It's a double header this week as we have two feature projects for you to enjoy.

It was great to see Christine P. Bishop at the Inspirations office the other day, as she was hand delivering yet another one of her stitched masterpieces for us to publish. You’ll find out more about that project at a later date, but this week we get to bask in the glory of Christine’s current project, which is all very French chic.

For the second feature project, we’re joining Nicola and Quince for a walk…

Plus, we have a lucky dip for you, some guilt free tools and a wonderful mix of projects to share in What Are You Stitching?.

Needlework joy coming your way right now…

When it comes to writing the articles for our featured projects, our endeavour is to share with you some of the back stories about the designs, the techniques, the artists, their processes and maybe even some trivia, that you may not have known otherwise.

Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, we also want to give proper and due credit to the designer of each piece and thank them for, through their work, inspiring all of us to pick up our needle and stitch.

Our first feature project this week has become a run-away success as the most popular project to-date in the latest issue of Inspirations magazine, #121.

So, it gives us great pleasure to pay copious amounts of credit to our own hometown hero, Christine P. Bishop.

Christine is in fact, one of those needlework artisans who is somewhat of a silent achiever. Famous for keeping historical techniques very much alive and well in our current generation, Christine’s body of work is so prolific and so profound, that it’s not until you step back and take in all she has achieved to date, that you fully appreciate her contribution.

We’re not going to have time today to give Christine the proper accolade that she deserves, but we encourage you to take a moment and review some of her previous feature articles HERE and check out an overview of her published projects HERE.

And here’s a fun fact for you… Christine’s piece Reticella Sampler from A Passion for Needlework | Factoria VII is forever etched in the Inspirations Studios history books as the project featuring the most step-by-step photographs we’ve ever published, such is the depth of skill and breadth of detail she incorporates into her work.

Now, we had better tell you about The French Birdcage!

Here’s what you need to know… this is a counted thread workbox that opens to reveal a collection of six delightful matching needlework accessories. It’s an etui created using a classic French palette of red thread on natural linen, fashioned in the guise of an elegant, hexagonal cage displaying an assortment of birds worked with Sorbello knots.

Tasselled cords are used to draw the etui closed and finish some of the stitching accessories.

Techniques you will enjoy working when creating your own French Birdcage include antique hem stitch, cross stitch, double running stitch, four-sided stitch, Hedebo stitch loop, satin stitch, Sorbello knot, tent stitch and trellis couching.

When completed, the finished workbox measures 20cm x 15cm wide (8" x 6"), omitting the twisted cords.

If you’re not a fan of cutting up the pieces of mount board to create all the panels, we’ve done the hard work for you and included them all in the kit. Some of you right now are saying, the price of the kit is worth having the boards pre-cut alone!

Comprehensive instructions for the construction is included in the pattern sheet, so thanks to Christine’s impeccable attention to detail, it will be like she is holding your hand throughout each step of both the embroidery and finishing.

Thank you, Christine, for yet another beautiful project and thank you for your significant and ongoing contribution to the world of needlework.

PS – From time-to-time, despite our best endeavours, mistakes are discovered after we’ve published a project. In the instance of The French Birdcage, the chart for the scissor sheath was omitted from the pattern sheet included in Inspirations magazine issue 121.

For the missing chart, please download the latest errata PDF from our website HERE.

We have all the materials you need to re-create this project yourself, from easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions to a Ready-to-Stitch kit with everything sourced for you.

Versailles Chatelaine by Susan O'Connor from the book A Passion for Needlework 2 | Factoria VII is an elegant silk needlebook with a monogram, pinwheel, scissor sheath and fob.

French Style by Angelique Benseghir-Vergnault from Inspirations issue #59 is a superb sewing bag and accessories simply oozing Parisian grace and charm.

Whenever a tradesperson arrives at your place to carry out some work, you expect they will come complete with all the right tools on board to get the job done. And we even expect them to have a few extra tools on hand to cover off any unexpected tasks they may encounter.

So, it is with needlework… when you’re embarking on your latest project, there is an expectation that you have all the right tools at hand to get the job done and a few extras on standby, just in case!

This week we’ve added three types of embroidery scissors that you might refer to as your workhorse collection.

These are quality yet affordable Klasse scissors that will assist you to get the everyday jobs done with ease.

Browse our range below and be ready for whatever tasks your next project brings your way.

PS – if you really want to kit up, check out the range of other needlework tools we have in stock as well… the more tools the merrier?

You’ve seen the design and even read the article, but maybe you’re not sure how to get started.

This week we’ve added the pre-printed fabric panel for the project Small Blue Butterfly from the Nicola Jarvis book Life in Seasons | Winter & Spring to purchase individually.

Whether you want to re-create it exactly as it appears in the book, or use your own threads, different colourways and embellish as much or as little as you like, this is a Nicola Jarvis original design pre-printed on premium quality cotton poplin.

Finished design measures 3.5cm x 6cm wide (1 3⁄8″ x 2 3⁄8″).

You might remember last year we added a gorgeous collection of Liberty Hankies to our website.

Annas of Australia create the most superb, premium quality hankies using Liberty Tana Lawn prints.

Their range of hankies is so prolific, two are hardly 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.

While you’re there, you can also check out our range of Liberty cotton prints that are available to purchase by the metre.

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

‘She is a self-taught knitter and stitcher. I took these photos of the hat and picture she designed and created. If you look closely, she painted the canvas and then stitched over the design. She is also very involved in the theatre company at school.

Her close-knit family is extremely supportive and encouraging of her efforts, which is so beautiful to witness. Of course, Abby and her mother gave me permission to share and I told her all about Inspirations!’

Lesley, thank you for sending the lovely Abby’s work! It’s wonderful to see needlework being adopted by the younger generation. An exciting stage in her stitching journey, we’re sure she will appreciate learning these skills at a young age, especially later in life. We’d love to see what creative work she comes up with next!

‘I began the ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ by Johannes Vermeer in October 2022 and completed it during the months of mourning. These embroideries are therefore beautiful creations that remind me of important days.’

Wow, two remarkable pieces, Josette, with an uncanny resemblance to the original works - you should be very proud of what you have achieved. We’re sorry for your loss and hope the process of stitching through your grief helped to ease the pain.

‘During the time of the embroidery's creation, I lost my beloved dog Gian, so one of the stumpwork butterflies contains a curl of his fur in its body.’

‘I really love this piece, which measures 45 x 110 cm (18” x 44”) and contains 223 hours of embroidery fun. I planned every detail myself and constantly refined this planning in collaboration with my tutor during embroidery time.’ Monika! The hours poured into your piece is testament to its resplendent outcome. We love your interpretation of the theme and the wide range of embroidery techniques that combine to create this biographic collage. Also, a very touching way to pay homage to Gian. Are you acquainted with any young stitchers?! Have you been inspired by famous artworks? Or have you finished a piece as part of your stitching education?

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

As we continue our walk with Nicola and her faithful canine companion Quince, this week we pick up their journey as they are passing through their allotment (or fields) one spring morning.

Here is Nicola as she explains the backstory to her piece Blossom Hedge Sparrows from the book Life in Seasons | Winter & Spring:

‘I relish the quiet times immersed in the natural world with no one else but Quince for company, observing the wildlife and being involved in my thoughts.’

Blossom Hedge Sparrows is indeed a wonderful homage to the endangered tree and house sparrows. This design makes an enchanting study of the lightly patterned plumage of this alert pair, resting for a moment amongst softly coloured flowers and foliage.

Worked using surface embroidery and goldwork, it is one of the larger pieces from the book measuring 24cm x 32cm wide (9 ½" x 12 ½") when finished.

Created from a combination of 13 different stitch techniques and a wonderful potpourri of threads including Appletons, Au Ver à Soie, DeVere Yarns, DMC, Gütermann and more, this project is a real treat to stitch.

We have all the materials you need to re-create this project yourself, from easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to a Ready-to-Stitch kit with everything sourced for you.

The Nestlings by Bev Tully from Inspirations issue #76 is a captivating life-like study of a family of superb fairy wrens.

Pretty in Pink by Trish Burr from Inspirations issue #109 depicts an Australian rose robin resting on a splendid magnolia.

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

The Art of Bead Embroidery Japanese-Style 2 is now available to pre-order. Nine stunning new beading projects complete with student case studies showing different colourways and construction options.

Jacobean Flower by Margaret Lee is a coin purse sparkling with Japanese-style bead embroidery.

~ Coco Chanel ~

For a list of upcoming needlework events, click HERE.