After taking a leaf from Dr Caroline Leaf - pun intended - in last week’s All Stitched Up! where we determined to finish the year in a more grateful, relaxed, slow and peaceful way, we continued to catch up on some of the emails we’d missed reading as they came through, and again we found ourselves so incredibly glad we did.

An email from Hannah Brencher saw her celebrating a milestone; ten years of her Monday Club emails. Each year Hannah marks the occasion with ‘a little birthday tradition where she blows out the metaphorical candles and reflects a bit on the last year’. As has become customary for many of her readers, they too treat the Monday Club birthday like it's their birthday and take the chance to step back and savour what the last year held.

Whilst Hannah was contemplating her birthday, as we write this, the last issue of All Stitched Up! for 2023, we found ourselves somewhat contemplative as we deliberated on the year that has been. If we’re honest though, this contemplation usually revolves around what we did, or didn’t achieve as the case may be, and whilst there’s nothing wrong with marking the end of a year with such observations, they can sometimes leave us feeling 'less than' if we didn’t achieve as much as we’d set out to.

Hannah on the other hand chose a completely different measuring stick with which to look at the year that had been by asking one simple question.

It’s a far gentler way to measure the passing of time as no matter the answer, it allows us to step back and say, ‘Wow, I've learned and grown so much.’

Questions such as the one Hannah posed, invite us to ‘pause and survey our surroundings’ before moving onto the next and it’s the revelations we receive in moments like these that help us to shape a blueprint for success that will encourage us to move forward with a sense of purpose and fruitfulness.

So, we’d like to close the year with the words Hannah so eloquently stated in her email, ‘We know you might need to get to some more emails, or you might have tasks to check off your list, but if you've got a moment today, we’d love to hear from you. The question to reply with is simple: What is your biggest takeaway from this past year?’.

We can’t wait to receive your responses and will look to share some of your takeaways from 2023 when All Stitched Up! returns in 2024. Until then, we hope you enjoy many, many hours with needle and thread in hand…

In our final Have Your Say for 2023, we’re bringing it home with some more fabulous stories about ‘why it is you stitch’ and ‘how your journey with needle and thread began’.

Up first is a lovely email we received from Flora. She learned to embroider from both her mother and grandmother. ‘Grammy Anna patiently showed me how to thread a needle and would have a little basket of thread tails and fabric bits for me to sew when I would come visit.

Mother also gave me my own basket of DMC threads, ostensibly to keep me out of hers! I remember the joy I felt when I was allowed to pick out my own colours and a book of patterns.

My Grammy taught me the basic stitches, and mother encouraged exploration into other crafts and techniques with books. I also got a few years’ worth of classes, at the art institute school of art for children, where I learned many things from silkscreen to Chinese indigo dying.

The best days were when we were allowed to wander a gallery to sketch and examine the art before the museum opened. I have many skills from that early introduction into art, and have picked up many hobbies along the way, but I keep coming back to a needle and thread.’

We heard from Alma who says, ‘I've been sewing since I was 16, because I didn't have a mother. I make all kinds of handicrafts by hand, and I enjoy it. Women are very inspiring people.’

Marjan was three or four when she started stitching. She graduated to cross stitch courtesy of a very patient grandmother.

Also learning to stitch at a young age, Paula was about three years old when she started working with a needle. ‘The local dime store had little cross stitch kits called Stitch A Story. They were pre-stamped with a nursery rhyme picture and framed in colourful plastic. They were about ten cents each, which was exactly the amount of my allowance. Cross stitching of this type was easy to do. I didn't always get them right, but they were fun.

My mum did a lot of embroidery, so I enjoyed emulating her. She made most of my clothes when I was little and always stitched flowers or something on them. When I was a little older, I would use remnants to ‘make’ doll clothes. I remember one time I laid a complicated little skating dress, onto two pieces of fabric, pinned it down and cut around it. Then I sewed the two pieces together. It didn't look a thing like the ones my mum made, but it really didn't bother me.

When I was seven, she taught me to knit. I was pretty sure I would be able to make an Afghan with the little squares I made, and it would look just like the one my Gramma had made for us. A little girl's goals and the attention span required to achieve that goal, sadly were not even closely related.

Stitching, no matter what the project, was a way to connect with my mum. Our relationship was not a great one. Growing up, it mostly felt like we didn't really like each other very much. It was a feeling that was never resolved. But I can look back at those times with a needle and thread, or set of knitting needles, and have fond and happy memories of those times.’

From Jane we received a passage about her childhood in Wyoming, USA. ‘I watched as my mum made so many wonderful things from those needlepoint kits by Bucilla, Sunset, Dimensions or Columbia-minerva. She also watched a 15-minute television show in the 1970s starring Erica Wilson, known as the Julia Child of Needlework.

Mum’s passionate approach to sewing, knitting, crocheting, candle wicking, and embroidery of all kinds from crewel kits to those needlepoint Christmas stockings rubbed off on me. Little by little she taught me new sewing and stitching techniques so that I could make the things she was making and surprise her with my cross stitch and knitted gifts.

Now I’m a grandma making needlepoint Christmas ornaments and knitted stockings for my grandchildren. As I sit and stitch each day I’m reminded of my mum’s love, and how she taught me to value working with my hands to create beautiful, fun, and lasting treasures for family and friends. What a gift she gave to me!’

Helen stitches because it calms her mind. Like many she learnt to embroider as a child. ‘I was probably around 8 years old. Basic flowers at first with transfer and then more crewelwork with kits. My embroidery waned when I got married and had children, but I still sewed, knitted and made toys for the children in the evening.

About 8 years ago, I really embraced embroidery again. I think it ties in with promotions at work that have led to a more and more stressful working life. I also have a terrible habit of chewing my fingers when I’m stressed or anxious.

If you have a why or how stitching story you would like to share, we would love to hear from you! As we take a break for the festive season, we hope to have a full inbox of everyone’s stitching stories to return to.

We hope everyone can enjoy the break and find some time for their stitching joy; we’ll be back in Jan ’24 to start the new year with a stitching bang!

Liberty Fabrics, based in the UK, is ubiquitous within the sewing community. World-renowned and high-quality, there’s nothing quite like them.

Perfect as a source of inspiration for a new project, or a great way to embellish a work in progress, there is always something so enchanting about a Liberty print.

Click below to browse our range and please note we’re selling these by the half metre, so multiple units will be supplied as one continuous length (ie. order quantity of 2 = 1 metre length).

In addition to our range of Liberty prints available by the metre, we also have a beautiful collection of Liberty Hankies.

Here’s the back story… for over 25 years a company called Annas of Australia has been sourcing Liberty fabrics and creating the most superb premium quality hankies using a huge range of different Liberty patterns.

In fact, their range of different hankies is so prolific, there are hardly two the same, so we’ve grouped them together by colourway and when you order one, it’s a lucky dip as to the exact pattern you’ll receive.

We have a collection of Blue/Green prints and an assortment of Pinks as well.

So venture in for a lucky dip, select your preferred colourway, and we’ll send you out one of the most beautiful hankies you’ll ever own!

Pre-printed fabric has increased in popularity recently, avoiding the need to transfer designs and allowing embroiderers to bring a little of their own creativity to a project.

We’ve recently added three beautiful new pre-printed fabric panels to our online store featuring designs created by Australian wildlife artist Natalie Jane Parker.

You can choose your preferred needlework techniques, add as much colour as you would like or embellish with metallic threads or beads to make each design truly your own.

With this our final issue of All Stitched Up for 2023, we thought we’d leave you ready for the new year by introducing the January project from the 2024 Inspirations Wall Calendar.

Wendy Innes’ magnificent Anise is an exquisite swallowtail butterfly atop a vibrant coneflower.

Stumpwork techniques add a lifelike feel, as if the graceful insect is about to fly off the page and into your own home.

Small and delicate, this superb piece would complement any home, and even if you don’t stitch it yourself, what a stunning image to have hanging on your wall for the month of January!

It’s the perfect way to start off a brand-new year, full of needlework possibilities just waiting to be stitched…

If you haven’t already purchased your 2024 Inspirations calendar, it’s not too late! Click below to order your calendar today and join us every month as we celebrate each new featured project.

After another year filled with more of the world’s most beautiful needlework, the Inspirations team will be taking a well-deserved break to eat, drink, be merry and maybe even stitch a thing or two, as we enjoy time with our friends and family.

While this is the final issue of All Stitched Up for 2023, the countdown has already started for our return in 2024 with first issue due out 19th January.

Our office will be closed from Thursday 21st December, with our retail store The Bobbin Tree closed from Friday 22nd December. Any calls, emails or orders received during that time will be attended to as soon as we return on Monday 8th January.

Each year, we reflect on how much we love and appreciate our wonderful subscribers, so a special shout out to each and every one of you for supporting us throughout 2023.

To discover more about an Inspirations magazine subscription, click HERE.

The next issue of Inspirations magazine, issue #121, is titled Natural Rhythm and will be coming to you hot off the press and arriving to subscribers from late January and available to the general public in February.

Though we’ll miss you all over the break, there are plenty of ways you can stay connected and fill your festive season with needlework.

Catching up on previous issues of All Stitched Up! will make sure you’re up-to-date and ready to go for our return next year. For past issues click HERE.

Our fabulous range of digital patterns and digital books have that ‘oh so convenient’ factor of being instantly downloadable, so if you’re craving something new during the break, you won’t need to wait for us to return to the office to receive your new purchases. Browse our range of digital books HERE and digital patterns HERE.

If you find yourself doing a bit of holiday organisation and discover your collection of Inspirations magazines or books are missing some releases, check out which back issues we still have in stock HERE and which books are still in print HERE.

Otherwise, shop until your heart’s content and we’ll despatch your order as soon as we return on 8th January and when your order arrives, it will feel just like Christmas day all over again.

Our retail store The Bobbin Tree has it, the Inspirations Studios office has it and it’s even infiltrated our homes! We’ve all been suitably decked out in all forms of Christmas regalia ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, and it seems that even the online world has dressed up for the festivities too! Today we’ve got some of our social media yuletide findings to share with you…

@mycrochetwonders: ‘Rockin’ around the Croakmas tree’ with designer Irina!

@suzannezinggstyle: Suzanne Zingg is not one to shy away from a decadent Christmas display. Beautifully finished stockings hung in the most beautiful places found here.

@heartinhand01: Cecilia Turner’s cross stitch - holiday edition.

@sewyoucolour: capturing the fine beauty of the delicate snowflake, this embroidery artist reminded us some are lucky enough to have snow for Christmas!

Don’t forget to follow Inspirations on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to receive your daily dose of the world’s most beautiful needlework while we’re away!

Trish Burr’s threadpainting projects are firm favourites with our readers and stitchers. When we approached her to contribute a project for our special celebratory issue, she was in the throes of finalising her latest book The Kew Book of Nature Samplers – a series of designs based on the botanical art of natural history illustrator Rachel Peddar Smith.

‘I had a few botanical illustrations left over from the book that Rachel permitted me to use. I had been working on embroidery samplers of botanical studies for the last year and the inspirations were still fresh in my mind. I had no difficulty in coming up with a design.’

Trish has a special affinity for stitching samplers as it allows her to move on to each new aspect of the design without ever getting bored. Her special favourite is adding the little details like the fine veins on the butterfly wings and the delicate fluff on the bee’s body.

The designs are worked with a single strand of cotton and use staple threadpainting stitches such as encroaching satin stitch, long and short stitch, split and straight stitch, enhanced with French knots and fly stitch.

Although the designs look quite naive and use simple stitches, Trish’s secret to creating depth of colour and texture is in blending the 49 different shades of thread. Our detailed close-up photographs and instructions will help you achieve this in a practical and attainable way.

This botanical sampler depicts Primula, Japanese Quince, and Aquilegia buds as well as a white-tailed bumble bee and a monarch butterfly, and is stitched on fine white linen. The final design measures 8.5cm x 19.5cm wide (3 1/2” x 7 ½”) which makes this an achievable project and a great way to experiment with threadpainting techniques.

The added benefit of working with a sampler instead of a cohesive design is that all these elements can be used separately, say for instance to decorate a shirt collar, a handkerchief, or any other smaller project. As implied by the name, Nature’s Realm, this project suggests abundance, generosity, and blessings.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

Nature’s Realm by Trish Burr is a threadpainted panel of flowers and pollinators using an analogous colour palette.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for Nature’s Realm includes everything* you need to re-create this beautiful botanical study: Fabric with pre-printed design, embroidery threads and needle.

Allium 'Purple Sensation' by Trish Burr from the book A Passion for Needlework 4 | The Whitehouse Daylesford is a botanical study superbly rendered in threadpainting.

Briar Rose by Trish Burr is a delicate, vintage Briar Rose in needlepainting embroidery.

Bumblebee by Trish Burr from the Handpicked Collection is a striking bumblebee, worked in Trish's unique ‘Whitework with Colour’ technique.

Redouté's Sweet Peas by Trish Burr features captivating sweet peas reproduced from a 17th century painting by PJ Redouté.

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

The final week of What Are You Stitching? for this year is brought to you by St. Nicholas. What better way to finish than sharing some of the festive stitches we have received! Merry Stitchmas everyone…

Susan, these are more than noteworthy, they are impeccable! What lucky families they are to receive one of your calendars that you have thoughtfully stitched in time for this year’s Christmas countdown fun! No doubt the lucky recipients will enjoy many years of festive joy from your beautiful gifts.

‘I also found a use for the black empty thread bobbins as you can see here, where I use plastic stickers on some while others I have embroidered.’

Delightful gifts indeed, Lousie! A great idea to share your stitching and such a thoughtful gift for your friends and family. We love the bobbin decorations, what a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle. Thank you for sharing!

‘The photo with the sampler and the seat cover are both designs by Annelle Ferguson (USA) stitched on 48ct silk gauze. I also made the frame for the sampler.

All pieces were stitched in petit point using one strand of DMC thread over one thread. These are small fiddly pieces that required more patience to attach the backs and trim and turn right side out than to do the actual stitching.’

Cathy, your miniatures have taken our breath away! Each one’s stitching is immaculate - and to think it’s all on such a small scale. We’re sure your miniature embroidery shop will be a sight to behold.

‘One year I wanted to introduce a piece of jewellery from my mother and chose one of her earrings. Last year I used the second earring of the pair and used it on her ornament. She is now the proud owner of my mum’s set of earrings. Merry Christmas to all!’

A truly wonderful tradition you have with your sister, Ginette. We love that you started to stitch the ornaments yourself and even showcase a new skill learned each year. The goldwork and Japanese embroidery ornaments are divine and we’re sure they look amazing displayed altogether.

Have you stitched something for Christmas you’re yet to share with us? Maybe you have a project planned for the holidays? Or perhaps you have some 2023 WIP’s you might like to send us?

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

Until then, Merry Stitchmas from the team at Inspirations Studios. May your days be filled with merriment, needle and thread!

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

Featuring 12 exceptional designs, the fourth book in our Passion for Needlework series includes some of the most exquisite projects we’ve published to date. Showcasing a range of designers, techniques and styles of embroidery, this extraordinary book is all about indulging in your needlework passion.

Memories by Margaret Lee is a centrepiece table mat sumptuously worked with Japanese-style bead embroidery.

Christmas Cheer by Katherine Diuguid is a sparkling Christmas tree ornament embellished with metal thread, beads and crystals.

~ John Dewey ~

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