Hi <<First Name>>, An Ancient Gift… Sometimes it’s easy to forget it wasn’t always like this. In fact, most of history was different to how we live today. Internet, cars, telephones, electricity, air-conditioning, supermarkets; the majority of what we do, and use daily is unique to anyone born within the last 150 years. Life has changed so much, it would be practically unrecognisable to our ancestors. Yet a handful of activities have managed to transcend every generation, survive the process of being handed down through the corridors of time and are still present even today. Cooking and writing are two examples, and remarkably stitching is also as old as love itself. Adam and Eve had a crash course in clothing construction when they used fig leaves to cover themselves in the Garden of Eden, kicking off the textiles, needlework and fashion industries all at once! So, what does one do with this craft that has withstood the test of time, outlasted everyone and everything that has gone before it, and continues to beguile all who fall prey to its allure? We simply enjoy it for the gift that it is… the gift of making the world more beautiful by expressing ourselves using needle and thread.

Share your beautiful expressions of needlework by emailing us at news@inspirationsstudios.com

BUILDING BRIDGES

The following is an extract from the article published in Inspirations issue #94, written by Ansie van der Walt.

Akhtar Esmailzadeh talks with her hands. Her voice is rich and smooth, with an accent that tells you English is not her first language, but it is her hands that reveal her heart and her mind. As a teacher of Persian language and literature, Akhtar is adept in communicating, but it is with her intricate pateh embroidery and her love of Iranian cooking that she manages to build the strongest bridges.

Pateh is a traditional Iranian needlework style, embellishing hand-dyed woollen shawls with intricately embroidered traditional patterns in wool thread. The base fabric or ariz is woven with hand-dyed Spring wool from sheep who spend the harsh Iranian winter indoors protected from the extreme weather. This produces a fabric that is soft, luxurious and warm.

Natural elements like madder, pomegranate skins, henna and walnut husks are used to dye the fabrics in colours like deep red, burnt orange and soft browns. The threads, spun from the same Spring wool, are dyed in a similar way but also include indigo colours like blues, greens, purple and black.

Akhtar lives in Adelaide, South Australia but was born in Rafsanjan in the Kerman province of Iran many years ago. As a married woman she moved to Kerman city where she raised her three children and taught language and literature at the university. She had a happy, prosperous family and professional life until the revolution came in 1979 and changed her life forever.

As followers of the Baha’i faith, they were no longer welcome in their own country and were prevented from working or studying. Akhtar’s brother was killed, and her family lost all their property. “We tried to sit it out, to wait for life to improve, but conditions only worsened,” Akhtar says. “We came to a point where the best thing we could do was to send our children out of the country.” It was a heart-breaking decision.

“It took fourteen years for my husband and myself to be reunited with our children. It is a very long time for a mother to be without her children.” Akhtar says softly.

Akhtar talks about her life and her embroidery as if it is all connected. She lovingly strokes the shawl in her lap, describing the different patterns and their meaning. A pateh shawl usually has a distinct design, although each artist will add their own flair to it. A toranj or flower motif marks the centre of the shawl, with a boteh or paisley motif in each corner, their bent tips facing towards the centre. A mihrab or arch completes the straight edges of the shawl. These elements are surrounded by a decorative border depicting flowers, leaves and birds.

Akhtar’s new life in Adelaide is as rich and densely filled as the decorative borders on her pateh shawls. She is involved in many different community projects, teaching the Persian language to the children of the diaspora, teaching embroidery to everyone who wants to learn, and gracing many a table with her wonderful Iranian delicacies.

Akhtar imports the original woollen fabrics and threads from Iran as she believes the original texture and colours give the best results. “Some students prefer to use commercial embroidery wool, but it is not the same,” she says.

Akhtar’s life is like her shawls. It is rich, full of colour, and worked with love. Looking at it, you will see flowers and birds, but it is only when you understand the meaning of the patterns that you will appreciate the hardship which shaped the beauty. It talks without words.

NOW AVAILABLE
DIANA LAMPE'S EMBROIDERED PANSIES

This week we’re bringing back a long-time favourite – the hugely popular book ‘Embroidered Pansies’ by Diana Lampe. 

After years of studying pansies and painstakingly matching their colours to her threads, Diana has compiled this wonderful collection of 90 individual pansies. This hard cover 192-page book, includes detailed instructions for each of Diana’s exquisite embroidered versions of this much-loved and appealing flower. 

> BOOK – Diana Lampe’s Embroidered Pansies Available HERE

NEW DIGITAL PATTERN – HEART’S DELIGHT

This week’s new digital pattern is ‘Heart’s Delight’ by Kim Beamish from Inspirations issue #94.

Pulled thread embroidery can magically transform a plain piece of fabric into the most delicate lace. It’s all about the tension - normally when stitching you avoid creating too much tension so as not to distort the fabric, however with pulled thread you do the exact opposite and deliberately create varying degrees of tension to form patterns.

With ‘Heart’s Delight’ Kim Beamish beautifully uses pulled thread techniques to create heart motifs in this charming lace mat.

You can now create your own ‘Heart’s Delight’ by purchasing the digital pattern and ready-to-stitch kit.

> PATTERN – Heart’s Delight Digital Pattern Available HERE
> KIT – Heart’s Delight Ready-To-Stitch Kit Available HERE

A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE BY TRISH BURR

Here’s a little riddle for you…

Q – When is whitework not white?
A – When it’s whitework with colour!

Trish Burr is famous for a lot of things – most notably her stunning thread painted masterpieces, her kits and the wonderful classes she runs. Now she has a new claim to fame… coining the term ‘Whitework with Colour’. This is very handy when trying to explain how a whitework piece can use threads other than white!

And, so it is with her new piece ‘A Partridge in A Pear Tree’ from Inspirations #96, which is a spectacular modern take, in whitework with colour, of this classic Christmas icon worked in shades of white, gold, rich grape, maroon and golden browns.

Whitework with colour is essentially the use of a selection of stitches and techniques commonly associated with whitework, with the addition of coloured threads.  For ‘A Partridge in A Pear Tree’ Trish cleverly creates the famous effect of ‘broderie anglaise’ seen in traditional whitework, by using eyelets and padded satin stitches, giving a lace feel to the wing of the partridge, using only surface embroidery.

Adding the rich tones of copper and gold certainly help make the project grander and perfectly befits the splendour of Christmas.

The design itself is adapted from a drawing by Jill Buckley and features a graceful partridge perched on a sprig of holly and the prescribed pear. You can check out Jill’s original illustration on her blog HERE. 

With the finished piece measuring 15.5cm x 18cm wide (6" x 7") and stitched with silk and cotton threads onto fine, white linen, this superb project would make a wonderful gift at any time of the year.

‘A Partridge in A Pear Tree’ continues our Inspirations tradition of featuring a Christmas project by Trish Burr each year. 

It started back in issue #88 when Trish dazzled us with ‘Prancer’, then again in issue #92 with ‘Shades of Christmas’ and now ‘A Partridge in a Pear Tree’ creates the perfect trifecta. 

	Behind the Scenes… Fiona bringing the magic of Christmas alive on set

MAKE YOUR OWN A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE
BY TRISH BURR

‘A Partridge in A Pear Tree’ by Trish Burr features a graceful bird in her ‘whitework with colour’ style.

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

> MAGAZINE – Inspirations #96 Available HERE
> PATTERN – A Partridge in A Pear Tree Digital Pattern Available HERE

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for ‘A Partridge in A Pear Tree’ includes everything you need to re-create this stunning Christmas design: fabric, embroidery threads and needles.

> KIT – A Partridge in A Pear Tree Ready-To-Stitch Kit Available HERE

LOOKING FOR MORE TRISH BURR?
BOOK – WHITEWORK WITH COLOUR

The book ‘Whitework with Colour’ contains seventeen embroidery projects ranging from complete beginner to more advanced. This is embroidery with a difference, inspired by the freshness and elegance of whitework embroidery but with some colour added.

> BOOK – Whitework with Colour Available HERE

FOREST KINGFISHER – A PASSION FOR NEEDLEWORK

‘Forest Kingfisher’ by Trish Burr features a noble, native kingfisher perched high above the ground on a slender branch of flowering gum.

> KIT – Forest Kingfisher Ready-To-Stitch Kit Available HERE
> BOOK – A Passion for Needlework Available HERE

PRANCER – INSPIRATIONS #88

‘Prancer’ by Trish Burr is a contemporary whitework portrait of a stylish reindeer.

> MAGAZINE – Inspirations #88 Available HERE
> PATTERN – Prancer Digital Pattern Available HERE

SHADES OF CHRISTMAS – INSPIRATIONS #92

‘Shades of Christmas’ by Trish Burr is a gorgeous wreath of seasonal decorations, stitched using whitework techniques with Christmas colours.

> MAGAZINE – Inspirations #92 Available HERE

Christmas is a special time of the year when we often pour our time, talent and treasure into each and every detail, which is what makes the Festive Season so festive! This week’s WAYS celebrates the festive details that have been created using needle and thread.

ALEXANDRA DURAZZANO

‘My paternal grandmother was from Naples and she stitched her own trousseau which included sets of bed linen, bath towels, napkins and tablecloths, all embellished with her own Monogram stitched in different styles. I was born and raised in Italy, but as my mother was English, I was sent to boarding school in England at the age of 10 and it was there I learned how to crochet. I soon realised I loved to work with my hands!

I moved back to London in 1992 as a wife and mother of two young boys. After 17 years there, I moved with my husband and now three sons to California.’

‘There is an amazing store not far from where I live in Los Angeles, called Aristeia, where I take a class every Tuesday night. My teacher, Beverly, has been teaching needlepoint for over 40 years and is an encyclopedia of stitches and extremely talented when choosing colors and thread combinations. With her guidance, I have made more than 50 Christmas Ornaments in the last five years.’

‘Below is a design I made myself which was inspired by a glazed plate I was given by my Daughter-in-Law. I used Millefiori glass coin beads as ornaments on the tree. Your magazine is a great inspiration for me and I admire all the work featured in it.’

Alexandra, what an incredible collection of Christmas Ornaments, and to think they all came from your own needle and thread! It would be an absolute delight to see them all adorning your Christmas Tree each year.

JULIE THOMAS

‘I come from a long line of crafters. My great grandmother hooked rugs, pillows and pictures and my grandmother, mother and sister are all quilters, but stitching in straight lines never worked for me. One summer afternoon about 35 years ago, I was flipping through my grandmother's copy of The Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework and was intrigued by the embroidery section. Grandma gave me some fabric and floss, and a love affair started!

I still have that book in my needlework library as well as her embroidery basket. I love the variety of projects offered by Inspirations and always add projects to my to do list when it comes in the mail!

We recently moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and I found these ornaments when I was unpacking. A friend from the Cardinal Chapter of the EGA finished them for me and I will probably gift a couple ornaments to some very special people, keeping the rest for my own tree.’  

Julie, your collection of elegant and refined ornaments will make for a most sophisticated Christmas Tree!

WENDY OSBORNE

Last week we saw Wendy’s award-winning version of ‘The Embroidered Village Bag’ and this week it’s her Christmas Stockings that take centre stage…

‘After being a cross stitcher for many years, I taught myself ribbon work and embroidery, with my little stocking winning 1st Prize.’

‘I later fell in love with a beaded stocking so taught myself beading as well, which also went on to win 1st Prize and Champion in its category.’

Wendy, we love that you’ve consistently taken the time and effort to teach yourself a new technique. Given the number of prizes you’ve won, you must be quite the teacher! We wonder what technique is next in your stitching curriculum?!

Have you taken the time to stitch something for the upcoming Festive Season? We’d love to see it! Email photos of what you’ve created with needle and thread as well as a few details about your stitching journey to news@inspirationsstudios.com.

NOT A SUBSCRIBER? JOIN TODAY…

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

SUBSCRIBE TO INSPIRATIONS MAGAZINE

PRINT | For a print subscription fill in our secure online form with your details HERE.

DIGITAL | Digital subscriptions can be purchase through Zinio direct HERE or through the Inspirations APP which can be downloaded via the iTunes and Google Play stores, by searching ‘Inspirations Magazine’.

CALL US - If you have any questions regarding an Inspirations subscription or just want to have a chat, we’d love to hear from you.  You can call us from anywhere in the world on +61 8 8293 8600 anytime and if we’re not in, leave a message and we’ll get back to you.  For anyone within Australia, call us on 08 8293 8600.

Otherwise email us anytime at subs@inspirationsstudios.com

MAKE YOUR OWN FESTIVE FRUIT BY DENISE FORSYTH

‘Festive Fruit’ by Denise Forsyth are fabulous strawberries made from linen, textured with pulled thread embroidery. The magazine and digital pattern include the requirements list, step-by-step instructions for five different patterns plus the green sepals, and details for construction.

> MAGAZINE – Inspirations #96 Available HERE
> PATTERN – Festive Fruit Digital Pattern Available HERE

LOOKING FOR MORE FRUIT?

THE GOLDEN POMEGRANATE – INSPIRATIONS #61

‘The Golden Pomegranate’ by Margaret Cobleigh features a beautiful pomegranate in this richly ornamented goldwork study.

> MAGAZINE – Inspirations #61 Available HERE
> PATTERN – The Golden Pomegranate Digital Pattern Available HERE

SERENDIPITY | STRAWBERRY AND CORNFLOUR –
A PASSION FOR NEEDLEWORK

‘Serendipity | Strawberry and Cornflour’ by Susan O’Connor is a colourful pinwheel with Elizabethan inspired flowers and fruits.

> KIT – Serendipity | Strawberry and Cornflour Kit Available HERE
> BOOK – A Passion for Needlework Available HERE

HARVEST – INSPIRATIONS #63

‘Harvest’ by Susan O’Connor is a collection of your favourite fruits and vegetables captured in stitch.

> PATTERN – Harvest Digital Pattern Available HERE
> MAGAZINE – Inspirations #63 Available HERE

SWEET STRAWBERRY – INSPIRATIONS #76

‘Sweet Strawberry’ by Deborah Love - Delightful strawberry plants, complete with flowers and fruit, intertwine around the inner border of this captivating tablecloth.

> PATTERN – Sweet Strawberry Digital Pattern Available HERE
> MAGAZINE – Inspirations #76 Available HERE

What: May Morris | Art & Life
Where: William Morris Gallery | Lloyd Park, Forest Road Walthamstow, London
When: to 28 Jan
Details: Click HERE

What: Jeanie Baker’s Circle Exhibition
Where: Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens | Brisbane, Queensland
When: 11 Dec to 25 Feb
Details: Click HERE

Send us details about events, exhibitions and celebrations happening in your place of stitch and we’ll include them in Embroidery News. Contact us at
news@inspirationsstudios.com

Happy Stitching
The Embroidery News Team