Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle of a project with needle and thread, or perhaps unable to complete an almost completed project?

Chances are it’s happened to most of us, and whilst the reason it occurs will vary from person to person, a recent email from The Tonic had us thinking about some of the projects we’re yet to lay the final stitches on.

Their email opened with a question, ‘What’s the difference between a perfectionist and a high achiever?’

According to their definition, whilst both types are driven to succeed, high achievers are motivated by enjoying the process, learning new things, and seeing progress. Whilst perfectionists are compelled by fear, over thinking and doubt.

Is it possible we’ve allowed the ideal of perfect to creep into some of our time with needle and thread and that’s why the projects aren’t complete?!

If we’re honest, the answer is probably yes.

If you’re now considering that some of your stitching has befallen the same fate and may be considering the same questions The Tonic put to their readers - ‘when is good enough?’ and ‘how do you know when to stop refining your work?’ - you might be surprised by the simple answer they put forward.

Deadlines.

Drawing from the wisdom of Saturday Night Live producer, Lorne Michael, whose philosophy was ‘we don’t go on because we’re ready, we go on because it’s 11:30’, The Tonic have come to see that when we meet the deadlines we set for ourselves and our work goes out into the world, we’ll learn that even though we may have released work with imperfections, everything is still ok.

Not only is everything still ok, but chances are people will enjoy what we produce without seeing the imperfections we may know are there!

As The Tonic went on to explain, the more we’re able to stick to our deadlines, not only will it get easier to release our ‘imperfect’ work to the world, but we’ll produce larger quantities of work which over time will make us ‘better at our craft because we’re spending more time creating, not fretting over minute details’.

They closed their email with the challenge to set a deadline for a project we’re buried in right now, so we’re off to lay the final stitches of that almost complete project or two, or three…

Have Your Say this week compiles the responses we had to All Stitched Up! issue #393, which if we were to summarise, includes a suggestion, a response and an exploration!

In issue #393 Peter suggested a rubber mat for Marjan who was trying to stop her tabletop stand from falling over. This reminded Roberta of a project her EGA chapter did, creating weights out of Tyco stuffed toys that may also work for Marjan. One of the ladies in their chapter had a collection of toys she wanted to get rid of, so they repurposed them by removing half of the plastic pellets and replaced them with stainless steel buck shot.

‘The toy remains floppy and will shape to any frame you want to stabilise. The 10 of us had a lot of fun with them, mine was a tan Cocker Spaniel Puppy.’

We also had a question in issue #393 posed by Elizabeth who wanted to know what reactions people get when they say they are an embroiderer. In response we received an email from Mary who says even though she is an embroiderer she hasn’t reached the level in her journey where she feels ready to tell others about it yet.

She explains, ‘I aspire to be a more accomplished embroiderer. I am a quilter, to the level where I am confident telling others. One of the most common responses I receive is, ‘I am so happy to hear that. I have some pants that need to be hemmed.’

Well said Mary! Finally, in issue #393 we wrote about lessons learned in life and how they might apply to our time with needle and thread, encouraging Jane to think about her feelings towards her stitching.

To explore her feelings, she started with a note about gardening: ‘Much is written about the mental health benefits of gardening as it teaches patience and careful watchfulness. It teaches entire trust in a process of planting seeds, relying on sun and water to reap the reward of a harvest for the eye and the soul.

This slips nicely into my thinking about needlework as a form of gardening without needing a patch of earth. There is luxury in dipping my hands into a basket of threads made of silken fibres, vegan cotton, or bamboo. The delight of colour selection for a special pattern begins the process of set-up that includes the right tools: needles, thimble, hoop, lamplight, and location. All is in readiness for that time of day when I am free to surrender to the calm of stitching.

Practicing Mindfulness – a phrase that seems to have moved into the common lexicon to describe a ‘practice of total self-awareness to create a feeling of calm.’ In the spirit of practicing mindfulness, I try to give myself permission each day to dive into my stitching as it is a pressure release, like a whistle on a kettle just boiled. Calming and relaxing each stitch gives me time for inner reflection and permission to find blissful happiness each and every day just like a farmer watching my crops, knowing the harvest will reap a benefit to me in its own time and in a surprising way.’

Jane, we love your comparison of stitching to the process of gardening and we’re so glad you find yourself calm and relaxed every time you stitch. If you have any reflections or reactions you would like to share from any of our newsletters we’d love you to email us HERE!

If you have ever had the great privilege of working on a project with, or assigning a task to, a creative person capable of producing amazing art, you’ll know that the path to a result is seldom linear.

People who are highly creative will often ride waves of emotions throughout the course of a project, they might traverse different stages of motivation levels and productivity outcomes, and they can even endure several false starts before settling on a final direction from which to begin.

We were reminded of this after reading page 175 in The Design Collective | Christmas, where Swiss designer Laurence Lieblich shares the creative journey she traversed to produce her design, Secrets.

While all the projects in The Design Collective | Christmas are like our children and it’s hard to have favourites, there is no doubt this project does hold a very special place in our hearts.

Whilst the description for this project is a good place to start, it truly is just the beginning:

A decorative box with shaped sides that tie at the top with silk ribbons to form a container for a Christmas surprise.

As you will read more about in the book itself, Laurence laboured for nearly three months to: flesh out all the details to bring to life the design of this small box, which was intended to be a receptacle for messages of happiness and health exchanged during the holiday season.

Every element that Laurence has used in this design and every decision made, be it materials, colours, size, finish – all of it has come about after a great deal of thought and intentionality to create what she describes as ‘a unique object, imbued with symbolism and aesthetics’.

So much can be said about this sublime celebration of Christmas in stitch, but with the little space we have left, Laurence herself says it best:

Thank you, Laurence, for treating us to your wonderful gift to the entire needlework community. Secrets is a truly remarkable project.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Secrets by Laurence Lieblich is a pyramid box with surface embroidery in silk and metallic threads.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Secrets includes everything* you need to re-create this decorative box: Fabrics (unprinted), interlining, waddings, card, cream sewing thread, embroidery thread, ribbon, beads and needles.

Floral Symphony by Laurence Lieblich from Inspirations issue #115 is a small, linen cushion adorned with pretty flowers worked with lustrous silk threads.

Mandala Magic by Laurence Lieblich from The Handpicked Collection is a spectacular, floral mandala in gentle shades of green and blue.

How are you going keeping up with our 30th birthday celebrations? Just a reminder to keep a ratio of one glass of water for every flute of champagne you drink, and don’t do your best dancing too early in the party… it’s a marathon not a sprint!

This week the party is moving into the library where you can add any books missing from your shelves for 15% off.

The fine print for this week is easy – 30BDAYWEEK3 coupon is applicable to all our printed books *with the only exception being The Design Collective | Christmas. Also, any orders placed without using the coupon code at time of purchase may not be eligible for a retrospective discount and this coupon expires 12am 12th October.

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

Happy birthday Inspirations Magazine and happy discounted book shopping!

Are your needles naughty and often not where you expect to find them? Do you put your project down only to come back to discover that the needle you were using has up and walked off while you weren’t watching?

Designed with ease of use in mind, these magnetic minders are just what you need to keep your needles safely in place while you’re stitching.

The integrity of your fabric is also be preserved, as there is no need to pin your needles through the edges thanks to the magnetic clasp.

With a ceramic finish and available in three classic designs, these are a great addition to your needlework kit, or a wonderful gift for a friend.

One of the more practical projects one can choose to stitch is a bag. Not only can the process be a lot of fun, your final piece is something that can be used and loved again and again, all the while proudly showing off your needlework skills wherever you go.

From evening bags and sweetbags to tote bags and drawstring bags, our wide range is sure to have something that takes your fancy.

With over 30 designs to choose from on our website, all ready for instant download, you could be starting your new project after just a few clicks. Browse the full range now.

When it came time to write this update about kits from Inspirations #119 it was going to be a very short piece as, due to the popularity of kits from this issue, there were only three projects left in stock.

Then, just like Wonder Woman riding in on her invisible jet, our Kit Manager Sue rushed in to save the day!

This is great news for those of you who have been asking about kits for the numerous projects that sold out soon after release.

Here’s what we know… Sue has been able to source the last of the remaining Bissone linen from Italy for the project Fiori by Maria Elide Melani, so the final batch of kits for this one are being created as we type.

Kits for Nature’s Delight by Colleen Goy have been highly sought after, thanks in part to the 60+ threads included and, yet again, Sue has managed to source every last one for what will be the final batch of kits for this project as well.

Then there is The Blue Bead, Littleleaf Sensitive Briar and Hydrangea, all of which have a limited number of kits still available to purchase as well.

It goes without saying that, if you’ve been waiting for this announcement, make sure you act today by clicking below while stock is still available. And if you are yet to enjoy Inspirations magazine issue #119… you’ve been missing out! Click HERE to catch up…

Want to get ahead of the queue?

The best way to get in first, with the availability of both copies of the magazine and our kits, is to become a subscriber. Oh, and you’ll also enjoy a 15% discount off all kits! Subscribe today by clicking HERE.

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

Christmas brings out a range of different emotions and expressions in us all. Whether it’s celebrating the birth of Jesus, cherishing time spent with loved ones, or perhaps embracing the mantra that it is better to give than receive, Christmas holds special significance for many of us.

For UK designer Helen M. Stevens, one of her favourite aspects of Christmas is recollecting the childhood wonder of the season, and for Helen this centred around a particular book she grew up reading.

She fondly remembers ‘The Box of Delights’ by John Masefield, published in 1935, which Helen enjoyed reading each Christmas, and now it has provided inspiration for her latest project of the same name Box of Delights from our new book The Design Collective | Christmas.

Encompassing four designs in total, each embroidered panel depicts a different floral wonder.

The box lid features the hellebore, commonly known as the Christmas rose, where in the Northern Hemisphere, it is one of few plants in flower during winter.

In this abundant posy worked in Helen’s trademark style of silk embroidery using Pipers Silks, we are treated to an array of different coloured petals from pastel pinks, vivid violets and soft champagnes.

Set against a backdrop of striking, jagged, shaded green leaves it even has a few friends dropping in for a visit – namely a gorgeous bumble bee and two beautiful blue butterflies.

Helen reminded us that ‘the shadow line is a suggestion, rather than an inflexible rule, and so long as it broadly suggests the underside of each element, it does not have to conform exactly to the shown placement.’

The three small delights hidden inside the box, are more of Helen’s iconic silk-shaded brilliance, stitched on a ground fabric of black, fine polycotton that, as always, creates a stunning contrast to each element.

Here you will find a trio of Sweet Pea, Fuchsia and Morning Glory which Helen points out that ‘in the traditional, Language of Flowers, they represent beauty, summer love and blissful delight.’

Special shout out again to our little visitors in each small delight – more butterflies and another bumble bee, all of which add a dynamic sense of life and nature.

All in all, Box of Delights is exactly what is says on the tin! For anyone who is lucky enough to receive either the kit or the finished piece for Christmas, it truly is the gift that keeps on giving.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Box of Delights by Helen M. Stevens is a large design of hellebores and small designs of sweet pea, fuchsia and morning glory.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Box of Delights includes everything* you need to re-create this festive box lid insert and the three small embroidery designs: Fabrics (inc. with pre-printed design), dressmaker’s carbon, card, embroidery threads and needle.

Crowning Glory by Helen M. Stevens from Inspirations issue #116 is a stunning silk embroidery featuring a colourful crowned pigeon and Christmas bush.

A Kingfisher Christmas by Helen M. Stevens from Inspirations issue #104 is a vibrant kingfisher in silk embroidery amongst foliage featuring holly, ivy and mistletoe.

From stitches big and small, this week we’re taking a look at some of the work from our needlework community in celebration of the wonderful variety that projects created with needle and thread can come in!

So fun and bright, Sharlene! We’re sure they will make a fresh addition to your outfits throughout summer. Such a simple yet very clever design – well done.

‘The whiskers and ear hairs are finely twisted silk and touches of metallic thread are incorporated to enhance the features. Satin stitches are laid in differing directions to replicate the animal’s hair growth. This requires subtle blending to create the Cougar’s markings.

This is one in a series of animal portraits that I am stitching to alert people to the tragic loss that would result from their extinction.’

Wow, Rachel, your Cougar is spectacular. Your attention to detail has really brought your portrait to life and truly showcases the beauty of this animal. Congratulations on a remarkable piece.

‘It took pride of place on her coffin with her MBE medal displayed on it.’

We’re sorry for your loss, Gill. The cushion you made for your friend is a very creative and clever way to honour a loved one – we’re sure she treasured your thoughtful stitches. Such a touching tribute.

Have you stitched a project to wear in summer? Do you like stitching for a cause? Or do you stitch your projects with sentimental meaning?

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!

Corinne Lapierre’s felt Mouse Family kit is simply gorgeous, including everything you need to make four adorable mouse family members.

A Summer Christmas by Ana Mallah is a wreath with softly shaded hydrangeas and berries.

Folk Art Bird Ornament by Trish Burr is a colourful bird with flowers and snowflakes inspired by Scandinavian folk art.

~ Simon Sinek ~

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