hazel Blomkamp from Inspirations issue #101 is three sparkling brooches created with three-dimensional beaded flowers and leaves.

To coincide with the release of The Design Collective | Christmas, we’re continuing with the festivities by sharing some of the projects we have received from stitchers creating Christmas magic one stitch at a time.

Pat, an immaculately stitched project that we’ve no doubt has become a family heirloom. Also, we love his thread strand beard!

‘Of course, he had to have a padded festive frame, which I made from a fat quarter I picked up from a local fabric and craft warehouse. We are only a small market town so we are very lucky to have this shop in our midst. The Robin has pride of place on the wall every Christmas now.’

Your robin is positively charming, Ann! The colours you have created with wool really bring the piece to life. What a pleasure it must be to unpack each year to display for the festive season.

‘I love that it hangs in my kitchen, I think of her whenever I look at it. Punch needle is very relaxing and a nice change of pace from embroidery. There are so many applications for a finished piece. I would encourage anyone to give it a try.’

What a wonderful way to mount your project and repurpose the cutting board from your aunt, Peggy. We’re so glad you are enjoying punch needling and that you have created a truly unique piece that reminds you of your loved ones - all year round!

Do you have a stash of Christmas projects that are brought out for display each year? Are your festive projects stitched for yourself or others? Have you had a go at punch needle embroidery?

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

~ Stacey Bendet ~

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